Chapter Five: Arrival at White Cloud Isle

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The Enlightening Blood Spirit Ginseng was indeed a fine treasure, but unfortunately it was of no use to Fang Che.

He had already reached the pinnacle of his potential. Besides, this thing was only a mid-grade item, and Fang Che had never thought much of it.

But the fact that he did not care for it did not mean that others would feel the same.

An entire grade of aptitude!

The eyes of all the youths began to burn with fiery intensity.

Among so many martial students, how many possessed Grade A aptitude—or anything higher?

“Where is the spirit ginseng?” Kang Zijian asked.

Fang Che casually pointed. “Thirteen yards behind that demon beast, beneath those two large rocks. It is rather hard to spot, but if you bend down, you should be able to see the red. Smell carefully and you ought to catch the fragrance too, along with a faint fishy odor. Why are all of you so dull?”

Everyone immediately looked over, and sure enough, they discovered it.

At once, they exchanged glances and grew wary of one another.

When Kang Zijian and the others recalled Wei Zihao’s earlier offer of payment, their expressions instantly became ugly. They turned around and glared at him, demanding sharply, “Wei Zihao! What exactly do you mean by this?”

Wei Zihao had already cursed Fang Che’s entire ancestry in his heart. Putting on a bitter expression, he said, “Brother Kang, this… this… I had no idea either.”

“You had no idea?!”

Kang Zijian and the others let out cold, mocking laughter.

Fang Che put on an apologetic expression. “Ah… what an awkward situation. You gentlemen carry on. I’ll be off.”

With a flash, he vanished.

Now that he had created a rift between them, why would he stay any longer?

Kang Zijian saluted him as he departed. “Thank you for your noble warning, Brother Fang. Once we reach the Martial Academy, we will certainly repay you.”

Fang Che sneered inwardly. Kang Zijian was no good man either. His words of thanks sounded perfectly normal, but they concealed ill intent.

Kang Zijian and the others then turned back toward Wei Zihao. Their gazes were as sharp as killing swords.

“Wei Zihao, explain yourself. You wanted to use us so easily while taking all the benefits for yourself? Quite an excellent plan you had there.”

Another youth was so furious that his eyes had reddened. “Wei Zihao, you had the nerve to promise each of us two thousand taels of silver and one pill apiece. You even said you did not want the points, claiming that you only needed the beast’s gall for medicinal purposes. So that was it? That was it! Well done, Wei Zihao. Very well done!”

“You not only wanted to keep all the benefits for yourself, you also wanted to use this demon beast’s points to stir up another internal conflict among the rest of us!”

Kang Zijian struck straight at the heart of the matter, gritting his teeth. “Wei Zihao, you despicable wretch!”

The others immediately joined in the condemnation. It looked as though a fight was about to break out.

Wei Zihao spoke urgently. “I am willing to pay any price! I only want the spirit ginseng… Gentlemen, gentlemen…”

…

Listening to the uproar and argument behind him, Fang Che wore a satisfied smile.

He drifted away.

He waved his hand and left not even a cloud behind.

I really am a man of lofty integrity.

Wei Zihao actually dared to covet my elder brother Su’s inheritance. I merely caused him a little trouble. That is already extraordinary magnanimity on my part.

The only thing Fang Che found puzzling was this: in a place where even the trees and grass were malnourished, how had something like Blood Spirit Ginseng managed to grow?

Still, having caused Wei Zihao trouble left him in an excellent mood. And after seeing through Kang Zijian from a single remark, he felt even better.

Since you are no good yourself, I will have no psychological burden when I deal with you in the future.

If you want to use others as weapons, you should be prepared to be stabbed by them.

Although I do not care, and although Wei Zihao exposed himself on his own, you took advantage of the situation and added the word “warning” to your thanks. That reveals an improper state of mind.

Perhaps you did not mean anything by it, but I will still be on my guard against you from now on.

When he returned to the carriage, he was astonished to discover several low-level demon-beast corpses lying nearby. Ye Meng’s cultivation had also “suddenly” risen from the third level of Martial Disciple to the fourth.

