Monarch Night
Chapter 159 - 117: Am I Dead?

"Why should I be?" Fang Che replied, "According to your theory, if one of your family members is a bad person, does that make all the others bad as well? I wonder if your reasoning can hold water?"

"You say you’re not from the Demon Sect, what proof do you have?"

"You say I’m from the Demon Sect, what proof do you have?"

Xiang Xinghe had no evidence.

But Fang Che did: "Everyone knows that the Demon Sect has a magical method: if someone betrays or insults the Demon Sect, they will die instantly. I wonder if this is true?"

Huang Yifan coughed and said, "There is such a thing, although not exactly as you described, but essentially, it’s the same."

Fang Che said, "I have always been determined to fight against the Demon Sect until my last breath. The Wei Wo Zheng Sect is a bunch of scoundrels, and the Yixin Sect is a group of bastards, lacking humanity and conscience. They should have been exterminated long ago, without leaving a single one!"

He spread his hands and said to Xiang Xinghe, "Did I die?"

Xiang Xinghe was left speechless.

Fang Che said, "Oh, and their revered god, the so-called Celestial WOrm God, is nothing but nonsense. What kind of thing is that! Ferocious and ugly—a prey for a rooster! It’s really nothing good!"

He spread his hands again and said to Xiang Xinghe, "Did I die?"

Everyone was staring at him.

Fang Che sat confidently in his chair, completely at ease.

As he spoke, he became even more composed, changing his posture.

Everyone was silent.

Just as Fang Che said, although no one understood what controlled the Five Spirits Gu, everyone knew it didn’t allow betrayal by sect members.

If there were even a hint of betrayal, it would immediately act.

Especially, disrespect to the Celestial Worm God was not allowed at all.

If Fang Che were really someone from the Wei Wo Zheng Sect, especially a low-level disciple, speaking so brazenly would have killed him already.

But Fang Che was clearly unharmed.

"Maybe you’re not in the sect yet, but you will be sooner or later!" Xiang Xinghe said coldly.

"I think you’re the same—you’ll betray the Continent sooner or later, becoming a shameful traitor, and join the Wei Wo Zheng Sect!"

Fang Che said, "Why don’t you try cursing a few times?"

Xiang Xinghe was furious, "Little boy, how dare you insult me!"

Fang Che said, "Why, is it only allowed for you to call me a demon sect member? But I’m not allowed to call you one?"

"Tough-talking kid."

Xiang Xinghe said grimly.

At this moment, Lv Jiao Mountain spoke from the side, "Brother Xiang, although Fang Che’s actions are admittedly suspicious, as we said, it’s just suspicion. I think Fang Che’s point is valid: if he’s from the demon sect, show the evidence."

Xiang Xinghe snorted, "Brother Lv, your view..."

On the side, Supervisor Meng Chizheng said, "Fang Che certainly needs to explain these doubts, but directly labeling him as from the demon sect seems inappropriate."

He frowned and said, "I don’t know where Lord Zhao got this information. If there really is evidence that Fang Che participated in demon sect activities, or did something harmful, he can be arrested or even executed on the spot. But... without evidence, this seems a bit unkind."

Zhao Shanhe said indifferently, "I received a report about this matter and, out of a sense of responsibility, took the opportunity to investigate while on official duty nearby."

He stroked his beard and said, "After all, if Baiyun Martial Academy truly cultivates a demon sect seed as their foremost talent and secretly nurtures it, once exposed, it will be a huge joke, and surely, its millennium-long reputation will be destroyed overnight."

Gao Qingyu hadn’t spoken until now, but finally couldn’t hold back, saying, "Over the years, the infiltration of demon sect disciples into martial academies has been endless. Among the Eight Great Martial Arts Academies, haven’t there been traitors produced? Some were even talents highly regarded by major academies—without aptitude, they wouldn’t have been cultivated by the demon sect..."

"Our Baiyun Martial Academy has them, and so do other academies, with some quite severe. When has it ever been completely eliminated over the years? Why are we, Baiyun Martial Academy, considered such a joke?"

Gao Qingyu said, "Lord Zhao perhaps holds our Baiyun Martial Academy in too high regard. We’re only ranked third among the Eight Great Martial Academies. The top two academies have produced even more demon seeds over the centuries. For example, that one..."

Gao Qingyu was about to start giving examples.

"Silence."

Zhao Shanhe shouted coldly.

"Heh... Silence then. You hold our students to such scrutiny and yet forbid us from speaking. Truly, rank has its privileges. Fine, I’m silent!"

Gao Qingyu said very unhappily.

Zhao Shanhe turned with a toothache look towards Gao Qingyu: "Mr. Gao, isn’t this for the good of your academy?"

Gao Qingyu said in a sarcastic tone, "Over the years, everything done has been for our academy’s good. Has our academy improved? Have we reached number one?"

