Chapter 156: Handling Official Business
Chapter 156: Handling Official Business
“This…”
When Young Sect Master Xu and Elders Jin and Fu Gui heard Fang Cun’s question, they were momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
This Old Master Fan was known to everyone, but when it came to describing him specifically, it seemed good could be said!
“About this Old Master Fan, how should I put it? Sigh, I guess he could be called a living saint!”
Young Sect Master Xu pondered for a moment, shook his head, and sighed, “He was the top scholar of the Classic of Documents in our Qingjiang Prefecture, or even in the Yuan Shen Kingdom. He cultivated himself soul and mind, showing great virtue and winning high respect. People always praised him!”
“Most precious was his strong, honest character; he couldn’t tolerate any flaw. Back when all immortals gathered for the Turtle God King’s meeting, he dared to scold Turtle God King right there in front the nine perfectures, seven districts, and thousands of Qi Refiners. He accused Turtle God King of being too weak and letting the Great Demon Sovereign from Pleasure Quarters invade our Western Turtle Domain. Even Turtle God King had to grit his teeth and toast him, afraid to show anger!”
“Because of this, his fame spread far. It’s said he could’ve entered Divine Palace ages ago, but chose to stay in Qingjiang as a small Prefect, protecting our people. Everyone admired him so much that all major sects and countless Qi Refiners in Qingjiang Prefecture called him ‘Old Scholar,’ not ‘Prefect,’ out of deep respect!”
“…”
“…”
Fang Cun just listened quietly, not showing any view.
To dare openly blame Turtle God King’s flaws seemed a truly bold and honest nature.
The Great Xia Dynasty, based in Zhaoge, held unity and order. Beyond Zhaoge were many Divine Kings ruling fiefdoms like many local lords. Turtle God King was one of the seven greats—Phoenix, Qilin, Dragon, Kui, Turtle, Sparrow, and Candle—standing nearly at the top below Great Xia Immortal Emperor. Who else dared accuse him face-to-face?
With a light chuckle, Fang Cun asked again, “So how did this Old Scholar gain kindness toward my Fang Family?”
Seeing Fang Cun’s curious look, Young Sect Master Xu sighed softly and began to explain, “I suppose Second Young Master Fang recalls when your brother exposed the theft of people’s life force across Lingzhou’s three thousand miles? Also, do you know that after he exposed it, the evil Path of Heaven sect pursued him endlessly for a long time?”
After hearing Young Sect Master Xu, Fang Cun nodded gently.
He knew about this of course.
Back then, a sect broke all rules, setting an evil spell to steal Lingzhou’s three-thousand-mile people’s life force day and night. This wasn’t Human Elixir Refinement, but worse. Refining one Human Elixir harms three hundred people, but stealing life force drained countless at once. At first, victims just felt tired; later, they became weak, sickly, and short-lived. Babies born then rarely survived.
His brother, at Nine Immortals Sect then, bravely revealed this, but the cost was huge.
Someone paid Path of Heaven assassins to hunt his brother down, whatever the cost.
Assassins of Path of Heaven were a scary group in Great Xia—killers practicing dark sword arts who acted very wildly. They took no gold or silver, only Dragon Stones. Supposedly, with enough Dragon Stones, they’d try to kill a Divine King. Folks even whispered they once plotted against the Immortal Emperor in Immortal Palace…
Still, no one dared underestimate Path of Heaven assassins!
For his brother, at Foundation Establishment Realm back then, facing Path of Heaven meant certain death.
Caught in their sights meant death.
Yet later, no one knew how, Path of Heaven suddenly stopped and canceled the orders. His brother returned fine, grew famous, then entered Divine Palace to cultivate.
Afterward, he seldom talked about the attacks, so folks never learned why.
Even Fang Cun hadn’t heard it mentioned in their letters.
“Now…”
“Word is, back then, this Old Scholar saved your brother from Path of Heaven assassins!”
Young Sect Master Xu nodded slowly, saying, “When your brother was hunted by Path of Heaven assassins, no major sects in Qingjiang tried to protect him—even his home Nine Immortals Sect hid away. But fearless Old Master Fan stepped up and talked to the assassins when no one helped. He got them to quit trying to kill your brother!”
“Oh?”
Fang Cun’s look shifted slightly as he gazed at Young Sect Master Xu, saying, “How did he manage?”
