Fang Household

The forests grew well as the lush greenery leaned against the fence and climbed it. Pei Zi Yun had returned.

The young man within the hall looked extremely anxious as he paced several steps back and forth. He didn’t feel well and after a short time, he felt like he needed to rest. He panted raggedly.

When the door was pushed open, the young man stepped forward to greet the one who walked through it, "Master Top Scorer, how did it go?"

Pei Zi Yun heard this and waved his hands, "You are a scholar, you must learn to control your emotions. Your body is frail and you shouldn’t be overly emotional. Sit down and we shall speak."

Hearing Pei Zi Yun’s advice, the young man sat down. His face revealed a strange expression as he picked up the fan in his hands and started to fan himself.

"It’s done. There is only one simple condition, that you have to produce two sons, and the second one has to be surnamed Du. He will continue burning the incense for the Du family." Pei Zi Yun didn’t hesitate and spoke plainly.

When the young man heard this, he stood up, his mouth gaped open, "You know about this?"

"The previous dynasty’s Imperial Tutor? I know about it. But have you ever thought that although the Du family was killed by your father, they also had to endure the wrath of the curse. Everything they do will result in failure. If you marry her, you have to be prepared that half of your blessings would disappear. Also, you have to consider the opinion of your people." Pei ZI Yun saw that the young man’s face was red as he spoke.

When the young man heard this, he took several paces before he sighed deeply and opened his fan once again.

The teenager’s face turned from red to white again. When he saw that there was nobody else here, he sounded rather agitated, "Ai, don’t think that just because I was the son of the previous Emperor, I have many spare lands to give."

"When my father’s army fell, I only had several armed guards escorting me to safety."

"But all that has past. When it happened, we fled in a panic, and took some treasures and gold. However, we used that money to purchase these plots of lands for us to stay. In order to ensure that we didn’t arouse any suspicions, we placed the deed of the land under another person’s name. There’s only 200 mu to my name."

At this point, the teenager then lowered his voice, "Everyone think that just because I was a child, I don’t remember much. You might notice that they treat me with reverence and respect, but I will always be seen as a child to them."

"That is normal of them as well. Since my Fang family has no way of repaying them for their service and yet they still chose to remain by my side is rather commendable." The young teenager then gave a strange expression before he smiled, "Besides, my flesh used to belong to the royal family and they have no choice but to respect and obey."

"As their Young Master, I’ve done my best, but it was only this much. You’ve never experienced the look of doubts, disappointment, and coldness in their gazes."

"Now that peace is gradually returning, I don’t wish to think too much as well."

"Can’t I be a little stubborn sometimes and live for myself?"

"Why should two people who love each other be apart just because of their families’ feuds? If she doesn\'t love me, then that’s fine. But I know she loves me. Everyone else feels that she embodies evil and bad luck. She was betrothed to three other men before this and all of them died soon after. She would rather be old and alone, but refuses to marry me for fear that I would end up like her previous betrothed."

The young man gritted his teeth before he sighed and laughed bitterly, "If I have a second son, I will definitely promise to name him that way. But it would even be hard for me to have one son now. Master Top Scorer, you know my health condition as well. All I dare to ask for now is for the both of us to live life happily together."

"As for other wishes, I don’t even dare to dream of it."

Pei Zi Yun looked at the young teenager and saw that he was rather dejected. Pei Zi Yun then spoke to him, "After measuring your pulse and taking your vital signs earlier, I thought of an idea. Don’t look so dejected, something might change."

"Really?" The young teenager stood up, as his eyes gleamed. He then stepped forward and took hold of Pei Zi Yun’s hands, "Please save me, Master Top Scorer."

"I don’t have a fantastic grasp of healing, but I know Dao arts. The problem with your health is a result of manipulation with Dao arts and I might be able to do something about it." Pei Zi Yun then continued, "I can use Dao arts to check the exact situation before we work our way around it."

"Master Top Scorer, please check it out properly." The teenager bit down hard as he spoke.

Pei Zi Yun nodded his head, he pressed a hand on the teenager’s wrist as he engaged the Yin Master form. He then allowed his Dao arts to enter the teenager’s body.

This body had long withered and seemed like death was long overdue for him. Pei Zi Yun controlled his Dao arts carefully and allowed himself to delve into the heart of this young teenager, when he saw a small amulet.

This amulet had a strange force as it was pasted on the teenager’s heart. As the heart pumped, the amulet leaked out a certain energy.

Pei Zi Yun then gently used his Dao arts to gently touched the amulet. As soon as the amulet was touched, it recoiled and started flickering faster and brighter, as life energy leaked out from it. It was as though this amulet was draining the life forces from this young man.

Pei Zi Yun hurriedly withdrew from it, as he opened his eyes and looked at the teenager, whose expression was very confused and yet was somewhat elated, "Master Top Scorer, I could feel my heart turn numb, as though some of the energy I’ve lost all these years had returned."

Pei Zi Yun then sighed, "You’re not sick, someone did this to you."

As soon as Pei Zi Yun said this, the joyful look on the teenager’s face vanished before he raised his head up, "Who did this to me?"

Pei Zi Yun shook his head, "I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this and there’s nothing about this amulet in the records as well."

Not only were there no records of it, he had spent two lifetimes in this world and had never heard or seen anything like this.

"Master Top Scorer doesn’t know?" The teenager gritted his teeth before he understood. Whenever he fainted, he would hear voices speaking to him. He now knew they were real.

"To steal my bones, what does that mean?" The young man asked.

