Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?! - Chapter 323

Chapter 323: 323- Updated*
Fang Yuan set his teacup down and then he took a step forward.

“Is this what you also want, boy?” Fang Yuan asked.

The boy didn’t hesitate as he dropped to his knees hard enough that the floorboards shuddered.

“Great Master,” he said, “please… accept me as your disciple. I will kowtow three times and devote my life to your teachings!”

Fang Yuan watched the kid and then a wave of memory pierced through him.

It was when he was seven, the rain hammered the crooked roofs of a forgotten alley.

Water streamed down cracked walls, pooling around a skinny youth standing barefoot in the mud.

Fang Yuan was shivering and covered with both blood and water as he stood before an old beggar beneath a tattered cloak.

The old beggar’s beard was unkempt, his eyes cloudy, and his teeths were yellow.

The old man studied him for a long, heavy moment.

“Young man,” the master rasped, “the path of cultivation is long… arduous… and unforgiving. Are you prepared to endure pain, hunger, humiliation, and loss?”

The wind howled through the alley and Fang Yuan clenched his small fists.

“I’m ready to endure any hardship that befalls me,” he said through gritted teeth. “I don’t want to be useless. I want to have my revenge against the Lin family!”

Thunder cracked above them and as swift as if came, the memory dissolved like mist.

Fang Yuan found himself looking at a boy kneeling with the same posture but a different heart.

The child’s hands were balled into fists, knuckles white.

His frail shoulders were stiff with resolve.

Fang Yuan slowly lowered himself to one knee, leveling his gaze with the boy’s.

His voice softened, repeating the same words once spoken to him.

“The path of cultivation is long, arduous, and unforgiving.”

He paused.

“Are you prepared to endure hardships and sacrifices?”

The boy’s throat bobbed, but he lifted his chin, eyes shining with fierce determination.

“I’m ready to endure any hardship that befalls me,” he said clearly.

“I don’t want to be useless, I want to defend and protect those who are dear to me.”

And in that instant two voices echoed in Fang Yuan’s mind.

…For revenge!

…To defend!

The boy remained kneeling, fists pressed against the floor, waiting for judgment as if the whole world balanced on Fang Yuan’s next breath.

Fang Yuan straightened before he lifted a hand.

“Stand straight,” he said softly.

The child obeyed immediately, sitting upright on his knees, back straight, eyes burning with hope and fear.

Fang Yuan looked at him for a long, contemplating moment.

And next, he placed a hand lightly atop the boy’s head.

“From today onward,” Fang Yuan declared, voice steady and calm,

“I accept you as my disciple.”

Doctor Mu trembled at the announcement, his hands clenched together, his eyes turning misty.

The boy’s breath hitched before his eyes shone with unmistakable determination.

He bowed deeply, his forehead touching the floor with a firm thud.

“Disciple greets Master!”

Followed by three kowtows, crisp and solemn.

Fang Yuan watched quietly, allowing the weight of the moment to settle.

When the boy finally sat back up, Fang Yuan asked:

“What is your name?”

The child placed his small hands on the floor and spoke clearly.

“My name is Mu Qing. I have no parents… no clan. I was found abandoned as a baby.”

He glanced briefly toward Doctor Mu with soft gratitude.

“Grandfather raised me alone. He is the only family I have.”

“Mu Qing,” Fang Yuan repeated.

“A good name.”

The boy lowered his head again, voice earnest.

“Master… from this day forward, I will work hard. I will not shame your teachings.”

Doctor Mu swallowed thickly, wiping his eyes.

“Qing’er… you must not disappoint Master Fang,” he whispered.

Mu Qing nodded.

“I won’t.”

“Good,” Fang Yuan said as a faint smile forming around his face, “Then from today, you are my disciple.”

Fang Yuan then turned to the doctor, “Make yourself at home, Doctor. If you need anything, speak to Uncle Chen. He’ll arrange it.”

Doctor Mu chuckled warmly as he got up.

“Yes, yes, don’t worry about this old man. I’ll go meet those youngsters again. They must’ve missed me.”

He patted Mu Qing on the head once more, then shuffled out of the room humming cheerfully.

The door slid shut behind him and a small silence followed.

Then Fang Yuan looked down at the boy.

“Come,” he said. “There’s someone important you should meet.”

Mu Qing stood immediately and followed close behind as Fang Yuan walked out into the courtyard.

Fang Yuan then brought Mu Qing across the estate toward the training grounds.

There, beneath the shade of a tall spirit oak, a young woman was practicing her forms.

Fang Lian.

Powerful qi rippling with every swing of her sword.

She stopped the instant she sensed Fang Yuan’s presence, sliding her sword into its sheath in one smooth motion.

“Master,” she said, bowing respectfully.

Fang Yuan nodded.

“Lian’er,” he said with a faint smile, “this is Mu Qing. He is now your junior martial brother.”

Mu Qing bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Senior Sister. I am Mu Qing.”

Fang Lian blinked in surprise, “Master took in a disciple?”

She crouched slightly to meet the boy’s eyes.

“Then I’ll be depending on you. Work hard, little junior.”

Mu Qing straightened, cheeks slightly flushed.

“Yes, Senior Sister!”

Fang Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Now, let’s begin with testing how your talent is like.”

Fang Yuan reached into his sleeve and retrieved a smooth, rounded mana stone.

“To measure your talent,” Fang Yuan explained, “just push your qi into this stone. Don’t force it. Let it flow naturally.”

Mu Qing took a quiet, careful breath.

Fang Lian stepped beside him, folding her arms.

“Relax your shoulders,” she advised softly.

“Don’t clench your jaw. Qi flows best when your body is at ease.”

Mu Qing corrected himself immediately.

“Good,” she added, nodding with approval.

Fang Yuan couldn’t help the faint smile tugging on his lips as he watched Fang Lian take on the role of the senior seriously.

Mu Qing placed both hands around the stone, eyes closing as he guided his qi forward.

Fang Yuan stared at the mana stone as he waited for what the colour could be.

FWOOSH!

The mana stone suddenly burst into brilliance of light.