Monarch Night
Chapter 119 - 77: Do not discuss loyalty until confronted with life and death, do not talk about love until you have experienced the vast sea.

Chapter 119: Chapter 77: Do not discuss loyalty until confronted with life and death, do not talk about love until you have experienced the vast sea.

It was just past August, how could it have decayed so quickly?

Liu Xueyun and her companion managed to contain their shock, one guarded the scene while the other immediately went to report to the instructor.

In a moment, the place was crowded.

After a thorough investigation, several instructors wore grim expressions and ordered the area sealed immediately.

They then took the findings to the academic affairs office.

"Wan Zhimei was an undercover agent for the Yixin Sect!"

This information was confirmed.

The note by Wan Zhimei’s pillow confirmed everything.

Tracing the events from the outcome made it easy.

"Wan Zhimei discovered a secret signal of the Yixin Sect, so she went to the location indicated by the signal and obtained this Elixir Pill; this piece of paper can prove everything: if Wan Zhimei was not a member of the Yixin Sect, she wouldn’t have recognized the signal even if it was right in front of her."

"The current mystery lies in why Wan Zhimei died? Or rather, why would someone from the Yixin Sect poison her to death?"

This question made everyone frown.

"Perhaps Wan Zhimei was about to do something that would expose her, or maybe they no longer needed her as an undercover agent, or... some other reason. Or perhaps she was framed."

"However, the fact that Wan Zhimei was a member of the Yixin Sect is conclusive."

"Immediately investigate the Wan Family!"

"Notify the Guardian Hall of Baiyun State, the Guardian Hall where the Wan Family is located, and the government."

The Baiyun Martial Academy acted very swiftly.

That very day, a net spread widely as numerous high-level experts mobilized.

And the affiliated family of the Yixin Sect, the Wan Family, was exposed by nightfall; all members of the Wan Family were captured in one fell swoop.

After interrogation, it was found that over forty heads of the Wan Family were complicit, while the women and children were unaware.

Those in the know were thrown into the dungeon, the rest were released.

But from then on, the Wan Family ceased to exist in this world.

This case was considered closed.

But it left behind a mystery.

Why was Wan Zhimei dealt with in such a manner? How was she suddenly exposed? Why did she suddenly die?

...

Fang Che only learned about this the next morning after coming out of the Spiritual Energy Gravity Cultivation Room.

He was eating at the time and froze in shock mid-bite.

Taken aback.

He hurriedly swallowed and asked, "What happened? I just saw Senior Sister Wan yesterday..."

"Silence, what Senior Sister Wan? She was a spy for the Yixin Sect!"

Fang Che looked bewildered: "How could... how is this possible? This is so sudden..."

He seemed utterly unable to accept it.

Mo Gan Yun patted Fang Che on the shoulder and sighed, "I know because of your cousin, you have good impressions of those senior brothers and sisters, but... this matter has already happened. Mourn and move on."

"I have to go find my cousin."

Fang Che was agitated.

"Your cousin has already scheduled his journey, they intended to delay a day to manage this matter, but the Martial Arts Academy didn’t agree, so they have already set out on their mission."

"... Ah!"

Fang Che raised his bowl of soup, drank it in one gulp, and said, "I’ll substitute soup for wine then. Regardless of who you were, we once met. I wish you a smooth journey on Huangquan Road."

Mo Gan Yun was stunned.

This was truly the first time he heard someone offer such a wish for a smooth journey on Huangquan Road.

"Going into the Cultivation Room again this afternoon?"

Mo Gan Yun asked.

"Of course, can’t waste time."

Fang Che seemed very satisfied, now having reached the fourth grade of Wuzhong, and his foundation was extremely solid.

Seeing how quickly Fang Che recovered from the sadness of his friend’s death stunned Mo Gan Yun a little.

He asked himself, if it were him, he probably couldn’t get over it for several days.

After all, that was a life.

"What about tonight?"

Mo Gan Yun said, "Tonight I wanted to discuss something with you about our future."

Fang Che replied without hesitation, "I have an appointment tonight, maybe tomorrow."

Mo Gan Yun: "??"

Fang Che stood up, packed his lunchbox, patted Mo Gan Yun on the shoulder, and said, "I know what you want to say, but we are just freshmen, we just entered the Martial Arts Academy, discussing the future now is too early."

"Too early?"

Mo Gan Yun furrowed his brows.

Fang Che replied indifferently, "Not until life and death do not trust righteousness, never talk about love without having been through the vast ocean."

Mo Gan Yun furrowed his brows, "Not until life and death do not trust righteousness, never talk about love without having been through the vast ocean. Fang Che, do you view the beauty of this world so pessimistically?"

Fang Che stopped as he was walking out.

He paused, then smiled and said, "One day you’ll understand, this really isn’t pessimism!"

He then drifted out of the cafeteria.

After finishing his meal, Mo Gan Yun sat in a daze for a while.

Suddenly, he felt that he still did not understand Fang Che.

Why did his last few words give such a profound feeling of having experienced the vicissitudes of life?

Among the eight thousand new students, Mo Gan Yun didn’t hold many in high regard.

He knew his own standards were high. There were only a few who caught his eye—Qiu Yunshang, Xie Gongping, Fang Che, Ding Jie Ran.

