Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 56 An Apology and Mutual Relief (4.5 thousand words)
Yin Xiaojian had no idea how she got from the depths of the main practice hall to the front hall, and then to the outside of the hall.

He only knew that he seemed to be following in Fang Shu's footsteps, and drifted to the front yard in a daze.

"Brother Fang, please wait. Today, our old servant has committed a crime. I hope you will forgive him and explain the situation to the headmaster in detail, so as not to damage the harmony between our two establishments."

“Your brother is too kind. I was just a little agitated today. I hope you can also explain to the owner of the Shaowei Restaurant on my behalf. I actually have quite a history with your restaurant.”

"Haha, absolutely right. Brother Fang is already half a member of the Burning Tail Pavilion, and now he's also practicing our lead kung fu. We're all family."

"Farewell."

Yin Xiaojian only woke up with a start when Fang Shu's voice signaled that he was leaving.

He stood at the gate of the courtyard, his eyes darting towards Fang Shu. He wanted to go forward, but he didn't dare. He even felt a little guilty, afraid that his mistake of taking Fang Shu's chance to enter the museum would be exposed.

Before leaving, Fang Shu noticed that this fellow had actually come out, so he nodded to Yin Xiaojian.

Upon being glanced at by Fang Shu, Yin Xiaojian's expression immediately became more excited.

Feeling ashamed of his own appearance, he couldn't help but straighten his chest and hurriedly returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Brother Fang, take care..." Yin Xiaojian forced a smile and wanted to walk outside the courtyard to see him off, but Fang Shu had already stepped over the threshold and left gracefully.

This made Yin Xiaojian stop speaking, and he could only look away in disappointment.

However, his gaze quickly shifted to the adopted son of the curator next to him—the white dog.

So Yin Xiaojian, with a fawning yet self-satisfied smile, cupped her hands in greeting and shamelessly began to chat:
“Brother Ling, this Brother Fang Shu is an old brother of mine.”

Unexpectedly, Ling Baiquan, who had just been chatting and laughing with Fang Shu, now had an indifferent expression and glanced at Yin Xiaojian:
"You, do you even deserve to be brothers with the inner disciples of the Solitary Gu Sect, especially someone you squeezed out of the sect?"

The white dog's lips curled into a mocking smile.

These words froze Yin Xiaojian's expression, and his eyes clearly showed bewilderment and panic. He didn't understand why the white dog knew about this.

Suddenly, the white dog's gaze involuntarily fell on Yin Xiaojian's feet.

The man frowned further and said with disgust:
"What kind of person are you to deserve wearing the same shoes as me?"

The shoes they were both wearing were from the same tailor shop. Yin Xiaojian had secretly sold some of her own money to buy them to keep up with the trend in the store.

After buying these shoes, he gained a lot of confidence, and they became a common way for him to strike up conversations with people.

Now that the white dog despises her so much, Yin Xiaojian's bewilderment deepens.

He stammered as if he wanted to say something, but the adopted son of the patron was too lazy to pay attention to him at all. He casually scolded him and left on his own.

At the courtyard gate, only Yin Xiaojian remained standing there, looking like a wilted eggplant, her body shrunken.

As a result, this guy couldn't muster any energy all day, and he felt even more bored hanging out among the outer disciples who hadn't even entered the Dao. He felt like he was completely unworthy of being on the same level.

As night fell, the outer disciples in the hall discussed food and women during their meal.

Yin Xiaojian, mingling among them, finally began to speak fluently, regaining some of his spirits. He even began to look down on the novice children in the outer courtyard.

But once the crowd dispersed, some continued practicing their exercises, while others washed up.

Yin Xiaojian felt as if a cat was scratching at her chest, and a surge of anger welled up inside her, but she didn't know where to vent it.

"Damn it! I need to vent too." Gritting his teeth, Yin Xiaojian couldn't hold back again.

He grabbed his empty purse, left the Shaowei Inn, and walked deeper into the market.

..............................

the other side.

After leaving the Burning Tail Pavilion, Fang Shu remained vigilant on the way and quickly returned to the Solitary Gu Pavilion.

Upon returning to the inn, he immediately sought out Du Yu'er, asking where Master Du was and what he needed to report.

Not long after.

He then honestly recounted what he had done at the Shaowei Restaurant, even detailing his grudge against the manager, Xiao Hu.

After saying that, he took out the fragment of the name card and the Lead Refining Technique manual that he had obtained.

Just as Fang Shu had predicted.

The owner of the teahouse heard his words but continued to sip his tea leisurely, showing no surprise or intention to reprimand him. Instead, when he heard Fang Shu finally intervene, a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

When he heard that Fang Shu had actually defeated a second-tribulation immortal, even though the other party was a pampered fellow, the Du Guanzhu's lips curled into a clear smile.

After Fang Shu finished speaking, the owner of the inn said indifferently:

"Well done. As a member of the immortal family, you know when to advance and when to retreat, and you know when to yield and when to stand firm. But you can't keep your frustration inside. If you can clear your mind, then you can clear your mind."

This is beneficial for practicing the exercises, especially during the refinement of essence stage.

Fang Shu was slightly taken aback when he heard this.

