Chapter 125: Second Young Master Fang in White Robe

“Huh?”

Upon the Immortal Platform, right after the Nine Immortals Sect, the Yun Huan Sect Elder who had been ready to call forth his disciples was slightly stunned, freezing mid-action. On the platform, other Elders and Disciples were equally surprised, turning their heads to look.

Behind them, a path opened among the gathered Disciples. A figure walked through the center. He wore a spotless white robe, his gray-white hair neatly tied into a sword bun. His handsome features appeared to be that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth, his expression gentle. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and beside him walked a sharp-eared Little Fox Girl carrying an Old Umbrella. They advanced slowly through the crowd.

The Disciples had been standing in orderly rows, but at the sight of him, they instinctively backed away, some moving so hastily it caused a brief commotion. Even those jostled or stepped on paid no mind, their eyes fixed solely on Fang Cun.

Why had Second Young Master Fang come to the Academy?

Weren’t they all saying he was ineligible for the County Sects and had deliberately avoided the selection?

Wow. Was he really here to cause bloodshed again?

“You…”

Even the Academy Head and the City Governor seated on the Immortal Platform started upon seeing Fang Cun. They unconsciously rose to their feet. The Elders from the various County Sects at their side exchanged uneasy glances, faces grim and filled with bewilderment…

“Fang Cun of Willow Lake, greets the honorable Elders…”

Fang Cun remained utterly calm. Arriving before the Immortal Platform, he offered a bow. The Old Umbrella was held by the Little Fox Girl beside him.

The County Sect Elders hastily stood up and returned the courtesy: “Second Young Master Fang, please, there’s no need for such formality! We apologize for not having paid our respects earlier!”

Given that Fang Cun was technically an Academy Disciple, they wouldn’t ordinarily need to be so punctilious about such formalities. However, considering his status as the biological younger brother of the Immortal Master Fang Chi, even as County Sect Elders, they couldn’t afford the slightest breach of etiquette. Not only did they have to rise and return his bow, they felt obligated to apologize for coming to Willow Lake City without having first paid their respects to the Fang Family, lest they be criticized later…

Only Elder Ge of the Nine Immortals Sect remained seated amidst the crowd, merely cupping his hands in a salute as a form of greeting.

He was an Elder of the Nine Immortals Sect, and Immortal Master Fang Chi had originally come from the Nine Immortals Sect. Therefore, in terms of seniority, he was Fang Cun’s teacher and held a higher rank.

“It should be I who pays respects to you esteemed Elders!”

Fang Cun smiled cordially, making polite small talk with the assembled Elders. Then, he slowly ascended the Immortal Platform.

The Elders from the various sects were momentarily stunned by this unexpected action. Silence fell, no one knowing what to say.

Even Meng Zhixue, already standing on the platform, watched Fang Cun with puzzlement.

“Why is Second Young Master Fang going up onto the platform?”

“He… his name wasn’t just called by the Nine Immortals Sect Elder, was it?”

The Disciples below wore peculiar expressions, utterly confused by Fang Cun’s behavior. Some were astonished, others viewed it as odd. No one dared speak at that moment, only staring wide-eyed at Fang Cun’s back as he stepped onto the Immortal Platform.

“Fang Cun, my young friend… what brings you up onto this platform…?”

As bewildered silence stretched, it was Elder Ge of the Nine Immortals Sect, the one holding the main authority, who finally spoke, posing the question with visible confusion.

“Honored Elder, I ascend the platform simply because it is necessary.”

Fang Cun smiled as he answered Elder Ge, yet his words revealed absolutely nothing.

“Trouble…”

Elder Ge felt a sudden jolt upon hearing Fang Cun’s ambiguous reply, his expression darkening slightly.

“Could he truly be planning what the rumors say? To force his way into the Nine Immortals Sect?”

……

Before traveling to Willow Lake, Elder Ge had indeed considered this exact possibility…

Second Young Master Fang of Willow Lake was a hot potato. None of the six great County Sects wanted to take him.

