Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After leaving the alchemy sect, Fang Yang followed behind Ouyang Cheng quietly. He did not utter a word but his fists were tightly clenched while rage and enmity surged in his eyes.
“Are you cursing me behind my back?” All of a sudden, Ouyang Cheng’s voice was heard.
Fang Yang shivered in his heart. He lowered his head and said, “I daren’t.”
Ouyang Cheng stopped walking. He turned around to look at Fang Yang. “Do you wish to take revenge on Fang Lin?”
Stunned for a moment, Fang Yang soon nodded heavily.
“Then, go ahead and do as you wish. I’ll be standing right behind you as long as you can avoid letting others get hold of something on you.” Ouyang Cheng cracked into a cruel smile.
Fang Yang was overjoyed upon hearing that. Ouyang Cheng’s statement was as good as giving him full support behind his back.
“Thank you so much, Senior Brother Disciple Ouyang!” Fang Yang clasped his hands before his chest and saluted him. However, there was still a sliver of gloomy chill in Fang Yang’s eyes that Ouyang Cheng failed to see.
…
In the blink of an eye, six months passed. Fang Lin managed to refine two more bottles of Energy-nurturing Pills during this period of time and elevated his realm to level-4 primordial man.
Level-4 primordial man realm was already considered the middle range amongst the junior alchemy disciples. Even though it was not considered very high, it allowed Fang Lin to be in the lead over a portion of junior alchemy disciples at the very least.
Fang Lin and Xu Shangao formed a deep friendship after spending days and nights together continuously for six months. The relationship between them could be described as akin to teacher-student besides being friends.
“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, since you’re going to leave tomorrow, I’d like to wish you well in advance. I hope that you can become an official disciple soon. By then, we shall gather once again as brothers.”
Xu Shangao and Fang Lin sat opposite one another. They toasted with tea in place of wine as they chatted joyously.
Fang Lin raised his teacup and grinned. “I would also like to wish you well in advance. May you become a medium-grade disciple this year. By then, I’ll be a low-grade disciple and you’ll still be supporting me behind my back, Senior Brother Disciple Xu.”
Xu Shangao smiled bitterly while shaking his head. He thought to himself about how Fang Lin would soon surpass himself due to his natural talent. Suddenly, he spoke in all apparent seriousness, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, there’s something that I have no choice but to remind you. Be careful of Kang Lu. He’s not a simple man.”
“Then, will you tell me why he is not a simple man so that I don’t end up being bullied to death by him later on?” Fang Lin asked.
Xu Shangao’s expression appeared rather solemn when he said, “Even though Kang Lu is just a junior alchemy disciple, he has a brother who is an official disciple in the martial art sect. Moreover, his brother holds a rather well-respected position there.”
Upon listening to his statement, Fang Lin was slightly astonished. This was news to him. No wonder Kang Lu always looked fearless and emboldened as if he had someone’s backing. So, it turned out that he had a brother in the martial art sect. In fact, he had no regard for many people including many official disciples in the alchemy sect.
“Other than the relationship he has with the martial art sect, Kang Lu has a very deep network within the alchemy sect. There are numerous official disciples that are close to him. I think that one of the alchemy sect’s four excellencies, Yu Qiufan, also thinks highly of him,” Xu Shangao then continued.
“What are the alchemy sect’s four excellencies?” asked Fang Lin in confusion.
Xu Shangao was frustrated, but since this was the first time Fang Lin was hearing this, he could only explain it patiently, “The alchemy sect’s four excellencies are the four most outstanding disciples amongst the high-grade disciples. They are also the four disciples that stand the most chance at becoming true lineage disciples in the recent few years. Every single one of them is outstanding and they are the important personages of our alchemy sect.”
“That sounds pretty impressive.” Fang Lin nodded half-understandingly.
Upon seeing Fang Lin’s carefree look, Xu Shangao could not refrain from speaking once again, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, if Kang Lu really does strike up a relationship with Yu Qiufan, it’s best for you not to offend Kang Lu anymore. Find a good time to show your obedience to him. It’s better than having him constantly targeting you anyhow.”
