Chapter Thirty-Five: Thanks a Lot

Thinking of the fact that Fang Che was bound to be rewarded for his meritorious service, Fan Tiantiao couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.

So he cast a glance at Chen Ruhai.

Sure enough, he saw Chen Ruhai rubbing the bridge of his nose once again.

Using that very hand he had just been using to pick at his foot skin.

Prompted by the power of suggestion, Fan Tiantiao felt as though he could practically 'see' an offensive stench evaporating from the area.

Ugh...

Fan Tiantiao hurriedly turned his head away.

"Isn't Su Yue dead?"

"Not at all."

Fang Che wore a bewildered expression.

"My Brother Su is alive and well, how could he possibly be dead? He's my dearest brother."

"Then where is he?"

"Brother Su left immediately, of course. He has a secret mission to execute and couldn't possibly stay here."

"What secret mission? A secret identity?"

"Now, I can't tell you that. Even if I didn't know, I wouldn't tell you."

With an expression of absolute righteousness and deep loyalty, Fang Che declared, "How could I possibly betray my Brother Su?!"

"Well, if that isn't a fine mess..."

Fang Che looked puzzled. "Could it be that proving these people belong to the Heavenly God Cult isn't enough?"

Enough!

More than enough!

Both Fan Tiantiao and Chen Ruhai could only force wry smiles.

Yet damn it all, the entire affair was riddled with suspicions.

Besides, you bastard belong to the Soleflesh Cult, and both this Heavenly God Cult and your Soleflesh Cult are subordinates under the grand banner of the Righteous Cult.

Don't you feel any guilt at all for slaughtering your own comrades so ruthlessly?

These demonic cult fiends really are completely different from normal people.

"Then what are you... doing right now?" Chen Ruhai asked, looking at the carriage.

"Since I've slain the demonic cult fiends, naturally I have to haul their corpses and evidence back to the Martial Academy to claim my reward. These are my merit points, after all."

Fang Che said with a solemn expression, "Though eradicating fiends is everyone's duty, I won't refuse reaping a few incidental benefits along the way. After all, we did risk our lives."

Chen Ruhai and Fan Tiantiao turned pale with frustration.

What you're saying makes infuriatingly good sense!

The situation was now crystal clear.

A stronghold of the Heavenly God Cult.

Fang Che had been targeted.

Members of the Ximen family had colluded with the Heavenly God Cult in an attempt to murder Fang Che.

Then the plot leaked, coming to the knowledge of Su Yue.

Su Yue worried that his sworn brother would be harmed.

So he brought along his master and senior martial uncle to slaughter those who dared to target his brother.

Afterward, they left behind the evidence and the corpses so that his brother could claim the reward.

And then they gracefully retired from the scene, their merit accomplished.

"Who are Su Yue's master and senior martial uncle?"

"Don't know. They were wearing masks—one was tall and thin, and the other was also tall and thin."

"Where did they go?"

"No idea."

"Did they say anything to you?"

"Uh... I'm a bit embarrassed to repeat it. It was what my Brother Su said to express his gratitude to me."

"..."

Chen Ruhai and Fan Tiantiao cursed simultaneously in their hearts: Damn your hide!

You actually have the nerve to feel embarrassed about something!

Following that, neighborhood investigations were carried out, leaving all the local residents trembling with fear.

With such a massive commotion, how could anyone possibly manage to sleep?

Even those in deep slumber had been startled awake.

And indeed, there was a certain sentence that everyone claimed to have heard.

When the Guardian Hall conducted their investigation, numerous people stepped forward to testify that they had indeed heard those exact words:

"Brother Fang, I leave everything here in your hands. As your elder brother, I have a secret mission to execute and it would be inconvenient for me to show my face. Thank you for preserving the property of the Su family. May our paths cross again, my brother!"

Cause and effect, fitting together seamlessly.

Water-tight.

Look, didn't all these pieces fall perfectly into place?

Fang Che, the great meritorious hero!

Through sheer accidental coincidence, he had slain Ximen Xuri, effectively dismantling a major conspiracy of the Heavenly God Cult. Otherwise, given Ximen Xuri's prodigious talent, the Baiyun Martial Academy would certainly have poured immense resources into cultivating him.

If that matter had blown open in the future, it would have become an indelible stain on the reputation of the Baiyun Martial Academy.

