Gu Yue Fang Yuan · Chat

The evening mist on Qing Mao Mountain was damp and chilling, mingling with the faint, peculiar miasma of the wilderness to shroud the ancient, quiet Gu Yue Village. The night wind swept through the woods, rustling layers of fallen dry leaves, making the surrounding gossip and idle chatter sound all the more distinct and piercing. The Awakening Ceremony had concluded long ago, yet the fervent discussions throughout the village had never ceased. Everyone praised Gu Yue Fang Zheng's Grade A aptitude, while everyone sighed in pity for his twin elder brother, Fang Yuan, who had ended up with the most unremarkable Grade C aptitude. The youth's slender figure stood beneath an old scholar tree, his coarse linen clothes fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze. His fifteen-year-old facial features were clean and clear, yet his pair of eyes harbored a dead stillness and apathy utterly mismatched with his age. Five hundred years of struggling through seas of blood, the vicissitudes of defying heaven and being reborn—all remained concealed beneath this youthful shell. Subtle layers of ridicule, pity, and disdain pressed in around the youth from all sides. Fellow clan youths stepped forward with words of comfort, but the pity in their voices was, at its core, contempt deep in their bones—firmly believing he was destined for mediocrity, never to make a name for himself in this lifetime. Fang Yuan took it all in, not a single ripple stirring in his heart. Honor and disgrace, rumors and prejudice—to someone who had weathered countless tribulations, these were nothing more than the meaningless buzzing of ants, unworthy of even a thought. Yet this spectacle of kicking someone when they were down was glaringly offensive to your eyes not far away. Standing at the edge of the mist, you took in the entire scene. Watching others slander and scorn this silent youth without restraint, witnessing the cold indifference and snobbery of human nature, a surge of righteous indignation welled up within you. Aptitude had never been the sole measure of a person's life; for these shallow, opportunist hypocrites to kick a man while he was down was truly contemptible. Right then, Fang Yuan's uncle and aunt hurried forward, most of their feigned warmth stripped away, their faces brimming with greed and calculation. "With only Grade C aptitude, there is no way you can hold onto your family assets! Handing over the wealth and Gu worms left behind by your parents to us for safekeeping is your safest option!" Fang Yuan's uncle spoke harshly, exerting the overbearing pressure of an elder in a forceful bid to plunder Fang Yuan's resources. His aunt chimed in hastily, her words high-sounding on the surface yet dripping with selfish scheming: "We are only doing this for your own good. Just focus on your cultivation obediently, and don't be so stubborn and ungrateful!" The two pressed forward step by step, exploiting their status as elders to tyrannize the solitary youth, clearly confident that Fang Yuan was weak, helpless, and at their mercy. Witnessing this blatant bullying and extortion, you refused to remain a bystander any longer. Parting the thin mist with firm strides, you walked straight to Fang Yuan's side, your clear, resolute voice abruptly cutting through their intimidation. "Elders bullying the young, using your status to seize his wealth—is this what you call 'for his own good'?" The sudden interruption caught the pair off guard. They turned toward you, their expressions a mix of bewilderment and rising anger. His uncle frowned and barked, "This is our family business! Since when does an outsider get a say? Back off immediately and mind your own business!" Standing tall and shielding Fang Yuan, you looked directly at the pair with a cool gaze, refusing to budge an inch. "According to village rules, a junior's inheritance is theirs to dispose of. Without theft, without fault, and without any valid justification, forcefully seizing it isn't 'family business'—it's abusing the weak. "Whatever his aptitude may be is his own destiny. For you to exploit your status as elders to plot against his inheritance while he is young, vulnerable, and scorned by others shows only pettiness and vile character. What right do you have to lecture anyone?" Every word you spoke was crisp, forthright, and incisive, tearing straight through their hypocritical facade. Their faces turned pale and green by turns, completely struck dumb by your rebuke. Seeing your unwavering stance, they could no longer press the matter forcefully. The watching clansmen also began shooting glances and whispering among themselves, leaving the couple utterly humiliated. The uncle glared fiercely at Fang Yuan behind you, yet wary of your interference, he dared not act brazenly after all. He could only let out a cold snort and, dragging his aunt along in bitter frustration and disgrace, stormed off. The commotion subsided, and silence reclaimed the woods. The evening wind drifted gently by, dispelling the suffocating atmosphere. You turned slightly toward the silent youth beside you, your tone calm: "You don't have to let others push you around. What is yours should be decided by you alone." Fang Yuan, who had stood silently through it all, slowly raised his eyes. His pitch-black, profound eyes rested quietly upon you, and for the very first time, an exceedingly faint ripple passed through his usually emotionless gaze. Having lived through five hundred years of warmth and cruelty in the mortal world, he had long seen through the treachery of human hearts. Mortals pursued gain and avoided harm, currying favor with the powerful while treading on the weak. Those who kicked others while down were everywhere, and indifferent bystanders were beyond count. Those who would step forward and speak out on his behalf out of righteousness were virtually non-existent. Your defense of him was pure and forthright, devoid of scheming and expecting no reward. To others, this unexpected kindness was merely an ordinary act of justice; but to Fang Yuan, who had weathered betrayal and seen through human nature, it was an exceedingly rare touch of purity upon the chaotic chessboard of the world. He looked at you, no smile upon his lips, his voice calm and cool, yet unusually solemn: "Thank you." The dusk deepened, and the mist softened. The youth remained cloaked in solitary coldness, his eyes harboring the grand path of defying heaven toward eternal life. Yet at this moment, upon this lonely, freezing road ahead, a subtle yet singular warmth had emerged, brought about by someone stepping forward to stand by him upon their very first meeting. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Change the topic</choice> <choice id="2">Observe current details</choice> <choice id="3">Advance the current plot</choice> </choice_group>