Martial Arts: My talent multiplier increased

Fang Yuan did not leave the city on the eighth day.

He went to the Li family's house.

It was 3:45 AM. The main gate of the Li family's residence faced south, and a plaque made of ebony hung above the gate. The two characters "Li Mansion" were gilded, but several pieces of the gold paint had chipped off, revealing the blackened wood grain underneath.

Fang Yuan wore the iron badge of a patrol captain at his waist. He didn't bring Tie Meng with him. He was alone.

The two Li family guards at the gate saw the iron plaque, and their expressions underwent a subtle change—from "Who is it?" to "Oh, it's him?" to "Should I stop him?" These three layers of expression went through in two breaths. Ultimately, they didn't stop him.

Fang Yuan passed through the screen wall.

The Li family's courtyard was twice the size of the Fang family's first-class courtyard. However, weeds grew in the cracks between the stone slabs. Two-thirds of the roses in the flowerbeds had withered. The red paint on the pillars was peeling.

A sign of defeat.

This wasn't a recent defeat. It was the result of accumulated losses over a month, two months, or even half a year. Baicaotang's Qi and Blood Pills seized over 60% of the pharmaceutical market in Liangshui City. The Li family's pharmacy went from earning 800 taels a month to less than 200 taels.

The loss of silver was more fatal than the difference in martial arts cultivation.

Being one level lower in cultivation isn't shameful behind closed doors. But if you're short on silver, your servants' attitudes will change, your guards' loyalty will waver, and your allies will move around less.

Fang Yuan walked through the front yard.

The door to the main hall was open.

Li Jue sat in the main seat. A square table was placed in front of him. On the table was a cup of tea. The tea had gone cold—a ring of condensation had formed on the inside of the cup.

Fang Yuan's doubled spiritual perception spread out the moment he stepped into the main hall.

Li Jue's Qi and blood fluctuated.

Late stage of Bone Refining Realm. Same level as Fang Yuan. However, the quality of his Qi and blood is two levels lower—the flow of Qi and blood in his meridians is not even, and the fullness of several terminal branches is obviously insufficient. The quality of his cultivation technique is not as good as Fang Yuan's four times stronger foundation.

These are secondary.

The important thing is another signal in Li Jue's blood and qi fluctuations.

tension.

When a person is nervous, their blood circulation will unconsciously increase by 10% to 15%. The heart's stroke volume increases, peripheral blood vessels constrict, and the sweat glands in the palms and armpits become more active. In ordinary people, these changes can only be judged by observing their facial complexion.

With Fang Yuan's divine sense being twice as strong, the changes in Li Jue's blood and qi throughout his body were like an unfolded engineering blueprint. The flow rate, pressure, and temperature of every pipe were clearly visible.

Li Jue was nervous.

Moreover, it's the kind of tension you feel when you don't know why the other party is there. It's not the tension of encountering a formidable enemy.

Fang Yuan walked to the octagonal table. He didn't sit down.

"Young Master Li."

A smile appeared on Li Jue's lips. The curve of the smile was fairly well controlled. But when Fang Yuan's senses swept across his facial muscles, he caught the incoordination between the zygomaticus major and the risorius muscles—the risorius muscles were working, but the zygomaticus major wasn't keeping up.

fake.

"Commander Fang, your presence is truly an honor. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Li Jue's tone was polite. His word choice was proper. He even adjusted his posture—leaning forward slightly from the chair back by two inches, and placing his hands folded on the table.

The standard reaction of someone who was defeated by Fang Yuan in Volume Two when facing Fang Yuan is to be outwardly respectful, humble, and offer no excuses.

Fang Yuan didn't sit down. His gaze swept across Li Jue's face and then around the main hall.

The layout of the main hall was unchanged from the last time he came. But Fang Yuan's twice-high comprehension allowed him to glean insights from a few details.

Two paintings and calligraphies are missing from the wall. The copper hooks that held them are still there, but the hooks are empty. They've been sold.

Three pieces of porcelain are missing from the display shelf. The empty shelves have been wiped clean, but not thoroughly; a light gray line remains around the edge of each shelf. It's been pawned.

There used to be a bronze crane incense burner, about half a person's height, in the corner. Now, only a shallow, round indentation remains on the floor tiles.

The Li family's cash flow has become so tight that they have to sell their assets.

Fang Yuan absorbed this information deeply, his expression remaining completely unchanged.

"Young Master Li, things haven't been peaceful in the city lately."

Fang Yuan spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, with an official, businesslike manner.

"How's your Li family's pharmacy business in the west of the city?"

Li Jue's smile froze for a moment.

Fang Yuan's perception precisely recorded this "freezing"—the zygomaticus major muscle froze for half a breath, then was forcibly pulled back by willpower. The zygomaticus major muscle resumed its function. The smile returned.

But her smile after the recovery was thinner than before.

"Thank you for your concern, Captain Fang. Our small shop makes only a meager profit and barely manages to stay afloat."

Barely maintain.

Fang Yuan mentally translated the true meaning of those four words—"I can't hold on much longer."

He didn't linger on the topic. Revealing old wounds wasn't the goal. Revealing them until the other person starts to feel pain was enough.

Fang Yuan's fingers traced the iron plaque at his waist. The movement was casual. But Li Jue's gaze followed the plaque—unconsciously.

"I have inside information."

Fang Yuan lowered his voice by half a volume. It wasn't a deliberate lowering of his voice. It was a natural tone drop, the kind that came from the thought that "this matter shouldn't be known by too many people."

Li Jue leaned forward an inch.

"Those evil cultivators in the west of the city may launch a large-scale operation in three days."

Fang Yuan's gaze was fixed on Li Jue's eyes.

"I would like to remind Young Master Li to move his family and important assets to a safe place in advance."

Quiet.

The main hall remained silent for a full two breaths.

Fang Yuan's doubled divine sense recorded every change that occurred in Li Jue during those two breaths.

First breath.

His pupils constricted dramatically, shrinking from their normal diameter to two-thirds of their original size. This wasn't due to a change in light—Fang Yuan hadn't blocked any light source.

It was pure shock.

Blood circulation surged dramatically. It jumped another 20 percent from the previous baseline of tension. The heart rate soared from 68 beats per minute to 82 beats per minute.

The pulse amplitude of the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck visibly increased.

Knuckles. Li Jue's hands, clasped together on the table—the second knuckle of his right index finger twitched. Like being pricked by a needle.

Second breath.

control.

Li Jue forced his breathing back to a normal rhythm. His fingers stopped twitching. His pupils slowly dilated back to normal. But his sweat glands reacted slowly—a tiny bead of sweat was seeping from his forehead.

Fang Yuan mentally reviewed the data from those two breaths.

The conclusion is confirmed.

Li Jue knew about the Blood Demon Cult's plans.

This is not speculation. The first reaction of an uninformed person to hear that "the heretical cultivators are about to launch a large-scale operation" would be fear or suspicion. Li Jue's first reaction was shock—he was shocked by "how Fang Yuan knew."

The muscle patterns of these two responses are completely different.

The muscle pattern of fear—pupils dilate, rather than constrict. Blood and energy rush to the limbs, preparing for battle or flight.

Li Jue's pupils were contracted. Blood rushed to his cerebral cortex, not his limbs. His body was frantically calculating, not preparing to run.

The standard physiological response when an inside agent is suspected of being exposed.

Fang Yuan mentally stamped Li Jue's status as a traitor. (Red stamp.) It's settled.

"Where did Captain Fang get this information?"