Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

"Sect Leader, do you want to go see those five concubines? They’ve been at the Qingyuan Sect for some time now, yet you still haven’t even seen their faces. If you’re not satisfied with any of them, I can arrange for replacements."

Inside the Qingyuan Sect, Vice Sect Leader Liu Xun was pestering Fang Qingyuan with these kinds of questions. For the past six months, the biggest and most talked-about event in the sect had been Fang Qingyuan taking concubines.

This affair had captured the attention of most sects in the Qingyuan Alliance. Fang Qingyuan’s taking of concubines wasn’t just an internal matter for the Qingyuan Sect; the interests of many smaller sects were at stake.

But Fang Qingyuan was in no mood to deal with such matters. His once-leisurely days had become a distant dream ever since Yue’e Ancestor’s arrival. And now, as long as Bear Wind’s situation remained unresolved, he couldn’t find any peace.

Fruitless delays had already made Bear Wind’s affair fraught with complications, and now it had escalated to this point. If he had settled things a few years earlier, the Great White Bear wouldn’t have had to die.

With this on his mind, Fang Qingyuan had no inclination to go and see his five concubines. ’They’re not going to run off. I’ll deal with it after I’ve handled these more important matters.’

With this in mind, Fang Qingyuan ignored Liu Xun’s questions and commanded:

"Mobilize our sect’s vassal schools and families. I want information on Chunyu Hua and his group in Moyun Valley. Be it baseless speculation or simple hearsay, I want every scrap of information that’s even remotely related."

Liu Xun was taken aback. He didn’t know why Fang Qingyuan wanted information about this particular power, but he was wise enough not to ask. Since Fang Qingyuan didn’t want to explain, he just had to do as ordered.

Liu Xun accepted the order and was about to take his leave when Fang Qingyuan thought of something and called him back. "What’s the name of the Great Zhou Academy cultivator currently stationed at White Mountain? And our gifts over the past few years—have they been well-received?"

Because the Qingyuan Sect was established under the authority of the Great Zhou Academy, the Academy’s cultivators generally treated the sect with a gentler attitude.

Back when he was establishing the sect, Fang Qingyuan had made a point of building a rapport with the Great Zhou Academy’s Steward stationed in the area. Fang Qingyuan still remembered the cultivator’s name: Ji Xinlong.

After Ji Xinlong was transferred away from White Mountain, Fang Qingyuan stopped visiting personally. However, the Qingyuan Sect had continued to maintain a good relationship with the successive cultivators from the Great Zhou Academy over all these years.

"The new Steward is named Ji Jiaqing, a Late-stage Golden Core female cultivator. She has accepted all of our gifts over the years without question. If you wish to see her, Sect Leader, I’ll arrange it immediately."

Fang Qingyuan paced a few steps, then said:

"Go arrange it. So many years of upkeep are finally paying off. It’s a good thing we aren’t trying to warm a cold stove now, or we’d get fleeced for sure."

Liu Xun was extremely curious about Fang Qingyuan’s words, but he could see that Fang Qingyuan was just thinking aloud and had no intention of discussing the matter with him. He could only sigh internally, nod in acknowledgment, and then bow before taking his leave.

As the Vice Sect Leader, Liu Xun sometimes felt his position was unsatisfying. Although he was technically part of the sect’s upper echelon, he still felt that Fang Qingyuan was intentionally keeping many secrets from him.

For instance, the source of the Spirit Wine and the sales of the Spirit Rice—he wasn’t allowed to handle any of it. He wasn’t even really permitted to ask questions.

However, the monthly income of Spirit Stones was ultimately tallied and recorded by him, which brought him a great deal of comfort.

After Liu Xun left, Fang Qingyuan began to ponder in his Quiet Chamber how he was going to eliminate Hao Shi.

’A direct assassination is out of the question. After all, he’s a Golden Core Cultivator from the Beast Taming Sect. If he were assassinated, it would undoubtedly trigger a thorough investigation from the Chunyu Clan. My current power, even with Bear Wind’s help, isn’t enough to handle those consequences.’

’Besides, this matter is already something of an open secret within Yue’e’s faction. If Hao Shi were to die violently, suspicion would immediately fall on me. And the cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect aren’t like those from the Great Zhou Academy—they don’t care much for evidence.’

’The best way would be to kill him in a fair duel. The Beast Taming Sect has always been accepting of deaths in honorable duels, so I wouldn’t have to worry about repercussions.’

The only question was what pretext to use to lure Hao Shi into the trap. On that point, Fang Qingyuan was still drawing a blank.

’As for whether I can actually win the fight, I’m not worried in the slightest. If I, with the Immortal Mansion in my possession, can’t even beat an Eighth-Layer Golden Core cultivator, then I’m utterly useless.’

So now, the only thing left to consider was how to force Hao Shi into a situation where he had no choice but to accept a duel.

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan stood up and walked outside. When it came to understanding Chunyu Hua and his group, besides the cultivators of Yue’e’s faction, the next most knowledgeable party would have to be the nominal allies of the Beast Taming Sect: the Tu Family of Black Wind Valley.

......

Tu Dai’Er was currently resting in the quarters the Qingyuan Sect had arranged for her. She was revisiting a familiar place, and the furnishings were the same as before. But compared to the pleasantness of her last visit, this time Tu Dai’Er was endlessly frustrated.

The last time she came, she held the upper hand. This time, however, she clearly had to act in accordance with Fang Qingyuan’s plans. With such a different mood, everything she saw felt suffocating.

Just then, the sound of a child crying drifted in, making her even more irritable.

’Where did that child come from? There wasn’t one here the last time I visited. Don’t tell me Fang Qingyuan sired one in the past year?’

Tu Dai’Er’s residence was one of the few dwellings in the Qingyuan Sect with the most abundant Spiritual Qi. Any child who appeared in a place like this must have a close connection to Fang Qingyuan.

Curious, Tu Dai’Er stepped outside and saw a child with features as delicate as carved jade, crying its heart out. Its eyes were brimming with tears, a truly heart-wrenching and adorable sight.