The Leader's Orders

This turn of events had come from within.

No one had expected bloodshed to erupt on a perfectly good arena stage! Ximen Xuri was wild with rage, his eyes already dim with despair.

After cultivating until now, nearly all his killing techniques lay in the hidden weapons wielded by his right hand. Yet Fang Che had just severed that hand with a single slash!

And then stepped on it! He could have reattached it originally, but after that stomp, he was destined to become a cripple! His entire life was ruined! His eyes were filled with venomous killing intent. He had forgotten everything and only wanted to kill and take revenge! The chief referee leaped over: "Stop..."

At that moment, Fang Che seemed to have reined in his anger. He moved his blade away, took a step back, secretly gathered his cultivation, and gave Ximen Xuri a chance to counterattack. Then he turned back apologetically and said, "Sorry, teacher. I couldn't hold back..."

The two referees immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's fine..."

Just then, countless shouts rang out from below the stage: "Look out!"

A furious roar! From within the sleeve of Ximen Xuri's left arm, a streak of scarlet light suddenly flashed.

It was the Crimson Blood Snake! This was even more unexpected. No one had imagined that Ximen Xuri still hadn't given up.

No.

He hadn't merely refused to give up. He wanted to kill Fang Che and take revenge! He had already lost his reason.

This time, it was truly too late.

On the distant High Platform, two figures shot up and flew over like lightning, but they were already too late.

At this critical juncture! "Damn it!"

The blade flashed violently. Fang Che spun around and let out a furious roar. With boundless rage, the blade came crashing down over the snake's head! The Crimson Blood Snake was cleaved in two. Before its foul blood could even splash out, the blade had already descended from the top of Ximen Xuri's head, cleaving him from crown to crotch! The two halves of his body fell to the left and right.

Both severed halves of his face still wore poisonous hatred.

Fang Che gripped the blade, his body frozen in the posture of a slash. He trembled violently, his face deathly pale.

He seemed to have been frightened senseless.

Swish!

Two senior instructors landed on the stage, and the two referees had also made their move.

But everything was already too late.

Ximen Xuri had become two halves.

No, three pieces. There was still that arm! "Ah! This..."

Several instructors stamped their feet and sighed on the stage, utterly at a loss for words.

The matter had happened right there on the arena stage. Who was right and who was wrong? Tens of thousands of eyes had witnessed it.

Although Fang Che was the killer now that things had developed this far, everyone understood that this truly couldn't be blamed on Fang Che!

Ximen Xuri had seized the upper hand the moment he came up.

And that wasn't all.

He had not only taken the initiative to use a weapon, he had used a hidden weapon—and had launched it before issuing any warning. It was obvious that he had intended to kill without wanting to bear the responsibility.

After being suddenly counterattacked, losing an arm, and having a blade pressed against his neck, he had already lost. Fang Che had been enraged yet restrained himself and spared his life. And yet, when Fang Che released him, he had still tried to launch a sneak attack!

Being hacked apart by a single stroke as a result was truly beyond reproach. It could even be called satisfying!

A person like that deserved to die! Looking at Fang Che standing on the stage with a pale face, his handsome and spirited features carried the panic of someone who had just been frightened.

This was probably the first time the boy had killed someone, right?

Although he had counter-killed in a moment of righteous fury and mortal danger, he had probably been badly shaken.

Countless girls felt a pang of sympathy.

Ximen Xuri had simply bullied people too much! Fang Qingyun and the others nearly rushed onto the stage, frantic with worry. "Cousin! Cousin, are you all right?"

Fang Che's face was pale. "I should be fine... I, I... Did I kill someone?"

He perfectly displayed the fear of someone killing for the first time. After all, it had been a human life.

Turning to look at Ximen Xuri's corpse, Fang Che immediately covered his mouth with one hand, as if he were about to vomit.

On the stage, the two instructors and two referees exchanged suspicious glances at Fang Che.

There was something faintly strange about this matter.

But now was not the time to investigate.

They first cleaned up the arena and then hurriedly arranged for the next pair to enter the stage.

"The tournament continues!"

Then they took Fang Che away.

Discussions raged below the stage. People barely cared about the battles anymore.

Almost everyone unanimously believed: Fang Che was not at fault! Ximen Xuri deserved to die!

"Fang Che, you were at a disadvantage at the beginning, weren't you? We don't believe that, with your strength inferior to his, you were capable of piercing through his hidden-weapon attack and counter-killing him. Explain why."

"I was hiding my strength!"

Fang Che answered frankly. "My cultivation was originally higher than his!"

"Hmm? What rank of Martial Master are you?"

"Fourth."

Fang Che said, "I was originally at the third rank. After I came to the Martial Academy, Vice President Huang Yifan helped me advance one rank."

"Vice President Huang?"

The two senior instructors were completely dumbfounded.

How had this matter somehow dragged Vice President Huang into it?

What the hell... This was getting bizarre.

"Yes."

Fang Che decided to go all the way and dumped the entire black pot on Huang Yifan. "The Headmaster told me that the purpose of this bet was to teach the new students a lesson. He told me not to reveal all my strength. If everyone bet on me, it wouldn't be good. We wouldn't achieve the desired effect."

The two instructors looked at each other. "..."

What the hell! It was actually possible to operate like this?

The questions they had been preparing to ask next suddenly became impossible to voice.

