In the backyard of Beixing Sect, Cao Fengge sat alone by the lotus pond, holding a fishbowl and supervising two maids as he fed the fish. With a sudden wave of his hand, he dismissed the maids. Once they were gone, Fu Yuanjun emerged from behind a large boulder and approached him.
Fu Yuanjun stood beside Cao Fengge. "How are you doing?" he asked.
Cao Fengge offered a hollow response. "I have a great time in this bounded wheelchair. How about you?"
"I am fine too," Fu Yuanjun said. "Father, for the safety of Wenyan and his future success, you have paid a heavy price."
Cao Fengge declared, "I will do it for you too."
Fu Yuanjun challenged him instantly. "How? In what relation?" He looked pointedly at Cao Fengge. "My surname is Fu, not Cao, even if I use my mother's surname, it's still not Cao."
Cao Fengge insisted, "If you are in danger, I will help you."
Fu Yuanjun sneered. "Funny. I have encountered many dangers, but you are not the one who came to save me."
"Yuan'er, if I knew, I would come for you. You are my son," Cao Fengge maintained.
Fu Yuanjun snorted softly. "Really? This is the first time in my memory that 'father' had said something so caring to me." He reached out, grabbed some fish food, and tossed it into the pond. He stared at the water for a moment before continuing. "A person's life is like these fish. Some fish are lucky to swim in a manmade pond, and some fish are not so lucky. They swim in wild rivers, striving to survive and protecting themselves from predators."
Cao Fengge asked, "What kind of fish are you?"
Fu Yuanjun glanced at him, his look sharp. "I am the kind of fish that was fetched out of the safe manmade pond and thrown back into the wild, because the manmade pond is too small to hold two fish."
"Yuan'er, I have never thrown you away. I have always stood by your side," Cao Fengge insisted.
Fu Yuanjun smiled, a chilling edge to his expression. "Father, it's a bit late to say that don't you think?" He turned fully, facing Cao Fengge with that disquieting smile. "Do you think you are so smart, so you came up with a plan to get the Cao family to the top of the martial arts world? Do you think your plan is so perfect that no one can see through? Do you think you can become stronger by eliminating your opponent's one by one? Do you think that in your so-called chessboard, taking Lanying as your secret chess piece, you will definitely succeed?" He then dropped to one knee in front of Cao Fengge, his intensity terrifying. "Father, you are wrong. You gave yourself too much credit."
Cao Fengge was speechless, his composure shattered. "How?" he finally managed to ask.
Fu Yuanjun spoke, his voice ringing with bitter pride. "I once promised myself that I didn't need anyone to cut the grass in front of me. I would cut the grass by myself and create my own path to success. That day you let me lose to Cao Wenyan, and I realized that I'm alone. It also made me realize that I have to work hard for everything I want. Therefore, I worked hard for my own success. Every drop of sweat that wets my robe, I feel proud." He stared at Cao Fengge. "Even if you are wronged in all aspects, there is one thing you are right about: Only people who have experienced the most tortuous training can become a champion."
He drew out a needle and sent it flying directly into the stone lantern standing before them. The top of the lantern suddenly fell, splashing into the pond. Fu Yuanjun smiled cruelly at his father. "The twelfth level of 'Red Thread Needle'."
Cao Fengge was profoundly shocked; he hadn't even known the twelfth level of the 'Red Thread Needle' existed. "How did you get it?"
Fu Yuanjun scoffed. "Father, you think I wouldn't figure out what lay beneath the Gu Manor?"
"So, do you know the secrets of the four families?"
Fu Yuanjun's smile broadened. "It's not difficult to guess. Some hunters from the back mountains suddenly became respected heroes in the eyes of all martial artists in Central Plains. It's a bit strange, don't you think?" He arched his body and whispered beside Cao Fengge's ear, a chilling reminder. "Chief Cao, you never really remember your words and promises?"
Cao Fengge's face turned dark, and his hands trembled. The fishbowl slipped from his grasp, shattering on the ground. The hairs on his body stood up, and a deep chill penetrated his spine. He vividly remembered fighting Yongzheng and glancing at Fu Yuanjun, hoping he would rush forward. Instead, he saw Fu Yuanjun shake his head, a cruel smirk on his face. He demanded an answer. "Yuan'er, since you mastered the 'Red Thread Needle,' why didn't you help me on the day when I fought against the Rao brothers?"
