Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 341- Updated*

Fang Yuan returned to the inn just as the lanterns outside were being lit for the night.

The moment he pushed open the private room’s door, the thick scent of wine washed over him.

Zhao Lusi was exactly where he had left her.

Slouched lazily against the table, one leg draped over the chair, cheeks flushed a rosy red.

Empty jars surrounded her like fallen soldiers, while another fresh one was already in her hands.

She took a long gulp and sighed in bliss.

"Ahhh... This is life."

Fang Yuan walked in and sat down across from her.

"I got the seal, master." he said calmly. "We should return."

Zhao Lusi blinked, "...You what?"

She leaned forward, squinting at his face, then suddenly broke into a wide grin.

"Oh?" she drawled, lifting a brow. "Back so soon?"

She laughed softly, swirling the wine in her cup and looking at him with a knowing glint.

"So... did you have fun out there? How was Drifting Blossom Pavilion?"

Fang Yuan replied without missing a beat.

"I didn’t go there. I went to the Azure Crane Auction House instead."

Her brows knit together.

She stared at him for a long moment, eyes slowly clearing as her drunken mind tried to catch up.

Then she shook her head decisively.

"No," she said, wagging a finger. "Impossible."

She leaned back in her chair, confidence returning.

"There’s no way you got the seal from the auction house. The auction doesn’t even start until tomorrow."

Fang Yuan met her gaze calmly.

"I traded a Hollow Spirit Pill for it."

Zhao Lusi stared at him.

Then she laughed once with a short, disbelieving sound.

"You’re lying," she said flatly. "No one trades something like that so easily."

She paused, eyes drifting to the seal again.

The laughter faded into silence.

"...But whatever," she added, waving her hand lazily. "I won’t dwell on what method you used. You got the seal back, that’s what matters. We should return now."

Fang Yuan exhaled quietly in relief.

At the same time, another thought surfaced in his mind.

I hope Xiao Ninger notices the Hollow Spirit Pill I slipped into her pocket.

He did not like owing people.

Unless he was forced to, he preferred clean breaks.

Before he could dwell on it further, the world suddenly tilted.

His vision blurred, space folded in on itself, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.

The inn vanished and in the next instant, Fang Yuan found himself standing within the Flying Crane Sect, cold mountain air brushing against his face.

Zhao Lusi stood beside him, wine jars still safely tucked away as if space itself had politely made room for them.

She stretched, utterly relaxed.

"Don’t worry so much, kid," she said with a lazy smile. "I’ll get you a Soul Severing Pill."

Fang Yuan nearly stumbled.

"...A what?"

He turned to her sharply. "Master, did I hear that right?"

Zhao Lusi tilted her head, lips curling.

"Who knows?"

Then she lifted her arm and pointed.

Fang Yuan followed her finger to a mountain in the distance.

Dry, barren, brown stone exposed to the sky. Mo trees, no shrubs, no nothing! Not even a single blade of grass!

It looked dead.

"That’s where we’ll be living," Zhao Lusi said cheerfully. "For the next few thousand years."

Fang Yuan stared hard and then slowly, he turned back to her.

"...What happened to all the trees?"

It was a perfectly valid question.

Especially when every mountain around it was lush and green, layered with forests and rivers.

Zhao Lusi smiled.

Fang Yuan stared back at the barren mountain, then turned back.

"...Master," he asked carefully, "did you perhaps sell all the trees... for wine?"

Zhao Lusi froze and her expression darkened instantly.

She jabbed a finger at him, clearly offended.

"Hey. Just because you see me as a drunkard does not mean everything I own gets sold for wine."

Fang Yuan nodded obediently.

"Oh. Okay."

There was a brief pause then Zhao Lusi added casually, as if remembering an afterthought,

"But you’re right. I sold it for a single sip of a million-Year old Peach Blossom Brew. The only one in existence!"

She met his gaze with a completely deadpan expression, then declared, "It was absolutely worth it."

Fang Yuan stared at her as he had no words to reply.

A sudden whistle cut through the air.

A sword streaked down from the sky, qi flaring brightly as it descended.

A moment later, Hao Lo landed atop it, robes fluttering, posture far more spirited than before.

He looked... energetic now, almost lively, even.

Fang Yuan frowned slightly.

Did I not complete the quest?

I am certain I did.

The system even confirmed success.

Then why did Hao Lo look as though he had just stumbled upon gold under a rainbow?

Fang Yuan pondered quietly, eyes narrowing as he tried to trace the source of this sudden change.

Oblivious to the storm of thoughts across Fang Yuan’s face, Hao Lo cupped his fists toward Zhao Lusi.

"Elder Zhao," he said, tone casual, bordering on careless, "the Sect Leader requests your presence. She says it concerns the Three Years Promise and the kid from the Soaring Dragon Sect."

Zhao Lusi clicked her tongue, annoyance flashing across her face.

"Why me again?"

Hao Lo shrugged. "Don’t ask me. I’m just the messenger."

The disrespect in his tone was unmistakable.

Fang Yuan felt it instantly.

He turned his head slightly and met Zhao Lusi’s gaze. She had clearly noticed it too, yet her expression remained calm.

"It’s common around here," she said lightly. "Get used to it."

Fang Yuan shook his head slowly.

"He may disrespect me," he said quietly, voice even, "but he should not disrespect my master."

The words had barely left his mouth when

Hao Lo suddenly lost balance.

His sword lurched violently, and he was thrown off midair, slamming hard into the ground.

Dust exploded outward as he rolled several times before stopping. His sword clattered down beside him, its blade embedding into the earth a hair’s breadth from his ear.

Hao Lo froze, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Fang Yuan calmly withdrew his spiritual qi, as if nothing had happened.

He stepped forward and turned to Zhao Lusi.

"Master," he asked politely, "would you lead the way?"

Zhao Lusi stared at Hao Lo for a second longer... then laughed.

"Heh. Interesting."

She mounted her sword in one smooth motion and looked back at Fang Yuan, eyes glinting.

"We can’t drown rumors," she said casually. "But you know what we can do?"

Fang Yuan frowned slightly, confused.

She smiled wider.

"We can use them."

Before he could ask what she meant, Zhao Lusi shot into the sky, sword trailing light as she flew off without another word.

Fang Yuan had no choice but to follow.

He stepped onto the air, qi surging beneath his feet, and gave chase, leaving behind a pale-faced Hao Lo sprawled on the ground.