Refusing him outright, however, risked offending the Fang Family should they come pleading…

If the Fang Family came to plead and they refused, it would mean slighting the face of the deceased Immortal Master, likely angering many. Conversely, agreeing to take him, especially after the Old Scholar had already made his stance clear, could lead to even greater troubles…

With this heavy burden, Elder Ge had spent the past few days anxiously expecting a visit from the Fang Family members. He had even rehearsed a whole list of excuses and diplomatic phrases in his mind. Yet, unexpectedly, the Fang Family had stayed away all this time. He had just begun to relax when Fang Cun suddenly appeared right here, plainly visible before the crowd. What if he knelt down publicly right now, begging Elder Ge to accept him into the sect? Should he agree, or not?

This was truly an agonizing dilemma…

“Second Young Master Fang…”

Heart pounding with anxiety, Elder Ge quickly spoke up first, giving an audible “ahem” before forcing a dry chuckle. “Young Master Fang, even back in Qingjiang Prefecture, your exceptional talent is often mentioned, Second Young Master Fang. Truly dazzling, not inferior to your elder brother. Heh, had it not been for our Nine Immortals Sect undergoing major revisions in our cultivation techniques in recent years, with disciples now trained under a whole new system…” Here he paused for another careful chuckle, looking directly at Fang Cun. “Well, speaking of that, I’ve heard that in Zhaoge currently, the Immortal Emperor has decreed the founding of the Great Xia Dao Academy. Its purpose? To gather the world’s most extraordinary talents and nurture the pillars of Great Xia. With such outstanding gifts, wouldn’t Second Young Master Fang consider heading there?”

He drew out his words slightly, thoughtfully stroking his beard as he added, “Such rare aptitude truly deserves that grander stage. Only in a Dao Academy could it be fully realized without being wasted, don’t you agree?”

……

Everyone present, hearing these words, had expressions shift to ones colored with keen interest.

It was clear why Elder Ge had been sent here by the Nine Immortals Sect to select disciples.

With just a handful of carefully chosen words, he’d woven several nuanced arguments. Every listener found it fascinating.

If Second Young Master Fang truly intended to publicly plead to enter the sect, such subtly phrased opposition would place him in an awkward position, effectively closing off that very avenue.

“Honored Elder, your praise far exceeds what this unworthy person deserves!”

Whether Fang Cun fully grasped the layered meaning beneath Elder Ge’s words or not was unclear. He merely offered a light smile. “As for this Great Xia Dao Academy affair… I’ve received no formal invitation. It is hardly a place for someone like me to aspire to. As for the Nine Immortals Sect…” He paused, then shook his head gently. “…well, the Elder’s statement actually rings somewhat true.”

He continued softly, his words carrying an undertone, “I recall my elder brother, in his time… expressed certain regrets about joining as well.”

“Swish!”

The color drained from Elder Ge’s face. His tactical words, meant to preemptively block Second Young Master Fang’s public plea, had backfired horribly. Fang Cun’s counterstatement—that the revered Immortal Master actually regretted being part of their sect—hit with shocking impact. What implications did that carry?

Below the platform, the expressions among the Disciples shifted dramatically into pure astonishment.

Everyone knew Immortal Master Fang Chi hailed from the Nine Immortals Sect. It had been their pride and boast for decades—when anyone mentioned Immortal Master Fang Chi, they inevitably linked him to Nine Immortals. Similarly, any student proclaiming their allegiance to Nine Immortals invariably invoked Immortal Master Fang Chi as a point of honor. Thanks to the association with this legendary sage, the prestige of the Nine Immortals Sect was undisputed throughout Qingjiang Province and arguably stood among the highest echelons within Great Xia itself.

So how could Second Young Master Fang claim aloud that his late brother regretted joining them?

Why the regret?

Was Nine Immortals’ instruction lacking? Or had their ethical conduct somehow failed to meet the mark?

The possibilities for dark speculation exploded instantly in everyone’s mind.

‘The boy wants to openly disgrace our great Nine Immortals Sect!’

Elder Ge’s face darkened with anger. It felt almost unbearable—he wished he could snatch Second Young Master Fang by the collar and scream: When did your brother say that?!

But restrained by both position and dignity, that course of action wasn’t possible.

The mere possibility that Fang Cun could reply, ‘Ah, that? Brother mentioned it during tea on the ninth of Aspenglide month…’ kept the Elder tongue-tied; he knew any immediate denial could sound hollow and false.