“Young Master, you’re back?” Ye Meng was trembling from head to toe, her face full of fear. “Several demon beasts came just now. They nearly scared me to death. Fortunately, your instruction was so excellent that I actually broke through in the midst of danger. That was how…”

Fang Che cut her off. “You broke through? Not bad. Come on, we have to hurry. You drive from the front.”

“Ah?”

“What are you ah-ing about? We have already completed our mission. We are going straight to White Cloud Prefecture!”

Fang Che put on a fierce expression. “You must reach the fifth level of Martial Disciple before we arrive in White Cloud Prefecture. Otherwise, I will sell you to a brothel!”

“Ah?!”

Fang Che took out half a bottle of Qi-Gathering Pills and tossed it to her. “Cultivate whenever you have time! Hurry up and drive! We are leaving!”

Fang Che urged the horses onward at full speed, as though wolves were snapping at his heels. He raced recklessly, without the slightest regard for anything else, and quickly departed the trial grounds.

The jolting of the journey made Ye Meng roll her eyes repeatedly.

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Her pert bottom was repeatedly thrown into the air and dropped back down.

Strange noises kept coming from her.

At the carriage’s gentle swaying, Ye Meng cried, “Ugh!”

When the uneven road caused it to jolt continuously, she cried, “Ugh, ugh, ugh—mm, mm, mm…”

When they encountered a steep incline and the carriage leaped into the air before crashing back down, she cried, “Ah, ah, ah—ooh, ooh, ooh…”

Her body rose and fell without pause, producing a succession of thumping sounds. Her head repeatedly struck the roof, making a steady series of knocks.

Ahead, Fang Che’s whip cracked without pause.

By the time Fang Che finally slowed the speeding carriage, Ye Meng felt as though she had been jolted thin by a full two pounds.

…

Behind them.

Fan Tiantiao and Qian Sanjiang had long been puzzled by Fang Che’s behavior.

Why did that boy occasionally stop, looking around with such a troubled expression?

Now that Fang Che had left, both of them wanted to go over and investigate.

Was this shabby mountain forest really worth looking at so carefully?

It had to be said that curiosity could indeed kill the cat—and it existed at all times.

For example, in the case of Fan Tiantiao and Qian Sanjiang.

Qian Sanjiang descended first and searched all around a place where Fang Che had previously stopped. He found nothing at all.

Fan Tiantiao searched another place where Fang Che had once lingered. He likewise discovered nothing.

So the two moved on to another location.

And finally, they ran into each other.

“Who are you?” Fan Tiantiao demanded.

He immediately sensed that something was wrong. This man was not one of the Martial Academy instructors responsible for the students’ safety in the various sectors. And only Fan Tiantiao himself had been sent to guard the main hall. So who was this fellow?

Qian Sanjiang’s reaction was much more direct: everyone here except himself was an enemy.

He had been carefully avoiding everyone, never expecting to meet his opponent face-to-face. His heart gave a violent start.

With his pulse pounding, fear, surprise, and hostility all tangling together, he answered without thinking, “I’m your father!”

And then—

Bang!

The two viciously launched into battle.

Their clash was accompanied by all manner of universal greetings directed at each other’s ancestors, relatives, and every woman in their families.

For a time, the earth shook and the battle raged fiercely.

Fang Che traveled smoothly all the way to White Cloud Prefecture.

At that moment, not a single martial student from any of the other routes had even emerged from the Forest of Ten Thousand Spirits.

They were all still fighting bitterly within it, striving to earn points.

While on the road, Fang Che heard what seemed to be the sound of a violent battle far behind him.

The earth trembled.

But he paid it no mind.

A battle of that level was not something he could interfere in at present, so he simply pretended not to know.

Whoever was fighting whoever had nothing to do with him.

…

Qian Sanjiang and Fan Tiantiao were both pale.

After their battle, both had suffered serious injuries.

Apart from trading insults as they fought, they had kept their heads down and battled for two full hours without exchanging a single normal sentence.

Fan Tiantiao thought: If I speak, what if he realizes that we have seen through Fang Che’s identity? As long as I do not reveal anything, this idiot will naturally assume that I am from White Cloud Martial Academy.

