Monarch Night
Chapter 48 - 13 Task Changes

Chapter 48: Chapter 13 Task Changes

Fang Che spoke solemnly, "Our Sect’s great cause is flourishing, and we cannot afford any carelessness. The less uninvolved people know, the better. Being cautious is also beneficial for future development. I still aspire to secure a position within the Sect. That way, I can properly honor my teacher."

Sun Yuan burst into laughter, his face blooming with joy.

He felt that all his efforts and sacrifices were worthwhile.

After a moment of thought, he advised, "In the future, you will surely catch the eye of the higher-ups. I don’t know where your teacher will be then, but let me remind you in advance to avoid those who practice Evil Skills... Although they may advance quickly in the future, it’s best not to provoke them. If anything happens, seek out the Sect Hierarch. After all, you’re considered half a disciple to him since you’ve learned his Blood Spirit Seven Swords."

Fang Che pondered for a moment, "Teacher, there’s something I don’t know whether I should ask."

"If you shouldn’t ask, why did you still say it?" Sun Yuan rolled his eyes and said, "Just ask."

"I’ve heard rumors that within our Yixin Sect, many teachers pit their disciples against one another... ahem..." Fang Che showed the embarrassment of a young person, "But why are you so good to me, Teacher?"

Sun Yuan couldn’t help but laugh.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Our Yixin Sect, indeed, is selfish; we do everything only for ourselves. After all, there’s a saying that it’s better for oneself to live than for the rest of the world to die."

"In life-and-death situations, it’s quite normal for people to betray and use each other to save their own skin, because if you don’t look out for yourself, heaven and earth will exterminate you."

"But as for a successor to one’s legacy... aside from those old monsters with ulterior motives, such as those who want to extend their lifespan, those who want to create ren pills, and those who want to steal souls for enrichment... the majority still hope that their disciples will make a name for themselves. Particularly those whose own path in Martial Arts has ended, but whose disciples are still young and promising."

"In our world, there are truly very few people worth entrusting one’s heart and reliance upon. In the Jianghu, where each step can mean life or death, everyone supports their entire families alone and could perish at any moment."

"Someone worthy of trust is exactly what we need the most because, if we misjudge a person and perish, our families and children will likely be immediately devoured by the person we entrusted."

"Che’er, if something happens to your teacher one day, I’m entrusting my whole family to you."

Sun Yuan seemed somewhat melancholic.

Holding his teacup, his expression was a bit desolate.

"Good or bad, the opinions of others mean nothing to us; we live only for ourselves and our families. But Che’er..." Sun Yuan spelled out every word: "The more selfish people like us are, the more we must always keep an escape route for ourselves."

"Otherwise... our end will be worse than that of stray dogs!"

"You are my escape route!"

Sun Yuan took a deep breath and said, "You are young now, and it’s too early to talk about escape routes, but when you reach a certain high position, you must remember to plan an escape route for yourself!"

Fang Che nodded silently.

So that was it.

Sun Yuan immediately changed the subject: "This time, the Sect Hierarch has specific demands for your mission."

"Tell me."

"Since the Main Sect has successfully founded its state and shocked the world, and its number one fighter has changed, the fortune of the Main Sect has greatly increased. Next, the Main Sect will focus on national construction and conquering in all directions. Meanwhile, the affairs of the Jianghu will be managed by the subordinate sects."

"There are eighteen sects total that have reached First Grade in terms of power in the name of their sect. The eighteen sects are divided into five regions of the world, each of which must have a leading sect to take charge, in other words, one sect to lead the others."

"Our Yixin Sect, along with the Yemo Sect, the Heavenly God Sect, and the San Sheng Sect, all belong to the southern route. So, either we lead them, or one of them leads the other three."

"And this privilege must be exchanged for Contribution Points."

"Ding Jie Ran belongs to the Yemo Sect, Huo Churan to the San Sheng Sect, and Ximen Xuri to the Heavenly God Sect."

"The Sect Hierarch demands that you cripple them at all costs!"

Fang Che immediately frowned: "Cripple? Directly cripple them?"

"Yes, or kill them!" Sun Yuan took a deep breath: "Because if they can continue, even if they don’t secure the first place this time, they will still take other actions, which concern our Sect’s position, as it’s about Contribution Points within the Guardians, extremely crucial."

"If they get these points, we’ll only be subordinate to one of them."

"Our last operation was a failure... we’re already behind in points."

"So... your mission this time is critical and must not fail."

Fang Che was silent for a moment and then asked, "Teacher, may I know if we have someone among the high ranks of the Martial Arts Academy?"

Sun Yuan frowned: "Why do you ask such a thing? Recklessly inquiring about this is the biggest taboo!"

"You misunderstand, Teacher."

Fang Che said, "I don’t want to know who he is, but that person must know who I am."

Sun Yuan: "Hmm?"

"Because I’m worried that our people, if they don’t know me, might single me out or act against me underhandedly due to the status of these individuals... and then I’d be powerless to resist."

Fang Che continued, "Even after I cripple or kill them, someone might use the excuse that I acted violently to target me, and I would be powerless to resist... Teacher, you know, if our people see me as a genius among the Guardians, they will not go easy on me when suppressing me."

Sun Yuan was taken aback: "That does make sense."

"I will convey your concerns to the Sect Hierarch."

"Good." Fang Che lowered his head, his eyes flashing.

Indeed!

The Wei Wo Zheng Sect had an undercover agent in the upper echelons of the Baiyun Martial Academy!

