Chapter 37 – Both a compromise and a threat

第三十七节：既是妥协又是威胁

Meanwhile, at the Mo family.

而此时，在漠家。

“What were my instructions to you? See what you did!” In the study room, Gu Yue Mo Chen slammed the table, exploding with a rage.

“我叮嘱过你什么？看看你做的好事！”书房中，古月漠尘拍着桌面，在大发雷霆。

Mo Yan stood opposite this old man, her head lowered. Her eyes were full of shock and rage. She had also just gotten the news that Gao Wan had been killed by Fang Yuan!

漠颜就站在这个老人的对面，低着脑袋，眼眸中流露出既吃惊又愤怒的感情。她也是刚刚知道这个消息，高碗居然被方源杀了！

That 15 year old teenager, to think he had such methods and determination. Gao Wan was the proud servant of her Mo family and Fang Yuan’s act of killing him was a blatant showing of disrespect towards them!

那个十五岁的少年，居然有这样的手段和心志。高碗可是我堂堂漠家的家奴，方源杀了他，简直是不把漠家看在眼中！

“Grandpa, you don’t have to be so angry. This Gao Wan was only a servant, his death is of no concern. He isn’t a Gu Yue clan member anyways. But that Fang Yuan, he is too daring, you have to ‘look at the owner before you beat the dog’. Not only did he beat our dog but he even beat it to death!” Mo Yan said indignantly.

“爷爷，您不用发火。这高碗不过是个家奴，死了也就算了，反正他又不姓古月。倒是那个方源，胆子太大了，打狗也得看主人。他不仅打了我们漠家的狗，还一下子把狗打死了！”漠颜愤愤不平地道。

Gu Yue Mo Chen furiously scowled, “You still have the cheeks to say that! Have your wings grown so tough now that you don’t even put my words to heart, hmm? What I told you before, you have forgotten all about it!”

古月漠尘怒喝起来：“你还好意思说！你是翅膀硬了，不把我说的话放在心上了，是不是？我告诫过你什么，你都忘了一干二净了！”

“Your granddaughter dares not!” Mo Yan jumped in shock. She knew now that her grandfather was really angry and quickly kneeled down.

“孙女不敢。”漠颜悚然一惊，这才知道爷爷是真的发怒，连忙跪了下来。

Gu Yue Mo Chen pointed his finger out the window and scolded, “Hmph, so what if that servant died. But now you are still showing hostility towards Fang Yuan, this is really a matter of you being short sighted and unclear of the implications! Do you know the significance of your actions? The fight among juniors is their own business. As elders, we should not interfere. These are the rules! Now that you went to find trouble with Fang Yuan, it means you are breaking the rules. I can’t tell how many people are out there now, looking at this disgrace of our Mo family!”

古月漠尘手指着窗外，训斥道：“哼，那个什么家奴死了也就算了，但你现在还盯着方源不放，真是鼠目寸光，不知轻重！你知道你此举的意义吗？小辈争斗，是他们的事情。我们做长辈的，不要去插手。这是规矩！现在你找方源的麻烦，就是坏了规矩。如今不知道有多少人在外面，冷眼看我们漠家的笑话呢！”

“Grandpa, please calm down, anger will harm your body. It’s Mo Yan fault, I burdened the Mo family. Whatever Grandpa tells Mo Yan to do, Mo Yan will do it! But your granddaughter really cannot take this lying down, that Fang Yuan is too despicable, too shameless. First, he lied to me and entered the academy. Next, he hid in the dormitory and no matter how much I scolded him, he would not come out. Once I left, he went ahead and killed Gao Wan. He is extremely sinister and despicable!” Mo Yan reported.

“爷爷请息怒，怒气伤身。是漠颜不好，拖累了漠家。爷爷让漠颜怎么做，漠颜就怎么做！只是孙女实在咽不下这口气，那个方源实在太可恶了，太无耻了。他先是诓骗我，进入学堂。后来又躲在宿舍里，任凭我万般叫骂，都不出来。我一走，他就杀了高碗。实在是阴险无耻至极！”漠颜禀告道。

“Oh, is that so?” Gu Yue Mo Chen frowned. This was the first time he had heard this information and a bright light shone across his eyes.

