Chapter 100: Test Him

If not for the conversation with Meng Zhixue today, Fang Cun might not have dared to confirm his suspicions.

So, the “Academy Head” and the City Governor had indeed known about Master Lan Shuang—or should he say, the Former Academy Head—all along.

In fact, Blue Frost’s gruesome practice of “Human Elixir Refinement” went undiscovered precisely because of their deliberate efforts to cover for him…

As his thoughts churned, another question arose: Having shielded and tolerated him before, why suddenly allow him to be exposed?

“Ah… because things have gotten too big…”

“…”

The whole situation gradually clarified in Fang Cun’s mind. He had already dimly guessed it; now, it was just confirmed.

The “Academy” and the City Governor, without a doubt, not only knew the Former Academy Head’s true identity but likely facilitated his re-entry into the “Academy” as an Instructor after he assumed a new body. Throughout Lan Shuang’s “Human Elixir Refinement”, instead of investigating thoroughly, they had actively concealed his crimes, even using his dark arts to serve their own interests.

Just like when they had framed the “Green Fox Mountain”!

The ones who benefited from framing Green Fox Mountain were the demon core refiners, not Master Lan Shuang.

However, precisely because the atrocities surrounding the “Human Elixir” escalated out of control, exceeding their capacity to manage it.

Especially the chaos unleashed in Willow Lake City, which had attracted the attention of the Prefect and the powerful County Sect above them. Scared, the two men finally decided to hand over Lan Shuang themselves, hoping to quickly quell the storm…

Perhaps Lan Shuang had foreseen this end? Is that why he… sought death?

…

“I… I don’t understand…”

Meng Zhixue watched Fang Cun process his thoughts in silence. She saw the snow-white streaks in his hair, feeling an unfamiliar pang of sadness tighten her throat. Her eyes unusually damp, she spoke softly, “Second Young Master Fang, clearly… clearly you’ve done so much good. Why… why are you the one suffering such injury? You… the whole city is saying you survived Soul Seizure, that your foundation is ruined…”

“Hm?”

Fang Cun hadn’t expected Meng Zhixue to show such a pitiful, vulnerable side. He found it somewhat amusing.

After a moment, he answered gently, “I am fine.”

“You rest assured…” Meng Zhixue softly took a step closer, her gaze fixed on him. “I have written to my family. I asked them to procure a Divine Elixir for you, to heal the damage to your cultivation base. It should arrive soon. Then… then you’ll surely be the most gifted talent in the White Xiang Academy again!”

“A Divine Elixir?”

Fang Cun looked at her with surprise. He chuckled inwardly; Such things aren’t accessible to just anyone…

Pills ranked from Spirit Pill, Treasure Pill, Divine Elixir, to Immortal Pill…

Most Qi Refiners in Willow Lake City probably hadn’t even seen what a Divine Elixir looked like.

Meng Zhixue could actually request one?

“No need to wait…”

Fang Cun smiled, feeling a bit lighter, and stood up. “Right now, at this moment, I am still White Xiang Academy’s most gifted talent!”

Meng Zhixue naturally didn’t quite believe this. However, seeing his improved spirits eased her worry. She nodded softly, forcing a smile. “You always were, Second Young Master. Others might not know, but I do. There is no one under the heavens more gifted or intelligent than you!”

“Now that’s going too far!”

Fang Cun turned his head to look at her. “At most… I am one of the most gifted people.”

Tears still rimmed Meng Zhixue’s eyes, but she matched his energy and nodded vigorously.

Fang Cun smiled. “Stay for dinner.”

“Dinner…”

Meng Zhixue’s expression turned slightly troubled. She looked down at herself. “After eating at your home twice… I’ve already gained half a pound!”

“Well, expect to gain a bit more today. The table is laden with highly nourishing dishes!”

Fang Cun laughed. He then turned to look directly at Meng Zhixue. “I’ll return to the Academy tomorrow.”

Meng Zhixue blinked in surprise, then nodded firmly once more.

Nearby, the little fox girl, Xiao Qingling, seeing the two deep in conversation, subtly relaxed her posture, slouching a little.

Without turning his head, Fang Cun commanded, “Straighten your back…”

Xiao Qingling instantly snapped upright, “Whoosh!” However, her expression looked even more miserable.

…

Elder Fang and his wife genuinely did not wish their second son to return to the Academy.

The day Fang Cun came home draped in so much unexpected white hair, looking utterly deflated, had terrified his aging parents. In their eyes, what value did this troublesome Academy hold? What value lay on the cultivation path? Wasn’t it better to simply be safe? Their eldest son was already gone. If anything happened to this one too, the Fang Family would truly be finished.

Yet, seeing Fang Cun’s rare uplifted spirits, expressing a desire to visit the Academy, they found themselves wanting to protest but lacking the heart to crush his tentative recovery.

