Chapter 4: Rebuking the Saintly Hypocrite
Fu Qingning was beautiful, talented, and carried an excellent reputation. People liked her everywhere she went, yet the single stain on her life remained those two words, adopted daughter.
No one ever dared mention those words in front of her, but Fu Tianling seemed to take special pleasure in stabbing straight into that sore spot.
The worst part was that she couldn't even properly punish him. That alone made the situation unbearable.
After all, an adopted daughter disciplining the legitimate son of the house never sounded right.
Fu Mengli turned her head toward Fu Wuming and said calmly, "Aren't you going to say something about your brother's mouth?"
Fu Wuming answered with a serious expression, "Big sister really is beautiful, and Qingning really is an adopted daughter. Fourth brother only stated the facts. He said nothing wrong."
Fu Qingning almost spat blood when she heard that.
Fu Tianling burst into loud laughter, finally feeling some satisfaction. Second brother actually said something reasonable for once.
Of course, Fu Wuming wasn't intentionally helping Fu Tianling. He simply stood on the side of logic as usual.
Fu Wuming followed the path of a Confucian scholar. People who cultivated that path usually held themselves to a strict code of conduct and principles.
In this world, cultivation didn't revolve around Martial Apprentice paths alone. There were several systems.
The realm divisions remained the same for everyone.
From lowest to highest, the ranks went Ninth Rank, Eighth Rank, Seventh Rank, Sixth Rank, Fifth Rank, Fourth Rank, Third Rank, Second Rank, and First Rank.
Once someone reached Fourth Rank, they earned the title Grandmaster.
The ranks from Ninth to Fifth held no special title.
Among all cultivators, Martial Apprentices were by far the most numerous, while the other cultivation systems remained relatively rare.
"What do you mean 'you'? Shut your mouth and stand to the side. You've got no place speaking here." Fu Tianling didn't show Fu Qingning even a shred of courtesy and immediately fired back at her. "If you've got the guts, come hit me."
Fu Qingning's pretty face flushed deep red with anger. If anyone else dared say those words, she would've already lashed out in fury.
She took several deep breaths, forcing her emotions down before speaking again.
"Fourth brother, I've never understood why you carry so much resentment toward me."
Fu Tianling casually picked up a cup of tea and took a sip before replying.
"Who do you think you are? I simply don't want anything to do with you. Resentment? You're giving yourself way too much credit."
His words sounded harsh, yet his tone stayed completely calm.
Fu Qingning truly felt like her worldview was collapsing.
Fu Tianling always spoke like a dog barking nonsense, but at least he used to sound less vicious. Recently his mouth seemed almost blessed by the heavens, growing sharper and more irritating by the day.
Fu Mengli calmly stepped in to ease the tension.
"Enough. We're family, so say a little less. Even if you were fooling around with someone else's woman, why go so far as to kill someone?"
Fu Tianling revealed a mysterious smile.
"There's a reason for that. I can explain, but she needs to leave first. I don't trust her."
The "she" he referred to clearly meant Fu Qingning.
Fu Qingning's face instantly turned dark green with anger.
"Fu Tianling, don't push things too far. What exactly do you mean by she?"
Those words carried serious weight. Even though he didn't curse her, he openly questioned her loyalty to the Prime Minister's residence.
Fu Tianling ignored her completely and simply sat there without speaking, letting the silence stretch.
He wasn't deliberately trying to make things difficult for her. He truly didn't trust her.
A woman who would eventually get tangled with the protagonist could never be trusted. Once Ye Chen sweet talks her a few times, she would probably sell him out without hesitation.
Half an hour passed like that.
Before anyone else spoke again, Fu Qingning finally stood up with a dark face and left on her own.
Only after she disappeared did Fu Tianling slowly speak.
"To be honest, I didn't kill the person. Su Huanxue did. I took the blame for her."
The moment they heard the name Su Huanxue, Fu Mengli and Fu Wuming exchanged a glance. They already understood most of the situation.
Fu Wuming adjusted his Confucian scholar hat until it sat perfectly straight before asking, "Su Huanxue came looking for you because of her sister?"
Fu Mengli and Fu Wuming both possessed extremely sharp minds. The moment Fu Tianling mentioned that name, the entire story became clear.
