Chapter 142: I’ll Grant Your Wish
Chapter 142: I’ll Grant Your Wish
The surroundings were dead silent. Not a human voice could be heard for a long time.
For a moment, all they seemed to see was Fang Cun’s cold, angry face and hear his furious words.
For a moment, they felt shaken inside. When they first heard the Second Young Master Fang confess to arranging these events, they felt he might have gone too far. After all, in many people’s eyes, Senior Brother Zhou Huai had merely played a prank…
Though a rather nasty one…
But listening to Fang Cun lay everything out point by point, hearing his icy interrogations, everyone suddenly understood.
Without these details, they thought the Second Young Master Fang was just vicious. But knowing the reasons now, seeing him, an unfathomable feeling of profound awe mingled with their fear and dread…
“You… I’ll fight you…”
Facing Fang Cun’s gaze, Senior Brother Zhou Huai felt only ice in his heart. Then, fury like a volcano erupted. His violent rage couldn’t be stopped. Fang Cun’s words didn’t register. All he knew was this man before him dared to plot such poison, dared to push him into this corner…
Burning with anger, Zhou Huai, who’d never held this Shoushan Sect Elder in much regard, didn’t care about propriety. He snarled like a beast. His Magical Power surged violently, five energies swirling around him, twisting the very air.
Mid-stage Treasured Body Realm. An effortless gesture could shatter rocks.
“No…”
“Hold him back…”
The onlookers gasped in shock. They rushed forward, grabbing Zhou Huai around his waist. Shocked and frightened as they were, they understood: even in the relatively lax Shoushan Sect, if a disciple attacked an Elder, he’d surely be expelled. Especially since Elder Fang’s cultivation likely wasn’t much stronger than theirs…
If they injured him, there’d be no turning back!
“Let me go! I’ll kill him…”
Struggling against his fellow disciples, Zhou Huai roared: “I’ll kill this vile scoundrel!”
“Fang! You dared sneak around harming me! How about a fair fight like a man?”
“Fang clan! Your whole family is deceitful and shameless! Only brave enough to hurt people in the shadows!”
“……”
“……”
Blinded by rage, he screamed everything.
His fellow disciples were horrified. Barely holding him back, they couldn’t cover his mouth.
Calmly seated opposite him, Fang Cun listened… then suddenly smiled. “Let him go.”
“Huh?”
All were stunned, gaping at Fang Cun.
“Since he insists on challenging me, how can I refuse him under Great Xia’s customs?”
Fang Cun looked at those restraining Zhou Huai. “I’ll not only grant his wish… I’ll give him a chance. If you can survive three moves from me… I’ll even revoke all punishment.”
“Though, you can forget about Miss Zhuer. Honestly, she’s not interested.”
“……”
“……”
“This…”
The gathered Shoushan Sect disciples were speechless.
Those holding Zhou Huai looked especially surprised. If Fang Cun had simply ordered them to release Zhou Huai, they wouldn’t dare. But since he framed it as granting Zhou Huai a chance… wasn’t this a shred of hope in despair? Especially since Fang Cun claimed Zhou Huai only needed to withstand three moves? Such arrogance!
Sure, everyone in Shoushan Sect was slacking, maybe lagging behind other County Sect disciples… but they still surpassed fresh Academy graduates! Second Young Master Fang had high status, but no one was blind. His cultivation seemed low, just barely the Treasured Body Realm. Rumors said he slaughtered foes back in Willow Lake City, but whispers insisted he’d borrowed another’s strength then – not his own skill…
Or perhaps…
Some wondered… was Second Young Master Fang deliberately giving Zhou Huai an out?
He was an Elder, after all. Why alienate all his disciples?
Use this conflict to show authority, then grant reconciliation. Then he’d truly cement his position…
“Let me go! LET GO!”
Amidst the doubt, Zhou Huai struggled fiercely… finally breaking free. With combat agreed upon, he didn’t rush forward immediately. Bloodshot eyes fixed on Fang Cun, he hissed: “You say… if I win… you’ll leave Uncle Liang’s Fuyuan Shop alone? Stop your schemes?”
“I said withstand three moves.”
Fang Cun knew Zhou Huai craved outright victory. He didn’t explain. Just nodded gently.
“I want another condition!”
Zhou Huai suddenly rasped: “If I win… you apologize. To me!”
Gritting his teeth, he added fiercely: “On behalf of your brother too! Apologize for him!”
“Stop that!”
“Enough already!”
Others gasped, urgently trying to shout him down.
Fang Cun sat unmoved, expression unchanged. Softly: “Come.”
“What’s so great about Fang Chi of Willow Lake? Second Young Master Fang? What do you Fuangs have besides family name?”
“Hypocrites preaching benevolence and justice? You disgust me most!”
