Uncle sighed. "Fang Yuan, truth be told, I was a lot like you when I was growing up. You and I are not so different. Just like you, I was a B-grade talent. I thought that I was invincible. That I could take on anything. I reached Rank 3 and became an elder, and by then, I really did think I was invincible. Unfortunately, during a fight with the Xiong Clan my aperture was injured, causing me to fall from Rank 3 to Rank 2, and causing my aptitude to fall from B-grade to C-grade. After that, I lost my title as elder."
Fang Yuan was silent. Although uncle thought that this was the first time he was telling Fang Yuan this, Fang Yuan already knew about this.
"When that happened, it was only by relying on others that I was able to survive," Uncle said. "Fang Yuan, you are flying high now. Right now is your time to shine, but heaven is fair and balanced. No one will remain victorious forever, and there will come a time when you will also have to rely on someone else. Two fists cannot rival four palms, after all. Who do you currently have as allies? You have no family other than us. Fang Yuan, with my contacts, I can be of great help to you in those times. I am willing to negotiate somewhat - I will give you 5,000 primeval stones right now upfront if you relinquish your claim to your parent's inheritance."
Fang Yuan was not surprised by this turn of events, but he was a bit surprised by the amount that Uncle was offering to buy his cooperation.
He knew that his parents had considerable wealth, how else could Aunt and Uncle live in such prosperity for so many years after having snatched it? But, even with his knowledge of 500 years into the future, he wasn't sure of what the exact contents of his parent's inheritance was.
However, this gave him some estimate as to how valuable it was if his uncle was willing to part with that kind of sum for it.
Fang Yuan chuckled coldly. "Do you think such a paltry amount can sway my heart?"
Uncle snarled and then let out a sly smile. "Fang Yuan, let us say that you win this bout between the two of us. What is to say that your parent's property doesn't mysteriously 'disappear' or get 'stolen' before you are able to claim it."
Fang Yuan had an easy response to this. "The clan would then convict you and Aunt for robbery. I hope you enjoy your time in prison then. That, and I will be able to seize anything left to recoup my losses."
Uncle hadn't expected Fang Yuan to be so knowledgeable about the clan rules. His parent's inheritance was left to his aunt and uncle, but they were just safekeeping it at the moment. If Fang Yuan went to reclaim it and some of it was found missing, Uncle would have to pay the respective amount out of his own pocket unless he wanted to be convicted of embezzlement.
"That is all I wish to say," Fang Yuan said, waving his hand. "If that is all, Uncle, I request that you leave me be."
"Why you-" Uncle began to say as his eyes flickered around the room, falling on the bag of primeval stones that Fang Yuan had. These were his earning from handing over the Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance to the clan. He had quite a substantial sum left, thanks to him mostly using the stones that the system gave him rather than this stash.
It was clear that Fang Yuan had no dearth of resources. Uncle would not dare do anything to him especially inside of the academy dormitory, and once Fang Yuan graduated, he would likely be at Rank 1 Peak Stage or even Rank 2 Initial Stage. To suppress him at that time would be impossible - that was why Uncle had come here in the first place.
"Listen to me Fang Yuan-"
"I have listened to you prattle on and on for long enough," Fang Yuan said. "Now, why don't you listen to a word of advice from me? You say that two fists cannot rival four palms, yet that is not true. In this world, the strength of a single expert can suppress that of ten thousand inferior men. If a Rank 3 cultivator were to attack all 50 of us students, would a single one of us be able to escape? No, we would have no choice but to die." Once again, let alone Rank 6, if Fang Yuan was even Rank 5, the entire mountain would've folded before him like a house of cards.
"Given that, and given that strength is supreme, why didn't you act differently?" Fang Yuan asked. "You had been handed an immense windfall that ensured that you didn't need to work, and yet, how did you use it? Squandering your time in the lap of luxury? If you reduced your wants, I'm sure you could've accumulated a hoard far greater than the one you have, reaching tens of thousands of primeval stones. You were injured yes, your aptitude was weakened yes, but what cannot be fixed in this world? If nothing and you couldn't find anything despite decades living in the village, you could have boarded a merchant caravan and traveled to Shang Clan City with a large amount of savings, and bought a talent-raising Gu Worm there. Either that, or sought the services of a great healer who might've been able to fix your aptitude. Or use up your mountains of primeval stones not on creature comforts, but to reach Rank 3, burning them as you cultivate tirelessly for over a month. That, or found some third way to become Rank Three. Either way, you might have become a Rank 3 Gu Master again by now. You wouldn't have to slink around pretending to be one." Were that the case, Uncle could directly suppress Fang Yuan in many ways. In such a case, he really would have little choice but to give up on the inheritance.
Fang Yuan stifled a yawn. "It must greatly burn your pride, I am sure, to be essentially groveling before your nephew, someone who you could so easily suppress before. But you would not need to do so if only you were more ambitious and had worked on cultivating. Yet, you chose immediate comfort over the long-term benefits."
"Fang Yuan you really are..." Uncle began, but not wanting to finish. Fang Yuan's 'plan' had numerous flaws - it would be incredibly risky to travel such a distance, one may not find such a Gu Worm, and so on and so forth. Of course, all of these could simply be summed up with the statement that it was far easier to sit back, relax, and enjoy his newfound fortune rather than try something risky that might get himself killed.
It was clear though that Uncle could do nothing further to Fang Yuan, and would have to turn to Plan C.
Only there was no Plan C! If Fang Yuan did not make a mistake, how could he strike at him?
With a heavy sigh, he turned around and left. "Fang Yuan, I will be back later. I'm sure by then you will see the error of your ways and change your mind."