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

Nightfall descended upon the Tharz Kingdom.

The moon's pale rays stretched across the eastern lands, settling over one of its cities.

Bathed in silver light, Coldwind stood beneath the heavens, solemn and still.

The city itself lay in ruins.

The aftermath of the Saberfang's attack was a tapestry of destruction, shattered walls, streets scarred by deep gouges, and the silent, dark shapes of buildings reduced to rubble.

A pall of dust and despair hung in the air, broken only by the moan of the wind through broken structures.

Coldwind city was now like a wounded beast, bleeding silver under the moon's gaze.

Yet, in one corner, the Fang estate blazed with defiant life.

The banquet was a riot of light and sound, a stark island of warmth in the sea of desolation.

Lanterns glowed like captured suns, casting dancing shadows that laughed at the stillness outside.

The aroma of roasting meats and spiced wines was a tangible force, pushing back against the scent of dust and decay.

Music, lively and fast, spilled over the walls, a deliberate act of audacity.

And at the heart of it all was Fang Yuan.

He sat at the head of the long table, a cup of wine in hand, his face adorned with a calm, easy smile.

He accepted toast after toast from elders who congratulated him for his save return.

He laughed at the boisterous stories of disciples who were too young to fully grasp the precipice on which their clan now stood.

To see him, one would think he had merely returned from a long journey, not cheated death itself.

He played his part perfectly, the benevolent, unshakeable Clan Head, home to guide his people.

But his eyes, when they flickered away from the crowd, held no laughter.

They were the eyes of a man watching the moon's path across the sky, calculating the hours until dawn.

Lin Zhaoyue sat beside him, her presence a masterpiece of curated grace.

She poured his wine, her movements fluid and possessive, her smile a delicate weapon that kept all but the most foolish at a respectful distance.

Her fingers would occasionally brush his arm, a silent claim amidst the chaos.

She was the picture of a devoted Matriarch, celebrating her husband's return.

Only the slight, hungry sharpness in her gaze as she watched him betrayed the tempest beneath.

"They adore you," she murmured, leaning close so her words were for him alone.

Her breath was warm against his ear, a stark contrast to the cold moonlight. "They see your strength and think it makes them invincible, untouchable even. It is quite… charming."

Fang Yuan's lips curved faintly as he answered, "That only shows their trust in me, and in what I can do. And they're not wrong. As long as I draw breath, I won't allow any harm to befall them."

Lin Zhaoyue's smile remained, a perfect curve of painted lips, but her eyes had sharpened, losing their feigned warmth for a glint of possessive curiosity.

She leaned closer, the scent of her perfume, something like night-blooming jasmine and cold steel, cutting through the smell of roast meat and wine.

"Husband," she began, her voice a silken murmur meant only for him. "The celebration is wonderful… but it feels incomplete. My pets… where are my lovely Saberfangs? I've missed their… enthusiasm."

Fang Yuan's easy smile didn't falter, but the warmth in his eyes cooled by a degree.

He took a deliberate sip of his wine.

"Ah. The beasts. They are… safe. Do not trouble yourself with such matters tonight, my dear. Enjoy the feast." He reached out, patting her hand with a patronizing air he hoped would end the discussion.

It did not. Her hand turned under his, her fingers intertwining with his in a grip that was deceptively gentle but unyielding.

"'Safe' is not a location, husband. It is a state of being. I wish to know where." Her tone was still light, but the underlying steel was unmistakable.

Time for a different tactic.

Fang Yuan turned his full gaze on her, his voice dropping into a softer, more intimate register. "Wife."

The word usually worked like a charm. It was a key that unlocked a dizzying, possessive joy in her, often making her forget everything else.

This time, however, her only reaction was a slight, almost imperceptible flutter of her eyelashes.

The resolve in her gaze did not break. If anything, it intensified. She had asked a question of her beloved, and she would have her answer.

Her love for him was absolute, and that absoluteness demanded absolute transparency in return.

"You are trying to distract me," she stated, her head tilting. It wasn't an accusation; it was a simple, fond observation.

"That is very charming of you. But it will not work this time. I want to know about my beasts. Did they please you? Did they serve you well?"

Fang Yuan held her gaze for a long moment, seeing the unshakable determination there.

He could feel the eyes of the clan upon them, seeing only a loving couple sharing a quiet moment.

He let out a soft, defeated sigh, a sound only she could hear. He had lost this particular battle.

"Very well," he conceded, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "They are in the Northern Region. The dark forest depths, where the sunlight fears to touch the ground."

A spark of delight lit in her eyes.

She released his hand only to pick up the jade wine jug, pouring him a fresh cup with elegant, precise movements.

"And?" she prompted, her voice eager now, all traces of steel gone, replaced by the excitement of a child awaiting a bedtime story. "Tell me. What did you see inside?"

Fang Yuan accepted the cup, his gaze growing distant, contemplative, as the memory stirred within him.

"I encountered… a moving mountain there," he said at last.

"A moving mountain?" All of Lin Zhaoyue's attention snapped to him, her curiosity utterly captured.