She opened her mouth, "Fang Yuan, why did you disappear for these three days? If you hadn't shown up, your name would have been listed in the casualties announcement in the medicine hall, in the list of the Gu Masters who died in battle. You disappeared for three days and three nights, and when you come back, you are already a Rank three Gu Master. What happened during these days? Heh heh, I believe everyone here is interested in your explanation."
Realizing she could no longer pressure Fang Yuan easily, Gu Yue Yao Ji softened her tone, though her words still carried hidden malice.
She was, after all, a veteran political figure with high seniority.
The elders' eyes lit up with interest—Fang Yuan's sudden Rank three advancement was indeed suspicious, especially given his known C-grade aptitude.
Her words swayed some elders back to her side.
But Fang Yuan wouldn't have returned so boldly without being prepared.
Under everyone's gazes, he raised his head and laughed, "Old woman, what you want to know, am I obliged to tell you? However… hearing the pitiful news of your granddaughter's death, I will benevolently tell you. During the past few days, I have been in closed door cultivation in Elder Chi Lian's manor, trying to breakthrough to Rank three. This point can be verified by Elder Gu Yue Chi Lian!"
"What?" Gu Yue Yao Ji revealed a startled look.
The other elders were stunned, their faces showing all sorts of mixed reactions.
All eyes quickly turned to the grim-faced Gu Yue Chi Lian.
As the Chi faction leader and one of the clan's top powers, his expression was so dark it seemed ready to rain.
However in front of everyone's gazes, he knew he needed to give an explanation, thus he reluctantly replied, "It is indeed so. I can testify that Fang Yuan has been in a closed door cultivation in a secret room in my manor during these past few days."
The instance these words came out, the whole crowd went in an uproar.
The elders possessed deep restraint, they wouldn't lose their bearings and make a scene. However, there were many whispers and mutterings.
"To think Gu Yue Chi Lian actually had relations with Fang Yuan!"
"Fang Yuan's advancement is related to Chi Lian?"
"There is a great probability! Didn't people speculate that Fang Yuan had someone supporting him from behind the scenes? To think it was the Chi faction."
"Maybe the reason for Fang Yuan's fast cultivation speed is because of Chi faction pouring resources to him. Fang Yuan is Fang Zheng's older brother, Elder Chi Lian's actions have a very profound meaning."
Some elders discussed whereas some elders' mind were flipping over.
"It turns out this Fang Yuan wasn't a junior with no one to guide his steps, he has the help from Chi faction. We need to be cautious towards him in the future."
"Fortunately, we didn't interfere and jump into the fight between Fang Yuan and Yao Ji."
"Yao Ji is in a dangerous predicament, she wanted to deal with an elder who didn't have any backing, but she could never have had expected that his background was so solid. It's actually the Chi faction!"
Gu Yue Yao Ji's face turned pale.
When Gu Yue Chi Lian confirmed it, she staggered back, her body slightly trembling.
Facing a lone elder was one thing—going against someone supported by the Chi faction was entirely different.
Gu Yue Mo Chen felt a heavy weight in his heart.
He had once considered recruiting Fang Yuan but gave up due to his low aptitude.
Now, his longtime rival Gu Yue Chi Lian had already aligned with Fang Yuan, seemingly supporting him for over a year.
That gamble had paid off—Chi Lian now had a new elder under his faction.
It was hard not to feel regret.
Yet beyond that, Mo Chen also felt puzzled.
He had known Chi Lian for decades, to the point that he knew what colour of underwear his rival liked to wear. Normally, Chi Lian would be gloating by now, casting smug looks his way.
But instead, he looked as if he'd just suffered a loss. It didn't add up. What had happened between him and Fang Yuan? What deal had they struck?
Mo Chen couldn't figure it out.
"This Fang Yuan, his guts are greater than the heavens, to think he would actually threaten me!" Gu Yue Chi Lian's heart was filled with anger and perplexity.
The night before, Fang Yuan had secretly confronted him, using the secret of 'Gu Yue Chi Cheng's fake aptitude' as leverage.
How could Fang Yuan, an outsider, know such a critical secret that only he, Chi Lian, and Chi Cheng were aware of?!
Chi Cheng was actually a C-grade, but Chi Lian had publicly portrayed him as B-grade to protect the Chi faction's interests.
If exposed, it would shatter their credibility—Chi Lian's reputation would be ruined, and with a C-grade heir, the faction's future would crumble.
Fang Yuan knowing this meant he now held the Chi faction's fatal weakness.
At that moment, Chi Lian nearly struck Fang Yuan in rage but held back. He didn't know if Fang Yuan had told others or hidden evidence somewhere.
"Pacify him first, understand the situation, then eliminate him! I cannot leave this threat hanging!" That was his thought at the time.
But soon after, Fang Yuan revealed his Rank three cultivation.
Stunned, Chi Lian had no choice but to switch to cooperation.
Killing a clan elder was as grave as cheating and would bring serious consequences.
Also, battling a Rank three Gu Master would take time and attract attention.
Clashing with Fang Yuan offered no gain — only greater risks for the Chi faction.
