Chapter 140 (3): I've Been Ambushed By Dongfang Sansan

The Golden Horn Flood Dragon was very much looking forward to this day, but Fang Che had no idea how he was going to follow through on this promise.

Where was he supposed to find a suitable weapon?

Every single piece of divine metal was inhabited by a spirit.

Even though the Golden Horn Flood Dragon was progressing rapidly in its development, it was still no match for them in their territory.

Over the next four days, Fang Che and Ye Meng sparred day and night, and Fang Che took this opportunity to practice his saber techniques, integrating his perfect saber forms into the Soaring Saber Techniques, the Heaven Loathe Saber Techniques, and the Heaven Bearing Saber Techniques.

Even though both the Heaven Loathe Saber Techniques and the Heaven Bearing Saber Techniques were both far superior in power to the Soaring Saber Techniques, he still wanted to keep practicing the latter, both to pay homage to Sun Yuan, as well as to ensure he had a diverse range of saber techniques for all of his identities to use.

Fang Che of the Hall of Protectionists was supposed to be a saber wielder, so his sword and spear training had to take a backseat for now.

Four days later, Fang Che went to report to the Hall of Protectionists with Ye Meng, and the latter's arrival instantly caused a massive stir.

"Is that your wife, Chief Fang? She's so lovely!"

Everyone from both administration halls had come out to see the couple.

Even just standing there, Ye Meng resembled a celestial maiden that had walked straight out of a painting, leaving all of the bystanders entranced.

Standing among the crowd, Zhao Ying'er was looking on with a dazed and heartbroken expression.

Jing Xiuyun heaved a forlorn internal sigh at Zhao Ying'er's distraught display, then smiled as she strode forward, and asked, "Who's this, Chief Fang? She's a real beauty! Could it be that she's your sister?"

Fang Che took an affectionate glance at Ye Meng, then declared to everyone, "This is my wife, Ye Meng."

Zhao Ying'er's complexion instantly turned deathly pale as the final glimmer of hope that she had been clinging onto faded away, and she bit down forcefully onto her own lower lip as her gaze wandered back and forth between the faces of Fang Che and Ye Meng.

Ye Meng could sense a vague threat in the air, and she was blushing slightly as she latched onto Fang Che's hand and extended everyone a warm greeting.

She had only latched onto a single finger of Fang Che's, but with so many people watching, even that minor gesture of affection had already taken her all of her courage.

"Welcome, Boss Lady!" Ping Shansong yelled before extending a deep bow. At this point, Ping Shansong had already become Fang Che's staunchest supporter, to the point that he would support Fang Che no matter what he said.

For example, Fang Che would say something like: "The sky sure is green today."

Ping Shansong: "Indeed. This is the greenest the sky has been for years."

Fang Che: "Have you noticed that human heads are square?"

Ping Shansong: "Of course! No one has round heads, they're all square!"

"I've never seen anyone with a square head before," Cripple Hong protested quietly.

He was immediately given a thorough beating by Ping Shansong, who carefully molded his head like a piece of artwork, striking it from different angles with different degrees of power to induce various levels of swelling, only stopping once Cripple Hong's head had swollen up into the rough shape of a cube.

"You see? Anyone can have a square head as long as they try! If you were an enemy, I would've used my sword to chop your head into a cube!"

With Ping Shansong leading by example, everyone from both halls immediately greeted in unison, "Welcome, Boss Lady!"

Meanwhile, Zhao Ying'er had already vanished from the crowd, leaving only a trail of tears behind her.

Fang Che was completely unmoved.

Jing Xiuyun hurriedly rushed out after Zhao Ying'er while lamenting Fang Che's cruel handling of Zhao Ying'er's feelings.

Zhao Ying'er's distress didn't weigh on Fang Che's mind at all.

He had intentionally done this to make Zhao Ying'er give up on him.

At the moment, her background was still a mystery, and Fang Che had no intention of trying to find out whether her feelings for him were genuine.

If she were a mole for the demonic churches, then he would eventually catch her and kill her someday.

If she weren't a mole, then Fang Che wanted what was best for her, so distancing himself from her was the best option. Otherwise, she would inevitably suffer the same fate as Zuo Guanglie and his band of brothers.

***

Hall Master Song came out, dressed for an outing.

"What's the meaning of this?" he asked as he turned a perplexed gaze to Ye Meng.

"I'm bringing my wife along."

"Is that really a good idea? This is not a sightseeing trip, and I can't guarantee it'll be safe."