His mind immediately stirred, and he summoned the Daoist talisman.

He noticed that a line of text in the Taoist talisman had changed compared to when he left. However, Fang Shu was so excited after taking action that he hadn't paid much attention to this detail.

And these words are:

[Realm Level: First Tribulation Refining Human Immortal (37% complete)]

After fighting someone, Fang Shu not only had no hidden injuries, but his cultivation progress actually increased by "eight points" in one go.

This is already almost 10% progress!
This clearly proves that the saying by the owner of the pavilion, "A clear mind helps with cultivation," is not false.

Fang Shu continued to be distracted, focusing his attention on the Daoist talisman and examining it closely.

He discovered that the reason his cultivation had made some progress was not only because his pent-up emotions were released and he felt comfortable, but also because his blood and qi had been violently boiling during the battle, his spirit had been fiercely infused, and he had been tempered by Xiao Hu's blood pressure.

All of these things did not arise out of thin air.

Rather, it was the release of the medicinal power and vital energy that he had accumulated in his body in the past, which was equivalent to a "great accumulation that finally burst forth".

In an instant, Fang Shu's eyes flickered. Having tasted the sweetness of victory, the urge to practice with someone resurfaced in his heart.

The owner of the private club glanced at Fang Shu, then suddenly gave instructions:
"Oh, right, there's one more thing you should know."

Fang Shu suddenly came to his senses and cupped his hands in greeting: "Master, please speak."

The owner of the inn put down his teacup, but instead of placing it on the table, he suddenly splashed it onto Fang Shu's feet.

Fang Shu stared intently, suppressing the urge to look away, and looked directly at his shoes that had been splashed with water.

He immediately heard the owner of the private club speak:
"As for what these words mean, you should stay here and think about it. If you can't figure it out, don't leave."

The words fell.

The owner of the private residence put down his teacup, and the other party left the council hall on his own, leaving Fang Shu alone in the hall as if he were being punished.

However, the owner of the guesthouse was unaware that she didn't need to say these words to Fang Shu at all.

Because after Fang Shu defeated the manager Xiao Hu, his first thought was not "it's nothing special" or "I understand."

What he was thinking was that as long as his cultivation level was not at the second tribulation of refining essence, or was close to the second tribulation of refining essence and possessed a second tribulation magic weapon, he could not leave the market and rush to the lead mountain mine to search for treasure!

This is because, during his battle with Xiao Hu, Fang Shu deeply witnessed the difference between a first-tribulation immortal and a second-tribulation immortal.

That pampered old man, Xiao Hu, whose future was ruined, was actually able to fight him to a standstill. If it were a normal Second Tribulation Immortal who could use magic... the outcome would be far more uncertain!
In the council chamber, Fang Shu stared at his shoes, let out a long breath, and muttered to himself:
"If you walk along the shore often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet."

This sentence should be what the owner of the pavilion wanted to say but hadn't yet.

Avoid arrogance and impatience, and never lose heart or become discouraged.

Fang Shu recalled the feeling of fighting in the Shaowei Hall. He immediately set up his boxing stance in the council hall and practiced punches again and again, driving his blood and qi, cleansing his muscles and bones, and calming the restlessness in his heart.

A surge of heat emanated from his body, and his vital energy and essence swirled fiercely, as if a fire had broken out in the hall.

In an instant, Fang Shu became completely absorbed in practicing the exercises.

He was unaware of the internal and external worlds, nor the passage of time; he only felt that his own vital energy was extremely vigorous, like a river surging.

Cracking and popping.

When he finished work, his muscles and bones crackled like frying soybeans, and his muscles trembled so much that mosquitoes could hardly attach themselves to him.

When Fang Shu came to his senses, he looked up and found that the hall was dark and it was already late. He had been practicing for several hours straight.

In a daze, Fang Shu felt physically and mentally exhausted and hungry, his whole body aching as if he could eat a whole cow, yet he also felt extremely comfortable, with his blood and energy more active than ever before.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he looked at the Daoist talisman in his mind again and found that the realm section had changed once more:

[Realm: First Tribulation Refining Human Immortal (42% complete)]

His cultivation progress has actually increased by another half percent!
In just one day, Fang Shu's cultivation level increased by 13% and his blood and qi level rose to more than 14 feet!
A surge of joy and exhilaration filled Fang Shu's chest, making him feel incredibly happy!
In addition to that, there is another piece of good news.

Fang Shu's attention shifted outward, his eyes sharp and penetrating, and he immediately noticed two more books placed on the table where the teacups had been.

He stepped forward and looked at it, his eyes showing surprise and understanding at the same time.

The two extra books were titled "Complete Manual of the Secret Methods of Lead, Mercury, Blood, Treasure, Seed, and Weapon" and "Complete Manual of the Secret Sword Techniques of the Mouth and Abdomen."

Fang Shu immediately flipped through the pages and found that the former contained the content of the first to third tribulations of the Lead Skill, while the latter contained the method of refining the Long Tongue Sword for the first to third tribulations.

Without a doubt, this should be the apology and compensation from Shaowei Restaurant. It's just unclear whether Shaowei Restaurant offered it voluntarily or whether the owner of the restaurant helped him obtain it.

