Capítulo 43: Ma Hong Yun

I'm back to the game.

---

"I don't plan on giving Tai Bai any lifespan Gu and will follow the original plot on this matter," Fang Yuan though deeply.

"Still, if I feel the time isn't right for him to ascend, I might give him one."

As Fang Yuan considered his plan to deal with Tai Bai and claim the entirety of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building for himself, a sudden jolt ran through him as a Gu inside his aperture was destroyed.

Yet, Fang Yuan remained calm, even smiling.

"It's earlier than expected," he thought. "I made a slight move without intention, but it still had the desired effect."

He chuckled to himself. "Looks like it's time to head there."

In the next moment, he vanished.

---

Thud. Thud. Thud...

The sound of hurried hoofbeats approached from afar.

A group of Gu Masters, mounted on terror claw horses, arrived at the swamp. The horses had bloodshot eyes, sharp fangs, and were carnivorous. With skin stretched tight over rippling muscles and four long claws instead of hooves, they exuded a terrifying strength. Webbing connected their claws, allowing them to navigate the swamp with ease.

"Lord Elders, they passed through here and headed in that direction," reported an investigative Gu Master, his eyes glowing red as he scanned the surroundings.

"Uncle, this isn't good!" A younger Gu Master frowned anxiously. "If they reach Rocks Pool, they'll be out of Warm Pond Valley. It'll be difficult to kill them after that."

"Relax," an elder replied, laughing. "Fei Qing was poisoned by your father's Gu, and we added another rare poison for good measure that we just found it luckily. He's also dragging a child along."

"The more he uses his ghost cloud, the worse the poison will become. He won't get far. Let's continue the chase."

They resumed their pursuit, entering the sparse woods. Meanwhile, the swamp surged behind them, and a yellowish silkworm burrowed out of the earth. The silkworm was broken open from within, revealing two figures: a middle-aged Gu Master and a child, both gasping for breath.

"We finally deceived them," the middle-aged man, Fei Qing, said weakly, his face a deep shade of purple from the poison spreading through his body.

His swift ghost cloud Gu had been tampered with, and sensing something was wrong, Fei Qing abandoned it during their escape, choosing to hide with his son in the swamp. But without the movement Gu, he had no way to flee, and the poison had taken its toll. Escape was no longer an option.

"Fei Chang... you despicable traitor! You poisoned me, your own cousin, just for the clan leader position!" Fei Qing spat out green-black blood in fury.

"Father! Hang on!" The boy, Fei Cai, sobbed, throwing himself onto his father's chest.

Fei Qing, eyes full of both despair and resolution, gently stroked his son's head. "Little Cai, I can't go on. Fei Chang's plot runs deep. I've deceived them for now, but it won't last. They'll return soon. You must leave quickly. Father will stay and hold them off. Take the path I showed you, and you may have a chance to survive."

"No, Father! I want to stay with you! Let's run together, please!" Fei Cai cried in grief.

Fei Qing, on the brink of death, grabbed his son by the shoulders. "Don't cry, Little Cai. Northern Plains men can shed blood, but not tears. Remember, you carry the bloodline of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable. You are a member of the Huang Jin family. That bloodline is rare and strong. You have the qualifications to enter the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building."

His coughs intensified as more green-black blood oozed from his mouth. "If you ever get the chance to enter Imperial Court Blessed Land, go to the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building and claim the grace that Ancestor Giant Sun left for us. Only then can you avenge me."

"Father…"

"Go! If you stay, it'll be too late!" Fei Qing pushed his son, forcing him to take several steps back, his face streaked with tears.

"Leave now!" Fei Qing growled.

Fei Cai wiped his eyes and turned to run, tears still falling down his cheeks. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to obey his father's command.

Fei Qing watched his son run off, his vision growing dim. But his eyes widened in shock as he realized something.

"Fool! Stop!" he shouted with all his remaining strength.

"F-Father?" Fei Cai turned back, confused.

"You idiot!" Fei Qing snapped. "I told you to run northwest! Why are you heading southeast? Are you trying to run back to the tribe camp and get yourself killed?"

Fei Cai panicked and quickly changed direction. But he went the wrong way again.

"That's southwest, you fool!" Fei Qing yelled.

Before Fei Cai could change direction again, a voice came from behind them.

"What happened here?" The voice belonged to an old man with a white beard—Fang Yuan, disguised.

"Master White Shadow!" Fei Cai cried out in surprise.

Fang Yuan frowned. "I told you, my name is Black Shadow, you foolish disciple."

"Ah! Right, Master Black Shadow!" Fei Cai quickly corrected himself.

Ignoring him, Fang Yuan approached Fei Qing. "What happened with the Fei tribe? Did the Ma tribe attack you?"

Fei Qing, his body almost entirely overcome by poison, looked dejected. "No, it was my own people."