Fang Lin smiled and said, “Thank you for your gentle reminder, Senior Brother Disciple. If I find that I’m being bullied beyond my limits by then, I shall yield if I must.”
Nonetheless, Xu Shangao had a rather good understanding of Fang Lin’s temper. He was well aware that it would not be an easy task for Fang Lin to yield easily.
They did not speak anymore for the rest of the night.
The next day, Fang Lin packed his stuff and bade farewell to Xu Shangao. Then, he returned to his residence in the designated area for the junior alchemy disciples.
To his horror, he discovered that his cabin was forcefully stripped down by someone as soon as he arrived. Originally, it was just a simple, small cabin. However, only two broken walls were left standing there at that very moment. There were quite a number of junior alchemy disciples with sympathetic expressions standing around the cabin.
Fang Lin shook his head and smiled bitterly. He was not furious. If it was stripped down, then so be it. Anyhow, he had no attachment to it.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiaoqing appeared. She ordered him in rage at once upon realizing the state of his cabin, “Fang Lin, follow me!”
Fang Lin was stunned for a moment. “Where are we going?”
“To my place, of course. Your house is gone, but you can stay at my place for the time being,” she replied sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at him.
Upon hearing her offer, there was envy in the eyes of the junior alchemy disciples present. They looked at Lu Xiaoqing in astonishment.
Fang Lin was embarrassed as well. Lu Xiaoqing was actually daring enough to make such an offer. If he were to move into her room, he figured that he would be beaten up by a gang of male disciples the next day.
She seemed to have realized the awkwardness of the situation as well. She blushed shyly but still stamped her foot. “You can stay at my place. I’ll be staying with Senior Sister Disciple Zhou for the time being. Don’t think too much about that.”
Upon listening to her words, Fang Lin beamed and responded, “Since that’s the case, then it is better for me to accept rather than decline you courteously.”
Filled with joy, Lu Xiaoqing led him to her residence without paying attention to the astonished gazes from the people around her.
Alas, he discovered that mostly female disciples stayed in the area around Lu Xiaoqing’s residence as soon as he arrived. To them, it was truly a beautiful scene for a man like him to appear in this place.
Some of the female disciples were sizing him up curiously. After all, male disciples seldom came to this part of the residence, especially Fang Lin. He was rather famous amongst the junior alchemy disciples, so his presence drew in everyone’s attention naturally.
Fang Lin appeared to be calm and composed despite being the apple of the female disciples’ eyes. Lu Xiaoqing, on the other hand, felt slightly self-conscious. After all, it was her decision to take Fang Lin back to her residence. This could easily lead to misunderstanding.
“Junior Sister Disciple Lu, are you taking your little lover back to your home?”
“Is Junior Sister Disciple Lu is going to sleep in the same room as Fang Lin tonight?”
“She has no shame!”
Some people were teasing them while some despised her naturally. Fang Lin looked at those female disciples with laser eyes because their words were truly unpleasant to the ears and he found it hard to accept those critiques.
Lu Xiaoqing appeared to be even more furious. She glared at those female disciples that made those awful remarks.
“Oh no, what’s wrong with you, Junior Sister Disciple Lu? Don’t be angry. It’s okay to bring a man home. I personally find that both of you look quite well-matched actually,” a female disciple expressed in a high-pitch. However, the mocking tone in her words was evident.
Lu Xiaoqing was so furious that her chest was heaving up and down obviously. Fang Lin said to the female disciple sweetly, “Senior Sister Disciple, be careful tonight. Perhaps I might be peeking at you when you’re taking a shower.”
The female disciple’s expression changed at once upon hearing that. She grunted once and scolded him, “So, just as expected, you really are a shameless man!”
Fang Lin sniggered and said, “Not only am I going to peek at you, but I’m also going to catch a few snakes and put it in your residence secretly.”
Her expression changed drastically upon hearing that. She dared not pester Fang Lin anymore and turned around to leave.
