https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-23-The-Journey-to-the-White-Cloud-Summit/12979848/
Chapter 24: On the Road
Chapter 24: On the Road
The Guardian Hall of Verdant Wave City.
In a study room, Chen Ruhai and Fantiantiao sat facing each other.
Chen Ruhai took off his shoes and began rubbing his feet under the table, a content smile on his face. Especially when he saw the helplessness in Fantiantiao's eyes, he rubbed with even more enthusiasm, piling up a mound of dirt on the floor.
Fantiantiao's face was filled with sorrow.
He always felt that his parents must have had foresight, knowing that he would have to work with Chen Ruhai when he grew up, and so they gave him this perpetually sorrowful face from birth.
Being with this guy was truly torturous, and he couldn't even leave. Every day, he felt a headache from the constant worry.
"Is there any news?" Fantiantiao sighed.
"Fang Che has left Verdant Wave City with the Shadow," Chen Ruhai said. "It seems he truly regards the Shadow as his trusted maid."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes, it's not easy to take advantage of this opportunity and successfully infiltrate with the Shadow. Moreover, Fang Che is a genius, and there will definitely be more intelligence in the future. We can't afford any problems with Fang Che's safety."
Now, the two had abandoned their initial plan of 'letting Fang Che gain some experience and then utilizing him.'
They also withstood the pressure from the Dark Department to retrieve him.
This place is important!
We can't leave!
The higher-ups of the Dark Department were furious: "You said you'd gain experience and then come back!"
"Yes, Fang Che's safety is crucial. I'll personally tail him in secret."
Fantiantiao immediately stood up.
In the Guardian Hall, facing Chen Ruhai every day had become almost unbearable. He quickly sought a reason to leave.
"You're going personally?"
Chen Ruhai was surprised: "Is it that serious?"
"It's fine."
"Fang Che is connected to the Su family's massive wealth. In Verdant Wave City, he's naturally safe, but once he ventures out alone, there will surely be continuous troubles. After all, the stakes are already high enough for people to take risks."
"That's inevitable. Fang Che, alone, will bring a vast fortune to White Cloud Continent. It's normal for people to have designs on it, but it's not to the extent that you'd have to tail him."
"Hehe..."
Fantiantiao, with utmost disdain, said, "When you're cured, I'll return."
Chen Ruhai lifted his feet, emitting a hot and stinky odor: "Are you talking about this?"
"Ugh!"
Caught off guard, Fantiantiao inhaled sharply, his face turning pale as he rushed out.
The door slammed shut.
Chen Ruhai burst into laughter, then stopped, looking at his feet and sighing.
...
On the other side.
Within Unity Sect.
"Night Demon, along with his maid, has embarked on the journey to White Cloud Continent. They've departed from Verdant Wave City."
"The distance isn't far, less than two thousand li. But there are numerous treacherous mountains and dangerous territories along the way."
"Night Demon's safety must be ensured!"
Seal God Palace made a swift decision.
If he dies, where will I find someone to intercept those geniuses? "How about I send money and offerings for you to go?"
"Okay."
Qian San Jiang immediately agreed.
He was delighted with this task. Ever since the last time he entered, Qian San Jiang realized that Fang Che, the Night Demon, had already caught the attention of the Sect Leader.
He just needed to improve his cultivation, and his future prospects would not be limited to Unity Sect.
Now, he was building a good relationship for the future... Hehe...
"I'll set off immediately."
"Good."
...
Two days passed.
Fang Che leisurely traveled three hundred li.
Night Dream, under Fang Che's cultivation, successfully evolved from an 'ordinary person' to a 'Warrior Apprentice', and now she had reached the third level of 'Warrior Apprentice' cultivation!
A significant improvement!
She could already be considered a genius.
After consuming a Sky Vein Crimson Fruit, she had to make progress, and quickly, to avoid arousing Fang Che's suspicions.
So, Chen Ruhai and Fantiantiao made a decision: they had to advance!
The faster, the better. Since Fang Che wanted to cultivate an assistant, they could only be of greater use to Fang Che with higher cultivation.
Night Dream showed great effort.
And significant progress.
But Fang Che was still dissatisfied: "Why is it so slow? How can your head be so stupid?"
"So useless!"
"Get off the carriage and walk! Practice as you walk!"
"With no progress in cultivation, you still want to ride in the carriage! You just want to enjoy the ride, when will you ever be of use?"
"A young girl must endure hardships to grow into a qualified vase."
"In the future, you'll not only warm the bed, but also serve as a guard, fight for me, take care of all my needs, and be beautiful... In short, I have high expectations of you!"
"If you don't work harder, I'll sell you to the brothel!"