Zhou Huai held nothing back. Face twisted, roaring wildly, his Magical Power exploded! A fierce gale swept outwards! Pushed back by the pressure, Sect disciples scrambled back, instantly clearing a fifteen-foot clearing… just as Green Pine, Cold Stone, and Young Sect Master Xu – alerted to the trouble – arrived, faces pale.
“Wooooosh…”
Zhou Huai clenched his teeth. He didn’t attack immediately. He gathered power, condensing it stronger… wilder…
Five visible energies spiraled up like chains around him. Vaguely five-colored: azure, crimson, white… dark yellow… each corresponding to a direction. As they spun, forces of heaven and earth seemed drawn… thread by thread… empowering him.
The Five Qi Body Refining Art – harnessing the five directions.
As Zhou Huai’s power peaked… Fang Cun still sat unmoving.
Not a flicker of his own Magical Power stirred.
The contrast was stark. Zhou Huai seemed immense… crushing Fang Cun…
“Hissss…”
Nearby, the Little Fox bristled. Legs bent, claws dug into earth, tail arched, teeth bared.
Even Yu Qingli subtly shot Fang Cun a warning glance.
Fang Cun shook his head faintly. Calm eyes met Zhou Huai’s. A slight nod.
“DIE!”
To the Shoushan Sect disciples, Zhou Huai was Senior Brother. To friends, a good man. Even County Mansion Chief Wardens saw a rising star. How could he endure such disdain?! A frenzied roar! He stomped forward savagely! Instantly, his Magical Power burst forth! Surging like floodgates ripped open… crashing towards Fang Cun!
The air rippled. Stones flew.
Witnesses glimpsed… five dragon phantoms lunging to devour Fang Cun.
“This…”
“Would the Second Young Master… just get flattened?!”
Many recognized the blazing fury, the merciless intent in Zhou Huai’s strike. Hearts pounded in silent dread.
Then…
Amidst the chaos…
Suddenly, Fang Cun moved.
He rose.
Lifted a hand.
Twisted at the waist.
Palmed forward.
THWUMP.
A solid blow landed squarely on Zhou Huai’s chest! Invisible force whipped up fierce winds!
Zhou Huai froze rigid. How did that palm reach his heart?! His Magical Power… scattered instantly! He felt immense power in that strike… yet, upon impact… the force just… vanished?! He wasn’t sent flying…
Why?! Before thought could form…
Savage instinct roared back! He swung a fist wildly at Fang Cun! Magical Power surged on the punch! Black ripples pulsed around it! Startlingly sharp, vicious! Like blades!
THUD!
Just as he struck… Fang Cun expelled a slight force.
Zhou Huai stumbled back… step… step… step!
The impact squeezed his heart! Shock! Yet… no injury?! His Magical Power seemed only to boil… churning wildly!
Howling like a beast again! Magical Power erupted from his core! Stronger than before! Eyes blood-red and insane! Claws hooked like talons! Summoning thick black mist! Swiping viciously at Fang Cun’s face!
“Spirit Demon Refining Hand…!”
A disciple recognized it and shrieked.
Few mastered the secret arts of Shoushan Sect! Who knew Zhou Huai comprehended one?! And that THIS ruthlessly lethal technique would be unleashed without hesitation?!
Fang Cun… simply watched the charging figure. His gaze… slowly turned detached.
As Zhou Huai closed in…
Fang Cun abruptly flipped his palm… striking downward onto Zhou Huai’s crown!
No special technique. Just… impossibly fast.
CRACK!
Whirling rocks obeyed gravity instantly.
Zhou Huai’s bones rattled sickeningly. CRUNCH! He crashed to his knees… impact cratering the stone floor.
Crucially… his Magical Power was at its extreme peak, wild torrents raging inside.
Fang Cun’s descending palm shattered all restraint.
Energy erupted chaotically inward!
POP!
A spray of crimson mist burst from Zhou Huai’s back! A major acupoint… a convergence of several channels… TORN!
Worse came. POP POP POP POP!
Countless points across his chest, back – burst… fountains of blood mist!
THUD.
Zhou Huai collapsed bonelessly. Eyes filled only with dread.
“What came before… was my brother’s repayment to you.”
Fang Cun gazed down from his seat. Quietly: “This strike… is repayment from me. Your brother.”
Zhou Huai met that gaze… pure horror inside. A hoarse croak: “What… did you… do?”
“Just granting your wish.”
Amidst horrified stares, Fang Cun turned… smoothly returning to his seat. Not a wrinkle on his robes. Like he’d never moved. Viewing the distorted face below, he spoke matter-of-factly:
“You sneered at the hypocrisy of kindness. Claimed insight into the world’s true face.”
“Now… as a cripple… feel its flavor firsthand.”