Chapter 36: Mission Change.
Fang Che said calmly, "I'm building a great foundation for the sect, and there's no room for sloppiness. It's better for irrelevant people to know as little as possible. Being cautious will also benefit future development. Disciple still hopes to secure a place within the sect. When the time comes, they can also show filial respect to their master."
Sun Yuan was immediately overjoyed, his face beaming with happiness.
He suddenly felt that all his efforts and hard work were worthwhile.
After some thought, he reminded, "In the future, you will definitely be noticed by the higher-ups. When the time comes, I don't know where your master will be, but I'll remind you in advance. Avoid those who practice evil techniques... Although progress may be fast in the future, try not to provoke them. If there's anything, you can find the sect leader. After all, you're considered half a disciple of the sect leader, having learned his Blood Spirit Seven Swords."
Fang Che pondered for a moment and said, "Master, there's something I'm not sure if I should ask."
"If you're already asking whether you should ask, then just say it?"
Sun Yuan rolled his eyes and said, "Go ahead."
"I've heard rumors that many masters in our One Heart Sect deceive their disciples... Uh...," Fang Che showed a hint of embarrassment typical of a young person, "But why are you so good to me, Master?"
Sun Yuan chuckled silently.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Our One Heart Sect is indeed selfish, everything is done for ourselves. After all, there's a saying, 'If everyone in the world dies, it's still not as good as being alive oneself.'"
"In some life-threatening situations, betraying each other, using each other to escape, is also normal. After all, 'Man must look out for himself, even if it means the destruction of heaven and earth.'"
"But for the successors... except for those old monsters with ulterior motives, such as those who want to extract longevity, refine human elixirs, or seize souls for their own benefit... Most of them still hope that their disciples can succeed. Especially those whose own martial arts path is cut off, but their disciples are still young and promising."
"Because in our environment, there are very few people who are truly worthy of trust and entrustment. Life in the martial world is full of dangers, and everyone is on their own, not knowing when they might perish."
"And a person who is worthy of entrustment is exactly what we need the most, because if you misjudge someone and die, your own family and children will basically be devoured by the person you entrusted them to."
"Che'er, if something happens to me one day, the whole family will be entrusted to you."
Sun Yuan felt somewhat sentimental.
He held the teacup, his expression somewhat desolate.
"Good and bad, how the world judges us, it doesn't matter to us. We live for ourselves, and also for our families. But Che'er..."
Sun Yuan said slowly, "The more selfish we are, the more we must always leave ourselves a way out."
"Otherwise... our fate will be worse than that of stray dogs!"
"You are my way out!"
Sun Yuan let out a long sigh and said, "You are still young, it's too early to talk about a way out now. But when you reach a certain position, you must remember! You must plan a way out for yourself!"
Fang Che nodded silently.
So that's how it is.
Sun Yuan immediately changed the topic and said, "This time, the sect leader has specific requirements for your mission."
"Please tell me."
"With the successful establishment of the sect and the change in the ranking of the top martial artists, the sect's fortunes have greatly increased. Next, the sect will focus on national construction and expeditions to the east and west. As for matters in the martial world, they will be temporarily handled by subordinate sects."
"There are a total of eighteen sects in the world that have reached the first rank under the name of a sect. The eighteen sects are divided into five regions. Each region must have a leading sect, in other words, a sect to take the lead."
"Our One Heart Sect, along with the Night Devil Sect, the Heavenly God Sect, and the Three Saints Sect, all belong to the Southern Region. So either we lead them, or one of them leads the other three."
"And this qualification must be obtained with contribution points."
"Ding Jieran belongs to the Night Devil Sect, Huo Churan belongs to the Three Saints Sect, and Ximen Xuri belongs to the Heavenly God Sect."
"The sect leader wants you to do whatever it takes to cripple them!"
Fang Che immediately frowned, "Cripple? Cripple them directly?"
"Yes, or even kill them!"
Sun Yuan took a deep breath. "Because if they can continue, even if they didn't get first place this time, they will still make other moves, and their actions are related to our position. Because these are contribution points within the Guardians, which are extremely important."
"If they manage to get points, we will have to grovel under one of them."
"And we were already behind in points from the last operation."
"So... this time, your mission is very important. And failure is not an option."
Fang Che fell silent for a moment and said, "Master, can I know if we have someone in the upper echelons of the Martial Arts Academy?"
Sun Yuan frowned, "Why are you asking about this? Inquiring about such matters is the biggest taboo!"
"Master, you misunderstand."
Fang Che said, "I don't want to know who he is, but this person must know who I am."
Sun Yuan said, "Hmm?"
"Because I'm worried that our people, if they don't know who I am, will deliberately target me or frame me because of the identities of these few people... Then I will have no power to resist."
Fang Che continued, "Even after I cripple or kill them, someone might use my ruthless actions against me. At that time, I will have no power to resist... Master, you know, if our people identify me as a genius of the Guardians, then there will be no room for suppressing me."
Sun Yuan was startled, "That does make sense."
He said, "I will report your concerns to the sect leader."
"Good." Fang Che lowered his head, his eyes flashing.
Sure enough!
Our Only Me Orthodox Sect has an undercover agent in the upper levels of Baiyun Martial Arts Academy!
The identity should be quite high.
A big fish!
...
Sun Yuan left all the cultivation materials and left.
Fang Che had thought he would stay in his mansion, but Sun Yuan didn't agree.
