Chapter 115: Seeking Strength, Seeking Life
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lu Fengrou seemed to have something going on, so she left early as well.
Very quickly, everyone else departed, leaving three new freshmen looking at each other, not knowing what to say.
Zhao Xuemei looked at Fang Ping, her gaze still showing signs of fear.
On the other hand, Yang Xiaoman had completely forgotten about the previous incident and she asked quietly, “Just now, was that NMAU’s Wang Jinyang?”
In the past few years, Wang Jinyang had become the most famous student among normal martial arts universities.
Yang Xiaoman and the others had heard of his name but had never seen him in real life.
Plus, after entering MCMAU, everyone had become a little arrogant, thinking that Wang Jinyang was not really that big of a deal.
However, today’s scene overturned all their imaginations.
In MCMAU’s Martial Arts Society, a regular martial arts university’s Peak Rank-3 student had overwhelmed the entire room!
Zhou Yan and the others were usually nice to talk to, but her powerful threatening of Zhang Guoru today proved that she, too, was a force to be reckoned with.
In the end though?
Upon meeting Wang Jinyang, who had once violently beaten her up, she could only flounder a few sentences. As for Wang Jinyang’s challenge to MCMAU’s Rank-3 students, she had pretended not to hear it.
In that moment, the two girls felt as if that was how men should be.
Fang Ping was at a loss for words. A moment later, he said, “I just killed someone!”
“Oh... ah...”
Zhao Xuemei snapped back to reality. She looked at Fang Ping a little timidly. “You... Weren’t your attacks a little too ruthless...”
Fang Ping’s face darkened as he thought, ‘If it was Old Wang then it’d be manly, but when I kill someone then it’s ruthless?’
Not wanting to deal with her, Fang Ping started to walk away.
Feeling like she did not react appropriately, Zhao Xuemei frantically ran up to explain, “I didn’t mean that... It’s just... It’s just that I felt... they...”
What she wanted to say was that they were all still students. They were still young and had a great future ahead of them.
However, after thinking it through, though she did not know about the first person, Chen Guolong, the latter, Zhang Guowei, did state his intention to kill Fang Ping.
In that case, Fang Ping killing them did seem justified.
Fang Ping shook his head. “It’s alright. To be honest, I’m not used to it either. I never thought about killing anyone.
“However, if I didn’t kill them, and they wanted to kill me, I couldn’t just watch it happen.
“On that battle stage, life or death is beyond my control. This wasn’t just a simple match. After this, there won’t be anything like this again.”
Not just because of him, but because there was still Wang Jinyang.
Old Wang said it himself. If there was anyone who would still involve others in his business, then when he became Rank-4, he would challenge those of Rank-4; when he was Rank-5, he would challenge those of Rank-5. Moreover, he had already stated clearly it would be a battle to the death!
Under those circumstances, everyone had to weigh their choices carefully.
Even in a situation where Wang Jinyang was in the same rank and had yet to breakthrough, there were still few people who would try to take him on.
Zhao Xuemei nodded and hesitated for a moment before continuing in a small voice, “How does it feel to kill someone?”
“When Chen Guolong died, I couldn’t really adapt to it and my legs felt weak.
“Still, it’s not like I’ve never seen a dead person before. Plus, he died quickly, so after a while, I got over it.
“When I killed Zhang Guowei, I kept telling myself that it was an honorable ending for a martial artist to die on a battle stage. That made me feel slightly better.”
“Your attitude is so strong...”
The usually loud-mouthed Zhao Xuemei’s voice was especially soft today as she sighed. “For the instructor to bring me here today...was that a way of telling me that sooner or later I, too, will have to experience this?”
“Perhaps.”
Fang Ping sighed as well, before adding, “It’s not uncommon for martial artists to face death a number of times, especially for Rank-3 martial artists. You saw it earlier. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Zhou Yan or Liu Yongwen, even those instructors, they’ve probably all had experiences with life and death.
“When faced with a student’s death, they showed regret and sorrow, but there was no fear.
“Being unafraid of death...maybe that’s what makes a martial artist.”
“But... But the martial artists that I know aren’t like that.”
“Casual martial artists?”
“No, they also graduated from martial arts universities, but now they’ve become civilians.”
