Chapter 6: Taken Away Upon Arrival?

Over the past year, although Fang Qingyun’s talent was limited and his ranking in the Martial Arts Academy was nothing to boast about, he was undeniably well-liked. He had a large circle of friends and could strike up a conversation with anyone. Furthermore, he was upright, honest, and reliable—a character that everyone genuinely appreciated.

While his cultivation level meant that few people saw him as a future powerhouse, there was no reason to offend him. After all, he was a good, honest, and dependable fellow—that was a consensus.

Since they were all martial artists, walking a few extra steps was hardly a chore. So, whenever Fang Qingyun went to the academy entrance to check for his cousin, a large crowd of both male and female students would tag along. It was a casual outing, not even enough to qualify as exercise, and it served as a nice way to relax during the lull between the graduation of the seniors and the arrival of the freshmen.

A few girls were prying, "How handsome is he? Does he compare to Dong Yunyu, Wu Zhibing, Hua Kaixie, or Jun Hefang?"

These four were the "Four Great Geniuses" of the Baiyun Martial Arts Academy, and also the "Four Great Beauties" of the student body. Their looks, physique, temperament, family background, talent, and cultivation were all top-tier, and they had already achieved notable fame in the region. Among them, Dong Yunyu was rumored to be joining the Garrison Legion immediately after graduation next year—a future of limitless possibilities.

These four were the focus of countless female students. Even as martial artists, young girls were not much different from ordinary women when it came to infatuation.

Fang Qingyun recalled his cousin's appearance and gave a wry smile. "In terms of looks, he’s about the same. But as for his inner strength, temperament, cultivation, talent, and foundation..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood. Handsome men were a dime a dozen, but how many people in the world possessed a perfect blend of looks, physique, inner strength, temperament, cultivation, and talent?

It was clear: Fang Qingyun’s cousin was just an ordinary person who happened to be slightly good-looking. Everyone reached this conclusion in their hearts.

Just as they were chatting, a young man in black was seen walking slowly toward the academy’s south gate from afar.

It was morning, and the sun was rising in the east, casting a vast expanse of rosy light.

The youth walked out of the dawn’s glow. He wore a black cloak with dark gold patterns, which rippled and shimmered with mesmerizing light as he moved. His face was like jade, his brows sharp as swords, and his eyes deep as pools, glittering like stars. His nose was straight, his lips thin, and he possessed a lean, tall, and elegant frame. His hair drifted slightly, his arms were strong, his waist was slender, and his long legs seemed to stretch toward the stars. A long sword hung at his waist.

His entire demeanor was elegant and composed. He exuded a sense of tranquility—"calm even if the mountains crumble, unmoved even in the face of life and death"—and a sharpness that suggested "crossing a thousand trials with ease, cleaving through ten thousand obstacles with a single sword."

He strode forward like a dreamlike figure emerging from the radiant morning light.

The women present suddenly found their eyes lighting up.

"Wow..."
"Ahhh..."
"This... this is..."

Every girl felt a faint sensation: this was the perfect man from her dreams, stepping right out into reality.

"Who is that?"
"Is he a freshman? Here to register?"
"Oh my god, I’m dying..."
"Are there really such outstanding people among this year’s freshmen?"

Just then, Fang Qingyun moved.

"Cousin!"

Fang Qingyun was excited. I’ve waited for you, and I’ve fulfilled the task my father gave me! No more beatings for me! He waved and shouted as he rushed forward.

Behind him, a crowd of faces remained stunned. The male and female students looked at each other in bewilderment.

Was this the "decent-looking, immature, tactless, spoiled, undisciplined, mediocre in talent, average in temperament and foundation" cousin that Fang Qingyun had described? Was this the cousin Fang Qingyun constantly sighed about, gritting his teeth and vowing, "Once he’s older and more sensible, I’m going to beat him up to vent my frustration"?

