Chapter 23: The Secret to Communication

Sun Yuan rolled his eyes internally as he said, "Once you have an official post in the church, you'll be given a communication jade, which you'll be able to use with the aura of the Five Spirit Parasite in your body. The number of people you'll be able to contact differs according to your duties and status in the church, but that's not a concern for you right now.

“Just instruct your Five Spirit Parasite on who you wish to contact, and it will track that person down for you. If they're dead, the Five Spirit Parasite will inform you that the communication has failed. Otherwise, they'll immediately receive your message regardless of where they are in the world. This is the purpose of the Five Spirit Parasite.

“The problem is that the Five Spirit Parasite is too much for the average person to bear, and many people perish from their Five Spirit Parasites when our church selects disciples. Of course, there are some people who are held in very high regard by the higher-ups, and they're given the privilege of directly contacting the pope even as low-ranking church members.

“I can tell you that Pope Yin is very impressed with you, Che'er!"

Fang Che's eyes immediately lit up as he said, "I'll make sure to complete my mission so I can have the privilege of communicating with Pope Yin!"

"I'll be sure to put in a good word for you as well," Sun Yuan promised with a smile.

At the same time, he was rather perplexed by Fang Che's lack of reaction to the news of the high death rate of subjects with Five Spirit Parasites planted into their bodies.

Is he not suspicious that Su Yue was trying to get him killed?

Fang Che wanted to display a reaction, but he didn't want to cut off Sun Yuan, so he didn't say anything.

Furthermore, even though Su Yue was dead, he was still planning to use his brotherly bond with him for his future plans, so he couldn't turn on him just yet.

***

Fang Che began to examine his Five Spirit Parasite following Sun Yuan's departure.

So this is the key to everything!

In the past, Fang Che was only aware that Five Spirit Parasites could ensure absolute loyalty. If anyone tried to betray the church, then the Five Spirit Parasite in their body would immediately turn on them and have them killed.

However, Fang Che's Five Spirit Parasite was an exception. Fang Che was constantly thinking about betraying the church, but the Five Spirit Parasite couldn't do anything about it.

Not only that, but it was being put through the wringer every day by Fang Che.

I wonder how these things are made...

With that in mind, he channeled his Boundless Sutra and guided his spirit qi toward the Five Spirit Parasite.

The Five Spirit Parasite was terrified of this spirit power, and it immediately curled up into a ball.

Fang Che began to project some warm and soothing intent while also offering up some spirit power for the Five Spirit Parasite to eat.

The parasite was momentarily stunned, then eagerly began devouring the spirit power, almost moved to the point of tears!

Finally, it was getting something to eat!

Ever since it was planted into Fang Che's body, it had been in a constant state of starvation!

Fang Che fed the Five Spirit Parasite all the way until it was full, and it immediately began releasing emotions of bliss and contentment.

He consoled it once again with some warm and soothing intent, and it felt extremely flattered, having never received this level of treatment.

It hurriedly began reciprocating friendly intent, and their interaction continued.

Ye Meng made her way into the room with some tea, and upon seeing the smile on Fang Che's face, she asked, "What's gotten you in such a good mood today, Young Master?"

Fang Che immediately sealed the Five Spirit Parasite away again, giving it the cold shoulder.

The Five Spirit Parasite: "......"

Fang Che put on a mysterious expression, then beckoned to Ye Meng as he said, "It's a secret. Lend me your ear."

Ye Meng was very excited to hear this, but she put on a hesitant expression as she offered, "Let me massage your legs, Young Master."

Fang Che duly obliged, unfurling his legs for Ye Meng to massage, and while enjoying the pampered treatment, he said in a very quiet voice, "Make sure you don't tell anyone else."

"I promise," Ye Meng replied.

"There is a Five Spirit Parasite in my body. Once I receive an official post in the church, I'll be able to use it to instantly contact others in the church, even if they're on the other side of the world! Isn't that amazing?" Fang Che gloated.

Ye Meng's eyes widened in shock. "Really? How could a parasite possibly do something like that?"

"You don't know anything! This is the key to the church's success! Even if its members are discovered by the Guardians, they can always be tipped off in advance and make their escape long before the Guardians get there! How could you possibly contend with instantaneous communication from anywhere in the world?"

Ye Meng's mouth gaped open in shock.

