Chapter Eleven: Chen Ruhai

“This matter...”

Several senior leaders of the One Heart Sect gathered together, all gasping in disbelief.

They all felt this situation was too mysterious.

“The Guardian Hall has already set its sights on the Su family. If the One Heart Sect tries to swallow up the Su family’s assets, it will backfire. So, we won’t be able to get them!”

“Most of the assets have either been embezzled, divided up, or fallen into the hands of other members of the Su family, who then vanished without a trace with the property.”

“Sun’s disciple’s move… ahem, it’s actually feasible.”

“Yes, after all, if the assets fall into Fang Che’s hands, it’s effectively the same as them belonging to the One Heart Sect. Whatever Fang Che does with this money—whether handling affairs or improving himself—any hidden benefits ultimately belong to our sect!”

“Shall we proceed then?”

“Agreed.”

From that very night onward, Bibo City buzzed with stories of the deep friendship between Fang Che of the Fang family and Su Yue of the Su family.

They were said to be kindred spirits at first sight, sworn brothers, bound by profound brotherhood, supporting each other through thick and thin, their loyalty as clear as the sun and moon.

Tales spread of how Su Yue befriended Fang Che, and what Fang Che did for Su Yue. When Su Yue fell ill, Fang Che endured great hardships to find the medicinal herbs, delivered them, and then turned to leave immediately.

With a bold voice he declared, “Your recovery means more than anything! My effort is nothing compared to that!”

When Su Yue was short on money, Fang Che immediately emptied his pockets to help him, even going into debt.

Laughing heartily, he said, “A mere trifle of wealth—how can it compare to the brotherhood between us?”

When Su Yue was bullied, Fang Che drew his sword resolutely and charged into battle, facing opponents far beyond his own strength, shouting, “Who dares bully my brother?!”

He was beaten until his legs broke, yet still smiled and said, “I, Fang Che, cannot stand to see my brother bullied! Even if I die, what is there to fear? Where righteousness leads, life and death follow! Fire and blade are nothing to fear!”

When Su Yue was about to undertake a great task, he solemnly entrusted everything at home to Fang Che before leaving, saying, “Brother, my journey’s outcome is uncertain, and my return unknown. I entrust everything at home to you.”

He even wrote a formal agreement for Fang Che to keep as proof.

Fang Che solemnly promised, “Brother, why speak of ‘entrust’? As long as I, Fang Che, have breath in my body, I will protect the Su family’s assets intact for you!”

When Su Yue disappeared, Fang Che fell ill upon hearing the tragic news, vomiting blood, and cried out to the heavens in grief, “Oh heavens... return my brother to me!”

Countless people praised Fang Che as a paragon of brotherly love and a model of friendship’s loyalty.

Many lamented that having a friend like Fang Che in one’s life was truly a blessing.

A poet, deeply moved, composed a poem to immortalize this beautiful bond:

Who says there are no brothers in this world? A promise to live and die together;
Go with ease, my friend, for here burns a righteous spirit.
The youth of the Fang family cherish loyalty, their sworn bonds engraved in the heart;
Preserving the green mountains for you, awaiting your return to reunite once more!

Such stories spread wildly through Bibo City, but the Su family denied them outright.

“Fang Che and our Su Yue don’t have such a close relationship!”

“Our family members just went out and haven’t returned for a while, they’re not dead.”

“There are many who go away for a year or two without coming back; why should our Su family be an exception?”

“What is Fang Che anyway? He has no right to control our family’s assets!”

“Absolutely not!”

When these remarks spread, a righteous hero, filled with indignation, confronted the Su family: “How can you say such things and disgrace the bond between Fang Che and Su Yue?”

The Su family not only disagreed but gathered men to beat this hero and sought to kill him.

But unexpectedly, this hero was a master. Enraged, he howled to the sky, “To defile friendship and insult brothers thus, I, Wang Laosan of Pinghu, cannot stand it—I will enact justice today!”

He drew his blade and slaughtered all the Su family assailants.

Then, wielding his sword, he stormed into the Su family estate and wiped out every old and young member without mercy.

He drove out all the servants, maids, and attendants.

Afterwards, he leapt into the air with a loud howl, heroically proclaiming, “When injustice is seen, one must draw the sword to help! I am Wang Laosan of Pinghu!”

“I cannot tolerate petty scheming or filth. Today, in my fury, I have killed with satisfaction!”

Laughing heartily, he vanished from Bibo City.

By the time the Guardian Hall’s experts arrived, Wang Laosan had already disappeared without a trace.

From the outbreak of the incident to the massacre of the entire Su family took less than a quarter of an hour—an astonishingly swift event.

The Su family was completely wiped out.

Now, aside from the missing Su family members, only Fang Che remained, bound by life and death to Su Yue!

At this point, everyone was utterly baffled.

Naturally, the Guardian Hall focused on the Fang family and launched an investigation.

The result...

They found that the bond between Fang Che and Su Yue was genuine. Su Yue often visited Fang Che at the Fang family home, and the two talked happily...

Some Fang family members suspected Su Yue harbored ulterior motives and hidden schemes, but Fang Che himself never doubted him and steadfastly believed Su Yue was his true elder brother!

For this belief, he even quarreled with his grandfather, fell out with his uncle, and repeatedly defied his mother...

In short, Fang Che was devoted to Su Yue! This was his best friend!

There were many witnesses in Bibo City who could vouch for this.

Some even said in unison: Fang Che was a fool, being used by Su Yue...

All kinds of rumors flew thick and fast.