Young Sect Master Xu sighed, “Rarely anyone knows. Old Master Fan never gave details. People guess he paid a steep price to sway such wild, ghostly assassins. Ah, Old Master Fan rarely spoke of it, yet some still disliked him…”
“Old Master Fan, a living saint…”
Fang Cun softly spoke the name a few times, his face plain—almost amused.
After a short silence, he suddenly laughed, saying, “You know, I’ve always wanted to ask this!”
Young Sect Master Xu got startled, raising his gaze.
Fang Cun looked straight into his eyes and asked, “When I joined the County Sect, why didn’t any elders choose me? Was it because of this Old Master?”
Young Sect Master Xu was stunned.
He seemed unsure, but meeting Fang Cun’s eyes, he couldn’t lie for long. After a slight pause, he shared, “Elders from sects did visit Old Master Fan once before picking disciples at Academies. But I didn’t go see him then… because he… well… he felt Shoushan Sect tricked students anyhow after losing Treasure Body Method… Ugh, anyway, on the way to Willow Lake, others noted it.”
Here, he sighed deeply and faced Fang Cun. “Still, Second Young Master Fang, I won’t trade fake words here. Truth is, the Old Master really spoke of you, of Fang Family. His actual words were: ‘Fang Family is amid troubles now. Their youth shine too bright, catching bad eyes. So let’s hold back awhile, wait for the storm to pass, then lift them up properly. Thus we honor Immortal Master’s heart for Great Xia.'”
“Troubled times? Putting things on hold?”
Fang Cun quietly repeated the words, then lightly laughed and nodded.
Having a plan in mind, he swept his sleeves, stood up, and grinned, “Then I truly ought to visit the Old Master!”
“Well… Elder Fang, are you sure to go right now?”
Young Sect Master Xu seemed uneasy.
“Since he’s tied deep with my Fang Family, skipping a visit would seem rude!”
Fang Cun replied cheerfully, “Plus, there’s the huge life-saving debt!”
“But this meeting… is official!”
To meet a family friend in private would be different than formal work. Young Sect Master Xu frowned inside—Elder Fang seemed blind to such rules!
“Enough! My business is official!”
Fang Cun cut him off bluntly and moved on.
Young Sect Master Xu gave in, muttering softly to himself, “After all, I’m still Sect Leader…”
…
…
The next dawn, Young Sect Master Xu stood waiting at the mountain gate in a plain black shirt, wearing a large dark sword sheath—perhaps thinking Elder Fang’s low Cultivation Power couldn’t handle long flights solo, so he’d packed a comfortable, wide flying sword for sitting.
He waited half an hour without seeing Elder Fang show up. Just as he intended heading up Jade Mirror Peak to hurry, black clouds rose behind the peak quickly drifted high, appearing near the gate!
“This…”
Catching sight of the Dharma Ship, Young Sect Master Xu froze.
Elder Fang’s fine face leaned from the ship at last, joking loud and hearty: “Jump aboard, Sect Lord! Why the delay?”
“You’re traveling to Qingjiang Prefecture in this?”
Ascending into flight and stepping onto ship deck lightly sighing…
Fang Cun grinned back: “With Dharma Ship at hand—why endure harsh winds atop blades?”
“But…”
Caught stumbling around nervously…
Young Sect Master Xu hesitated slightly before sharing plainly soberly slow manner wide awake suddenly knocked out cold deeply breathing sound sleeping seconds later still speechless…
“No need,”
Young Sect Master Xu shook head no before peering into inner cabin: “What fine gift hidden there?”
Grin fading fast questioning sharply baffling posture…
Fang Cun seemed surprised: “Gift? This is duty work!”
Cried loudly distressed nearly tears pouring endless wetting shoulders slowly bending surrender defeated…
“Sects must respect traditions! Showing empty-handed looks bad!”
Nearly losing sleep breathing deeper eyes turning red faced heat growing speaking voice higher breaking shrill squeak fitting quiet alley late night dark alley must moved forced away.
Fang Cun almost laughed angrily: “Little rules overly coiled mind! Go!”
“Oh.”
Young Sect Master Xu meekly climbed the vessel.
Fierce wind whined as the dark cloud soared away toward Qingjiang Prefecture slowly shrinking distant horizon glowing faint lamp night gradually dimming completely melted into black.
Inside Morality Hall, Elder Green Pine and Elder Cold Stone watched afar and finally breathed easy.
“Ha! Sect Head gone, also Eldest Elder out sight—now vacation!”
“Grab some fresh fish—great drink partners indeed!”
“But leader said no fish taking…”
“Worry not! Simple later—blame disciples common trick!”