"What?"

Lin Ao’s pupils contracted slightly, a look of astonishment appearing on his face for the first time.

He never expected that, in addition to his Swordsmanship, Fang Han’s Body Technique had also reached such a high level.

But Fang Han seized the momentary opening when his spear thrust missed and its momentum was spent. In a flash, his figure flickered like a phantom, impossibly circling to Lin Ao’s flank.

"SHIINNG!"

The Cyan Blade Sword transformed into a streak of cold, cyan lightning, slashing straight for the wrist of his spear-wielding hand.

The angle was insidious, the timing impeccable.

"CLANG—!"

Horrified, Lin Ao hastily brought his spear back to block, but he couldn’t completely parry the blow.

The edge of the sword grazed him, leaving a long, thin gash from which droplets of blood began to seep.

"SWISH SWISH SWISH—!"

Fang Han pressed his advantage. His Great Success Gale Step, combined with his Master Level Xunfeng Swordsmanship, pushed speed and unpredictability to their absolute limits.

Within the hall, it was as if two Fang Hans had appeared at once. Sword light assailed him from two different directions simultaneously, howling like a gale.

Lin Ao was instantly forced onto the defensive.

His strength was still immense and his Spear Technique still fierce, but he felt a constant sense of powerlessness.

Fang Han’s Body Technique was too fast, too elusive. He would dodge Lin Ao’s killing blows by a hair’s breadth or engage just as the old force was spent and new force had yet to be generated.

He refused to clash head-on, instead launching counterattacks from the most unexpected angles.

Lin Ao possessed a body full of strength, yet it felt as if he were attacking an uncatchable shadow. The frustration was so intense he almost coughed up blood.

"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG—!"

The sound of spear and sword clashing grew faster and more intense, like a torrential downpour on lotus leaves.

The two figures weaved and dodged at high speed within the hall. The disturbed air erupted into overflowing Qi Force. Everywhere they passed, tables and chairs shattered, and cracks spread across the floor, leaving a scene of utter destruction.

Xia Yuan, Xia Kang, Xia Hao, and the others were already dumbstruck, retreating again and again until they were outside the main hall.

"How can he be... so strong?"

The longer Lin Ao fought, the more alarmed and suffocated he felt.

He realized he was being completely suppressed by Fang Han’s ghostly Body Technique. He possessed greater strength but was unable to use it effectively.

Fang Han, on the other hand, grew bolder with every exchange. With his Swordsmanship and Body Technique in perfect sync, his combat prowess had multiplied.

A bad premonition arose in his heart.

"Xunfeng Sky Splitter!"

After nearly a hundred exchanges, Fang Han let out a low shout. The qi and blood in his body surged to their peak, and the Cyan Blade Sword emitted a sharp hum.

A cyan airflow seemed to coil around the blade as its speed suddenly skyrocketed.

Like a gale tearing through the sky, it thrust at a speed the naked eye could barely follow, aimed squarely at the opening at Lin Ao’s right shoulder, exposed from overexerting his strength.

This strike was fast, ruthless, and precise, concentrating all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit!

Lin Ao’s pupils shrank. It was too late to bring his spear back; he could only do his utmost to twist his body aside and dodge.

"PFFT!"

A spray of blood erupted.

The sword tip pierced Lin Ao’s shoulder, leaving a wound so deep the bone was visible. Blood instantly stained his robes red.

"Urk."

Lin Ao let out a muffled grunt and staggered back several steps. The hand gripping his spear trembled slightly, his face filled with incredulous shock and humiliation.

’I, the publicly acknowledged number one of Liangshui City’s younger generation, actually lost?’

’Lost to a Fang Family disciple who’s several years younger than me!’

Outside the hall, there was dead silence.

Everyone’s eyes were wide as they stared at Lin Ao, his shoulder bleeding and his face ashen. Then they looked at Fang Han, who stood with his sword, breathing slightly heavily but with sharp eyes, as if they couldn’t believe the scene before them.

Lin Ao, the recognized number one of Liangshui City’s younger generation, had actually lost to Fang Han!

"I actually... lost?"

Lin Ao stared daggers at Fang Han, his expression shifting until it finally settled into one of icy resentment and unwillingness to accept defeat.

