Chapter 167: I'm a Handsome Prince

Fang Che was silent for a moment, then said, "I wouldn't dare to lie to you, Mistress Yan, so here's the truth: prior to this, I wasn't actually Pope Yin's disciple. At the very most, I was perhaps only an unofficial disciple. I come from a lowly clan with no one I can rely on, nor any resources to speak of."

Yan Beihan's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

The fact that he had come from such a humble background only made his current achievements all the more remarkable.

"Hence, ever since I can remember, I've known one thing, which is that I have nothing that I need. If I want something, then I have to take it, even if it means putting my life on the line! I dare to take from those that others don't dare to take from, and I dare to kill those that others don't dare to kill. If I don't put my life on the line, then I'll have nothing.

“If I do, I may get what I want, or I may lose my life, but that hardly matters. My life is cheap anyway. Anyone can kill me if they have what it takes. However, as long I'm still alive, I will grab onto any and all opportunities that come my way. I will take whatever I can! As for making enemies, I've already made more than I can count."

Yan Beihan heaved a gentle sigh, suddenly feeling very sympathetic for Night Demon.

She had never experienced any of these hardships, and it was precisely these life-long ordeals that had turned Night Demon into the person that he was.

"Back in the valley, I knew that I was taking a huge risk. Even if I managed to successfully take the Cloud Water Heavenly Fruit, I could've still died anyway, and if I had failed, then I would've died for sure. However, I still did it. I was aware of your status, but my desire to grow stronger far outweighed my fear.

“It wasn't like someone of my lowly status could've ever befriended you anyway, and to be completely honest, I didn't even think I would've been able to make it out of there alive. However, now that I've managed to survive, all of the enemies that I've made, such as yourself, have followed me out of the Parasite Ascension Domain, but that doesn't matter to me. I already have so many enemies that one more makes no difference."

Yan Beihan remained silent, looking out into the distant sky as she listened to Fang Che's story.

In the end, she sighed, "No wonder it felt to me like you were someone living on borrowed time, with your only objective to take down as many people with you as you can."

This was a very apt description.

"Honestly, I took great joy in killing because I knew that everyone that I killed in there was better than me!" Fang Che grinned.

Yan Beihan took a displeased glance at Fang Che as she reprimanded, "That's a terrible mindset to have! You're just resentful of the rich and privileged for the sake of it!"

"And so what if I am? I'm just a poor guy. What am I supposed to do, suck up to the rich?"

Yan Beihan couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.

"What are your future plans?" she asked. "The One Heart Church may be your starting point, but it's nothing more than a subsidiary church with limited opportunities. Even if you make a name for yourself in the One Heart Church, the main church won't care, and they may not even find out."

The implications behind Yan Beihan's words were very clear.

Fang Che smiled as he replied, "Pope Yin has officially taken me as his disciple, and the One Heart Church has become a familiar home to me, so I don't want to go anywhere else. I understand that you want to offer me an olive branch, and I appreciate the thought, but given all the people I've killed, it would be suicide for me to follow you to the main church. I don't mean to belittle you, but you won't be able to protect me."

"Isn't it a normal occurrence for people to die in the Parasite Ascension Project?" Yan Beihan asked in a puzzled manner. "Why would anyone seek you out for revenge? They don't even have any evidence that you killed any particular person!"

"That's all true, but the clans of the deceased aren't going to be willing to listen to reason," Fang Che said with a wry smile. "All of us who made it out of there alive are suspects. No one would dare to target someone like you, but it's an entirely different story for me. I'm just a mere ant from a subsidiary church, someone that can be easily crushed underfoot.

“Also, I killed by far the most people out of everyone, and there are many people who can testify to the fact that I kill without any discretion. I was pretty much the only one brazen enough to kill Generals from the main church, so it makes logical sense for them to come after me for revenge. I can protect myself somewhat by hiding in the One Heart Church, but going to the main church would be the last decision I ever make.

"I suppose you're right," Yan Beihan sighed.

"When you go back to the main church, I suggest you observe the people from the clans with deceased Generals and gauge their attitudes toward yourself and the other survivors. See if there's any difference compared with prior to the Parasite Ascension Project, and I'm sure you'll quickly realize that my concerns are not unwarranted," Fang Che said.