“哦，是这样？”古月漠尘眉头皱了一下，他还是首次听到这个信息，眼中不禁闪过一抹精光。

He took in a deep breath, suppressing his rage and he stroked his beard while saying, “I’ve heard stories about this Fang Yuan. In his early years, he was able to make poems and songs, showing early intelligence. But to think that he only had C grade talent. It was difficult for him to have a good future and thus I gave up on recruiting him. But now it seems that it’s slightly interesting.”

他深呼吸一口气，压下心中的怒火，抚须沉吟起来：“这个方源我也听说过一些，早些年做过诗歌，有早智。不想资质却是丙等，难堪大用，因此放弃了对他的招揽。现在看来，倒是有些意思。”

Pausing for a second, Gu Yue Mo Chen knocked on the table and ordered, “Someone, bring that box over here.”

顿了一顿，古月漠尘用手指敲敲桌面：“来人，把那个盒子拿过来。”

The servant outside the door quickly obeyed.Soon, he brought in a box. The box was neither too big nor too small but it was slightly heavy. The servant used both hands to carry it and stood beside the study table.

门外自有人伺候着。很快就捧进来一个箱子。盒子不大不小，但有些沉，下人用两只手捧着，站在了书桌旁。

“Grandpa, what is this?” Mo Yan stared at the wooden box and asked doubtfully.

“爷爷，这是什么？”漠颜看到这木盒，疑惑地问道。

“Why don’t you open it and take a look?” Gu Yue Mo Chen squinted his eyes and said in a complicated tone.

“你何不打开看看？”古月漠尘眯着双眼，语气有些复杂。

Mo Yan stood up, flipped over the wooden lid and looked inside.

漠颜站起来，掀开木盖，往里面一看。

Immediately, her facial expression changed and her pupils shrunk to a needle-like size. She could not help but take a step back and let loose an unsuppressed scream. The wooden lid in her hand also fell to the ground.

顿时，她面色骤变，瞳孔猛地缩成针尖大小，忍不住倒退一大步，口中发出一声难以抑制的惊呼。手中的木盖也失手掉在了地上。

Without the wooden lid, the thing kept within the wooden box was shown to everyone present.

没有了木盖，木盒子里装的东西便呈现在众人面前。

It was actually a pile of flesh and blood!

竟是一堆血肉！

The bloody flesh was obviously sliced off piece by piece and placed into the box. Bright scarlet blood had accumulated inside. There was some pale skin and flesh, while some were long strands of intestines, mixed in with a few pieces of bones, either leg bones or the ribs. In the pool of blood at a corner, there were also two fingers and half a toe floating in it.

这些血肉，显然是被人削成一片片，一块块，装在了盒子里。猩红的血液积蓄在里面，有的是惨白的皮肉，有的是长条的肚肠，其中还夹杂着一两块骨头，不是腿骨或者就是肋骨。周边角落的血泊中，还浮着两根手指头，半根脚趾。

Blech…

呕……

Mo Yan beautiful face changed color as she took another step backwards, her stomach turning as she almost vomited on the spot.

漠颜花容失色，再倒退一大步，肚腹一阵沸腾，差点当场就吐出来。

She was Rank two Gu Master and had gone out to gain experience before. Despite that, this was the first time that she had seen such a disgusting and twisted scene even though she had killed people before.

她虽然是二转蛊师，历练过一番，也杀过人，但还是首次看到如此恶心变态的一幕。

The flesh and blood in this box were obviously the corpse of a person after being minced into pieces and stuffed in.

这盒子里的血肉，显然是人的尸体被切碎，然后塞进去的。

The scent of blood burst into the air and rapidly permeated the air immediately, filling the entire study room.

一股冲天的血腥气息，顿时弥漫开来，充斥整个书房。

Both of the family servant’s hands shook as he carried the box, his complexion pale. Although he had seen the box earlier and vomited before, he could still feel waves of palpitation and disgust as he held it now.

