Chapter 21: Going To The Mountains
Easy To Do Secretly, Difficult To Do Openly
The sun was absolutely gyatt—blazing like a skibidi toilet on overdrive. The heat was so intense, it felt like the universe was trying to rizz us all into submission. The caravan had dipped, and the inn's business was drier than a Discord mod's sense of humor. Fang Yuan strolled into the cafeteria, and the shop assistants immediately perked up like they'd just seen Baby Gronk hit a griddy. One of them rushed over, smiling like he'd just won the Fortnite World Cup. "Young master, you're here! Please, take a seat!"
Fang Yuan, ever the sigma male, didn't even glance at him. "A jar of rice wine, 600g of beef, and some side dishes," he said, heading straight for his usual window seat like he owned the place (because let's be real, he basically did).
The shop assistant hesitated, looking like he'd just been hit with a "skill issue" notification. "Young master, we're out of green bamboo wine. The caravan bought it all last time."
Fang Yuan nodded, unfazed. "Then get me rice wine. And tell the innkeeper to brew more green bamboo wine this year. I'm pre-ordering a hundred jars. Figure out the advance payment and let me know."
The shop assistant's eyes widened like he'd just been handed a free V-Bucks card. "Yes, young master! I'll make sure it's done!"
As Fang Yuan sat by the window, sipping his rice wine and munching on beef, his mind was already elsewhere. Outside, the streets were quieter than a TikTok live stream with no viewers. A couple of farmers trudged by, looking like they'd just lost a 1v1 against the sun. Two kids were chasing each other, one crying because the other had yoinked his windmill toy. Classic Gen Alpha moment.
Then two young Gu Masters strutted down the street, flexing their green belts like they were about to drop the hottest mixtape of 2023. "Move it, peasants!" one of them barked, shoving a farmer out of the way. The farmers scrambled to the side, looking like they'd just been hit with a "ratio" in the chat.
Fang Yuan watched all this with the detached amusement of someone who's seen it all before. Meanwhile, his mind was busy multitasking like a true sigma. Inside his aperture, the Liquor worm was vibing in his primeval sea, rolling around like it was at a rave. The Spring Autumn Rizz was snoozing, and the White Boar Gu was flapping its tiny wings, looking like it was ready to drop the next big Gu worm diss track.
The White Boar Gu was a major W. Not only did it boost strength, but it was also a rare flex—rarer than a TikTok trend that lasts more than a week. Fang Yuan knew this was just the first step in Flower Wine Monk's strength inheritance. The giant rock blocking the path? That was just the first test. Once he refined the White Boar Gu and gained enough strength, he'd push that rock aside like it was a minor inconvenience in his sigma grindset.
But Fang Yuan wasn't just thinking about the inheritance. He was thinking about the bigger picture. In this world, resources were everything. And Fang Yuan? He needed all the resources. The clan's system was rigged, and if he played by their rules, he'd just be another pawn in their game. No thanks. Fang Yuan was playing 4D chess while everyone else was stuck on Candy Crush.
"Weakness is my safety umbrella for now," Fang Yuan thought, sipping his wine. "But the stronger I get, the more they'll try to rizz me into their factions. I need to stay low-key, stack my resources, and avoid their drama."
The White Boar Gu was a game-changer, but it came with its own set of problems. For one, it had a massive appetite. Every five days, it needed a whole pig's worth of pork. And pork wasn't cheap—mortals only got to eat it during New Year celebrations. Fang Yuan couldn't just waltz into the village market and buy a ton of pork without raising eyebrows. That would be sus.
"Guess I'll have to go hunting," Fang Yuan muttered, finishing his meal. He tossed a few primeval stones on the table and left the inn, his mind already plotting his next move.
GFTO
The mountain forest was full of skibidi vibes. Fang Yuan trekked through it like a sigma male on a mission, the sunlight filtering through the trees and casting mottled shadows on the ground. The grass was soft like a mattress, and wildflowers bloomed in bright colors, giving the whole scene a goofy ahh aesthetic.
