Villa No. 8.
Lu Fengrou leaned leisurely on the couch. Fang Ping followed her lead, lying leisurely on a modular couch.
Lu Fengrou stared at him for a while, saying after a pause, “I’ll get someone to deliver a new couch to me later.”
Fang Ping was dumbstruck for a moment. ‘I’m talking serious business here. Why has your attention turned to the couch?’
“How many days have you not showered?”
Lu Fengrou asked with some disgust. She did not have to. It was at least six or seven days.
“Teacher, the problem now isn’t if I showered or not...”
Fang Ping was a little resentful. ‘Where are you directing the conversation to?’
Lu Fengrou snickered and said plainly, “You have two choices. One, reject it; two, accept it.”
“That’s only a one-out-of-two option. What’s the problem?”
“If you reject it, then pretend that this matter never existed. You’re MCMAU’s Martial Arts Society president, not NMAU’s Martial Arts Society president. Nanjiang doesn’t have the authority to get you to do anything.
“You think Zhang Dingnan is so agreeable? Wondering why he didn’t force you on board?
“Because he doesn’t have the authority.
“So, if you reject it, you don’t have to care about anything. If you’re worried about your family, bring them to Magic City. Evil sect martial artists aren’t idiots either. If you act like this has nothing to do with you, would they dare to provoke you?
“You think once they’ve eaten their fill, they’d still want to go out and kill individual geniuses?
“Option two—if you accept the mission, then there would definitely be a high-rank assassination!”
Fang Ping went silent for a moment. “There would definitely be a high-rank one?”
“Nonsense. When you were at the Rank-3 stage, your combat results included escaping from the hands of a Rank-6. Are evil sect martial artists idiots? As of today, you’ve entered Rank-4. Would they take the risk of allowing you to run and get revenge to ambush you? So, you can choose not to do it, but if you do, there would definitely be a high-rank taking action!”
Lu Fengrou said indifferently, “Zhang Dingnan doesn’t just want to find the traitor, he wants to take the opportunity to lure out an evil sect high-rank. A high-rank’s power of destruction is even scarier than a traitor’s!
“If the evil sect wants to attack you, there’s a hundred percent chance they would send a high-rank!”
Fang Ping’s pupils contracted slightly. Before this, he had thought the evil sect might not necessarily spend their high-ranking combat strength. After all, to the shrinking evil sect, high-ranking combat strength was very precious.
However, not that Lu Fengrou was putting it this way, Fang Ping understood that it was not uncertain—a high-rank would definitely attack.
Seeing Fang Ping go silent, Lu Fengrou continued speaking. “If you meet a high-rank, at a good distance, with your Mentality’s strength, you might not die immediately. However, if you’re within 30 meters of the opponent, you will die without question in two seconds!
“I’m speaking of a Rank-7 martial artist. Of course, the chances of the opponents sending out a Rank-8 powerhouse with a golden body is very low.
“If you accept this mission, Rank-7 martial artists won’t be able to protect you. If they’re far from you and can’t make it in time to rescue you, you’re dead.
“Hence, you must get a Rank-8 or even a Rank-9 to hide in the sidelines and save you at an opportune moment.”
When she finished saying this, Lu Fengrou said, “And if you really want to ascertain your safety... You need at least two Rank-8s!”
“Two?”
Fang Ping was stunned yet again. As if he had just thought of something, he said intently, “You’re saying that if there’s just one person... Perhaps... They’d just sit and watch me die?”
“I’m only saying it’s possible. Nobody knows how these Grandmaster powerhouses think. If you get two people to check each other, then no matter if they have any other plans, they would save you when the time came, but just one person might not necessarily do so.”
“Two Rank-8 golden body powerhouses?”
Fang Ping said bitterly, “Nanjiang has no Rank-8s.”
Nanjiang had Grandmasters and not just Zhang Dingnan, but Nanjiang’s Grandmasters were all Rank-7.
“Doesn’t this mean Zhang Dingnan is sending me to my death?” Fang Ping complained.
Lu Fengrou smirked and said, “That’s not necessarily true. Perhaps he’s only getting you to understand it’s very dangerous. Extremely so. See if you, Fang Ping, can drag out a Rank-8 golden body powerhouse to enter the fight. Wu Kuishan, for example.