"Bones are a symbol of a Daoist’s energy, intelligence, and resources." As Pei Zi Yun spoke, he halted, a certain sense of suspicion crept up over him.

"Haha, so all these decades of suffering was a result of someone doing this to me, I’m filled with anger and hatred now. If I have the chance, I wish to kill this person." The teenager sounded extremely passionate as his expression turned ferocious.

As soon as Pei Zi Yun used his Dao arts to prod the amulet, he felt much better, and was excited that there might be some hope. As soon as his emotions got out of control, he started coughing violently. Realizing this, he hurriedly composed himself.

Pei Zi Yun thought to himself, "There might be a way to counter the effects of this life force draining amulet by continually prodding it. Doing that would release his life force away from the amulet and yet there was no way of containing it within his body. Hence, this would inevitably shorten his life."

"Ai!" Pei Zi Yun sighed, before he spoke, "Young Master Fang, I shan’t beat around the bush with you. Your body has already been withered and yet as much as this amulet has harmed you, it’s the reason you’re alive as well."

"If you continue living like this, and exempt yourself from excessive emotions, you might be able to live for another ten years or even twenty years."

"My Dao arts would be able to increase your energy levels, and ensure you lead a normal life, and allow you to have children. However, it would shorten your lifespan up to five or seven years. You should decide for yourself!"

The young man pondered for a moment as he bit his lips, he made a decision, "Everyone must die. And I have to be filial as a Fang descendent. Since I have a task to complete, please perform your spell on me, and allow me to have offspring."

"Young Master Fang is truly behaving like a young hero!" Pei Zi Yun sighed once again as he turned to look at him. This young man has what it takes to be someone great and yet he doesn’t have the chance to.

"Your life force isn’t great and should only be activated whenever there’s something important to do."

"You should get married now, I shall set a spell around your matrimonial room. Whenever you wish to reproduce, you should use this room. But you have to remember, every time you use this room, your lifespan would get considerably shorter."

"Hence, you have to do it sparingly and don’t enter this room for other purposes."

"Also, you have to give some silver, grains, and cloth to their family now."

"I understand. Please help me Master Top Scorer!" The young man seemed rather insistent as he spoke before he laughed once gain. After he took several paces forward he then spoke, "I shall send people to immediately handle the wedding preparations. Master Top Scorer should rest here in my village and help me with the Dao arts."

Pei Zi Yun nodded his head, "Alright, I shall leave it to Young Master Fang.’

The young man stopped hesitating as he shouted, "Grandma Li!"

As soon she acknowledged his call and entered the room, he rattled off several instructions. Although his body was frail and his health was weak, he was extremely authoritative now. Even Grandma Li was elated by how well he looked.

Everyone knew how the Young Master’s health was frail and weak. When Grandma Li realized that he could finally continue his family line, she was filled with elation. It was as if she had finally completed her duty to the previous Empress, as she revealed a wide smile and acknowledged, "Leave it to me."

Today Grandma Li invited a matchmaker and exchanged details before the prospective couple. The Du family didn’t disagree to anything and immediately agreed to the match.

On the third day, the Fang family’s dowries were sent over to the Du family. There were silk, expensive cloths, two gold rings, a pair of gold earrings, 80 taels of silver, and the very symbolistic ‘marriage certificate’. The Du family returned the favor and held up their end of the bargain, they complied with all the ritualistic demands. In fact, they even acknowledged that this was a proper wedding and not an arranged marriage."

After they waited another day, on the fifth day, they began the actual wedding. Although it looked somewhat simple, no expenses were saved. The entire village were aware of the situation and rejoiced in this joyous occasion.

Everyone knew that this Elementary Scholar Fang’s health was poor and everyone could understand why he was in a rush to get married, it wasn’t suspicious.

On this very day, the sky was still dark. Pei Zi Yun gradually emerged from his meditation and felt extremely comfortable. He forced a bitter laugh, "Cultivation this time evokes such tremendous satisfaction."

He then stood up and walked out, to see everyone was busy as they arranged tables and moved things in order. The chef had already killed several fish and chickens while he cooked the meat in a pot. The entire village was lively and bustling for the first time in a long while.

Pei Zi Yun didn’t wish to disturb them as he walked down an alley and saw the matrimonial room. There were a pair of lanterns hung outside the door. He composed himself and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw faint white energy around the door and thought to himself, "The spell has already been erected, we shall now wait for him to consummate his marriage."

Pei Zi Yun didn’t walk into the room, but turned to an ancestral hall nearby.

The ancestral hall wasn’t very dark. As soon as Pei Zi Yun stepped in, he could feel a drastic change in atmosphere. It was the start of summer, yet the room felt cool and slightly dark.

Additionally, he could also feel a certain powerful resistance within the room, which felt like he was submerged underwater. Pei Zi Yun didn’t think much of it and he gazed upon the tablet. As soon as he entered the room, he noticed that tablet trembled.

Pei Zi Yun knew that this was the tablet of the Fang family. It could also be the Fang Emperor who might be angry with this arrangement. He then said, "Emperor Fang, you are veiled by the Imperial Qi and are blessed because you killed the Imperial Tutor. But right now, the Yin and Yang are side by side with one another."

"The Fang family has fallen, as your dynasty remains no longer. You son doesn’t hold any rank, and has neither land nor future. One look at the possessions he has and anyone can tell it looks very normal. And yet do you remember the outcome of the Imperial Tutor severing the Dragon Veins? He was condemned for it and yet who knows if the dynasty had committed similar atrocities without anyone finding out?"