Meanwhile, the rest of the female disciples shivered in fright upon hearing Fang Lin’s malicious idea of revenge. They were terrified of the thought about a few twisted, poisonous snakes crawling in their residences.
Lu Xiaoqing was startled by Fang Lin’s reaction as well. She said softly, “Don’t catch snakes tonight. That’s disgusting.”
Fang Lin burst out laughing as he followed Lu Xiaoqing into the residence.
Lu Xiaoqing tidied the house for a while before she soon left. She refused to stay inside the house with Fang Lin for too long in fear that the others would misunderstand.
“A young maiden’s house sure smells sweeter,” he muttered to himself as he took a look at everything inside the house. The air carried a faint whiff of Lu Xiaoqing’s remnant scent.
At night, Fang Lin sat on the ground cross-legged and began cultivating quietly.
All of a sudden, a male voice was heard from outside of the residence. “Junior Sister Disciple Xiaoqing, it’s Sun Hao. Please open the door. I have something to tell you.”
Fang Lin opened his eyes. He was astonished ever so slightly for a moment but could not help chuckling.
Sun Hao was standing outside the residence with a slightly intoxicated look on his face. It was apparent that he had consumed some wine. “Junior Sister Disciple Xiaoqing, it has already been a long time since I wanted to tell you something. I hope that you are willing to meet me in person,” he shouted again.
The female disciples staying nearby were out to watch the comical scene. They giggled in secret upon seeing Sun Hao’s drunken appearance.
The female disciple that Fang Lin threatened in the morning was there as well. She came up with an idea instantly upon seeing the scene. She greeted with a wry smile, “Sun Hao, your Junior Sister Disciple Xiaoqing is having a great time with a wild man inside right now.”
Upon hearing her words, some female disciples shot a disgusted glance at the woman. They were well aware that Lu Xiaoqing was even not staying in the residence, yet she was making such an accusation intentionally. It was apparent that she harbored ill intentions.
Sun Hao was already drunk, so he immediately felt rage burning his chest after hearing the female disciple’s words. He roared aloud and busted the door down with a ferocious kick.
Startled, Fang Lin stood up and cursed bitterly in his heart when he saw Sun Hao’s ferocious appearance. ‘I hate drunk madmen the most!’ he said in his heart. Then, he shouted aloud in all apparent seriousness, “Sun Hao, what do you want?”
A gush of unknown rage surged into Sun Hao’s head when he realized that Fang Lin was actually in Lu Xiaoqing’s house. His eyes turned red with rage at once.
“I’m going to kill you!” Sun Hao roared in rage. He pounced toward Fang Lin right away like an evil ghost.
Expressionlessly, Fang Lin threw a punch at the very moment Sun Hao dashed toward him.
Bang!
Sun Hao’s nose took the impact of the punch. His entire body was thrown backward by the impact before he crashed onto the ground outside the house. Fresh blood gushed out of his nose akin to a waterfall. His expression contorted as he held his face in agony.
The female disciples on the outside were shocked, especially the woman who had instigated Sun Hao earlier. Her beautiful face turned ghastly pale in fear.
Fang Lin walked out from the residence calmly and darted a stony look at Sun Hao on the ground. He dashed forward right away and ferociously kicked Sun Hao’s body twice under the astonished gaze of the people around him.
“Why did you bust the door, huh?! Why? Why did you get drunk and get crazy?! Why did you get drunk and go crazy! Do you think that I can’t beat you to death?” Fang Lin was in a great mood, so he kicked him a few more times. Every kick delivered was filled with strength such that Sun Hao was crying out in pain.
The female disciples on the side were deadly quiet. They watched Fang Lin with fear in their eyes. They never expected that Fang Lin, who appeared kind and polite on usual days, could be so savage.
All of a sudden, a female disciple shrieked loudly, “Murderer! Fang Lin has killed someone!”
Fang Lin stopped the beating and glared at the woman. It was the same woman that had smeared Lu Xiaoqing’s reputation with her words this morning. With a sneer, he began to walk toward the woman slowly.
“What are you doing? Stop!” The woman retreated continuously as she looked at him in trepidation.