Chapter 48

Yufu · Hot Spring Room

In the small pavilion of the hot spring, Yu Pingzhi sat in a chair, wearing a black robe and a green bamboo hat, looking quite spirited.

His nephew, Yu Fan, stood by his side, feeling somewhat relieved upon seeing his uncle's expression.

"I'm fine, don't worry too much!" Yu Pingzhi's deep gaze fixed on Yu Fan as he spoke, paused, and continued, "The Yu family was originally from a humble background. We rose to prominence when the Great Cai Dynasty was established, earning a noble title. After the death of our ancestor Yu Wenhuan, he was deified, and our family's fortune flourished. We held various official positions and secured our status as a prominent clan."

"But in just three hundred years, with thousands of descendants, even the best fortune cannot sustain such consumption. We have both legitimate and illegitimate branches, and primary and secondary lines, to ensure that each generation has someone to hold office and achieve success. Otherwise, after a few generations, we would be no different from the masses. I understand this, which is why I took on the position of a ritual master in the family."

Yu Fan listened, recalling the sacrifices his uncle had made for the clan, and felt a sense of shame, unable to speak.

"Eighteen years have passed, and you have grown up!" Yu Pingzhi's tone was heavy. "Do you wonder why I pay special attention to you? I'll explain it to you today."

Yu Fan immediately perked up, listening intently.

Yu Pingzhi smiled, "New talents emerge in every generation. Reflecting on it, after several hundred years of renewal, countless true dragons have emerged."

"Putting aside the larger picture, even in our current dynasty, the Xu, Li, Tu, and Gao families, all prominent clans, have experienced their own ups and downs, but have all declined. This is due to both destiny and human factors."

"Our ancestor Yu Wenhuan had an official title and was buried in a chosen location after his death, which is a small dragon that can ensure a hundred years of good fortune. We have always cherished this, but it is now waning."

"In your grandfather's generation, the clan paid a great price, losing seven uncles, to obtain a dragon pearl, which was buried in the ancestral tomb. Unfortunately, its effects were limited to one generation."

"One generation is not insignificant. If someone can rise to prominence within a generation, they can achieve the status of a duke or marquis, accumulate virtue, and further develop, like a snowball rolling down a hill."

"Your father has six sons, but only you have inherited this fortune. The future of the Yu family rests on your shoulders."

Yu Fan, upon hearing this, suddenly understood. He felt a surge of emotion, almost shedding tears, and managed to smile, "So that's how it is. I am a member of the Yu family, and if I have this opportunity, I will certainly revitalize the Yu family."

Yu Pingzhi, after a long speech, was slightly out of breath. Hearing this, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "To obtain this dragon pearl, the clan made great sacrifices, depleting much of our energy. The ritual masters almost all died, and I took on this position with determination."

At this point, Yu Pingzhi recalled his tumultuous life and almost shed tears. He suddenly realized that his life force was already depleted, and staying in this place could extend his lifespan. However, once he stepped out, he would face his destiny. Investigating Ye Qing's roots had already triggered a backlash, and he feared that his life was coming to an end, causing this emotional fluctuation.

Understanding this, Yu Pingzhi immediately wiped away his tears and a cold smile appeared on his face, "Over the years, I have studied your destiny and sought opportunities to enhance your fortune and strengthen your foundation. The fortune of the Dragon Lord's Banquet is not much, but it is a starting point. If you lose it, it will be a significant setback."

Hearing this, Yu Fan was deep in thought and seemed to understand.

"Originally, after the Dragon Lord's Banquet, your fortune would come, and you would gain several opportunities, possibly even becoming a second-rank scholar. However, if you lose this opportunity, the future will be uncertain." Yu Pingzhi's face turned red as he continued, "So I went to investigate. However, Ye Qing's destiny is protected by the dragon qi of the Taiping Lake, and my forced calculation resulted in a slight backlash."

At this point, Yu Pingzhi coughed, and a patch of blood appeared, but he held it back and swallowed it.

"Ye Qing, though he seems to have a weak foundation, when I saw him, I felt a sense of oppression and even fear!" Yu Pingzhi said calmly, "Don't underestimate your uncle's spiritual perception; this person is highly ominous."

"Then we should eliminate him immediately," Yu Fan said coldly.

"No, if we kill him now, we will offend the people behind him."

"The Ye family in Pingshou County is a minor issue, and we can suppress the crime of killing a scholar. However, the Dragon Lord of Taiping Lake has just appointed the poetry champion, and the dragon qi has not dissipated. Killing him would greatly offend the Dragon Lord."

"Moreover, it's not just the Dragon Lord. How could a humble family member obtain such an opportunity? There must be something deeper behind him!"

Yu Fan thought for a moment and said, "Uncle, I understand. I thought a county gentleman's son would not be a threat, but now I realize I underestimated him. What do you suggest we do?"

Yu Pingzhi gazed at Yu Fan's young and handsome face for a long time before saying, "The path is wide, and each must take their own. As long as he does not interfere with your opportunities and does not take your fortune, you must not make enemies with such people. To achieve great things, one must have a broad mind."

