Yuxuan lay on the ground – his back against the earth and his legs and arms stretched out, his face had a comically large smile on it.
'I succeeded!' – He yelled in his mind.
After Heaven's will, Fang Yuan was the greatest threat that this world had to offer; simultaneously, he was also the being that the world offered the most to – he had access to and knowledge of various inheritances, including venerable inheritances. Not only this, but from now to a while in the future, Heaven Will would give him assistance.
And above all of that, he had his 500 years of experience!
Yuxuan may have possessed great knowledge of the future and the things to come, but Fang Yuan had the fine details – for example, Yuxuan knew that there was a recipe for the Spring Autumn Cicada, but Fang Yuan had the recipe itself.
It was the same for various blessed lands and grotto heavens – he knew that there were a few in Black and White Heaven but not the general area.
Now with Fang Yuan in his grasp all of those resources belonged to him!
Yuxuan pushed himself off the ground and gazed at Fang Yuan, who was also lying on the ground unconscious – an effect of Endless Servitude Gu's activation.
'Raphael, how long will Fang Yuan remain unconcious?'
Fang Yuan has been placed to sleep as a side effect of Endless Servitude Gu's activation – he will wake up easily once someone nudges him.
Yuxuan's gaze trembled for a few seconds, thoughts swirling in his mind – 'I need to choose my path of action carefully from here onwards.'
Stepping over the unconscious Fang Yuan, Yuxuan squatted over his chest and poked him in the cheek.
"Hey, wake up." He continued to poke him.
Soon there was a groan, and Fang Yuan's eyes opened.
Yuxuan's green eyes met Fang Yuan's abyss-like black eyes, and then he spoke – "Greetings, Master."
Yuxuan shivered.
It was so horrifying seeing another human greet him like this. It was different from how Jing Xiao and Ah Niu treated him; the way that they did was because they were 'hired' to do so. It was also that Yuxuan was a Gu master and they were mortal.
What about Fang Yuan?
Fang Yuan was a servant, through and through – he was a slave essentially.
But no one can know about this.
Waking up Fang Yuan, Yuxuan gave his first command.
"Fang Yuan, even though you are my servant, you must act as if I am your friend – a close friend. Do not call me master – just use my name."
He paused for a second, sucking in a breath – "Also, you must carry on with your exact plans as you were planning to."
Fang Yuan looked at him and nodded simply.
This was good.
With the main orders being set that he must behave as himself and act how he was planning to, there would be no suspicion – Yuxuan also did not need to worry about being used by Fang Yuan from now on; in fact, Yuxuan could now help Fang Yuan accomplish many things.
Also, Fang Yuan would treat him as a friend from now on, meaning that he did not need to feel awkward having him greet him as master.
"Fang Yuan, do you want the liquor worm?"
There was a shift in the way Fang Yuan responded. It was a sort of detached response that seemed empty and yet excited at the same time.
'At least I know that the Gu did not interfere with his personality – only how he treats me'
"Do you know where it is?"
"I do, but I have a better option for your vital Gu."
Fang Yuan's gaze became curious.
He wanted the liquor worm for a vital Gu because, compared to the moonlight Gu, it simply had the ability to refine essence and aid his growth early and even later on – but who would not choose a rank 6 immortal Gu for a vital Gu?
Only a dullard!
"Look closely at your aperture."
For the next few seconds it was like Fang Yuan was not here anymore as he was looking within his aperture with great precision; suddenly he opened his eyes widely.
"This!"
Yuxuan watched him with a happy expression – "That's right, the spring-autumn cicada is your vital gu!"
Fang Yuan pressed his hand to his aperture and let out a smile.
Before either of them could speak again, there was a voice calling out from the direction that they had walked from – "Young master, where are you!?"
It was Jing Xiao.
It seemed that the young women had come searching for Yuxuan since he didn't come home yet. She had yet to notice them, so Yuxuan quickly thought of a plan.
"Fang Yuan, pretend to be drunk for a little while." - Yuxuan said while placing Fang Yuan's arm over his shoulder to make it seem as if he was helping the drunk.
