Chapter 36: The Vicious Helmsmaster Starlight

One of Qiao Yishu's female companions was unable to bear watching in silence any longer, and she interjected, "Aren't you going too far, Helmsmaster Starlight? We're all from the main church, and Helmsmaster Qiao is a fellow subsidiary church member of yours from the southeastern path, yet here you are, intentionally trying to find a reason to kill him!"

"Oho?"

Fang Che turned to leer at the woman who had just spoken, blatantly raking his gaze intrusively over her sensitive regions.

"What... What're you looking at?"

The woman's skin was beginning to crawl under Fang Che's malicious gaze. He was like a vicious wolf eying down its prey, starving for a meal, but still as dangerous as ever.

"Which clan are you from, little girl? Are you going to stand up for him?"

The girl puffed out her chest as she replied, "I'm from the main church's Liu Clan! You better not touch me, or else!"

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Oh, I didn't know you were from the main church!" Fang Che exclaimed with a look of mock horror. "Are you going to intimidate me with your status? You've really put me on the spot, haven't you? I'm going to feel very embarrassed unless someone gives me a way out!"

His killing intent became even more fearsome as he spoke, but it seemed that he was offering a peaceful resolution.

Essentially, what he was saying: "Someone better give me a way out or I'm really going to start killing people!"

One of the young men immediately realized that Starlight didn't want to make enemies out of people from the main church, but if they insisted on embarrassing and intimidating him, then there was no telling what a loose cannon like him could do.

"We have no intention of intimidating you at all, Helmsmaster Starlight. We had only heard that you were an extraordinarily fearsome warrior, and we implored Helmsmaster Qiao to bring us here to see you in the hopes that we could become friends!"

"Ah, so you're here to make friends!" Fang Che exclaimed as he instantly withdrew his killing intent and put on a benevolent smile. "I was only joking around with you just now, Helmsmaster Qiao. I hope you didn't take me seriously! Please, take a seat!"

You call that a joke?! What kind of joke gets taken that far?!

Qiao Yishu was itching to tear Fang Che to shreds with his bare hands, but he could only force a smile onto his face as he replied in a submissive manner, "Of course not, Helmsmaster Starlight. I was just a little taken aback by your sense of humor."

Fang Che then strode over to the kneeling young man in an apologetic manner before asking, "Are you alright, Brother?"

The young man pounced on Fang Che's display of weakness, yelling in a furious voice, "Starlight, you piece of trash! You better kill me today or I'll..."

Fang Che immediately flew into a rage again, stomping the young man in the face to send several teeth flying out of his mouth with an agonized howl.

He continued stomping and kicking as he roared, "You just can't help yourself, can you?! As soon as I give you some respect, you throw it back in my face! You're from the main church, are you? You're from the main church, is that right?"

Fang Che turned to glower at the woman that had just spoken as he continued, "So what if you're from the main church? So what if I kill you here? What's going to happen to me? Braindead little shit! Keep threatening me, why don't you?!"

Everyone could only gawk in a horrified silence as blood and flesh were sent flying in all directions.

The young man was desperately begging for his life.

He was truly horrified, and he could tell that Starlight truly had no qualms about killing him.

"Please... spare me..." he howled with all his might.

Finally, several of his companions mustered up some courage and implored, "Please spare him, Helmsmaster Starlight."

Fang Che finally stopped what he was doing, then picked the young man up from the ground by his hair before asking in a menacing voice, "Has that taught you some respect?"

"Yes..."

"Yes, who?"

"Yes, Helmsmaster Starlight."

"That's father to you!"

"Yes, Father!"

"Good boy! I wish you a speedy recovery. Once you're all healed up, we can have a good father-to-son chat."

Fang Che released the young man's hair, and his head to the ground, thankfully knocking him cold.

Fang Che beckoned to one of the nearby Grandmasters, and they immediately rushed over to him so that he could use their clean robes as a rag to wipe down his bloody hands.

"Carry him away and have his injuries attended to."

"Yes, Helmsmaster."