Fang Shu quickly put away the secret manual on the table.

He then bowed respectfully to the Five Poisons painting hanging on the wall before calmly leaving.

..............................

at the same time.

Inside the Burning Tail Pavilion.

After the steward Xiao Hu fainted again in the hall, he was hurriedly carried into a quiet room to rest by a group of servants.

I heard that halfway there, a servant accidentally slammed this guy's right leg hard against a pillar, but even that didn't wake him up; he just twitched a little.

Xiao Hu remained unconscious until nightfall.

The white dog accompanied his daughter and watched over her outside the room for a long time until a disciple from the academy came to deliver a message that the academy master had summoned him. Only then did he leave the quiet room.

After leaving the room, the white dog squinted and glanced into the room, a mocking smile appearing on its face.

"Old dog, you can really sleep."

He only slightly raised the corners of his mouth before suppressing it again. He quickly composed himself and rushed to the master's quiet room to await questioning.

I waited for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

"Dog, come in."

A hoarse voice came from inside the room.

There was a thin old man sitting on a bamboo couch, with an incense burner in front of him, incense burning and wisps of smoke rising.

He ordered the white dog to enter, then immediately bowed and said:

"Greetings, Master."

The old man smiled slightly and instructed, "Don't call me Master in private, just call me Godfather."

"Yes, Godfather," the white dog obediently replied.

This old man was the master of the Burning Tail Pavilion. He and the master of the Solitary Gu Pavilion were both masters in the market, having been trained by a celestial sect and sent down the mountain to cultivate talents.

"I am aware of what happened today. You did well, you were prudent and steady, you did not interfere recklessly, and you did not ruin the relationship between the two institutions because of that scoundrel Xiao Hu."

The owner of the Burnt Tail Inn looked at the white dog with satisfaction.

Then he frowned again and said unhappily, "It seems that Xiao Hu is really used to flattering superiors and bullying subordinates. He doesn't even like my former disciple, his fellow disciples."

Not only did they refuse to accept his nephew, but they also tried to steal his tuition fees and hire people as servants.

At this point, the head of the Burning Tail Hall's face darkened: "If this matter gets out, the reputation that I and generations of disciples have worked so hard to build will be tarnished!"

Upon hearing this, the white dog cupped its hands and spoke:

"Father, rest assured, I have already instructed all the servants in the hall that day. The Dugu Hall has always maintained good relations with our hall, and although Fang Shu is young, he is not someone who does not know his place."

As they spoke, the white dog recounted his conversation with Fang Shu when he saw Fang Shu off, word for word.

Upon hearing this, the owner of the Burnt Tail Restaurant's expression softened considerably.

The man looked at the white dog with satisfaction and praised it:
"Indeed, methodical and poised. It seems that my choice of you as the face and your brother White Wolf as the inside was indeed wise! With you here, all the miscellaneous affairs of this establishment will be handled smoothly, and your brother and I can have peace of mind."

However, the person did not notice that when the white dog heard the words "face" and "substance," his eyes unconsciously darkened, and the joy in his eyes faded somewhat.

"Godfather, you flatter me," Ling Baiquan replied with a smile that showed no sign of anything amiss.

The owner of the shokuji restaurant sized him up, a smile appearing on his face:
"That's too kind of you. Although our school lost an ordinary inner disciple because of Xiao Hu, this incident has also made me realize that our school has gained an excellent young master."

The white dog's expression changed, and he suddenly raised his head to look at the owner of the Burning Tail Hall: "What did you mean by that, Godfather?"

On the bamboo couch, the lean old man smiled and said:
"Xiao Hu is an unkind, unjust, and disloyal person. After being raised for ten years, I heard that he was even promoted to some kind of 'chief steward' by people inside and outside the academy. He has become quite fat, which is a fair reward for him."

It's time for him to relinquish his many positions at the institution and hand them over to you. That would be a fair settlement for that widowed woman.

The owner of the Burning Tail Pavilion sighed softly: "However, Xiao Hu is, after all, one of my first disciples. Let's keep his title as manager."

The white dog said excitedly:
"Yes, foster father!"

After a heartfelt conversation, the white dog received instructions from the owner of the Burning Tail Pavilion to personally deliver the two secret manuals to the Solitary Gu Pavilion before withdrawing.

Even after completely leaving the owner's quiet room and letting the white dog walk on the road, he was still very excited.

He hadn't expected that Xiao Hu's status in his godfather's eyes was even lower than he had imagined.

"As expected, for the dojo, the inner disciples are the only ones who are on their side, while the managers and servants are nothing more than house-guarding pigs and dogs!"

For a moment, the white dog's eyes flickered, and he thought to himself:
"Fang Shu, it seems I should thank you. You've shown me the true nature of that Xiao fellow; he's nothing but a paper tiger."

So when retrieving the cultivation manual, the white dog's gaze drifted to a certain manual on the bookshelf with blood-red characters.

This person harbors a sinister thought.

In an instant, the gaze shifted from Fang Shu to Xiao Hu, and a strong look of covetous greed appeared on his face.

(End of this chapter)