Chapter 326: A kiss must be on the lips.
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"I also do not think that Official Fang is dead." Eunuch Wei whispered.
Emperor Lin Mubai frowned slightly but did not say anything else. He tapped his fingers on the arm rest before standing up.
"The location for the combat examination will be the Southern Mountain Village. I have discussed this with their king. The main aim is to share tactics and improve our ability to cooperate in battle!"
"I have sent an army of 100,000!"
"I have a few requests. One, do not disturb the residents. Two, do not engage in mass destruction. Three, do not kill without reason!"
Emperor Lin Mubai paused when he reached this point.
"Yes, your highness!" All of the 29 candidates at the bottom of the wall replied in unison.
"The rules of the examination are simple. The Southern Mountain Range is the location. You can set up camp in any of the four territories - Yan Ya region, Shi Zun region, Thunderous Lion region, and the Icy Monkey Region. These are the four war zones. The results will be determined by your final strength and territories controlled.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes your highness!"
"Set off!"
"Woo..." A long drone could be heard. The 100,000 strong army turned in its spot as it marched into the distance.
On the walls of the city, the Ninth Prince watched as the army marched off into the distance. He sighed, "He still did not appear. This way, he has effectively missed the combat examinations. Even if he rushes back, it will not matter. Ping Yang, what do you... wait? Where is Ping Yang?"
...
The incident at the Intellectual Loft consumed the entire city. Everyone wanted to know what happened to Fang Zhengzhi?
Was he dead or alive?!
The discussions leaned towards ‘death’ after the start of the combat examinations.
The 100,000 strong army had already set off. This meant that Fang Zhengzhi had already missed the combat examinations. He did not have the token from the army and could not move any soldiers.
Without soldiers, how was he going to battle the other candidates?
How was he going to guard his territories?
Fang Zhengzhi was the top of the theory examination. By missing out on the combat examinations, he was effectively giving this golden opportunity away. Only a fool would do such a thing.
There was only one reason why Fang Zhengzhi would miss the combat examination.
Something bad happened to him.
Was he dead?
...
Obviously, Fang Zhengzhi had not died. On the contrary, he was living a good life now. He was in a orchard filled with fruits of all variety...
They were all sweet and juicy.
He even had a servant.
When he wanted to listen to music, Immortal Tune would appear in front of him. Guqin, drums, whatever Fang Zhengzhi wanted to listen to.
It was the life of the gods.
But...
He couldn’t get out!
Fang Zhengzhi looked out across the vast orchard. There was an exquisite residence by the side of a creek. He was enjoying life, Immortal Tune playing music for him whilst he admired the scenery.
Today, Immortal Tune wore a green dress as she sat in the grass. She looked just like an immortal sprite.
"I really failed?"
"Yes, your name was not in the top 10, neither was it in the subsequent list. I think you didn’t make the top 30. According to the rules of the court examination, you failed!" Immortal Tune nodded.
"Okay then... your master said she would meet me in five days. Hasn’t it been five days?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded and shook his leg as he raised it on the table.
"My master is rather busy these few days. Perhaps you could wait another couple of days?" Immortal Tune chuckled when she saw Fang Zhengzhi’s uncouth action.
This was not because of Fang Zhengzhi’s relationship with her master.
It was because she knew for a fact that Fang Zhengzhi had tied with Nangong Hao for joint first in the court theory examination.
No matter how uncouth he seemed, he was an educated man.
One’s actions did not determine if one was elegant or educated. The heart was what differentiated the good from the bad.
"Busy?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Immortal Tune doubtfully.
"Yes." Immortal Tune nodded solemnly.
"What is the name of your master?"
"You will know when you meet the master."
"Oh I see... Wu Yuer, you old hag! Get out here! Do you expect me to put a red carpet out here for you? Or are you too old to show your face in public?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded, then yelled.
"Bloody hell! Fang Zhengzhi, how dare you scold me?" A crisp voice rang out in the sky. Then, a figure in black appeared in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
She wore a black dress and leather shoes with golden embroidery. She had a black beaded hair and which glowed in the light.
Her skin was snow white and there was a red dot in the middle of her forehead. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
She was born with such great features.
"Master!" Immortal Tune fell to her knees when she saw Wu Yuer.
"Mm, you can take your leave now." Wu Yuer nodded to Immortal Tune.
"Yes master." Immortal Tune left.
After watching Immortal Tune disappear into the distance, she turned back to look at Fang Zhengzhi. "How did you know I would be the one to bring you here?"
"I do not know many people. Furthermore, you are the only person who I know who will treat me so well." Fang Zhengzhi glanced at Wu Yuer before putting his other leg on the table.
"Haha... you’re quite smart. Tell me, why are you looking for me?" Wu Yuer smiled attractively.
"Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"Oh, I guess you’re right. I’ve been quite bored lately so I decided to find you for a chat. I heard that you failed the court examinations and are free at the moment." Wu Yuer blinked as she mocked.
"I failed the court examinations?" Fang Zhengzhi did not believe that.
"Of course. Did you expect to top the examinations with your mediocre talent?" Wu Yuer asked scornfully.
"I am fine with not being first. But for me to fail... is unlikely. But since you said I failed, I must have failed. What an unlucky mouth you have!" Fang Zhengzhi replied equally scornfully.
"How dare you say that of me? Are you tired of living? I treat you so well and did not collect any money from you!" Wu Yuer feigned anger.