"Get down, get down!"
Fang Che pushed Night Dream out of the carriage.
Even the carriage driver was taken aback by this action.
His heart filled with resentment.
"The young master of a wealthy family is indeed rare. Such a delicate beauty, forced to get off the carriage and walk... Is there any humanity left?"
"A little, perhaps?"
Night Dream, being pushed out of the carriage, was secretly pleased.
Inside the carriage, facing Fang Che, she felt uncomfortable, and even dared not mobilize her inner energy, fearing discovery.
Stepping out of the carriage meant freedom. Moreover, walking could help practice the correct posture, allowing her to recall and correct the flaws in her movements based on what Fang Che had taught her.
So, with a puffed-up face and big, dazed eyes, she started walking, looking like a "I'm very unhappy about being kicked out of the carriage" expression.
At the same time, she worked hard to correct herself.
Fang Che, inside the carriage, smiled slightly.
["Night Dream truly has good potential. As long as I continue to train her, she will surely become a formidable expert in the future."]
"
["From the perspective of someone who has learned the Boundless Scripture and the Saber Spear Sword Lance, my previous self was full of flaws in standing, sitting, walking, and wielding a sword. The gap is truly vast."]
["Night Dream has only so far, learned only a fraction of what I know, just the basics. But for improving combat ability, it's already enough. She is different from me. I can cultivate multiple techniques because the Boundless Scripture can absorb Spirit Qi at a fast enough rate. But Night Dream can only cultivate one weapon in her lifetime to maximize her combat power."]
["Judging from her habitual movements, her talent should be in swordsmanship. I must let her get early exposure to swordsmanship to ensure she doesn't fall behind in the future."]
["The Su Family's property is in my hands, and many people in the city are scheming. In but in Verdant Wave City, they have few opportunities. Now that they're out, there should be some who will show their true colors."]
Fang Che's body swayed with the carriage as it jolt, his thoughts were like waves in the sea, one wave after another.
He wasn't in a hurry to make the journey. The distance to White Cloud Continent wasn't very far, but there were indeed many rugged terrains and treacherous waters along the way.
For the Academy of Martial Arts trials, Fang Che wasn't in a hurry either. At this moment, martial students from all directions were desperately trying to earn Academy points.
Earning points was simple: bind a fresh blood-drenched Academy nameplate, then slay a Beast, and obtain its core and fresh blood. Dropping the blood on the nameplate, points would automatically appear. The more Beasts killed, the more points earned.
Many Academy instructors were secretly following, and any cheaters would be disqualified, no matter how talented they were. Students with fewer than thirty points had no chance of entering the Academy.
Those with thirty to ninety-nine points had to pay a fee, undergo a simple cultivation test, and then study at the Academy. Those with one hundred points or more didn't need a test. In other words, if you could break the rule that only 'Samurai can enter the Academy,' a Warrior Apprentice could also pay a fee and enter the Academy. Because you have combat talent and sensory talent."
Those with two hundred points or more entered the Academy for free, without a test, and engaged in Martial Duels.
From the Martial Arts Champion to the top one hundred, there were corresponding rewards. These rewards were the common goal of all new students. Not only were they beneficial, but they were also a source of honor and experience.
...
The White Cloud Academy, as a top-tier Academy, offered a different future for graduates compared to ordinary Academies.
But the future job prospects were also determined by the Academy's credit, honor, and experience.
So, the future of Academy students generally had three paths: first, they could enter various levels of government, be listed as state officials, and fight evil and injustice, overseeing a region, such as constables, const leaders, or criminal investigators. They could also hold various government positions based on their abilities.
The second option was to join the military, enter the national military, and serve in local or border armies. They could rise through ranks based on military achievements.
But after choosing the first two paths, they would generally stay within the system for life.
The third path was to join the Guardian Army, start from a low-level position, and seek promotions. This was the Guardian rank, such as local Guardian Halls, etc.
This was different from regular government and military positions, belonging to a special category. [For reference, consider the national security bureau; or the abnormal affairs bureau, etc.]
From then on, they would engage in continuous battles against various Sects.
Those who made outstanding contributions within the Guardian ranks, and whose cultivation reached a certain level, and who were willing, could apply to join the Guardian ranks.
Once becoming a Guardian, the responsibility and pressure, as well as the enemies and dangers faced, were at another level.
Guardians generally represented the continent's strongest combat power.
Fang Che, in his past life, was a Guardian, though only a lower-level combat power within the Guardian ranks.
How to choose was a matter of personal preference; but the path of a Guardian allowed for continuous advancement in the Martial Path, even though it was much more dangerous than the other paths.