Yet as Elder Ge’s expression tightened with silent fury, Fang Cun showed absolutely no inclination to leave the platform. Instead, the sharp-eared Little Fox Girl, her fluffy tail twitching, bounded off, then struggled to hoist a massive chair—easily wider than she was—back toward the Immortal Platform. Wriggling its bulk onto the stage with determined effort, she deposited it right before Fang Cun. Glaring pointedly at the City Governor beside it, she gave a meaningful glance that said one word: shift.

Damn it! Not only did he insist on going up the platform—but now intended to actually sit?!

Stunned disbelief radiated throughout the assembly, both on stage and below; wary curiosity peaked across every face…

“Young Master Fang,” Elder Ge demanded sharply, his displeasure obvious in his clipped voice. “This moment marks the vital selection process for County Sect disciples. Explain what meaning your sitting upon this dais carries.”

Instead of replying immediately, Fang Cun settled himself into the heavy chair placed before him with immaculate, unhurried poise. His movement was deliberate. Reaching over to the tea service beside him—specifically the untouched cup intended for the City Governor—he lifted it. With slender fingers softly stirring its surface leaves, he took a slow, controlled sip. Placing the delicate cup back onto its saucer with a soft click, he met Elder Ge’s glare directly.

“My honored Elder,” he answered, his calm tone edged with quiet finality, “I step onto this platform… as is entirely proper according to established laws.”

“You—!”

For one tense beat, blood surged to color Elder Ge’s cheeks as anger warred against years of disciplined poise. He forced himself to recall the warnings—thousands upon thousands internalized repetition—to not provoke the Fang house of Willow Lake.

All the same, his wary gaze instinctively shot toward the gathering of other sect Elders. Could one among them have secretly enrolled this notorious scion without others knowing?

Seeing Elder Ge’s unspoken question, the County Sect Elders promptly gave near-imperceptible shakes of their heads, expressions closed and wary. To them, the unwritten agreement had stood firm. Who would possibly invite calamity—invite society’s fury—by daring this action? Elder Ge, reasoning similarly, doubted his peers possessed such ill-advised bravery. Suspicion sharpened his gaze as it returned to Fang Cun. Only then did he notice Fang Cun’s positioning—distinctly near the youth recognized among them as the Young Sect Master Xu of the Shoushan Clan. His eyes slowly narrowed.

“Young Sect Master Xu,” Elder Ge pressed, shifting focus squarely to the young man. “Will you clarify this? Has Shoushan Sect…already graciously… accepted Second Young Master Fang as a formal disciple?”

The question was like throwing oil upon tense flame. Every County Sect Elder conspicuously fixed their attention—equally astounded, equally dubious—upon Fang Cun and the Young Sect Master Xu simultaneously.

Within their minds spun an unspoken understanding: Shoushan’s recruitment norms…or its peculiar “goals”…were relatively understood throughout their circles. Had Second Young Master Fang’s clear exclusion from the Nine Immortals path undoubtedly driven him to accept “second best”? Had he perhaps pulled strings to squeeze into the notoriously flexible Shoushan, grasping merely for any County Sect accreditation? Yet…should Shoushan take this step, it flew directly against the unmistakable lore involving the Old Scholar! Did that no longer bind them?

“Shoushan Sect?” Young Sect Master Xu’s immediate, vehement denial threw oil abruptly onto fire. “No—absolutely not! What capability, what quality, does our humble order possess worthy enough to mentor a figure like Second Young Master Fang?!”

Breaths held among the watching Elders released slightly at Xu’s determined words—relief mingled instantaneously with profound, renewed lack of comprehension. Their perplexed gazes snapped pointedly back onto Fang Cun: not accepted by Shoushan, so why persist?

“He… he went and bought my Shoushan Sect.”

In this very instant, Young Sect Master Xu emitted a faint, entirely helpless sigh. His words came out pressured, seeming dragged unwillingly into daylight. “Yesterday…Second Young Master Fang approached me directly… through careful discussion… he procured a controlling thirty percent stake in Shoushan Sect’s Spiritual Veins. Therefore… the formal situation stands…” Here Xu drew one tense breath: “…Fang Cun now holds office as Shoushan Sect’s Sixteenth Honorary Elder.”

Silence.

Immediate, razor-edged silence fell.

Every soul—on the platform and below—stood staring, petrified as if struck violently across the skull by a club.

Countless pairs of pupils seemed to strain wildly from sockets—nearly popping free.

Buy…

…buy…

……buy the sect?!