Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 86: Filthy Insects [Gū] [pt.1]

Fang Yuan rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his robes with a soft exhale.

"Alright then," he said, casting a final glance at the glowing spirit pond.

But just as he turned—

SPLASH!

A surge of water erupted behind him.

Spirit-rich droplets arced through the air, landing with wet plops all over his robe and hair.

He blinked, momentarily stunned.

Behind him, Fang Lian surfaced with a mischievous grin, eyes glinting like a satisfied fox.

"Bye bye, Master~!" she called, waving one hand as she floated leisurely across the shimmering pond.

Fang Yuan stared at his now-soaked sleeve. Then chuckled.

"That girl..." he muttered, shaking his head with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Still amused, he turned on his heel and began his walk back through the winding cave.

The glow of the spirit pond faded behind him, replaced by the cool silence of stone and shadow.

As he walked, the familiar system screen flickered to life before him.

He began scrolling through its new options, eyes narrowing in focus.

And once he read then, Fang Yuan gave a soft hum.

"More items to learn and buy huh..." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

By the time he emerged from the mine, night had fully settled.

The sky above was dark velvet, and the two guards outside the entrance snapped to attention.

"Clan Head!"

"You’ve both done well," he nodded curtly, and they bowed with pride.

As he stepped past them, his smile faded, replaced by a deeper, more thoughtful expression.

The crisp night air brushed against his skin as he summoned his sword beneath his feet.

With a muted pulse of spiritual energy, the blade lifted him into the air.

High above the Eastern Ravine, his robes fluttering in the wind, Fang Yuan sighed, long and quiet.

"This..." he muttered, glancing at the still-glowing system interface. "...will be much harder than I originally expected."

And with that, he soared silently through the night sky with his sword, heading toward his personal chamber, the weight of a clan’s future resting quietly on his back.

The moonlight bathed the estate below in a silvery sheen as Fang Yuan glided through the air like a shadow.

His sword hummed beneath his feet, steady and silent.

The familiar rooftops of the Phoenix Soul Pavilion passed beneath him, lanterns flickering in the courtyards, and the distant echoes of laughter and clinking cups told him the feast still lingered.

But Fang Yuan wasn’t in the mood for wine anymore.

His heart and mind were elsewhere, on the glowing screen hovering beside him.

By the time he landed near the rear pavilion reserved for him as clan head, the estate had quieted.

He stepped down from his sword, dismissed it with a flick of his sleeve, and entered the room.

Inside, the chambers were dim but comfortable, clean scrolls, lit incense, a few treasured weapons resting along the wall.

Fang Yuan moved to the meditation cushion in the center, seated himself cross-legged, and then, with a deep breath.

"System," he commanded.

The interface lit up again, now much clearer than before.

[ Faith Points: 280 ]

[ Disciples: 1 – Fang Lian (82/100) ]

[ Passive Faith Gain: LOCKED (Requires 90 Faith) ]

1. System Shop

2. Clan Building Tools

3. Heavenly Mandate Scripture (Saint Rank) – ACTIVE

4. Faith stop

His gaze flicked to the Faith Shop, and with a thought, the panel expanded into a new menu.

[ Faith Shop ]

🔸 [Minor Resource Well] – 100 FP

Create a spiritual spring in designated land. Enhances cultivation speed in a small area.

🔸 [Loyalty Oath Token] – 250 FP

Bind a person’s loyalty to the clan. Faith cannot fall below 60 unless they sever ties.

🔸 [Artisan’s Insight] – 150 FP

Grants a chosen person temporary enlightenment for forging, alchemy, or crafting.

Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Hoh... so many good stuff... and man, What are those...."

This... was infrastructure.

The type of investment not just for battles, but for building something lasting.

He scrolled further.

At the bottom, a note appeared:

📜 Special Notice:

"Faith is not born from strength, it is born from presence.

The more your followers grow to believe in you, the more your clan will thrive."

Fang Yuan leaned back slightly, resting his weight on his hands as his gaze drifted toward the intricately carved wooden ceiling above.

But then a name surfaced in his mind.

Gu clan.

The moment it did, his expression shifted.

The warmth faded from his eyes, and a subtle chill coiled beneath his skin.

His jaw tensed, and a faint crease formed between his brows.

That name, that family.

It soured his mood, his expression, once calm, twisted into something colder.

A murmur slipped from his lips like a vow etched in stone.

"Mother... Father... forgive me. But I will bring the Gu family down someday."

His voice was quiet. But it held the weight of thunder, final, solemn, unwavering.

Just then a soft rap on the door disturbed his peace.

Knock. Knock.

Without turning his head, Fang Yuan spoke, voice even.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and a young servant girl in a modest blue robe entered, bowing respectfully.

It was Felicia, graceful and poised, her long black hair tied in a high tail, her eyes calm but curious.

"Clan Head," she said softly. "A missive from the Northern Gu Family has arrived. A formal petition... requesting financial assistance."

Fang Yuan blinked once, then slowly sat upright, a mocking smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

"Wow," he muttered dryly. "Imagine having the gall to ask for money from the family you tried to bury."

He raised an eyebrow and then gestured.

"Go on. What’s their excuse?"

Feliciy produced a second scroll from her sleeve and carefully unrolled it.

"Phungrei City," she began, "was attacked by four Saberfang Spirit Beasts."

Fang Yuan’s fingers froze mid-tap against the armrest.

"...Four?"

Fang Yuan’s brow twitched but he said nothing.

Felicia continued.

"One of them was identified as a peak Nascent Soul realm, while the others are one late stage, and two the mid-stage."