Fang Che walked along the main street of the North District.

The cold winter day, with a weak sun.

Yet, this bustling street was still crowded with people, and the shops on both sides were even more packed.

After walking dozens of yards, the people here had no idea what was happening over there.

Everyone was busy with their own affairs.

The staff was hawking goods, the accountant was calculating, the shoppers were picking out items...

A scene of peace and harmony.

On the roadside, a young man selling fish was rubbing his hands, hopping from foot to foot to ward off the cold, while several half-dead fish lay in a large basin in front of him.

A young man swaggered by carrying a string of sugar-coated hawthorn.

Behind, a little girl in her mother's arms was pointing eagerly at the hawthorn: "Mom, mom, I want that, I want that..."

The woman turned with her daughter in another direction: "Which one? Oh... you want to buy a piece of floral cloth? Come, come with mom to choose some cloth..."

The little girl's mouth pouted, twisting her little body like a pretzel as she turned her head to point: "Not floral cloth... I want that, that..."

Only to find the sugar-coated hawthorn had disappeared into the crowd.

She immediately burst into tears.

...

This scene of the mortal world, the taste of the mundane.

Made Fang Che shake his head and smile involuntarily.

With a casual wave, a bit of broken silver silently fell into the pocket of the person with the sugar-coated hawthorn, and two skewers of hawthorn floated over.

Fang Che handed one to the little girl: "Here."

The little girl took it in a daze, her small face immediately blooming into a smile like a flower.

The woman's face changed: "Quick, thank the uncle."

Fang Che burst into laughter, holding the other skewer as he entered the crowd.

Instantly vanished from sight.

Then appeared on another street.

Took a bite of the sugar-coated hawthorn, eating and chewing on the street, it tasted sweet and sour.

He continued forward.

"May life always be like this, may the mundane world always be like this, may the world always be like this."

"If it could be as wished, I would continue walking on the edge of light and dark, lingering between life and death, wandering in front of the gates of hell, so what?!"

"This prosperous mundane world, after all, can be exchanged!"

Chewing on the sugar-coated hawthorn, he thought, his face beaming with a smile.

His eyes were also filled with brightness and yearning, very happy.

Many people were watching this Lord Steward of the Guardian Hall, holding a skewer of sugar-coated hawthorn that only children eat, swaggering through the market.

Not caring about his image at all.

Laughing with a face lit up like spring sunshine.

Couldn't help but take a few extra glances.

No one would have thought that this joyous-looking Lord Steward had just killed over eighty thugs threatening the city's security.

Who had just walked out from a life-and-death battle.

And would continue treading on the edge of life and death.

But seeing his smiling face at this moment, many people were infected and couldn't help but smile along.

When the smile was on their faces, it seemed that this cold weather was not so hard to bear.

...

"Master, Steward Fang has already captured seventy-eight demon sect members of the Heavenly God Sect's sub branch in one fell swoop!" Fang Che began to report.

"Hahaha, Steward Fang is mighty, well done!"

Yin Shen Palace laughed heartily.

Feeling infinitely pleased.

Damn you, Kou Yifang, you want to ride on my head too?

I treated you so well, helped you several times, reminded you, and you repaid kindness with enmity!

Today is your retribution!

"Was Steward Fang injured?" Yin Shen Palace asked with concern.

"Steward Fang is fine, he brought many Guardian Hall brothers to action, sharing the merit, Steward Fang took ninety percent of the merit, single-handedly killed eighty-four demons, and strived to protect his brothers unharmed. Others also gained, everyone had their share. Steward Fang's reputation and unity in the Guardian Hall have further enhanced."

"Well done!"

Yin Shen Palace praised: "This matter was handled excellently, you must know that in the Guardian Hall, you are viewed differently; moreover, the suspicion on you can never be completely eradicated. You can only wash it away with more accomplishments, and over time, make people forget."

"And at such times, it's proper to make friends with brothers, build good relationships, and smooth things over both up and down. If anything happens, you will have people to speak for you."

Fang Che replied: "Yes, Master, your teaching is correct. Although I am doing fairly well in the Guardian Hall, I always feel that the Hall Master and Vice Hall Master are somewhat uneasy about me. Sometimes, their gazes have a hint of contemplation. This feeling is not pleasant."

Yin Shen Palace naturally understood the 'hint of contemplation' that Fang Che referred to.

He sighed and looked up, also pondering.

This situation must be reversed.

Fang Che continued: "Moreover, I have a feeling that although Baiyun Martial Academy is now concerned about my safety and tasks out of sympathy; once I leave Baiyun Martial Academy for long, this protection will fade. After all, out of sight, out of mind, and besides, I'm just a student. And these instructors, throughout the years, have seen countless students come and go. I, merely a student who studied for less than six months, how much weight can I hold in their hearts?"

