Feeling the weight in his hand, Fang Can estimated that the money pouch weighed about a pound, though only a small portion of it was broken silver.
A corner peeking out of the pouch revealed that it also contained banknotes.
After all, one hundred taels would weigh several pounds, so carrying that much silver openly through the streets would be rather absurd.
"Mr. Fang Can, there's no need to count it." Ye Yonglie spoke earnestly. "One hundred taels is your stipend for making the trip. The remaining four hundred taels are a token of our appreciation. This is at least as much as the previous person received, and from now on, you'll receive the same amount each month."
Hearing this, Fang Can narrowed his eyes, his smile growing brighter.
He hadn't expected to get a bonus. Five hundred taels in total—this was a delightful surprise.
Feeling the money pouch's substantial weight, Fang Can was about to take his leave when the hall master asked, "Young friend Fang Can, shall we follow the usual practice from here?"
"The usual practice? What do you mean?"
Fang Can swallowed his farewell, wondering if there was some unwritten rule he didn't know about.
With a hint of unease, he smiled and nodded. "Of course. We'll follow the Tiger Fiend Sect's usual rules."
"Good. Then please have the Tiger Fiend Sect's newly graduated disciple guide our students." The hall master turned to a guard nearby. "Go wake everyone in the hall. They're to get ready for instruction."
At Ye Yonglie's command, gongs and drums soon began to sound. Before long, the Blazing Sun Martial Hall's disciples had been roused. At the urging of their instructors, they got up, put on their matching training uniforms, and lined up before Fang Can.
"Friend Fang, these are the hall's underachieving disciples. The strongest among them has only reached the second level of the Mysterious Pass."
Ye Yonglie gestured toward the dozen or so young disciples lined up before him and smiled. "I know you're pressed for time, so just spend an hour or so guiding them in martial arts."
"Good grief." Feeling the heavy money pouch in his hand, Fang Can realized that taking protection money wasn't so easy after all. He had to work as a private tutor, too.
He more or less understood why the Tiger Fiend Sect did this: to show off its strength to the forces within its territory. Even one of the Tiger Fiend Sect's mere disciples could guide them, let alone the stewards, hall masters, and sect master above him.
Still, getting five hundred taels for an hour of private tutoring was a great deal, and Fang Can couldn't very well refuse. The only problem was how he was supposed to teach them.
After all, his current cultivation was only at the first level of the Mysterious Pass. Although he could kill any Mortal Shedding Body expert without a Heart Manifestation in a one-on-one fight, the first level of the Mysterious Pass was still just the first level.
If he revealed his true strength in a fight, these people would certainly grow suspicious of his background. That would only invite trouble. He'd have to spend time wiping out everyone in the Blazing Sun Martial Hall, which simply wasn't worth it.
Thinking this, Fang Can smiled slightly. "Since Master Ye put it that way, I'll do my best to guide your disciples."
"Since the martial arts of my sect can't be taught to outsiders, I can't instruct you in techniques. In that case, I can only help strengthen your will a little."
As he spoke, an inexplicable aura of intimidation burst forth from Fang Can, pressing down on everyone's hearts.
"This is... a Heart Manifestation!" Feeling the pressure on their minds, everyone froze in shock.
Looking at Fang Can's youthful face, they couldn't believe he was already an expert at the sixth level of the Mysterious Pass or higher. He was even stronger than the hall master—terrifyingly powerful.
Under their eager, shining gazes, the young Fang Can smiled bashfully. "My martial arts are nothing special. I hope you don't feel this was a waste."
"Worth it? Those five hundred taels were more than worth it!" Ye Yonglie exclaimed, gazing at Fang Can with admiration and voicing what all the disciples were thinking.
It was rare for a Heart Manifestation Warrior to release his Heart Manifestation for a purpose other than fighting. They could directly experience its finer details. In this ancient age, when everyone kept their secrets close, even a fortune couldn't buy such an opportunity.
Fang Can had simply underestimated his own worth—or perhaps his first contact with a faction had been the Tiger Fiend Sect, leaving him with an inflated view of the world.
Just having a Heart Manifestation was enough to let him join any Martial Hall. If he was willing to use it to strengthen the disciples' resolve, he could easily earn a hundred taels a month. Plenty of people would be willing to pay for the chance to experience it.
"So this is what a Heart Manifestation feels like?" Ye Yonglie closed his eyes and, along with the disciples, greedily immersed himself in Fang Can's Heart Manifestation.
Though he was the hall master and had kept his cultivation steady at the sixth level through more than twenty years of hard training, he still hadn't awakened a Heart Manifestation.
Feeling that aura make their hearts pound uneasily, the disciples all breathed deeply, as if they hoped to swallow the Heart Manifestation and digest it.
After all, instruction in techniques was common, but a Heart Manifestation was something most people might never encounter in their entire lives.
A vast barrier separated having one from having none. Most martial artists lacked the talent to cross it, no matter how long they lived.
Now, they had a chance to experience a Heart Manifestation at will. It would greatly help them awaken one when their cultivation eventually reached the required level.
"Are these guys really that worked up?" Fang Can leaned against the Grandmaster Chair, resting his cheek on one hand as he silently complained.
Watching them immerse themselves in the experience, their faces full of bliss, Fang Can thought they looked like masochists being strung along by a flirtatious woman. They were all men, yet wore such philosophical expressions. It was a little too bizarre.
As he watched patiently, Fang Can noticed a boy whose expression remained calm within the range of his Heart Manifestation.
Unlike the others, who could barely contain themselves, the boy was exceptionally composed. He couldn't help drawing Fang Can's attention.
"Hmph, the same old trick again. He's trying to fool my master and these country bumpkins with his Heart Manifestation." Yuan Dang sneered inwardly.
As someone reborn into this life, he had read the biography others wrote about Fang Can. He knew that the current Heavenly Emperor Fang was only at the first level of the Mysterious Pass and was putting on an act with his Heart Manifestation.
But even though he knew the truth, he didn't dare expose it.
Because the fact that someone at the first level of the Mysterious Pass had a Heart Manifestation was even more outrageous. It was practically unprecedented. Saying so wouldn't harm Fang Can; it would only expose Yuan Dang himself.
"What are you thinking about?" Suddenly, a curious voice sounded beside Yuan Dang's ear.
He opened his eyes slightly and saw a boy with sharp brows and bright eyes perched sideways on a chair, his hands casually folded together as he watched Yuan Dang with curiosity.
Who else could it be but Fang Can?
"Fang..." Yuan Dang stumbled back in fright, nearly saying the three words "Heavenly Emperor Fang."
In his previous life, Fang Can had left him with a deep psychological scar. Now that he was seeing Fang Can in person, no matter how much he hated and resented him, the moment he faced him directly, his knees instinctively buckled and he started to kneel.
"How could this be? This never happened in my previous life. Did I change history?"
Yuan Dang's thoughts churned. Fear gripped him, and he didn't even have time to worry about kneeling. Afraid Fang Can would see through his ill intentions, he hurriedly lowered his head. "I... I..."
"Yuan Dang, don't be so insolent. Don't interrupt Mr. Fang's instruction." Suddenly, Ye Yonglie's furious rebuke rang out beside Yuan Dang's ear.
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