Chapter 163: Well, Then, Did Your Fiance Run Away On Your Wedding?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Qiao Zijiang nodded. “If that’s the case, brother will break through soon, and he’ll be able to take up the slack immediately. He’s made a lot of progress cultivating morality recently, and he seems to have had an epiphany.”
Qiao Anping said, “That’s great then, Zishan’s morality is much more suitable to front those bloodthirsty demons. The only thing is to remember not to let him break through in this dimension.”.
Qiao Zijiang understood naturally. Since the Truth Department had been rooted here for over ten years, they knew from the beginning that while it was easy to break through and to advance over here, he would be easily corrupted…
She nodded in response, then brought up something else. “After that, there was a gigantic eagle that appeared, and it brought a lot of great demons over to aid us. It was probably the Venerable Dragon God who called it over. I’m afraid that they’ve made some kind of agreement with each other..”
As Qiao Anping was in a coma when that happened, he was absolutely clueless about the appearance of a gigantic eagle. After hearing about it from his niece, he frowned.
He said, “Elder Hai and the others should know what to do. Is there anything else?”
Once again, Qiao Zijiang mentioned the Soul Curse casted by that venomous snake, and how it would attack the walled city in the ravine every year from now.
Qiao Anping looked happy instead. “That’ll be perfect, I was just worrying about having a place to cultivate. There are too many rules and considerations in the outside world, killing is not enjoyable here at all. It’s either that I severely injure them and spare their lives, or I just let them go altogether.
“There’re not as many issues there, although those bloodthirsty demons won’t attack the local great tribes and only find trouble with outsiders like us, those local great tribes are on good terms with us now and they don’t bother about their lives. Besides, they have no sapience, which is perfect for me to just slaughter them freely.”
Qiao Zijiang, felt slightly helpless. “Uncle, why don’t you think of it this way. If this happens, an enormous amount of resources and manpower must be invested every year to protect the walled city.
“Those powerful Defense Formations will require enormous upkeep each time they’re set up. We can stop using them at other times, but we can’t tear them down after building it, and then build them again just to fight the attack of demons and beasts at the end of each year.”
Qiao Anping scratched his head. “I really haven’t thought about this. Elder Xu had mentioned before that this land would be opened to the association, and when that happens we can invite those masters over to help us out. Then, we won’t have to consume too many resources on just the Defense Formation to defend them.”
Qiao Zijiang thought for a while then said again, “If we want to solve this problem at its roots, we better go for the source that’s producing these bloodthirsty demons.”
Qiao Anping shook his head instead. “Well, you can forget about doing that. I’ve actually done a detailed investigation on that issue. There are two ways they come about. You know the first one already; some genius demons that failed to overcome their Inner Demons were corrupted into becoming bloodthirsty demons.
“As for the second way, the demons will never give it up, considering the friendly relationship between both parties. Elder Xu asked me not to tell you to keep it tacit. Basically, there are no ways to destroy these two sources, besides, they’re the best targets for training soldiers. While resources can be produced, training targets at this grade can’t be found in the outside world.”
When the words reached Qiao Zijiang’s ears, she made a guess. “Not only we can produce medicinal materials here, cultivate speedily, and tap on the huge amount of bloodthirsty beasts, I heard that there’s also an extremely mysterious Heritage Valley here. No matter how I look at it, why does it seem like it’s a place like that…”
She elected to not vocalize her guess. If it were true, it would be terrifying beyond imagination.
She did not want her heavily injured uncle to be worried, so she only thought silently about needing to pay close attention to her cultivation. She needed to break through to her uncle’s level, and only then would she be able to hunt for the truth.
…
At an open space within the walled city in the ravine. A light wind was kissing the miniscule bushes littered around the area. The Sky Eagle that Qiao Zijiang mentioned was speaking with Vigilante A.
“After this war, I wonder when will Brother Dragon return to the outside world?”
Sir System was training in isolation at that moment, and had dumped his body over to Fang Ning to manage.
At once, Fang Ning understood the other party’s intentions. He nodded and said, “I’ll return once the people from Truth Department clean up the headquarters and clear up a Space Passage. When that time comes, may I ask of you to return with me, friend. There are many good places to settle down outside.”
Upon hearing that, the Sky Eagle was elated. “Brother Dragon, thank you for being so considerate, how about you take this opportunity to explain some rules to me, lest I bring upon trouble to you, Brother Dragon.”
