After the dinner, Fang Yuan's uncle and aunt retreat to their private chambers. The moment the door clicks shut behind them, the facade of civility crumbles, replaced by raw frustration and simmering anger. Uncle slams his fist on the table, the sound reverberating through the room as his voice cuts through the air—low, sharp, and seething with barely contained rage.
"Look at what you've done! Can't you even act gentle for six months? Fine, forget six months—how about three? Just three months of pretending to care, just enough time to make them believe we're their real parents. Once they're emotionally dependent on us, we'll ask them to officially become our children. They'll agree immediately out of gratitude. After that, you can act however you want. They'll lose all rights to their inheritance, and then you can go back to being your usual cruel self. Because once they acknowledge us as their parents, they'll lose all claims to their inheritance. Bite them if you want—it won't matter anymore. But until that day comes, every harsh word, every slip-up pushes us further from our goal. Have you understood the importance of acting gentle?"
His wife, defensive and frustrated, fires back, her voice rising in agitation. "I was acting gentle! At the dining table, I only criticized her for her incompetence. Was I wrong? And then I spoke to her gently, telling her how much we love her. Was everything I did wrong?"
The uncle's voice lowers, but his tone remains sharp, each word dripping with disdain. "I'm not saying you were wrong. The problem is Gu Xianer. She's brainless. Even though she's 15, the same age as Fang Yuan, she acts like a three-year-old child. And the bigger problem is Fang Yuan. He's spoiled her too much."
The aunt nods reluctantly, her expression darkening as realization dawns. "You're right. Fang Yuan is the root of all this. Even though he's the most untalented, he's clever. From a very young age, he's been taking care of Gu Xianer—feeding her, protecting her. Just by looking at him, I can tell he hasn't been eating properly for a long time. Sometimes, I catch him drinking water excessively. It's clear he gives Gu Xianer his own meals."
Uncle leans forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "That's not all. I have a feeling Fang Yuan knows something about the inheritance process—and perhaps even the immense wealth their parents left behind. You know I'm a hidden elder, and I've picked up whispers here and there. Apparently, Fang Yuan has been asking around in the market under the guise of taking Gu Xianer out. He pretends to be casual, but those he's questioned have already reported back to me. From what I can tell, he's planning to claim his portion. And if he does, that brainless sister of his will follow. And what do you think Fang Zheng will do then?"
The aunt's face pales as the full weight of the situation sinks in. Her voice rises in panic, trembling with urgency. "Then Fang Zheng will also claim his share! More than 90% of our wealth would go to them, and we'll be left with nothing. We'll be ruined! We need to do something, or else—"
Uncle cuts her off before she can finish, his tone sharp and commanding, slicing through her hysteria like a blade. "Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng aren't close, so we don't need to worry about him influencing the other. The real problem is Gu Xianer. We need to separate her from Fang Yuan's influence. We can't harm her directly because she's a high-talent Gu Master, and the clan would investigate any suspicious activity. That leaves us with Fang Yuan. Somehow, we need to expel him from the clan—but also ensure Gu Xianer doesn't follow him."
Aunt throws up her hands in exasperation, desperation etched into every line of her face. "What should we do? We don't have much time—maybe a year at best."
They spend hours discussing strategies, tossing ideas back and forth, but nothing seems viable. Gu Xianer's love for Fang Yuan is unwavering, an unbreakable bond that defies manipulation. Frustration mounts, until suddenly, a devilish smile spreads across Uncle's face—a grin so cold it sends shivers down even Aunt's spine.
Seeing his expression, Aunt's eyes light up with anticipation, her curiosity piqued. "Have you thought of a plan?"
Uncle's smile grows darker, more sinister, as he leans forward, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "The plan I'm thinking of is cruel—but desperate times call for desperate measures. We can't afford to let ourselves become poor again by handing everything over to them."
Aunt's curiosity peaks, her voice tinged with excitement and cruelty. "Tell me! What's the plan?"
Uncle's voice drops even lower, his words laced with venom as he reveals his scheme. "I'm thinking of giving Fang Yuan a strong drug—one that heightens his sexual desires to the point where he loses all control. You know exactly what happens next." He lets out a chilling laugh, the sound echoing through the room like the cackle of a predator closing in on its prey.
Aunt's eyes widen in shock, then narrow with cruel delight as the implications sink in. A wicked smile spreads across her face, matching the malice in her husband's expression. "That's a brilliant idea. How did I not think of it? Give me the drug, and I'll mix it into his meal tomorrow."
Uncle raises a hand, silencing her abruptly, his voice firm and calculating. "Don't rush it. This requires careful planning. We need to set the stage first, execute it smoothly, and make sure no one suspects foul play. Do you understand?"
Confusion flickers across Aunt's face, her brow furrowing slightly. "How are we going to create the stage?"
Uncle leans forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, his words dripping with calculated cruelty. "Think about it. Fang Zheng and Gu Xianer are highly talented, but Fang Yuan has awakened his primeval aperture despite having no talent. That means he qualifies to attend the academy. However, within six months, he'll grow increasingly depressed as he realizes his lack of progress compared to others. That's when we strike. I'll offer him advice, sharing stories of my own struggles when I was younger. 'When life becomes unbearable,' I'll say, 'I go to the wine shop and drink to forget my failures. It refreshes the soul and gives you strength to move forward.' Alongside this, I'll provide him with extra money, encouraging him to indulge in alcohol. At first, he might resist, but as the days pass and despair sets in, he'll succumb. Soon, he'll start drinking heavily, relying on it to numb his pain."
He pauses, savoring the cruelty of his scheme, his lips curling into a sadistic smirk. "One night, he'll return home drunk. That's when you step in. Offer him water laced with the drug, saying something like, 'Fang Yuan, you're like my own child. Don't drink so much—I know you can't handle it. Here, drink this water instead. I've poured all my love into it. You'll feel relief.' By then, his inhibitions will be gone, and the drug will push him over the edge. He'll… violate his sister."
Aunt's smile mirrors his own, equally cruel and devoid of humanity. "And once Fang Yuan is gone, we'll have complete control over Gu Xianer. She'll be ours to mold as we see fit."
As they finalize their plan, a chilling phrase echoes in the uncle's mind, a grim reminder of the world they live in:
"If anyone dares to threaten your position, shatter them with ruthless precision. In this cruel world, there is no blood relation—only power and position."
Uncle repeats the words silently, letting them sink into his soul. His smile widens, cold and unyielding, as he embraces the darkness within him. He knows the stakes—they've gambled everything on this plan, and failure is not an option. For years, they've lived in the shadow of Fang Yuan's parents' wealth, pretending to care for their children while secretly plotting to seize it for themselves. Now, with Gu Xianer's awakening as a high-talent Gu Master and Fang Yuan's untapped potential as a wildcard, the risk of losing everything has never been greater.
But Uncle isn't afraid. If anything, he relishes the challenge. To him, this isn't just about greed or ambition—it's about survival. In a world where weakness is punished and strength rewarded, sentimentality is a luxury they cannot afford. Blood ties mean nothing; only power matters. And if destroying Fang Yuan is the price they must pay to secure their future, so be it.
With a final nod to his wife, Uncle extinguishes the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.