After Jiang Wang left, a hidden door in the wall behind Fang Zehou suddenly slid open, revealing Fang Heling tied to a chair, pushed out in a most humiliating manner.

Wangyue Tower was an establishment managed by the Fang family, which was why Fang Pengju had chosen this place to plot against Jiang Wang.

Fang Zehou raised a hand, and one of the Fang family’s retainers, who was pushing Fang Heling, released the restraint on his tongue and untied the ropes.

But Fang Heling did not move. He was like a puddle of mud, slumped in the chair.

He had been listening to the conversation in the private room under the retainer’s watchful eyes, unable to speak or act.

“As you have seen,” Fang Zehou said, “he defeated you with true strength, without any tricks or schemes. The difference between you and Jiang Wang is stark, and one that you failed to recognize.”

Fang Heling did not speak, but the look in his eyes as he looked at his father was almost pleading—as if to say, “Please, stop talking!”

“As you have seen, your father has lost all face because of you,” Fang Zehou continued.

Fang Heling lowered his eyes, his spirit fading.

Fang Zehou walked to him, reached out, and pinched his face, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“As you have seen, our Fang family is looked down upon because of you!” Fang Zehou said.

Tears rolled down Fang Heling’s face. He reached out to stop them, even trying to push them back in, but his resistance was so weak. He simply could not stop himself from being as pathetic as a dog.

And Fang Zehou’s voice continued, “I suppressed your cousin’s resources for your sake. I gave up many benefits for your sake, just to win you a chance to enter the Dao Academy’s inner sect. I endured all kinds of grievances for your sake. And you?! You have become a laughingstock in Maple Forest City in front of everyone, and now you are giving up on yourself, acting like a useless piece of trash. You have made me, Fang Zehou, a joke!”

“I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to…” Fang Heling shook his head, mumbled, and wept, before finally shouting, “I didn’t want it to be like this!”

“Then prove it to me!” Fang Zehou roared!

The middle-aged man, the man who had already taken control of the Fang family, loosened his grip.

He cupped Fang Heling’s face in his hands and said softly, “Then prove it to me… my son.”

…

Leaving Wangyue Tower, Jiang Wang’s steps were not heavy.

Frankly, after entering the inner sect, he no longer worried about what the Fang family might do to him. The Fang family of Maple Forest City might be rich and powerful, but what did that matter compared to the Dao Academy?

As long as he, Jiang Wang, cultivated diligently and bravely, he would eventually hold an official position in the State of Zhuang, perhaps even in the capital, Xin’an City. There was no need to pay too much attention to the local gentry in Maple Forest City.

Only Fang Zehou’s mention of Jiang An’an today had truly aroused Jiang Wang’s killing intent. Even if the Fang family did nothing else, even if they just directed some of their clansmen’s children to bully An’an at school, Jiang Wang could not tolerate it.

He could endure some grievances himself, but An’an could not. His father was dead, his aunt had remarried, and Jiang An’an only had him.

“Are you full?… Hey! Stop wiping it on my clothes!” Jiang Wang reached out and pulled Jiang An’an’s little head away.

She was being held in his arms and was secretly wiping the grease from her mouth on Jiang Wang’s shoulder.

Jiang An’an blinked her big eyes, her little mouth was already clean, but she pouted innocently, “You didn’t wipe my hands…”

Jiang Wang immediately surrendered, his voice helpless, “Look at me, is there any clean spot left on me?… Just do whatever you want.”

He had resigned himself to his fate.

Jiang An’an busily wiped her little hands, and suddenly remembered something, “What did you just say?”

“I asked you…” Jiang Wang sighed and said directly, “Cai’s Mutton Shop?”

“Mm-hmm.” Jiang An’an nodded wildly, she stretched out her small hand, cupped her brother’s face, and turned it to the left, “Go this way!”

Jiang Wang moved his head back in disgust, “I know the way!”

Jiang An’an was already jumping for joy, “Giddy up!”

Jiang Wang then carried Jiang An’an and headed towards the mutton restaurant.

“Oh yeah, the teacher wants you to go to the private school tomorrow,” Jiang An’an finally remembered the matter.

Jiang Wang frowned, “Did your teacher say what it was about?”

Little An’an thought for a while, buried her head in Jiang Wang’s chest, and mumbled, “I don’t know.”

Jiang Wang suddenly became worried.

…

At the same time, in the City Lord’s mansion, a conversation only between Dong A and Wei Quji was taking place.

“…If it’s really what I think, with this bait, we won’t have to worry about them not taking the hook. Once those demonic people jump out, we will wipe them out in one fell swoop!” Wei Quji clenched his fist and waved it, “That’s the whole plan.”

“The plan is tight,” Dong A nodded, his expression still unchanged, “But I don’t think it’s very meaningful.”

“Why?”

“Do you think…” Dong A looked at him with a sneer, “Do the people who caused the Little Linden Town tragedy still need to appear in Maple Forest City?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know anything about the White Bone Sect you mentioned, nor do I know what attracts them to the thing you worked so hard to obtain. But with such a major event as the Three Cities Tournament, Maple Forest City is heavily guarded. Is that thing really worth them taking such a big risk? Idiots couldn’t have fooled us and sacrificed Little Linden Town under our noses! Besides, you’re not sure if they’re from the White Bone Sect, are you?”

“That’s the only way to try, Dong A! So much time has passed since the Little Linden Town incident, this Lord must give some explanation!”

“How much confidence do you have? Are you going to gamble the safety of the entire population of Maple Forest City on your confidence?”

“Maple Forest City belongs to this Lord, and this Lord has made up his mind!”

Dong A slammed the table and stood up, “Maple Forest City belongs to the State of Zhuang!”

“Dong A, think about it,” Wei Quji was forced to soften his tone, “In the State of Qin, in the State of Jing, and even in our neighboring State of Yong! Can they do such a thing? Sacrificing an entire town! Thousands of people, and countless souls who should have been resting in peace!

If the Clear River Water Mansion moves slightly, the entire Clear River Prefecture’s army must be mobilized. When a Heart-Eating Demon appears, the entire Clear River Prefecture’s Criminal Investigation Division swarms over. The enemy knows us like the back of their hand, but we know nothing about them!

You don’t want to see something like this again, do you? The time has come, we must get to the bottom of it!”

Dong A collapsed back into his chair, “Yes, we all have a responsibility. The names cursed in those unjustly dead people’s resentment as they died should include yours and mine.”

His voice was weary, “Just do as you planned, the Dao Academy will cooperate. If those demonic people really reappear, let me see… if good and evil are rewarded!”

“If those people are really from the White Bone Sect, the Ghost Lamp should be very important to them. After all, it’s the thing that was… taken from there.”

“In any case, I will fully cooperate with you this time. Let’s hope that this Three Cities Tournament will not become a laughingstock for Clear River Prefecture.”

“They might come, and they might not. But this Lord can only try.” Wei Quji muttered, and then asked, “Can Zhu Weiwo really not make it back? Nothing happened to him, did it?”

“His battlefield is not here,” Dong A turned his head away, seemingly looking through the window at somewhere far beyond the sky, “He is destined to shine in the State Dao Academy, giving him a spot would only be a waste. I hope that Zhang Linchuan can win the spot in the Three Cities Tournament.”

“In that case, Maple Forest City would have two talents from the State Dao Academy. You’ve thought it through perfectly.”

“I will do my best to guide them. Consider it a small, insignificant redemption.”

In the dark room, a sigh, no one knew whose it was.

The seat was empty.

…

…