https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-405-Gathering-of-Storms-and-Clouds/12981540/
Chapter 404: What a Coincidence?
Chapter 404: What a Coincidence?
Ye Meng had no idea that Fang Che had awakened; she was simply puzzled by what was happening.
Just a few days ago, he was still lying there helplessly, so how could he suddenly...
Could someone in a deep coma also...
Ye Meng subconsciously reached out to touch him, and then quickly retracted her hand as if she had been electrocuted.
Ye Meng's eyes widened in shock, "What?!"
Her body stiffened, and she slowly turned her head to look at Fang Che, who was lying motionless. Only then did a look of surprise appear in her eyes.
The surprise quickly turned into elation.
Her heart raced with excitement, but she didn't speak, knowing that in the darkness, someone might be monitoring them. Fang Che's awakening without opening his eyes was a sign of caution. It was only natural!
Ye Meng immediately thought of this possibility.
So, she used sound transmission to ask Fang Che excitedly, "Are you awake?"
No!
I'm not awake!
Fang Che's face turned red, and he kept his eyes closed without moving.
But Ye Meng's face had already reddened, and she reached out.
Her two fingers left the probing area and moved to the side of his thigh, pinching a small piece of flesh and giving it a hard pinch and twist!
You're still lying there scaring people after waking up.
Fang Che shuddered and controlled the muscles on his face, sending a sound transmission to Ye Meng with his eyes closed, "Be gentle, I can't wake up yet. We need to wait a few more days."
Ye Meng hummed and covered herself with the blanket, enveloping both of them, and sent a sound transmission in response, "Then you better behave. I'll give you an extra blanket tomorrow to prevent any...accidents."
"..." Fang Che said, "Fine."
Both of them fell silent.
Fang Che continued to pretend to be unconscious, unsure if they were still being watched.
So, it was better to play it safe.
Ye Meng, on the other hand, finally let go of all her worries and burdens, finding peace and quiet.
Soon, Ye Meng began to sob, her body trembling as she tried to hold back her tears. But her body shook, and her sobs echoed, as tears streamed down her face, soaking the pillow.
Fang Che helplessly sent a sound transmission, "What's wrong?"
"I'm just so happy..." Ye Meng transmitted back.
Fang Che: "..."
He couldn't help but feel speechless.
Women, even when they're happy, can cry like this...
It had to be said that Ye Meng was truly capable of crying. After confirming the good news of Fang Che's awakening, she sobbed for half the night.
Dong Fang Si Wu, who had been eavesdropping, felt deep sympathy.
How pitiful.
If Fang Che hadn't awakened, she would have undoubtedly become a young widow. How could she not cry? Ah, I understand.
As Ye Meng cried, she also sent a sound transmission to Fang Che, "Are you asleep?"
"No."
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I... I've already slept for half a month, haven't I?"
"That was a coma, not sleep."
"..." You're being unreasonable...
"Hmph!"
Ye Meng continued to sob.
Then, she sent another sound transmission, "Your Zhao attendant was taken away for treatment and is confirmed to be alive. You'll see each other again in the future."
Hearing this, Fang Che felt a surge of frustration and couldn't help but argue, "What do you mean by 'my Zhao attendant'?"
"Hehe..." Ye Meng sent a sound transmission.
Fang Che felt even more frustrated, for he could sense a huge eye-roll in her 'hehe'.
You can even express emotions through sound transmission? Fang Che sent a harsh sound transmission, "Just wait until I recover, and I'll make you pay for this day by day."
Ye Meng couldn't help but shudder, then replied with a cute menace, "I'm not afraid of you!"
"Don't beg for mercy later!"
"Hmph!"
As Fang Che spoke, he felt he shouldn't continue. Even through sound transmission, he could feel his excitement building.
If he kept talking, he might explode.
He quickly closed his eyes and focused on his cultivation.
If I don't cultivate, I might lose control.
...
Fang Che's mind began to shift his attention elsewhere.
