txolops Chapter 17 How Many Heroes Are There in the World?
Chapter 17 How Many Heroes Are There in the World?
As the night deepened and all was quiet, the world fell silent.
Only a single, clear moonlight remained between heaven and earth.
Deep within the Fang family compound, a room is always brightly lit.
The jade artifacts in the room glowed with a faint light, and the room was filled with the lingering scent of cosmetics. The ever-burning lamp made from whale oil from the East Sea burned day and night.
The owner of the house, however, had no interest in appreciating the scenery; he paced back and forth within the house, revealing a hint of impatience.
"Useless! A dying little beast, and it takes this long?!"
"Young Master Hao..." a black-clad servant leaned closer and whispered, "Should we send someone to..."
Fang Hao's face was grim as he pondered this, when suddenly a servant outside the door announced:
"Young master, the patriarch has arrived."
Fang Hao's expression changed, seemingly shocked. He took a deep breath before forcing himself to calm down and said:
"Please invite Father in."
"Here you are."
A short while later, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with a pale face, long beard, and solemn expression walked in.
His imposing presence clearly indicated that he held a high position; he was none other than Fang Yuanming, the current head of the Fang family!
The Fang family has lived in Qingzhang County for generations. They rose to prominence two hundred years ago. Their ancestors followed the founding emperor of the dynasty to establish meritorious achievements and later obtained the title of Xun Gui, and made their fortune in this county.
Today, the clan has several thousand members, occupies three hundred hectares of land, has an army of servants and countless maids, and its power and influence extend throughout the eight counties of the prefecture. It is truly a prominent and powerful clan in the prefecture!
Emperors and kings are honored with purple robes, noble families are flourishing, regional governors are surrounded by golden emperors, and local gentry are as red as the tide of blood... In terms of destiny and status, the Fang family is far beyond what a humble family can compare to!
Even though most of his fortune is devoted to offering sacrifices to his ancestors in the underworld and nurturing his disciples in the mortal world to cultivate Taoism and martial arts, Fang Yuanming, as the head of the family, still enjoys a portion of fortune that is white with a hint of red.
As the saying goes, "Living in a place shapes one's temperament, and nurturing one's body shapes one's character." After being immersed in this environment for a long time, one's demeanor will be incomparable to that of one's humble past, and one will naturally become extraordinary.
At this moment, Fang Yuanming silently entered, chose a chair and sat down. Although he did not speak, his imposing presence made all the servants in the room, and even the usually arrogant Fang Hao, hold their breath and lower their heads.
After dismissing his servants and remaining silent for a moment, Fang Hao bravely stepped forward:
"I wonder what brings Father here so late at night?"
Fang Yuanming did not respond immediately, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long pause, Fang Youyou finally spoke:
"I once ordered you to thoroughly study history, to learn from it and understand both successes and failures. The glorious Tang Dynasty, and the two hundred years of our dynasty's history—have you all been negligent?"
"Your son dares not slack off and will study diligently in accordance with your father's orders," Fang Hao hurriedly replied.
"Is that so? Then tell me about the past of General Yuwen of this dynasty." Fang Yuanming said expressionlessly.
Fang Hao was taken aback upon hearing this, thought for a moment, and replied:
"General Yuwen of this dynasty once followed Emperor Taizu in his conquests, outwardly displaying bravery but inwardly treacherous. He once ordered members of his clan to falsely claim credit for leading the charge and slaying generals, attempting to steal titles and ranks. He even silenced those who knew the truth in an attempt to cover it up. However, when the merits were being assessed at the founding of the dynasty, he was exposed by a civil official in the army. Emperor Taizu was furious, stripped him of his titles and ranks, demoted him to commoner status, and his family was barred from holding office for three generations. The once illustrious Yuwen family declined from then on..."
Fang Yuanming listened quietly, then asked:
"What about Yan Qing, the prime minister of the Zhou Dynasty?"
"Yan Qing was renowned for his literary talent and integrity, praised by both the court and the public, and respected by scholars. However, historians discovered that he had an affair with the Empress Dowager and colluded with court officials to usurp the throne. His so-called incorruptibility and refined manner were nothing more than a means to win people's hearts..."
At this point, Fang Hao seemed to understand something. His expression changed slightly, and his voice gradually lowered until it disappeared.
