Guidance and Encounter

Feeling the weight in his hand, Fang Can estimated it to be about a pound, though only a small portion of that was loose silver.

Judging by the corner peeking out of the money bag, it was clear that silver banknotes were mixed in.

After all, one hundred taels would weigh several pounds if converted; carrying that much around the streets would be a bit absurd.

"Mr. Fang Can, no need to count," Ye Yonglie said with a sincere tone. "One hundred taels is the salary for your hard work in coming here, and the remaining four hundred are a token of our appreciation. It's more than what the previous person received, and it will be this same amount every month from now on."

Hearing this, Fang Can narrowed his eyes, the smile on his lips growing even brighter.

He hadn't expected such a generous bonus; five hundred taels in total was a pleasant surprise.

Feeling the heavy weight of the money, Fang Can was just about to take his leave when the hall master's inquiry reached his ears: "Young friend Fang Can, shall we proceed with the usual custom?"

"The usual custom? What custom?"

Fang Can swallowed his farewell words, wondering to himself if there were some unspoken rules he wasn't aware of.

With a hint of unease, he smiled and nodded. "Naturally, let us follow the established rules of the Tiger Fiend Sect."

"Good. Then, I ask that the newly graduated disciple of the Tiger Fiend Sect provide some guidance to my subordinates." The hall master looked at the guard nearby and ordered, "Go wake up the disciples in the hall and have them prepare to receive instruction."

Under Ye Yonglie's orders, gongs and drums soon began to sound. Before long, the disciples of the Blazing Sun Martial Hall were urged out of bed, dressed in their uniform training gear, and lined up before Fang Can.

"Young friend Fang, these are the useless disciples of our hall; the highest among them is only at the second level of the Mysterious Pass."

Ye Yonglie gestured to the dozen or so young disciples before him and smiled. "I know you are pressed for time, so just an hour of martial arts guidance will suffice."

Good grief. Fang Can felt the heavy money bag in his hand. So, this protection money wasn't so easy to take after all; he had to moonlight as a private tutor.

He roughly understood the Tiger Fiend Sect's intent: they were flexing their muscles to the local powers. After all, if a mere disciple of the Tiger Fiend Sect could instruct their people, it went without saying how formidable the managers, hall masters, and the sect leader above him must be.

However, earning 500 taels for an hour of private tutoring was a massive profit. Fang Can couldn't really refuse, but how he would actually teach them was a problem.

After all, his current cultivation was only at the first level of the Mysterious Pass. While he could kill any Mortal Shedding Body expert without a Heart Manifestation one-on-one, the first level was still just the first level.

If he were to reveal his true strength during a spar, this group would definitely grow suspicious of his background. That would lead to unnecessary complications, and he would have to waste time wiping out the entire Blazing Sun Martial Hall, which simply wasn't worth it.

Thinking of this, Fang Can smiled slightly. "Since Hall Master Ye has requested it, I shall reluctantly provide some guidance to these disciples."

"Due to the fact that my sect's martial arts cannot be taught to outsiders, I cannot instruct you in technique. In that case, I shall simply temper your willpower a little."

As he spoke, a strange, intimidating aura erupted from Fang Can, pressing down upon everyone's hearts.

"This is... Heart Manifestation!" Feeling the mental pressure, everyone was struck with terror.

Looking at Fang Can's youthful face, they were shocked. To be so young and already an expert above the sixth level of the Mysterious Pass—even stronger than the hall master—was truly terrifying.

Facing their intense, glowing gazes, Fang Can acted shyly, smiling with a touch of embarrassment. "My martial arts are shallow; I hope you all do not feel this was a waste."

"It's worth it. These 500 taels were spent very worthily," Ye Yonglie said excitedly, eyeing Fang Can with awe and voicing the thoughts of all the disciples.

It was rare for a Heart Manifestation expert to release their aura for purposes other than combat. To be able to feel the details of a Heart Manifestation directly was something that, in this age of hoarding knowledge, couldn't be bought even with a thousand pieces of gold.

Fang Can had underestimated his own value, or perhaps because the first faction he encountered was the Tiger Fiend Sect, his perspective had become skewed.

Just by possessing a Heart Manifestation, one could easily affiliate with any martial hall. If one were willing to use it to temper the willpower of disciples, earning a hundred gold a month would be a breeze; there were plenty of people willing to pay to experience it.

"Is this what a Heart Manifestation feels like?" Ye Yonglie closed his eyes, greedily sensing Fang Can's Heart Manifestation along with all the other disciples.

Even though he was a hall master who had spent over twenty years of bitter training to stabilize his cultivation at the sixth level, he had yet to manifest his own Heart Manifestation.

Feeling that aura that made their hearts beat with unease, the disciples all breathed deeply, desperately trying to swallow and digest this Heart Manifestation.

After all, technical guidance was common, but encountering a Heart Manifestation was something one might not experience even once in a lifetime.

There was a massive barrier between having it and not having it, one that most martial artists without sufficient talent could never cross in their entire lives.

Now that a Heart Manifestation expert was allowing them to experience it at will, it would be of immense help for when they eventually reached the required level to develop their own.

Are these guys for real? Leaning back in his armchair, Fang Can rested his cheek on his hand and complained silently.

Watching them experience it with such focus and enjoyment, Fang Can felt they looked like masochists being teased by a flirt, and the fact that they were all men making such philosophical expressions was just too absurd.

While watching patiently, Fang Can noticed a young man within the range of his Heart Manifestation whose expression remained calm throughout.

Compared to the others who were struggling to maintain their composure, the boy was exceptionally calm, which naturally drew his attention.

Hmph, the same old trick, trying to use a Heart Manifestation to fool the master and these country bumpkins. Yuan Dang sneered in his heart.

As a reincarnator who had read the biographies written about Fang Can, he knew that this Heavenly Emperor Fang was only at the first level of the Mysterious Pass and was using his Heart Manifestation to play god.

But even knowing this, he dared not expose it.

Because the fact that a first-level Mysterious Pass cultivator possessed a Heart Manifestation was even more heaven-defying—it was unprecedented. Revealing it wouldn't hurt the other party; it would only expose himself.

"What are you thinking about?" Suddenly, a curious voice rang in Yuan Dang's ear.

He opened his eyes slightly to see a young man with sword-like brows and starry eyes sitting astride a chair, hands loosely folded, looking at him with curiosity.

Right in front of him! Who else could it be but Fang Can?

"Fang..." Yuan Dang was so scared he took a step back, nearly blurting out the name "Heavenly Emperor Fang."

In his previous life, Fang Can had left him with too much psychological trauma. Seeing the man in the flesh, no matter how much he loathed or felt rage toward him, his knees buckled instinctively, and he knelt before Fang Can.

How can this be? This didn't happen in my previous life. Have I changed history?

Yuan Dang's heart churned with turmoil and fear. He didn't even care about being on his knees; terrified that Fang Can might see his ill intentions, he hurriedly lowered his head and said, "I... I..."

"Yuan Dang, do not be presumptuous! Do not interfere with Mr. Fang's instruction!" Suddenly, Ye Yonglie's angry rebuke rang in Yuan Dang's ear.