Qian Sanjiang thought: If I speak, what if he discovers my false identity and realizes that Fang Che belongs to our One Heart Sect? Would that not be disastrous? As long as I keep silent, perhaps this idiot will assume that I am from the Night Demon Cult—or some other sect…

Both men were dressed in black and wore masks.

They traded insults while fighting fiercely.

After two hours, both realized the same thing: their opponent was about as strong as they were.

They understood that defeating the other was impossible.

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They each retreated.

Then they went their separate ways to treat their wounds.

They shared the same thought:

Damn, this fellow is no weakling.

Afterward, Fan Tiantiao sent a message to the guarding hall:

“Halfway here, I encountered a master from the One Heart Sect. He possesses Imperial-level cultivation and was likely sent to protect Fang Che. With such an expert escorting him, Fang Che’s importance should be raised by one level. Also, send another person. I am injured and need assistance.

“Also, this man’s mouth was full of vile obscenities. He is clearly a member of a demonic sect.”

Qian Sanjiang sent a message to headquarters:

“Halfway here, I fought an instructor from White Cloud Martial Academy. His cultivation is extremely high—Imperial level. There are quite a few such experts on this side. With masters of this caliber escorting him, Ye Meng’s safety is assured.

“Also, this man had a poisonous tongue and terrible breath. Truly detestable.”

…

White Cloud Prefecture.

Fang Che brought Ye Meng to stroll around the vicinity of White Cloud Martial Academy.

Then, not far from the academy, he directly purchased a large residence with a spacious courtyard.

The martial students had not arrived yet, so there was hardly any competition.

Naturally, he was spending the money of his good elder brother, Su Yue.

Fang Che’s formidable wealth finally revealed itself.

He then took Ye Meng shopping. He did not feel the slightest pain at all, spending money with abandon.

He bought piles upon piles of daily necessities and filled the residence with them.

He even gave the place a pleasant name:

The Worthy Scholars’ Residence.

One could say that he had displayed his own noble character rather well.

Anyone who lived there was certain to be a worthy scholar.

Another three leisurely days passed, and Ye Meng finally “broke through” to the fifth level of Martial Disciple.

“Continue cultivating! Hurry and reach Martial Warrior, or I will sell you to a brothel!”

Ye Meng finally could not bear it any longer and rolled her eyes. “A brothel, a brothel… Young Master, have you ever even been to one?”

Fang Che was speechless.

At last, Fang Che went to register at the academy.

And he was still the first to arrive.

…

Fang Qingyun had been waiting so long that the flowers had already withered, and his neck had grown long.

His family had said that his younger cousin would be coming this year, so why had there still been no word?

Although he knew perfectly well that the scheduled time had not yet arrived—and that not even a single student had reported for enrollment—he still went to stand watch at the academy gates every day for a while.

The main reason was this: if he failed to receive his cousin, that alone would be bad enough. His father would certainly reward him with another scolding.

For some reason, his father now treated his cousin like a precious treasure.

He had even begun to criticize Fang Qingyun.

His letters contained such sarcastic remarks as, “The study of martial arts requires diligence. If you remain at the bottom year after year, even if you do not care, your father will still lose face.”

This left Fang Qingyun rather depressed.

Hadn’t his father said he did not care about the progress of his cultivation?

“Fang Qingyun, I heard your younger cousin is coming this year?” a classmate beside him asked. “What is he like?”

Several girls nearby began chattering excitedly. “Is our little cousin handsome?”

Fang Qingyun sighed. “My cousin? He is very handsome, quite diligent, and well-behaved. It is only that he can be a little difficult to talk to. But it is not a serious flaw.”

His classmates nodded. “He sounds like a decent child. Once he arrives, we will certainly look after him for your sake.”

“Then I thank you all in advance,” Fang Qingyun said. “He is the only child in my aunt’s family, and our entire household treasures him. He has been spoiled and is not very sensible. He does not know how to speak properly and has little regard for rules. If he should become arrogant and offend any of you in the future, I hope you will overlook it for my sake.”

His classmates immediately lost interest.

Apparently, this was yet another child spoiled by his family.

The girls, however, brightened.

He was very handsome?

End of page.

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