Birds chirped, water trickled, and Fang Yuan's ears were on high alert. The further he got from the village, the riskier it became. But Fang Yuan wasn't scared—he was built different. Still, he knew better than to let his guard down. The wilderness was no joke. Even Rank three and four Gu Masters had been clapped by wild beasts, poisonous worms, and the occasional bad weather. Fang Yuan wasn't about to become another statistic.
"I need to find a wild boar," Fang Yuan muttered, scanning the area like he was looking for a rare TikTok trend. "But this mountain is too big, and I don't have a scouting Gu. This is giving me major skill issue vibes."
After hours of searching and finding nada, Fang Yuan decided to dip to the foot of the mountain. The small villages there were under Gu Yue Village's control, and mortals lived there, surviving off the land. Fang Yuan figured the boars might be hanging out near the villages, so he headed down.
As he approached a village, he spotted some tracks. "Wild boar tracks? Let's go!" Fang Yuan's sigma energy kicked in, and he followed the trail like a detective on a case.
The forest got denser, and Fang Yuan had to push through bushes like he was navigating a Discord server full of trolls. Suddenly, a few deer popped out, looking at him like he'd just interrupted their vibe check. Fang Yuan ignored them—he wasn't here for deer. He was here for boar.
Then he heard it—the buzzing of bees. Fang Yuan froze. Ahead was a massive beehive, hanging from a tree like a goofy ahh piñata. Bees flew around it, looking like they were ready to throw hands if anyone got too close.
"Beehive. Honey. Bear Strength Gu food. But nah, I'm NOT getting stung for some honey," Fang Yuan muttered, giving the hive a wide berth. He wasn't about to risk it without the Bronze Skin Gu.
Finally, he found what he was looking for—a wild boar. But it wasn't just chilling; it had fallen into a trap. The boar was stuck in a pit, impaled on sharp bamboo sticks, bleeding out. It was still alive, thrashing and squealing like it was in a goofy ahh action movie.
Fang Yuan smirked. "Looks like I'm reaping the rewards of someone else's trap. Sigma move."
But then he realized—this trap could've been him. If he'd stepped wrong, he'd be the one bleeding out in a pit. "Note to self: don't step on random pits. Got it."
With a flick of his wrist, Fang Yuan sent a moonblade flying. It sliced through the boar's neck, and blood gushed out like a fountain. The boar thrashed for a bit, then went still. Fang Yuan stood there, watching the life drain from its eyes like he was watching a TikTok livestream buffer.
"Survival or death. That's nature for you," Fang Yuan said, sounding like a philosopher who'd just dropped the hottest take of 2023.
But then he heard voices. A group of hunters was approaching, laughing and chatting like they were in a goofy ahh sitcom.
"Second brother Wang, you're the best hunter in the village! No one can take down a wild boar like you!" one of them said, bootlicking harder than a Discord mod trying to get promoted.
"Yeah, second brother Wang, you're a legend!" another added.
The leader, a tall, muscular guy with a bow and arrow, puffed out his chest. "Hmph! Hunting a wild boar is child's play. Today, I'm taking down three boars! And Er Gou Dan, stop simping for my sister, or I'll clap you!"
Er Gou Dan, a scrawny guy with a goofy ahh grin, shot back, "What's wrong with liking your sister? Everyone in the village does! Besides, second brother Wang, you're nineteen. When are you gonna settle down and get a wife?"
Second brother Wang scoffed. "I'm a true sigma male. I'm not about to settle down. One day, I'll leave this mountain and explore the world. That's what a real man does!"
Fang Yuan rolled his eyes. These guys were giving him secondhand embarrassment. But before he could dip, second brother Wang spotted him.
"Hmm? Who are you, kid? Which village are you from? How dare you try to take advantage of me, Wang Er? Quickly get lost!" Wang Er barked, pointing at Fang Yuan like he'd just caught him stealing his Wi-Fi.
"Courting death, huh?" Fang Yuan thought, immediately breaking into a cold smirk. "You're cooked lil bro."