I, Fang Che, Silent and Taciturn

At the Great Training Field, I, Fang Che, Silent and Taciturn.

A platform rose abruptly from the ground.

The place was already bustling with noise, packed shoulder to shoulder with people.

From fifth-years to first-year freshmen, countless people had come to watch.

Credits! They were far too important.

And far too difficult to obtain.

There were ten ways to earn credits: first, contribute to the Martial Academy; second, complete Martial Academy missions; third, create one's own techniques and store them in the Martial Repository; fourth, personally hunt wanted criminals of all levels, as offered by the various authorities; fifth, personally hunt targets wanted by the Guardian Hall; sixth, personally kill criminals from any sect of the Sole True Sect; seventh, personally collect Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of all levels and turn them in; eighth, personally hunt Demon Beast cores of all levels and turn them in (starting from fifth level); ninth, rank among the top hundred of one's grade in the seasonal competition (after ranking in the top ten for four consecutive seasons, there would be no further credit rewards); and tenth, advance in rank during each assessment.

It was basically the same as telling the students: Fight for your lives! Every method of earning credits required them to fight for their lives! Yet spending credits was simple enough. Food, clothing, and cultivation all required them. If they did something wrong or damaged any Martial Academy facilities, credits would even be deducted.

That was why the White Cloud Martial Academy's credits had always been a source of pain in the hearts of its students throughout the generations!

It was not merely difficult.

It was truly, painfully difficult.

Now that there was a chance to get something for nothing, how could they not fight for it? Especially those who had lost in previous years.

They were all rubbing their fists and palms, eager to try.

Amid the freshmen's shocked and astonished gazes, and the older students' accustomed looks, more than a dozen Martial Academy instructors carried tables outside and quickly set up a betting station.

Outside, there were also various introductions to the top hundred freshmen, complete with pictures and text.

It made it easier for students to decide whom to bet on.

The information was only very brief.

Fang Che, Huo Churan, Ding Ziran...

Age, background, admission ranking, and the number of points earned this time.

But there was no information about cultivation, weapons, Martial Skills, and the like.

In other words, they could only rely on luck.

However, countless self-proclaimed analysis experts had already begun analyzing. Most people's gazes lingered around the top ten or top three.

Some people, however, looked over those ranked within the top twenty. What if there was a dark horse? Betting on the top three paid three to one; betting on those outside the top ten paid ten to one.

How could those be the same? If they happened to pick a dark horse, they basically would not need to worry about credits for their entire time at the Martial Academy.

They would get rich overnight!

The Martial Academy itself was running the betting pool.

Fang Che really had his eyes opened.

Looking at his own name displayed in huge characters with a red circle around it, making him look like a clear favorite,

he found it both hilarious and exasperating that so few people were betting on him.

It seemed the reputation of him "cheating through clever tricks" had already spread.

As he watched, he suddenly sensed someone beside him.

He turned his head and saw that it was Vice President Huang Yifan.

"Greetings, Vice President."

Huang Yifan patted him on the shoulder meaningfully and said, "Take it easy."

Then he vanished into the crowd.

???

Fang Che was somewhat puzzled.

Take it easy? What did he mean? Recalling Huang Yifan's meaningful expression, Fang Che immediately understood something.

These Martial Academy leaders... were rather sinister.

Having been an old hand for so long, Fang Che instantly understood the leaders' little schemes.

But what he found even more meaningful was this... why did someone as important as Huang Yifan keep circling around him every day? Fang Che understood at once.

This Vice President Huang Yifan must know something.

Fang Che had been puzzled on the very first day, and had already been seventy percent certain. Today, after Huang Yifan's little appearance, he became completely certain!

Beneath the platform,

as Fang Che arrived, countless gazes gathered on him.

Those gazes were complicated.

With the clang of a gong, the grand competition officially began.

The drawing of lots.

All the contestants with odd numbers drew their opponents simultaneously.

Fang Che received his opponent's number and looked up.

Number seventy-six.

Then the rules were announced.

