Chapter 704: Chapter 168: Mr. Fang Makes a Move, Turning the Tables! [Ten Thousand Words]_4

"That painting outside is truly a masterpiece, something only a true artist could create! A truly great painting!"

Fang Che repeatedly praised.

Yun Jianqiu and Jing Xiuyun looked utterly confused.

The two had just wandered in and didn’t even notice there was a painting on the wall outside.

As for the artistic conception... they felt nothing at all.

"Mr. Fang is indeed an expert!"

Zhu Shaoyun clapped in admiration.

"I’m embarrassed to say I’m obsessed with paintings. When I see a good one, I can’t help myself. Alas, it’s all because Family Head Zhu walked so fast when we came in, I didn’t have a good look at it."

Fang Che complained.

Zhu Shaoyun laughed heartily, "My fault, my fault."

Fang Che said, "Then I must come by a few more times; this painting, I want to study it well. Family Head Zhu may not know, but some of my most impressive sword moves were inspired by a painting."

Zhu Shaoyun smiled but was inwardly stunned.

Did this guy mean that if I didn’t let him look at the painting, I was hindering his martial arts progress?

For a moment, he felt it was a delicate situation.

It was then that someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

A maid walked in and said, "Family Head, the Grand Dowager heard the World’s First King has arrived and wishes to meet."

Zhu Shaoyun felt a sense of relief, "Then I must ask Mr. Fang, I wonder if it’s convenient for you..."

Fang Che immediately nodded, smiling, "It’s convenient."

Jing Xiuyun and Yun Jianqiu stayed there waiting, while Fang Che followed Zhu Shaoyun through carved corridors, across painted beams, and through winding paths, finally arriving in a garden.

A large crowd of people stood ahead, men and women, all handsome and beautiful.

In the center was an elderly lady with hair like clouds and snow, clearly advanced in age; yet her face was delicate and smooth, appearing as if she were around forty.

Zhu Shaoyun stepped forward to report, "Grand Dowager, Mr. Fang has arrived."

The Grand Dowager turned, her eyes twinkling with joy, "Ah, this must be Mr. Fang. Indeed, like a god descending to the mortal world, come, come, Mr. Fang, please sit, you are an esteemed guest, do not stand on ceremony."

The old lady appeared kind and amiable, exuding an inexplicable kindness that made one feel an unspeakable warmth.

"Greetings, Grand Dowager."

Fang Che bowed respectfully, his gaze sweeping over the faces of those present.

Four men and four women, all young, the men handsome and distinguished, the women stunningly beautiful, each possessing exceptional looks.

The women, seeing him, brightened, with two blushing; the men cast scrutinizing gazes.

Their sharp eyes examined Fang Che from head to toe.

Fang Che sensed keenly, as if a pack of wolves had suddenly encountered a tiger in their territory.

Interesting.

He subtly sensed the aura of the eight people, feeling a faint sense of detachment from worldly affairs.

Moreover, using ordinary spiritual power to detect their cultivation, he found nothing. Only by deploying the Infinite Scripture did he sense anything.

Their Concealing Technique was unimaginably formidable.

These eight young men and women were all experts.

With cultivation levels higher than his own.

Yet, facing these eight people, Fang Che felt no lack of confidence, instead possessing a calm assurance.

If it came to a one-on-one fight, I should be able to handle it.

Little did he know, when the eight first laid eyes on Fang Che, they too reached an understanding.

Hmm, Fifth Grade King Level.

I should be able to handle him.

The Grand Dowager was very kind, speaking with Fang Che for a good while, growing ever fonder of him, even instructing a girl, "Go to my room and bring the Purple Jade Box here, I find myself quite fond of Mr. Fang today, truly exceptional young people are rare these days. You young folks also need to connect with each other."

The girl agreed readily and quickly left.

"Grand Dowager, there’s no need to..."

"It’s no trouble. It’s a trinket I acquired unintentionally in my past, related to martial arts. I heard Mr. Fang excels in both swordsmanship and blade, it’s only fitting for a hero to receive a treasured sword... We merchants, after all, don’t have much use for it."

The Grand Dowager smiled kindly.

Before long, the girl returned gracefully, carrying a Purple Jade Box, which the Grand Dowager handed to Fang Che, "Mr. Fang, please don’t refuse."

Fang Che took it, opened it, and his expression immediately changed, "I cannot accept this."

It turned out to be a very old sword manual of unknown material.

"Sun Sword"

The Grand Dowager smiled kindly, "Mr. Fang, please accept it. I have a request I wish to make of you; consider it as my payment to Mr. Fang, how about it?"

Fang Che said, "Please enlighten me, Grand Dowager."

"I heard Mr. Fang intends to catalog all the personnel of the family outside..."

The Grand Dowager’s face showed difficulty, "Mr. Fang may not know, but over the years, our Zhu Family has indeed attracted too much attention, so we’ve dispersed our family members across the continent to prevent a disaster from befalling us all at once due to wealth inviting misfortune."

"So many family members who dispersed have hidden their identities."

"Over a thousand years, it’s become quite challenging to keep track; and besides, they aren’t within Baiyun State, wouldn’t you agree?"

The Grand Dowager remarked kindly, "I’m sure Mr. Fang can understand my difficulties."

Fang Che said, "The Grand Dowager’s difficulties, I naturally understand, but it’s my responsibility to investigate within Baiyun State, so I ask the Grand Dowager to understand my difficulties as well."

He actually refused outright.

The Grand Dowager was taken aback.

Her words were reasonable and sensible, why had he refused?