Monarch Night
Chapter 59 - 24: Old Silver Coins Mountain Master

Chapter 59: Chapter 24: Old Silver Coins Mountain Master

...

Early morning.

Fang Che walked into the Martial Arts Academy.

He was met with countless gazes.

Regardless of senior or peers, now in the Academy, there was hardly anyone who didn’t recognize him.

Especially that signature black cloak with dark gold patterns, it had become known to all.

From a distance, as his leisurely and elegant robes fluttered, and the sunlight briefly refracted sparkles that disappeared in an instant, each detail represented, ah, Young Master Fang has arrived!

As Fang Che moved, everyone followed, with Fang Che wearing a warm smile, very polite, walking together towards the direction of the arena.

As they walked, suddenly someone asked, "Fang Che, do you feel good about killing Ximen Xuri?"

The person asked it with a smile, seemingly joking.

Fang Che stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the person, his eyes instantly turning icy cold.

The coldness in his eyes made the person feel uncomfortable on the spot, he forced a smile and said, "I was just joking..."

Fang Che said coldly, "If one day I kill you, I will answer your question!"

The person immediately became embarrassed and then turned to anger: "It was just a joke, are you making a big deal out of it?"

Fang Che raised his head, looking down on this fellow, his voice was soft but carried an overwhelming force, "Sorry, I’m not one to joke around. Please don’t joke with me in the future! I’m someone who can’t take a joke."

The person’s face turned shades of green and white, then suddenly snorted, "What’s so great about that!"

And turned to leave.

Fang Qingyun advised, "Cousin, why bother, it was just a joke, there’s nothing wrong with being more genial. Being too sharp will reap detriment."

Fang Che kept walking and said earnestly, "Cousin, that’s exactly what I wanted to say to you. It’s good to be genial, but one must also be sharp and have a temper."

"If you’re always genial, people will act without restraint in front of you. Even some tasteless jokes will be made without thought."

"But if you’re known to be sharp, when they know you have a bad temper, at most they’ll bad-mouth you behind your back, but in your presence, they wouldn’t dare to be reckless! Because they know that you won’t indulge them!"

Fang Che sincerely added, "Cousin, you’re too genial and have too good a temper, which will put you at a disadvantage!"

Fang Qingyun was stunned.

He remembered the teachings he’d received from childhood: work well, be kind, don’t provoke trouble, don’t make mistakes, be benevolent, and you’ll be rewarded...

And he had indeed followed that path.

As a result, he had made many friends, but upon self-reflection, how many of them respected him aside from taking what they wanted from him?

After treating them for years, had anyone ever reciprocated?

Instead, they gave their special products to the class’s top-ranked prodigies who didn’t even take them seriously.

These prodigies accepted them naturally, as if it was a given, and some even looked down upon the gifts.

Meanwhile, as the one who had given the most and been the closest, he received nothing.

After some thought, Fang Qingyun sighed, suddenly feeling a certain enlightenment.

"Being too honest, too genial, and having too good a temper can put you at a disadvantage."

Really?

Fang Qingyun felt lost.

As they continued walking, indeed, the expressions of those around them changed.

They all felt that Fang Che was quite nice, but that... his previous genial exterior was all a facade.

In fact, he had a fierce temper.

That face was just a curtain.

Pulled down as soon as it was needed.

Everyone started labeling Fang Che as ’not easy to provoke’ and ’bad-tempered, flips face at the drop of a hat.’

And all of this was indeed intentional by Fang Che.

Fang Che didn’t need a genial persona.

In these past few days, he had been feeling that he was too approachable, having too many so-called friends, which was not suitable for his status. He was looking for a chance to blow up, and this fool had leapt out so inappropriately.

Asking such a sensitive question.

Fang Che immediately exploded!

Sure enough, there were much fewer people around him afterwards.

His outburst at the malicious joke had not only deterred them but had also driven away some who genuinely wanted to be friends.

For this, Fang Che could only silently think: being close to me is too dangerous!