He stomped his foot violently, shaking the ground. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the hall, not even glancing at Xia Hao.

His retreating back radiated a mixture of suppressed fury and utter disgrace.

’I won!’

Fang Han didn’t stop him. He could injure Lin Ao during a conflict, but he couldn’t kill him. To do so would be to cross a line.

It would trigger a major conflict between the Fang and Lin families.

Moreover, as the genius of the Lin Family, it was highly likely that a Lin Family Elder was protecting him from the shadows.

"..."

The smug look on Xia Hao’s face had long since frozen, replaced by a ghastly pallor and terror.

Watching Lin Ao leave, he opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound. His legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Xia Kang, however, was ecstatic, trembling with excitement.

Old Master Xia Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, his gaze toward Fang Han filled with endless amazement and awe.

’That wasn’t an easy victory!’

Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword, calming the churning qi and blood within him.

He had not won this battle easily. Lin Ao’s strength was formidable.

If he hadn’t relied on his Great Success Gale Step to create an opportunity, the outcome would have been uncertain.

But regardless, a win was a win.

His gaze shifted to old Master Xia Yuan, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"Master Xia, can we now have a proper discussion about the future inheritance of the tea garden?"

"Young Master Han... I... I know what to choose now. Kang, the tea garden... is yours from now on. Don’t let your father down, and most importantly... do not betray Young Master Han’s support."

Xia Yuan exhaled a long, turbid breath, seeming to age several years in an instant, yet also as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He looked at Fang Han with a complex expression, which finally dissolved into a sigh and a decision.

"Thank you, Father! I will not let you down, and I will not betray the grace Young Master Han has shown me today!"

Hearing this, Xia Kang was instantly overcome with ecstatic joy. Trembling with excitement, he hurriedly knelt on the ground.

He raised his head, and his gaze toward Fang Han was now filled with boundless gratitude and awe.

’It’s done!’

Fang Han nodded slightly, also sighing in relief inwardly.

The matter was settled. From now on, in addition to his fixed monthly stipend for being first in the Inner Hall, he would also gain an extra source of income from the tea garden.

Furthermore, this income would likely surpass his fixed monthly stipend from the Inner Hall.

...

Fang Han returned to the Fang Mansion and went straight to Elder Fang Yuan’s Quiet Chamber to report on his mission.

Sandalwood incense smoke curled in the Quiet Chamber. Elder Fang Yuan was holding an ancient scroll. Seeing Fang Han enter, he set the scroll down, his face bearing its usual gentle smile.

"You’re back? How did it go?"

His tone was casual, as if he were asking about a trivial matter. He unconsciously fiddled with the corner of a page, clearly not giving the mission much thought.

In his view, with the Fang Family’s current prestige and Fang Han’s status, handling a small matter like a tea garden’s inheritance should have been a simple task.

"Reporting to the Elder, the matter is settled. The Qingwu Tea Garden will be inherited by Xia Kang from now on. He has promised to deliver fifty percent of the monthly profits on time."

Fang Han replied in a calm tone.

"Mm, well done."

Elder Fang Yuan nodded slightly, his smile still nonchalant, as if this was the expected outcome all along.

He picked up the teacup beside him and gently blew on the foam, preparing to end the brief conversation.

Fang Han hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Someone from the Lin Family also got involved."

"Oh?" Elder Fang Yuan’s hand, holding the teacup, paused. He raised his eyelids, an imperceptible glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

"Who did the Lin Family send?"

"Lin Ao." Fang Han uttered the two words.

"Lin Ao?!"

The nonchalance on Elder Fang Yuan’s face vanished in an instant.

He abruptly set down his teacup, the porcelain base making a crisp "CLINK" as it hit the table.

His body leaned forward involuntarily, his gaze sweeping over Fang Han like lightning as he asked in a serious voice,

"The person the Lin Family sent was actually Lin Ao... Did you clash with him? Are you injured?"

As far as he knew, Lin Ao—that publicly acknowledged number one of Liangshui City’s younger generation—was arrogant, proud, and ruthless in his methods.

Although Fang Han’s Talent was high, he was young after all. If he were to clash head-on with Lin Ao, the chances of him suffering a loss were extremely high.

At that moment, he was no longer worried about the fate of the tea garden, but whether Fang Han was hurt.