Chapter 98: Execution of the Human Fiend

“What just happened?”

Master Lan Shuang’s sudden disappearance sent a wave of shock through the surrounding Elders and disciples alike.

After the Demonic Array collapsed, the bizarre scene that followed had held them back. Only now, witnessing Master Lan Shuang turn to drifting dust, did their stunned disbelief erupt. Many rushed forward, staring at the emptiness where the dust had scattered on the breeze, nothing but shock written on each face.

Meng Zhixue and the other Four Disciples of the Nanshan Alliance also hurried forward, their eyes fixed anxiously on Fang Cun. Yet, looking at his statue-like expression, words of comfort stuck in their throats. The urge to check his injuries was halted by fear… No one knew if touching Fang Cun would cause him, like Master Lan Shuang, to crumble into dust.

…

“How… how could Master Lan Shuang be… be the one who practiced Human Elixir Refinement?”

Fang Cun watched it all unfold with a cold gaze.

He saw more Academy Instructors and disciples gathering. He saw some rush into the ruined cave dwelling – surely searching for the hidden Human Elixir. Most, however, were merely astonishedly exchanging whispers. Fragments reached his ears: “Fairy Meng of the Nanshan Alliance rummaged through old records,” “discovered Lan Shuang’s past,” “deduced his true identity,” and so on.

Gradually, more and more people grasped the horrifying truth. The scene of destruction before them, Fang Cun sitting dazed beside the stone table, the memory of Master Lan Shuang vanishing like smoke – it all pointed toward terrifying possibilities.

“If Fairy Meng hadn’t searched the old dossiers and uncovered Master Lan Shuang’s dealings with Instructor Lingxiu, how could anyone have guessed he was the demonic cultivator collaborating with her to refine the Human Elixir? Who could have imagined he hid so deeply?”

“Then… then what did he just do to Second Young Master Fang?”

“Didn’t an Instructor say he sensed the aura of a spirit leaving its body in the demonic mist? That… that sounds like Soul Seizure…”

“Heavens! If that’s the case, how is Second Young Master Fang unharmed?”

“Who knows?”

…

Amid the frantic whispers, Gongyang Yanqing, Dean of the Academy, and Bai Huali, Willow Lake City Governor, remained standing silently at the rear. Witnessing Master Lan Shuang’s dissipation, their expressions hadn’t changed.

Only now, as Academy Instructors cordoned off the cave and began searching inside for evidence, did they step forward. Disciples immediately parted to make way. Approaching Fang Cun, they calmly surveyed him. “What transpired?” asked the Dean.

Fang Cun looked up at him, silently for a moment.

Beside them, Elder Zhong Yue could hold back no longer. He spoke gravely to Fang Cun, “We received word. Lan Shuang was the demonic cultivator refining the Human Elixir. Fang Cun, why did he summon you here? Was he… attempting Soul Seizure upon you?” As he asked, he couldn’t hide his own tension. The Dean and the City Governor also wore heavy expressions.

Indeed, everyone was deeply curious. It was painfully obvious that Fang Cun had endured something terrifying. Yet, no one could understand how, given the immense gap in their cultivation levels, Fang Cun could have resisted. So, why was it Lan Shuang who vanished when the demonic array broke, while Fang Cun…

Seeing Elder Zhong Yue’s urgency and the Dean and Governor’s expressions, Fang Cun understood. Lan Shuang had been exposed. Regardless of who found the dossier or what it contained, the mere presence of these two figures meant a decision had been made. Lan Shuang’s fate on this day was already sealed.

After a long pause, he answered slowly. “The one who refined the Human Elixir is dead. I want no part in the rest. I don’t want to speak further.”

…

Sudden silence fell.

Disciples, Instructors, even the Dean and Governor – all looked at Fang Cun in surprise.

They had come immediately upon hearing the dossier uncovered by the Nanshan Five, expecting a confrontation. They hadn’t anticipated finding it already concluded, or Fang Cun present. Most startlingly, before they could even question Lan Shuang, he had dissipated. What truly happened?

Surveying the ruins and recalling the dialogue between Fang Cun and Lan Shuang, considering Lan Shuang’s body shattering and Fang Cun’s current despondency, a few cultivators among them grasped a possible truth.

Elder Zhong Yue frowned sharply. “Second Son of the Fang Family! Why was the Human Elixir in Instructor Lan Shuang’s dwelling? Was he the thief or the refiner? With his cultivation, how could he die so suddenly?” Everyone watched Fang Cun intently, awaiting his response.

But Fang Cun remained frowning, silent for a long while. It seemed he still couldn’t reconcile something within himself.