Being my friend is too high a cost!

...

Under the arena, the crowd had thinned out, at least by one-fourth of the spectators had left.

These... ahem, were the heartbroken ones.

Many of those remaining had bet on Qiu Yunshang, Xie Gongping, and Huo Churan; as for those betting on Jing Shuanggao and Yu Zhongge... there were hardly a few.

On the contrary, the support for Fang Che from the Hongfen Army had grown even more impressive.

Many of these women had the attitude of ’it’s okay to lose,’ but they hadn’t expected to actually win.

This unexpected joy was enough to make anyone happy.

Therefore, they called friends to come watch and share in the joy.

During this time, among the circle of friends, who knows how many meals had been promised...

Meanwhile, Baiyun Martial Academy was urgently scouring their records.

To see who had not participated in betting from beginning to end.

Who had not only abstained from betting but also hadn’t shown up at all.

Among those who hadn’t shown up, who was dedicated to their cultivation.

Who was neglecting their duties.

Who had consistently participated in betting, who were the organizers, the analysts.

Who had won, who had lost most disastrously...

All this had to be recorded.

"As a Martial Artist, some excitement is worth watching, but some comes with a price!"

This was the educational philosophy of Mountain Master Gao Qingyu.

"Some lessons cannot be remembered by mere words."

"Thus, they must be shown the severity!"

"As students of the Martial Arts School, what concern is the freshmen’s competition to them? Instead of striving to improve themselves, they are merely spectators, driven by greed!"

"Without a proper lesson, they will never learn the severity of my discipline!"

"After the freshmen’s competition, immediately organize an assessment for fourth-level students! Start from the day the freshmen entered the school, who has not improved, deduct two points! If someone’s cultivation and ranking have actually regressed, deduct five points!"

"I’ll show them what it’s like to be a spectator! I’ll show them what it’s like to bet!"

Gao Qingyu’s gaunt face was full of determination.

Huang Yifan hung his head listlessly at the side and said, "But this bet was organized by the school."

"Organized by the school, so what?"

Gao Qingyu said, "The school holds the right to explanation! The school merely permitted but did not compel their participation! They merely said betting was possible, but who told them to bet their family fortunes away?"

Huang Yifan let out a long sigh, "When cultured people act like hooligans... it’s utterly infuriating."

"As for Gao Yunqi and Zhou Yi, what should be done?"

Huang Yifan asked.

Dean Lv stood up and said, "This matter has its reasons; how can we blame both Gao Yunqi for it?"

To the side, Supervisor Meng Chizheng, who had been silent until now, raised his head and spoke indifferently, "The students died right before their eyes, and they were as indifferent as posts. Dean Lv, do you think they bear no responsibility for this?"

"There is responsibility, but there’s no need for severe punishment."

"Such a serious mistake, expulsion wouldn’t be too severe. Are you suggesting we should just scold them lightly and let it pass? Wouldn’t that be too lenient?"

Dean Lv’s face turned red with anger, "Supervisor Meng, what are you implying? Are you suggesting we expel our two main instructors over an error that’s not really an error?"

Meng Chizheng remained indifferent, "Dean Lv, if a mistake is made, a price must be paid. Otherwise, how can our Baiyun Martial Academy face the common people with all their varied criticisms?"

Mountain Master Gao Qingyu, with a headache, waved his hand, "Let’s discuss this matter later!"

Dean Lv and Meng Chizheng were about to stand up and speak.

But Gao Qingyu had already stood up, "Meeting adjourned!"

"Mountain Master!"

Dean Lv and Meng Chizheng exclaimed at the same time.

Gao Qingyu turned around, his voice chilling, "Or would either of you like to take the Mountain Master’s seat?"

"We wouldn’t dare!"

"Hmph, you wouldn’t dare? I think you dare a great deal! I was beginning to think you two were already acting as the Mountain Master! Look at you, behaving arrogantly and presumptuously; this is a meeting! Do you think you’re street thugs fighting over territories? Do you have any sense of decorum? Any semblance of being a role model?!"