After speaking, Fang Yuanming looked out the window at the deep night, his tone wistful:
"Yes, even if one is a general in the army or a powerful minister of the court, and acts meticulously, leaving no evidence and no survivors, the truth will eventually be exposed."
"Many heroes and outlaws are born into this world... even the most humble and unassuming can harbor hidden talents! Even if you do things without leaving a trace, do you really think that everyone in this world can be deceived and cheated? Once doubts arise, even without evidence, people's hearts will turn away. This subtle difference can be the change of fate, the opportunity for success or failure, and the difference between life and death."
"Having lost their destiny and alienated the people, how long can they remain secure even in a high position? They may face death and the extermination of their clan in the blink of an eye."
Having said this, he turned to look at Fang Hao:
"When I ascended to a high position in the clan, I failed to understand this principle and allowed that brat Fang Chen to indulge in wine, women, wealth and power, hoping to use this to legitimately seize his land, inheritance and even his place in the Dao Academy."
"However, after so many years of deep thought, I have come to realize that this kind of behavior may fool the servants below, but how can it fool the elders of the clan and the Yin Shi Ancestor? It is only for the sake of the greater good of the clan that I am temporarily enduring it."
"Therefore, over the years, I have worked diligently day and night to ensure the prosperity of the clan. So even if there are some flaws in my actions, the elders and ancestors have been able to tolerate them, because all of this is for the sake of the clan's greater good!"
At this point, Fang Yuanming's expression gradually darkened:
"But I never expected that you, who have been by my side for so long, would do such a foolish thing."
"A mere cold, a fine excuse! A serious, incurable illness!" He slammed his hand on the back of the chair, roaring, "Do you really consider the entire clan to be fools?!"
Know that there are countless heroes in the world, and even the humblest of people may harbor extraordinary talents!
The longer he remained in this high position, the more he realized how fierce the competition was. He himself felt as if he were walking on thin ice, fearing that one wrong move would lead to total defeat.
Who would have thought that his own son would use such clumsy and easily criticized methods? How could Fang Yuanming not be furious?
I'm truly angry at their lack of ambition!
"Your son knows his sins!" Fang Hao trembled and hurriedly knelt down.
Fang Yuanming squinted at his son, staring at him for a long time before asking:
"Now that things have come to this, what are your plans?"
Fang Hao's temples were beaded with cold sweat.
A rapid thought flashed through my mind—
If he stops now, not only will the elders' opinion of him remain unchanged, but his subordinates will also think that he is hesitant and unworthy of following. In his father's heart, his evaluation of him will surely plummet.
Therefore, we cannot stop; we must go all the way!
He took a deep breath and finally said in a harsh voice:
"Father's reprimand is correct... I was indeed rash and thoughtless in this matter. But since it has already been done, the crucial thing now is to go all the way!"
"Once that little beast dies, my son will secure a place in the Dao Academy, and Father, you will firmly hold power in the clan. Even if some elders discover something amiss, so what? Once we have the upper hand, no one will stand up for a dead man!"
"Even if there are indeed heroes in our clan who can see through the anomalies, as long as we are the ultimate victors, nothing is a concern. The glorious Tang Dynasty, this thousand-year-old history, is nothing but the victors...writing history!"
"Hmm." Fang Yuanming's expression softened slightly upon hearing this. "To make such a decision shows some of my composure. Although this matter has its flaws... well, what can I do? You're my son."
A glint of malice flashed in his eyes: "As for that little brat..."
"If he were to die from this illness, it would be his fate. Even if he miraculously survives, even if his nature changes, even if he suddenly attains enlightenment—" Fang Yuanming raised his eyes, his gaze unfathomable, "So what?"
"I am his adoptive father and the head of the clan. In this powerful family, what truly kills is not swords, but titles, rules, and people's hearts... Which of these is not in my hands? Clan law, etiquette, clan rules... all kinds of constraints are in my hands."
His voice was flat, yet chilling:
"To crush this child would be as easy as killing a dog."
"Father is wise." Fang Hao bowed down, his heart burning with emotion.
Although his actions were flawed this time, after going through all of this, the position of young master of the Fang family will surely be his!
……
On the other side, Fang Chen had already prepared everything.
That is—
起坛
practice!