Chapter 144: Duality

Before Fang Xu prepared to retire for the night, Old Wu returned to the inn.

Upon seeing Old Wu, Fang Xu did not ask what he had been up to or what the outcome was. After all, in Fang Xu’s view, his trust in Old Wu was more than enough. Wasn't that so?

Furthermore, Old Wu had never given him any reason to feel disappointed. Since that was the case, what was there for him to question?

Added to the fact that he still had to drive the carriage the next day, Fang Xu turned in early.

Early the next morning, when Fang Xu woke up, he saw that Old Wu and Gu Bei had been waiting for him for quite some time.

This caused Fang Xu to furrow his brow slightly. It seemed he really needed to tell Old Wu and Gu Bei to wait for him outside in the future.

Opening his eyes every single day to find people standing right beside his bed—well, fortunately his heart was strong. If it were even slightly weaker, he might have been scared half to death by now.

However, Fang Xu also understood that if Old Wu and Gu Bei appeared simultaneously, it undoubtedly meant there was something that required his attention. Old Wu informed him that Zhang He had already been waiting downstairs for two full hours.

This fell entirely within Fang Xu’s expectations. Since Zhang He understood what he had done wrong, he could just wait a little longer to help him remember the lesson.

Subsequently, Fang Xu turned his gaze toward Gu Bei, who stood beside Old Wu. What matter did Gu Bei have to report to him now?

Gu Bei informed Fang Xu that Murong Fu and Murong Bai had also set off and departed from Danyang County that very morning. As for Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian, they had likewise left early at dawn.

Hearing that Murong Fu and Murong Bai had left Danyang did not come as much of a surprise to Fang Xu, since Murong Bai had already mentioned it to him.

What did surprise him, however, was the departure of Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian. Just last night, neither of them had given any indication that they intended to leave!

This left Fang Xu feeling somewhat disappointed. He had originally planned to invite Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian to Nanyang County to meet Bai Qi, but it now seemed that would have to wait until next time.

Although Fang Xu had decreed that Zhang He should be made to wait for several more hours, he still got up and began to dress. He then instructed Gu Bei to prepare the belongings for departure, while he himself, accompanied by Old Wu, descended to the inn’s main hall.

Before he had even taken two steps, Fang Xu spotted Zhang He sitting below, an expression of desperate anxiety etched across his face.

It seemed Zhang He was looking rather haggard at the moment. Fang Xu couldn't help but cast a glance at Old Wu behind him. He really was curious about what Old Wu had said to Zhang He the previous night. Judging by Zhang He's appearance, he surely hadn't slept well at all.

Noticing Fang Xu’s inquisitive look, Old Wu muttered into his ear. Hearing about the mischievous and tormenting antics Old Wu had pulled the night before, Fang Xu couldn't help but roll his eyes and tell Old Wu that it would be best not to pull such stunts next time. After all, if he had been in Zhang He's shoes, he might not have been able to endure it either.

Looking at Zhang He’s current state, if he had genuinely been frightened into some sudden ailment, the blow to Murong Bai’s sphere of influence in Danyang would have been quite severe.

"Young Master Fang! Young Master Fang, I beg for your mercy!" Zhang He, waiting in absolute anxiety, had no idea how many cups of morning tea he had already consumed. He was already bursting with the urge to relieve himself, but he didn't dare leave his post for even a second. He worried that the very moment he stepped away, Fang Xu would come down, leaving him clueless as to how to explain himself. Therefore, Zhang He had been holding it in this entire time. The moment he laid eyes on Fang Xu, he dropped instantly to his knees and began to plead for mercy.

With a look of amused interest, Fang Xu stared at Zhang He for a moment before letting out an involuntary chuckle.

"What is Magistrate Zhang doing kneeling so early in the morning?" Despite his words, Fang Xu made no move to help Zhang He back to his feet.

Naturally, Zhang He understood Fang Xu’s lingering dissatisfaction. Unable to contain himself, he began to slap his own face repeatedly.

All of this was taken in by Fang Xu. He had to admit that the Zhang He of the present moment bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Zhang He of before. The current Zhang He understood the weight of interests and stakes, and knew what mattered most.

Satisfied by Zhang He’s metamorphosis, Fang Xu nodded slightly, realizing that Zhang He was finally capable of distinguishing between what was primary and what was secondary.

"I suppose Magistrate Zhang finally understands his own position now?" Fang Xu asked with a smile, looking down at the kneeling man, while Zhang He could clearly feel the chill emanating from him.

"This subordinate understands! This subordinate will never dare do it again!" Zhang He continued to strike his own face, the blows so forceful that blood began to stream from his mouth unchecked. Yet, he showed no intention of stopping, appearing to have truly grasped the gravity of his mistake.

"Since you know you were wrong, see to it that it never happens again. My patience is limited, after all. Old Wu, take Magistrate Zhang to see a physician." Fang Xu glanced at Old Wu and issued the command.

Zhang He hurriedly declined the offer, and with Fang Xu’s permission, he departed the inn with a mouth full of fresh blood. Fortunately, Zhang He had arrived by sedan chair; otherwise, hiding his condition would have proved quite difficult.

"Old Wu, what do you think?" Once Zhang He had left, Fang Xu narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile.

"This young man’s future is boundless!" Old Wu murmured, gazing thoughtfully at the stains of blood left upon the floor. The smile on Fang Xu’s face only deepened.

"Oh? How does Old Wu interpret that?" Fang Xu asked with an amused smile, prompting Old Wu to shake his head with a wry grin.

"How could this old servant dare to display my meager skills before the Young Master? Doesn't the Young Master already know best?" Old Wu laughed. Fang Xu’s smile served as his silent answer.

"Call upon a few of the brothers to keep an eye on him in secret. Boundless future or not, we must ensure he doesn't meet an untimely end," Fang Xu instructed, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wooden tabletop.

"Young Master, are you implying—?" A trace of ruthlessness flashed across Old Wu’s eyes, but Fang Xu stopped him with a gesture.

"Who can truly say how these things will turn out? Being ruthless with oneself is indeed a good trait, but being ruthless with oneself also means being even more ruthless toward others. I only wonder whether this Zhang He will ultimately prove useful to me," Fang Xu murmured, taking a small sip of his drink.

How could Old Wu fail to grasp Fang Xu’s meaning? Without further ado, he selected a few subordinates skilled in martial arts to covertly monitor Zhang He’s every move, instructing them to report immediately should any anomalies arise.

Shortly after, Gu Bei led Qiu Chuji down the stairs. The chill that had lingered on Fang Xu’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm smile as he nodded a greeting to Qiu Chuji.