Chapter Seventeen: Campus Belle Fang Che

Night Dream rolled her eyes internally yet again.

These heretics of the Demonic Sect really spoke with... every single word reeking of an anti-human vibe.

Fang Che hastily refused, "Let's forget about that... Master, speaking of this Ximen Xuri, he is a genius of the Ximen family and a seed of the Heavenly God Cult. This... I'm afraid it will be easy to dodge open spears, but hard to guard against hidden arrows in the future."

Sun Yuan nodded, "That goes without saying; neither the Heavenly God Cult nor the Ximen family will let this rest. As for the Heavenly God Cult, our Wholehearted Sect will naturally hold the line for you. As for the Ximen family... Hmph, just let them try making a move!"

A fierce, glittering light shot from Sun Yuan's eyes.

Fang Che nodded, "Then I can rest assured."

Regarding this matter, Fang Che had already made his plans. Since Ximen Xuri was already dead, he was dead, and it didn't really matter.

As for the retaliation from the Heavenly God Cult, Fang Che wasn't worried either. When soldiers come, the Wholehearted Sect will block them; when water comes, the Wholehearted Sect will earth-cover them.

As for the Ximen family... well, since Ximen Xuri was already dead, this family that had defected to the Heavenly God Cult was of no further use anyway.

He might as well just leave them to Sun Yuan.

"Master, I feel a bit unsettled."

Fang Che frowned and said, "I keep feeling like those two halves of the corpse are still floating right before my eyes. It's terribly distressing."

"Gasp!"

Sun Yuan was startled and hurriedly said, "Quickly take a calming pill, go rest and sleep. You'll be fine after a sound sleep."

Patting Fang Che's shoulder, he consoled, "Although Ximen Xuri is dead, don't take it to heart. After all, the sun rises every day; just think of him as still living up there on the sun."

"What Master says makes sense."

Fang Che chimed in with sincere agreement.

Indeed, Ximen Xuri was dead, but there shouldn't be a rising sun in the western sky anyway.

This logic was perfectly sound.

After taking his medicine, Fang Che went to his room to sleep and rest.

Sun Yuan stood in the courtyard, overflowing with joy.

One-third of the mission was already complete.

The Heavenly God Cult's seed, Ximen Xuri, had been wiped out in a single stroke by Fang Che.

If the Sect Master were to find out about this, how overjoyed he would be!

He would probably throw his head back and laugh out loud a few times, wouldn't he?

Sun Yuan could already feel the satisfying sensation of having a deep grievance vented.

"No, this matter must be reported as soon as possible!"

Ultimately still worried about his disciple, he went inside to check on the sleeping Fang Che. Sensing that his soul and spirit had stabilized, he finally felt relieved.

He came back out to instruct Night Dream to tend to him well.

Then he flashed away in a hurry.

...

"Hhahahaha..."

Late at night, at the headquarters of the Wholehearted Sect.

Yin Shenggong burst into hearty laughter, his mood exceptionally pleasant.

"Sect Master, what has you so happy?" Mu Linyuan asked from the side.

"Night Demon has eliminated the seed of the Heavenly God Cult!"

Yin Shenggong's eyes and brows bloomed with joy, his previously gloomy expression replaced entirely by delight.

He had even forgotten Ximen Xuri's name long ago, knowing only that the Heavenly God Cult's seed was gone.

How exhilarating!

With his hands clasped behind his back, Yin Shenggong sneered and said, "Back then, after our sect suffered an accidental setback, the Heavenly God Cult actually published a letter saying things like... the Wholehearted Sect is nothing much, only when gods descend can things be accomplished, and various other forms of mockery... Now, this Sect Master has finally vented his spleen."

"Does the Sect Master wish to write a letter to the Heavenly God Cult?" Mu Linyuan chimed in.

"...There is no need. That would expose Night Demon's identity."

Yin Shenggong pondered for a moment and said, "Night Demon's identity is concealed, and those people in the Heavenly God Cult have no bottom line, being utterly despicable and shameless. We cannot let them know."

Mu Linyuan nodded repeatedly in agreement, "The Sect Master is truly visionary."

Yet inwardly, he thought: Look at you talking as if your own actions had any kind of moral bottom line.

You pull off things like specially intercepting other people's seeds, and yet you have the nerve to talk about a bottom line.

...

Early morning.

When Fang Che arrived at the Martial Academy, he was greeted by an outpouring of comforting words.

"That couldn't be helped. Trapped in that kind of situation, nobody could hold back. Ximen Xuri brought his death upon himself, so you can't be blamed."

"Exactly, such a despicable person deserved to die. Shameless enough to use hidden weapons, and then attempting a sneak attack after losing—what kind of character is that!"

"Don't take it to heart."

It had to be said that Fang Qingyun's good popularity played a massive role.

Fang Qingyun also wore a smile on his face, genuinely happy, "Cousin, you've now become the campus belle of the academy."

"The campus belle of the academy?" Fang Che had black lines running down his forehead.

"Yeah, in Cloud White Martial Academy, the four great handsome guys are all upperclassmen; ever since you arrived as a freshman—and the most outstanding one in history at that—we decided to crown you as our sole campus belle!"

A female student said with great enthusiasm.

Fang Che: "..."

"Over the years, some bored people from other martial academies tried holding polls among female martial students for a campus belle, which only provoked the wrath of the female heroes: Are we pretty or not? Do we need you to rate us? By what right?"

A female student explained, "Whereas here in Cloud White Martial Academy, all the female students unanimously boycotted it from the very beginning. Therefore, such a boring thing never happened. But we can vote on handsome guys, evaluating them from all aspects..."

Fang Che was completely dumbfounded.

So this Cloud White Martial Academy turned out to be a matriarchal society of sorts?