He couldn't help but think of Zhao Ying'er.
He had always felt that this girl was a bit unusual, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed off.
She came from a prominent family, that much was certain.
I arrived at the Guardian Palace about a month or two ago. The timing seemed too coincidental.
Then she took a liking to me.
Love at first sight? This made Fang Che feel as if he had been waiting there just for her to arrive and fall for him.
Later, when they were attacked at the Xi Shan Cemetery, Zhao Ying'er's injury was severe, undoubtedly life-threatening.
Although he hadn't had time to examine it closely, it was certain that her heart pulse had been injured.
With such an injury, he had given her the Cloud Spirit Pill, but at the time, he hadn't held out much hope, as it was a challenging injury to treat.
It was almost certain that she would die, if not a near-death experience.
However, Zhao Ying'er had recovered after a few months and returned as if nothing had happened. Moreover, it was said that her family had taken her away, but Fang Che had no idea where she had gone or what had happened to her. No amount of inquiries could reveal anything.
No one at the Guardian Palace knew! This made the situation even more peculiar!
Then, during the recent assassination attempt, Fang Che witnessed the attack up close. The spear had pierced straight through Zhao Ying'er's heart, and her internal organs had been reduced to a pulp by that single strike.
He could even sense the immense strength used by the attacker to push the spear forward and kill him, along with the powerful spiritual energy emanating from the spear blade.
That kind of shock, erupting directly within a person's internal organs, how could anything remain intact? Those were human organs!
Such an injury, according to reason, should be beyond saving.
But unexpectedly... Zhao Ying'er was still alive.
There was still hope! And she was currently undergoing treatment. Although he didn't know which stage of treatment she was at, he was confident she would recover—Fang Che was full of confidence in this!
Fang Che estimated: If this time, her survival wasn't a deception, but she truly survived, then it's likely that in less than half a year, Zhao Ying'er would be able to return.
If that was the case, this matter would be terrifying: Could there really be an immortal person in this world?
At first, when Fang Che met Zhao Ying'er, he only felt that she was an ordinary little attendant. Then he discovered she wasn't simple; she came from a powerful family and definitely had a background.
Now, his perception changed again: This girl must have a heavenly background!
Moreover, her target was definitely him!
But why?
Recalling that critical moment, Zhao Ying'er soared upwards, blocking the shot that would have pierced his brain...
The long spear suddenly pierced her body, and in the midst of excruciating pain, her body jerked back, and blood blossomed...
With her last strength, she pushed him away: "Go!"
In her final moments, she gently rested on his shoulder and quietly fell asleep...
Fang Che's thoughts became increasingly chaotic and muddled. He couldn't help but sigh deeply.
It was impossible not to be moved; she had truly protected him with her life.
But... why was it so strange?
Fang Che's mind was a bit muddled, feeling that the complexity of this matter far surpassed any conspiracy he had encountered in his two lifetimes.
...
During his communication with Ye Meng, he also learned that the Frostblade Sword had not returned since it left.
Then Fang Che immediately confirmed one thing: There must be a hidden expert by his side! Dongfang Sansan would never let go of this opportunity to enhance her presence within the Only Righteous Sect and increase her sensitivity within the Guardian organization.
In other words, Dongfang Sansan would use every reason and fact to make him the person that the upper echelons of the Only Righteous Sect would constantly worry about.
"The Ninth Lord's plan is truly brilliant."
He took the time during his immobility to sort through the events that had transpired.
First, the Heavenly Escort Bureau: The escort leaders from prestigious families had left, leaving only Zhao Wushang and Zheng Yunqi in charge.
Those from the One Heart Sect had arrived and basically taken over the positions of those who left, and operations were running smoothly under the leadership of Zheng Yunqi and Zhao Wushang, which reassured Fang Che.
The escort bureau's business was also developing rapidly, operating regularly, and there wouldn't be any major issues whether he was present or not.
The One Heart Sect was now stable.