Everyone had their own theories!

The more the investigation went on, the more confusing it became.

Fang Che himself appeared naïve and passionate, simply declaring, “Su Yue is my elder brother! I don’t care about the assets, but no one can touch what belongs to him!”

Yet now, all of the Su family’s wealth and enterprises were at a standstill...

With no one left to suffer the loss.

As for the so-called ‘Wang Laosan of Pinghu’ who killed the entire Su family... he seemed like a bubble that dissolved into the sea—vanished without a trace.

Although the Fang family did nothing, the One Heart Sect mobilized all local forces to push for “Fang Che to take over the Su family inheritance.”

“Recalling the oath of brotherhood, honoring the loyalty of friends!”

“To leave a memory for the missing Su family members.”

“The Su family people are missing, not dead. Even if you are the law, you can’t just confiscate generations of hard-earned property!”

“A sworn brother entrusted with stewardship—what noble sentiment! Why do you enforcers oppose this?”

Meanwhile, in the shadows, the One Heart Sect was ruthlessly hunting down all Su family members carrying out missions outside... none ever returned.

...

The Guardian Hall convened a secret meeting over the matter.

Hallmaster Chen Ruhai sat slouched at the head, his expression weary and resigned.

He himself did not understand why he had been suddenly recalled from the front lines to this godforsaken place to serve as the Guardian Hallmaster.

Its full name: The 1494th Guardian Hall, Hallmaster.

Look at this awful name, Bibo City!

Look at this unlucky rank—1494!

Just die already?

Is something big about to happen here?

A mere Su family matter had already been debated for an hour, with everyone airing their views, making the hall hot and noisy.

Each person had their own opinion.

Was this trivial matter really worth such discussion?

Chen Ruhai rolled his eyes openly, stared at the ceiling, and absentmindedly rested one leg on the armrest, letting his boot fall off with a loud thud.

Suddenly, a foul stench burst forth.

Those gathered all froze in silence...

Several female warriors quickly covered their noses, “Hallmaster, sir!!”

Their voices muffled by their hands.

“What’s the big deal? You’ve been discussing for so long?” Chen Ruhai said indifferently, “Isn’t it obvious? Why debate?”

The others weren’t satisfied, “Please enlighten us, Hallmaster.”

“Enlighten? Have you all lost your minds?”

Chen Ruhai snorted, stubbornly holding his foot in the air.

But what he said was straightforward:

“I’ve only been here three days, so I don’t know much else. I can only draw conclusions based on what I know.”

“First, the Su family—whom you all suspect—has secretly sided with the One Heart Sect. In other words, the Su family is under One Heart’s influence, making them our adversaries.”

“Second, the Su family is destroyed, yet still carries the title of a ninth-tier noble family. Their power and business need to be restructured to maintain livelihood.”

“Third, the other four families—Fang, Lü, Zhang, and Wei—have split the Su family’s remaining influence, but none have reached the eighth tier. They remain ninth-tier. This can be set aside.”

“Fourth, the One Heart Sect still has considerable power in Bibo City.”

“Fifth, Fang Che’s sudden fame is obviously orchestrated. Someone is pushing for him to take over the Su family’s wealth. The influence itself cannot be taken, only the assets can be transferred.”

“Sixth, the Fang family has filed records; Fang Che has apprenticed under a master unrelated to the Fang family. Your investigation shows the Fang family hasn’t intervened.”

“Seventh, clearly, Fang Che has backers who can’t get the wealth themselves and want him to hold it. Why him? Because Fang Che is likely one of theirs—either already or about to be.”

“Eighth, if Fang Che is suspicious but the Fang family is not, then the most suspicious is Fang Che’s master. Begin full surveillance immediately.”

“Ninth, the person who wiped out the Su family is also clearly from the One Heart Sect. This suggests the sect has deployed at least three king-level experts in Bibo City. Why three? If Fang Che’s master is one, and the killer is two, then by One Heart’s custom, there must be one or two more secretly supporting. So, at least three—this is a formidable force not to be underestimated.”

“Tenth, since Fang Che is suspicious, he should be closely watched. But he’s just a small fish with little value. Arresting or killing him now would be wasteful. Better to wait and catch the bigger prize.”

“So, even if we give him the Su family’s wealth, what then? He’s already in our sights. There’s no escape.”

“Eleventh, this kid Fang Che surely has ambitions, or One Heart does through him. It is said he is a martial prodigy who hasn’t yet entered the Guardian Martial Institute, so he must enter this year. One Heart is giving him such benefits to ensure he ranks first or among the top in the martial exams, entering the institute as a prodigy.”

“If that happens, even knowing he’s suspicious but lacking evidence, we still have to reward him. That would disgust the institute’s fellows.”

“Therefore, our mission is clear: no matter what, Fang Che cannot take first place in the martial exams!”

“Twelfth, I came here because I received word that One Heart plans big moves here, and this Su family affair may not be coincidental. Heightened vigilance is required everywhere, ready to respond at any time.”

Chen Ruhai remained lazy in demeanor, but his words were sharp as blades and his mind meticulous.

Piece by piece, he unraveled the matter with clarity.

“So, you need not argue or bicker. Four tasks must be done next. If these four are accomplished, all will be well.”

[1. There is a group number in the book’s notes; everyone can join to discuss.
2. Regarding the leader’s additional chapters, I haven’t decided yet. Once it’s published, we’ll discuss and decide together.
3. Updates at midnight are scheduled.
4. The update scheduled for 11:30 tomorrow morning is also set.]