Mental Clarity

Everyone immediately perked up and listened intently.

"First, convert the Su Family's power into financial resources. Guardian Hall will take twenty percent, while the four families divide the remaining eighty percent. But set an assessment—if they fail to meet the standards when the deadline comes, strip it away and reclaim it."

"Second, sort through the assets and hand them to Fang Che. Go along with One Heart Sect's scheme this time and see what they are really planning. Then try to uncover some clues through Fang Che."

"Third, give the local geniuses secret missions. No matter what, stop Fang Che with all their strength. He absolutely must not take first place, lest the comrades at the Martial Academy be put in a difficult position."

"Fourth, search with all our strength for the whereabouts of these One Heart Sect people. Other than Fang Che's master, kill the rest without mercy the moment they are found!"

Someone below immediately asked, "Why exclude Fang Che's master instead?"

"Idiot! Touch one of that master-disciple pair and you'll scare the other half to death. How are we supposed to fish then? Those two are out in the open already—do we even need to pull them out?!"

Chen Ruhai cursed without ceremony.

Everyone immediately understood.

They could not help but admire him inwardly.

Chen Hall Master might have a rough, uncouth face, paid no heed to trifles, and had feet that stank like a latrine, but he truly had ability.

That clarity of thought was downright astonishing.

Across from him, the middle-aged man presiding over the meeting wore a face full of misery, as though he owed someone a debt he could never repay through lifetimes upon lifetimes.

He waved his hand and said in a low voice of utter despair, "The Hall Master has given his orders. We'll do it that way. Everyone, disperse."

The moment he spoke, Chen Ruhai immediately lowered his foot and put on his boots with a constipated expression. Rolling his eyes, he said, "Fan Tiantiao, can you stop talking in that tone like you died and never got buried?"

"Used to it. I don't want to either." Fan Tiantiao sighed sorrowfully, the wrinkles on his face deepening even further.

The moment the two began speaking, everyone else vanished with a swish.

Mainly because whenever these two talked together, it made one feel as though they were standing in two different worlds at once. That sense of division was enough to drive anyone mad.

Yet one was the Hall Master, while the other was the Vice Hall Master.

And they had been transferred in from different places and thrown together.

Thus, they had become this utterly incompatible pair.

They loathed the sight of each other! Neither could stand the other.

"You're not leaving? Something you want to say?"

Chen Ruhai rolled his eyes.

"There must be someone beside that Fang Che. I will apply to the Dark Hall to send someone undercover!"

Fan Tiantiao said it word by word.

Hearing that broken, sorrowful voice and looking at that face whose wrinkles seemed never to have smoothed out since the day he was born, Chen Ruhai inexplicably felt uncomfortable. He waved a hand, turned his face aside, and said, "Arrange it yourself."

"I can arrange it."

Fan Tiantiao hissed, "But if anything is discovered, I will kill him immediately. Then whatever fishing plan you have will be finished too."

"Then it's finished. You decide."

Chen Ruhai vanished with a whoosh.

From behind him came Fan Tiantiao's cold, hoarse voice, as though his throat had been utterly ruined and was choking with sobs: "If you take off your shoes during meetings again, I'll have a chat with you all night!"

Bang! Chen Ruhai disappeared.

The moment he returned to his study, he wrote a report: "I accept being transferred here, but I request that Fan Tiantiao be transferred away immediately!"

Fan Tiantiao frowned in the main hall and considered matters for a long while before finally walking out, frowning, one tottering step at a time.

Then a message was sent to the Dark Hall.

"There is an easy mission here. The key talents being cultivated may be sent here as appropriate to carry it out—consider it training."

When Fang Che received word that Guardian Hall had agreed to let him "hold it in safekeeping," he merely nodded silently, unsurprised.

With such a huge commotion and such an eerie development, if Guardian Hall still did not realize he had ties to One Heart Sect, strengthen its guard against him, and take measures accordingly, then those people truly had pig brains.

Because there was an obvious thread running through him.

"If they have enough brains to plant someone by my side, that would be even better."

Fang Che thought silently.

Because with his current strength, he could not make any rash moves.

He was too weak, entirely lacking the strength to conceal his actions. Once discovered, he would certainly be cut down before he could grow.

Ever since choosing this path, Fang Che had not taken life and death to heart. But if he died now, that would be far too regrettable.

Sun Yuan, on the other hand, grew deeply worried.

"Che'er, this matter... could easily bring fire upon your own body. Now that Guardian Hall agreed so readily, it is obvious they have their eyes on you. This was a misstep."

Fang Che said firmly, "So what if they are watching me? I cannot disregard brotherhood and loyalty. No matter what, I must help Big Brother Su Yue safeguard his assets."

"Ah... I really don't know whether you are truly foolish or only pretending."

Sun Yuan sighed helplessly.

"But after this, you must be prepared. It is time to begin the Doctrinal Baptism."

Fang Che nodded.

This was entirely within his expectations.

Ever since he had stepped forward, whether it was One Heart Sect or Guardian Hall, anyone with half a brain would have a storm of thoughts.

And Fang Che could more or less calculate what they would guess and think. Thus, he was absolutely certain that events would proceed exactly according to the course he envisioned.

