555: Chapter 555 The future plan can be summed up in one word: Fight!

It was the eighth day since Qin Wangchuan returned to Liuxi Town.

Fan Yuan had finally sorted out the internal affairs of Fuyao Tower.

He cleared out what needed clearing, collected what needed collecting, and established rules where rules needed to be established.

In just a few short days.

The entire atmosphere of Fuyao Tower, from top to bottom, had been completely transformed.

It was also on this day that Fan Yuan, travel-worn and dusty, rushed back to Liuxi Town from Fuyao Tower.

Carrying a thick stack of account books, he personally visited Qin Wangchuan to report on his progress.

When he reached the alley entrance where the Qin Family courtyard was located, his footsteps unconsciously lightened.

With every step he took, almost no sound could be heard.

He recalled his previous visits here.

Even though he had clearly suppressed his Qi and deliberately concealed the sound of his footsteps.

Yet before he could even knock, the Master's words, "Come in," would always reach his ears first.

At those times, his heart would always turn cold.

Now, his own cultivation had advanced several times over, and even an ordinary ninth-stage Cultivator would find it difficult to discern his true strength.

Fan Yuan steadied his mind and walked to the door without making a sound.

He raised his hand.

'This time... I shouldn't have been detected.'

The thought had just emerged.

"The door isn't locked."

"Come in."

A faint voice came from within the courtyard, causing Fan Yuan's hand, raised in mid-air, to freeze abruptly.

After a long while.

He gave a self-deprecating smile.

He had overthought it, after all.

What did it matter if his cultivation had advanced?

In front of the Master, he was still like a small beast that had just learned to walk; even his breathing could not escape the gaze of those golden eyes.

"...Yes."

Fan Yuan replied in a low voice and pushed the door open to enter.

In the Qin Family courtyard, Qin Wangchuan was still sitting on the stone stool in the same old spot.

He was flipping through a medical book, and a faint scent of herbs drifted from the mortar beside him.

The afternoon sunlight fell slantedly across his shoulder, making one feel at peace, yet also inexplicably afraid to act presumptuously.

As Fan Yuan stepped into the courtyard, he made his footsteps even lighter.

Walking to the stone table, he respectfully placed the stack of account books down, then took half a step back and bowed.

"Master."

"The affairs of Fuyao Tower have been stabilized."

Qin Wangchuan did not look up, only giving a faint hum of acknowledgment.

Seeing that he did not stop him, Fan Yuan gently pushed the stack of account books forward and opened the one on top.

"This is the current foundation of Fuyao Tower."

"The numbers of treasures, spiritual materials, Medicinal Pills, Jade Slips, and Formation Plates in the treasury are all here."

"There is also quite a bit of gold and silver in the accounts, as well as some scattered properties outside."

He paused, weighing his words, his expression becoming even more humble.

"I have an idea I would like to share with you, Master."

"After much thought, I feel that your courtyard, Master... is ultimately a bit too small."

"Why not withdraw some gold from Fuyao Tower?"

"We could find another suitable place in town, or outside of it."

"We could purchase a residence for you, Master, and renovate this small courtyard, adding some daily necessities."

"What does the Master think? Is this appropriate?"

Qin Wangchuan had already put down the medical book and was flipping through the account books.

His slender fingertips flipped through the pages casually, one after another; the speed was not fast, but he did not linger on any page for even half a breath.

The courtyard fell silent.

Only the soft sound of pages turning remained.

Fan Yuan stood by the table, gradually losing his composure.

He dared not make a sound, even lightening his breathing.

He did not know how much time had passed.

"Snap."

The account book was closed casually.

Qin Wangchuan gently placed the account book back on the table.

His fingertips did not move, but his eyes lifted.

"Fan Yuan."

He addressed him by his name directly.

That gaze looked over faintly.

There was no anger, nor any ripples.

"I let you manage Fuyao Tower."

"It was not so that you could take the money from the tower to buy me houses and land."

A short sentence.

Yet it made a layer of cold sweat instantly seep from Fan Yuan's back.

He subconsciously opened his mouth to explain.