This was truly a massive secret!

Fang Che immediately put on a disdainful expression, as if he had lost interest, and scoffed, "Why am I even telling you this? It's not like you would understand anyway. Let me tell you about something else."

Ye Meng was still reeling from what she had just heard, but it seemed that there was still more to come.

"I got myself in big trouble this time," Fang Che sighed. "Master came to chew me out just now."

"It's alright, Young Master. It's normal for masters to scold their disciples, so there's nothing to be depressed about," Ye Meng consoled.

"You don't understand. It's different this time," Fang Che sighed.

"How so?" Ye Meng asked.

"I killed the wrong person," Fang Che replied with a sullen expression.

"You killed someone?" Ye Meng exclaimed with a very convincing expression of horror.

Fang Che felt as if they were two award-winning actors having a competition of acting skills.

"Master told me that the popes gathered together for a meeting yesterday, and our pope didn't even dare to say a word. He was not very pleased with my master when he came back."

A meeting between the popes?

Alarm bells were instantly set off in Ye Meng's mind, and she began listening intently.

"The pope of the Divine Heavenly Church had just nurtured a seed in the Ximen Clan. His name was Ximen Xuri, but I killed him during the new student tournament at the academy. He's the only casualty in the entire tournament!" Fang Che sighed.

"That sounds like terrible luck," Ye Meng lamented.

"It really is. Our pope could only apologize and offer his condolences at the meeting. After he came back, he took his anger out on my master, who came just now to take his anger out on me!"

Ye Meng: "......"

"How was I supposed to know that the Ximen Clan was affiliated with the Divine Heavenly Church? I thought I killed a seed from the Protectionists! No one told me he was on our side! My identity is strictly confidential, so there's a chance that I'll have to deal with assassination attempts from my own people. Just thinking about it gives me a headache!"

"Can't you explain what happened to them?" Ye Meng asked.

"An explanation would expose me, and that would be even more dangerous," Fang Che sighed in a forlorn manner.

Ye Meng lowered her head as a hint of schadenfreude surfaced in her eyes.

All of a sudden, Fang Che snapped, "I tell you all of that, and you have nothing to say? Useless!"

Ye Meng hurriedly raised her head, but before she had a chance to say anything, Fang Che asked, "What's your cultivation base right now?"

"I'm a second-rank Warrior now, Young Master!" Ye Meng replied in a proud manner.

"I knew you were useless! Why do you look so happy with such pitiful progress?"

Fang Che threw her a bunch of pills as he yelled, "Hurry up and go cultivate! If you don't reach the Warrior Master tier in a month, I'll sell you to the brothels!"

Ye Meng's face instantly fell.

What the hell's wrong with this guy? His mood swings are way too fast and violent! I hope he never finds a wife!

After returning to her room, she stared off into space for a moment before drafting up a report.

"Today, Fang Che told me that the Five Spirit Parasite is the key to the communication method used by the Church of the Self-Righteous. Also, the Ximen Clan..."

***

Fang Che heaved a sigh of relief with Ye Meng's departure.

These pieces of information should be enough for the higher-ups in the Protectionists to realize the importance of the role that she was playing by his side.

However, he couldn't be so straightforward in the future. He had already taken a few risks, and if he were to continue in such a reckless fashion, then he would undoubtedly come under suspicion.

From here onward, he would have to think of some more creative ways to "leak" information to her.

***

Fan Tiantiao was living next door, and he received the report early in the morning.

He immediately relayed the information to the Guardians.

The Guardians knew that Five Spirit Parasites were capable of killing their hosts as soon as they even considered betraying the church, and they had also previously suspected that it played a role in communication, but this had never been confirmed before now.

Any church members that they captured were killed by the Five Spirit Parasites in their bodies before they could have any useful information interrogated out of them, and that was why the Church of the Self-Righteous had been able to remain so secretive for so many years.

Furthermore, even though the Ximen Clan was only a small clan, the information that they were affiliated with the Divine Heavenly Church was still not to be scoffed at.

Fan Tiantiao was very pleased with this haul of intelligence.

Sure enough, planting Ye Meng by Fang Che's side had been an exceptional decision, and he began writing up a report to the Shadow Hall, informing them that Ye Meng's post was of the utmost importance, and that she was not to be withdrawn from Fang Che's side unless extreme circumstances arose.