Chapter 373 - 184: Glazed Holy Heart Scripture
Chapter 373: Chapter 184: Glazed Holy Heart Scripture
"Thank you, Hero Fang, for saving the lives of everyone in my Cyan Sheep Sect."
"That’s an overstatement."
Fang Shuwen said,
"Even if I hadn’t saved you, those people might not have dared to make a move against you.
"What important business brings you here, Sect Leader Sun? If I recall correctly, you were poisoned, weren’t you?"
"The poison Tong Jingchun used wasn’t particularly potent.
"While it hasn’t been completely neutralized, it’s no longer doing me any harm."
Sun Buping paused for a moment before continuing,
"I’ve come with a rather presumptuous request."
’Fang Shuwen wasn’t surprised. Why else would the dignified Sect Leader of the Cyan Sheep Sect humble himself like this if not to ask for a favor?’
"Let’s hear it."
Instead of speaking immediately, Sun Buping took the Cyan Sheep Seal from his sleeve and presented it to Fang Shuwen with both hands.
Fang Shuwen took it casually.
"What’s this?"
"The token of the Cyan Sheep Sect Leader."
Sun Buping said,
"I wish to lead the disciples of the Cyan Sheep Sect in pledging our allegiance to you, Hero Fang.
"From now on, we will follow your every command. I ask that you grant our request."
As Fang Shuwen examined the Cyan Sheep Seal, he suddenly recalled someone else doing the same thing long ago—handing him a seal.
’Master Qin Si of the Fierce Tiger Gang?’
Fang Shuwen suddenly smiled.
"I remember the last person who did this had his entire sect wiped out not long after."
’Sun Buping froze. What did he mean? Did this Demon Evil God also kill those who pledged their loyalty to him?’
Seeing his expression, Fang Shuwen knew what he was thinking and waved his hand dismissively.
"I didn’t kill them."
He placed the Cyan Sheep Seal on the table.
"Take it back. I’m just a wanderer in the Jianghu, accustomed to my freedom. I don’t want to be saddled with any responsibilities.
"But you’re willing to hand over your Sect Leader’s token. I doubt your goal is as simple as just pledging allegiance, is it?
"Just say what you mean. Don’t beat around the bush; it’s getting tiresome."
"Yes."
Sun Buping took a deep breath.
"To tell you the truth, I have a mortal enmity with Ye Wufeng!"
With that statement, everything that had been unclear suddenly clicked into place.
He looked at Sun Buping.
"So, your reason for orchestrating this Celestial Martial Grand Assembly and claiming to want to resolve these so-called feuds... it was never about saving a few lives in the Northern Domain Martial World.
"It was because these people were blocking my way to the Sword God Palace?"
"I won’t hide it from you, Hero Fang. I did have selfish intentions in this matter."
Sun Buping was quite candid.
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"Fine. I don’t care what your feud with Ye Wufeng is. I’m going to the Sword God Palace one way or another.
"If you want to get in on the action, you should head to the Sword God Palace soon and get ready."
Sun Buping was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Thank you, Hero Fang."
With that, he bowed without disturbing Fang Shuwen any further and prepared to leave.
Fang Shuwen, however, tapped lightly on the table.
"Take this Cyan Sheep Seal with you."
Sun Buping fell silent for a moment. In the end, he said nothing more, put the Cyan Sheep Seal away, and turned to leave.
Only after Sun Buping had gone did Long Qingzhi ask Fang Shuwen,
"Brother Fang, the Cyan Sheep Sect seems to have considerable power and resources. Why didn’t you accept their offer?"
"It’s too much trouble."
Fang Shuwen stretched lazily.
"These Jianghu factions all have their own conflicts.
"If I were to take him under my command, I would inevitably be drawn into all sorts of disputes in the future...
"And when that happens, what am I supposed to do? Intervene or not?
"Accepting this Cyan Sheep Seal would be like imprisoning myself.
"Only a fool would do something like that."
Long Qingzhi couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"You’re probably the only person in the world, Brother Fang, who could so casually turn down an offer of allegiance from a major sect like the Cyan Sheep Sect."
Fang Shuwen reached out and gently tapped her forehead. With another light pat, he sent a small bit of his technique into the space between her brows.
He had been on a killing spree for the past two days. Although it hadn’t consumed too much of his Inner Strength,
his mind was quite weary. He didn’t plan on meditating tonight, intending instead to get a good night’s sleep.
However, not long after Sun Buping’s departure, Feng Jihen arrived for a visit.
He seemed rather embarrassed about having been captured so many times. He made small talk with Fang Shuwen for a while, but since there was nothing important to discuss, he soon took his leave.
Fang Shuwen and Long Qingzhi rested for the night at the Xu Family Manor. Early the next morning, they left Celestial Martial Peak.
They informed neither Sun Buping nor Zhao Ziying.
They simply mounted Fang Dabao and departed at a leisurely pace.
It wasn’t far from Celestial Martial Peak to Cold Valley Town—only a three-to five-day journey.
After the battle at Celestial Martial Peak, Fang Shuwen’s reputation in the Northern Domain was now second to none.
Very few people dared to cause trouble for them anymore.
Logically, the rest of the journey should have been smooth sailing.
Unexpectedly, however, they encountered a small complication along the way.
「Two days later.」
A blizzard raged. The outline of the Great Ice Glacier was faintly visible in the distance, and the biting cold was even more intense than the winters of the Eastern Domain.
A stove blazed in a roadside teahouse, and bowls of hot tea were served to weary travelers.
’Fang Shuwen checked Fang Dabao’s feed and saw there wasn’t much left. He’d have to prepare more for it when they got back to that forest.’
When he sat back down beside Long Qingzhi, he saw her staring intently at the [Glazed Holy Heart Scripture].
Her lips moved, as if she were memorizing the text.
It was a martial art specifically designed for the Glazed Saint Body.
He had to admit, the White-robed Saintess’s introductory gift was exactly what he had hoped for.
With this scripture, Long Qingzhi would no longer be at the mercy of others.
Still, they had to go to Cold Valley Town. Fang Shuwen still had his mission, and Long Qingzhi wanted to meet Zhao Wuji to see if there were other solutions besides the [Glazed Holy Heart Scripture].
Though its three thousand characters were not voluminous, the text of the [Glazed Holy Heart Scripture] was incredibly convoluted.
Long Qingzhi had spent every spare moment of the past two days trying to memorize it, but she still couldn’t retain it all. The young woman was so frustrated her eyes grew red, feeling utterly foolish. Yet this only made her try even harder.
Fang Shuwen didn’t disturb her, just picked up the teapot and poured himself a bowl of hot tea.
His gaze swept over the many furtive glances from those around them, and his eyebrows suddenly twitched.
Then came the sound of something slicing through the air, approaching rapidly.
One of the teahouse patrons couldn’t help but cry out in alarm:
"People from the Thousand Snow Pavilion!?"