Fang Yuan arrived at the internal affairs hall and turned in the golden honey wine.
The middle-aged male Gu Master in charge was very surprised. While holding his pen, he asked, "You completed your mission already?"
Fang Yuan nodded.
The middle-aged male Gu Master frowned; this mission was very difficult for Fang Yuan. To think he completed it so quickly!
He looked at Fang Yuan, his eyes threatening, saying solemnly, "Young man, answer whatever I ask you. If you do not reply honestly, it will affect your evaluation. Let me ask you, did you complete this mission alone? Say the truth, we will investigate thoroughly."
"Of course I finished it myself." Fang Yuan replied.
"Good, I will note that down." The middle-aged Gu Master recorded while laughing internally, you're just a newbie, how could you complete it alone? Such a falseful report, the clan would definitely investigate. You will have trouble then.
But unexpectedly Fang Yuan continued, "But this situation is slightly peculiar. That day I only went to scout out the area, but to think the bear was digging the beehive. Using that chance, I retrieved this honey wine."
"What?" The middle-aged man's pen stopped, raising his head to look at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan shrugged, smiling, "What, did you think I could accomplish this mission alone?"
The middle-aged Gu Master was stunned on the spot, he laughed dryly and continued to record in the book.
Fang Yuan had already appropriately set up everything, even if the clan investigates it.
"Alright, your mission is complete, you are now a group leader and you can also inherit the family asset already. Except, your asset is all controlled by your uncle and aunt. The internal affairs hall will retrieve it for you, come back in three days." After recording, the middle-aged man said.
Fang Yuan nodded, he knew this rule, but he stared at the middle-aged man's record paper, saying, "According to the clan rules, the internal affairs mission record needs to be confirmed by the accomplisher on the spot. Please let me see this record."
The middle-aged man's expression changed, he did not expect Fang Yuan to be so familiar with the process. He snorted lightly while handling the report to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan looked at the record without any problems. A few hundred words with the final evaluation — Good.
This evaluation was definitely fair
Giving the report back to the middle-aged Gu Master, Fang Yuan left the internal affairs hall.
Outside, Gu Yue Dong Tu was already gone.
Fang Yuan could not help but laugh coldly. Gu Yue Dong Tu's influence was not big enough to affect the internal affairs hall. Even if Gu Yue Bo the clan leader wanted to do this, he would have to go against the immense pressure from the clan elder circle and pay a huge price in his political career.
In the guest hall.
"Brother Dong Tu, the results are set in stone and have already entered the internal affairs hall's procedure. With the Clan Leader and the internal affairs elder watching closely, even if the two clan elders in power interfere, it will have little effect. Brother Dong Tu, this internal affairs hall's inventory list clearly states the inheritance items and their quantities. Please return them all and don't make my life difficult." The middle-aged Gu Master sighed. Standing in front of Gu Yue Dong Tu, he took out the inventory list.
The inventory had a ton of records, from expensive items like estates to cheap tables or chairs, other than that there were also the Gu worms that Fang Yuan's parents had left behind.
After a Gu Master dies of battle, their Gu worms would be retrieved as an inheritance for their successor. This was a political move by the clan.
Gu Yue Dong Tu's face was grim as he remained silent on his seat.
"Are there really no more methods?" Beside him, Aunt fearfully asked in an anxious and indignant tone.
The middle-aged man shook his head.
Aunt took a look at the list, before losing her composure, "Damn it, you cannot do this! This is all ours, OURS! Hubby, say something, think of something. Without these assets, what do we have left? Even our servants will be gone by half, we cannot afford it!"
Slap!
Gu Yue Dong Tu stood up and sent his palm flying towards Aunt, sending her to the ground from her seat.
"Noisy bitch!" Uncle flew into a rage, scolding in an agitated tone, "Frog in the well, the clan rules are there, you think you can choose not to return them? Dumb, ignorant!"
Aunt used her hand to cover her cheeks, beaten into stupidity, lying on the ground in shock, staring at her husband blankly.
"Hmph!" Gu Yue Dong Tu grabbed the inventory list, gritting his teeth, scanning through.
His eyes were filled with blood traces as he breathed heavily, saying with hatred, "Return! All these things… I will return… NOT A THING LESS!!! But…"
His veins popped from his forehead, the muscles on his face twitching, his expression full of ruthlessness, "But Fang Yuan, I cannot stop the internal affairs hall, yet I can deal with you. Don't think everything is well and alive now that you have these assets, hmph!"