As for the Heavenly Palace incident, he had made a minor mistake, but he could handle it. Moreover, the Ninth Lord had done a good job of covering it up, and this time of severe injury and unconsciousness had basically erased the incident.
He just didn't know if there would be any further consequences.
Additionally, the Divine Deity Sect, one of the four sects in the southeast region of the Only Righteous Sect, was likely finished after this incident. Even if it wasn't abolished, it would be severely weakened.
This was certain; if the Divine Deity Sect was gone, then the Only Righteous Sect in the southeast would go from five sects to four, and then to three...
The defeat of the eight Nightmare Guardians and the disappearance of the Night Demon was a huge victory.
The only concern was... Although Fang Che had created the illusion that the Night Demon had 'left,' if the Night Demon didn't reappear after some time, it was inevitable that suspicions would arise.
But this wasn't a big problem; he could easily shift the blame later: "How would I know the reason for the Night Demon's absence? What does it have to do with me? He didn't show up for thousands of years before, and nothing happened then." The reasoning was perfect.
This time, the great battle in the southeast had nothing to do with him.
Under Dongfang Sansan's manipulation, any suspicions and dissatisfaction he might have caused should be dispelled.
Fang Che truly felt the immense benefits of his enhanced divine sense.
Now, when considering problems, he felt like he was on a well-trodden path, and his thoughts were exceptionally clear. Any loopholes in his previous actions and how to make up for them were instantly clear in his mind.
"My actions are still a little immature. Compared to the Ninth Lord, I'm just a little short."
Fang Che evaluated himself.
But whether it was a little short or a billion short, he didn't want to delve into that; it was only natural that he couldn't compare to the Ninth Lord. What was there to compare?
No matter the difference, everyone was equal before the Ninth Lord—all pigs! Including me, Fang Che. Yes, I'm a slightly smarter pig.
...
Fang Che gritted his teeth and endured for two days.
Over the next two days, visitors noticed that Fang Che's complexion was improving day by day.
The spiritual energy in his body was becoming increasingly vibrant, and his divine sense grew calmer by the hour. After the calm, it gradually returned to a normal level of activity.
Even Fang Qingyun noticed that his cousin's fingers were showing faint signs of movement.
Unable to resist, he touched them repeatedly, his face filled with delight. "My cousin is saved! He'll wake up soon, and I won't get beaten to death..."
Fang Che almost jumped up and struck him down on the spot.
This guy's incessant touching had reached a sensitive spot, and Fang Che struggled to maintain his composure.
As a result, his fingertip twitched slightly, and this guy interpreted it as a sign of improvement.
Tasting success, he kept touching that sensitive spot relentlessly!
Can't you touch somewhere else? Fang Che was exasperated.
After repeatedly touching his cousin, Fang Qingyun performed another outrageous act. He fetched a thin needle and began pricking Fang Che's fingertip.
"I need to stimulate him a little to speed up his recovery."
Fang Qingyun muttered to himself as he carefully pricked Fang Che's fingertip, again and again...
Fang Che exerted all his control to refrain from leaping up and cursing loudly, followed by a flurry of punches and kicks!
When will you ever stop? Fortunately, Ye Meng noticed Fang Qingyun's actions and quickly intervened to push him away.
Otherwise, if he had continued, Fang Che wasn't sure if he could have stopped himself from exploding in rage, jumping up with a hideous expression, and beating his cousin into a pulp, all the while cursing him profusely.
Various factions, including the Guardians, the Only Righteous Sect, the One Heart Sect, the White Cloud Martial Academy, and the Netherworld Palace, were closely monitoring the situation.
Even the people from the Heavenly Palace were awaiting news.
It could be said that Fang Che's awakening had become a matter of concern not just for himself but for the entire continent.
To be honest, it was unprecedented in the history of the continent for a small Sixth Rank King to capture the attention of so many high-ranking individuals.
The entire White Cloud Continent was abuzz with curiosity, with people eagerly inquiring about Fang Che's condition.