"I'll be sure to do that," Yan Beihan replied with a nod. "By the way, this isn't your true appearance, right?"

"How did you know that?" Fang Che asked in a surprised voice.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're using the Covert Shapeshifting Technique. There will always be telltale signs unless you've fully mastered the technique. No wonder you were so brazen in there, you're banking on the fact that no one will be able to find you!"

"I may like to take risks, but I'm not actually suicidal! If I didn't disguise myself, I would be as good as dead right now!" Fang Che said with a wry smile. "Please keep this a secret to everyone, including Ling Kong and the others."

Yan Beihan happily agreed to this request, then asked, "So what do you actually look like?"

"I am handsome beyond equal," Fang Che replied. "Flowers bloom for me on sight, and birds sing their most joyful songs in my presence."

Yan Beihan was doubled over with laughter, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes as she said, "Alright, handsome boy, let's exchange contacts."

"That would be my pleasure, Mistress Yan," Fang Che hurriedly replied.

After exchanging contacts, Yan Beihan bade him farewell.

"May we meet again someday."

"May we meet again."

Yan Beihan sprang up into the air, then turned back with a smile as she said, "By the way, I'll get you back for what you took from me!"

With that, she departed as a streak of white light, instantly vanishing out of sight.

Yin Shengong quickly arrived on the scene and asked, "You took something from Mistress Yan?"

"A Cloud Water Heavenly Fruit appeared in there. It felt too good to pass up, so I took it and ate it."

"......."

Yin Shengong was rendered speechless. Everyone else was eagerly sucking up to Yan Beihan, yet here he was, committing daylight robbery at her expense!

"You must've not known her status at the time, right?" he asked.

This was the only plausible justification he could think of.

"No, I knew who she was. I figured that someone of her status wouldn't need a Cloud Water Heavenly Fruit anyway, so I took it for myself."

"......"

Yin Shengong, Qian Sanjiang, and Hou Fang could only stare at him in an exasperated silence.

"I have no clue how you became so brazen. Sun Yuan's been a coward all his life, yet he's taken on a disciple with a death wish!" Yin Shengong sighed.

"He takes after you, does he not, Pope Yin? I recall you were exactly like this in your youth," Qian Sanjiang chuckled.

"Piss off!" Yin Shengong scoffed, but he had to admit that there was a modicum of truth to this statement.

Indeed, he had been just as reckless as Night Demon in his youth, and with that in mind, he became even fonder of his new disciple.

"I fully agree. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Fang Che was your son, Pope Yin!" Hou Fang jibed.

"Shut your mouth! Quit trying to slander me!" Yin Shengong snapped.

"How is this slander?" Qian Sanjiang complained. "I'd love to be mistaken for Night Demon's father..."

Yin Shengong erupted into laughter upon hearing this.

"You can have these pills, Pope Yin," Fang Che suddenly said as he pulled out a few vials. "They would be wasted on me at my current cultivation base."

"Haven't I told you not to call me that?" Yin Shengong reprimanded.

"Ah, yes, sorry, Master. Old habits die hard. These pills are perfect for some of your cultivation base, so please accept them."

"I've just taken you as my disciple, yet not only have I not given you anything, you want me to take things from you? I may be the pope of a demonic church, but I have to have some sense of shame!"

"Please at least take a Dao Realm Spirit Pill so my efforts haven't gone to waste."

"No! I'm not taking anything from you!"

"Master, given your current situation, you urgently need to attain more power!" Fang Che insisted. "If you don't take this Dao Realm Spirit Pill, then I'm going to throw it away!"

Yin Shengong turned to Qian Sanjiang as he heaved a long sigh.

"Countless people would fight to the death over a Dao Realm Spirit Pill, yet this foolish disciple of mine is forcing me to take it as a gift! I can't believe there exists such an idiot in our One Heart Church!"

"Quit gloating to us, Pope Yin!" Qian Sanjiang scoffed. "If you don't want it, then we'll take it."

"Yes, yes, give it to me!" Hou Fang chuckled.