端着盒子的家奴，双手都在抖，脸色一片惨白。虽然先前已经看过这个盒子，也吐过了，但是现在端着它，仍旧感到一阵阵的惊悸和恶心。

Among the three people in the study room, only the family elder Gu Yue Mo Chen was unfazed. He lightly looked at the contents of the box for a moment and said to Mo Yan slowly: “This box was what Fang Yuan had placed at our family’s back door this morning.”

书房中三人，唯有家老古月漠尘面色不变，他淡淡地扫了一眼这盒子的血肉，对漠颜缓缓地道：“这个盒子，就是方源今早摆放在我家的后门处。”

“What, it’s really him?!” Mo Yan was extremely shocked as images of Fang Yuan showed up in her mind.

“什么，真的是他？！”漠颜大为震惊，脑海中忍不住浮现出方源的形象。

The first time she saw Fang Yuan, it was at the inn.

她第一次看到方源，是在客栈。

At that time, Fang Yuan sat near the window, quietly eating his meal. His facial features were bland and both of his eyes were dark and gloomy. His body was thin and his skin had the special paleness of a teenager.

那时候，方源坐在窗边，静静地吃着饭菜。他面容普通，双目黑沉，身型消瘦，肤色带着一种少年特有的苍白。

He looked like such a normal and quiet youth. To think that he had done such a twisted and insane act!

明明是一个如此普通安静的少年，竟然做出如此变态疯狂的举动！

After her initial shock came a furious rage. Mo Yan yelled, “This Fang Yuan is too outrageous, who gave him the guts to do so! To dare to do such a thing, this is a provocation towards our Mo family! I will go ahead now and bring him here to question him for his crimes!” After she said this, she headed towards the exit.

惊恐之后就是狂怒，漠颜大叫道：“这个方源太猖狂了，吃了雄心豹子胆了！居然敢如此做，这是对我们漠家的挑衅啊！我这就过去，把他押过来问罪！！”说着就要往外走。

“You scoundrel, stop right there!” Gu Yue Mo Chen was angrier than she was as he grabbed an ink slab on his study desk and threw it over.

“混账东西，你给我站住！”古月漠尘比她更怒，随手抓住书桌上的一块砚台，就甩手扔了出去。

The hard and heavy ink slab hit Mo Yan’s shoulder and with a ‘bang‘ it fell to the ground.

坚硬沉重的砚台打在漠颜的肩膀上，又砰的一声，掉在地上。

“Grandpa!” Mo Yan held her shoulder as she called out in alarm.

“爷爷！”漠颜捂住肩膀，惊呼一声。

Gu Yue Mo Chen stood up, his finger pointing at his granddaughter as he spoke with an extremely agitated tone, “It seems like all these years of training were in vain. You have disappointed me greatly! Against a small Rank one initial stage Gu Master, not to mention you involving so many people, but even getting led by the nose by the other party. Now that you’ve let your rage get the better of you, at this point, do you still not understand the meaning behind Fang Yuan’s actions?”

古月漠尘站起来，手指着自家孙女，语气很激动：“看来这些年你是白白历练了，你真是令我失望！对付一个小小的一转初阶的蛊师，你劳师动众不说，还一直被对方牵着鼻子走。现在又被愤怒冲昏了头脑，到现在你还明白方源此举的含义吗？”

“What meaning?” Mo Yan was puzzled.

“什么含义？”漠颜大惑不解。

Gu Yue Mo Chen snorted, “If Fang Yuan wanted to provoke us, he would have blown up this matter, so why did he place this box at the secluded back door instead of placing it at the front door where there are many people walking around?”

古月漠尘哼了一声：“方源若是一心想要挑衅，把此事闹大，何不将这箱子放在人来人往的正门，反而放在了人迹罕至的后门？”

“Maybe he wants to reconcile with us? No, if he wanted to reconcile, wouldn’t it be better to apologise face to face? Why must he send us this box of minced corpse, this is definitely a provocation!” Mo Yan said.

“难道他是想要和解？不对，既然和解，当面赔罪不是更好，为什么要送这个箱子的碎尸。这根本就是挑衅！”漠颜道。

Gu Yue Mo Chen shook his head, then nodded. “He wants to reconcile, but at the same time, he is also provoking us. Placing the wooden box at the back door is his intention to reconcile. Placing the corpse inside the box, that is a provocation.”