Seeing his state, Xu Wenshu, the clerk beside the City Governor, stepped forth. Holding a small box retrieved from Lan Shuang’s cave, he announced sternly, “The Human Elixir was found in Instructor Lan Shuang’s dwelling. Academy disciples discovered dossiers documenting his dealings with Instructor Lingxiu and Zhao Rong of the Devouring Sea Gang. The evidence is irrefutable! This scum hid within the Academy, refined the Human Elixir – his crimes are unforgivable! And today, he dared attempt Soul Seizure upon a disciple—vicious and cunning! A disgrace to Willow Lake! Second Young Master Fang risked his life to slay this demonic evil—worthy of our highest praise!” Countless disciples flushed with righteous fury.

“He wasn’t killed by me. He killed himself.”

Fang Cun’s cold voice cut through Xu Wenshu’s speech.

Xu Wenshu started, looking at Fang Cun in disbelief. The surrounding disciples were equally stunned and confused.

Fang Cun slowly rose. He cast a glance at the ruined cave and the three willow trees shattered by the array. He turned and began walking away, his voice weary. “I came to him today only to ask a question.” He paused. “He answered. And as a teacher…” He sighed softly. “… his answer was remarkably good.”

With that, he walked outwards.

Seeing this, the cultivators were utterly perplexed. An Instructor blurted out, “Where are you going?”

Fang Cun looked back at them, calm. “Home. For dinner.”

“You…”

His reply struck everyone as bizarre. They wanted to stop him, but the words wouldn’t come.

The City Governor and the Academy Dean, however, observing Fang Cun’s demeanor, shared a faintly ambiguous glance. Though they could have pressed further, they seemed to reconsider, their expressions shifting to puzzlement.

Ultimately, they did not obstruct him. Instead, they raised their sleeves lightly, signaling others not to intervene.

…

Through the crowd ahead, Xiao Qingliu drove the carriage hard, ignoring all Academy rules against vehicles within the grounds. His face was etched with terror, his eyes rimmed red, though he dared not speak to his Young Master. He swiftly dismounted and opened the carriage door, desperate to take his master home.

“Ding ling…”

Just as Fang Cun was about to board the carriage, a clear chime sounded.

A moment of darkness filled his vision as the Celestial Merit Record manifested before him.

– Executed Human Fiend. Bestowed Merit: 7000!

At the same time, a commotion arose behind him. Gasps echoed.

“His… his hair! How did it turn white?”

A disciple’s cry went up. Others surged forward urgently.

Amid the countless stares of shock, Fang Cun paused, grasping a strand of his own hair. He saw it was streaked with countless silver threads. A cold smirk touched his lips. “You deduct my Merit? You punish me with white hair…”

“…all because I couldn’t prove he tried Soul Seizure?”

…

The Merit for executing a Human Fiend should have been ten thousand. Yet he received only seven thousand.

More importantly, although he hadn’t committed any Sin, his hair had suddenly silvered.

Instantly, Fang Cun understood the reason.

Each task had its core.

The Demon Scourge was the practice of Demons stealing life force, seeing Demon Core Refinement as normal.

The Bandit Scourge was the Black Water Fort towering over the land.

And the Human Fiend? It was the full weight of the sins this creature had committed. His attempt at Soul Seizure was merely one among them.

But Fang Cun did not see it that way.

To any observer, Lan Shuang, in his final moments, was attempting Soul Seizure.

Objectively, based on what had happened, he had attempted it. He acted upon it. Therefore, to others… even to the Celestial Merit Record… this ‘Soul Seizure’ was a major crime added to his burden.

Fang Cun, however, couldn’t be certain about the intention behind it.

If Soul Seizure was truly his aim, why take the immense risk to retrieve the Human Elixir?

Possessing the Elixir meant no need for the risky Soul Seizure. Conversely, targeting him directly would not necessarily require retrieving the Elixir.

He had no concrete evidence to prove Lan Shuang wasn’t genuinely diving for Soul Seizure at the end. Yet, deep down, he believed that despite the man’s undeniable depravity, his sincerity toward this disciple outweighed the deception in those final moments. His ultimate desire wasn’t possession by force.

That was Fang Cun’s judgment. The Celestial Merit Record clearly disagreed….

It saw Lan Shuang’s ostensible action as Sin committed. And Fang Cun, by omitting it, was effectively concealing the Sin…

So…

“Hmph…”

These thoughts swirling, Fang Cun suddenly yanked the carriage curtain aside and climbed in.

“To hell with that!”

The words roared through his mind, his gaze turning profoundly cold.

“Take away all the Merit if you must! Turn my hair completely white! It doesn’t matter!”

“I’ll just do whatever I like!”