After the event that day, the families of the martyrs came in groups to the Guardian Palace, asking for updates on Fang Che's condition.
Duanyu, Yan Bei Han, and Hong Yi's disguised team also entered the White Cloud Continent and learned about Fang Che's coma.
Duanyu had known about this beforehand and maintained his composure.
Yan Bei Han, however, couldn't contain his impatience. "How can he be in a coma? Let's go and see for ourselves."
Hong Yi rolled her eyes. "In what capacity are we going to visit?"
Yan Bei Han replied, "We'll come up with a plan. We'll say we're relatives of the fallen Guardians, and after hearing about Fang Che's heroic deeds, we've come to pay our respects. It's only natural."
Hong Yi was taken aback for a moment.
Believe it or not, this guy's excuse was surprisingly reasonable!
"Shut up!" Duanyu said. "You two stay here and don't move! You're here to gain experience, not cause trouble!"
At Duanyu's words, Yan Bei Han immediately fell silent, lowering his head, not daring to show even a hint of grievance.
That evening, Duanyu left, dressed in a blue robe.
As he departed, he warned, "If you dare take a single step outside, I'll break your legs!"
Yan Bei Han obediently replied, "I won't take even a single step."
He even stuck out his tongue playfully.
But this gesture had no effect on Duanyu.
As he was still pouting, the Bone Shattering Dream Spear had already disappeared into the night.
Upon arriving at the Scholar's Residence, Duanyu immediately sensed the presence of Dong Fang Si Wu.
However, strangely, while he could sense Dong Fang Si Wu, he couldn't pinpoint his exact location.
Recalling Yan Nan's instructions, Duanyu refrained from taking action against Dong Fang Si Wu. Instead, he projected his divine sense into the Scholar's Residence, located Fang Che, and after observing his condition, he quietly withdrew.
He left without making a sound.
Hidden in the shadows, Dong Fang Si Wu felt a sudden chill down his spine for no apparent reason. But the feeling quickly passed, and he attributed it to his own nervousness.
After seventeen days of fruitless surveillance, Duanyu had gained nothing.
What's the point of this surveillance?
He couldn't fathom what had gotten into Dong Fang San San's head.
Duanyu longed to return. What if his old rival from the secluded valley suddenly appeared?
Duanyu quickly returned to the inn and sent a message to Yan Nan.
"I've seen Fang Che, and it's certain that he's awake, but he's afraid to wake up. He hasn't figured out a plan regarding the Nightmare Demon yet."
"There is indeed a powerful expert lurking and monitoring Fang Che's residence. With my abilities, I can only sense the presence but not see them. If we want to force them out, we must take action. So, I didn't want to alert them."
"I couldn't locate the Nightmare Demon, nor could I sense any traces of her energy."
"Fang Che's divine sense is unstable, and the Nightmare Demon did enter. But Fang Che's divine sense is incredibly powerful, surpassing the limits of his cultivation. Judging by this, it seems the Nightmare Demon suffered some losses, and quite a bit of her energy was captured by this kid."
"Yan Nan had been waiting for this news for so long that his neck seemed to have grown longer.
Finally, upon receiving the news, all the speculations and possibilities in his mind were connected.
'Hmm, as expected.'
'No wonder the information from the Nightmare Demon mentioned that the lower half of the body seemed somewhat illusory. It turns out it was consumed by Fang Che. But in this situation... I've never experienced anything like this before...'
'Dongfang Sansan is indeed treacherous. He actually sent someone to monitor the situation, and it's a peak-level expert. If it weren't for Duan Xiyang going there...'
Yan Nan shuddered at the thought, feeling a sense of lingering fear.
If they had sent just anyone to deliver medicine to Fang Che, they would have been exposed for sure.
Fortunately, they didn't do that.
Otherwise, it would have been a complete disaster. Dongfang Sansan, you are truly insidious! With just a little carelessness, we could have fallen into your trap!
