Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 354- Updated*

"Fang Yuan! I’m here!"

An excited voice rang out across the whole barren hill.

The voice came from above to which Fang Yuan looked up and saw the young woman flying on her sword approaching.

She was even waving enthusiastically as she arrived closer to the barren hill.

It was none other than Fu Jiwei.

Fang Yuan sighed softly. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Ah... another troublemaker. Can’t this day get any better?"

Fu Jiwei landed lightly, hopping off her sword with a huff.

"What do you mean troublemaker?" she protested.

"We’ll be under the same master very soon. You should show some love to your junior sister."

She then glanced around and asked,"So, where’s Master?"

"She’s not here yet," Fang Yuan replied.

Then, without looking up, he added, "And why haven’t you chosen a master yet? Didn’t you remember she recommended Elder Qin for you? With your talent, the elders should be fighting over you by now."

As he spoke, he crouched again, digging into the soil with his fingers, dropping a seed into the hole and covering it neatly.

Fu Ji Wei sat down beside him, chin resting on her hands as she watched his movements.

"...Should I help?" she asked after a moment.

"If you don’t want to watch me suffer through my punishment," Fang Yuan replied calmly, already moving to the next spot, "feel free."

She puffed out her cheeks.

"You’re boring, Fang Yuan."

"Oh! By the way, did you hear the news?" she said.

"Hua Shen fought against a senior and defeated him utterly and he is on the verge of entering the Hollow Spirit Realm."

"No, i didn’t." Fang Yuan replied lazily as he covered the seed with soil.

"It’s the talk of the century within the sect, you know. It’s happening so fast that I’m starting to feel like I’m not even on the same plane as you two, despite us being from the same generation."

Fang Yuan paused and looked at her.

"Listen here, you lady. We only knew of each other’s existence just the other day, so why are you already speaking as if we were long time rivals... Plus, same generation?" he repeated flatly.

"Girl, I’m ten years older than you. You should be calling me grandpa already."

Fu Ji Wei burst out laughing.

"Grandpa Fang Yuan?" she said between giggles.

"Yeah, that actually fits."

Fang Yuan smiled, perhaps even proudly.

Fu Ji Wei stopped laughing and stared at him.

"...You must be sick in the head," she said bluntly.

"I thought people wanted to appear younger."

Fang Yuan’s face flushed red for a split second before he turned away sharply and sat down.

"Me? Sick?" he snapped.

"It’s you who’s sick. Your whole family is sick."

He jabbed another hole into the soil.

"What’s wrong with wanting to be called grandpa? I’ll have you know, back where I’m from, everyone called me grandpa and treated me with respect."

"Yes, yes, you’re right," Fu Ji Wei replied lazily.

"But uh... purely by age alone, you should be the one running around calling others grandpa."

Fang Yuan paused and then sighed.

As it wasn’t uncommon perhaps it was even more common to find hundreds of years old cultivator with the appearance of a young man.

"Achoo—"

Fang Yuan let out a low sneeze and countinue to plant another seed, patting the soil down.

"How long are you planning to wait this time?" he asked without looking up.

Fu Ji Wei replied.

"Until she comes back this time. I’m not going back until I get to meet her."

Fang Yuan sighed.

He didn’t want to deal with Fu Ji Wei and he definitely didn’t want her sitting here for too long.

It was only a matter of time before she noticed if she remained there for long.

What if she realizes my cultivation is sealed?

If that happened, his fate would rest entirely in her hands.

She probably wouldn’t attack him because of his master. Weighing the pros and cons, it wasn’t worth it. but relying on that wasn’t exactly a foolproof survival strategy.

What if Fu Jiwei happened to be a mad woman who has no regards for her life and kills him uncaring for the consequences?

No no, he couldn’t take the chances.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Yuan straightened up and tucked the pouch of seeds into his pocket.

"Alright," he said. "I’m heading back to rest."

Fu Ji Wei’s eyes lit up immediately.

"Can I join you?" she asked, clearly excited.

Fang Yuan glanced at her and replied with a straight face, "No."

And with that, he turned and walked away, climbing up the slope without another word.

Fu Ji Wei smiled, watching his figure move up the hill slowly without using his spiritual qi.

"So that’s how it is when your cultivation is sealed," she said lightly.

"How amusing."

Fang Yuan suddenly stopped in his tracks and slowly, he turned around.

Fu Ji Wei’s smile had already shifted into a grin.

"I heard Zhao Lusi will be busy for a while now," she continued.

"So how about you—"

Her gaze froze and remained silent instantly.

Fang Yuan looked down at her. He was slightly surprised she’d gone silent, but his thoughts were already racing.

It was only a matter of time, there was nothing I could have done. he reassured himself.

Now, if I want to survive this, I need to look confident, perhaps even convince her this was all intentional.

He smiled calmly.

"Oh my," he said lightly,

"I can’t believe it took you that long to figure it out."

Fu Ji Wei still didn’t speak up, so he took the opportunity and continued.

"This was a trial for you," Fang Yuan said smoothly.

"To see whether you could detect my sealed cultivation in time."

He paused, then added magnanimously,

"Although it took you seven days, lucky for you, you passed and today happened to be the last day."

At that moment, a towering shadow swallowed his own and Fang Yuan’s throat tightened.

"...Ah," Fang Yuan muttered inwardly, swallowing hard.

No wonder Fu Jiwei went silent.

Meanwhile atop a distant ridge, Zhao Lusi had her gaze fixed on a mountain in the distance.

Or rather, what used to be a mountain was now in ruins.

Aside from her, countless other cultivators had gathered, all standing outside the perimeter.

A barrier shimmered faintly in the air, sealing the place off.

Soon, a group of cultivators flew toward her, stopping a respectful distance away.

The one at the front clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

"It is a great honor to meet an elder of the great Flying Crane Sect," he said respectfully.

Zhao Lusi gave him a glance and then asked, "Do you have any wine?"