Westward the red sun sank, yet had not wholly set.
The sky still held a little light, yet all things seemed veiled in grey. Through the window, the distant mountains could be seen slowly sinking into a heavy, thickening darkness.
Within the living room, the light was dim. Uncle and Aunt sat high upon the seats of honour, their faces and expressions shrouded in shadow, scarcely to be discerned.
At the sight of the two jars of wine Fang Yuan had brought with him, Uncle's brow furrowed. He said, “How time slips by. You are fifteen already. That you both possess Gu Master aptitude, and Fang Zheng in particular, Aunt and I are proud. I have set aside six primeval stones for each of you. Brothers, take them. Refining Gu worms consumes primeval essence at a great rate, so you will need them.”
As he spoke, a servant came forward and handed each brother a small pouch.
Fang Yuan tucked the pouch away, saying nothing.
Fang Zheng at once loosened the drawstring and looked inside. Within lay six oval, grey-white primeval stones, translucent, the size of a duck's egg. His face flushed with gratitude. He stood and bowed to Uncle and Aunt. “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. Your nephew is indeed in need of primeval stones to replenish his primeval essence. You raised your nephew to this age, and your kindness in raising him is engraved upon his heart, never to be forgotten.”
Uncle smiled and nodded.
Aunt hastily waved her hands and said gently to Fang Zheng, “Quick, sit, sit. Though you two were not born of us, we have always raised you as our own sons. That you can amount to something, we too feel proud. Alas, we have no children of our own. At times we think how fine it would be if you could truly become our children.”
These words carried a deep meaning. Fang Zheng did not catch it, but Fang Yuan faintly furrowed his brow.
Sure enough, Uncle went on, “Aunt and I have discussed it. We wish to adopt you into our household, to become a true family. Fang Zheng, are you willing?”
Fang Zheng was taken aback, but swiftly joy flooded his face and he agreed at once. “To speak truly, since my parents died, nephew has longed for the days when a family is reunited. To become one family with Uncle and Aunt, nothing could be better.”
Aunt's expression eased and she laughed. “Then you are our good son. Do you still call us Uncle and Aunt?”
“Father, Mother.” Fang Zheng understood and quickly corrected himself.
Uncle and Aunt both laughed heartily.
“Good son, not in vain have we raised you since you were five, a full ten years,” Aunt said, wiping tears from her eyes.
Uncle then turned his gaze upon the silent Fang Yuan. “Fang Yuan, what of my intention for you?”
Fang Yuan shook his head and said nothing.
“Brother,” Fang Zheng began, wishing to persuade him, but Uncle stayed him.
Uncle's tone did not change. He said again, “Since it is so, nephew Fang Yuan, we will not force you. Only you are already fifteen, you ought to set up your own household. Thus it will be convenient for you to inherit your Fang branch. Uncle has prepared here two hundred primeval stones, as support for you.”
“Two hundred primeval stones!” Fang Zheng's eyes rounded at once. He had never seen so many primeval stones, and could not help showing envy.
Yet Fang Yuan still shook his head.
Fang Zheng was greatly puzzled. Uncle's face changed faintly, and Aunt's face darkened as well.
“Uncle, Aunt, if there is nothing else, nephew will take his leave first.” Fang Yuan gave them no chance to speak again. Leaving these words behind, he lifted his wine jars and walked straight out of the hall.
Fang Zheng stood up. “Father, Mother, brother cannot think it through for the moment. Why not let me persuade him?”
Uncle waved his hand and sighed deliberately. “Alas, this matter cannot be forced. That you have this heart, as father I am already greatly comforted. Someone, take young master Fang Zheng down and settle him properly.”
“Then son takes his leave.” Fang Zheng withdrew, and the hall fell into stillness.
The sun sank wholly beneath the mountains, and the hall grew ever more gloomy.
After a long while, Uncle's cold voice came from the gloom. “It seems this little bastard Fang Yuan has seen through our scheme.”
Among Gu Yue clan rules, there is a clear provision: the eldest son at sixteen possesses the qualification to inherit family property.
Fang Yuan's parents had already passed, leaving behind a not inconsiderable inheritance, all of it being kept by Uncle and Aunt.
The value of this inheritance was not to be compared with a mere two hundred primeval stones.
If Fang Yuan were also adopted by Uncle and Aunt like Fang Zheng, he would have no qualification to inherit this legacy. If Fang Yuan established his own household at fifteen this year, he would likewise not conform to the clan's regulation for inheritance.
“Fortunately, we have won over Fang Zheng, and Fang Yuan has only Grade C aptitude.” Uncle sighed again, feeling incomparably fortunate.
“Then, husband, Fang Yuan plainly intends to go independent at sixteen, what ought we to do?” Aunt's voice grew urgent at the thought of that legacy.
“Hmph, since he harbours ill intent, he can hardly blame us. So long as before he goes independent we seize upon a grave fault of his and expel him from the household, we will strip him of qualification to inherit.” Uncle snorted coldly.
“But this little bastard Fang Yuan is very clever, how would he commit a fault?” Aunt did not understand.