Fang Che's goal in this life was to become a Guardian—a peak Guardian capable of eradicating the Sole Truth Sect from the world completely.
The starting point of these three paths was closely tied to the Academy's glory, performance, and experience.
Everyone had to give their all to secure any opportunity.
So, many new students began searching for various Beasts from the moment they set out, their eyes red, conducting thorough searches.
...
Fang Che had his own plans. Starting to hunt Beasts now would be unwise, as they had just left home, still near densely populated areas.
In a place like this, even if there are forests, how many beasts could possibly exist?
A typical case of effort without reward, twice the work for half the gain.
[A journey of 1,500 li, ahead lies the 30,000 li long Ten Thousand Souls Mountain Range. Crossing through it, it's only 700 to 800 li. The opportunity to gain points should be right here.]
Fang Che took out his Academy Nameplate and calmly cut his finger with a small knife, smearing the blood onto it.
The nameplate glowed faintly.
A line of words appeared: Verdant Wave City, Fang Che.
The originally intact nameplate now had a small hole, and below it was an empty frame.
"The beast's blood and core crystal are placed here, and then the points will be revealed."
Fang Che was somewhat amazed.
Six hundred years later, there have indeed been many developments. This method was almost unimaginable six hundred years ago.
I really don't know how they did it.
From outside, the sound of Night Dream's whimpering could be heard.
Obviously, the little girl was deliberately showing that she was tired from her cultivation, using her actions to tell Fang Che, "I truly have low cultivation."
Fang Che stuck his head out of the carriage window, "What are you whimpering about? How many levels of Warrior Apprentice have you broken through?"
"Still... still the third level," Night Dream was startled and stammered.
"Useless! You're only good for making manure! If you can't break through to the fifth level of Warrior Apprentice before reaching White Cloud Continent, I'll sell you to the brothel!" Fang Che roared.
"Wuuu..."
Night Dream sobbed, "Spare me, young master... I, I'm trying my best..."
Fang Che hummed, "Trying isn't enough, you must reach it!"
The carriage driver couldn't bear to listen anymore, "Young master, aren't you being too harsh on your servant?"
"What do you know?" Fang Che asked.
"She's my bodyguard. Have you ever seen a bodyguard weaker than their employer?"
The driver was speechless, "I've never seen that before."
Bodyguard? This delicate and beautiful girl is actually a bodyguard?
It doesn't seem like it at all...
This rich young master is indeed not telling the truth.
"Did you hear that? Fifth level! Warrior Apprentice fifth level! Otherwise, it's off to the brothel!"
"Yes..."
Night Dream's tears were about to fall.
Happily.
The more you rush me, the faster and better I'll recover! But I also feel it's a pity.
Fang Che, such a genius, actually joined the Unity Sect. It's truly a pity.
Along the way, there were constantly Martial Students, either in groups of three or five, or in pairs, or even solo, swiftly passing by.
At most, they were stunned by Night Dream's beauty, taking a few extra glances before hurrying on.
Surprisingly, not a single person came to flirt or tease.
This left Fang Che puzzled.
Are people's morals so high these days?
As more people passed by, Fang Che stuck his head out again and said, "You're so ugly, yet no one flirts with you as you walk on the road. You probably won't get a good price even if you're sold to a brothel. Don't you think it's time to work hard on your cultivation and progress? What else is there to hope for?"
Night Dream's chest swelled with anger.
Pouting, she stomped her feet and marched on in silence.
Is it my fault that no one flirts with me? If it weren't for the intelligence and my undercover mission, I'd slap you back to Verdant Wave City with one smack! Just then, two people suddenly emerged from the forest ahead, the leader of whom flipped his eyes and said, "Stop!"
He held a knife, its blade gleaming.
The knife's tip pointed at the carriage, a smile that wasn't quite a smile on his face, "Fang Gongzi, with your Heaven-Respecting Righteousness, please step down."
...
...
...
[Taking advantage of the lack of explanation needed in this chapter, I've added some clarifications here to avoid any future confusion. Hence, this chapter has more words than usual.
One thing I haven't understood is why many readers comment that the protagonist is disgusting, taking resources from the Unity Sect and thinking of killing them despite their kindness...
I just can't comprehend it. Isn't it clear that if a modern person went back to the era of the Anti-Japanese War and joined the Japanese side, they couldn't switch sides just because the Japanese treated them well, right?
If these explanations were added in bits and pieces, it would really disrupt the flow. So, I've clarified it all at once, hopefully avoiding any future confusion.]
Seven days since the book's release, with nine chapters updated.
A bit much.
I'm working on refining the upcoming plot. Starting tomorrow, updates will be at 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM.
(End of Chapter)
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