"Fang Yuan! Fang Yuan!"
The deep, urgent voice broke through the fog in his mind. His eyelids felt like iron gates as they slowly lifted.
Light flooded in—blurry at first—until the figure of his father came into focus.
"Dad…" Fang Yuan's weak murmur escaped his lips.
Fang Mo exhaled, relief washing over his tense face.
Then came another voice—high, trembling, innocent.
"Brother!"
Fang Yuan turned his head.
There, sitting beside him with bandaged arms and wide, worried eyes, was Fang Zheng.
He is awake.
"Fang Zheng!" Fang Yuan exclaimed, springing up and wrapping his arms tightly around his twin.
His small body trembled, his expression the picture of teary relief—but inside, his thoughts were anything but pure.
'Tch, this fragile body again…' he cursed silently. 'Every time I push myself even a little, it's like my soul wants to sleep for a century.'
Outwardly, he sniffled and pressed his cheek against Fang Zheng's shoulder, the perfect image of a loving brother reunited.
Fang Mo and Jiaying exchanged soft smiles, the kind parents wear when the world feels merciful again.
Their gaze, however, shifted toward the older woman standing nearby—a matron with gray streaks in her hair, her expression composed and dignified.
"Elder," Fang Mo said respectfully, bowing deeply. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you."
The woman waved her hand gently, her tone kind but authoritative.
"There's no need for that. I understand your situation."
Her gaze softened as she continued, "In a few months, my own grandchild will be born."
"So, focus on your family and let your cousin Dong Tu handle the clan mission. With him taking your place, everything should proceed without issue."
"Thank you, Elder!" Fang Mo and Jiaying said in unison, lowering their heads deeply in gratitude.
Fang Yuan's gaze drifted toward the woman, her face young yet carrying the title of Elder. He frowned faintly.
'Strange... I don't recall seeing her before.' The thought passed like a ripple through still water, then faded.
He had no interest in irrelevant people.
His focus shifted inward—toward his aperture.
There, the tranquil sea of primeval essence shimmered faintly, untouched.
His cultivation was intact.
Yet outwardly, his aura was gone—erased completely, as if he had never cultivated at all.
The system's concealment had worked.
So, he kept his expression flat, merely brushing his fingers across his chest before quietly observing the scene around him.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Fang Mo hand over a small pouch of spirit stones to the woman.
Then, the woman accepted it with a polite smile, offered a few soft words, then departed through the wooden doorway.
The air felt heavier once she left.
Fang Mo turned sharply toward Fang Zheng, inspecting the boy's bandaged head with furrowed brows.
His voice cut through the silence like a whip. "How did you fall?"
Fang Zheng froze, eyes wide and teary, rubbing at the bandage as his small body trembled.
"I… I don't remember," he stammered.
"Brother and I were playing, then I went to my room… looked out the window… and after that…"
His voice trailed off into fearful silence.
A meaty smack! echoed.
Fang Mo's palm came down hard across both brothers' backs.
"You two are grounded!" His tone brooked no argument.
"For the next week—no toys!"
"Waaaaahhhh!" Fang Zheng burst into tears, wailing with all the volume a child could muster.
Fang Yuan, on the other hand, rubbed his sore back with a grimace. Outwardly, he wore the expression of an obedient, scolded child.
Inwardly, his thoughts were cold and detached.
Jiaoying rushed over, gathering the wailing Fang Zheng into her arms. Her voice softened like silk, wrapping around the boy's sobs.
"Don't cry, sweetheart. Don't cry," she whispered, brushing his messy hair aside.
"Aren't you Mama's good boy? Good boys don't cry."
But her words only made him cry louder, tears spilling like pearls.
"Father hit me! He said no new toys!"
Jiaoying chuckled under her breath, pressing his head against her shoulder.
"Shh… It's fine."
"Father won't give them, but can't Mama give?"
The little boy's sobs hiccupped to a stop. His teary eyes blinked up at her, hope flickering to life.
Then he clung to her neck with a trembling smile, half-crying, half-laughing.
Fang Mo watched this scene with an exasperated sigh, his stern face cracking with helplessness.
"You…" he began, pointing a finger at Jiaoying.
"What?" she shot back, chin raised and chest puffed with defiant pride.
Fang Mo exhaled deeply, letting his hand drop.
"Forget it." His tone carried the fatigue of a man who'd long surrendered this particular battlefield.
Just as silence began to settle, a small, composed voice cut through.
"Dad."
Fang Mo turned, and his expression softened instantly. Fang Yuan stood there—quiet, thoughtful eyes betraying none of the storm beneath.
Fang Mo lifted him into his arms with ease, smiling warmly.
"Yuan'er, you looked after your brother while I was away," he said, pride filling his voice. "You've become a brave boy."
In Fang Yuan's chest, however, that warmth felt foreign. The closeness made him uneasy, a reminder of the life he was now forced to live.
Still, he didn't resist. He allowed himself to be held—expression calm, eyes distant.
'Brave boy?' he thought bitterly.
'No, Father… Just a tired soul trapped in a this new skin.'
"Dad… the Gu worm you used on Fang Zheng—can you show it to me?" He asked betraying none of his thoughts.
Fang Mo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request. Still, he reached into his sleeve and drew out a jade box.
As he opened it, a soft green light spilled out, gentle yet brimming with life.
Inside rested a peculiar plant—its roots slender like the beard of ginseng, shimmering faintly with vitality.
Semi-transparent stolons twined like jade threads, and eight rounded leaves overlapped one another, glistening with a serene emerald hue.
It resembled a perfect jade plate, exuding the fragrance of life itself.
"This is the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass," Fang Mo explained absentmindedly, though his brows furrowed.
Fang Yuan's gaze sharpened at the plant and said, "Dad, I want this."