"Although Fang Yuan has a hold on me, a shared secret is also a form of collaboration." Finally, Chi Lian could only convince himself to comfort his heart. Fang Yuan's threat was so sudden, so he could not tell how many safety nets Fang Yuan had in place, thus he could only go along with it.
But now, Fang Yuan boldly dragged him in to divert attention, completely throwing him under the bus.
Yet even knowing this, what could Gu Yue Chi Lian do?
This time, Fang Yuan slowly spoke again, "Gu Yue Yao Ji, I know your heart is in a mess now. Yes, that B-grade talent granddaughter of yours is dead, and without a proper corpse, your medicine faction is now without an inheritor. But a C-grade talent like myself advanced to Rank three instead, so you feel anxious and indignant, thus your fury is directed at me. I understand that."
"What did you say?!" Gu Yue Yao Ji stared widely, uncontrollable anger rising, "You little wretch, I'm telling you Yao Le is not dead."
Fang Yuan laughed loudly, shrugging nonchalantly, "Her matter of life or death, what does it have to do with me? Yao Ji, you don't have to emphasize that."
"But!" He suddenly twisted, "Gu Yue Yao Ji, in order to find your granddaughter, you assembled search parties and wasted much human and material resources. That concerns me, the clan elders here, and even the clan leader. Gu Yue Yao Ji, letting you lead the medicine hall, that is because of our trust. But what have you done? You dispatched the medicine hall's healing Gu Masters out to search for your granddaughter, leaving those injured and crippled Gu Masters in distress. You are too selfish! Yao Le's sacrifice, it is indeed the clan's loss. But you further worsened our loss, you are not fit to be our medicine hall clan elder at all!!"
Fang Yuan's words struck deep, exposing Yao Ji's weakness and pain.
But his point was valid.
Many elders frowned inwardly.
Every faction had losses, yet Yao Ji had abused her power, prioritizing the search for her granddaughter over the crisis at hand.
"You… you!" Gu Yue Yao Ji was so angry her body was trembling, her finger pointing to Fang Yuan, unable to say another word.
Fang Yuan's gaze was cold and indifferent, staring at her with no fear.
To the clan elders, protecting the clan's rules were akin to protecting their own interests.
Gu Yue Yao Ji's actions these days did infringe on their interests!
"This Fang Yuan… bastard! Fucking bastard!" Gu Yue Yao Ji shuddered, not knowing that Gu Yue Chi Lian was also angered to the point of fuming.
Fang Yuan's actions pushed Yao Ji to the brink, and her anger would surely extend to the Chi faction, now seen as Fang Yuan's backers.
But in truth, the Chi faction was innocent.
Would Gu Yue Chi Lian really be so foolish as to provoke Yao Ji, the most senior and well-connected elder?
He shrank back, silently praying the other elders wouldn't link him to this.
Fang Yuan was acting alone — the Chi faction had nothing to do with it!
Yet Fang Yuan's next words shattered that illusion completely.
He turned around and reported to the clan leader Gu Yue Bo, "Clan leader, I highly doubt Gu Yue Yao Ji's ability to continue leading the medicine hall. I suggest, we temporarily revoke her title of medicine hall clan elder and hold a thorough assessment of her. Each one of the clan's healing Gu Masters are precious to us. We cannot let her waste them like this. Otherwise, the ones that suffer the most are the brave Gu Masters that fight using their lives for our precious clan!"
Pausing momentarily, he continued, "This suggestion of mine, elder Chi Lian is also very supportive of."
"What?!" Gu Yue Yao Ji's iris shrunk as her face changed colours.
"What?!" The clan elders were all taken aback. To hear of Gu Yue Chi Lian's forthright attitude like this, does it mean that he was unhappy with Yao Ji from long ago and has been lusting after the huge benefits in her possessions, wanting to get a piece of the pie?
"WHAT?!" As the person in question, Gu Yue Chi Lian nearly jumped from his seat.
How could he not be furious?
Fang Yuan's antics were driving him mad!
Not only did Fang Yuan offend Gu Yue Yao Ji, he also dragged him down with him.
Chi Lian had aimed for cooperation with the medicine faction, but all that was ruined by Fang Yuan's one sentence.
Fang Yuan was framing him, spreading lies right in front of everyone.
Yet as the Chi faction head, Chi Lian was trapped by Fang Yuan's threat and powerless to retaliate!
"Oh, Elder Chi Lian, you support this?" Gu Yue Bo's gaze shone as he asked.
Gu Yue Chi Lian clenched his jaw and stood up slowly.
He forced himself not to look at Fang Yuan, afraid his anger would explode.
For now, he was helpless against Fang Yuan and could only continue pretending.
"Revoking Yao Ji's title, this is Fang Yuan's sole idea. With the threat of the wolf tide, suddenly changing people is not appropriate. However, I do agree that elder Yao Ji has deviated from the role of the healing Gu Masters due to her personal feelings. If these efforts were placed into the right areas, it would reduce our clan's loss to a great extent." Saying so, his heart was bleeding.
He had no intention of fully complying with Fang Yuan, only trying to balance both sides for his own benefit.
But just after he spoke, he heard a dull thud.
Turning back, he saw Gu Yue Yao Ji collapse backward, coughing up blood from sheer fury.
It was a disaster!