"Lord Zhao, if you truly want to help our academy, you should grant us more autonomy. For example, today’s matter, we could completely handle internally!"

Zhao Shanhe said nothing.

Facing this old rascal and tough guy, Zhao Shanhe was at a loss.

If the argument continued, Gao Qingyu might throw a tantrum on the spot.

So he stopped debating with Gao Qingyu and nodded at Xiang Xinghe: please continue.

Xiang Xinghe turned to Fang Che, "Then tell me, where is Su Yue now?"

"I don’t know."

"You don’t know? He helped you several times, and you don’t know where he is?"

"Don’t know."

Fang Che said, "Every time Big Brother Su comes to help, I’m unaware. He drags me along in the dead of night, finishes the task, and then disappears. I also find Big Brother Su very mysterious now."

Xiang Xinghe said, "Last time, he mentioned being in some secret department. What department?"

"Don’t know."

"Who’s his master and uncle-master?"

"Don’t know."

"What do they look like?"

"I have never seen the true faces of his master or uncle-master..."

Fang Che said with extreme frustration, "Instructor, I genuinely don’t know the answers to your questions about Big Brother Su. I’m already so grateful that he comes to help me. How could I have the heart to dig deeper?"

"Whatever he can tell me, Big Brother Su tells me. But what’s inappropriate for me to know, he doesn’t say. As the one being helped, I can’t ask either."

"All the instructors and leaders here are wise. This bit of social courtesy... I think my point is clear."

Fang Che’s face was full of bitterness: "Right now, I’m just a kid under eighteen. What do I understand? What strength do I have to access secrets? What qualifications do I have to question others? Even being helped is such a blur."

"Who here isn’t faster than me?"

"Besides..."

Fang Che suddenly became earnest, with some heartache: "No matter when Big Brother Su helps me, our targets are always those in the Demon Sect!"

"We are contributing to the Continent."

"My merit points aren’t few now either."

"I don’t get it; why am I being scrutinized? When I coincidentally killed demon sect members, am I not a hero?"

Fang Che’s face was full of frustrated incomprehension.

"Yes, my usual behavior is somewhat reckless and impulsive. I also like to use force. These are my flaws, but... I don’t feel I’ve done anything outrageous."

Fang Che bowed his head, feeling utterly wronged: "How... how am I part of the Demon Sect?! Can’t you see what I’ve done? My merit points are almost five thousand."

"I wouldn’t say I’m laden with accolades, but my contributions are evident, right? How am I part of the Demon Sect?"

Everyone was silent.

Li Changkong, sitting in the corner, attempted to stand multiple times to speak, but had to endure under Huang Yifan’s stern gaze.

Meng Hejun finally moved, turning to Zhao Shanhe and softly asked, "Does Lord Zhao have anything else to ask?"

Zhao Shanhe said lightly, "Suspicion always exists. I hope Baiyun Martial Academy doesn’t let its guard down."

Meng Hejun kindly said, "We will discuss these matters privately later."

Zhao Shanhe nodded and said, "Very well."

He paused and said, "Although there are no defects now, being the foremost genius of Baiyun Martial Academy, the future stakes are significant. Thus, he must walk the Wenxin Road."

"Wenxin Road?!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Hejun’s expression changed.

Besides Huang Yifan, Lv Jiao Mountain, Meng Chizheng, Xiang Xinghe, and others also changed their expressions.

In the corner, Li Changkong suddenly raised his head, stood up, and said, "My lord, isn’t it unnecessary for him to walk the Wenxin Road? He has just attained the Innate level and cannot endure the Wenxin Road!"

Zhao Shanhe said, "He has to go."

The voice, though gentle, left no room for negotiation.

Meng Chizheng took a deep breath and said, "Lord Zhao, the Wenxin Road is usually only walked by those at the lowest General Level; a mere Innate would not withstand the Wenxin Road’s torment. His divine soul isn’t strong enough; he might come out a cripple."

Zhao Shanhe said indifferently, "I understand, but... the one who reported Fang Che... ha, therefore, the Wenxin Road must be taken. To determine if Fang Che is part of the Demon Sect, it must be found out on the Wenxin Road!"

Meng Hejun’s complexion changed: "May I ask who the informant is?"

Zhao Shanhe eyed sideways: "How could I tell you that?"

Gao Qingyu furiously said, "Why can’t you tell us about matters concerning our academy? Did you, Zhao Shanhe, take someone’s bribe to trouble us intentionally?"

Zhao Shanhe remained unmoved: "Gao Qingyu, you know what you’re insinuating!"

Meng Hejun’s graceful face turned red with anger, "Regardless of whether Fang Che is a demon seed, under the current unclear circumstances, making him walk the Wenxin Road—aren’t you deliberately destroying him?"