Chapter 84

Nancang County · Yu Mansion

Inside the mansion's hot spring, steam billowed, and the deciduous trees were lush and verdant, their years of growth seemingly oblivious to the passage of time.

Yu Pingzhi sat with a blank expression, having lost much weight since the last time he was seen. It was only when Yu Fan approached and bowed that he focused his attention on Yu Fan.

"You can come up and sit," Yu Pingzhi broke the silence, slightly moving his body, and then said to Yu Fan, "I'm still fine, but if things don't look good, has the opportunity been lost?"

Yu Fan listened and responded, "Yes, I've been investigating for two months, mobilizing hundreds of people, but we still can't find anything. I've left Mr. Kou to investigate the situation from the past few months."

As he spoke, he recounted the entire process.

"The tree wishes to be still, but the wind will not stop. What can we do?" Yu Pingzhi's expression was calm, showing no disappointment, only a self-deprecating smile. "Sigh, I originally planned a series of schemes, but when it came to actually doing it, I was always at a disadvantage and made mistakes everywhere."

"It seems I underestimated the heavens; their will is profound and unfathomable."

"I also underestimated the dragons and snakes; their path is full of thorns."

"And I underestimated people; each one who stands high possesses both destiny and talent."

"Fan, don't think I'm hiding. The opportunity is always in flux. Although I can calculate that you and three others have a connection with it based on destiny, I don't know which one specifically. Only when the time comes will we know."

Yu Fan took a step forward and said clearly, "Uncle, you underestimate me, Yu Fan. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today. I remember what you said last time: opportunity is like the wind, but as long as we build a ship and control the river, there will be a favorable wind, whether from the east or the west!"

Yu Pingzhi first praised, "Well said!"

After a moment, he wiped the smile from his face, supported himself on the table, and said in a hoarse voice, "But the principle is one thing, and the struggle is another. Do you know why?"

"The reason is simple: the greater the principle, the longer the time, and the wider the scope." Yu Pingzhi returned to his seat, his eyes shining with insight.

"You think the Three Classics and Five Canons encompass the principles of thousands of years, the rise and fall, life and death, but why can't so many scholars and talents understand them?"

"It's not that they can't understand, but that understanding is useless. The principles of heaven and earth span millions of years, and a person with a lifespan of less than a hundred years, what can they do even if they understand?"

"The principles of emperors and the techniques of slaying dragons are similar. In times of peace, what use is there in learning them?"

"Only the most short-sighted and sharp techniques can seize the moment and achieve great things."

This seemed to be a bit off-topic, and Yu Fan felt uneasy, thinking that this failure had angered him. Seeing Yu Pingzhi's face clouded with anger, he was about to speak when Yu Pingzhi, with a heavy cough, said, "Building a ship and controlling the river is indeed a truth, but you can't use it now."

Yu Pingzhi's eyes turned red, and he looked up at the sky. "If you haven't reached the right position, what use is understanding? Our ancestors built the family business and made it prosperous. Could they use these grand principles?"

Yu Pingzhi's voice grew more agitated. "Fan, this opportunity won't be lost. Your investigation of the traces from a few months ago is correct, but relying on human investigation is extremely difficult. Today, I will help you find this key."

After saying this, Yu Pingzhi was about to perform a spell, but his body suddenly convulsed. He used his hands to support himself, trying to steady himself, but his body went limp, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, falling down.

Yu Fan jumped up, looking in shock. After a moment, he regained his senses and shouted, "Quickly! Someone, call the doctor!"

The servants outside rushed in, and seeing the situation, they were shocked. "Oh no, Third Master is unconscious! Quickly!"

A wave of darkness enveloped Yu Pingzhi, but he strangely retained some awareness.

The backlash felt like red-hot copper rods being branded onto his body, causing him to faint and then wake up, only to faint again, repeating this cycle.

That day, in immense pain, Yu Pingzhi gradually regained consciousness, feeling unbearable pain and intense thirst.

He tried to sit up but found himself completely immobile.

Suddenly, he heard two people whispering behind a screen.

"Hey... another day has passed. It's been a month since he fell into a coma."

"Sigh, back then, many of our uncles sacrificed themselves to obtain the Dragon Pearl. In recent years, the main branch has supported Third Master with all the family resources, but who would have thought he would be so incompetent."

"Yes, he has dragged Uncle into this backlash, and he has been unconscious ever since. Any favor has its limits. Once the limit is reached, we must return to the traditional family rules, the complete set of rules left by our ancestors, combining military and literary principles, which is the foundation of our Yu family."

"Father also tacitly agrees. He doesn't think about how he stood out among the uncles back then. Was it because of the old master's favor? No, it was through various means to make everyone submit. Now, Third Master has failed in several matters, showing his lack of talent and reputation."

"What about the Jade Pearl Pavilion? It's just a hollow name, wasting 130,000 taels of silver without producing a single useful talent, and it has made Father passive in front of the governor."