There would be no repechage. In other words, everything depended on luck. For example, you might have the strength to compete for second place, but if you encountered the champion in the first round, you would be eliminated in the first round.

You would have no chance at all to compete for a ranking.

One round and out!

It was simple, slapdash, crude, and perfunctory.

As the first-ranked contestant, Fang Che was naturally the first to fight.

"The first bout: Fang Che versus Lin Ziqing. Challenger Fang Che, please come onto the stage!"

Fang Che ranked higher, so he was naturally the one defending the stage.

The referee's ringing announcement spread throughout the Great Training Field.

"Yes!"

Fang Che did not say another word. A black shadow flashed, and beneath the sunlight, dark golden starlight shimmered like an entire starry sky suddenly blazing overhead.

His figure drifted with elegant grace, and he was already standing on the platform.

The rising sun cast myriad rays of rosy light.

The youth stood tall and straight, as pure as jade.

The boundless radiance seemed draped over his body. Or perhaps he had stepped upon the rosy light and emerged from within it.

His brows were like swords, his gaze like blades. His face had sharply defined contours, fierce and aloof, ethereal and detached from the world.

His body was like a jade tree embraced by fragrant orchids, resembling an immortal descending beneath the moon.

All the students craned their necks in anticipation. The instant Fang Che stepped onto the stage, the entire crowd was riveted.

As his black robe billowed, the moment Fang Che set foot on the platform,

the entire venue suddenly fell silent.

Even the instructors serving as referees could not help praising him inwardly: What bearing! What a presence! The countless girls below felt as though their chests had been struck hard the moment Fang Che entered their eyes.

It was as if he had crashed straight from their eyes into their hearts.

In an instant, their hearts fluttered like startled deer.

The moon in the sky was the moon in their eyes; the person before them was the person in their dreams.

It seemed that all their fantasies had suddenly become real.

Fang Che first swept his gaze around the stage, looking for familiar faces.

He had not expected Kang Zijian to make it into the top hundred.

But after scanning around, he did not see Kang Zijian. Instead, he saw Wei Zihao.

He could not help pausing.

Wei Zihao looked much more spirited now. He seemed to have lost some weight, but Fang Che vaguely felt... had he also gotten darker? A murky aura hung over his face.

Fang Che remembered Wei Zihao deeply. After all, he had planned to bully him for a long time at the Martial Academy, so he immediately noticed the difference at a glance.

Darker, thinner.

But with only a fleeting glance, Fang Che had no time to think deeply.

Because it was almost time for his self-introduction..

"Respected instructors, senior brothers, senior sisters, and fellow students."

Fang Che was poised and generous. He cupped his fists and bowed, standing tall and straight. "My name is Fang Che. Fang as in square and upright, and Che as in thorough from beginning to end. My family gave me this name because they wanted me to become a square and upright gentleman who followed things through to the very end."

He seemed a little embarrassed as he smiled. "Unfortunately, I am not quite that much of a gentleman. Once we get to know each other, don't let my name fool you."

A burst of good-natured laughter immediately rose from below, mostly from the girls.

Someone even shouted loudly, "I don't mind being fooled by you!"

"Hahaha..."

The laughter grew louder.

Onstage, Fang Che smiled, looking somewhat bashful. "I have many flaws. My temper isn't very good either, and my personality has some defects. I can only take advantage and cannot suffer a loss..."

After listing a great many of his shortcomings, he said seriously, "I am also normally silent and taciturn, sparing with my words, and somewhat withdrawn. I hope all my senior brothers, senior sisters, and fellow students... won't hold it against me in the future."

Silent and taciturn? Sparing with his words? Withdrawn?!

The countless people below burst into laughter.

They all felt that this fellow was handsome, graceful, and possessed an excellent bearing.

He was unexpectedly humorous as well.

That was truly rare.

But over the next five years, as they interacted with Fang Che, one by one they would come to realize it only belatedly. Many people would recall his self-introduction today and discover with shock that everything this fellow had said back then had actually been true! The feeling was beyond words.

On the other side,

Lin Ziqing had also leaped onto the stage. He wore a blue robe and was also a tall, straight youth.