Therefore, as far as the Baiyun Martial Academy was concerned, Fang Che was also a massive hero.

Turning the tide single-handedly.

Averting a future scandal.

Furthermore, he had unearthed a stronghold of the Heavenly God Cult and wiped out every single demonic cult fiend within it.

For both the Guardian Hall and the Baiyun Martial Academy, this was an immense achievement!

And on top of all that, he had exposed the Ximen family!

For Xiangyun City, where the Ximen family was based, this was an even greater, monumental contribution!

Countless ordinary citizens had been spared a violent doom thanks to this operation led by Fang Che.

His merits were boundless!

That Fang Che had rendered meritorious service was an unquestionable fact.

Yet regarding this fact, the two insiders, Chen Ruhai and Fan Tiantiao, could only feel a dull ache in their teeth.

This damned thing...

Whenever they encountered this fellow Fang Che, their moods would invariably take a sudden plunge for the worse.

With a darkened expression, Chen Ruhai asked Fang Che:

"Then as for this matter..."

"I will cooperate with the Guardian Hall to file the official records and explain everything. However, the corpses and physical evidence must also be delivered to the Martial Academy for processing afterward."

"As for the affairs concerning the Ximen family and the Heavenly God Cult stronghold here, whether they should be exposed or not is beyond me. The two Hall Masters can make the final decision."

Fang Che said very modestly, "I am young and don't understand such complex matters. I'm already quite satisfied simply being able to render some service."

Exposed?

How could it possibly be exposed?

This was a critical thread.

Clutching onto this thread could allow them to accomplish monumental tasks!

Thinking of this, Chen Ruhai and Fan Tiantiao could no longer spare any attention for Fang Che. They immediately turned back to begin setting up cordons and suppressing the flow of information.

Suddenly, they were engulfed in a flurry of activity.

Meanwhile, on Fang Che's end, the Guardian Hall dispatched two men to accompany and escort the wagonload of corpses all the way to the Baiyun Martial Academy.

By the way, this was to liaise with the academy and facilitate future cooperation regarding the incident.

In any case, since their Guardian Hall had handled this credit, they couldn't simply back out now.

They absolutely had to claim a share of the meritorious service.

After all, this was the cracking of a major and crucial case!

...

Half an hour later.

They arrived at the gates of the Martial Academy.

It was currently only the Hour of Yin (3:00 AM to 5:00 AM).

Yet the Martial Academy had already received word.

Personnel from the Reward and Punishment Department and the Academic Credit Records Office were already waiting at the academy gates.

Seeing Fang Che pull up with such a cartload of corpses, everyone present felt dark lines cross their foreheads.

Dragging such a blood-soaked cart over like this—anyone who didn't know better would think this place was a mass grave.

It gave off a truly eerie sensation.

The academy personnel began screening the corpses one by one.

Then they inspected the physical evidence.

Determining the cultivation levels of the deceased prior to their deaths.

Verifying the identities of the demonic cult fiends.

Then they logged the files, had the corpses carried away for disposal, and sorted the evidence to be kept in categories.

Finally, referencing the academy's regulations, they calculated the merit points.

As the first faint light of dawn appeared in the east, the credit calculation was complete.

"Crediting all of this to your personal account alone?"

"Yes."

The official from the Reward and Punishment Department cast a deep look at Fang Che. "In total, twenty-six merit points. Two early-stage Grandmaster cultivators, accounting for sixteen points; two ordinary seventh-layer Grandmasters, accounting for six points; four Martial Master cultivators, accounting for four points. Grand total: twenty-six points."

"No General-rank?" Fang Che was somewhat surprised. He had heard rumors that there might be a General-rank figure involved, but apparently not?

"None."

"But these early-stage Grandmasters... are they really this cheap?"

Fang Che looked dumbfounded. "A Grandmaster is only worth eight points?"

"If you have issues, take it up with the Mountain Master. This place only records and dispenses; we are not responsible for explanations." The official, whose face resembled a mortuary slab, wore a stony expression as he fixed dead-fish eyes upon Fang Che.

Did this trivial matter really warrant disturbing the Mountain Master?

Very well, Fang Che didn't dare to go.

"Nothing more to do with you. Go wait for your classes."

"I've been busy all night..."

"So? Does that mean you get to skip class?"

"I mean I've been busy all night eliminating harms for the people, and I am brimming with energy! I will definitely attend class and study diligently."

"Hmph."

