A full moon appeared faintly and intermittently amidst the drifting clouds.
The academy elder walked hurriedly on the road, his expression also shifting between light and dark along with the intermittent moonlight.
Survival in this world was difficult, and Gu Masters going missing was a common occurrence. Abundant life experience told the academy elder that, generally speaking, this kind of inexplicable disappearance often meant death.
But anyone could die, except for Jia Jinsheng! Especially, he could not die here in the Gu Yue village.
His status was special; his father was the Jia family clan leader, and his older brother was Jia Fu, a Rank four Gu Master.
A Rank four Gu Master possessed gold primeval essence and majestic battle strength. In the entire Gu Yue clan, only the clan leader was Rank four and could match him. The other elders were only Rank three.
The Jia family clan leader's cultivation reached as high as Rank five. Under his leadership, the Jia family had prospered and developed over these years, already becoming a large-scale clan, occupying all the resources of a mountain, with numerous clansmen. Compared to them, the Gu Yue village was merely medium-sized.
Once the two sides went to war, the Gu Yue village would definitely fall to a disadvantage.
More crucially, if this matter spread out, the reputation of the Gu Yue clan would suffer damage along with it. Many other caravans would also carefully choose their routes. If the Gu Yue village lacked the trade and exchange of caravans, the excess local resources could not be sold, and the needed foreign resources could not be purchased. As time passed, they were bound to decline.
"This matter is no small thing. If not handled well, it will be a major disaster!" The academy elder was fraught with worries and hurried quickly to the Clan Head Pavilion.
As soon as he stepped into the discussion hall of the Clan Head Pavilion, the academy elder felt a depressing and solemn atmosphere.
Sitting in the main seat was the contemporary Gu Yue clan leader, Gu Yue Bo. And the short and stout Jia Fu stood in the center of the hall with five or six attendants, putting up a posture of raising an army to denounce crimes.
Under the illumination of the bright lights, many elders stood beside their chairs, their heavy expressions clearly visible.
Jia Fu was a Rank four Gu Master, and he had not sat down. These elders were only Rank three and naturally did not dare to sit either.
This was the deterrent force of a Rank four Gu Master.
It was also a kind of reverence for power.
"Paying respects…" The academy elder had just started to bow in greeting when he was stopped by Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo reaching out his hand.
Gu Yue Bo, whose temples were greying, was currently rubbing his temples with his fingers, a look of distress on his face: "Let's not talk much about other things. The clan's academy has always been under your charge. I ask you, where is Gu Yue Fang Yuan?"
The academy elder was shocked in his heart, secretly wondering how this matter got entangled with that kid Fang Yuan again?
Verbally, he replied respectfully: "At this hour, he should be cultivating in the academy dormitory."
The clan leader sighed: "Right now, Brother Jia heavily suspects that his younger brother Jia Jinsheng's disappearance is related to Gu Yue Fang Yuan. I order you to go immediately, you must bring Fang Yuan here."
The academy elder's heart chilled: "Yes!"
He knew in his heart that this matter was serious, hurriedly bowed, turned around, and left.
"Brother Jia, that Fang Yuan will be brought here immediately, please sit," Gu Yue Bo pointed to the seat beside him and said to Jia Fu.
Jia Fu smiled bitterly and cupped his fists towards Gu Yue Bo: "I ask Brother Gu Yue's forgiveness! This Jia is truly burning with anxiety at this moment. He has already been missing for several days, I'm afraid my worthy younger brother has met with more ill fortune than good. I truly cannot sit still."
Some things can often only be seen clearly after they are lost.
Jia Fu had also just realized these past few days why his father arranged for Jia Jinsheng, this burden, to lead the caravan together with him.
It was to observe his temperament, to see if, while suppressing him, he could value familial affection and simultaneously take care of his younger brother Jia Jinsheng.
If Jia Jinsheng died now, how would his father view him, Jia Fu?
When he thoroughly realized this point, he immediately launched an investigation within the caravan, and very quickly locked the target onto the Gu Yue village.
He rushed back almost without stopping to rest.
Now, standing in the center of the hall and not taking a seat, he simply wanted to create an imposing momentum of being determined to win and denouncing crimes. This was both applying pressure to the Gu Yue clan, and also a kind of explanation to give to his father when returning to the Jia family in the future.
"Reporting to the clan leader, Fang Yuan has been brought here." Very quickly, the academy elder brought Fang Yuan and arrived at the grand hall.
"Gu Yue Fang Yuan pays respects to the clan leader, pays respects to Lord Jia Fu, pays respects to all elders." Fang Yuan had an indifferent face and also followed suit with a bow.
"Is it him?" Jia Fu cast a cold glance to size up Fang Yuan, simultaneously asking a female Gu Master beside him.
This female Gu Master was exactly the one whom Fang Yuan had bought purple-gold rocks from when he first entered the rock gambling casino.
"It is him! Absolutely no mistake." The female Gu Master looked at Fang Yuan with burning eyes and said affirmatively.
Jia Fu nodded. In an instant, his gaze was like two blade edges, viciously scraping towards Fang Yuan. But he did not directly open his mouth to interrogate; this was the Gu Yue village, and he had to give the Gu Yue clan leader some face.
So he looked towards the seated Gu Yue clan leader.
The Gu Yue clan leader's expression was extremely solemn. He knew that Jia Fu's loud conversation with the female Gu Master just now, besides confirming Fang Yuan's identity, also held the purpose of applying pressure on himself.
The subtext was a warning to the Gu Yue clan leader—look, I have already grasped the evidence in my hands, I have considerable certainty, so you'd better not overly protect your own clansman.
