I Can Strengthen Everything

He swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the emotions churning inside him. "It happened two months ago," he said.

"Two months ago..."

Fang Xing’s gaze was frigid, his cold eyes like daggers. He tapped his fingers lightly on the stone tabletop and said flatly, "How did he die?"

"It... it was..."

Xu Zhengxiong kept his head down, unable to speak for a long moment.

"Speak!" Fang Xing spat out the single word.

The word struck like a clap of thunder.

Xu Zhengxiong mustered his courage and looked at him. "Xu Le died by accident while on a mission. He got into a dispute with some of the city’s factions and was accidentally killed during the struggle."

"Accidentally killed?" Fang Xing looked at Xu Zhengxiong, his gaze icy.

"I’m afraid it’s not that simple, is it? Was some faction involved?"

Fang Xing asked flatly.

Xu Zhengxiong hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"My Lord, you guessed correctly. This matter is indeed related to a faction within the city."

"Which faction?" Fang Xing asked, his expression unchanged.

"The Sun Family," Xu Zhengxiong said, taking a deep breath.

"The Sun Family... you mean the Sun Family of the three great families?" Fang Xing asked.

Xu Zhengxiong nodded.

Fang Xing lifted his eyes and gazed in the direction of the Sun Family’s estate, his stare frigid.

"It seems I’ve been far too merciful with them..." Fang Xing murmured under his breath.

Hearing this, Xu Zhengxiong seemed to understand his implication and quickly said, "My Lord, you... you must not act rashly! The Sun Family is different now. Even with your status, My Lord, you’ll face trouble if you make a move against them."

"Oh?" Fang Xing looked at Xu Zhengxiong, his expression calm. "Tell me, how are they different?"

"A member of the Sun Family’s Direct Lineage successfully joined a Martial Dao Sect. I hear it’s one of the top Martial Dao Sects in all of Jiang Province, and incredibly powerful."

"A Martial Dao Sect..."

"Which one, specifically?" Fang Xing asked, his expression still unchanged.

"I think it’s called the Divine Martial Sect,"

Xu Zhengxiong said.

"The Divine Martial Sect..."

Fang Xing narrowed his eyes as streams of information flashed through his mind.

Soon, he found the relevant details.

While he couldn’t claim to know every Martial Dao Sect in Jiang Province like the back of his hand, he had spent enough time at the Jiang Province Observatory to have learned a thing or two.

The Divine Martial Sect was indeed one of the top Martial Dao Sects in Jiang Province.

The Sect Leader of the Divine Martial Sect was a terrifying existence who had reached the True Essence Realm through Cultivation.

Although it couldn’t compare to a Martial Dao Upper Sect, it was still a major Sect.

Seeing Fang Xing remain silent, Xu Zhengxiong continued, "My Lord, that scion of the Sun Family was taken as a disciple by an Elder of the Divine Martial Sect. He cannot be underestimated."

"Moreover, after the incident, the Sun Family paid one thousand taels of silver as a show of sincerity. The matter wasn’t something the Sun Family did intentionally."

Fang Xing looked at Xu Zhengxiong, his gaze calm. "Are you pleading the Sun Family’s case?"

Xu Zhengxiong lowered his head. "My Lord, that’s not what I mean. I’m just considering your position. The Sun Family has latched onto the Divine Martial Sect’s coattails; they won’t be easy to deal with. What’s more, the Sun Family’s Patriarch has also broken through to the True Qi Realm. His strength is extraordinary."

"And? We just let it go?" Fang Xing said flatly.

Xu Zhengxiong: "..."

He lowered his head in silence. Looking at Fang Xing, he thought for a moment, and his eyes lit up.

"My Lord, tomorrow happens to be the Sun Family Patriarch’s sixtieth birthday. Everyone from the Sun Family will surely be there. You could go to their estate, My Lord. When the time comes, the Sun Family will certainly apologize to you."

"I too regret Xu Le’s death, but what’s done is done. Why not bury the hatchet, My Lord? That would be for the best."

"After all, the Divine Martial Sect is powerful. You mustn’t be too rash, My Lord."

"Bury the hatchet..."

Fang Xing smiled, but his eyes were filled with a chilling aura.

Looking at Xu Zhengxiong, Fang Xing said flatly, "There’s some truth to what you say. A big birthday tomorrow... an excellent opportunity to deliver a grand gift."

"My Lord, you... are you serious?" Xu Zhengxiong stared at Fang Xing, stunned.

Fang Xing gave a slight smile. "Of course. I always keep my word."

"Then... then I’ll prepare it for you," Xu Zhengxiong said.

"No need. I’ll prepare it myself," Fang Xing said flatly.

"..."

"Alright, I’m a bit tired. You should head back for now. And for the time being, don’t tell anyone I’ve returned," Fang Xing said to Xu Zhengxiong.

Xu Zhengxiong nodded, then stood up and left.

Watching Xu Zhengxiong’s departing figure, a deadly chill spread through Fang Xing’s eyes.

An invisible, freezing aura enveloped the entire courtyard, so cold it felt as if dripping water would turn to ice.

Sitting on the stone bench, Fang Xing sipped his water, a hazy image of Xu Le appearing in his mind.

"Fang Xing, here, have some pork belly. You’re injured, so you need to build up your strength."

"Brother Xing, you’re amazing! You’ve already broken through to Bright Force. You’ve got to look out for me from now on!"

"Brother Xing, I broke through! Hehe, I’m an Official Martial Artist now too..."

"Brother Xing, don’t worry. I’ll work hard in the future. I’ll never bring you any shame."

...

"Xu Le... sigh. Your Brother Xing was a step too late. Don’t you worry. You won’t be lonely on the road to the Yellow Springs. The entire Sun Family will be joining you on your journey."

Fang Xing muttered to himself, his pupils overflowing with killing intent.

’Although he hadn’t known Xu Le for very long after transmigrating and their bond wasn’t incredibly deep, Xu Le had been one of the people who helped him in the very beginning. Even if it was just a small kindness, like a drop of water in a drought, he remembered it vividly.’

’It was the purest friendship he had formed since coming to this world.’

’He had planned to come back this time to give Xu Le some Elixirs to help his progress, but he never could have imagined it would end like this.’

’Since the Sun Family is involved, then let the Sun Family... be buried with him!’