Chapter 41: Everyone Has Their Weakness

After Jiang Wang left, the wall behind Fang Zehou suddenly slid open, revealing a hidden door. Fang Heling, tied entirely to a chair, was pushed out in an extremely humiliating posture.

Moonwatch Tower was originally a Fang family business. That was why Fang Pengju had chosen this place to plot against Jiang Wang back then.

Fang Zehou raised his hand, and only then did the Fang family retainer pushing Fang Heling release the restriction on his tongue and remove the ropes.

But Fang Heling did not move.

He slumped in the chair like a puddle of mud.

It turned out that earlier, he had been listening to the conversation in the private room under the retainer’s watch the entire time, unable to speak or move.

“As you saw,” Fang Zehou said, “he defeated you with real strength. There were no tricks or schemes. Between you and Jiang Wang, there is a naked gap you simply failed to notice.”

Fang Heling did not speak, but the look he gave his father almost carried a trace of pleading.

It seemed to say: Please, stop talking.

“As you saw, your father lost all face because of you,” Fang Zehou continued.

The light in Fang Heling’s eyes scattered as he lowered them.

Fang Zehou walked up to him, reached out, and pinched his face, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“As you saw, because of you, our Fang family has been looked down upon!” Fang Zehou said.

Tears rolled from Fang Heling’s eyes.

He reached out as if trying to stop them, even as if trying to stuff the tears back in, but that resistance was so feeble.

He simply had no way to stop himself from being as weak as a dog.

And Fang Zehou’s voice continued:

“For you, I suppressed the resources meant for your cousin. For you, I gave up countless benefits just to win you a chance to enter the inner academy. For you, I can endure any grievance.”

“And you?!”

“Before everyone’s eyes, you became the laughingstock of all Maple Forest City. Now you’ve even given up on yourself and become like a useless cripple. You have made me, Fang Zehou, into a joke as well!”

“I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to…”

Fang Heling shook his head, murmuring and weeping at the same time, before finally shouting:

“I didn’t want things to become like this either!”

“Then prove it to me!” Fang Zehou roared.

This middle-aged man, this man who had already seized great power within the Fang family, loosened the strength in his hand.

He instead held Fang Heling’s face with both hands and said slowly:

“Then prove it to me… my son.”

…

After leaving Moonwatch Tower, Jiang Wang’s steps were not heavy.

To be honest, after entering the inner academy, he had no longer worried about the Fang family doing anything to him.

The so-called Fang family of Maple Forest City might be wealthy and powerful, but compared to the dao academy, what did they count for?

As long as Jiang Wang advanced fiercely in cultivation, sooner or later he would gain an official post in the State of Zhuang. Perhaps he would even secure a fine position in the capital, New Peace City.

The local gentry and great clans of Maple Forest City were not worth paying too much attention to.

Only today, when Fang Zehou mentioned Jiang An’an, had Jiang Wang truly felt killing intent.

Even if the Fang family did nothing else, simply ordering some of their clan’s children to bully An’an at school was something Jiang Wang could not tolerate.

Some grievances, he could endure.

But An’an could not.

Their father was already dead. Her mother had remarried.

Jiang An’an only had him.

“Are you full… Hey! You’re still wiping on my clothes!”

Jiang Wang reached out and pulled Jiang An’an’s little head away.

She was being held in his arms and had been secretly rubbing her oily mouth against his shoulder.

Jiang An’an blinked her big eyes. Her little mouth was already clean, but she pouted very innocently.

“You didn’t wipe my little hands…”

Jiang Wang instantly surrendered. His voice was full of helplessness.

“Look at me. Is there anywhere on me still clean… Do as you like.”

He had given up on himself.

Jiang An’an busily wiped her little hands here and there, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

“What did you just say?”

“I asked whether you… sigh!”

Jiang Wang sighed and directly said, “Cai’s Mutton Shop?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Jiang An’an nodded wildly. She stretched out her little hands, held her brother’s face, and turned it to the left.

“Go this way!”

Jiang Wang leaned his head back in disgust.

“I know the way!”

Jiang An’an was already cheering.

“Hyah~!”