Male students couldn't vote for female campus belles, but female students could turn around and vote for male campus flowers?

How creative, truly creative.

"But among your freshman class, no one can compare to you, so... everyone unanimously agreed that you are the sole campus belle!"

Fang Che's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

Wasn't it supposed to be the four great handsome guys... campus grass equivalents and the like?

How did it become the sole campus belle?

Me?

Imagining someone walking up to him in the future and calling out 'Campus Belle Fang', Fang Che felt he could suffer social death on the spot!

He hurriedly and fiercely objected, "This won't do! I refuse to be this campus belle!"

"Objection overruled!"

Senior Sister Liu said triumphantly, "This was decided by many girls yesterday. It's useless for you to object."

"..."

Fang Che felt the world before his eyes turn completely gray.

"Speaking of which, yesterday when you were facing Ximen Xuri's hidden weapons and sneak attacks, especially that lingering fear after you killed him, you looked so cute, pitiful, and helpless... It completely broke the hearts of some senior sisters... they've been shouting about holding you in their arms to comfort you."

A male student said with a hint of jealousy.

"Hold me in their arms? Comfort me?"

Fang Che felt this world was getting bizarre and surreal.

How did things turn out like this?

That sentence carried an extremely strong implication of 'holding a kitten, puppy, or child in one's arms and rocking them'...

Fang Che covered his face and fled.

"Hhahahaha..."

The laughter of the girls echoed from behind.

It had to be said that teasing a young boy felt quite wonderful.

Especially a boy who was well-liked, handsome, neat, and refreshing—it gave the girls an even greater sense of achievement.

This was also one of the few remaining joys they had amidst their monotonous martial arts cultivation.

Fang Qingyun chased after him and handed a stack of documents to Fang Che.

"These are the profiles of the other twenty-three winners besides you. I must say, quite a few people are going to go bankrupt this time; the battles this session were exceptionally fierce."

Fang Qingyun sighed.

"Cousin, who did you bet on? How much did you wager?"

"I never gamble. I haven't participated since last year."

A gentle smile hung on Fang Qingyun's face.

"That's why my popularity is so good."

This sentence carried profound meaning.

Fang Qingyun didn't spell it out, but Fang Che understood immediately.

When everyone around you has lost and only you have massive amounts of credits in your hands, it's impossible not to be popular.

Not to mention that Fang Qingyun naturally possessed the scholarly, refined demeanor of a gentleman, which made him even more well-liked.

"How is your cultivation going recently? Still stuck at seven thousand four hundred and seventy-six?"

Fang Che asked with concern.

Talk about touching a sore spot!

Fang Qingyun's refined and righteous face visibly darkened, and he glared at Fang Che, "I can still beat you up!"

The moment he saw that expression, Fang Che knew they hadn't started sparring yet.

Otherwise, that Heavenly Vein Vermilion Fruit should have had some effect by now.

So he nodded and said, "Cousin, keep it up! I believe in you."

Fang Qingyun said, "I believe in myself..."

Before he could finish, he heard his own dear cousin add: "You still have twenty-four ranks of downward space left, so you need to work hard. If you drop to seven thousand five hundred, actually that wouldn't be bad either—at least it's a round number!"

A round number... what kind of nonsense is that!

Fang Qingyun's face instantly turned livid.

Barring his teeth in fury, he roared, "Fang Che! I'm going to beat you to..."

Fang Che had already bolted.

Several female students gathered around with unfriendly gazes, "Fang Qingyun, who are you going to beat to death?"

Fang Qingyun: "..."

My friends, how fast did you defect to my cousin's side?

He's only been here for a few days!

...

Top twenty-four to top twelve.

Fang Che drew the ninth rank. This battle held virtually no suspense, yet Fang Che deliberately dragged it out for quite a while before very laboriously squeezing his way into the top twelve.

Compared to the other eleven, who all decided the outcome of their matches within five moves—with five of them even ending the fight in a single move—

Fang Che's performance appeared utterly lackluster.

In the eyes of all the students comparing notes in the audience, Fang Che's performance undoubtedly hit rock bottom.

This performance displayed indisputably the strength of the absolute weakest in the top twelve.

In an instant, the betting odds shifted dramatically and unpredictably.

Qiu Yunshang, Ding Jieran, Xie Gongping, Huo Churan, and Mo Gangyun—each of these five individuals had over thirty thousand credits wagered on them.

They were precisely the five who had swept through all opponents from start to finish, ending every single match in a single move!

Within an hour, the top twelve were decided.

The time was far from reaching noon.

Thus, the grand match of the top twelve to top six commenced immediately!

Fang Che drew a lot, and his mouth involuntarily twitched at how coincidental it was. He had drawn rank six!

Mo Gangyun.

One of the top five favorites to win the championship.

How was he supposed to keep a low profile now?

Just as Fang Che was pondering this, a robust young man nearly two meters tall on the opposite side also raised his head to look over.

His gaze was like a blade.

Mo Gangyun!

Mo Gangyun was also eighteen years old, but the sheer robust physique of this youth surpassed that of a fully-grown man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight!

Standing there, the entire person looked like a mountain.

Majestic and unmoving.

Tall and sturdy as he was, his proportions were remarkably well-balanced; he looked just like a perfectly proportioned human body, simply scaled up by a few sizes!

Thick hair, thick eyebrows.

Straight nose and a wide mouth. Though only eighteen, his jawline on both sides already bore the faint bluish tint characteristic of someone who shaved every single day.

A pair of eyes, sharp as a blade.

With long legs and towering height, the mere fact that he stood there caused everyone who laid eyes on him to automatically conjure up words of description like 'mightily majestic, sturdy, and robust'!