"It's fine. I'd say she can hold her own even against a first-rank Warlord, and with you by our side, I'm sure we'll have nothing to worry about."

Song Yidao was still reluctant to go along with this arrangement.

The truth was that as a bald and not exactly handsome old man, he felt rather out of place next to such a stunning couple, but he couldn't think of any legitimate reason to turn Fang Che down.

Furthermore, he had become very familiar with Fang Che's personality at this point, and he knew that his opinion didn't matter at all.

If he were to object, then Fang Che would most likely set off with his wife in secret without him, and that would only be more dangerous.

"Fine," Song Yidao acquiesced in a resigned manner.

"You're a good man, Hall Master Song."

Song Yidao could only roll his eyes in exasperation.

I'm a good man as long as I do everything you say, but as soon as I object to something, I'm a bald idiot!

Recently, Fang Che had requested higher wages and more benefits for the administrators of the second hall. His justification for this was that their cultivation bases were predominantly superior to those of their colleagues from the first hall, and they were also consistently making more contributions, so they deserved better pay.

Song Yidao refused and was immediately subjected to a furious tirade that concluded with the words "bald idiot."

At this time, this had escalated into quite a farce, and even though Song Yidao remained firm and turned Fang Che down, all of the administrators of the second hall had been thoroughly won over by Fang Che for his willingness to stand up for them.

From that point onward, whenever there was a meeting, everyone would habitually begin staring at Song Yidao's bald head, which seemed to give off a mesmerizing gleam.

Song Yidao was tempted to request a transfer.

He had worked so hard to become hall master, only to have to deal with a subordinate who was constantly disobeying and humiliating him.

In the end, he was forced to comply.

***

On this trip, Song Yidao had a feeling that he would have to double as a caretaker and bodyguard for the young couple.

Sure enough, he was right.

Fang Che and Ye Meng treated this like a sightseeing trip, stopping wherever they pleased to look at the scenery, often having picnics on a whim.

Ye Meng was very polite, inviting Song Yidao to join them every time, and that made him feel a little better, but his good mood was always immediately dashed whenever he saw Fang Che looking upon him with disdain, as if he were some unwelcome third wheel.

Who's the superior between us two? Why do I feel like the subordinate? No, as a matter of fact, I feel like a servant!

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Whenever they stopped by at an inn or restaurant, the shopkeepers and waiters would always refer to Fang Che and Ye Meng as young master and young mistress, while Song Yidao was automatically assumed to be a steward.

On the way to the southeastern headquarter, the trio had to cross a river, and on the boat, the helmsman had given each of Fang Che and Ye Meng a clean cushion to sit on, while Song Yidao was casually tossed a little stool.

Song Yidao had been subjected to this type of discriminatory treatment the entire trip, and at this point, he was so filled with fury and indignation that he had half a mind to throw the old helmsman into the river to feed the fish!

Upon his arrival at the southeastern headquarters, the humiliation only continued.

"I didn't know you retired from your post as hall master to become a steward!" the hall master of the White Elephant Prefecture jibed. "It must be an honor for you to be serving such a fine-looking couple. You should really count your blessings that they decided to hire a bald old fart like you!"

"Piss off!"

Song Yidao stormed inside to report his arrival with a furious expression.

Even Hall Master Jin of the White Elephant Prefecture couldn't help but be stunned by the sight of the dazzling couple.

"What's your name, young man? Are you here to take part in the selection trials?"

"Yes. My name is Fang Che."

"It's very impressive that you're already a Warlord at such a young age."

"I'm a King, Hall Master."

"Ohhh, that's even more impressive. Is this your junior sister? Is she here to take part in the selection trials as well?"

"This is my wife."

"I see," Hall Master Jin replied with a hint of disappointment.

He had been hoping to introduce the lovely young lady to his son, but she was already taken.

***

Before long, everyone had arrived.

"All those taking part in the Warlord selection trials, please come inside now."

Fang Che watched as a group of young men and women stepped forward before making their way into the southeastern headquarters.

There were fifty Warlords in total, and only thirteen of them were from the seventeen southeastern Halls of Protectionists, which meant that four Halls of Protectionists hadn't sent any Warlord tier representatives.

Additionally, thirty of them were from White Cloud Warrior Academy, and Fang Che presumed that the remaining seven were from the southeastern headquarters.

Before long, the Kings were also called inside.

"You stay with Hall Master Song," Fang Che instructed, and Ye Meng nodded obediently in response.