Fang Yuan tried to heal him using a healing Gu, but Fei Qing stopped him. "No, old sir, there's no need. The poison has already spread throughout my body. My blood is entirely black and green. I can't be saved."

"Master, please!" Fei Cai begged. "There must be a way to save my father!"

Fei Qing looked lovingly at his son. "Sir, please take care of him. He can be foolish, but his heart is pure."

Fang Yuan sighed. "You have my word. I will look after him."

Hearing this, Fei Qing smiled weakly. "Thank you. Now go. I will stay here."

"Father, please come with us! My master can carry you!" Fei Cai pleaded.

Fei Qing shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "Son, my time has come. I... I will die soon. No need to burden your journey with a corpse," he rasped, coughing up more green-black blood. "Go now, and listen to your master."

"Now leave!" Fei Qing growled once more, issuing his final command as he felt his end nearing.

Tears streamed down Fei Cai's face as he turned to Fang Yuan, his heart heavy with sorrow.

Fang Yuan took out a Rank 5 Rising Blue Cloud Gu, activating it before approaching Fei Qing. He gently placed Fei Qing onto the cloud and then glanced at Fei Cai, who stood looking lost. "Come aboard."

"Master, what is this?" Fei Cai asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"This is a Rank 5 movement Gu," Fang Yuan said with a tone of pride. "Extremely rare and one of the best in its class."

"Wow," Fei Cai gasped, gazing in awe at the beautiful blue cloud beneath him.

Fang Yuan directed the cloud, choosing a direction, and they took flight.

---

"Fei Qing, hmph, where are you hiding?!" Fei Chang's voice was grim and hoarse, his sharp gaze full of murderous intent as he scanned the area. He had been searching relentlessly for Fei Qing but hadn't found a single trace for a long while.

Frustration building, Fei Chang arrived at Rocks Pool, only to see his men—no sign of Fei Qing anywhere.

"Damn it! Where did they go?" Fei Chang cursed, his anger flaring as he scoured every possible hiding spot. "He should've died from the poison by now. At the very least, I should've found his corpse!"

Wooo Woooo…

At that moment, the deep, powerful sound of a bugle horn echoed from outside Warm Pond Valley.

Fei Chang and his men immediately turned pale.

"Lord elders, return quickly to reinforce the tribe! Ma tribe has brought a massive army and launched an attack without warning. The tribe is in a state of emergency!" A Gu Master hurried over on a flying bird, bringing dire news.

"What?!" Fei Chang was shocked. Just as the internal conflict in the Fei tribe had escalated, Ma tribe had invaded. The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence!

'If there's no Fei tribe left, what point is there in becoming the tribe leader? We must defend, defend to the death! Warm Pond Valley is easy to defend and hard to attack, and forcing Ma tribe to retreat isn't impossible. I still have hope!' Fei Chang thought, immediately abandoning thoughts of Fei Cai and rushing back to the tribe camp.

However, Ma tribe's invasion had been meticulously planned. They seized the opportunity created by Fei tribe's internal chaos, launching a devastating ambush. Despite the defensive advantage of Warm Pond Valley, Fei tribe could not withstand the overwhelming force of Ma tribe's massive army and was ultimately defeated.

Everything followed the same fate, only a little earlier than it should be.

---

In an unnamed valley, Fang Yuan sat quietly, observing Fei Cai, who knelt beside his father's corpse.

Fei Qing eventually succumbed to the poison and died. Fei Cai wept for a long time, his tears finally drying as he came to terms with the loss.

"Hmph, you've finally stopped crying. Go and bury your father," Fang Yuan ordered.

"Yes," Fei Cai replied, his voice thick with sorrow. He got to work, burying his father in the valley's cold earth.

Once he was finished, Fang Yuan addressed him, "I promised your father I'd take care of you."

He paused before continuing, "From now on, I won't just be your master. I will take you as my son."

Fei Cai looked up at Fang Yuan, his heart swelling with gratitude. He understood the weight of this gesture—being adopted was the greatest kindness anyone could show him especially in northern plains.

"Fa—Father?" Fei Cai hesitated.

"Hmm, better call me Master Black Shadow. And your name... it needs to change."

Fang Yuan gazed at him thoughtfully. "From now on, you will be known as Fang Hong Yun."

Up to 15 advanced chapters: patreon.com/false_truth

Speaking of which, my new novel will begin publishing in about two weeks! I'm considering naming it Shape the Multiverse: False Truth.

As the title suggests, it's a multiverse novel. The story begins in the Naruto world, but the MC won't stay there for long before transitioning into the Reverend Insanity universe to be stuck there. I've carefully crafted a complete multiverse structure to ensure there are no plot holes or inconsistencies for the future world that will be added.

Stay tuned—I'm confident you all are gonna love it!