Fang Ning agreed as well. Sky Eagle was both a Pond-level powerhouse and a bird, something might really go wrong if it was not addressed in advance.
He explained everything in detail, yet the Sky Eagle only had a headache after listening. It could not fly at low altitudes above the humans’ towns, it should not scare the children, it could not capture poultry and livestock reared by humans, it could not hurt the flowers and trees…
Sky Eagle shook its head and said, “By the looks of it, it seems like I can only live in the mountains in the outskirts, I’m afraid that it’ll be a little troublesome for you to contact me, Brother Dragon.”
Fang Ning said, “This is alright, humans have convenient ways to communicate, I’ll give you a satellite phone later on…”
Sky Eagle said, “Since that’s the case, I won’t have to be bothered then.”
…
Three days later, Fang Ning brought the Sky Eagle through the Space Passage in the headquarters of Truth Department, and left the Land of Heritage.
Due to the strict surveillance on top of the complicated process procedures, their exit it took up an entire day’s time. If Sir System were to be in the pilot seat, it would have been impatient from the start and used Thousand-mile Assistance to return home at once.
The Sky Eagle was rather patient as a Pond-level powerhouse. After all, it was a divine eagle that could carve a stone for ten years and turn it into a roasted chicken statue…
At the entrance base of the Land of Heritage away from China, a human and an eagle rejected the escort of the people from Truth Department, they arrived at the wilderness not far away.
“There’s so little vitality here, no wonder other demons won’t come over here, it’s too hard to adapt. It’s fortunate that I’ll be cultivating the path of righteousness in the future, so I don’t have high expectations here. This place is very huge indeed”, After saying that, the Sky Eagle soared into the sky with a powerful thrust, and only a tiny black dot was left after a short while. Followed by that, a voice was heard from afar, “Brother Dragon, I’ll meet you again.”
Fang Ning was stunned as he watched. “I haven’t passed you the satellite phone yet, where did your patience go? You’re being too short-tempered…”
Sure enough, it was an eagle who loved flying around freely, it seemed like the troublesome inspection process from before must have made it feel very oppressed…
Fang Ning sighed. He was not worried about not being able to contact it. After all, he could do it through that masterpiece as its spiritual sense was branded on it.
After calling Sir System and instructing the body of Vigilante A to return home, Fang Ning entered the System Lounge to take a rest…
He did not fall asleep immediately, so he started to arrange his thoughts. “It’s impossible for Sir System to just leave those bloodthirsty demons alone. The problem is that it still had insufficient attacking power for now, and farming them individually was too ineffective. The army has been poisoned with puzzled hearts and mentality problems, I wonder when it’ll be back to normal.
“Even if they did overcome those problems, they’re not Vigilante A’s followers, it’ll be a humongous cost each time they’re deployed, and if I want to use their farming spot, I’ll have to consider their arrangements as well. I never really liked to threaten people.
“I might as well wait until the year-end when the group of beasts attack the city, then it’ll be the them who will request help from Vigilante A. That way, I’ll be the one to make arrangements.”
When he returned to the outside world, his thinking still hadn’t changed; making a powerful weapon had to be his top priority. Only when Sir System could stabilize its farming, could he sleep and have fun without worry…
Being seized turned out to be a comfortable thing after all. When Fang Ning woke up, he wanted his body back, but he realized he was already not far away from the suburb farm villa in Qi City.
Before arriving at the farm entrance, from a distance, Fang Ning saw a young man kneeling in the distance.
“What’s going on?” he thought. Fang Ning suddenly felt a wave of distress bubble up within him. Although his farm villa was not, in fact, a secret to the world, he had never had many visitors. In his memory there was only Xie Dong from Truth Department who had paid a visit before.
Those who knew about Vigilante A’s house location were all people will high rankings, where did the young man come from then?
Just as Fang Ning was still pondering, a “woof” sound was heard as Brett the Black Dog barked from afar.
It fawned over him and said, “Host, you’ve been gone for a long time, it has already been a month and three days. You didn’t have any serious encounters, did you?”
Fang Ning nodded and said, “There wasn’t anything serious, but that man who’s kneeling in front of our entrance, what’s the matter?”
Upon hearing that, the black dog quickly said, “Oh, I was just about to inform you of this. Master, the man who’s kneeling is called Shen Xingchen, and he wants to become your apprentice, master. He’s been kneeling here every day, he doesn’t eat or drink, he’ll kneel from dawn till dusk, and he has been kneeling for half a month. I told him that the master is not around, and to return some other day, but he wouldn’t listen, so I could only ask the workers to send him food in the afternoon.”