At this point, Fu Wuming also realized the relationship between Su Zi and Su Huanxue. Back when he killed her, he assumed she was just an ordinary member of the demonic sect.
Fu Tianling showed a face full of grief and indignation.
"You know that already, so why the hell did you kill Su Zi? Did she ever provoke you?"
Fu Wuming answered casually.
"Su Zi belonged to the demonic sect and carried plenty of blood on her hands. She infiltrated the imperial capital with suspicious motives. Killing her meant enforcing justice, not settling personal grudges."
"You idiot. Someone used you like a weapon and you're still proud of it. Do you realize you almost got me killed? Who told you Su Zi belonged to the demonic sect?"
Fu Tianling covered his forehead in helpless frustration.
One day this idiot brother would probably drag him into the grave.
Fu Wuming glanced at Fu Tianling without changing his expression.
"Liu Wunian told me. I investigated and confirmed that she really belonged to the demonic sect and had killed innocent people. Only then did I act."
In one aspect Fu Wuming resembled Su Huanxue. Both kept nearly expressionless faces all the time.
Liu Wunian.
That damned bastard again.
In the original storyline, Liu Wunian tricked the original Fu Tianling into sleeping with Su Zi. He promised to drug her so Fu Tianling could play with her however he wanted.
The original owner of this body foolishly agreed and went along with it. The moment he stepped into the room he got knocked unconscious. When he woke up, Su Zi already lay dead beside him without a single thread of clothing.
Not long after that, Su Huanxue appeared and chopped him into pieces.
That was how a minor villain died, plain and meaningless.
Because Fu Tianling arrived from another world and refused Liu Wunian's suggestion, the man shifted his target toward second brother instead.
Fu Tianling looked at Fu Wuming with frustration that felt almost like disappointment in a useless child.
"Fu Wuming, can you try using your brain before acting next time? Why let others treat you like a weapon?"
Fu Mengli nodded slightly with a serious look.
"This time fourth brother is right."
Fu Wuming originally wanted to say that it didn't matter as long as the person deserved to die. But since big sister spoke, he chose not to argue further.
"If Su Huanxue killed me because of you, think about what would happen next. The Prime Minister's residence would go to war with the demonic sect. Do you realize how dangerous that would be for us?"
Fu Tianling spoke with the tone of an elder lecturing a junior.
Both Fu Mengli and Fu Wuming felt strangely uncomfortable hearing it.
For the past eighteen years, they were always the ones scolding their fourth brother.
Fu Mengli continued the conversation.
"Liu Wunian is the eldest son of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. He lacks the ability to plan something like this alone. Someone else stands behind him. I'll investigate personally. But why did Su Huanxue spare your life?"
Fu Tianling smiled faintly and rolled up his sleeve without saying a word.
Both of them clearly saw the thin black line spreading slowly upward along his arm.
Fu Mengli immediately stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
"Demon Descent Pill. She forced you to swallow the demonic sect's top poison pill?"
Fu Tianling quietly clasped her hand in return.
Her hand felt soft and boneless, small and delicate with a pleasant warmth.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Big sister, I'll be dead in one month. Before I die, my final wish is to hug you to sleep every day."
Fu Mengli pulled her hand away and stared at him with a complicated gaze.
This fourth brother changed a lot recently. The change left her feeling completely unprepared.
She even asked Old Li to secretly examine him before, confirming that his body hadn't been possessed.
Thanks to the system rules standing above the laws of this world, even Fu Tianling himself remained unaware of that part.
"When did you reach Ninth Rank?"
The moment Fu Mengli asked that question, even Fu Wuming's usually expressionless face showed a hint of shock.
Their fourth brother always carried terrible talent and refused to cultivate. He spent every day eating, drinking, and enjoying life.
Now he actually possessed cultivation?
That sounded impossible.
He was already eighteen years old. Starting cultivation at this age usually is far too late.
Fu Tianling waved his hand casually.
"Cultivation? It's as easy as eating or drinking water. Reaching Ninth Rank felt like child's play."
Fu Mengli sensed his cultivation earlier when their hands touched, which meant hiding it was impossible now.