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

"Yes, well… it's a beast. But it was enormous, so enormous it was like the size of a mountain, well it was a mountain."

Lin Zhaoyue's lips curved into a smile as she refilled his cup with a steady hand.

"We've got time. Let's take it slow. I want to hear everything."

Fang Yuan accepted the wine, took a measured sip, and began, "I got bored waiting around, so I asked the Saberfang to walk. It actually listened. The whole pack of four carried me northward, and when we arrived… that's when I met it. The beast sensed me and believe it or not, we had a good conversation."

Her eyes widened, sparkling with disbelief and delight. "You chatted with a creature as big as a mountain? Incredible!"

Fang Yuan blinked, taken aback. "Wait—you actually believe that?"

"Why? Were you lying?" she shot back, half-teasing, half-serious.

He shook his head quickly.

Truth be told, if anyone else had told him such a thing, he wouldn't have believed it himself.

Clearing his throat, he continued, "Anyway… long story short, the moment I saw it I was terrified. So when it asked what I was doing there, I panicked and blurted out that I was just… dropping off the Saberfangs."

Lin Zhaoyue burst into laughter, the sound bright and unrestrained.

Heads turned at the table, family members pausing mid-conversation to stare.

Fang Ruì paused mid-bite, Fang Yin tilted her head, and even Fang Joshua arched a brow as though about to inquire.

Before they could speak, Lin Zhaoyue smoothly lifted her wine cup, raising it high.

"Oh, forgive me," she said with an elegant smile, her tone light and breezy.

"I was just remembering something foolish my husband once did. Come, why the long faces? Tonight is for celebration, drink!"

She waved her free hand in a playful flourish, as if dismissing her own amusement.

The moment broke like mist in sunlight, the family's attention flowing back to their own cups and conversations.

Only Fang Yuan caught the mischievous glint in her eye as she leaned closer, clearly savoring her private victory.

"And you got terrified?" Lin Zhaoyue giggled, then leaned in boldly and seized Fang Yuan's cheeks between her hands, squishing them with an impish delight.

Fang Yuan made no move to evade. He simply let her have her way.

Her smile lingered, soft yet insistent. "Go on."

With a resigned sigh, Fang Yuan went on, "The tortoise and I spoke briefly. It even told me its rank was that of a Beast Emperor or in human terms… the Hollow Spirit Realm."

"Hollow Spirit Realm?" she breathed, her voice dropping to a whisper. Surprise lit her eyes, mingled with a fragile relief, as if his presence beside her now felt more precious than ever.

"Yes, and then that tortoise ended up taking the Saberfangs with it. So here I am. Without your beasts, I'm not sure I'd stand a chance against that creature. I'm… sorry for your loss."

"My loss?" she echoed, almost scoffing.

She tipped back her cup and drained it in a single, fluid motion before setting it down with a sharp clink.

Then her gaze softened, but only on the surface. Beneath the warmth glimmered something possessive, something perilous.

Her voice dropped to a lilting, honey-sweet tone that carried an unmistakable edge.

"If you had thrown yourself in front of that tortoise to protect my Saberfangs… and lost your life while they survived…" She leaned closer, her smile tightening, eyes gleaming with dangerous affection.

"Then I would have slaughtered every last member of the Fang family, killed the Saberfangs that survived, and gone out myself to tear that tortoise apart. Do you understand? Nothing—" her hand pressed lightly over his chest "—nothing is more precious to me than you."

Fang Yuan took a slow sip of tea, his eyes steady on her. "Why the Fang Family?"

Lin Zhaoyue's smile didn't falter, though her words were edged with an unsettling sweetness.

"Well, if you couldn't stand against that tortoise and died, I wouldn't survive either if I tried. So, before meeting the beast that took you from me, I'd unleash all my rage and grief on the Fang Family. Then, when it finally killed me too, I'd pray we'd meet in the afterlife—since we'd both be victims of the same beast."

She said it with a smile so warm it made her words all the more chilling.

Fang Yuan exhaled and gave her a look halfway between amusement and exasperation.

"You're insane. But don't you dare take your anger out on the Fang Family, I'll be angry with you."

Laughing softly, Lin Zhaoyue leaned forward and filled both their cups with wine.

Her tone was light, teasing, but her eyes glinted with dangerous affection. "Then the Lin Family it is."

Fang Yuan met her gaze, then only shook his head with a weary helplessness before downing his cup in silence.

Suddenly, Lin Zhaoyue pointed toward a corner of the hall.

Fang Yuan followed her gaze and found his younger brother seated with two young women.

Both clung to one of Fang Tian's arms, their eyes locked in a silent duel, sparks practically flying as neither yielded an inch.

Leaning close, Lin Zhaoyue whispered, "Husband, the other girl… that's Princess Qin Yuyan."

Fang Yuan gave a small nod. "Mm. Fang Tian already told me he kidnapped the third princess, so I'm not surprised she's here. Although…" His lips quirked faintly.

"She looks more like she's on vacation than a hostage."

Lin Zhaoyue's eyes narrowed as she studied the scene, her tone dipping into something disturbingly matter-of-fact. "I truly don't understand how they can be content sharing a man. If it were me…"

She swirled the wine in her cup, her smile sharp. "…I'd have killed my rivals long ago."

Just then, the princess turned her head and her gaze landed squarely on Fang Yuan and Lin Zhaoyue.

For a moment she blinked in surprise, then lifted her hand with an innocent little wave, as though greeting an old friend across the hall.

Lin Zhaoyue downed another cup of wine in a single gulp. Her cheeks flushed as she abruptly pushed to her feet.

Fang Yuan's hand shot out, pulling her back down into her seat. "What are you doing? Sit."

She looked at him, eyes hazy, her voice trembling with a sadness that cut deeper than anger. "Husband… she's flirting with you."

Her hand moved to her hair, drawing out the jade hairpin that gleamed faintly under the moonlight, her favorite weapon.

She smiled, though the curve of her lips carried a twisted edge of excitement. "Husband… I've never killed royalty before. I want to check if they bleed gold."

Fang Yuan's expression darkened.

With a swift, practiced motion, he struck the side of her neck, catching her before she slumped forward, unconscious.

He sighed, settling her gently against the cushions before lifting her abandoned cup.

A thread of Hollow Spirit Qi slipped from his fingers, probing through the vessel.

His brows knit tighter with every passing breath.

The cup was poisoned.

At once, his qi surged outward, sweeping silently across the entire hall.

One by one, the truth revealed itself.

Every single utensils in the whole place had been poisoned.