When Fang Ning heard that, he was shocked, he had seen too many novels, he was certain that this man was one of those fellows with great determination and firm mental resilience.
In the modern era, other than kneeling to parents of seniors during festivals, or during funerals, it was very unlikely and rare for a person to kneel to anyone else. It was obvious know how tiring it was to kneel for a while day, yet this man had actually knelt for half a month, it was clear how firm of a temperament he had.
In the new era, there were plenty of opportunities. The prestige of Vigilante A had spread, and its reputation had become a “World Legend”, such that people with good observation and conscience had all heard of all its war stories.
It would be normal for people to want to become his apprentice, but Fang Ning was not interested in having any disciples…
For one, he did not want to have to worry about such things, and secondly, he hoped not to experience nerdy plots like apprentice’s betrayals and internal conflicts between master and apprentice just like how it was said in the novels. After all, for someone who was used to reading novels, it was like poison.
It was even more impossible for Sir System who was too busy farming and training to waste its time on teaching apprentices. To date, it had only passed on low-level techniques to the others. As for the Atmospheric Morality Technique, it was only taught to followers who had been approved of their loyalty by the System’s rules.
However, of course he could not just ditch that man over there, he must clarify things with him.
As Fang Ning thought about that, he brought Brett the Black Dog along with him and arrived at the gates of the farm.
The young man who was kneeling had straight eyebrows and sharp eyes, and was covered in quite a lot of dirt. There was a sense of an unyielding spirit that could be seen through his forehead.
Fang Ning went beside him and paid attention to not face the kneeling man head-on, Then he said, “Get up, young man, I’m the Venerable Dragon God, I’ve heard that you’re kneeling here so to become my apprentice?”
The young man stood up once he heard those words. He held a fist salute and bowed as he said, “Hero, I’m Shen Xingchen, your reputation reaches far and wide, hero. I’d like to become your apprentice. Your wish is my command, master.”
Fang Ning did not answer immediately. He noticed the perturbation in Shen Xingchen’s face.
After a brief moment, Fang Ning shook his head. “Don’t waste your time then, you may return now and look for someone else to become your master, I won’t accept apprentices.”
The reason why Fang Ning was so sure of his was because he had glanced the System Map just a while ago. Although the man in front of him had said that he wanted to become his apprentice and would obey his orders without question…
The color on the map was still yellow, and no matter what did not turn green… It was clear that the man meant contrary to what he said.
He had been with sir System for such a long time, so he was very experienced, both the yellow and black dogs were faithful, back then when they first met, the color turned green without delay. That was because they were sincerely seeking refuge in him and that was exactly what they were thinking.
When Shen Xingchen heard that, a hint of disappointment was seen from his face, he immediately knelt down again, “Hero, please take me as your apprentice, or I, Xingchen. will kneel here forever.”
Fang Ning thought, “Damn, is he trying to cling on to me?”
Fang Ning felt vexed about it, they were all from the modern era anyway, who would not know about the relation between obligation and authority? He thought, “I’m not your parent, and this isn’t some nine-year compulsory education, why do I have the obligation to take you as my apprentice, and waste my time to teach you?
“I’m afraid that you’ve studied Vigilante A’s style of conduct and thought that he’s the same as other heroes in the olden days who would buy this, so you have no qualms kneeling, am I right?
“Unfortunately, you’re wrong…”
Fang Ning controlled his temper then asked him carefully again, “Are you bearing any deep-seated hatred?”
Shen Xingchen was stunned, he then answered, “No.”
Fang Ning continued to ask, “Well then did your fiance run away on your wedding?”
Once again, Shen Xingchen was stunned. “No, as well.”
Fang Ning looked displeased. “Then what’s with this unbendable spirit? If you’d like to learn the way of cultivation, it’s not like there’s no other place anyway. You should practice the Basic Cultivation of the Spirit well to increase your intelligence, then get into the District Special Affairs Liaison Office and learn from them. They welcome anybody, as long as you swear to serve China. There’s no need for you to kneel, nor do you have to obey their orders.
Shen Xingchen shook his head and said, “They only teach superficial cultivation ways, how can it be compared with yours, hero?”
Fang Ning thought, “What a smart man, he’s so choosy.”
