Chapter 1102: Chapter 382: Candidates, Calamity Star, Defying Fate

Fu Yongshang stood in the center of the chamber of commerce, his gaze like a torch as he swept over everyone present.

His brows were tightly knit, and a wave of indescribable disappointment surged within him.

These individuals were the outstanding young generation of the Fu Family Business Hall, otherwise they wouldn’t have been sent to Jingzhou.

Yet at this moment, each appeared so timid, lacking any ambition.

Wuzhou is an emerging land, and most likely, the family’s future fief will take root there.

Whoever goes now will be a governor-general, and their future status in the family will surely rise with the tide. However, these young people hesitate, fearing to leave the comfort zone of Jingzhou.

"The young generation in the clan seems to have been too comfortable for too long," Fu Yongshang sighed inwardly.

If this continues, the family’s development will be greatly hindered.

Although the Fu Family has risen to a Seventh-Grade Noble Family, if they do not strive for progress, they will eventually be surpassed and replaced by other families. Fu Yongshang already had a plan in mind; at the annual meeting, he must bring up this issue to thoroughly rectify the family’s atmosphere.

Seeing everyone still silent, Fu Yongshang said coldly:

"You have half an incense stick’s time, during which you may also return home to deliberate with your families."

After speaking, he raised his hand to execute a technique, and the array light curtain in the center of the chamber slowly dissipated.

Everyone bowed and then filed out.

Most people went directly back to their respective posts and continued to busy themselves. Their goal in entering the chamber of commerce was nothing more than to one day become the shopkeeper of a store. In Jingzhou, the position of shopkeeper in a store is a coveted one—naturally, they are reluctant to easily give it up.

However, a few chose to leave. They hurriedly returned home, evidently intending to discuss with their families whether to head to Wuzhou. Of course, among them were those who took the opportunity to sneak away for a short break.

Fugui was one such person.

He did not go directly home but first went to the pharmacy to get some new medicine. The medicine pack was heavy with precious herbs inside. Fugui dared not delay and hurried back to West Street. The alleyways of West Street were narrow and dilapidated, the Spiritual Qi sparse, and the cultivators passing by all wore frowns, showing that most living here were bottom-level cultivators worried about their livelihood.

Deep in the alley, Fugui, carrying the medicine pack, smoothly walked into a small courtyard.

It was said to be a courtyard, but it was actually split in half, rented by two families. Fugui went into only one main room, from which coughing sounds occasionally came.

Upon hearing movement, a woman’s weak voice came from inside: "Husband, why have you come home early?"

Fugui walked quickly into the room, placed the medicine pack on the table, and said gently: "Elder Shang kindly gave us half an incense stick’s leave. Chunniang, I’ll brew the medicine soon; by the time I finish work, I reckon it’ll be ready to serve you."

Chunniang lay in bed, her face pale, evidently very ill. She barely smiled and softly replied:

"Thank you for your hard work, husband."

"Don’t say such nonsense; if it weren’t for my wife, I’d have died under the Celestial Heart Wolf’s claws long ago. Marrying you and joining the Fu Family is the greatest blessing of my life."

These words from Fugui were clearly heartfelt.

When he first met Chunniang, he was merely at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, while she was at Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

She did not disdain his poverty, continually supported him, and even sustained severe injuries during a mission to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for him, falling ill afterwards.

His life was given by her.

His current cultivation and position in the Jingzhou store were paved by her.

Thus, he cared for her without regret.

Fugui turned to take out a medicine furnace.

Skilled, he threw in a firefly stone, which with a "whoosh" ignited into a thin, gentle flame. Opening the medicine pack, he placed the herbs into the furnace one by one, then patted his storage bag, and with a flash of dawn light, a bottle containing Celestial Wolf Water appeared in his hand; he cautiously poured it into the medicine furnace, the gurgling sounds echoing in the room.

While simmering the medicine, Fugui gently comforted Chunniang:

"Don’t worry; this medicine was specially recommended by Elder Shang, said to have miraculous effects for your illness. Once you’re better, our days will improve too."

Chunniang nodded slightly, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.

Her husband had staked their livelihood on her sickness, yet it seemed like a bottomless pit that no remedy could cure. Without medicine, her condition would become uncontrollable; otherwise, with her husband’s Foundation Establishment Cultivation, how could they be living so meagerly?

The medicinal broth in the furnace gradually boiled, a rich fragrance of herbs permeating the room. Fugui carefully controlled the fire, afraid that too much heat would ruin the medicine’s efficacy.

The couple engaged in scattered conversation.

With Chunniang bedridden, she rarely had opportunities to go outside.

Therefore.

When Fugui returned from the store, he would recount everything he had seen and heard to Chunniang: both to relieve her boredom and because she was resourceful, often providing him insight into various matters.

When Chunniang learned the true reason for Fugui’s return, she nearly sat up in her excitement, only restrained by violent coughing, forcing her to lie back down. Her face, flushed from excitement, bore a glow of new-found light in her eyes. She tightly grasped Fugui’s hand, her voice faint though imbued with steadfast determination:

"Husband, is what you just said true? Wuzhou... that is the future fief of the family!"

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