Gao Qingyu caught the two in a tirade until their scalps tingled, then finished his rebuke fiercely, "Disorganized! Undisciplined! Disrespectful of hierarchy! Yelling in the court! Confronting your superiors! Acting on your own initiative! You two have lived in vain all these years!"

It was quite apparent to everyone that the esteemed Dean, the old silver coin, was once again using the situation to act like a hooligan.

Those who knew better kept silent.

It has to be said that over the years, there were many problems at Baiyun Martial Academy that couldn’t be resolved and ended up being dealt with by the Dean’s hooliganism.

Since the Dean had begun his act, after his tirade, he would leave angrily. After that, everything would be left for later...

So when everyone saw the Dean’s face, they immediately felt relieved.

As expected.

After a long tirade, Gao Qingyu shouted angrily, "I’ll be angered to death by you lot sooner or later! Each and every one of you is worrisome."

Clutching his chest, "My heart... cough cough cough..."

"Medicine! Medicine! Medicine!"

And with a whoosh, Gao Qingyu was gone.

As expected!

Huang Yifan grumbled a bit resentfully.

"Damn, having culture and cunning yet still being a hooligan is really great... too bad this old man can’t learn that..."

...

On the stage.

It was another intense dragon and tiger fight.

Qiu Yunshang and Jing Shuanggao were trading blows, both covered in wounds yet still fighting.

Fang Che watched intently.

The cultivation of these two fellows should both be around the peak of the Second Grade Martial Master, slightly below that of Mo Gan Yun.

And in terms of combat power, they seemed to be even less formidable than Mo Gan Yun.

The championship, steady!

But another thought rose in his heart: Had Jing Shuanggao hidden his cultivation before? Why would he conceal his cultivation level?

If he had concealed his cultivation, but now showed his true capabilities, wouldn’t that previous concealment be meaningless?

Unless... this fellow had the same purpose as himself.

To be a dark horse in this competition for new students!

Then, since he had numerous reasons for doing so, what could be Jing Shuanggao’s reason?

Which side is this guy on?

Fang Che’s mind rapidly took a new direction: Qiu Yunshang should not be from the Wei Wo Zheng Sect.

And yet, Jing Shuanggao is fighting so fiercely with Qiu Yunshang?

Insistent on beating the other down?

And there’s Yu Zhongge, growing stronger against stronger opponents, up to the present byes, his strength must be no less than that of Qiu Yunshang and the others.

What are his origins?

A hint of chill surfaced in Fang Che’s eyes.

The battle between the two finally ended with both Qiu Yunshang and Jing Shuanggao suffering injuries.

When Jing Shuanggao fell to the ground, Qiu Yunshang stood swaying but refused to fall!

"Qiu Yunshang wins, advances to the top four!"

The referee’s decision brought the battle to a close.

Then it was Huo Churan against Xie Gongping.

According to the rules, the two needed to fight another match.

The other two groups had already won!

It was not possible because you two could not decide a victor, to make others fight an extra match!

So the two not fully recovered fighters stood on the stage once more.

After battling to a draw with their remaining strength, they fought again; now it was about endurance, mental strength, and depth of resource!

The two struggled fiercely for half an hour!

Huo Churan suddenly burst forth with a set of palms so bizarre to the extreme, defeating Xie Gongping.

But the referee’s face immediately darkened.

Huo Churan’s set of palm techniques had a strange and inexplicable feel to it.

All the instructors who had been battling the Wei Wo Zheng Sect for years felt uncomfortable with it.

Although they had never seen it and had no evidence... it just felt uncomfortable to see.

Disgust shone in their eyes — that was precisely why Fang Che, in battle, absolutely refused to use the Blood Spirit Seven Forms.

It was the signature technique of the Demon Sect Hierarch, and countless members of the Righteous Sect had died under the Blood Spirit Seven Forms.

If Fang Che were to show it...

...