古月漠尘摇摇头，又点点头：“他是想和解，又的确在挑衅。他将木盒放在后门，是想和解。在木盒中装了碎尸，是在挑衅。”

“You see,” The old man pointed at the box, and spoke, “This wooden box is not big, and it cannot hold a complete corpse. Therefore there can only be a portion of the corpse inside. He is trying to tell us that he does not wish to blow up this matter and wants to settle this amicably. But if our Mo Family wants to pursue this matter, he will place the remainder of the corpse at our main entrance, thoroughly blowing up the issue. By that time, it would be a losing situation for both sides. The entire clan knows that our Mo family broke the rules first, and to our Mo Family’s future head, this would be seen as him being so weak since he actually required his elder’s doting and protection.”

“你看。”老人指着盒子，“这个木盒并不大，装不了一具完整的尸体。所以里面只是一部分碎尸。他是想告诉我们，他不愿意闹大此事，想要息事宁人。但是若我们漠家还要抓住这事不放，他就会将剩下的碎尸抛洒在正门，彻底闹大此事。到那时，就是两败俱伤。全族都会知道，我们漠家先破坏了规矩，我们漠家未来的掌权人，居然孱弱到需要长辈如此的溺爱和维护。”

Upon hearing these words, Mo Yan was momentarily dumbfounded. She had never expected that Fang Yuan’s actions would have such profound meaning.

漠颜听了这番话，一时间都有些目瞪口呆。她从未料到，方源此举竟然有如此深意。

“His method is really wise,” Gu Yue Mo Chen said with admiration, “With just one action, he exercised both toughness and softness, capable of advancing and retreating safely. This is just a simple wooden box but it not only expresses Fang Yuan’s intention to compromise but also his ability to pose a threat to our Mo family. And it so happens that he does hold onto the weakness of our Mo family. If the Mo family’s reputation is tarnished, what follows after will be the Chi family’s attack as well as the assault from the clan leader’s side.”

“这手段真是高明啊。”古月漠尘感慨道，“只是一个举动，就刚柔并济，进退有据。这个简简单单的木盒子，既表示了方源的妥协之意，又是他针对我们漠家的威胁。偏偏我们漠家，还真的被他捏住了软肋。漠家的名誉若是因此受损，紧接而来的，就是赤家的发难，族长一脉的打击。”

Mo Yan found it unbelievable. “Grandpa, aren’t you thinking too highly of him? Are you sure that he’s capable of this? He is only 15 years old.”

漠颜不信邪地道：“爷爷，你是否太高看他了？就凭他，他不过才十五岁而已。”

“Too highly?” Mo Chen looked at his granddaughter unhappily. “Looks like you’ve had too smooth a life in these past few years. Fostering your arrogant attitude, you are unable to clearly see the reality. This Fang Yuan was unfazed towards danger and deceived you to enter the school. Next, he used his wisdom in the face of danger and hid within the dormitory to avoid trouble. No matter what insult you threw at him he did not respond, this is his ability to calmly endure. After you left, he killed Gao Wan immediately, this is his bravery and courage. Now he sent this box, clearly showing his wisdom and planning ability. Can you still say that I thought of him too highly?”

“高看？”漠尘不悦地看了孙女一眼，“看来你这些年顺风顺水惯了，养成了自大的毛病，有些看不清现实。这方源先是临危不乱，诓骗你进入学堂。而后急中生智，在宿舍避祸。接着任你辱骂却不逞强，这是隐忍冷静。你走后他立刻杀了高碗，是坚毅勇敢。现在又送来这箱子，分明是智计谋算。你说我是不是高看他？”

Mo Yan listened with wide eyes as she had not expected her grandfather to praise Fang Yuan so highly. Immediately she said indignantly, “Grandpa, he only has a C grade talent.”