The clatter of horse hooves echoed through the main street of Willow Lake City.

Stalls selling wontons, vendors hawking snacks—every commoner paused, turning their gaze towards the sound.

They recognized the elegant carriage. Gossip about the troubled Second Young Master Fang had swept the city. Now, seeing him emerge, neighbors instinctively wanted to call out… something. But this time, the Second Young Master didn’t lift the carriage curtain to smile at the girl selling tofu pudding. He didn’t stop to joke about the carriage station owner’s belly looking like he was seven months pregnant. The carriage just rolled silently down the street. Everyone suddenly felt like something was missing.

When the carriage arrived at the Academy gate, the curiosity swirling among the disciples mirrored that of the Willow Lake City residents. Even some Instructors and Stewards felt a strange prickling unease. They found various excuses to gather near the Academy entrance, their eyes riveted on Fang Cun as he alighted from the carriage.

The carriage curtain lifted. Fang Cun stepped out.

“This…”

The hearts of the Academy disciples collectively sank. Waves of sighs and murmurs of pity followed.

Just as they had suspected…

The white hair told the whole story!

The rumors were true. Second Young Master Fang had suffered Soul Seizure. Although the invader hadn’t succeeded, the vital damage to his foundational cultivation base was painfully evident.

This was the same Fang Cun who had braved the Rear Mountain, mastered the Six Classics, astonishing everyone with his truly extraordinary talent—invoking envy in many. Later, his massive consumption of Qi Refining Pills to artificially boost his power had already worried some, hinting at instability. That envy had cooled, replaced by a tinge of regret mixed with… a lower form of disdain? And now, confronted by the stark reality of his white-streaked hair, that attitude plummeted further…

Humanity’s reaction to genius often follows a pattern: wonder, envy, reverence… even fear.

Yet Fang Cun had fallen entirely from the sphere of wonder. He became an object of pity—a negative sentiment.

And pity, when carried too far, easily curdles into something far worse: schadenfreude… gloating over another’s misfortune.

The Fang Family’s second son… His dazzling talent… Ruined beyond repair.

…

“Ruined, truly?”

Meanwhile, on the willow-dappled waters of Willow Lake, at an unremarkable spot, within an unassuming boat, a figure spoke lightly amidst the surrounding murmurs about the Fang family’s misfortune. This occupant of the boat shook his head with a faint smile. “Black hair in youth turning white in old age aligns with the natural cycle. White hair marking injured life-force, a ruined foundation—it makes surface sense. Yet… I find myself quite curious. Was the damage to his cultivation base truly solely caused by resisting Soul Seizure?”

“That Former Academy Head, though weakened and tortured after his multiple Soul Seizures, reducing his cultivation… he was still someone who once half-stepped into the Divine Realm! Could his remaining power truly be insufficient to overwhelm the soul of a mere Breath Refining Realm youth? At that very moment, I prepared myself to intervene personally and preserve his young life. Unexpectedly… he required no intervention. He resolved the crisis himself…”

A servant beside him asked, “Does the General Lord believe this Second Young Master is… unusual?”

“Oh, when has he ever been ordinary?”

‘The man called General Lord’ gave a light chuckle. “Even I, residing here in Willow Lake City, struggle to fully grasp his actions. Normally, that wouldn’t be an issue. As the Immortal Master Fang Jiao’s sole younger brother, a few secrets cling to him—that holds its own logic. But this time… managing to survive that old monster’s grasp purely by his own capabilities? This secret… it’s starting to pique my curiosity.”

Hearing this, the servant cautiously inquired, “In that case… should I go and…test his depths?”

The General Lord uttered a soft, almost inaudible laugh. “If you truly wish to probe him… is your intervention necessary?”

The servant blinked, momentarily confused, then comprehension dawned. A smile followed. “As expected, General Lord possesses keen insight! To gauge the true measure of that Second Young Master Fang… indeed a ready-made candidate presents itself.This subordinate will go arrange the matter.”

The servant swiftly departed. Left alone, the General Lord sank deep into contemplation, his eyes narrowing slowly.

“A cautious, clever, and prudent handler of affairs. Entirely unlike a typical seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth. Truly a pity…”

“No matter how smart or cautious you are, boy, it will be impossible to protect the secrets your brother left behind. It has nothing to do with how you do it. Since you are the Immortal Master Fang Jiao’s brother… since that Immortal Master is dead… the sole path for you is to relinquish every secret. Abandoning cultivation to live out your days safely as a mortal… such a path might offer barely a three-in-ten hope of preserving your cowardly life. Pursuing any other course? No matter what you seek or how deeply you hide… it all amounts to sheer stupidity.”

“Your choice to guard your secrets bears no relevance. Why? A profound reason underlies it… You possess no qualification whatsoever to shield such secrets…!”