“Once Wu Kuishan becomes involved this time, next time, for whatever purpose that Nanjiang’s Catacombs open, Wu Kuishan will enter the fight too.”
Hearing this, Fang Ping was suddenly not as anxious about the subject. Instead, he smiled broadly and said, “Teacher, Vice-chancellor and Governor-General Zhang know each other, right?”
“They do.”
“I think they must’ve known each other for quite a few years.”
“More than 30 years.”
“It’s been so many years of friendship, yet Governor-General Zhang actually didn’t go to Vice-chancellor when he asked MCMAU for help and looked for me instead... Tut tut, he doesn’t...”
Before he could finish speaking, the couch exploded with a bang!
Fang Ping fell onto the floor, so oppressed by Lu Fengrou’s Mentality and force that he nearly could not catch his breath.
Lu Fengrou’s Mentality was perhaps not considered too strong. At least, when it was compared to his, Fang Ping could still defend against it.
However, the important thing was the distance between the two of them was too close, and Fang Ping did not have any preparation. He was squashed in a second.
“Misfortune is brought forth through the mouth. Have you never learned this saying?”
Lu Fengrou’s face was indifferent as if she had not noticed Fang Ping’s distress, and she continued saying, “It has nothing to do with their personal relationship. What Wu Kuishan considers is MCMAU, and what Zhang Dingnan considers is Nanjiang. I’ve said it before. Don’t see MCMAU as a school that you can see as a single force.
“Wu Kuishan and Zhang Dingnan are leaders of two different influential forces. Although we have common enemies, Magic City’s Catacombs’ problems aren’t resolved yet.
“If... I say, if Nanjiang is severely devastated, how would MCMAU deal with itself after?
“MCMAU only has its status now from countless killings and fights. It was obtained with fresh blood and lives.
“Zhang Dingnan and Wu Kuishan’s personal relation is merely an average one. Even if it wasn’t, and they were brothers by blood, currently, Wu Kuishan would not brazenly agree to aid with Nanjiang’s matters either.”
Fang Ping silently picked himself up. He looked at the couch that had been exploded into a lump and sighed helplessly. He could only sit on the ground as he said, “Then why did Governor-General Zhang look for me?
“Vice-chancellor won’t agree to aid Nanjiang...”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Lu Fengrou smiled humorlessly and said, “You still don’t understand. What martial arts universities call the co-governance between the Martial Arts Society and the school means the Martial Arts Society president can also be seen as one of the leaders of MCMAU. This has nothing to do with strength, it’s rather the meaning and student body that the Martial Arts Society represents.
“If you agree to help Nanjiang, then the good combat factions of the school will choose to support you.
“When that time comes, MCMAU will be propped onto the fire. As a famous school, there would be many people in the school who would want to enter the battle. If they don’t battle now, it won’t match the spirit of the martial arts university.
“Dare to battle, you must battle and never run from battle!
“If nobody brings it up, none of this would be a problem. We have Magic City’s Catacombs to guard. However, once it’s brought up, and by someone above average no less, at this time, battle must be done!”
Fang Ping had not yet reacted much before this, but now that he heard this, his eyebrows instantly drew together as he said, “Zhang Dingnan has designs on me?”
The moment he brought up the matter of providing aid and pushing MCMAU to the cusp of the battle, it might cause a very big problem!
“It can’t really be considered as having designs.” Lu Fengrou smiled blandly. “As of now, Zhang Dingnan has already reached the stage where as long as there’s a thread of hope, he’d want to try it out.
“He’s from Nanjiang, a person born and bred in Nanjiang. Furthermore, his entire life has taken root at Nanjiang.
“Ever since he took up the position of governor of Nanjiang, his principles are to only live for Nanjiang in this life.
“You are also someone from Nanjiang. Maybe in his opinion, people from Nanjiang tossing their lives for its sake is par for the course. Do you understand?
“Of course, he hasn’t reached such an extreme step yet, but taking some risk and putting in effort for Nanjiang is still necessary.
“Actually, Zhang Dingnan takes Nanjiang too seriously.”