The personnel from the Reward and Punishment Department turned and left.

They needed to rush off and report the news, especially since the revelation that the Ximen family was a vassal of the Heavenly God Cult was no small matter.

What he didn't know, however, was that the higher-ups of the academy had actually been aware of this matter for some time already...

Furthermore, they were currently enforcing a secret lockdown and preparing to take action, with several powerful experts already gathering over there...

When daylight broke, countless people were gathered in front of the Lu Family Exchange, wailing in despair—those were the clients who had active business dealings with the establishment, or those who had simply deposited their wealth there.

Yet regarding this kind of situation, even Fang Che was helpless: when Qian Sanjiang and Sun Yuan had stripped the place of its funds, would it have mattered if Fang Che had tried to stop them?

Involving the innocent was an absolute certainty. But for this, there was not the slightest remedy available.

All the Guardian Hall could do was transfer the case to the local government authorities, seeing if there might be any remedial measures or alternative methods to appease the victims...

...

That afternoon.

Yin Shengong hurriedly established communication with the leader of the Heavenly God Cult.

"Old Kou, I've received some news that concerns your Heavenly God Cult."

Heavenly God Cult Leader Kou Yifang was in a foul mood. "What?!"

The seed planted by his Heavenly God Cult within the Baiyun Martial Academy had inexplicably been slaughtered during the grand tournament!

Kou Yifang harbored quite a bit of lingering displeasure in his heart.

He felt as though his belly was full of unvented demonic fire with nowhere to release it, and yet now this Yin Shengong had the audacity to seek him out.

Yin Shengong, on the other hand, appeared to be in an exceptionally pleasant mood, chuckling as he said, "I heard that Ximen Xuri was one of your seeds? The one who got himself slaughtered?"

"!!"

Strumming every string of bad luck.

Kou Yifang's inner fury flared up even higher. "Do you have an opinion on that?"

"No opinion, no... I also heard that the Ximen family is a vassal clan of yours?"

Yin Shengong continued with a chuckle.

"Yin Shengong! Spit it out if you have something to say!"

Kou Yifang's breathing grew heavy.

First "I heard this," then "I heard that," spoken in such a mocking, sarcastic tone—who the hell were you trying to insinuate with that passive-aggressive attitude?

"Hahahaha..."

Yin Shengong took on an insufferably smug air. "Old Kou, you really ought to thank me. The moment I caught wind of this news, I galloped over without stopping to inform you. This matter is no small affair, oh."

Kou Yifang sensitively sensed that something was amiss and demanded, "What's going on?"

Yin Shengong let out a strange laugh akin to a howling wolf. "Old Kou, your people are far too slack and careless in your work. Such a massive incident has happened, and you don't even know about it yet? Heh heh heh... You're about to be in deep trouble! At the very least, your vitality will be severely wounded, let me tell you."

"Uh..."

Kou Yifang rapidly steadied his breathing and said with a forced smile, "Old Yin..."

"Hm? Old Yin or Old Shadow?"

"Ah, Brother Yin!"

Kou Yifang's attitude underwent a drastic 180-degree turn. "Brother Yin is magnanimous, please don't lower yourself to my level. Exactly what has happened? I humbly request Brother Yin to enlighten me."

"Seeing as you're still somewhat sensible..." Yin Shengong drew out his tone.

"Yes, yes, yes." Kou Yifang offered obsequious smiles.

Internally, he was cursing up a storm: Once you finish speaking, if this turns out to be trivial, I'm going to curse up your ancestors' feces.

"The matter regarding your Ximen family has been exposed to the Baiyun Martial Academy. You can investigate the specific reasons yourself; as for me, I have my own connections within the Baiyun Martial Academy... and this incident happened just today."

"What?!" Kou Yifang turned pale with shock.

"Right now, the Baiyun Martial Academy and the Guardian Hall are cordoning off the area around the Ximen family estate, preparing to make a sweep and catch some big fish... Don't say I didn't warn you."

Yin Shengong said with an air of triumph.

Over on the other end, Kou Yifang instantly panicked. "Many thanks for the warning, Brother Yin! I owe you a favor!"

Without another word, he cut the connection to rush off and handle the crisis.

Yin Shengong leisurely sent one final message: "Let's help each other out when things come up in the future!"

Kou Yifang breathed a sigh of relief. "Naturally, naturally. Thanks a lot, oh."