Chapter 264 - 105: Following One’s Heart (Part 2)

Chapter 264: Chapter 105: Following One’s Heart (Part 2)

’If I were really injured, all this shaking would probably kill me sooner, wouldn’t it? No, I need to replace this driver!’

Fang Rui secretly rolled his eyes, then put on a pale face and started coughing violently. "COUGH COUGH! I-I’m fine, quickly go get... a doctor! Take me... back to the estate!"

...

"Brother Rui!"

"Big Brother!"

"Brother Ah Rui!"

"Master!"

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, the Third Lady, Fang Ling, Nannan, and all the maids gathered around, their faces etched with worry.

"Don’t worry, I... I’m fine. I’ll be okay after a month or two of rest... Right, I’m too injured to go to the Government Office. Ask for half... uh, a full month’s leave for me..." Fang Rui said weakly.

The others didn’t notice anything, but the two who knew Fang Rui best, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady, secretly took two steps back and exchanged a look, their eyes full of suspicion.

A short while later, after all the maids, along with the two little girls Fang Ling and Nannan, had left.

Before Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady could even ask, the pallor on Fang Rui’s face vanished with a WHOOSH, replaced by a healthy, rosy complexion. He sat up and stretched. "Mother, Third Sister, don’t worry. I’m fine. I just don’t want to be in the spotlight, so I’ll rest at home for half a month."

Speaking of which, for the past month, under Zhou Changfa’s high-pressure management, he’d had fewer chances to slack off. Now that he was ’injured’, he could finally take a few days off justifiably.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady both breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Although they had their suspicions, they could only truly relax now that their guess was confirmed.

"Brother Rui, rest assured, I’ll be discreet."

"Having the maids take care of you might expose the act. How about this? I’ll put the Four Seas Commerce Association’s business on hold for now and come take care of you, Brother Rui," the Third Lady proposed.

"Third Sister..."

Fang Rui was about to answer when he suddenly sensed something. Like a gust of wind, he lay back down, his face once again turning as white as a sheet, looking like he was half-dead and about to breathe his last.

Seeing this, both Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady secretly rolled their eyes.

The head maid, Qing Yun, came in with red-rimmed eyes and said between sobs, "Master, your subordinates, colleagues, and a Daoist Ge have all come to visit you! They brought many tonics and medicinal herbs, but they didn’t dare come in for fear of disturbing you. Oh, that Daoist sent a Jade Talisman and said it must be placed in your hands..."

"Sigh, it can’t be helped, I’m just too popular. Tell them not to worry and to go on back for now! Mother, you should go attend to your own business, too. I’ll be fine with Third Sister here to keep me company."

"Alright. I’ll go check on the two little girls."

With that, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family left with the head maid Qing Yun, leaving the two of them alone.

"Brother Rui, would you like some fruit? I’ll go get some for you."

Being stared at so intently by Fang Rui, even though they were like an old married couple, the Third Lady still felt a little shy.

However, knowing Fang Rui was fine and that she would have plenty of time to spend with him day and night for the foreseeable future, she was still very happy inside.

...

「That night.」

It was a moonless night, and the wind howled.

Fang Rui got out of bed, feeling refreshed. He stretched and looked out the window. "A dark and windy night... perfect for killing!"

Thinking of the Zheng Family made him quite indignant. ’I’ve always been one to lie low. This time, with the Divine Capture Bureau targeting the Zheng Family, my Southeast Branch had the lightest quota and confiscated the fewest of their assets. And even then, they still came after me. Isn’t this just bullying an honest man?’

’Especially today, that Zheng Jingkai clearly went for the kill.’

’Of course I have to get revenge for this. As the saying goes, never let revenge wait until the next day. If I waited until tomorrow, it would mean I’m inefficient!’

Fang Rui changed into a black robe, took up his saber, and left the estate, melting into the deep night.

...

A courtyard somewhere in the city—the command headquarters for the Zheng Family’s attacks on Divine Capture Bureau Chief Constables.

That’s right, the headquarters for this operation wasn’t located at the Zheng Family estate. After all, too many eyes were on the Zheng Family, which would be extremely inconvenient.

In a quiet room in the back courtyard, Zheng Jingwei and Zheng Jingkai—one sitting, one standing—were none other than a former Jade Seal Divine Hunter and a former Golden Seal Renowned Hunter of the Divine Capture Bureau.

"Cousin, in our operation today, we attacked another Golden Seal Renowned Hunter and a Silver Seal Chief Constable... Panic is spreading through the Divine Capture Bureau. No one dares to give it their all anymore. The way I see it, in two or three days, the Divine Capture Bureau’s operation against our Zheng Family will be forced to a halt."

Zheng Jingkai reported.

At this moment, he showed none of the aloofness he displayed in front of his colleagues. Facing Zheng Jingwei, a direct descendant of the Zheng Family’s main line, he was bowing and scraping, trying his best to curry favor.

"Very good. The family will not forget your contribution."

Zheng Jingwei patted Zheng Jingkai on the shoulder. "I can share a piece of news with you. The family spent a great price to procure a Washing Resentment Pearl from the Prefecture City. Our family’s Spirit Medicine Cultivation Base is going to be rebuilt. Keep up the good work, and I will recommend you for a chance to break through to the Fourth Grade."

As the leader of this operation, if he completed it well, the family would likewise allocate him a share of Spirit Medicine, giving him a chance to attempt a breakthrough to the Upper Three Grades.

That’s right, just one chance!

Breaking through to the Upper Three Grades wasn’t a guaranteed success, even with sufficient aptitude and ample Spirit Medicine.

In fact, there was an eighty percent chance of failure, resulting in damage to one’s Primordial Qi. Of the remaining twenty percent, there was a nineteen percent chance of immediate death from the attempt, and only a one percent chance of success.

This was precisely why Upper Three Grade Martial Artists were so rare and held such high status.

"Thank you, Cousin!"

A flash of joy crossed Zheng Jingkai’s face. He was thanking him profusely when he suddenly saw Zheng Jingwei’s expression change as he shot to his feet. Zheng Jingkai was still wondering what was wrong.

Then, before he could ask, he noticed something was wrong himself.

He saw specks of crimson-gold light surge in from the outside, forming a Barrier.

"This is bad!"

Zheng Jingwei immediately activated a Light Body Jade Talisman. Abandoning Zheng Jingkai, he was wreathed in a Spiritual Light as he shot through the window like a blur, trying to escape.