Among them, Fang Che was ranked first, and Ding Jie Ran second; but both of them clearly rejected future team-up plans.

Even before he could voice it.

"What’s going on here?"

Mo Gan Yun’s rugged face pondered, "Could it be that I’m missing something? Isn’t it good to walk through Jianghu with someone like Jun Hefang, Wu Zhibing, Hua Kaixie, sharing joys and sorrows?"

He genuinely did not understand.

Fang Che walked out of the cafeteria, sighing as well.

Mo Gan Yun certainly had the potential to be a companion, but discussing it now was too premature.

Mo Gan Yun was still too young.

People like Jun Hefang, Wu Zhibing, and Hua Kaixie didn’t develop their bond overnight; nor did their bond form within the confines of the Martial Arts Academy.

They were classmates for over four years, enduring countless life-or-death situations and weathering many storms together.

Only then could they establish such feelings for one another.

This matter was truly indescribable.

Sitting together and recounting the events they’d experienced, it would probably never end even if the listeners fell dead from exhaustion.

True brotherhood wasn’t something that could be formed by merely declaring it with words.

Mo Gan Yun was hoping for the kind of fellowship now borne by Wu Zhibing and the others.

But the likes of Fang Che simply couldn’t achieve that at the moment.

Among all the newcomers, none could measure up. Only time and events could hone such bonds.

So Fang Che wasn’t too enthusiastic about it now.

As for the matter regarding Wan Zhimei, Fang Che felt no sensation other than indifference, let alone guilt.

It came down to the same reason: it was a hallmark of the Yixin Sect.

If Wan Zhimei hadn’t been from the Yixin Sect, she wouldn’t have understood. If she hadn’t understood, she wouldn’t have died.

Since she understood and still proceeded and partook, her death was inevitable.

Originally, Fang Che had intended to keep her as a lead to slowly draw out bigger fish.

But now, engrossed in his cultivation, he no longer cared to play a slow game of exposure.

After all, he was the most crucial lead himself.

After finishing practice in the afternoon, Fang Che took a brief rest. Once he recovered, he used Spiritual Power to cleanse himself, akin to taking a bath.

Though not as refreshing as a real bath, he wasn’t bothered by it.

He immediately went out, bought two pots of wine and several dishes, then briskly returned to the Martial Arts Academy, heading straight for the Dian ji Building.

Whenever he visited before, he’d always seen the old man engrossed in a book, no matter how obscure or arcane, since that’s all he could do for the rest of his life.

Fang Che guessed the old man must have read every book in the Dian ji Building.

He was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable person in the Baiyun Martial Academy.

If ever there were something he didn’t understand, he naturally sought out the old man for answers.

The matter regarding Wei Zihao lingered — that dark aura was almost forming a face. It was imperative to consult someone knowledgeable.

When asking for help, one couldn’t go empty-handed.

...

Dian ji Building.

The old man squinted as he watched Fang Che arrive with two pots of wine and several dishes.

A spark lit up his murky eyes.

Two hundred years had passed since he began his vigil in the Dian ji Building. In the beginning, his colleagues from those years came every other day, so active that the place resembled a lively market. He used to tell them not to come.

As time slowly passed, their visits became less frequent.

Later, as they either died in battle or were transferred, those familiar faces dwindled.

Visitors to his domain grew scarce.

Now, aside from a few who still occasionally came for a drink, hardly anyone sought him out.

His brothers, with their ever-growing cultivation, had become too busy.

"If time could reverse and I had to do it over again, would I still consume all my cultivation for the same cause?"

The old man had asked himself countless times.

Each time, he would firmly answer: Yes!

Though sometimes he felt pain, loss, and resentment.

But he would still choose the same path.

Just like those brothers who had protected him all along and sacrificed themselves without hesitation.

"Teacher, you seem quite relaxed."

Fang Che had already stepped through the door, smiling as he set down the wine.

"What brings you here?"

The old man’s indifferent gaze swept over Fang Che’s face as he remained seated.

"I missed you, so I came to sit for a while and also to mooch a meal," Fang Che chuckled. "There’s no one to cook at home today."

The old man grunted: "You sly dog, more cunning than a monkey; you surely have something up your sleeve if you’re here. Speak up and then get lost!"

"Let’s eat and drink first."

Fang Che skillfully unpacked the wrapped dishes one by one.

There were ten in total.

He then fetched two large bowls from the kitchen, broke the mud seal on the Tiexue Platform wine, and immediately, a wave of fragrance burst forth.

"This sure is lavish!"

The old man eyed the ten dishes with some bemusement, a warm current moving through his heart.

Some of the dishes were rare, nourishing and suitable for someone with a weakened constitution like his.

It was thoughtful.

"Teacher, please." Fang Che cradled the wine pot in both hands, bowed slightly, and carefully poured the wine into the bowl to the brim.

He held it up and bowed as he placed it before the old man.

"You do have manners," remarked the old man, somewhat moved.

"Absolutely!"

The old man lifted the bowl, took a sip, then set it down.

Fang Che refilled it.

Only then did he sit down in his own seat.

The old man started picking up the food with his chopsticks, and Fang Che followed suit.

From the pouring of the wine, all formalities were meticulously observed.

While eating, the old man inquired, "You definitely have something on your mind, kid."