“Then that’s right. I’ve heard about it before. In martial arts universities, students below Rank-3 are usually very safe. Today was just an exception.
“When those students graduate, most of them will work in regular civilian jobs.
“When the outstanding students graduate, most of them would enter the Department of Investigation Services, the Military Department, or something else, but those who’d work at regular government offices are very few.”
Fang Ping had now come to understand a few more things. At a martial arts university, there was still some guarantee for the safety of students below Rank-3.
Even for him. Even if he had decided not to accept the challenges, Liu Yongwen and the others would have accepted that there was no way for them to get to him at the university.
If they were to confront him outside, they would be bound by the restraints of the law.
As to why Fang Ping accepted the challenges, he had hoped to lessen the amount of trouble he might have faced and deter a few others. At the very least, he wanted to prevent those of the same rank from coming to bother him.
He had a lot of things to do. He had no time to mess around with these people every single day.
Now, it seemed like the results were great.
Zhao Xuemei did not know how she felt about it, and did not say a word after that.
Though she did not ask, Yang Xiaoman, who had followed her over, felt curious. “Fang Ping, when you were fighting Zhang Guowei, your Vitality was clearly depleted...”
Fang Ping turned his head and looked at her, his brows slightly wrinkled. “When you entered a martial arts university, didn’t your instructor teach you not to ask about other’s secrets?
“Your family environment is probably pretty good, and you have martial artists in your family. Did your family not teach you as well?
“Every martial artist has their own path. If you snooped around and heard other people’s secrets as you pleased, you would create grudges worth life or death, understand?
“In the future, don’t carelessly inquire about these!”
Yang Xiaoman was pretty curious. Fang Ping had heard Zhao Xuemei mention before that she was looking for information into his own circumstances.
At one point, Fang Ping even suspected that she was part of Liu Yongwen’s group, and he had deliberately listened in on his report.
Now, that seemed unlikely. Maybe she really was just curious.
Still, this behavior should not be encouraged. Which martial artist did not have their own secrets?
Fang Ping had them, Lu Fengrou had them, Wang Jinyang had them, every single Grandmaster and powerhouse had them!
There were some things that he himself would not say, and even the instructors would not ask. For instance, there was no way that Lu Fengrou did not notice that there was something unusual about Fang Ping’s sudden return of Vitality, but she did not ask any questions.
Instructors were only responsible for lessons and answering their questions. The students’ privacies were their own businesses.
Having been reprimanded, Yang Xiaoman’s expression changed. Just as it seemed like she was about to say something, Zhao Xuemei tugged on her arm.
This was a guy who had killed someone!
Among a batch of new students, there was a difference between martial artists who had seen blood and those who had not.
Yang Xiaoman’s lips curled into a pout, and she did not make another sound.
Fang Ping did not want to entertain them any longer, and left quickly.
After he left, Yang Xiaoman said indignantly, “Stop pulling me! Sooner or later, I’ll take care of him! I’ll get my revenge!
“As to what I’m getting revenge for, obviously it’s for that time during the school allocation when he attacked my chest!”
...
“Brother Wang, where are you?”
“At the Magic Martial Hotel.”
“Ah?”
Fang Ping was momentarily at a loss for words. Old Wang was indeed arrogant. He actually went to the Magic Martial Hotel in MCMAU’s territory. Was he waiting for MCMAU’s students to challenge him at the door?
Without asking any further, Fang Ping hung up the phone and walked towards the school gates.
He certainly had plenty of questions for Old Wang.
...
About 10 minutes later.
The Magic Martial Hotel.
In the restaurant.
Wang Jinyang was eating with Qin Fengqing accompanying him.
As he ate, Qin Fengqing called out enthusiastically, “Young Junior, come eat with us. You’re probably hungry, aren’t you?
“Today’s fight was not bad, but it would have been better if you could have killed them with one move!
“These people sitting around on their balls. In the first 2 ranks, they don’t work hard to cultivate themselves. Instead they just cause trouble all day. Do they really think no one can control them?”
As he said these words, it was evident that he had forgotten about himself and Wang Jinyang.
When they were in Rank-1 and Rank-2, they were not idle.
Of course, there was not much infighting. More often, they were just claiming missions and earning credits.