This made the Gu Yue clan leader somewhat dissatisfied. He thought to himself: "You, Jia Fu, losing your brother was originally your mistake. Now you come to our Gu Yue clan to aggressively denounce crimes, do you think our Gu Yue clan is easy to bully? My Gu Yue clan distinguishes right from wrong and speaks reason, but absolutely do not mistakenly think this is weakness!"
Thinking up to here, he did not directly interrogate Fang Yuan either, but instead spoke sharply to that female Gu Master: "You better see clearly. I am not afraid to tell you the truth, this Fang Yuan has a twin brother who looks extremely similar to him. Are you sure it's really him?"
The female Gu Master merely had Rank one cultivation. Under Gu Yue Bo's imposing aura, she instantly revealed a look of hesitation and nervousness.
Jia Fu frowned, took a step forward, and blocked Gu Yue Bo's line of sight for her. Cupping his hands, he said: "Brother Gu Yue, I, Jia, have always greatly respected the Gu Yue clan. Especially the first and fourth generation clan leaders of the Gu Yue clan; these two past sages were both Rank five powerhouses. One started from scratch, cutting a path through thorns and brambles, and created the hundred-year foundation of the Gu Yue village. One was a benevolent hero, sacrificing himself to defend the homeland, worthy of great respect. As the clan leader, Brother Gu Yue, I am very confident that you will govern impartially. I ask Brother Gu Yue to please interrogate this Fang Yuan."
Seeing his tone soften, Gu Yue Bo then nodded. In fact, he had already made up his mind.
If this matter was done by Fang Yuan, then hand him over. Anyway, he was just a mere C grade, handing him over would not cause any heartache. As long as this conflict could be eliminated, it would be fine.
Just in case it was done by Fang Zheng, it must also be determined that it was this Fang Yuan. Fang Zheng was an A grade genius, the only one in three years. The clan's higher-ups still counted on heavily nurturing him to contend against that Bai Ning Bing of the Bai village.
"Fang Yuan, do not be nervous," the Gu Yue clan leader revealed a kind smile and said to Fang Yuan in a warm tone, "I ask you, do you know any news of that Jia Jinsheng?"
"Who is Jia Jinsheng?" Fang Yuan lifted his eyelids, his voice calm.
"He's lying!" As soon as Fang Yuan's words fell, that female Gu Master from the casino let out a sharp cry.
The people in the discussion hall heard this sharp cry and could not help but frown slightly, all looking towards her in unison.
The female Gu Master pointed her finger at Fang Yuan, her expression very agitated: "It's him, it's him! He gambled on rocks in our casino, bought six purple-gold rocks, and opened a Mud Skin Toad from the fifth rock. Young Master Jia saw it and bought it from him using five hundred primeval stones. This matter left too deep of an impression on me; even after a year or two, I wouldn't forget it. Besides, it wasn't just me, the other Gu Masters in the casino also saw it."
"Is it like this…" The smile on Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo's face abruptly vanished. Keeping a straight face, he dragged out his tone and looked towards Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan then nodded, a trace of nervousness involuntarily appearing on his face, acting as if suddenly realizing something: "So it was him. Fine, if he is Jia Jinsheng, I indeed know him. However, ever since that time in the casino, I have never seen him again."
"He's lying again!" This time it wasn't that female Gu Master, but a male Gu Master, who called out on the spot.
Fang Yuan focused his gaze on him, as if having just recognized him. A look of astonishment instantly surfaced on his face, which he immediately tried his utmost to conceal.
All these changes in his expression fell into the eyes of everyone present.
The crowd instantly became thoughtful.
"Lords, this lowly one works in the wine tavern." The male Gu Master first cupped his fists to salute everyone, then fiercely pointed towards Fang Yuan, "That night in the wine tavern, I clearly saw that it was him sitting together with Young Master Jia Jinsheng, the two having a secretive talk for a long time!"
As soon as these words came out, quiet discussions instantly arose in the grand hall.
The academy elder watched Fang Yuan with a gaze as cold as ice.
While Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo leaned his body back slightly, slowly resting against the broad back of his chair.
"How is that possible!" A distinct look of nervousness surfaced on Fang Yuan's face, and he hurriedly said, "There were so many people in the wine tavern, how could you just singularly recognize me? You yourself recognizing the wrong person is also possible!"
"Haha, I would absolutely not recognize the wrong person." The male Gu Master threw his head back and laughed, staring at Fang Yuan with burning eyes. At this moment, he felt he was full of imposing momentum.
"Let alone the fact that when Young Master Jia Jinsheng came to our wine tavern, we had to carefully look after him at all times. Even if it wasn't Young Master Jia Jinsheng, I would still recognize you. Because the impression you left on me was too deep!"
Speaking up to here, he raised his eyebrows, full of a proud expression: "Do you remember, you came to our wine tavern that morning, you asked for a cup of Monkey wine, but only took one sip. Then you let out a Liquor worm and fed all the remaining Monkey wine to it. When I saw the Liquor worm, I was very agitated and wanted to buy it from you, but you didn't sell it, turned around, and left!"
"Good, exactly the words I wanted from you." Fang Yuan sneered in his heart, but shock appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but take a step back.
"Liquor worm!" The eyes of the academy elder standing behind Fang Yuan instantly lit up.
But he quickly frowned again, unable to resist asking: "Fang Yuan, where did this Liquor worm of yours come from?"
Fang Yuan clenched both his fists tightly, grinding his teeth, and did not answer.
The surrounding elders were instantly furious and started shouting in low voices.
"Fang Yuan, do you know you've caused a massive disaster!"
"Speak, just what is going on here?"
"Confess everything you know. Is this Liquor worm Jia Jinsheng's?"
"How could it possibly be his? This Liquor worm is clearly something I opened out!" Fang Yuan abruptly raised his head, his expression agitated. Appearing as if he could not bear such an unjust grievance, he shouted out loudly with indignant emotions.