A compromise and a threat

At this moment, in the Mo family.

"I warned you, didn't I? Look at the mess you've caused!" In the study, Gu Yue Mo Chen was furiously slapping the table.

Standing opposite the old man was Mo Yan, her head lowered, her eyes showing a mix of shock and anger. She had just learned the news that Gao Wan had been killed by Fang Yuan!

That fifteen-year-old boy actually had such means and resolve. Gao Wan was a servant of the dignified Mo family, and Fang Yuan killed him, clearly showing no regard for the Mo family!

"Grandfather, there's no need to get angry. Gao Wan was just a servant, and his death isn't a big deal since he wasn't a member of the Gu Yue clan. But Fang Yuan is far too audacious, showing no respect for us. He not only beat our dog but killed it in one go!" Mo Yan said indignantly.

Gu Yue Mo Chen roared in anger, "And you have the nerve to speak! Have you grown wings and forgotten everything I warned you about? Is that it? Have you completely ignored my words?"

"Your granddaughter wouldn't dare." Mo Yan was startled and hurriedly knelt down, realizing her grandfather was truly enraged.

Gu Yue Mo Chen pointed outside the window, scolding, "Hmph, so a mere servant died, but you're still fixated on Fang Yuan, showing how shortsighted and ignorant you are! Do you understand the significance of your actions? The conflicts among the younger generation are their own matters. We elders should not interfere. That is the rule! By troubling Fang Yuan, you've broken the rules. Now, countless people outside are probably watching and laughing at our Mo family!"

"Grandfather, please calm down. Anger harms the body. It's Mo Yan's fault for causing trouble for the family. Whatever you want me to do, I will do! But I really can't swallow this humiliation. Fang Yuan is despicable and shameless. First, he deceived me to get into the academy. Then he hid in the dormitory, refusing to come out no matter how much I cursed. As soon as I left, he killed Gao Wan. He's incredibly sinister and shameless!" Mo Yan reported.

"Oh, is that so?" Gu Yue Mo Chen's eyebrows furrowed. This was the first time he heard this information, and a glimmer of interest flashed in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his anger and stroked his beard thoughtfully, "I've heard of this Fang Yuan before. He wrote poetry in his early years and showed early wisdom. However, his aptitude is only C grade, making him of little use, so we gave up recruiting him. Now, it seems he's quite interesting."

Pausing, Gu Yue Mo Chen tapped the table with his finger, "Someone, bring that box here."

A servant outside was ready and quickly brought in a box. The box was medium-sized but somewhat heavy, and the servant held it with both hands, standing by the desk.

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

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

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

Instantly, her face changed dramatically, her pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and she couldn't help but take a step back, letting out an uncontrollable scream. The wooden lid in her hand fell 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. Fresh blood pooled inside, with pale skin, long strips of intestines, and even a few bones, possibly leg or rib bones. In the corners of the bloody pool, there were two fingers and half a toe floating.

Mo Yan turned pale and took another step back, her stomach churning, almost vomiting on the spot.

Although she was a Rank 2 Gu Master, had experienced training, and even killed people, this was the first time she saw such a disgusting and perverse scene.

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

A strong, pungent smell of blood instantly filled the study.

The servant holding the box was trembling, his face ashen. Although he had seen the box earlier and had vomited then, he still felt waves of fear and nausea holding it now.

Among the three people in the study, only the old family elder Gu Yue Mo Chen remained calm. He glanced at the flesh in the box and slowly said to Mo Yan, "This box was placed at our back door by Fang Yuan this morning."

"What, it really was him?!" Mo Yan was greatly shocked, and Fang Yuan's image couldn't help but appear in her mind.

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

At that time, Fang Yuan was sitting by the window, quietly eating his meal. He had an ordinary face, deep black eyes, a thin frame, and the pale complexion unique to a young boy.

Clearly, such an ordinary and quiet boy had committed such a perverse and crazy act!

After the initial shock came rage, and Mo Yan shouted, "This Fang Yuan is too arrogant, daring to do this! This is a provocation against our Mo family! I will go right now and bring him back to account for his crimes!!" She said, heading out.

"Stop right there, you fool!" Gu Yue Mo Chen was even angrier. He grabbed an inkstone from the desk and threw it.

The heavy inkstone hit Mo Yan's shoulder and fell to the ground with a thud.