Fu Yuanjun's calm instantly broke, his voice frantic with past pain. "Father, why do you have such a short memory? Don't you remember? That day, when I dueled with Cao Wenyan, I had great hopes. I wanted to show you that anything you wanted me to do, I could accomplish it." He gritted his teeth, the memory searing him. "That time, when I glanced at you, do you know how disappointed I was when I saw your eyes telling me to lose the duel to your golden son? The moment Cao Wenyan pierced my chest, I realized that I, Li Yuanjun, will have to fend for myself. I will make you regret the decision to abandon me."
Cao Fengge tried to rationalize his past actions. "Yuan'er, I always hoped you could reach the top, so..."
Fu Yuanjun shouted madly, "So... what, Father?!"
Cao Fengge remained silent, unable to justify himself.
Fu Yuanjun's anger escalated. "So... you left me! I was too young to even make a fire! I dug with my hands for a day and got two sweet potatoes! My fingers were bleeding! I didn't care, because I wanted to live! The tribulations of my youth, I did it willingly for you! I didn't complain because I wanted to tell you that anything Cao Wenyan can do, I can do better, but Father, you..." Tears welled in his eyes, a raw display of decades of hurt. "No matter how hard I tried, I knew that in your eyes, I could never compare to Cao Wenyan."
He knelt and faced Cao Fengge, his expression suddenly changing to one of perverse gratitude. "Father, thank you for all the abuses you inflicted on me." He stood up, smiling, and embraced the evening sun. "You can continue to cherish your prodigal son. I don't care anymore, because Father... I hate you and the entire Cao family. If you irritate me, I have no problem killing every single member of Beixing Sect!" He turned back to his father, his threat absolute. "If I have to kill the Cao, I will start with Cao Wenyan."
Cao Fengge pleaded. "Yuan'er, he is your brother!"
Fu Yuanjun sneered. "I have no brother surnamed Cao." He paused, then delivered the final blow. "But… I have hundreds of brothers with hundreds of different surnames. They are my eyes and ears everywhere in the martial arts world. They are in various sects and clans, including Beixing Sect." He patted Cao Fengge lightly on the shoulder, a gesture devoid of affection. "Father, soon this illegitimate child that you refuse to publicly admit will become the son-in-law of the Gu family. Thanks to Ma Jingguo, he got rid of Gu Gouliang for me. Soon, the title of Chief leader of Wulin will belong to me, Fu Yuanjun!" He threw his head back and laughed, a chilling, triumphant sound. "Father, sometimes being second is not bad at all, because no one really pays attention to your every move!" He vaulted over the wall and vanished.
Cao Fengge, "Yuan'er…"
Soon after Fu Yuanjun left, Cao Wenyan walked in. He came to stand beside Cao Fengge. "Father, I'm going to Sword Village to attend the wedding of Yong gongzi and Chen guniang. I want to leave early because I want to stop and visit Mu gongzi." He looked at Cao Fengge. "Father, are you coming with me?"
"No, Yan'er," Cao Fengge replied heavily.
"What is it, Father?" Cao Wenyan asked, sensing the change in his father's mood.
"What do you think of Chief Fu?"
Cao Wenyan shrugged. "He is alright."
Cao Fengge sighed deeply. "Yan'er, if you want to leave the martial arts world, you can."
"Why did Father say that suddenly?"
Cao Fengge's voice was filled with regret. "I made a lot of mistakes, and I don't want you to follow in my footsteps."
Cao Wenyan smiled, dismissing the sudden gloom. "We will talk about it when I come back from the wedding."
Cao Fengge looked at his son earnestly. "If you see Mei'er, tell her that I miss her. If she has time and can forgive me, let her know that I'm still waiting for her in Beixing Sect."
"I know," Cao Wenyan assured him, turning to walk away.
Cao Fengge quickly turned his wheelchair. "Yan'er…" Cao Wenyan turned back. "You stay away from Chief Fu."
"Why?"
"Remember my words: don't get involved with Chief Fu."
Cao Wenyan smiled, nodding to Cao Fengge, and then slowly disappeared from his father's sight.
A man dressed in black walked toward Cao Fengge. "Chief Cao, my master wants to know when you can see her again?"
"How is she?" Cao Fengge asked.
The man replied gravely. "She is not doing too well after Er gongzi was brutally murdered by Wen Huifang."
Cao Fengge gave his instructions. "Send a coffin to Sword Village for me in the name of Sunset Sect."
"I will make sure the coffin arrives on time. What should I tell Master?"
Cao Fengge looked out at the fish swimming in the pond, his brow furrowed. "Tell her, we shouldn't meet now. I will send a message to her when we should meet. You can take your leave." He watched the fish for a moment, whispering a name full of guilt. "Gou'er."