Chapter 291 - 114: Fulfilling the Oath (2)

Chapter 291: Chapter 114: Fulfilling the Oath (2)

"Fang Rui, you seduced your superior! May you die a horrible death!"

"I’ve been wronged—"

...

Evidently, Sun Shouchai still had his wits about him. He targeted only Fang Rui, not daring to involve Zhen Daoji in the slightest. At the same time, he tried to fashion himself into the image of a loyal minister, hoping to get a chance to argue his case.

In his view, the matter of concealing the Yang Attribute Dragon Pearl was not an unforgivable crime. As long as he could see Zhen Daoji, he still had a chance to snatch life from the jaws of death.

But before Sun Shouchai could shout more than a few words, a Jade Seal Divine Hunter hurriedly took off his sock and stuffed it in his mouth.

—The man might dare to spout nonsense, but they didn’t dare to listen!

Another Jade Seal Divine Hunter even stepped forward, putting on an obsequious smile. "You must have been frightened, Fang Yinzheng?"

His attitude wasn’t at all like he was facing a Silver Seal Chief Constable; it was more like he was seeing his superior’s... wife.

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Thank you for your hard work, you two."

Fang Rui pointed at Sun Shouchai. "This man is insolent and has a vicious temperament. You must watch him closely. Don’t let him escape and wreak havoc."

"Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to take *good* care of him."

"That’s right, you can leave it to us... Heh heh. Um, also, if you could please put in a good word for us with Lord Si Zheng, Fang Yinzheng."

His expression all but said, ’Go on, use your pillow talk to help us out!’

"I..."

Fang Rui had felt a swell of pride upon hearing they would "take good care of" Sun Shouchai, but after that last half-sentence, the smile on his face slowly stiffened.

...

Amidst the orange-red hues of the setting sun, Fang Rui returned to the Fang Mansion in his carriage.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Sister were waiting at the mansion’s entrance as always. As the treasures were unloaded one after another, their delight turned to alarm.

"So many valuables?" Even Third Sister, who managed the Four Seas Commerce Association, was stunned.

"Indeed. I’ve always heard that one shouldn’t indulge in too much fortune. Our family is already well-off. Brother Rui, you mustn’t be doing anything illicit," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family said with concern.

"Mother, Third Sister, don’t worry! You know that the Divine Capture Bureau raided the Zheng Family, right? This is my share."

Fang Rui thought for a moment before adding, "Everyone in the Divine Capture Bureau, from top to bottom, got a share. There are plenty of people who received much more than I did."

In truth, within the system of the Divine Capture Bureau, as long as you didn’t cross any lines or pick the wrong side, certain problems weren’t problems at all. But if you did cross a line or pick the wrong side, then even non-issues became problems.

Only after hearing this did Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Sister finally feel at ease.

At dinner, Fang Ling and Nannan had also returned. The family gathered around a table laden with steaming dishes. A warm, homey atmosphere filled the air, and it felt as if one’s heart grew peaceful along with it.

Fang Rui glanced to his side. The two little girls, who once chattered endlessly like little sparrows, had now become quiet and graceful young ladies.

They were unconsciously mimicking Third Sister’s mannerisms, possessing a nascent elegance. They smiled without showing their teeth and spoke much less.

It was strange. It was still the same year, the same month. They were still the same age, with the same faces, yet the feeling they gave off had completely changed.

It was as if they had quietly and suddenly grown up overnight.

They rarely led their flock of ducks on a wild chase around the mansion anymore, rarely pestered Fang Rui for stories, and rarely burst into his room first thing in the morning to wake him up. The two adorable little girls from before had completely blossomed into two serene and beautiful little fairies.

—Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Sister were both fair of face, and the two little girls had inherited their beauty. Especially now that they had grown quiet, they truly looked like two exquisite little fairies.

This transformation caught Fang Rui off guard. It was like seeing a delicate sapling planted in the spring; even though he saw it day after day, one moment of inattention was all it took to realize it had already grown tall.

He was happy, yet also a little wistful. He had once asked the two girls about it. Fang Ling had tilted her little face up and answered earnestly, "We’re not children anymore, Big Brother." Nannan, meanwhile, had blushed and replied, "Brother Ah Rui, the academy taught us about marriage."

Hearing their answers, Fang Rui understood.

Still, the feeling of having raised daughters was a complex one, a bittersweet and ineffable mix of joy, pride, and a touch of sorrow.

’No matter how much they change, these are the people I cherish most!’

Fang Rui looked at Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Sister, then at Fang Ling and Nannan. As he always did, he placed food on their plates, spoke of interesting recent events in the city, and guided the dinner conversation.

The candlelight flickered, casting a bright, warm glow. The shadows of the five of them huddled together in a small, close cluster.

From Changshan County in Yunzhou to Huaiyin Prefecture in Wuzhong, it was as if nothing had changed at all.

...

After dinner, Fang Rui went to find the Qing Yan Little Child.

The little fellow didn’t eat with Fang Rui and the others. This was because he often lost track of time when he began his cultivation, so the maids usually delivered his meals to him.

"Zhang Henshui is dead. Sun Shouchai has been captured, and it’s unlikely he’ll ever get out. Your master has finally been avenged."

"SOB SOB!"

Hearing Fang Rui’s words, the Qing Yan Little Child burst into tears. It was a good while before he could compose himself. He then gave Fang Rui a solemn bow. "Thank you, Uncle Fang!"

"Why thank me? It was karmic retribution. They brought it upon themselves." This was something Fang Rui would never, ever admit to.

"I know you’ve been cultivating so frantically in part to get revenge. Now that your enemies are dealt with and your heart is at ease, you should find a better balance from now on."

He patted the Qing Yan Little Child’s shoulder and turned to leave.

"Wait, Uncle Fang."

The Qing Yan Little Child retrieved a stack of classic texts and handed them to Fang Rui. "Uncle Fang, I know you enjoy strange and unusual tales. I specifically picked these out for you from my sect’s inherited collection."