Immediately thereafter, Fang Che turned around with a smile as warm as a spring breeze as he apologized, "Sorry you had to see that. My temper can be a little short."

"... Not at all, Helmsmaster Starlight."

"Come! Sit! You're all esteemed guests of mine today!"

Fang Che sat down on his throne, playing the role of hospitable host as he commanded, "Fetch some tea! My guests must be treated to the finest tea in my collection!"

As the tea was brought on, the atmosphere finally began to lighten up a little, but no one dared to speak.

"What an honor it is to have all of these young heroes and heroines from the main church under my humble roof! I've always held a great deal of respect and admiration for the main church, and I've been dying to meet people like you! Thank you for fulfilling this lifelong wish of mine, Helmsmaster Qiao!"

"You're far too kind, Helmsmaster Starlight."

"No, no, no, I am forever indebted to you, Helmsmaster Qiao. You there! Fetch some wine and food! We can't have guests leaving hungry!"

"It's fine," Qiao Yishu hurriedly interjected. "There's nowhere to buy wine and food from at this hour."

"That's true. How unfortunate," Fang Che sighed in a disappointed manner. "Ah, that reminds me, I haven't had a chance to ask your names yet!"

"I am Liu Yan of the Liu Clan."

"I am Ning Chengwei of the Ning Clan."

"I am Sui Yunfeng of the Sui Clan."

"......"

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, everyone. By the way, I still don't know where your Divine Heavenly Church branch helm is, Helmsmaster Qiao, yet you were able to find me so easily. How did you manage to do that? If our branch helm's location has been exposed, then we have to move right away. The Protectionists are really working overtime right now!"

"A subsidiary shopkeeper of our Divine Heavenly Church has some business dealings with Shopkeeper Yan of your branch helm, and it was through their connection that I was able to track down your branch helm. I hope you won't blame me for arriving unannounced."

"Not at all! You're more than welcome to visit at any time! May I ask where your Divine Heavenly Church branch helm is?"

Qiao Yishu's expression stiffened slightly at the question.

"I wanted to pay you a visit from time to time as well, Helmsmaster Qiao," Fang Che explained. "After tonight, we're all friends, and friends need to get together regularly to deepen the bond, wouldn't you agree?"

"My branch helm has only just been constructed, and it's still in a very crude state. How about I invite you to visit when everything's fully up and running?"

Fang Che immediately flew into a rage again, sending Qiao Yishu flying with a forceful slap before pulling out his nine ring broadsword once again.

"I knew you were a nefarious little shit! You know where

my

branch helm is, yet you refuse to tell me the location of yours! What if you sell me out to the Protectionists someday?! If you're not going to tell me, then you can take your secret with you to the grave!"

Fang Che sprang up into the air and swung his nine ring broadsword down without any hesitation, fully intending to put an end to Qiao Yishu's life

Qiao Yishu hurriedly rolled to the side with a hand clasped over his swollen cheek as he desperately yelled, "I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

"I just can't be nice to any of you, even for a moment! As soon as I loosen up a little, you treat me like a fucking idiot!"

He then immediately reverted back to his friendly facade, personally helping Qiao Yishu up from the ground with a warm smile as he consoled, "Please don't be alarmed, Brother Qiao, that was just a little joke."

Qiao Yishu's legs were trembling, and he was sweating profusely as he waved his hands frantically and replied, "It's fine, don't worry about it."

Meanwhile, his companions were all looking on with horrified expressions, their hearts pounding in their chests.

They had never met anyone so deranged and prone to drastic mood swings!

It seemed that he took joy in tormenting others with these mind games, and he had no qualms about killing his own people!

In particular, the young woman from the Liu Clan was kicking herself for speaking up earlier.

If he wants to kill Qiao Yishu, then just let him do it! Why did I have to intervene and offend him? If he's onto me, I'll have to sleep with one eye open every day for the rest of my life!

"Hurry up and talk!" Fang Che snapped as he gave Qiao Yishu a vicious glare. "You think I'd forget if you do enough stalling?"