Yin Shen Palace nodded slowly, weighing his words: "Therefore, you need someone in the upper echelons capable of speaking for you, yes, to put it bluntly, you need a backer at the top. Otherwise, once Baiyun Martial Academy forgets you, and the Guardian Hall here still remains uneasy about you, your situation will be quite precarious."

Fang Che said: "Master, rest assured, I am diligently seeking such opportunities. But now, as I frequently achieve significant accomplishments, the rewards for merit are tangible. After all, others aren't as desperate as I am. I feel that, with my merits, things should gradually improve."

Yin Shen Palace shook his head: "You are still naive, speaking like a child. Once an impression is formed, it often remains unchanged for life. Trying to change through achievements is too difficult. Moreover, at the Guardian Hall, there are actually people who know your background, which puts you at a further disadvantage. No amount of merit can change this. Therefore, a reliable backer is crucial."

He thought for a moment but found no suitable candidate, saying, "All in all, keep an eye on everything, I'll keep an eye out for you on my end. Whatever happens, let me know promptly, so I can give you advice."

"Yes, Master. You rest well, I will continue to bring you good news every day. Over at Headquarters, just play along with those people, it's not worth getting upset over. Just think of it as a holiday; I envy you, Master, you do nothing, sleep all day, how comfortable."

"Hahaha, get lost!"

Yin Shen Palace's mood brightened significantly.

Fang Che strolled through the market in style, fully enjoying the bustling, noisy feeling of the mortal world.

While conversing with Yin Shen Palace.

Finally finished, he heaved a sigh of relief.

His face broke into a smile.

Then he reviewed everything he had said, carefully chewing over every word.

Thoroughly considering if there were any loopholes.

Not until a quarter-hour later did he relax, gather his movement technique, and set off like a breeze toward Baiyun Martial Academy.

...

Old Man Shen sternly looked at Fang Che: "Where did this come from?!"

"This is really today's haul! This is absolutely genuine!"

Fang Che swore up and down, but Old Man Shen still didn't believe him.

"I have witnesses, ten of them! If you don't believe me, go ask them!"

Fang Che looked anxious.

"I don't believe you're that lucky! Yesterday you got a Divine Crystal, today a Divine Power Essence!"

Old Man Shen roared.

"If you don't believe, there's nothing I can do."

Fang Che spread his hands and laughed bitterly: "Anyway, the stuff is acquired. And I've also brought it to you."

Old Man Shen's face darkened, and he snorted.

He tossed the Divine Power Essence on the table: "Stay put here!"

Then he went out the door.

After a while, he brought in Li Changkong and said, "Escort this kid to the Guardian Hall to ask about this matter, and don't let him out of your sight on the way. You know how to ask, a guy named Zuo Guanglie… go ask about him."

Li Changkong nodded.

Then he carried Fang Che through the air and departed.

"I can walk myself, Instructor."

"Shut up!"

"Instructor, this matter is true."

"From now on, you are not allowed to say a word, don't force me to knock you out!"

"..."

Finally.

Li Changkong reached the Guardian Hall, coincidentally; Zuo Guanglie and others were just finishing submitting their materials, claiming their merits, and walking out in high spirits.

"Who is Captain Zuo Guanglie?"

"I am."

"I'm Li Changkong from Baiyun Martial Academy."

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Could we find a place to talk?"

"Sure."

So Fang Che was left outside.

Li Changkong took ten people into a small conference room.

"It's like this, Fang Che is my student, today he..."

Li Changkong explained the situation.

Upon hearing that this was Steward Fang's teacher, Zuo Guanglie and the others became more respectful.

They all eagerly started talking about today's events.

Everything was seamless.

How they discovered it, how they went there, how they started killing, how they started dividing the merits, how they started splitting the items… how Fang Che discovered the treasure...

Everyone testified.

The ten people were very enthusiastic.

"I saw it with my own eyes, it is indeed that thing."

"I didn't even know what it was, I just threw it there."

"Steward Fang found it. Also, he separately took a sword."

"Yes, yes, it's like that. It was indeed collected today. On this, I swear by the heavens to strike me down if I'm lying."

"..."

Zuo Guanglie was even more reassuring: "Instructor Li, if you don't believe, you can check our submitted treasure list, this cannot be falsified… this kind of thing cannot be faked either."

As they asked.

Li Changkong became more bewildered.

No way!

Fang Che actually did obtain the Divine Power Essence today. Additionally, there were other valuable items, like several pieces of Divine Crystal, which were also submitted.

So many rare and strange gemstones and such, all were submitted.

Those are things that can't be seen or touched by us Guardians.

Yet Fang Che was not swayed.

He only took the Divine Power Essence and a sword, and some silver notes needed for worldly life, nothing else.

From Li Changkong's experience, he could naturally tell that Zuo Guanglie and others were telling the truth.

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