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

"You don't sound very convinced," Fang Jingyi said lightly as she walked over, giving his shoulder a firm knock.

"Hey!" Fang Chen blurted, eyes widening. "I respect my nephew just as much as I respect our ancestors. Don't twist my words, Sister—you can't do me dirty like that."

Fang Jingyi arched a brow, lips curving with a teasing smile. "Hard to believe you now especially when you're the one who just said you don't trust the clan head's word."

"Hey! I'm sorry, alright?" Fang Chen raised both hands, looking genuinely flustered. "Please don't tell Nephew I said that. Of course Felicia is part of the family."

On the side, Fang Yueyao blinked in confusion as she watched the two elders bicker like children.

Fang Jingyi turned to her with a gentle smile. "Don't mind us. I'm just educating my good younger brother. Sometimes he can't hold his tongue."

Yueyao simply nodded, before she turned her attention back to her sleeping newborn.

Just then, the door creaked open, and an old man shuffled out, holding a steaming bowl of medicine.

His voice was sharp as he frowned. "Aiya! What are you all doing here making such a racket? You'll wake the child."

"Ah—Doctor Mu?" Fang Chen blurted, curiosity flashing across his face. "What brings you here?"

Fang Jingyi, however, dipped her head respectfully, offering the elder physician a polite bow.

Doctor Mu squinted at Fang Chen's outburst, his brows knitting together as he huffed.

"What brings me here? Hmph. What else would bring me here? To chase away noisy visitors like you. A woman's just gone through childbirth. She needs proper care, not noisy visitors disturbing her recovery."

He set the bowl carefully on the table beside Fang Ngala, the rich herbal scent filling the room.

His voice softened a fraction as he gestured toward her. "Drink this while it's still warm. It will strengthen your body and help restore the Qi you've lost."

Fang Ngala lowered her gaze gratefully.

"Many thanks, Doctor Mu." She reached for the bowl with both hands, sipping slowly.

Watching her, Fang Chen rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah, Doctor Mu, forgive us. We were just… overjoyed about the child's name, that's all."

Doctor Mu snorted. "Overjoyed, eh? A fine thing to be. But joy should be quiet around new mothers. If you've got too much energy, go and teach some blokes around the training field instead of bothering the mother."

Fang Jingyi's lips curved into a smile as she bowed once again. "We'll be more mindful, Doctor Mu."

Doctor Mu harrumphed, waving a sleeve.

"Mindfulness won't help me here. Out, both of you, out. I need absolute peace if I'm to work."

Fang Jingyi clasped Fang Ngala's hand warmly before stepping back.

"Rest well, Ngala. You've given the Fang family a great joy this day. May you and little Nitian grow strong together. And don't forget, we are always here."

Fang Chen, though still muttering under his breath, managed a smile. "Yes, yes… rest properly. The clan will definitely look after you both."

He gave the infant one last glance before following his sister toward the door.

The siblings paused at the threshold, bowed lightly, and departed, their voices fading down the corridor.

Doctor Mu let out a long breath, shaking his head with a trace of amusement.

"Don't mind them. They've been like that since they were children, bickering at each other over every little thing. It's their own way of showing care."

Fang Ngala smiled, her shoulders relaxing as she nodded.

Meanwhile in the eastern ravine.

One of the cultivation cave was glowing faintly in dim light, its walls pulsing with spiritual energy.

At the center of it was a small spirit well from which wisps of spiritual energy fly out, filling the chamber with a steady supply of it.

At a low stone table, two men sat facing one another.

The board between them gleamed under a lamp while ebony and ivory pieces locked in a battle.

Fang Joshua placed a black king piece at h7, snatching up the white queen with deliberate flair.

His eyes flicked up to meet Fang Yuan's calm gaze.

"Clan Head," he murmured, "why would you sacrifice the queen?"

Fang Yuan's lips curved faintly. "The game was becoming a bit too easy. I wanted to give you an advantage."

With a light tap, he shifted his white knight from e4 to f6, capturing a black bishop.

The move simultaneously revealed the white bishop at d3, slicing its gaze across the board.

"Double check," Fang Yuan said softly, his smile widening.

Joshua lifted his king, studying the board, before moving it carefully to h6.

His brow furrowed as he muttered, almost to himself, "This is… checkmate, isn't it?"

Fang Yuan leaned forward, nudging his second knight from e5 to g4. The piece landed with a low click as muttered with a smug tone.

"Checkmate."

Joshua nods, staring at the board in dissapointment.

Finally, he sighed and slumped back, shaking his head.

"Clan Head, tell me honestly, how many years have you studied this game?"

Fang Yuan chuckled. "Trade secrets. Besides, you're the one who insisted on a match."

"What does my inviting you to a game of warfare board have to do with how long you've studied it?" Fang Joshua asked, baffled.

Fang Yuan only smiled, saying nothing. In truth, this was his first time encountering chess in this world.

He had played xiangqi before, Xiao Pei was a hardcore fan although he was a bad player, he thought it was perhaps logical that this game was found and developed here, he just didn't expect to also see chess in this world.

Joshua stared at the board replaying the moves Fang Yuan did in his mind. Then he suddenly froze, realization dawning.

He looked up sharply.

"That queen sacrifice… it wasn't recklessness, was it? It was a tactic! You sneaky bastard!"

Fang Yuan's eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "Look who's grown bold."

Joshua blinked, then went pale.

He realized what he had just blurted out.

"Ah! N-no, Clan Head, no! I didn't mean it like that! A slip of the tongue—I swear!"

He dropped to his knees, kowtowing on the stone floor until it cracked faintly under his forehead. "Please, punish me!"

Fang Yuan raised a hand, laughing lightly, his earlier tension eased.

"Enough, Joshua. It's fine. I came here only to relieve some stress."