Fang Yuan seemed to understand the intention, and suddenly, as if he were not perfectly sober, his eyes turned droopy and his words slurred.
"I… want to go to bed..."
'This old man is a good actor,' Yuxuan thought.
Just then Jing Xiao turned the corner of the trees and saw them – "Young Master, there you are!"
"Yeah, uh... Can you help me?"
Jing Xiao quickly made her way to them; her hands immediately moved to check if Yuxuan was okay.
"Is the young master okay?"
Her gaze was genuinely worried even though it wasn't solely for his safety – would the clan head not give her a mission as Yuxuan's servant? Of course he did – her goal was to ensure that Yuxuan was not hurt or targeted; even if her mortal life had to be expended, she should sacrifice herself.
If not, he would make her wish for death.
"I'm fine, Jing Xiao. Now, as I asked, can you help me out?"
She let out a relieved sigh – "I can carry him for you, master."
She moved a bit, but Yuxuan stopped her – "No, it's fine; I just need you to carry the wine bottle over there."
Jing Xiao did as she was asked and grabbed the bottle before running to catch up to Yuxuan, who had already started walking away.
"Young master, why are you two all the way out here...?"
Yuxuan was silent for a few seconds, thinking of an excuse that he can use in the future too.
"Fang Yuan was drunk, so I followed after him before he moved too far into the forest."
Jing Xiao looked at him curiously – "Are the 2 of you friends?"
"Yeah... Fang Yuan has a low aptitude but high intelligence; he offered to teach me what I missed in yesterday's class, but he got drunk..."
Jing Xiao looked at them with a sceptical look which disappeared quickly after Yuxuan continued to speak.
"I'm not sure if you knew since I didn't as a mortal... We usually got little news, but Fang Yuan was thought to become the clan's hope..."
Jing Xiao whispered, "Only for him to get a C-grade talent."
"Yeah, I noticed his sadness and also how he was isolated in the class, so I thought that being his friend was a good idea."
"That is very nice of you, young master."
"Yeah, I guess, but he really does seem like a good person."
Outwardly Yuxuan had a soft expression as he spoke, but inwardly Jing Xiao was laughing his head off – 'Good person...?' Hah!"
Fang Yuan may be a true person, but he was not a good person, not in the slightest.
Noticing Yuxuan's silence, Jing Xiao said nothing – her master was also a mortal up until very recently; he was also ostracised by everyone. To her it seemed that Yuxuan was trying to be friends with Fang Yuan, who was also ostracised.
After a while of walking the three of them made it to his house.
As they were walking, Yuxuan saw Ah Niu running from the other side and questioned Jing Xiao.
"Did you two look for me for long?"
"Yes, we started to search a few hours after your classes, but when I asked at the tavern, they said they saw you move that way."
"...Thank you for your concern."
He spoke softly; he was confused about how to feel right now – both Ah Niu and Jing Xiao would die soon, both absorbed to increase Fang Yuan's aptitude.
"It's our job, young master." - She smiled warmly.
By now Ah Niu had reached them both – "Young master, are you okay?!"
"I'm fine – let's go inside"inside."
He spoke and walked towards the door; when he did, he simply kicked it open and stepped in. After entering, he moved inside and walked up to his room. Jing Xiao and Ah Niu were waiting downstairs, so he would need to go down there for a bit and then come up to not incur any suspicion or place any ideas in their heads.
"Wait here; I will come, and we will discuss our plans from here on out."
Fang Yuan's eyes seemed to narrow as a smile curved his lip ever so slightly.
To Fang Yuan, the liquor worm may not become his vital gu since he already had a much better option, but he still had major use for it. He had not expected to locate the gu this quickly, but now that his friend had its location, he could begin cultivation earlier and even break through the middle stage before everyone – aside from his friend, of course.
"Okay."
Turning away from Fang Yuan, Yuxuan stepped out of the room and went downstairs – as he did, he saw his two servants sitting there at the table. His eyes shifted from them to the table itself – more specifically, the things on it.
There was a grass puppet, a jar of green bamboo wine and a few packages of meat.
"You got the items I wanted."
