Chapter 17: Chapter Fourteen: Lone Wolf

Translator: 549690339

In the large corner were weapon racks and stone locks of various weights, but this area seemed to become Fang Han’s territory. No student approached it, even when changing weapons, no one took from the full weapon racks.

“Why does no one practice with you?” Tang Luo was curious.

“They’re not a match for me.” Fang Han straightened his body and returned to his stance, showing supreme disdain.

“What about Pang Yan?” Hearing Fang Han’s tone, it seemed as if everyone in Training Ground 7 was insignificant, but Pang Yan, as another peak Mortal Realm student in Training Ground 7 with impressive martial arts practice, could be Fang Han’s opponent. Hence, Tang Luo asked.

“He? He only has a high realm at his disposal. He can’t stand my moves for more than 30 rounds.” In Fang Han’s ambition, becoming the servant of Tang Luo was a crucial step. Thus, he tried his best to showcase himself in front of Tang Luo.

Oh? Tang Luo was intrigued.

You should know, according to Tang Luo’s observation, cultivation is a process of physical evolution.

When each realm reaches its peak, the Sea of Qi would no longer store spiritual energy. The spiritual energy absorbed into the body would slowly spread throughout the entire body, entering the five internal organs, blood, and bone marrow to store and accumulate power.

When this accumulation reaches a certain point, the body naturally feels the need to break through. This then triggers an overall evolution, allowing the body to enter the next level. There would be significant improvements in strength, speed, durability, and even lifespan.

The quality of martial arts techniques was actually not related to the realm but each realm had an upper limit to what it could achieve. The fact that Fang Han dared to boast that Pang Yan, of the same realm, wouldn’t last 30 moves was interesting.

However, such small matters could be set aside for now. Since Tang Luo discovered he could completely control spiritual energy, the mystique of martial arts techniques has disappeared.

“Can you tell me why you want to become my servant?” Tang Luo asked again.

Fang Han was startled by the question, and he carefully and respectfully answered, “When I was at the Huo Family Martial Arts Academy, I heard of your great reputation as the Pride of Xiling and I wanted to follow you.”

Tang Luo stared at him for a long while and asked with a faint smile, “Didn’t you hear that the Martial Saint Mountain declared that I have the Innate Hollow Body and cannot break through? Look at me now, I’ve lost all my realms and just entered the Mortal Realm. I am far from the so-called ‘pride’. Aren’t you afraid of following the wrong person?”

Fang Han’s eyes were full of sincerity. He said earnestly, “I believe that you will regain your glory one day.”

Tut tut, such a little show of genuine feelings. Tang Luo laughed, finding it hard to believe the words of a young man who was always on guard even in the training ground.

“Mm, very good. Keep cultivating.” Tang Luo nodded at Fang Han, turned around, and walked off.

Fang Han bowed to Tang Luo and only straightened his back after Tang Luo had taken several steps away from him.

Tang Luo squinted his eyes, a thousand thoughts spinning in his mind. He had initially thought it would be just about recruiting a talented servant, but considering Fang Han’s performance today, things didn’t seem that simple.

He’d better ask more and get to know Fang Han better before making a judgement.

“Instructor Bo Shan, there’s something I would like to consult with you about.”

“There’s no need for the formalities, Instructor Tang. Please just ask.”

“I would like to know about Fang Han.”

Upon hearing Tang Luo inquire about Fang Han, Bo Shan frowned, searching for the right words as this child’s situation was quite complicated. For a moment, he did not know how to respond.

Seeing Bo Shan hesitating, Tang Luo continued, “Instructor Bo Shan, can you clear my doubts? Why does Fang Han keep to himself, as if he doesn’t fit in with the rest of those at Cultivation Ground No. 7?”

“Is Instructor Tang considering appointing Fang Han to be your servant?” Bo Shan thought that Fang Han must have caught Tang Luo’s eye. He generally doesn’t meddle in such matters, but given that Tang Luo, besides being a Martial Technique Instructor, is also the son of the Sect Head, he felt compelled.

As a member of the Tang Clan who had lost an arm in service, Bo Shan felt obliged to have a thorough conversation with Tang Luo about Fang Han, as he considered that despite Tang Luo being a naturally gifted genius, he was still only a thirteen-year-old boy after all.

“I do have that in mind, so I’m inquiring about his situation.” Tang Luo had high regard for Bo Shan who lost his arm for the clan, and there was no need to hide his plans of recruiting a servant as per his agreement with Tang Bin.

“The case with Fang Han is a bit complex.”

“Most of the students in Cultivation Ground No.7 are orphans.”

“The Tang Philanthropic Hall takes in a large number of such orphans every year. Those who have the heart for martial arts and can complete their foundation building before they turn thirteen receive special training in the Cultivation Ground. After a short three years or as long as five years, they are dispatched to the main or subsidiary lines of the Tang Clan as clan warriors once they have reached the peak of the Mortal Realm.”

“These children grew up knowing each other and are fiercely loyal to the clan. The Tang Clan wouldn’t be what it is today without these clan warriors.” Bo Shan decided to be completely honest.

“But Fang Han, although he is an orphan, was not raised by our Tang Clan.”

“Hmm.” Tang Luo had already learned about this from Chang Fu, but he didn’t interrupt Bo Shan’s narration.