"Oh is that so? So I should thank you?"
"Of course."
"I can thank you, but you must let me go first."
"Never!"
"You really think that you can trap me using this pocket dimension?"
"Yes."
"Okay, you win. This bloody place has trapped me. Let’s just talk terms? What must I do for you to let me out." Fang Zhengzhi had tried everything the past few days.
Axes, blades, swords.
He tried everything but to no avail.
Furthermore, the orchard was clearly a very complicated magical formation. It would be virtually impossible to navigate through it, much less navigate out of the pocket dimension.
In the World of the Sage, Fang Zhengzhi had used the Traceless Sword to escape. That was because the sword was controlling the World of the Sage. However, it would be useless in this pocket dimension.
"Terms? Sure. Stay here for a month and I’ll let you out." Wu Yuer smirked when she realized that Fang Zhengzhi was giving in.
"What about another one?"
"Another one... you can be my subordinate for a month." Wu Yuer pretended to think about it.
"Another one."
"You can offer yourself to my "Shadow Sect". You must swear to help when you’re required!" Wu Yuer’s expression was solemn.
"Offer? Are there any benefits?" Fang Zhengzhi glanced at Wu Yuer.
"Of course there are. Everyone who offers themselves can ask for three things from the Shadow Sect. The sect will do everything in its power to make it come true." Wu Yuer said proudly.
"It sounds fair."
"So you agree?"
"I have no reason to reject."
"Okay then. From this moment on, you have offered yourself to the Shadow Sect. Tell me your terms." Wu Yuer was rather excited even though she calmed herself down quickly.
"The first one, you have to kiss me!"
"Kiss you? Haha... go to hell!" Wu Yuer chuckled, then chided.
"Why, are you going back on your word? I thought you were going to do your best to fulfill my wishes? Is there no trust between humans?"
"Is that really your first wish?"
"Is there a rule against it?"
"Nope!"
"Then come on, I’m ready."
"A kiss for your offering. This is such a good deal!" Wu Yuer catwalked next to Fang Zhengzhi.
She was extremely attractive.
Fang Zhengzhi smiled at Wu Yuer, his lips protruding out as he waited for her to kiss them.
Wu Yuer blushed when she realized that Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of avoiding the kiss.
"Can... can I not kiss you on the lips?"
"How can that work? You must kiss me on the lips! How else can it be called a kiss?" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head vigorously.
"Ok ok... but when I kiss you, you... you can’t move!" Wu Yuer took a deep breath and grit her teeth.
"I can’t move when you kiss me? Is that even a kiss?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Wu Yuer scornfully. Then he motioned towards her.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you are going too far! I am the leader of the Shadow Sect! Even if you join us, you can’t be rude to me!" Wu Yuer’s expression changed.
Of course, there was something that she could not bring herself to say. Even though she looked very flirtatious...
This was her first kiss!
"Going back on your word again. What a waste of time. To think that you are the leader of the Shadow Sect. If you don’t keep your promises, can the Shadow Sect even be trusted?" Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched as he picked up a nut.
"You... Fang Zhengzhi, in order to prove our sincerity, I can tell you a piece of news!" Wu Yuer made up her mind.
"Tell me about it."
"Do you know Yun Qingwu?"
"I’ve met her before but I’m not familiar with her."
"What if I told you she was the leader of the demons?"
Fang Zhengzhi’s expression changed. Yun Qingwu was the master of the demons? If news of this got out, all of the talents in the Great Xia Dynasty would go crazy.
"What does this have to do with me?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled despite his shock.
"Don’t you want to know?"
"Regardless, you’ve already told me." Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched.
"I knew that you were shameless. Forget it, I’ll tell you the truth. It’s no use even if you go out now. The combat examinations have begun. A 100,000 strong army is marching to the Southern Mountain Range. You will not be able to get the military token and you have no army. You will not pass the combat examinations." Wu Yuer sighed.
"Then why are you trapping me here?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"I don’t want you to go to your death..."
"Didn’t you tell me that in the Northern Mountain Village. But, am I dead? No, I’m completely fine!" Fang Zhengzhi waved her off.
"What if I told you you don’t stand a chance against Nangong Hao?" Wu Yuer’s eyes glittered.
"Everyone has said that ever since I began the Dao Examinations."
"This is different. I can confirm that Nangong Hao is already in the Supernatural State. He may even be at the pinnacle of it!" Wu Yuer asserted.
"How do you know?"
"I saw it for myself."
"You saw it?"
"Yes!" Wu Yuer nodded, then looked at the clouds in the sky, almost as if she was thinking of something.
Her expression slowly turned into one of shock.
After a moment of hesitation, Wu Yuer looked back at Fang Zhengzhi, "You’ve been on Yun Qingwu’s boat before. You should know how sturdy it is?"
"Mm, more or less." Fang Zhengzhi nodded. Yun Qingwu’s boat was formed from magical formations. Everything about it was superior to even the best boats around.
"Nangong Hao used three blades. The first one destroyed the boat’s Eight Diagrams and Five Elements Formation. The second one broke her 49 servant Sword Star Formation. The third one took Yun Qingwu’s life." Wu Yuer spoke, her eyes glimmering like interlocking sword lights.
"Yun Qingwu is dead?" Fang Zhengzhi was slightly shocked to hear this news.