At this moment, in the Mo Clan.

"What did I warn you about? Look at the trouble you've caused!" In the study, Gu Yue Mo Chen slammed the table, furious.

Mo Yan stood opposite the old man, head lowered, her eyes filled with shock and anger. She had just learned the news that Gao Wan had been killed by Fang Yuan!

That fifteen-year-old boy, to have such means and determination. Gao Wan was a servant of our Mo Clan, and Fang Yuan killed him, showing no regard for us!

"Grandfather, there's no need to be angry. Gao Wan was just a servant, his death isn't a big deal, after all, he wasn't a Gu Yue. But that Fang Yuan, he's too bold. Even when you beat a dog, you have to consider its owner. He not only beat our Mo Clan's dog but killed it outright!" Mo Yan said indignantly.

Gu Yue Mo Chen shouted angrily, "How dare you say that! Have you grown wings and forgotten what I told you? I warned you, and you've forgotten it all!"

"Granddaughter wouldn't dare." Mo Yan was startled, realizing her grandfather was truly angry, and quickly knelt down.

Gu Yue Mo Chen pointed out the window, reprimanding, "Hmph, that servant's death is one thing, but you're still fixated on Fang Yuan, showing short-sightedness and ignorance! Do you know the significance of your actions? The disputes of the younger generation are their own affairs. We, as elders, must not interfere. That's the rule! Now you're causing trouble for Fang Yuan, breaking the rules. Who knows how many people outside are watching and laughing at our Mo Clan!"

"Grandfather, please calm your anger, it's harmful to your health. It's Mo Yan's fault for burdening the Mo Clan. Whatever grandfather instructs, Mo Yan will do! But I can't swallow this anger, that Fang Yuan is truly despicable and shameless. First, he tricked me into the academy, then hid in the dormitory, ignoring my calls. Once I left, he killed Gao Wan. It's truly insidious and shameless!" Mo Yan reported.

"Oh, is that so?" Gu Yue Mo Chen frowned, hearing this information for the first time, a glint flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and stroked his beard in thought. "I've heard of this Fang Yuan before, he wrote poetry in his early years, showing early wisdom. But his aptitude is Grade C, not worth much, so I gave up recruiting him. Now it seems, he's quite interesting."

After a pause, Gu Yue Mo Chen tapped the table with his finger. "Someone, bring that box over."

Someone outside was attending to them. Soon, a box was brought in. It wasn't too big or too small, but somewhat heavy, requiring two hands to hold, and was placed beside the desk.

"Grandfather, what is this?" Mo Yan asked, puzzled by the wooden box.

"Why don't you open it and see?" Gu Yue Mo Chen squinted, his tone complex.

Mo Yan stood up, lifted the wooden lid, and looked inside.

Instantly, her face changed dramatically, her pupils shrinking to pinpoints, and she couldn't help but take a step back, letting out an uncontrollable gasp. The wooden lid slipped from her hand, falling to the ground.

Without the lid, the contents of the box were revealed to everyone.

It was a pile of flesh!

The flesh was clearly cut into pieces and packed into the box. Crimson blood pooled inside, some pieces were pale flesh, others were long strips of intestines, with a few bones mixed in, either leg bones or ribs. In the bloody corners, two fingers and half a toe floated.

Ugh...

Mo Yan's face turned pale, taking another step back, her stomach churning, nearly vomiting on the spot.

Though she was a Rank Two Gu Master, with some experience and having killed before, it was her first time seeing such a grotesque and perverse scene.

The flesh in the box was clearly a human corpse, cut into pieces and stuffed inside.

A strong stench of blood filled the air, permeating the entire study.

Find the original at " pa𝑤read.com ".

The servant holding the box trembled, his face ashen. Though he'd seen the box before and vomited, holding it now still filled him with dread and nausea.

Among the three in the study, only the elder Gu Yue Mo Chen remained unchanged, glancing at the box's contents with indifference, and slowly said to Mo Yan, "This box was placed at our back door by Fang Yuan this morning."

"What, it was really him?!" Mo Yan was greatly shocked, unable to stop Fang Yuan's image from surfacing in her mind.

The first time she saw Fang Yuan was at an inn.

Back then, Fang Yuan sat by the window, quietly eating. His face was ordinary, eyes dark, body thin, with a pale complexion typical of youth.

Clearly such an ordinary, quiet boy, yet capable of such perverse and insane actions!

After the shock came rage, Mo Yan shouted, "This Fang Yuan is too arrogant, has he eaten a leopard's gall? To dare do such a thing, it's a provocation to our Mo Clan! I'll go now and bring him to justice!" She said, moving to leave.