Uncle at once rolled his eyes and rebuked in a low voice, “How stupid you are. He will not commit a fault, can we not frame him? Let that girl Shen Cui seduce Fang Yuan first, then cry out that he has violated her. We catch them red-handed in the act, then slander him with drunken debauchery, a crime of utter depravity. Are you afraid we cannot expel Fang Yuan?”
“Husband, you still have the method, a brilliant stratagem!” Aunt was overjoyed at once.
• • •
A dense night spread down, the stars filling the sky mostly veiled by drifting clouds. In the stockade, household after household gradually lit their lamps.
Gu Yue Fang Zheng was led into a room.
“Young Master Fang Zheng, this is a room this old slave specially tidied and vacated upon Master's personal instruction.” Granny Shen introduced it obsequiously, bowing her back, her face heaped with flattering smiles.
Fang Zheng looked round, his eyes brightening. This room was more than twice as large as the one he had lived in before. At its centre was a broad bed; by the window, a desk of sandalwood set with fine brush, ink, paper and inkstone; the surrounding walls hung with exquisite ornaments. Even beneath his feet was not ordinary flooring, but a layer of soft, hand-made carpet.
From childhood to now, Fang Zheng had never lived in such a room. At once he nodded repeatedly. “This is very good, truly not bad. Thank you, Granny Shen.”
This Granny Shen was Aunt's most trusted person, managing the servants up and down the house, a housekeeper in all but name.
Fang Yuan's personal maid Shen Cui was her daughter.
Granny Shen laughed with a heh heh. “How could this old slave dare accept young master's thanks, it is as it should be, as it should be. Young master need only eat well and sleep well, if you want anything shake the bell by the bedside, a servant will come up at once to await your orders. Master has instructed that these days young master should put his whole heart into cultivation, other trifling matters leave to us servants to handle.”
A fresh surge of gratitude rose in Fang Zheng's heart. He said nothing more, only silently resolved within himself: this time he must seize first place, and not disappoint Uncle and Aunt.
• • •
The clouds above thickened, and with them the night deepened. The stars were all but veiled, save for a few that still glimmered faintly, struggling against the gloom.
“Uncle and Aunt should be plotting how to expel me from the household. In the previous life they secretly instigated servants to provoke me, then framed me, and in the end expelled me. I wonder what change there will be in this life.” Fang Yuan walked along the street, sneering coldly within his heart.
As for the true colours of Uncle and Aunt, he had seen through them long ago.
Yet it could be understood.
Men die for wealth as birds die for food, whether upon Earth or in this world, there will ever be those who trample upon kinship, friendship and love for the sake of gain.
In truth, there was no kinship at all. Uncle and Aunt had taken the brothers in for no other reason than covetousness of the inheritance. Only the two brothers had repeatedly surprised them.
Every beginning is difficult, and for me doubly so. I possess neither outstanding aptitude nor the guidance of any elder. In truth, I commence with empty hands. My parents' legacy may yet serve as a great springboard. In my former life, Uncle and Aunt seized that legacy, and for that loss I squandered two whole years ere I could cultivate to the peak of First Revolution. In this life, that error shall not be repeated.
So he went his way, turning these thoughts over as he walked.
He did not remain in his lodgings, but carrying two jars of wine, headed straight for the outside of the stockade.
The night sky grew ever more overcast, dark clouds veiling starlight, the mountain wind blowing with a rising howl.
A mountain rain was about to come.
Still, he must explore. The parents' legacy could only be reclaimed when he was sixteen next year, while Flower-Wine Monk's legacy was something that might be obtained in the near term.
In the street, few folk were abroad. From houses by the roadside, dim light shone, some household refuse, and leaves and dust, rolled and blown by the wind, drifting aimlessly.
Fang Yuan's thin clothes could scarce hold back this mountain wind, and he could not help feeling a chill.
He simply opened a jar he carried and took a small sip. Though it was turbid wine, once swallowed a warmth rose within him.
This was the first time in all these days that he had truly drunk at all.
The further from the stockade, the sparser the houses by the road, the dimmer the lights.
Ahead, darkness lay heavy. Wind pressed upon the mountain forest, branches swaying in the night, howling as though beasts roared in chorus.
Fang Yuan's steps did not falter. He passed beyond the stockade gate and went on, his figure drifting further and further into the dark road.
Behind him lay the myriad lights of home, bright and glorious.
Amid those lights there was a warm corner.
There, brother Gu Yue Fang Zheng sat at his desk, reviewing the notes taken in class. The room was bright with lamplight, solid walls keeping out the cold wind, and at his hand stood a cup of warm ginseng tea, steam curling and rising.
“Young Master Fang Zheng, the hot water for your bath is ready,” came Shen Cui's soft voice from outside the door.
Fang Zheng's heart stirred. “Then bring it in.”
Shen Cui entered, sashaying as she came, her waist swaying with deliberate allure, her face full of coquettish charm.
“Your servant greets Young Master Fang Zheng.” Her eyes brimmed with autumn waves as she gazed upon Fang Zheng. Fang Yuan was only Grade C, but Fang Zheng possessed Grade A aptitude. To cling to him would be true great fortune.