Wang Jinyang did not speak until after Fang Ping had sat down. “I knew much earlier that you were being challenged.”
“Oh.”
“Are you not surprised? After all, I was the one who caused you this trouble. If I had shown my face from the beginning, you might not have needed to fight.”
Fang Ping smiled. “It was my own decision. No one forced me to. When I went up onstage, the Martial Arts Society even confirmed it with me.
“As to why I accepted the challenge, it was partially because I was in a bad mood. Who were they to bother me!
“On the other hand, it was also because I really wanted to assimilate myself with martial artists as a whole.”
Wang Jinyang smiled blandly. “Then, in your eyes, what’s the martial artists’ group like?”
“Indifferent about life and death?”
Fang Ping said subconsciously.
Wang Jinyang snorted. “Bullshit! Who’s not afraid of death! There’s no one who’s unafraid of dying. No one can be indifferent towards life and death, not even Grandmasters!
“In your eyes, are martial artists just indifferent towards life and death as well as fierce and battle-crazy?”
“As to why you’d have this misconception, perhaps it’s because you haven’t experienced much.
“The people there today might not have had the intention to kill you. What was more important was, in fact, the loser’s refusal to yield.
“Martial artists are a bunch of people who are seeking strength and seeking life.
“Their roads to seeking strength were cut off by me, which is why they were resentful and discontented, but this doesn’t mean that they didn’t want to live.”
As he spoke, Wang Jinyang put down his bowl and chopsticks, and slowly continued, “As to why I didn’t show up before your fight, it was to make you understand that constantly giving in is not part of a martial artist’s path in seeking strength and life.
“Even if I wasn’t involved, with your circumstances, you’d definitely come into contact with some dangerous missions very soon.
“Rather than being killed by an external party, it was better to let you experience the fear when you’re caught between life and death while you’re in school, so you could change your attitude.
“You’re not actually a coward. Back when you were just an aspiring martial artist, you were brave enough to manipulate Huang Bin of Peak Rank-2, proving that you have guts and you aren’t stupid either.
“Yet when talking about what you’re missing... at the very least, you lack that bit of spirit.
“It’s not to say that having spirit is absolutely necessary, but you also can’t be completely devoid of it!
“When you’re out there carrying out missions, you’ll often meet those that are vicious and ruthless. These people wouldn’t beat around the bush with you. If you want to kill him, then he’ll kill you!
“That’s why, letting you experience some bloodshed first is good for you.
“Of course, if you had really been killed, then that would have been your own business. I wouldn’t have felt guilty for anything. You improved too quickly. You weren’t killed this time, but you could be killed next time. Either way, there’s no need for someone alive to feel guilty for someone who’s dead.”
Fang Ping was completely speechless. Was what he was saying really appropriate?
On one side, Qin Fengqing was still eating as he mumbled, “In the school, not many of those in Ranks 1 and 2 have experience with bloodshed. This is actually a kind of disadvantage.
“When they reach Rank-3, some of them are still completely clueless. The moment they go out on a mission, a whole bunch of them die.
“Rather than just dying without fanfare, dying in Ranks 1 and 2 to give others some experience is also a good thing.
“Obviously no one wants their deaths to be worthless, but today’s matters can’t be blamed on you. Their deaths were in vain, but there’s no need to think about it.”
Qin Fengqing and Wang Jinyang were actually trying to comfort Fang Ping, but their methods were not very effective.
Fang Ping did not say anything about it, but instead changed the topic. “Brother Wang, are you about to break through?”
“Mmhmm, in just a few days.”
“Then, you coming to Magic City...”
Wang Jinyang shook his head and said, “It’s not what you think. I have no interest in bothering the students. In the bottom 3 ranks, I had no choice. I had to make an appearance.
“But once I’m in the middle 3 ranks, even among the instructors, I wouldn’t be the weakest one.
“My trip to Magic City this time around was just because I had things to do here.
“The bunch of people from MCMAU who thought that I came to provoke them are really overthinking!
Qin Fengqing grinned. “I invited him. This time, I have a big mission to accomplish, and this guy’s got great strength, so we’re making preparations to get ourselves a grand prize!”