So Jiang Wang carried Jiang An’an and turned toward the mutton shop.

“Oh right, Teacher said you need to go to the private school tomorrow,” Jiang An’an said, this time truly remembering something.

Jiang Wang frowned.

“Did your teacher say what it was about?”

Little An’an thought for a while, then buried her head against Jiang Wang’s chest and said muffledly:

“I don’t know.”

Jiang Wang immediately became deeply worried.

…

At the same time, inside the City Lord’s Manor, a conversation that existed only between Dong A and Wei Quji was taking place.

“…If it really is as I suspect, then with this bait, there’s no need to worry they won’t bite. Once those demons jump out, we’ll close the net in one sweep and kill them all cleanly!”

Wei Quji clenched his fist and swung it.

“That is the entire plan.”

“The plan is very meticulous.”

Dong A nodded, his expression still showing no fluctuation.

“But I don’t think it has much meaning.”

“Why?”

“Do you think…”

Dong A looked at him with mockery in his eyes.

“The people who created the Xiaolin Town massacre still have any need to appear in Maple Forest City?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t understand this White Bone Dao you speak of, nor do I know how attractive that thing you worked so hard to obtain really is. But for an event as major as the Three Cities Discussion of the Dao, Maple Forest City will be heavily guarded. Is that thing truly worth them taking such a huge risk?”

“Fools could not possibly have played us in the palm of their hands and sacrificed Xiaolin Town right under our noses!”

“Besides, you’re not certain they are the White Bone Dao, are you?”

“Then this is the only way to try, Dong A! The Xiaolin Town incident has already passed so long ago. This manor cannot fail to provide an explanation!”

“But how much confidence do you have? Are you going to gamble with the safety of all the people of Maple Forest City?”

“Maple Forest City is this manor’s city. This manor has already made up his mind!”

Dong A slammed the table and rose.

“Maple Forest City is the State of Zhuang’s Maple Forest City!”

“Dong A, think about it.”

Wei Quji had no choice but to soften his attitude slightly.

“In Qin, in Jing, even in our neighboring Yong State! Could they do something like this there? Sacrificing an entire town! Thousands of people, and generations of souls that should have been at rest!”

“The Clear River Water Manor moves slightly, and the armies of the entire Clear River Commandery must adjust their defenses. A single Heart-Devouring Fiend appears, and the Punishment Division of all Clear River Commandery swarms after him. The enemy knows us thoroughly, while we know nothing about them!”

“Do you still want to see such a thing happen again?”

“It is time. We must find out something about them!”

Dong A sat down heavily.

“Yes. We both bear responsibility. Those people who died unjustly—among the names they hated and cursed before death, yours should be there, and mine should be there too.”

His voice was weary.

“Proceed according to your plan. The dao academy will cooperate. If those demons truly appear again, then let me see… whether good and evil receive their due.”

“If those people really are from the White Bone Dao, then the Nether Candle should be very important to them. After all, it was something taken from there…”

“No matter what, I will fully cooperate with you this time. I hope the Three Cities Discussion of the Dao does not become the laughingstock of Clear River Commandery.”

“They may come, or they may not. But this manor can only try,” Wei Quji murmured.

Then he asked, “That Zhu Weiwo, can he truly not make it back? Nothing will happen to him, right?”

“His battlefield is not here.”

Dong A turned his head slightly, as though through the window he could see somewhere beyond the distant sky.

“He is someone destined to shine in the national dao academy. Giving him a slot would only be a waste. As for the Three Cities Discussion of the Dao slot, I hope Zhang Linchuan can win it.”

“In that case, Maple Forest City will have two talents for the national dao academy. Your plan is quite perfect.”

“I will guide them with all my strength. Consider it my tiny, insignificant redemption.”

In the dark room, someone sighed.

The chairs were empty.

…

…

(Thank you to book friends Shen Ayao, Ludan Yimijiu, and Huang Azhan for your rewards! Also, about rewards, please act within your means and don’t force yourselves. Just give me all your recommendation votes! If you have time, please help recommend this book. Thank you, everyone! Let’s work hard together!)

(End of Chapter)