Lu Fengrou shook her head slightly and said, “Nanjiang’s current preparations are actually very much adequate. Their central government and Military Department have already made preparations. Other places have also prepared this way and have no difference to Nanjiang.
“However, Zhang Dingnan is still mass recruiting martial artists from all over and participating in defense battles. All this comes from him viewing Nanjiang too seriously and not hoping for any leaks to form.
“Zhang Dingnan is a good governor. This is something that can’t be denied, but if we were to add a prefix, he’d just be Nanjiang’s good governor...
“Alright, the topic’s a little off now.”
Lu Fengrou did not speak any more on this, but after some thought, she added, “The older generation of martial artists all has their limitations. They’re all heavily aware of territories. Instead, the younger generation of martial artists doesn’t take it so seriously.”
People from Zhang Dingnan’s generation had a love for their hometowns and saw it as much more important than people nowadays.
It was not just Zhang Dingnan. Till now, a lot of the martial artists from the older generation were like this.
In their hometowns’ Catacombs, they could toss their heads and spray blood, dying without any regrets, not appreciating their life at all.
Despite that, the moment they had to extend foreign aid, these people would evade it, or simply put in the work but without the effort.
There was no way to say they were bad people. They shed their own blood doing battle in their hometowns’ Catacombs. There were father-and-son soldiers, soldiers formed by three generations from grandfather to grandson. It was not uncommon for entire families to enter the Catacombs.
Dying in battle at the Catacombs was nothing unusual.
Could this kind of people be called bad people?
Including Donglin Martial Arts University’s Chen Jiasheng’s grandfather and Chen family. They were like this too, fighting to the death for Donglin. They had no regrets being killed in action.
If this were some other place, the old Grandmaster from the Chen family might not have died in battle without retreating.
If you felt that he had a limitation, that he was stubborn, then that was still only your personal opinion. They were still heroes.
Fang Ping released a breath and said, “Then what should I do?”
“I don’t know. You have to make your own choices. I’m just your martial arts instructor, so I have no right to determine your life or death.
“Martial artists serve the public but also themselves. Martial artists’ consciences are the biggest, but so are their selfishness.
“In regard to the greater good, I hope you’ll go, but from my selfishness, I hope you won’t accept it. With a high-ranked powerhouse in the fight, the only thing you can bet on is luck.”
“If there were two Rank-8 martial artists as protection, wouldn’t my safety be assured?”
“There would be some assurance, but of course, sometimes there’s misfortune. In that case, there’s nothing we can do either.”
Lu Fengrou shook her head. It did no good to mention that if his luck was bad, he would still die even with a Rank-9’s protection.
“Would Vice-chancellor agree to protect me?”
“Not necessarily.”
When Lu Fengrou finished saying this, she added, “MCMAU’s Grandmasters might not agree because this will bring MCMAU into the mire. Of course, if you really bring it up, even if they’re not willing to at heart, they would not necessarily reject it either, but you must think it through. If you die, MCMAU doesn’t have to involve themselves in Nanjiang’s mess anymore.”
The corner of Fang Ping’s mouth twitched. ‘Alright, now even if you wanted me to ask, I wouldn’t dare to anymore.’
“Then will a Rank-8 golden body and a Rank-7 do?”
“That might be fine. The presence of two people is mainly so that one will slow down the enemy and get the best guarantee of safety, while at the crucial moment, the situation can be controlled if the Rank-8 one is willing to attack.”
After she said this, Lu Fengrou opened her mouth to say, “Zhang Dingnan might be able to get a Rank-8 to enter the fight. You haven’t asked about this?”
Fang Ping smiled bitterly and said, “I don’t dare to trust a politician’s words. If I really accept the mission, then I’ll definitely have to find people myself. I’m afraid that when the time comes, Governor-General Zhang will say that one person’s matters are small whereas Nanjiang’s matters are large. Even if I cried, I wouldn’t be able to find a brain to do so.”
Lu Fengrou could not help but laugh. “At least you’re not hopelessly foolish. Although Zhang Dingnan might not do so, if he really encountered a situation where he had to choose between one of two scenarios, it’s hard to say whether he’d choose to kill the evil sect’s high-rank or save you.”