His status must be high.

A big fish!

...

Sun Yuan left behind all the cultivation materials and departed.

Fang Che had thought his teacher would stay in his large courtyard, but Sun Yuan did not agree.

"My status may seem ambiguous between good and evil, but that doesn’t rule out suspicion. Staying here increases the risk of exposure, which isn’t good."

"Although our relationship as teacher and disciple is established, it’s best for you to stand on your own. I’ll just find a place to stay in the city and can come over anytime there’s a need."

"Your identity is definitely under scrutiny, too, but you must seriously utilize this ’scrutiny.’"

Sun Yuan subtly hinted.

"Disciple understands."

Sun Yuan left.

Walking through the streets long after leaving the courtyard, Sun Yuan suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment.

How comfortable would it be to live in a disciple’s spacious home? And reassuring.

But he dared not.

He couldn’t risk bringing the slightest trouble upon his escape route.

Only he knew that in recent times, the number of eyes on him seemed to have increased.

With his level of cultivation, exposure would mean certain death. Or even without exposure, he could lose his life to a powerful figure in a bad mood.

And Fang Che was his only contingency plan.

He was also his only heir to the mantle. There couldn’t be a hint of risk.

Although Fang Che had already caught attention, it was precisely for this reason that he was much safer. But as for an old fox like himself, others wouldn’t tolerate much.

Amidst the bustling street, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of solitude.

He couldn’t help but recall Fang Che’s question.

"Our sect often entraps disciples, why are you so good to me, Master?"

Then Sun Yuan remembered his own answer.

In life-or-death situations, betraying and exploiting each other to escape is normal, after all, if one doesn’t look out for oneself, heaven and earth will annihilate them.

He sighed softly.

In his life, how many times had he used his companions as scapegoats?

How many companions on missions had he coldly exploited, left to fight and die, while he escaped alone?

Too many to count.

That answer, it came from his heart.

Sacrificing friends to save himself at the brink of death had become an instinct.

But now, when he thought about it, if one day, in a life-or-death situation, and Fang Che was beside him...

Would he, as before, throw him out to face the calamity?

Perhaps he would... right?

Because he was inherently heartless and unfaithful.

Sun Yuan was silent for a long time, finally letting out a self-mocking laugh.

He vanished into the crowd.

...

Fang Che frowned, lost in thought.

He hadn’t even checked the fourteen heavenly treasures Sun Yuan had found for him, treasures that aided the cultivation of divine soul and body.

He was contemplating what Sun Yuan had mentioned.

The Yixin Sect, Yemo Sect, Heavenly God Sect, San Sheng Sect.

The four sects belonged to the southern route.

A leader must be chosen, dispersed normally but commanding when necessary.

"Yin Shen Palace has great ambitions," Fang Che thought about his yet-to-be-revealed ’Yemo’ codename. It was clear Yin Shen Palace had ulterior motives.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have forgotten that the name ’Yemo’ clashed with the Yemo Sect!

The content of this task...

"To cripple or kill..."

As much as Fang Che felt Yin Shen Palace was ruthless, he hesitated.

Because it contradicted his principles.

He didn’t want to kill or maim. In Fang Che’s eyes, these three were marked; he had planned only to defeat them.

Furthermore, keep these three fellows around, even become close friends on purpose, to easily get the Three Sects’ intelligence.

Moreover, Yin Shen Palace’s initial order was just to ’defeat’.

But now, this new order from Yin Shen Palace disrupted his original plan.

Not complying was also not an option.

Fang Che’s mind was in disarray.

"I need to reassess this situation."

"If it really comes to crippling or killing, it’s a pity."

"These three people are related to three sects, at least three families! These are big fish."

Fang Che furrowed his brows: "Moreover, now is not the time to expose them. Exposing them now is too early to catch more fish, too lenient on them, and exposes me too."

"So I need to find a way."

He pondered, opening the package from Sun Yuan.

He couldn’t help but pause.

Soul Calming Ginseng, Bingjing Spirit Fruit, Ice Crystal Divine Fruit... Vajra Grass, Body Tempering Stone Milk, Meridian Channeling Orchid...

These items were useless for boosting cultivation but were treasures for laying the foundation!

He looked intently for a long time before sighing.

Sun Yuan, although he’s a Wei Wo Zheng Sect member, and has done plenty of conscienceless and inhumane deeds,

He’s genuinely good to me.

"Unfortunately, our stands and beliefs differ; I would die for my brothers, and they would die for me, anytime, anywhere. But I would never, like you, push a brother forward to take a blade at the last moment."

"Ah..."

A single sigh remained.

"If you die one day, and if your family isn’t too bad, I’ll repay this debt."

Fang Che contemplated and picked up the Soul Calming Ginseng, popping it into his mouth...

...

Early morning.

Ye Meng carefully dressed Fang Che.

Then Fang Che set off for the Martial Arts Academy.

Today was the first day of the top hundred martial prodigies competition for new students at the academy.

But even while walking on the road, Fang Che was still considering, what to do with those three?

Really follow Yin Shen Palace’s order to cripple or kill?

How to satisfy Yin Shen Palace while gaining the greatest interest for himself and the Guardian, or to say, maximize the use of these people to strike at the sects?

Fang Che’s eyes reflected contemplations: Does the True Sect, with so many subordinate sects, only have these three seeds at Baiyun Martial Academy?

...

[Tomorrow, three Chapters at midnight, already scheduled.]