Wang Jinyang did not deny it, merely reminding him. “Your strength is too weak. If you die, don’t blame it on me.”
“Psh, would I die so easily?”
As he disagrees, Qin Fengqing thought, ‘I’ve already taunted death so many times. When have I actually died?
‘Once I’ve reaped enough benefits this time around, my torso would probably have been honed nearly to completion. Even if it’s not a match for Wang Jinyang, by the end of junior year, there’s still hope that I could enter Rank-4.’
Knowing that Wang Jinyang came to do a mission, Fang Ping felt much more relieved.
He thought Wang Jinyang had come to seek challenges again. Although Old Wang had great strength, there were hidden talents in Magic City. Nobody knew if there was a martial artist of the same rank who was stronger than him.
Seeing Fang Ping release a breath of relief, Wang Jinyang laughed. “There are some things that you don’t have to think too much about. Right now, you don’t have the ability to intervene.
“The rivalry between normal martial arts universities and the famous schools are the Grandmasters’ businesses.
“If they want to use you as their weapon, and they offer enough benefits, then go be their weapon!
“But if there is no advantage and they still want to use you, then who cares if they’re Grandmasters? Don’t entertain them!
“It wasn’t like there weren’t any benefits for those earlier Rank-1 MCMAU martial artists. Credits and medicinal pills and elixirs were promised in bundles.
“After accepting those benefits, getting injured is a consequence that they should have expected.
“There’s no way they could have just taken the benefits without doing some work!
“You just have to remember this. Martial artists kill people for a reason. This world is one that still has rules and laws!
“Even Grandmasters can’t force you into doing anything!
“Just look at me now. If there are benefits, then I’ll check the situation. If it’s not dangerous, then I’ll do it; if it’s dangerous, then I won’t bother.
“Of course, if you were an idiot who got tricked by someone and fell into a trap, then you can only blame yourself. This time, those new MCMAU students were tricked by Liu Yongwen.”
Qin Fengqing said disdainfully, “Liu Yongwen only knows how to do this type of bullshit. If I were to meet him underground, I would cleave him in two!”
“Ahem!”
Wang Jinyang interrupted him with a light cough, before turning back to Fang Ping. “Your only mission now is to cultivate yourself contentedly. You can accept some small missions, but don’t be overconfident and attempt those you know you can’t fulfill.
“Slowly, accumulate more experience and increase your strength. MCMAU’s conditions are very good. Here, you can get what you need at the lowest price.
“As for other things... I’ll wait till you’re strong enough to tell you.
“Also... Though I may be a bit heartless in saying this, but in a martial arts university, you have to remember that whether it be your instructors or your classmates, you have to be wary.
“It’s fine if they want you to do something, but connections are useless. There must be some practical benefits involved!
“If there aren’t many benefits, or if there’s not a good balance between the consequences and rewards, then don’t mindlessly accept. Increasing your strength is the priority!
“When you die, connections are worth nothing. I don’t usually grant favors, even if it’s for a Grandmaster. If there were benefits then I’d take it, increase my strength, and add on to my ability to protect myself.
“Then in the future, once I become a Grandmaster, granting a favor would have a value incomparable to that of what I could do now.
“It’s materialistic, but this is what I’ve learned from my experience over this one year or so.”
Fang Ping nodded, not thinking that it was strange he thought this way.
Everyone was in it for the profits!
Even he started interacting with Wang Jinyang for his own profit.
Most other people were like that, unless it involved close relations. Otherwise, who would sacrifice so much for others?
Thinking about that, Fang Ping started to feel homesick.
After leaving the house for two months, it was about time he went back to take a look around while releasing some tension at the same time. In the period of time that he had been at MCMAU, he actually felt a little stressed.
The three of them did not talk much after that.
Both Wang Jinyang and Qin Fengqing gave Fang Ping some tips on cultivation, some of which Lu Fengrou had mentioned before, some of which she had not. There were some advantages and disadvantages of having a Rank-6 instructor.
The advantage was that they had seen and experienced a lot, so they had great foresight.
The disadvantage was that there was too much of a gap between them and those of Ranks-1 and 2, so it was easy for them to overlook some details.
After chatting for a while, Fang Ping finished his meal and immediately left the hotel. After all, he did have a train ticket this afternoon!