"My identity seems ambiguous on the surface, but it may not be without suspicion. My presence here increases the risk of exposure, which is not good."
"Although our master-disciple relationship is established, it's best for you to be independent. I'll just find a place to stay in the city randomly, and you can come over anytime if there's anything."
"Your identity is the same. Being noticed is certain, but you must make good use of this 'being noticed.'"
Sun Yuan hinted very subtly.
"I understand, Master."
Sun Yuan left.
After walking out of the mansion for a long time, Sun Yuan stood on the bustling street, watching the passing pedestrians, feeling somewhat lost.
Living in his disciple's mansion, how comfortable and at ease it would be. But he dared not.
He dared not bring even the slightest trouble to his own way out.
Only he knew that during this period of time, there seemed to be more people watching him.
With his cultivation, if he were exposed, he would undoubtedly die. Even if he didn't expose himself, he could be killed by a strong person in a bad mood at any time.
And Fang Che was his only back-up plan.
He was also his only successor. There couldn't be any risk at all.
Although Fang Che was now under scrutiny, it actually made him much safer. But for someone like himself, who was cunning, others wouldn't tolerate too much.
Standing in the crowded street, he suddenly felt extremely lonely.
In his heart, he couldn't help but remember Fang Che's question.
"Many in our sect deceive their disciples. Master, why are you so good to me?"
Then Sun Yuan remembered his own answer.
"In some life-threatening situations, betraying each other, using each other to escape, is also normal. After all, 'Man must look out for himself, even if it means the destruction of heaven and earth.'"
He sighed softly.
In his life, he didn't know how many times he had used his companions to shield himself from disasters.
How many partners he had worked with on missions, only to ruthlessly use them, leaving them to fight and be killed while he escaped alone?
There were truly too many to count.
This statement came from the depths of his heart.
In life-threatening situations, preserving oneself by betraying friends had become instinctual for him.
But now, thinking about it, if one day, in a life-threatening situation, Fang Che was by his side...
Would I still throw him out to shield myself, as I did before?
Perhaps I would...?
Because I am inherently ruthless and unfeeling.
Sun Yuan fell silent for a long time, finally smiling self-deprecatingly.
His figure disappeared into the crowd.
...
Fang Che frowned, lost in thought.
He didn't even look at the fourteen precious materials for cultivating the soul and body that Sun Yuan had brought him.
He was thinking about what Sun Yuan had just said.
One Heart Sect, Night Devil Sect, Heavenly God Sect, Three Saints Sect.
The four sects belonged to the Southern Region.
A leader must be selected, normally scattered across various places, but must take command when necessary.
"Yin Shen Gong is very ambitious." Fang Che thought about the 'Night Devil' code name he had not yet used. It was obvious that the Yin Shen Gong had ulterior motives.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have forgotten that the words 'Night Devil' conflicted with the Night Devil Sect!
This mission...
"To kill or cripple..."
While Fang Che felt Yin Shen Gong was ruthless, he also hesitated.
Because this went against his original intentions.
He didn't intend to kill or cripple them. In Fang Che's eyes, these three individuals were clear; originally, Fang Che intended only to defeat them.
Then, he could keep these three guys, even intentionally get close to them, make friends, and be able to obtain information from the three sects at any time.
Moreover, Yin Shen Gong's initial order was just to 'defeat.'
But Yin Shen Gong's current order disrupted his original plan.
Not doing it, however, was not an option.
Fang Che's mind was a bit confused for a moment.
"I need to rethink this."
"It would be a shame to kill or cripple them."
"These three individuals are related to three sects, at the very least, they are also from three families! These are three big fish."
Fang Che frowned, "And right now, it's not the right time to expose them. Exposing them now, firstly, is too early, we won't catch more fish, secondly, it's too easy for them, and thirdly, I will expose myself."
"So I still need to figure out a solution."
He pondered, then opened the package Sun Yuan had sent.
He couldn't help but stare for a moment.
Soul-Calming Ginseng, Ice Crystal Spirit Fruit, Ice and Snow Shocking Spirit Fruit... Diamond Grass, Body-Refining Stone Milk, Vein-Purifying Orchid...
These things were not very useful for improving cultivation, but they were all treasures for laying the foundation!
He looked at them for a long time before sighing.
Sun Yuan, although a member of the Only Me Orthodox Sect, and also having done many despicable and ruthless things, was truly good to him.
"It's a pity, our positions are different, our beliefs are different; I can die for my brothers, and there are brothers willing to die for me, anytime, anywhere. But I will never do what you guys do, pushing your brothers out to block the knife at the last moment."
"Ah..."
Only a sigh remained.
"If you die in the future, and if your family is not too bad, I will repay this kindness to you."
Fang Che contemplated, picked up the Soul-Calming Ginseng, and stuffed it into his mouth...
...
Morning.
Yen Meng carefully dressed Fang Che.
Then Fang Che set off for the martial arts academy.
Today is the first day of the competition for the top 100 new talents at the academy.
But even as he walked, Fang Che was still thinking about what to do with those three people.
Should he really follow Yin Shen Gong orders and cripple or kill them?
How can he satisfy Yin Shen Gong while also maximizing his own and the Guardian's interests? Or, in other words, how can he use these three people to the greatest extent to strike at these three sects?
A thought flashed in Fang Che's mind: Is the Only Me Orthodox Sect, with so many subordinate sects, represented only by these three individuals at Bibo City Martial Arts Academy?
...
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