"Of course, young master," they responded.
"Jing Xiao, could you prepare me some bath water?"
The girl woke from her chair and went to perform the task; she was still in the same room since the kitchen was where the water was stored. Yuxuan was about to give his next order.
"You guys don't need to worry about my safety – I know my way around."
"But..." - Jing Xiao was not able to complete her statement.
"In the future, do not come looking for me unless I don't return by the next sunrise – that is an order."
Now that Fang Yuan was under his control, he had many plans for his development as well as his own development – if Ah Niu and Jing Xiao ever saw them doing something they should not, such as the flower wine monks' inheritance that they would soon acquire, Yuxuan would have to dispose of them.
Both servants looked at him deeply accepting their fate – neither could reveal that they were mortal meat shields for him according to the clan leader, and they knew he had incredible senses.
They sat there in silence for the rest of the time.
"Ah, Niu, you can go rest if you want."
"Young master, I must keep guard."
Yuxuan shook his head – "Fang Yuan is in my bed; I won't be sleeping tonight – go and rest."
The big man gave Yuxuan a complicated look but decided to listen – unlike Jing Xiao, who just got a slap. Ah Niu was hit pretty bad, and so the pain had kept him awake; since he barely got any sleep, any time he could get to sleep was not going to be refused.
He woke up and walked towards his small quarters.
Soon after, Yuxuan woke up and walked to Jing Xiao, who was stirring the pot.
"Jing Xiao, you can go rest too. I will take care of it."
She jumped with a startle and turned around instantly; the ladle in her hand hit him in the face. It seemed that Yuxuan's shadow path dao marks that came with the body increased his stealth.
Realising what she had done, her eyes started to water and her body began to tremble – "Young master, I'm so sorry; please forgive me!"
Yuxuan let out a sigh.
"It's fine; just go and rest."
She did not object in the fear that he would get mad.
Yuxuan watched her walk away.
The master must learn to be more ruthless.
'Hey, I'm not from this world, okay? Having this slave thing is still weird to me.'
...
Raphael did not say anything.
Yuxuan was not a Gu world native; he was not used to treating people as less than him. People like Jing Xiao and Ah Niu, who had been disowned and sold off by their parents, had a soft spot in his heart even if he did not want them to.
Using a cloth to take the water off, he left it on the table and put out the fire with a bit of it.
Afterwards, he moved with the pot to the bathroom.
Sitting there again, he let out a satisfied sigh as he started to wash himself – at the same time, he called on Raphael again.
'Raphael?'
Yes, Master?
'Where do I go from here?'
I do not understand the question – can Master be more specific?
'Now that I have Fang Yuan under my control, what do you think I should do? We could leave Gu Yue Village right now and start life as an immortal.'
It was true. In less than a month Yuxuan would have immortal essence stones, which he can use to start trading in Treasure Yellow Heaven.
Or he could slaughter the Gu village right now. With the sovereign immortal body, more than 90% of mortal attacks could do nothing to him – or alternatively, he could place all of the villagers into his aperture.
That is not recommended.
He had expected to hear that, but he wanted to know Raphael's thoughts – 'What should I do?'
I recommend that Master keep to the story as much as possible – it will allow you to make use of your knowledge.
That was true.
'So, tomorrow, what should I do?'
It is recommended to get the liquor license.
That was a good plan of action if he was going to stick to the story while making things better for him and Fang Yuan.
Yuxuan knew the location of the flower wine monks' corpse and his inheritance; getting it and giving it to Fang Yuan would increase his cultivation speed quickly while also saving Fang Yuan primaeval stones since Fang Yuan would spend at minimum 14 stones on wine wasted on looking for the worm.
'Wait a damn minute.'
A thought appeared in his mind.
Fang Yuan had spent large amounts of time uncovering each stage of the trial, dealing with all the trials set up by the flower wine monk, but that was largely because he didn't know much about it and was playing it safe, also because of his lack of Gu.
'But with my body's strength alone I can complete the trials in less than a day!'
That is true.
He started to laugh in the bathroom to himself.
'This is going to be interesting'
interesting.'