“The fact that this child got to enter Cultivation Ground No.7 is actually a coincidence.” Bo Shan gritted his teeth. It was hard to explain, but he felt he had to.

“There is an annual competition between all the cultivation grounds, and the benefits each one receives are linked to their ranking in the contest.”

“Apart from First Cultivation Ground, where Tang family members are not influenced by the rankings, the rest of us in the cultivation grounds need to compete for our ranking.”

“In the past, in Cultivation Ground 7, the children at the peak of the Mortal Realm would be pre-selected by the main families before the competition every year. Hence, the ranking of Cultivation Ground 7 has been getting lower each year for five consecutive years.”

Tang Luo looked startled. Was there really such a thing?

Of course, he knew about the cultivation ground competition. As the blood supply of the top tier families in Xiling, the children trained in the Battle Hall were desired by many, making the competition a place for these students to show off their martial arts cultivation. But if the potential talents in Cultivation Ground No.7 were always taken away before the competition, what was the point? Even though there wouldn’t be any Mortal Realm transcendence, the combat abilities of Mortal Realm boys still varied greatly.

“Fang Han is an old friend of mine, who he recommended to me for Cultivation Ground No.7.”

“By recommendation, I mean he wished for this child with extraordinary talent to shine in the competition, so Cultivation Ground No.7 wouldn’t be shamed year after year.” Bo Shan’s face grew hot; he wasn’t one to favor such tactics, it made any win less satisfying.

“Fang Han entered the Martial Hall only two years ago, barely completing his foundation building. However, when he sparred with the students, he never lost.”

“It seems Fang Han is indeed a fighting genius,” Tang Luo exclaimed, somewhat impressed. Until now, he had thought the boy was bluffing.

“It’s not entirely like that.” Bo Shan shook his head. Was Fang Han really a fighting genius?

“What do you mean?” Tang Luo asked in curiosity, intrigued by the implications.

“Fang Han, though young, carries an unusual intensity. His moves are especially ruthless.” Bo Shan remembered the time when Fang Han, upon reaching the Mortal Realm, broke his sparring partner’s hand during a practice match.

“Hmm?” Tang Luo furrowed his brows. All the students in the cultivation grounds shouldn’t hold grudges against each other, could Fang Han have been holding a grudge due to being bullied?

“At first, I thought it was because the students of Cultivation Ground No.7 didn’t like this unfamiliar child and bullied him, which led him to be more ruthless. Later, I found that this was not the case.”

“No matter who the opponent is, Fang Han is very tough when sparring. In his own words, ‘if you fight, you should be ready for death.'”

“Most of the students in the cultivation ground have never seen bloodshed, on top of that, as they’ve known each other since childhood, there’s usually plenty of leeway during sparring matches. Against this backdrop, Fang Han seems particularly outstanding.”

“Thus, Fang Han and the other students are completely at odds. If private fights weren’t forbidden in the Martial Hall, I’m afraid Fang Han would have been attacked long ago by groups of other students.”

“But who could have thought that in just two short years, Han had reached the peak of Mortal Ream and even challenged Pang Yan.”

“Both are elites of the cultivation grounds and I don’t want anyone to get hurt, so I moved two pieces of divine armors from the armory.”

“In the battle between Pang Yan and Fang Han, both of them displayed their skills to the fullest, rendering the battle inconclusive due to the divine armor.”

“After a hundred moves, their spiritual powers were exhausted and they had to end the fight with a draw, but Fang Han had the upper hand, so he was considered the winner.”

“However, he was not satisfied. He pointed at Pang Yan and said: ‘If you weren’t wearing that armor, I’d have your life in thirty moves.'”

“Since then no one in the cultivation ground was a match for Fang Han, and no one dared to spar with him anymore.”

“Instructor Tang, this is the situation with Fang Han.”

Hearing Bo Shan’s words, Tang Luo finally had a rough idea of Fang Han’s character. This Fang Han, he seemed like a lone wolf.

Raised in a trash pile, he was ruthless but had a strong tenacity. He studied martial arts for the purpose of killing people and trusted no one but himself. In his eyes, everyone was an enemy, and he didn’t need friends.

A proud lone wolf like him would never be willing to bow down to others, but why was this Fang Han acting so obedient in front of him? What was his purpose?

What was so attractive about becoming his retainer that would interest such a lone wolf-like teenager?

“Thank you, Instructor Bo Shan. I will carefully consider your words.” Tang Luo’s brows furrowed slightly as he bid his farewell to Bo Shan.

From a distance, Fang Han had been throwing occasional glances at Tang Luo since he left. Seeing him discussing with Bo Shan for a long time, Fang Han was filled with resentment.

Without a doubt, Tang Luo must be asking that cripple about him. Bo Shan had never liked him, even though all he produced from his cultivation ground training were useless people.

Becoming Tang Luo’s retainer was of great importance to Fang Han. Only by becoming his retainer would he have enough time to study martial arts and break through in the cultivation ground. Otherwise, as mere Mortal Realm Peak, whilst dealing with all kinds of errands and fighting, he could die at any given time.

I can’t become such an insignificant creature! Fang Han thought bitterly to himself, ‘Just give me one chance! I don’t want to live that precarious life ever again.’