"This broad mind is not about being kind and harmonious, which is what those who read books without understanding will think. It means reducing unnecessary losses."

"Think about it, even for our prominent family, our fortune, virtue, and achievements are limited. If we make enemies everywhere, we must deal with them one by one, and even a mighty river will eventually dry up."

"Since Ye Qing is like this, we just need to suppress him for three years. This will put him on a different path. Even if he has potential, with such a low starting point, it will be difficult for him to rise. You are destined to surpass him, and at that time, you can even accept him, form an alliance, or recruit him. Why must you insist on a life-or-death struggle?"

"This is your future, and I may not see it..." His expression turned gloomy, and he sighed. There were things he did not say, such as the figure in the light column and the faint purple aura, which made him uneasy.

The purple aura signifies at least the position of a prime minister!

But how could Yu Pingzhi reveal this and ruin his nephew's destiny?

Yu Fan, upon hearing this, felt a pang of pain and tears welled up in his eyes. He said, "Uncle, you are only forty. If you rest and take care of yourself, you will live a long life. Why do you speak such ominous words?"

Yu Pingzhi listened with a smile, and after a moment, he said, "I know you have some advisors and followers, but from now on, you must dismiss them and not involve them in this matter."

"Although I am not in good health, I am fine in this garden. Suppressing Ye Qing's fortune will cause a backlash, but since his fortune is external and not yet integrated into his destiny, I will not eliminate it but suppress it, which is ten times easier."

"Scholars are selected based on their literary talent, and their ranking is determined by their qi. No matter how talented this person is, he cannot monopolize the top position. A brief suppression will ensure that he does not make the list, and you will be on a different path."

"Once you are on a different path, you must not make enemies with him. Instead, you should lower your stance and befriend him. Do not be stingy with money or reputation. This can resolve the cause and effect and even recruit him as an ally, enhancing your fortune and foundation. You must understand this."

Yu Pingzhi's words were insightful, and Yu Fan was convinced and moved. His uncle was a talented person who had always worked hard for the family, overcoming obstacles.

He had ambitions, and his uncle supported him, willing to be the foundation for his success.

Seeing Yu Fan's expression, Yu Pingzhi smiled and patted his shoulder, "Fan, I am telling you these things to strengthen your resolve. You bear a great fortune and have a noble destiny. The more you have, the more you must be sincere. You will surely revitalize our Yu family and take it to the next level. The future of the Yu family rests on you. Do not let me down."

He smiled and sighed, "I am helping you, but I also have my own interests. Although the Yu family is large, not everyone can enjoy the fortune and become a deity. If you succeed, you must help your uncle, giving me a chance to advance. I will be content with that!"

"Uncle, I understand. If I succeed, I will not let you down!" Hearing these heartfelt words, Yu Fan's eyes welled up with tears, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Uncle, I understand your intentions. I will order the withdrawal from this matter."

He then bowed and said, "Uncle, you should rest. I will take my leave."

Seeing his nephew leave, Yu Pingzhi did not hesitate. At his level of skill, he did not need much preparation, only the determination to pay the price.

His face was expressionless as he took out a fire starter and lit a talisman.

However, the talisman, which should have burned completely, was extinguished by a gust of wind halfway through.

Yu Pingzhi was taken aback and commanded, "Decree!"

A small thunderclap immediately exploded in the garden, similar to a firecracker. Yu Pingzhi's body shook, and blood trickled from his nose and mouth, but his face turned red.

The partially burned talisman somehow reignited and burned completely.

Seeing it burn completely, Yu Pingzhi, with a mix of sorrow and joy, leaned against a pillar, took out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped the blood from his nose and mouth, then smiled bitterly.

"Indeed, the person with the purple aura, the backlash is uncontrollable."

"But even if the backlash is uncontrollable, what needs to be done has been done. Fan, do not blame me. Our branch has made so many sacrifices; how could I let you withdraw?"

Yu Pingzhi did not say everything. Yu Fan was born with the qi of the dragon pearl. If he did not get involved in cause and effect, he could wait patiently and achieve a second-rank scholar within three generations, entering the door of immortality.

However, Yu Fan's dragon pearl qi was obtained at the cost of many family members' lives. If Yu Fan withdrew, would they not have died in vain?

This was something Yu Pingzhi could not tolerate.

Now that Yu Fan had accepted the various supports from the Yu family and gained many opportunities through Yu Pingzhi's calculations, the cause and effect had grown. Unless Yu Fan killed the entire clan, he had the responsibility to lead the Yu family to prosperity.

Of course, killing the entire clan would also cause a backlash. Therefore, Yu Fan had only one choice: to become the head of the Yu family, bear all the responsibilities, and not rest until the clan reached the next level.

In his youth, Yu Pingzhi chose to become a ritual master, sacrificing everything for the clan. He had been a hermit and a martyr for decades. Facing his impending death, he reflected on the past, not regretting his choices but also planning for his future.

Yu Pingzhi, with a half-smile, leaned against the pillar, thinking, "Whether loyal or treacherous, right or wrong, it is truly difficult to discern."

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