Chapter 1594: Waiting for a Turn of Fate

Fang Chen chuckled and said, "No need to shout. He can't hear you right now."

"You have that kind of ability?"

Xu Tianmu didn't believe him. He shouted several more times, but found that Xu Tianhuan remained unresponsive. He intended to walk straight through the door, only to discover that his feet were seemingly rooted to the ground and unable to move an inch.

Xu Tianmu was startled. "What kind of sorcery is this?"

"You don't agree with Xu Tianhuan siding with the Hejian King?" asked Fang Chen with a smile.

Xu Tianmu remained silent for a long period before he spoke. "Hejian King? My brother hasn't sided with any Hejian King. Don't speak nonsense."

"I heard everything just now. Don't worry, I'm not going to the emperor to report you. This matter doesn't even concern me in the slightest." Fang Chen laughed. "I just want to hear your thoughts. Do you think the Hejian King cannot win? If Hejian King falls, the Xu Family will inevitably be liquidated. When that time comes... the entire family will be wiped out, right down to the chickens and dogs."

Xu Tianmu fell silent. He had considered this point long ago and had envisioned this scene. Now that Fang Chen had brought it up again, his expression gradually turned grim. After staying silent for more than ten breaths, the look in his eyes shifted from initial shock and rage to one of doubt and suspicion.

He demanded, "Who exactly are you? My cultivation might not be as high as my brother's, but I am still in the fourth stage of the Human Profound Realm. How are you able to suppress me so stealthily and leave me unable to move... My brother is in the fourth stage of the Earth Profound Realm and only half a step away from becoming a Grandmaster, yet even he cannot sense your presence? Could it be that you are... a Grandmaster serving under one of the rebel kings?"

Xu Tianmu stared intently at Fang Chen without blinking, as if trying to discern some clue from his face.

"Are you interested in preserving the Xu's family line? Or perhaps, in saving your brother?" asked Fang Chen calmly.

Xu Tianmu's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"I can teach you a cultivation technique and help you ascend to the Grandmaster realm. If the Hejian King strikes with irresistible force, you can follow your brother to seize the throne. But if the Hejian King suffers a crushing defeat, you can step forward to save the Xu Family from disaster," Fang Chen said with a smile.

Xu Tianmu felt his heart racing.

Ascend to the Grandmaster realm!?

Only the most elite Grandmasters in the world would dare promise such words. Even an ordinary Grandmaster wouldn't be so bold!

"But why? You and I are strangers, and my servant even offended you. Why would you help me?"

Xu Tianmu's eyes were filled with suspicion.

Fang Chen laughed. "Consider it because you are Little Yu's kin in this lifetime. If the Xu Family were to be wiped out, Little Yu's elder sister would not remain unharmed."

"Little Yu? This lifetime?"

Xu Tianmu couldn't quite understand. He thought the man before him spoke in riddles, like a wandering occultist. Yet the man's strength was clearly formidable, and it didn't seem like he was playing a trick.

"My talent is nowhere near my brother's. He has studied under famous masters since childhood and has worked hard to achieve what he has today. I don't know how you intend to help me advance to the Grandmaster realm," said Xu Tianmu dejectedly.

Fang Chen said nothing. He simply smiled, stepped forward, and lightly patted Xu Tianmu on the head. A surge of immortal essence flooded Xu Tianmu's body, transforming his physique in an instant,

Xu Tianmu felt as if his body were being torn apart. The pain was so intense he nearly fainted, but just as he reached his limit, a cool aura washed over him and alleviated the agony. Then, he felt his cultivation base skyrocket, bypassing the Human Profound Realm and the Earth Profound Realm.

He subconsciously immersed himself in this wondrous sensation. He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes, the sky was already bright. Mr. Fang was long gone.

Was it a dream?

Xu Tianmu felt doubtful about the encounter, but he immediately sensed a massive change in his body.

"This power..."

He was in disbelief. The surging aura within him proved that everything from the previous night was real. It felt as though, with a mere thought, he could reduce the entire Peach Blossom Village to ashes.

In this world, only a Grandmaster possessed such power!

This Mr. Fang... who is he exactly?!

Waves of shock crashed through Xu Tianmu's heart. This was terrifying. He had advanced to the Heaven Profound Realm in a single night! In all his years, he had never even heard of something this divine.

Could it be... the Earth Immortal, Eunuch Zhang from the capital? Is he still alive?

Creak

The door opened, and Xu Tianhuan stepped out with Li Meiyan's eldest daughter. Xu Tianhuan couldn't help but smile faintly when he saw Xu Tianmu standing there.

"Stood here all night? Alright, let's head back to the county seat. I've discussed it with your sister-in-law. Since Little Yu isn't willing to marry you, we won't pester her further. If we have the chance, however, we could perhaps exchange a few words with Mr. Fang."

Xu Tianmu snapped back to reality. He nodded. "Oh, right. Let's head back then."

He followed behind Xu Tianhuan, looking at his back. Once, his brother had seemed inscrutable, like the deep abyss. Now, the man had become nothing short of transparent.

A bitter smile rose on Xu Tianmu's face.

Am I truly a Grandmaster? The first Grandmaster... in the history of the Xu Family?

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine the trip to Peach Blossom Village would lead to such a fortuitous encounter. He grew increasingly curious about Mr. Fang's true identity.

I'll wait a while and come back to ask him properly. Perhaps he will tell me then. I haven't even answered him on which important figures would attend the Poetry Festival...

***

"Mr. Fang, do I really have to hold this horse stance? My legs are so sore."

"Mr. Fang, look at this fist technique—am I doing it right?"

"Mr. Fang, there's something I don't understand in the story you told. Why is it that this man, who doesn't even have the strength to truss a chicken, could make two armies fight for him, yet neither army knew of his existence?"

Little Yu bombarded Fang Chen with questions.

Fang Chen answered, "Man is the root of action, and action is the scheme of man. Choose a profession to sustain your life, and wait for a turn of fate to shift the world. He succeeded because he had sufficient patience and confidence, and he never made excuses to deceive himself."

Day after day passed. Under Fang Chen's guidance, Little Yu's martial arts foundation was set and began to show results. Her mind was like a sponge, constantly absorbing all sorts of strange knowledge. She felt as if she had stumbled upon a new, fascinating ocean, swimming in it with pure joy.

Little Yu said excitedly, "Mr. Fang, if we roam the martial world together in the future, mustn't we have a very impressive title? I heard from some nobles coming from the county seat that the great experts and Grandmasters in the martial world all have nicknames!"

"What kind of title would you like?" asked Fang Chen.

"I don't know. I haven't even had many years of schooling. I don't recognize all the characters yet. Help me pick a title, Mr. Fang! Make it sound impressive!" urged Little Yu joyfully.

"How about... Fairy Yu?" suggested Fang Chen.

"Fairy Yu? A fairy! I'm a fairy, hahaha!"

Little Yu giggled happily to herself as she imagined a future where she roamed to the ends of the world with a sword while everyone called her Fairy Yu.

Fang Chen's thoughts drifted back hundreds of years. On the day he had given her that title, she had been just as happy as she was now.

"Be it a lifetime or a hundred, I will wait for you. I'll wait for you to return," murmured Fang Chen softly to himself.