The worst part was that... in certain people's eyes, his identity was practically "half-exposed."

But even that bit of exposure was something Fang Che wanted.

One Heart Sect could not take away the Su Family's assets. So the moment he stepped forward, they would find a way. And their way would inevitably be to wipe out the Su Family to the last man.

The Su Family had joined One Heart Sect and become traitors to the continent. Fang Che had never intended to spare such a family.

I plotted to kill you, killed your family's elite, swallowed your assets, used you to make my name, wiped out your entire family, and even made the faction you joined destroy your family with its own hands! Su Yue, I wonder whether you regret using and framing a child back then? Has your mind achieved Mental Clarity now?

Fang Che asked in his heart.

A faint obsession, too subtle to detect, quietly dissipated.

After Guardian Hall inspected and inventoried the Su Family's properties, they began disposing of them publicly.

Fang Zhenghang of the Fang Family personally stepped in and acquired, at a high price, a street that had originally belonged to the Su Family. It happened to border the Fang Family's territory. He also took two teahouses, two grain shops, a pawnshop, a gambling house, and a brothel.

"Bid as much as you like. Your nephew said the money can be returned."

Thinking of the words his younger sister Fang Qianyi had told him before he came, Fang Zhenghang was filled with ambition.

With those words giving him confidence, whenever it came to businesses he had long had his eye on, no matter how much the other families offered, Fang Zhenghang had the courage to outbid them.

"Fang Zhenghang! Does your Fang Family even have that much money?"

Wei Junping, the Wei Family Head, was so furious his mind went blank. He stood and cursed in public.

"Our Fang Family has accumulated wealth for generations..." Fang Zhenghang had only gotten halfway through before the heads of the other three families all spat out a simultaneous "Pah!" at him.

Everyone knew what was going on, yet here in Guardian Hall, they could not say it aloud.

In the end, the Fang Family won a complete victory.

Once they exited the hall.

Wei Junping said grimly, "Fang Zhenghang, the Su Family may not be entirely dead. When they return, let's see how your Fang Family repays this debt!"

Fang Zhenghang said mildly, "We have already paid in full. Why would we need to repay it later?"

The other family heads all flicked their sleeves and left.

When Fang Zhenghang returned to the Fang Family, Fang Qianyi came over an hour later and delivered a chest of Silver Notes and gold notes.

It was precisely the price the Fang Family had just paid.

Fang Zhenghang's expression was grave. Looking at the chest, there was not much joy on his face.

He said softly, "Little sister, keep an eye on him. The child must not go down the wrong path."

Fang Qianyi sighed. "I understand."

Fang Zhenghang patted the chest and said, "There is something I need to inform you of. From today onward, Fang Che will have a share in the inheritance rights of our Fang Family in Azure Wave City! Che'er will receive the same treatment as a legitimate son in inheritance!"

Fang Qianyi was greatly startled. "Big Brother, Che'er is an outsider by marriage. Wouldn't this cause internal strife in the Fang Family?"

"We cannot let the child's heart grow cold."

Fang Zhenghang said, "Che'er may be an outsider by marriage, but your Big Brother is the Family Head!"

He said beyond question, "I have already written this matter into the family rules. There is no need to discuss it further."

Fang Qianyi hesitated as if she wanted to speak, but could only sigh.

She knew her big brother's temperament. Once he made a decision, it could not be changed.

"Also, Che'er's nominal right is only to safeguard the Su Family's assets on their behalf. If someone from the Su Family comes someday, or if that Su Yue truly returns, then the Fang Family will not deny the debt!"

Fang Zhenghang smiled warmly. "Your Big Brother can still make that decision. And with several years to develop using these resources, we will have more than enough to make up for it."

"...Thank you, Big Brother."

Fang Zhenghang's eyes and brows carried a smile. "I am very gratified that Che'er made such a decision."

He said solemnly, "The child is a good child, but he is now standing at the crest of the wind and waves. He must not go down the wrong path."

"Yes."

At this moment, Fang Che had already followed Sun Yuan to a secret location.

Sun Yuan had knocked Fang Che unconscious and brought him here.

He had no idea where this place was.

When he awoke, he was in a bizarre underground space.

The yin aura was thick and chilling, carrying an indescribable sense of the underworld.

On both sides stood eight grotesque stone statues, each one clearly shaped like a demon lord.

In the shrine at the center, however, was a fierce and terrifying centipede.

It had a human head and a centipede's body, covered all over in horrifying, bizarre feelers.

An eerie green light seemed to flicker in the Centipede God's eyes.

The green light enveloped precisely the spot where Fang Che stood.

Within a radius of three feet, the green glow shimmered.

Below the shrine, four people stood ramrod straight.

One stood in the center; on one side was one person, and on the other side were two.

Sun Yuan stepped forward and stood on the side with one person.

Thus, the arrangement became one in the center, with two on each side.

"Che'er, this is your Doctrinal Baptism ceremony. After today, you will truly be one of One Heart Sect!" Sun Yuan said softly.

Fang Che's heart tightened.

This was the Sole True Sect's initiation ceremony?

The initiation ceremony said to be impossible for any spy, no matter how ingenious or adaptable, to pass?!...

Come at midnight for recommendation votes.