Chapter 11 - A year worth of scheming (5/10)
«．．．☾ Eight months to Xiao Che's death ☾ ．．．»
Before starting the mining, Fang Yuan demanded Xia Hongyi to organize a transaction with the Black Moon Merchant Guild and explained to him and the other Ancient Moon clan's Elders how to deal with the Purple mine.
A week later, an elder of the merchant guild came to Floating Cloud City. Nowadays, Fang Yuan is regarded as an esteemed customer for the merchant guild. Thus Pu He, one of the guild elders, came personally to give face to him and the Ancient Moon clan. They closed a deal regarding the fluid power system, something unthinkable for this world, and several competitive board games like chess "inventend" by the young man.
Other than selling, Fang Yuan also bought several kilograms of one of the most common ores in the Profound Sky Continent, one purple spatial ring with more than a hundred cubic meters of space, for himself and six cyan spatial rings with ten cubic meters, for his group. And in addition to these items, he found another item in the catalogue that caught his eyes, so he acquired it.
'With it, I will be able to try out the idea I had the other day.' It was a seemingly ordinary zither, but it could become a very important trump card for him.
The following day after the merchant guild departed, they started the mining. The mined Purple Veined Divine Crystal was placed daily in the main barrack through an underground passage and placed in Fang Yuan's Purple spatial ring. The purchased common ore was sorted out from the Purple mine by the worker as a scapegoat.
The only ones who knew about which ore was mined were Fang Yuan, uncle Wu, Xiao Hongyi, Xiao Lie, and Xiao Lingxi.
Whereas, all the workers believed that they were mining the common ore since Fang Yuan tampers with their memories each day after they finish mining. Having devised such a scheme, Fang Yuan couldn't help patting himself on the back.
'In less than one year the Phoenix Divine Empire would have coincidentally pinpointed the Purple Crystal mine, but it will not be the case this time, HAHAHAHA!'
«．．．☾ Seven months to Xiao Che's death ☾ ．．．»
In midday, he overlooked the Purple Crystal mine with Ying Wu.
Usually, there were many curious people who wanted to know what the Ancient Moon clan was up to. Fang Yuan initially thought of disposing of them, but many disappearances would have led to suspicions, so if many guinea pigs knocked at his door, how couldn't he welcome them? They were the perfect mobs to gain more experience in the 5th Transformation, stepping stones in his climb in the soul path.
He deleted those busybodies' memories regarding the Purple Crystal mine and planted in their minds new ones to divert a possible Soul Search in the short time.
Like that, day by day, the young man refined his soul path skills. And thanks to that, he had several strokes of inspiration, which led him to develop new techniques. But, unfortunately, one day on one of his experiments, he almost turned one test subject crazy, screwing his mind.
As Fang Yuan was supervising, a young man approached the mine site walking proudly, and gazing at his surroundings as if he was eyeing trash. He had dark hair in a ponytail, medium build, wearing an elegant robe and a sheath on his side.
When the young man arrived at the encampment, no one blocked his path. The workers were busy going and leaving carrying wheelbarrows, sometimes full of common ore, others not. They didn't have time to bother about him.
'Che! This is only common ore, why did my father send me here to inspect this shitty place?!'
Seeing that nobody was coming to welcome him, the young man gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
Breathless with anger, he continued to advance until arriving near the mine's barrack. It seemed truly large and imposing, giving him the impression the master of this place would be there. In front of it was Fang Yuan and Ying Wu sitting at a table. They were in thought, their faces directed to a board game the newcomer had never seen before.
The youngest of the pair had his back to him.
"Ai, you never cease to amaze me Clan Master Yuan, this game called chess is fascinating! Now I understand how the clan made a lot of money out of it, haha!"
"Uncle Wu, you can address me as your nephew like before, you know?"
Ying Wu laughed, wagging his hands at him, then patted his nephew's shoulder while he gazed at the young man with pride.
"That won't do! You earned it, and it's another method to show you my respect." Fang Yuan could just nod at that.
They bluntly ignored the new arrival, and that angered him to the core.
"This young master is Xiao Yulong. I'm here to inspect this place, in the name of the Xiao Clan, show me some respect and let me inside the mine!"
The surroundings fell silent.
Xiao Yulong stood there arrogantly, thinking that the duo finally recognized their mistake. But then Fang Yuan waved his hand in front of himself, assuming an annoyed tone.
"Huh? Uncle Wu, where did this fly come from? It truly knows how to disturb others!"
Ying Wu activated his cyan spatial ring, and some grass appeared on his palm.
"I don't know, but with this it will go away, it's a natural insecticide."
The nephew looked at it in awe as he nodded.
'Well, that was a nice fourth-degree burn.'
Xiao Yulong hearing them, almost coughed up blood and then unsheathed his sword.
"Y-You… How dare you?!"
It was then Fang Yuan turned to gaze at him, his dark eyes exuding killing intent, making the Xiao Clan's young master take a step back.
'W-Who is that young man…' He then recalled how the other man addressed that one before.
'He is the notorious Fang Yuan, huh? But so what?
They are just a new little clan, they think they can disrespect my Xiao Clan?!'
"Little bastard, do you think you are great just because of some small achievement?"
'This bastard has even taken Elder Lie's beautiful daughter as wife, clearly a frog lusting after swan meat... This fucker deserves to be beaten to death!'
Hearing him, Ying Wu was about to stand up and punch some sense in Xiao Yulong, but Fang Yuan stopped him with a gesture of the hand and started to chuckle as he answered him with just a word.
"Pathetic." Fang Yuan turned and resumed to pay attention to the chessboard.
Rage mixed with envy built inside Xiao Yulong, tightening the hold on his sword.
"If I don't cripple you today, I will not be called Xiao Yulong anym—" He couldn't even end his threats, as a shadow suddenly appeared over his face.
*PAH!*
An extremely crisp-sounding and loud slap landed on Xiao Yulong's face. The Xiao Clan's young master hadn't even realized what was going on, as he was sent flying away like a kite with its strings cut out.
The workers didn't seem surprised, as it wasn't the first time their boss beat some arrogant fellow at the mine's entrance.
One of them took a pouch and unwillingly gave it to another worker; inside it were several Yellow Profound Coins.
Sometimes when the Clan Master was present, the workers bet on how much time an unlucky fellow would be sent flying.
"Ooooh! Clan Master Yuan, your slapping skill is improving day by day."
Ying Wu clapped his hands, admiring his nephew's skill, as the young man in question sat back at his seat. Xiao Yulong, who slumped on the ground after the slap, stood up shaking with rage, his front teeth missing.
"You… You… I WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE CLAN!"
He then rushed towards the young man exuding his full cultivation of the third level of the Nascent Profound Realm.
Fang Yuan sighed inwardly as Xiao Yulong's sword swung in his neck direction.
'Haiyaa, young masters are really retarded fellows.
If I didn't require him alive to plot against Xiao Che, I would have already killed him.'
Fang Yuan lazily met the attack with the back of his hand, seeing that Xiao Yulong couldn't help but smile in schadenfreude.
Alternative titles: 'Slapping is an art','That was a nice fourth-degree burn'