Chapter 173 In Yicheng, Southwest Region, the most...

In Yicheng, in the southwestern region, there's a sense of impending storm lately.

Early in the morning, a group of clan elders were gathered together in the Gongshi clan of Yicheng for a meeting.

Holding a meeting in the morning is perfectly reasonable.

As the son of the clan chief, Gongshi Yu was fortunate enough to be among them. He sat quietly in the corner on a small stool, playing the role of a decoration.

But their ears perked up.

"I heard that the master has given an order for us to bow down to that vile woman Gong Shirao?" The speaker was the eldest and most respected elder of the clan, who was usually consulted on matters of marriage and funeral.

He was the one who arranged Gong Shirao's marriage back then, so after the marriage fell through, he had a very bad impression of Gong Shirao.

Gong Shi Yu's father, the clan chief Gong Shi Zheng, stroked his long beard and said with great certainty, "How could that be? Don't you know my relationship with the main family? How could the main family make us bow down to Gong Shi Rao because of Xie Jiao Yue? Wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Gong Shi clan?"

Despite the recent rumors, he remains confident in his network of connections.

The pharmacy elder, who had the most information and the best connections, couldn't hold back for a while but still couldn't help but say, "But I heard that Gong Shirao has already arrived in Yicheng."

Gong Shizheng suddenly stood up from his chair, the chair behind him clattering loudly: "What's she doing here?"

The pharmacy elder shrugged and slumped into his chair: "Besides that rumor, what else could they be here for?"

In any case, he had already given the order that all of Gongshi's pharmacies should be closed for the day.

This way, when trouble breaks out, it will be convenient for the underlings to hide and avoid getting hurt, and it will also be convenient for those who want to watch the drama unfold.

Gong Shizheng could neither sit still nor stand still, pacing back and forth in place.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? When will they arrive?"

The pharmacy elder did some mental calculations: "I think it should be about time in a few more breaths."

What good would it have done to say so earlier? They couldn't resist anyway, and it would only have given him less to watch.

After finishing his sentence, the pharmacy elder dashed out and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The crowd, who had already directed their spiritual senses toward the main gate, simultaneously noticed that Gong Shirao had arrived.

Gong Shi Rao arrived with great fanfare, beating drums and gongs, and holding up a document stamped with the seal of the Gong Shi family, making a grand entrance to denounce them.

This journey has certainly given the villagers a good show.

The Gongshi clan's furnace cauldrons, who had been itching to venture out due to the city's turmoil, were not willing to stay obediently in their rooms. Although the Gongshi clan had strictly forbidden them from coming and going at will, where there's a will, there's a way, and many had already gone out ingenious ways.

The one with the quickest mind is now standing next to Gong Shirao, sobbing softly.

"Thank you, Fairy Rao, and thank you, Clan Chief Gongshi of Buzhou Immortal Realm. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have to marry the cripple Wan as a concubine tomorrow."

This Wan the Cripple is also a celebrity in Yicheng. He had a slight limp when he was young, and even though he is now healed, he still has this derogatory nickname.

As for why he was given a derogatory nickname... this person used to be on good terms with Gongshi Yu.

These few words confirmed that the Gongshi clan used the clan's furnace cauldron as a "gift" and distributed it everywhere.

Wow, the rumors are all true.

Gongshi Zhengou also heard this and was so angry that steam could almost be seen rising from his head: "Who told you to go out! Get back here right now!"

The young furnace cauldron, though young, was bold enough that upon hearing this, it didn't even hide behind Gongshi Rao. Instead, it stood still and spat at Gongshi Zheng, saying, "Why go back? To be given away to someone else? I'm just young, not stupid."

Gong Shizheng was used to lording it over everyone in Yicheng. When he was rational, he was a refined and powerful figure at the pinnacle of power in Yicheng, even the Yicheng Director had to give him some leeway. But now that he had lost his temper, he was like a thug, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation.

Unfortunately, the document from the Buzhou Immortal Realm was hanging high in the air, exuding the pressure of the main family. When Gong Shi Zheng threw a fireball, the inconspicuous document expanded and engulfed the fireball in the blink of an eye.

The documents were intact, and the fireball disappeared.

Gong Shizheng had no choice but to look up and face the document.

Xie Jiaoyue actually got her hands on this thing; her master had actually abandoned her.

What did the document say? Could it really be as the rumors say, that he should release Gongshi Rao from the Gongshi clan? And let all the furnace cauldrons go?

But wasn't this exactly what the Gongshi clan built their fortune on? It's not just the Gongshi clan of Yicheng that's like this; the Gongshi clan of Buzhou Immortal Realm is the same! The furnace cauldrons are not only gifts to them, but also cultivation tools for their disciples. Without these, does the Gongshi clan have any future?

Why are they being treated like this? What is the master trying to do?

Gongshi Zhengou had no idea what had happened in Buzhou Immortal Realm. He suddenly thought of a possibility: just as he used the furnace cauldron as a gift to make friends with all parties, perhaps the main family was also using him and the Gongshi clan of Yicheng as gifts to make friends with Xie Jiaoyue.

But he... he is a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even though he has stagnated for many years and has no possibility of further improvement, and his lifespan is almost over, he is still a Nascent Soul cultivator.