It had been the leader's arrangement, and Fang Che had merely followed the leader's intentions. What could they say? Could it be that the leader had predicted Ximen Xuri's despicable conduct and deliberately arranged for Fang Che to counter-kill him?

That was obviously impossible, wasn't it?

"...With your strength, you should have been able to control yourself and avoid killing him." The instructor sighed. All his interrogative momentum had vanished.

Fang Che said, "That slash was an instinctive, life-or-death strike. Under those circumstances, I couldn't possibly have stopped it. Perhaps after going through more situations like this, I'll be able to stop myself, but right now... my strength isn't there yet."

That statement wasn't a lie.

The two instructors exchanged a glance, feeling that it made sense.

Never mind Fang Che—even if they had been in that situation, their first thought could only have been to counter-kill and eliminate the threat! If they could avoid holding back, they wouldn't have held back either!

"You entered the Martial Academy carrying a sword. Why did you use a blade in today's battle?"

One of the instructors asked.

"My master is the Blade King. What's strange about me using a blade?"

Fang Che replied.

That was truly a very reasonable answer!

"What about the sword?"

"After Headmaster Huang reminded me, I bought a sword and wore it as a smokescreen."

Fang Che said sincerely, "Actually, I don't know how to use a sword."

Vice President Huang again!

Both instructors covered their foreheads in the same motion, no longer wishing to speak.

What the hell...

They had never encountered anything this speechless in their entire lives! Just then, the door opened.

A man with three long strands of beard on his face walked in.

He appeared to be in his forties or fifties. His face was filled with righteousness, and he carried an otherworldly air. A clear spirit dwelled between his brows, while his bearing held the imposing authority of someone who had long occupied a position of power.

Upon entering, he said indifferently, "Are you finished asking?"

The two instructors rose at the same time. "Supervisor Meng."

Supervisor Meng frowned. "It was obvious at a glance. Did you really need this long?"

"We're finished."

"If you're finished, hurry up and let him go!"

Supervisor Meng waved his hand, then turned toward Fang Che with a kindly smile. "Go back and rest properly. You must have been somewhat frightened today. It was your first time killing someone, so it probably didn't feel good, did it? Take some pills that aid the spirit and soul. After sleeping, you'll be fine."

"Yes. Thank you, Supervisor Meng!"

Fang Che bowed in thanks.

He was very well-behaved.

Sure enough, Supervisor Meng smiled. "You're quite a well-behaved child."

After saying that, he took a small bottle from his robes. "There are two pills inside. They can help settle your spirit and soul. I imagine you don't have many good things on you either, so I'll simply give you a hand."

"Thank you, Supervisor Meng!"

Fang Che accepted it.

"Go back."

Fang Che left.

The two senior instructors felt as though they had a bellyful of complaints with nowhere to vent them!

They had already felt indescribably strange when this matter had somehow involved Headmaster Huang.

Who could have expected Supervisor Meng, who normally took little interest in affairs, to come over as well?

Could this Fang Che have a powerful background?

No, that couldn't be right... The records of every student were extremely detailed. Even if he had some background, it couldn't possibly have been concealed.

Besides, there had been no movement at all before the academy opened.

"I'll be leaving too. I'm going back to watch the tournament."

Supervisor Meng sauntered away.

So you came all this way specifically for Fang Che?

Were you afraid we would wrong this student? Where had that even come from?

The two instructors instantly began to question their entire lives.

Supervisor Meng's name was Meng Chizheng. He was usually very low-key in the Martial Academy, neither fighting nor competing for anything. He was upright, valued fairness in all matters, and had an excellent reputation within the academy.

No one had expected him to stand up for Fang Che this time.

Everyone had witnessed the entire matter, but surely it hadn't been worth having you, Supervisor, personally step in, had it?

Fang Che went straight home.

This afternoon, the tournament would end after the fifty-person round.

Starting tomorrow, the twenty-five-person rounds would begin.

Sun Yuan was already drinking tea in the courtyard and waiting. He watched Night Dream practice her skills, occasionally speaking up to offer guidance.

Night Dream was sweating profusely from her practice.

Fang Che was young and easy to deceive; she could muddle through with him however she pleased. But Sun Yuan was an old hand from the Demonic Cult, a pure and seasoned veteran of the world.

Night Dream had to stay alert to deal with him.

Fortunately, Sun Yuan's thoughts were not focused on him at all, and he was somewhat absent-minded besides. This allowed the little girl to breathe a sigh of relief.

When Fang Che returned home, his face was still somewhat pale.

His body was even trembling faintly.

Sun Yuan was immediately drawn over. He stood up at once and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Were you injured?"

A sense of foreboding stirred in his heart.

Could he have been defeated? How could the mission be completed then?

"I wasn't injured."

Fang Che's face carried a trace of lingering fear, and his voice trembled slightly. "I killed someone today."

"You killed someone?" Sun Yuan froze. "Who did you kill?"

"Ximen Xuri. I killed him."

Fang Che's face was ashen as he said, seeming to remain shaken even now. "It was so disgusting. I feel like throwing up."

So that was what it was!

Sun Yuan immediately relaxed, and a surge of delight rose instead. "Wasn't killing Ximen Xuri the right thing to do? How did it scare you like this? You still need more experience, child."

Night Dream secretly rolled her eyes. What kind of nonsense was he spouting?

As expected, Sun Yuan went further and further. "What's so special about killing one or two people? How about Master finds a place and lets you slaughter a village to practice? Don't take it to heart. Just treat it like killing dogs. You'll slowly get used to it."

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