Three days later, Fang Yuan walked out from the internal affairs hall with a stack of house and land deeds and sold human contracts in his hands.
Over 6666 square meters, eight family servants and three bamboo buildings, and a wine tavern!
With such a large family asset, even in this world, one could live like a king.
The three bamboo buildings were property assets — even if they were only rented out, every month, the rental amount was enough to support Fang Yuan's current cultivation.
Aside from that, there was also a wine tavern under the estate's name. It's worth noting that there were only four wine-selling establishments in the entire village.
In terms of value, owning such property in this world would be equivalent to possessing multiple mansions and a hotel on Earth—an aristocratic lifestyle attended by numerous servants.
What made it even more significant was that living conditions in this world were far harsher and more unforgiving than on Earth. As a result, property within the village—the safest haven—was even more valuable and expensive than real estate back on Earth.
"But the most important inheritance is this grass Gu!" Fang Yuan looked at a grass Gu lying quietly in Fang Yuan's palm.
It was dainty and delicate, the emerald green roots resembling a ginseng's beard. There were some semi-transparent stolon that was like jadeite. Nine pieces of round-shaped leaves that were jade green covered and reflected each other, forming the shape of a round plate.
This was the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass, the healing-type Rank two Gu worm.
If it came to normal healing, it had no difference from the Life breath grass.
The true value of the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass lay in its leaves – Every one of the leaves torn from it was a vitality leaf.
Vitality leaf is also a type of grass Gu. At rank one, it is an expendable type, disappearing after one use.
The vitality leaf did have a notable drawback—after using one to treat injuries, any subsequent vitality leaves used within the next hour would have no further healing effect on the same individual.
Even so, it remained highly favored among Rank Two Gu Masters due to its simple refinement process, quick-acting effects, and ease of use.
Every team needed a healing-type Gu Master.
But what if multiple members were injured at once—how much could one healer manage alone?
And if that healer were to fall in battle or become separated from the group, who would treat the others?
Because of this, Gu Masters often carried their own backup healing methods, and among those, the vitality leaf was the most reliable choice.
Any Gu Master operating in the field was expected to carry at least one or two at all times.
The wine tavern wasn't big, but it was in a good location; it was at the eastern side of the village near the eastern gate.
The flow of people was the largest at the eastern and northern gates. Thus, the wine tavern's business was pretty good whether it was day or night.
"Young lord, please take a seat." An old man lowered his head to Fang Yuan.
Few waiters wiped the benches and tables with a fawning and flattering smile towards Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan was walking around as he wished; the old man and waiters didn't dare to sit, they could only follow close behind.
After inspecting the place and asking a few question to the shopkeeper.
"Alright, bring the accounting books and bring me a pot of tea." Fang Yuan sat down.
"Yes, young lord." The shopkeeper and waiters moved hurriedly.
There were as much as sixteen account books, and every book used bamboo papers which had a light green hue. The bamboo papers were more brittle than Xuan paper and were suitable for the damp atmosphere of the Southern Border.
Fang Yuan casually picked up a few books and skimmed over them, asking some questions occasionally.
The shopkeeper gave prompt replies; soon, his forehead was covered with sweat.
This wine tavern was the second biggest asset after the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass; Fang Yuan naturally wanted to firmly grasp it.
However, when Fang Yuan turned to the last page, he saw that this month's income had already been taken by Gu Yue Dong Tu.
"Young lord, the previous landlord personally took it. We didn't dare to resist." The shopkeeper replied while wiping his sweat. His aged body was already trembling and his face had become very pale.
Fang Yuan slowly spoke, "I won't bother about the past matters. I saw that your wages are somewhat low; waiter's wages will be raised by twenty percent and the shopkeeper's by forty percent from now on. Work properly and you will get more benefits."
Fang Yuan stood up and walked to the entrance.
The group of people kneeling on the ground were stunned for a good while before coming back to their senses. All of their eyes brimmed with tears that flowed down their faces.
"Thank you young lord for your great kindness!"
"Young lord is compassionate, we will definitely work with all our strength!"
"Young lord, you are our benefactor, please take care."
Fang Yuan did not care about others' comments and was simply repeating what he had done in his previous life.