漠颜听得目瞪口呆，她实在没有料到爷爷居然如此欣赏方源，当即不服气地道：“爷爷，他不过只是个丙等罢了。”

Gu Yue Mo Chen sighed deeply, “Yes, he is only a C grade. Having such wisdom and yet only C grade talent, it really is a pity. As long as his talent was higher, even if it was just a B grade, he would certainly become an influential member of our Gu Yue clan. What a pity, he is only a C grade.”

古月漠尘抚须长叹：“是啊，他只是个丙等。拥有如此心智，却只是丙等资质，实在是可惜。只要资质再高一层，是个乙等，他必将是我古月一族未来的风云弄潮儿。可惜是丙等啊。”

The old man’s sigh was full of emotion. His sigh held both regret and at the same time rejoice.

老人的叹息中，充满了感慨。似在遗憾，又似在庆幸。

Mo Yan was silent and in her mind, Fang Yuan’s image appeared once again. Under her psychological influence, Fang Yuan’s frail expression was shrouded by a layer of mysterious and vicious shadow.

漠颜沉默不语，她的脑海中不禁再次浮现出方源的形象。在她的心理作用下，方源那原先文弱的面孔，此时却笼罩了一层诡秘凶险的阴影。

“This problem was created by you single-handedly. How are you going to settle it?” Gu Yue Mo Chen broke the silence as he started to test Mo Yan.

“这件事情，是你一手造成的。你觉得怎么处理？”古月漠尘忽然打破沉默，开始考较漠颜。

Mo Yan pondered for a while before she replied in a cold and aloof tone, “Gao Wan was just a servant, so there are no implications even if he dies. Fang Yuan is just a C grade, so he is also a small matter. What’s important is maintaining my Mo family’s reputation. To appease this matter, we might as well kill Gao Wan’s entire family to show the entire clan our attitude to protect the rules and regulations.”

漠颜沉思了一会儿，方才带着冷漠的语气道：“高碗一个奴才，死了就算了。方源不过是个丙等，也只是小事。关键是要维护我漠家的名誉。为了平息此事，不妨将高碗全家老小都杀了，向全族表明我们维护规矩的态度。”

“Mmm, you’re able to think of the big picture. Setting aside your personal emotions to defend the interests of family, this is very good. However, your method is still flawed.” Gu Yue Mo Chen analyzed her response.

“嗯，你能以大局出发，暂时抛开个人感情，维护家族的利益，这点很好。不过这个处理手段还是欠妥。”古月漠尘抚须点评道。

“Please enlighten me, Grandpa,” Mo Yan implored.

“还请爷爷训下。”漠颜行礼。

Gu Yue Mo Chen said solemnly, “This matter was instigated by you, so I shall punish you with seven days of confinement. From now on, do not find trouble with Fang Yuan again. Gao Wan defied his superiors – a servant who dares to offend his master deserves death, so he should have been executed for his crimes! Because he is a servant of the Mo family, we are responsible for our inability to educate our subordinate and thus we shall compensate that Fang Yuan with thirty primeval stones. As for Gao Wan’s family members, give them fifty primeval stones as compensation and expel them from the clan.”

古月漠尘沉吟道：“此事由你而起，爷爷就罚你禁闭七天，从此以后不要再找方源的麻烦。高碗以下犯上，一介奴仆冒犯主子，该死，其罪当诛！因为他是漠家的家奴，漠家也有管教不严的责任，就赔偿那方源三十块元石吧。至于高碗的家人，给予他们五十块元石的补贴，再把他们都逐出府去。”

After a short pause, he continued, “For the next seven days, rest well at home, do not go out. At the same time, think about the profound meaning of why Grandpa chose to handle the matter this way.”

顿了一顿，他又道：“七天之内，你好好在家休息，不要出去了。同时也好好想想，爷爷如此处置的深意。”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“是，爷爷。”

这次章节过于有冲击性，评论区反响很大，有表示牛逼的，有讨论为什么评论区都是边缘领主的，有打拳的，还有做阅读理解的，窗帘为什么是蓝的的，甚至有个说杀，和我想的一样。被人说你好像有那个大病

《蛊真人》中英文对照版 第三十七节：既是妥协又是威胁

《蛊真人》中英文对照版第三十七节：既是妥协又是威胁