How could he be insulted like this?

However, the scribe was not about to let him off the hook. Equipped with a sound array, the scribe suddenly read out all the written text in front of everyone.

There was no false rumor; everything was exactly as rumored.

The cheers of the furnace cauldrons filled my ears.

Before me stood Gong Shirao's raised chin.

Gong Shizheng suddenly felt dizzy and his vision went black.

Yes, he treats others as gifts, so why can't he and the Shi family of Yicheng be gifts in the eyes of a true strongman?

Behind Gongshi Zheng, Gongshi Yu stared in disbelief as everything unfolded.

He wasn't his father, so his first thought wasn't about the family's honor or disgrace, but rather about the red-haired furnace in his room.

That was something he had just set his sights on, and because it was new, he liked it very much. He also doted on the red-haired furnace.

Will that red-haired furnace cauldron run away? Like it's dancing?

No way! He's dashing and charming, and even among those in power, he's considered gentle and kind. If he leaves, he'll be in even worse shape in someone else's hands. He's the best option for them.

Gong Shiyu quickly ran back to his room.

Inside the room, the red-haired furnace cauldron was packing his belongings.

Gong Shiyu grabbed the other person's shoulder: "What are you doing? Are you leaving too?"

The red-haired furnace cauldron smiled gently: "Young Master Yu, you're hurting me."

In the midst of the struggle, Gong Shirao arrived outside the door with her entourage.

There were more people behind her than when she arrived.

The small furnace beside Gong Shirao counted the names on the list one by one: "Aside from those who don't want to leave, there are still three missing, and this one in front of us is one of them."

Gongshi originally intended to hide people, but unfortunately, the traitor had already handed over the list of Gongshi's furnace cauldrons to Gongshi Rao, so that Gongshi Rao was able to verify them one by one.

The red-haired furnace cauldron stood directly between Gongshi Yu and Gongshi Rao, their gazes meeting on her.

Gong Shirao's voice was not gentle, but as firm as a pine tree, carrying a chilling aura unique to winter: "Do you want to stay or leave with us?"

Gong Shiyu frowned and pursed his lips, grabbing the red-haired furnace's wrist with one hand: "If you go with her, do you think you'll be living a better life than you are now?"

Gong Shirao kindly reminded him: "Is it possible that I am the richest man in the Southwest Region?"

I've never heard of anyone suffering alongside the richest man.

Gong Shirao, who was originally the richest man in Jinling City, recently received a large sum of treasures and spirit stones from her daughter in Buzhou Immortal Realm, making her the richest man in the Southwest Region.

Those things were naturally Xie Jiaoyue's "ancestral" wealth, which she unexpectedly obtained during the All-Domain Competition under the system's arrangement. Xie Jiaoyue was restricted by the system and couldn't spend it herself, but she used it to strengthen Gong Shirao's power. Under the understanding of the "plot," it could also be considered as strengthening the male protagonist's power.

Gong Shiyu was still indignant: "If you leave, you will just be one of countless furnaces in Gong Shirao's life. What can she give you? As long as you are by my side, you will be my most beloved concubine."

The red-haired furnace cauldron looked longingly: "Fairy Rao said she would find a master for us."

Even if you don't know what you will learn or what you will be able to learn, just such a promise is enough to make people's hearts flutter.

If one has the ability, who would willingly become someone else's plaything?

People say that a furnace can't produce great things. She might not be able to do it alone, but what about her with everyone else?

Could she also have a future that isn't just about being a plaything?

“Young Master Yu, I don’t want to wait until you get tired of me, then be given to your servants, and then end up in some unknown mass grave.”

Her predecessor, Pianxian, was rescued, but the predecessor before her has now reached the second step, and the one before that has turned into bones.

For many years, furnaces and cauldrons have been like this; they are all consumables, the only difference being how quickly or slowly they are consumed.

The red-haired furnace cauldron pried open Gong Shiyu's fingers one by one and walked firmly to Gong Shirao's side.

Regardless of where the Gongshi clan is located, they all hope that everything happening in the Southwest Region can be handled discreetly, ideally without leaving the Southwest Region, so that everything can remain quiet.

However, gossip of this magnitude always manages to spread across the entire continent at lightning speed.

The Immortal Realm of Buzhou also has its gossip enthusiasts, and the news spread like wildfire in just a few days.

Gong Shi Feifei has already given up. It's all just public opinion. Anyway, he has already bribed Xie Jiaoyue. Now no one can get any real evidence to stop them from becoming a Heavenly-level family.

He simply applied for seclusion to get some peace and quiet.

Perhaps because Gongshi Feifei was in seclusion, the servants who usually protected Gongshi Chuo were not as attentive as before, and the message still reached Gongshi Chuo's ears.

She was completely bewildered.

Huh? How could the Duke of Yicheng, Shi, treat the furnace cauldron like that? She didn't believe it.

How could Father agree to Xie Jiaoyue's request just because of a few words? Xie Jiaoyue must be spreading rumors!

The nascent goodwill towards Xie Jiaoyue was now in jeopardy.

Unable to find her father, and fueled by the surging emotions within her, she wanted to confront Xie Jiaoyue directly. However, before she could even leave the meditation platform, she heard another piece of devastating news.

Gong Shiyue has disappeared.