"Stop right there, you fool!" Gu Yue Mo Chen was even angrier, grabbing a heavy inkstone from the desk and throwing it.

The hard, heavy inkstone struck Mo Yan's shoulder, then fell to the ground with a thud.

"Grandfather!" Mo Yan cried, clutching her shoulder.

Gu Yue Mo Chen stood, pointing at his granddaughter, his tone agitated, "It seems your years of training were in vain, you've truly disappointed me! Dealing with a mere Rank One – Initial Stage Gu Master, you not only make a fuss but are led by the nose. Now, blinded by anger, do you even understand the meaning behind Fang Yuan's actions?"

"What meaning?" Mo Yan was utterly confused.

Gu Yue Mo Chen snorted, "If Fang Yuan wanted to provoke and escalate the matter, why not place the box at the busy front door, instead of the secluded back door?"

"Could he want to reconcile? No, if reconciling, wouldn't it be better to apologize in person? Why send a box of dismembered corpses? It's clearly a provocation!" Mo Yan said.

Gu Yue Mo Chen shook his head, then nodded, "He wants to reconcile, yet it's indeed a provocation. Placing the box at the back door shows a desire to reconcile. Filling it with dismembered corpses is a provocation."

"Look." The elder pointed at the box, "The box isn't large enough to hold a complete corpse. So it's only part of a dismembered body. He's telling us he doesn't want to escalate the matter, preferring to let it go. But if we keep pressing, he'll scatter the remaining pieces at the front door, making it a big issue. Then, it would be mutual destruction. The whole clan would know we broke the rules first, and our future leader is so weak as to need such pampering and protection from elders."

Mo Yan was left speechless, never imagining Fang Yuan's actions held such depth.

"What a brilliant tactic." Gu Yue Mo Chen sighed, "With a single move, he combines strength and softness, with clear advancement and retreat. This simple box both shows Fang Yuan's willingness to compromise and serves as a threat to our Mo Clan. And our Mo Clan is indeed caught by the weakness. If our reputation suffers, the Chi Clan's challenge and the patriarch's faction's blow will follow."

Mo Yan, unwilling to believe, said, "Grandfather, are you overestimating him? He's only fifteen."

"Overestimating?" Mo Chen looked displeased at his granddaughter, "It seems you've become arrogant from smooth sailing, unable to see reality. Fang Yuan remained calm in danger, tricking you into the academy. Then, quick-wittedly avoided disaster in the dormitory. He endured your insults without retaliation, showing patience and composure. After you left, he decisively killed Gao Wan, showing courage. Now, sending this box, clearly shows intelligence and strategy. Do you think I'm overestimating him?"

Mo Yan was left speechless, never expecting her grandfather to admire Fang Yuan so much, and said defiantly, "Grandfather, he's just a Grade C."

Gu Yue Mo Chen sighed, stroking his beard, "Yes, he's just a Grade C. With such intellect, yet only Grade C aptitude, it's truly a pity. If his aptitude were higher, an Grade B, he'd surely be a rising star in our Gu Yue Clan's future. But alas, he's a Grade C."

The elder's sigh was filled with emotion, both regret and relief.

Mo Yan remained silent, Fang Yuan's image resurfacing in her mind. Under her psychological influence, Fang Yuan's previously gentle face now seemed shrouded in a sinister, dangerous shadow.

"This matter was caused by you. How do you think it should be handled?" Gu Yue Mo Chen suddenly broke the silence, testing Mo Yan.

Mo Yan thought for a moment, then coldly said, "Gao Wan was just a servant, his death is insignificant. Fang Yuan is only a Grade C, a minor issue. The key is to protect our Mo Clan's reputation. To quell this matter, we might as well kill Gao Wan's entire family, showing the clan our commitment to the rules."

"Hmm, it's good you can prioritize the bigger picture, setting aside personal feelings to protect the clan's interests. But your approach is still inappropriate." Gu Yue Mo Chen stroked his beard, commenting.

"Please instruct me, grandfather." Mo Yan bowed.

Gu Yue Mo Chen pondered, "Since this matter began with you, I'll punish you with seven days of confinement. From now on, don't trouble Fang Yuan. Gao Wan overstepped, a mere servant offending his master, deserved death, his crime warrants execution! As he was a Mo Clan servant, our clan also bears responsibility for poor supervision, so compensate Fang Yuan with thirty Primordial Stones. As for Gao Wan's family, give them fifty Primordial Stones as a subsidy, then expel them from the estate."

After a pause, he added, "During these seven days, rest at home and reflect on the deeper meaning of grandfather's decision."

"Yes, grandfather."