"Master, I..."

"Ouch!"

Before he could finish his sentence.

A bright red jujube from above hit him squarely on the forehead, then rolled down his nose bridge onto the table, spinning around twice.

Fan Yuan touched his forehead with one hand and looked up, stunned.

The jujube tree in the courtyard—its leaves did not move, nor did the wind.

Yet the branches were hanging full with nothing but green fruits.

Only this one.

Was bright red.

It had landed right on his head, perfectly centered.

Beasts have spirits.

Could it be that trees have spirits too?

Did even this jujube tree feel that he had spoken wrongly just now?

As this thought crossed his mind, Fan Yuan dared not hesitate any longer.

He bent down, picked up the red jujube with both hands, and bowed deeply toward Qin Wangchuan.

"Master, please forgive me."

"This matter was Fan Yuan's lack of consideration."

Regarding the matter of buying a house.

The reason for it was simply that Fan Yuan was too afraid.

After witnessing Qin Wangchuan's strength, his attitude became even more cautious, and he wanted all the more to do something for him.

This was only natural.

Qin Wangchuan did not take it to heart; a gentle reminder was enough.

Immediately afterward, Fan Yuan brought up the future of Fuyao Tower.

"Master."

"The sudden replacement of the upper echelons of Fuyao Tower cannot be hidden for long."

"The Xuandu Prefecture and Zhenyue Palace will notice sooner or later."

"If it were in the past, with the three factions standing side-by-side for many years and none able to swallow the other, there wouldn't be such panic."

"But now, Jiang Xuan is dead."

"And most of those who could truly hold their own in Fuyao Tower have also fallen."

"Before I came, I pondered this repeatedly for a long time."

"Right now, there are only two paths."

"One is to first reach out to those two factions, soften our stance, concede what needs to be conceded, give what needs to be given, and take it back later."

"The other is to not soften our stance at all; if they dare to make a move, I will fight."

"But the risk is too great; one wrong step and there will be no turning back."

"Please instruct me, Master."

Qin Wangchuan did not hesitate.

"Fight."

A short word, landing on the table.

"If you want to stand firm, the only way is to fight."

"If you soften once, you will have to soften countless times in the future."

"If you bow your head once, you will never be able to raise it again."

Fan Yuan's expression was hesitant.

But Qin Wangchuan's gaze had already fallen upon him faintly.

"However."

"You said just now that Fuyao Tower has lost most of its combat power."

"That is incorrect."

As he spoke, his fingertips flicked the account book on the table casually.

"Does Fuyao Tower really rely only on those few people?"

"As far as I know, the number of Disciples under Fuyao Tower far exceeds that of the Xuandu Prefecture and Zhenyue Palace."

"You have your eyes fixed on those few Elders."

"Yet you have forgotten that those who truly support this tower have never been them."

"And the current situation has, conversely, become an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" Fan Yuan was stunned, repeating the words subconsciously.

Qin Wangchuan nodded.

"If they attack, Fuyao Tower will inevitably suffer casualties."

"Once people die, there will be hatred."

"The word 'hatred' is usually derogatory, causing people to loathe and driving them mad. But looking at it from another angle, it is also the most useful tool."

"Borrow the fire from the outside to heat your own furnace."

"You do not need to rack your brains to rally people's hearts."

"Just follow that hatred."

"The more people who hate them, the more united the people of Fuyao Tower will be."

"That momentum will twist into a rope by itself and land in the palm of your hand."

After listening, Fan Yuan stood frozen in place for a long time.

A gentle breeze blew by.

He had lived for a hundred years and considered himself well-traveled and knowledgeable, but at this moment, he could not help but feel a chill rise in his heart.

The same event.

What he saw was casualties, risk, and the impending doom lurking behind it.

But what the Master saw was an opportunity, a way to leverage power, and the fire to unite people's hearts.

This is the difference in vision.

Not until the breeze completely passed through the courtyard and dispersed beyond the eaves did Fan Yuan slowly lift his head.

His expression was even more solemn than before.

"Fan Yuan... understands."