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

Gu Yue Mo Chen stood up, pointing at his granddaughter, his tone agitated, "It seems your years of training were wasted. You truly disappoint me! To deal with a mere Rank 1 beginner Gu Master, not only did you mobilize a large force, but you were also led by the nose by him. Now, you're letting your anger cloud your judgment. Do you understand the meaning of Fang Yuan's actions yet?"

"What significance?" Mo Yan asked, utterly confused.

Gu Yue Mo Chen snorted, "If Fang Yuan's goal was purely provocation, why not place this box at the bustling front gate instead of the deserted back gate?"

"Could he want to reconcile? No, if he wanted to reconcile, he would apologize in person. Why send a box of dismembered corpses? This is clearly a provocation!" Mo Yan exclaimed.

Gu Yue Mo Chen shook his head and then nodded, "He does want to reconcile, but it is indeed a provocation. Placing the box at the back gate signals a desire to reconcile. The dismembered corpses inside the box, however, are a provocation."

"Look," the old man pointed to the box, "This box isn't big enough to hold a whole body, so it only contains part of the remains. He's telling us that he doesn't want to escalate this matter and prefers to settle it quietly. But if we, the Mo family, insist on pursuing it, he will scatter the rest of the remains at the front gate, making the matter public. At that point, it would be a lose-lose situation. The whole clan would know that our Mo family first broke the rules, and that our future leader of the Mo family is so weak that she requires such indulgence and protection from her elders."

Mo Yan was dumbfounded after hearing this. She had never thought that Fang Yuan's actions had such deep implications.

"What a clever tactic," Gu Yue Mo Chen sighed. "With just one move, he combines hardness and softness, advancing and retreating with ease. This simple wooden box signifies Fang Yuan's willingness to compromise while also threatening us. Our Mo family is truly caught by its weak point. If our family's reputation is damaged because of this, the Chi family will surely take advantage, and the faction of the clan leader will also strike against us."

Mo Yan, unwilling to accept this, said, "Grandfather, are you overestimating him? He's only fifteen years old."

"Overestimating?" Mo Chen looked at his granddaughter displeased, "It seems you've had too much smooth sailing these years, growing arrogant and losing touch with reality. Fang Yuan first remained calm under pressure, deceiving you to enter the academy. Then, he wisely avoided trouble by hiding in the dormitory. Despite your insults, he remained calm and did not retaliate, showing restraint and composure. After you left, he immediately killed Gao Wan, displaying decisiveness and courage. Now, sending this box demonstrates his strategic mind. Do you still think I'm overestimating him?"

Mo Yan was stunned into silence, unable to believe that her grandfather admired Fang Yuan so much. She retorted, "Grandfather, he's just a C-grade talent."

Gu Yue Mo Chen stroked his beard and sighed, "Yes, he is only a C-grade talent. To have such intellect and yet be a C-grade, it is indeed a pity. If his talent were just a bit higher, say a B-grade, he would undoubtedly be a future leader of the Gu Yue clan. But alas, he is a C-grade."

The old man's sigh was filled with emotion, both regret and perhaps a bit of relief.

Mo Yan remained silent, her mind once again conjuring up Fang Yuan's image. Under her psychological influence, Fang Yuan's previously gentle face now seemed shrouded in a sinister and 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 while and then said coldly, "Gao Wan was just a servant, his death is no big deal. Fang Yuan, being a C-grade talent, is also a minor issue. The key is to maintain our Mo family's reputation. To settle this matter, we could kill Gao Wan's entire family, showing the clan that we uphold the rules."

"Hmm, it's good that you can consider the bigger picture, setting aside personal feelings to protect the family's interests. However, your approach is still not quite right," Gu Yue Mo Chen commented, stroking his beard.

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

Gu Yue Mo Chen pondered, "Since this issue arose because of you, I'll confine you for seven days. From now on, don't trouble Fang Yuan again. Gao Wan, being a mere servant, offended his master and deserved death. However, since he was a servant of the Mo family, we also bear some responsibility for poor supervision. Compensate Fang Yuan with thirty primeval stones. As for Gao Wan's family, give them fifty primeval stones as a subsidy and then expel them from the mansion."

After a pause, he added, "During these seven days, stay at home and reflect on the deeper meaning of my decision."

"Yes, grandfather," Mo Yan replied.