“I can imagine.”
Fang Ping shook his head lightly but did not grumble much. It was still that saying. They were at different angles.
In other words, if two people were in trouble, whether he would rescue his own sister or a genius martial artist, Fang Ping naturally had his own choices too.
“Teacher, I’m leaving first then.”
Fang Ping did not say anything else. He got up and made to leave.
Just as he had taken a few steps, Lu Fengrou opened his mouth to say, “Remember to get someone to deliver a couch to me.”
“I got it.”
Fang Ping did not care. A couch only cost so much. If he stamped and crushed a piece of the floor outside, he would be fined a few hundred thousand too.
...
After Fang Ping left, only then did Lu Fengrou mutter, “This punk. How would he choose?”
...
He had come out from the Energy Room on the 8th. The Martial Arts Society members had clearly received news of Fang Ping’s exit, yet they still could not find Fang Ping.
Not just on the 8th, they did not see Fang Ping on the 9th either.
All the way till late at night on the 9th. The Martial Arts Society members were all anxious now.
The next day was the opening ceremony of the martial arts grand competition. If Fang Ping did not show up, this matter would not be easy to settle.
Luckily, Fang Ping appeared late into the night.
In the Martial Arts Society.
Upon seeing Fang Ping, everybody heaved a sigh of relief.
Liang Fenghua was relieved too and said, “You’re finally here. If you didn’t come, these guys would’ve forced a duck onto a shelf and made me attend the opening ceremony. I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“What about Xie Lei, Qin Fengqing and the others?”
“Couldn’t find any of them.”
Fang Ping gave a light huff. “Hanging on to the position of vice president and reaping the benefits without putting in the work? It’s because Chen Wenlong is in the Military Department that some of our students entered the Military Department to train. Those two jerks are good for nothing!”
Among the crowd, Zhang Ziwei bit her lip, then opened her mouth and said, “Xie Lei went to the Catacombs.”
“Magic City’s Catacombs?”
“No, Donglin’s Catacombs.”
Fang Ping furrowed his brows again and said, “Why didn’t he report that he was going to the Catacombs to the Martial Arts Society? Forget it. I won’t bother with these two bastards anymore. When we’re done with the opening ceremony tomorrow, I’ll distribute next year’s wages. I’ll leave these bastards out for now. Before I’ve given my permission, none of you are allowed to give them their share!”
After he said this, Fang Ping did not care what everybody else thought and continued saying, “Get all the Martial Arts Society members who are at school to stand by at tomorrow’s opening ceremony. Wear the same uniform and your weapons. Don’t sully MCMAU and the Martial Arts Society’s name!
“That’s right, those non-members of the Martial Arts Society and those in the amateur-ranks, tomorrow get them all to go to the logistics department and collect the standardized weapons and uniforms. Then, everyone must gather at the gym and put on a show of might. Let the outside world know that my MCMAU has countless strong and fierce warriors. This one school is comparable to an entire province!”
Nobody minded. If Fang Ping wanted to look good and present a strong momentum, then they would let him look good. It was just a small matter.
Fu Changding asked, “Then what about the weapons of the Martial Arts Society’s non-members...”
“The Martial Arts Society spent money on them and gave it to them for free. Make them perform well and not fail what I’ve painstakingly done.”
Everybody exchanged fervent glances. So high-handed?
Fang Ping did not care and said, “Spend all the Martial Arts Society’s money in these few days to prevent the school’s leadership from taking note of it. We’ve only saved a little over five billion. What were they all red-eyed for? I asked the school to have a fundraiser back then and they disagreed. Now that we’ve actually managed to raise the funds, the school wants it. If we don’t give it to the school, we’ll have to split it evenly...”
Everybody did not know whether to laugh or cry, but they were all extremely happy.
If he really gave out a year’s worth of wealth, it would be a lot of cash.
“That’s right, save some of the cash later. Over here, I still have some credits. Use the credits to pay the bills at school.”
Nobody minded. This was a small matter. The uses of credits and money were about the same in school. There was no difference.
Fang Ping did not say any more. At a glance, it was not early anymore, so he dismissed everyone and went back to the dormitory he had not returned to for many days.