He was quite handsome.

But standing beside Fang Che, just as he was about to introduce himself, he suddenly felt unbelievably uncomfortable...

It was as if a brick had been placed beside a luminous pearl.

The contrast was simply too stark.

So he silently moved three zhang away from Fang Che, yet still felt it was too close and took two more steps outward.

He found himself already at the edge of the platform.

"Respected instructors, everyone..."

Before he could finish, a sudden burst of uproarious laughter erupted below.

Some people laughed until tears came to their eyes.

The main reason was that Lin Ziqing's reaction just now had been far too obvious.

Everyone understood why.

The laughter washed over Lin Ziqing, leaving him utterly dumbfounded. Standing onstage with a flushed face, he unexpectedly could not utter another word.

Suddenly, a wave of anger surged upward. He whipped around and glared at Fang Che, fury blazing in his eyes.

His teeth were clenched tightly.

It's all because of you! Fang Che was stunned.

What the hell? You shifted the blame pretty quickly...

Lin Ziqing's face was full of anger. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

Fang Che simply turned aside and extended a hand. "Student Lin, please!"

The breath Lin Ziqing had drawn in lodged in his throat once more.

His eyes bulged with rage.

At the same time, he drew his sword and shouted furiously, "Fang Che, you are despicable and shameless! You cheated your way to first place. Today, I, Lin Ziqing, will expose you for what you are!"

A helpless look appeared on Fang Che's face. He said earnestly, "Don't speak so loudly, Student Lin. The one with reason need not raise his voice. And don't be so furious. Even without me, you would only be ranked seventy-fifth. Your anger seems rather groundless. It's as if, without me, you could have become champion."

Those words were like a sharp needle, stabbing into Lin Ziqing's heart.

In an instant, all his internal organs seemed to burn.

Whoosh! Enraged by those words until his vision darkened, Lin Ziqing slashed at him with his sword.

Fang Che dodged aside and said seriously, "If you feel dissatisfied, Student Lin, then I apologize. I'm sorry. I took first place and blocked your path. Without me, you would have been seventy-fifth. I am truly very sorry."

"I'll kill you!"

Lin Ziqing roared. Veins bulged on his face as he unleashed his full strength.

"Ah... Student Lin, you're being a little too impulsive. We are fellow students and should cherish that bond. We shouldn't say the word 'kill.' Why don't you go down and rest for a while? You're still young; it's not worth damaging your health over this."

He turned his body, and somehow arrived behind Lin Ziqing. Then he lightly pushed him.

Lin Ziqing was already at the edge of the platform. Unable to stop his feet after the push, he unexpectedly sprinted out of the ring. His longsword remained thrust forward, and before he could change its direction, it stabbed toward a fifth-year senior below.

That senior seemed to be the leader of a group of older students. Many people clustered around him, making him stand out like a crane among chickens.

Seeing Lin Ziqing flying toward him, he merely frowned slightly and made no move.

Smack!

Someone beside him stepped forward at once, seemingly desperate to show off. With a single slap, he knocked Lin Ziqing to the side, wiped his hand, and shouted angrily, "How dare you try to assassinate my boss!"

Lin Ziqing had already fainted.

Another commotion broke out beneath the stage.

The result was announced from above: Number One won!

Fang Che bowed meticulously, thanked everyone in all directions, and descended from the stage with elegant grace.

In an instant, he vanished without a trace.

His battle was over. He would wait for the next fifty-person battle.

There was a certain quietness both above and below the stage.

That was because there was far too much to savor in this battle.

Lin Ziqing had indeed been somewhat weak.

But Fang Che did not seem to be much stronger.

Many people even felt that the difference in martial strength was not very great. The greatest damage had not come from Fang Che's palm, either.

The power of Fang Che's few sentences had been more than ten times greater than the damage from the fight! Regardless of whether they were freshmen or older students, men or women, they were all thinking the same thing: This fellow's strength had yet to be displayed in full.

But there was no denying it—the poison in that mouth of his was truly lethal.