The trap was set so deep, and it was laid many days in advance.
According to Duan Xiyang, only someone of his caliber wouldn't have noticed the surveillance.
But how many people like Duan Xiyang are there in this world?
Yan Nan broke into a cold sweat, feeling a close call. If it were anyone else, they would have been tricked by Dongfang Sansan! They would have fallen into a pit with no way out.
'I understand. You stay there and continue training with Xiao Han. As for the Night Demon, let him be for now.'
Yan Nan felt confident.
'The atmosphere here feels a bit off.'
Duan Xiyang spoke up, "There's nothing unusual on the Guardian's side, but I sense a subtle gathering of powerful forces in the city."
Yan Nan's interest was piqued. "What do you mean?"
"The Netherworld Palace, Azure Palace, Snowflake Palace, Purple Robe Palace, and even the Heavenly Palace have all gathered in this city. Moreover, Feng Yun has arrived with his people, along with me and Xiao Han. I'm not sure if there are any other forces coming, but suddenly, all these powers are converging in one place, like a grand gathering of stars."
"And this is all just a coincidence."
Duan Xiyang added, "Yan Wu, you should understand what this means."
Yan Nan furrowed his brows, a look of seriousness in his eyes. "You mean this is a convergence of fortune?"
Duan Xiyang nodded. "There are signs of it. But it could also be something else. Someone might be planning something. However, Feng Yun's arrival and the timing of my and Xiao Han's presence here, that's purely coincidental."
Yan Nan fell into deep thought.
This situation, where numerous geniuses gather unconsciously and unintentionally in a place without any major events, ancient relics, treasures, or martial arts artifacts... If an ordinary person witnessed this, they would call it a mere coincidence.
It's just a coincidence that the people from the Heavenly Palace came here to handle some matters and hadn't left yet when the Purple Robe Palace, Netherworld Palace, and the Only Righteous Sect happened to pass by, and then they all gathered together.
What a huge coincidence!
But in the eyes of Yan Nan and Duan Xiyang, they immediately knew this was no coincidence.
It was a fateful arrangement.
And a contest for fortune.
'Then pay attention and see if anyone leaves.'
Yan Nan gave a solemn reminder.
Duan Xiyang replied, "I'll keep an eye on it."
After ending the communication, both sides contemplated the situation.
How could it be such a coincidence that everyone gathered together? Duan Xiyang, in particular, felt his spirits lift.
A contest for fortune?
To encounter such an opportunity was truly rare, and even more so, to be at the peak of the contest for fortune. If fate was indeed giving the Only Righteous Sect a chance, as long as these people didn't leave in the next few days, perhaps due to various reasons, and conflicts or alliances arose...
Well, it would be due to various reasons. Those who wanted to leave couldn't, and those who didn't want to come ended up here...
This was a sure-fire gathering of various fortunes, a contest for dominance.
If that were the case, Duan Xiyang wouldn't be able to intervene.
The struggle had to unfold naturally, without external interference.
But with someone like Duan Xiyang, who had practically 'seen through the heavenly mechanism,' his presence would undoubtedly have a significant impact!
Moreover, the Only Righteous Sect had a wealth of talented individuals. With Feng Yun, Yan Bei Han, and the Night Demon all present, these three were geniuses rarely seen in thousands of years on the entire continent!
How could they possibly lose in such a low-level contest for fortune?
Before midnight, Duan Xiyang's divine sense detected another group arriving in the White Cloud Continent. This group was also from a reclusive sect.
'The Only Righteous Sect, Guardians, Heavenly Palace, Netherworld Palace, Azure Palace, Purple Robe Palace, Snowflake Palace, White Cloud Palace, Dream Illusion Sect, and the Cold Sword Sect, which was already stationed at the Guardian Palace in the White Cloud Continent...'
After carefully counting, even Duan Xiyang took a sharp breath.
'Almost all the peak reclusive sects are here!'
'This is truly unbelievable!'
(End of Chapter)
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