"Shh, don't say more. Third Master is coming to keep watch. Now he's only coming to keep watch, what kind of diligence is that!" The sound of footsteps faded, and the outer room fell silent.

Yu Pingzhi, hearing these comments, felt as if he was being branded with hot copper inside and out.

From these words, Yu Fan's position as the successor was severely challenged. He struggled to wake up fully.

The small room was silent, filled with a strong medicinal smell.

Outside, several people approached and saw Yu Pingzhi lying on a low bed, his eyes closed, while Yu Fan knelt beside him, startled. "Father!"

Yu Cheng'en suppressed his grief, seeing Yu Fan but not speaking, and brought in a Taoist priest. They saw Yu Pingzhi lying on his back, his face pale.

Yu Cheng'en turned to the Taoist and asked, "Can you do something?"

The Taoist understood and approached the low bed, but did nothing, only saying to Yu Pingzhi, "What a pity, a lifetime of scheming has led to this. I have a pill that can make you conscious for a moment. You should take care of yourself!"

Though his words were harsh, the pill was effective. As soon as it was administered with ginseng, Yu Pingzhi's face miraculously regained some color, turning rosy.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and smiled bitterly. "I fear I can no longer serve the clan."

Yu Cheng'en felt a surge of emotion and said, "Don't talk nonsense. With proper care, you will recover. Don't overwork yourself."

"Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are decided by heaven. I have already felt it." Yu Pingzhi paused, then said with a wistful smile, "Big Brother, the Yu family, under your generation, is like gold on the outside and cotton on the inside. The clan treasury has only 700,000 taels of silver. If something happens, this amount won't be enough."

"You have been working hard and have offended many people, both inside and outside. I can no longer protect you from their attacks. You must be careful."

Hearing this, Yu Cheng'en couldn't help but shed tears.

Yu Pingzhi's eyes flashed. "Make everyone leave. Call Fan over. We need to talk alone."

Yu Cheng'en was taken aback, but the others, though unwilling, left.

As soon as Yu Fan came in, Yu Pingzhi said, "Fan, though I was unconscious, I already know about your situation. This person is Ye Qing."

As he spoke, his eyes dimmed, and his face turned gray. Yu Cheng'en was shocked. "You... don't say more!"

"No, I have more to say. Ye Qing is indeed the great calamity in your destiny, and also the calamity we brought upon ourselves in our quest for the Dragon Pearl. This is inevitable!" Yu Pingzhi's body convulsed and trembled. "Sigh... your fortune has been taken several times. Be cautious, and avoid confronting him in the short term... It's a pity that I can't see you rise step by step. Now I don't have that chance. You must rely on yourself, but... before, I told you to tolerate... now... you can't... when you find the opportunity... kill..."

As he spoke, Yu Pingzhi's condition worsened, but a final flush of red appeared on his face. He suddenly opened his eyes and said clearly to Yu Fan, "I see it. Your third opportunity is with Prince Zhao..."

But as he said this, a闷雷 (thunder) boomed in the sky, and Yu Pingzhi's body shook. A faint fragrance of elixir seeped from his seven orifices, filling the room, and he could no longer speak.

Yu Cheng'en said, "According to the clan rules, our Yu family has only men who charge forward, not cowards who hide in the shade. You can rest assured. I will ensure that your spirit helps our clan in the afterlife, and I will not let your blood be shed in vain."

Yu Fan looked up, seeing that the bed was silent, and he couldn't help but cry out in grief, "Uncle!"

At this moment, everyone rushed in, and the brothers all had sad expressions. Yu Cheng'en's eyes were slightly red, but he quickly composed himself, glanced coldly at Yu Fan, and left without a word.

As soon as he left, the fragrance of the elixir dissipated, and a foul smell appeared. The body quickly decayed, a sign of the backlash.

The brothers looked at each other, and the eldest, Yu Ce, said, "Third Brother, Uncle truly went to great lengths for you. Now he can no longer protect you, which is a pity. But now that Uncle is gone, according to the clan rules, I will take charge. You should go rest."

Yu Fan turned sharply, his eyes fixed on the brothers. They no longer pretended and looked at him coldly, their eyes like ice and knives.

Yu Fan's heart was filled with anger, and he clenched his fists.

"I have already topped the county examination, and the provincial examination is coming up. I just need one more month... but now that Uncle has died, they are already making a move." Thinking of this, his hands trembled involuntarily. However, this was not the time to cause trouble. Without Yu Pingzhi, his father was already very unhappy. If he caused a commotion, he might be reprimanded.

Yu Fan held his breath, said nothing, and left. As he left, he heard the eldest brother's satisfied laugh—after so many years, he had finally gained the upper hand.

Hearing the laughter, Yu Fan's nails dug into his flesh. He raised his head, his eyes cold, and through his teeth, he said, "Ye Qing!"

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