Everyone watched Fang Qingyun’s retreating back, feeling completely confused. Brother Fang, do you have some kind of misunderstanding of the word "average"?

Looking at him now—setting aside talent and foundation, which couldn't be judged at a glance—his appearance and temperament were absolutely top-tier!

Even the academy’s top figures, like Jun Hefang, Wu Zhibing, and Hua Kaixie, while possessing the "noble air of aristocratic families," fell far short of this cousin’s calm and collected demeanor. This was the composure of someone who had weathered storms; the indifference of someone who had seen it all.

Seeing this, the students even felt a sense of looking at figures as profound as the Dean or the Vice Dean.

Unmoved by favor or humiliation, watching the flowers bloom and wither; indifferent to coming or going, watching the clouds roll and unfurl in the sky.

Indifferent to life and death, smiling at the shifting winds. Anyone with such presence would be outstanding and peerless!

...

Over there, Fang Che had already met up with Fang Qingyun, his smile warm and friendly. "Cousin, have you been waiting long?"

Fang Qingyun nodded repeatedly. "It’s alright, it’s alright... Wait? What did you call me?"

Fang Qingyun was shocked, his eyes wide. Is this really the cousin whose sharp, biting words used to make people want to reach for a club? Why is he so polite?

Fang Che looked surprised. "I called you cousin, what else should I call you? Do you dare answer if I call you Uncle?"

Here it is! He’s back! The familiar, stifling sarcasm made Fang Qingyun let out a relieved laugh. "You really are my cousin! When I first saw you, I thought you’d turned into a different person."

"..." Fang Che was speechless.

While they spoke, the dozens of people behind Fang Qingyun had surrounded them three layers deep. Every pair of eyes was filled with curiosity, especially the girls—though there were only four or five of them, the intensity in their gaze almost melted Fang Che. He felt overwhelmed, sensing a crisis that if he didn't run, he would be devoured.

"Fang Qingyun, is this our cousin? Fang Che?" A girl with a heart-shaped face asked, blushing. "Hello, cousin. My name is Liu Xueyun, I’m your cousin’s classmate."

Fang Che looked bewildered on his handsome face. "Hello, Senior Sister Liu."

Liu Xueyun smiled broadly, her eyes fixed on him as if they were dripping with water. "Why call me Senior Sister Liu? It's too formal. Call me Sister Yun, or Sister Xueyun—either is fine."

Another girl puffed out her chest, trembling slightly. "Hello, cousin. My name is Wang Bingbing; you can call me Sister Bingbing."

Fang Che felt dizzy. After Fang Qingyun’s introductions and the students’ self-introductions, he felt like his head was going to explode after meeting thirty or forty people. But he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he remained polite and steady, exchanging greetings with each one.

From start to finish, only one girl watched him with a smile but did not actively step forward to greet him.

Fang Che hadn't noticed at first and gave her a polite, smiling nod, but then he realized that while the girl’s expression was a smile, her eyes were not. Her gaze was cold.

Why is she like this, coming with a group of people to welcome me?

As an old hand accustomed to observing everything and noticing the emotions of anyone in complex situations, how could he miss such an anomaly? Fang Che felt a jolt in his heart. He noticed that the girl was standing in a position that kept her at a distance from everyone else—carefully keeping her boundaries, yet naturally distant.

It was clear she wanted to fit in but couldn't, not because others were excluding her, but because she was excluding them.

An ordinary youth might just think the girl was cold, but in Fang Che’s eyes, this woman was abnormal: being in a group of friends, yet rejecting everyone? Humans are social animals; no matter how cold a girl is, she will have friends. If someone is truly out of place among people they spend every day with, the problem isn't the group—it's the individual.

Like a wolf mixed into a pack of huskies; no matter how well it disguises itself or tries to blend in, in its heart, it knows these are not its own kind.

Fang Che spotted her instantly. He sighed inwardly, thinking that compared to the infiltrators he had dealt with in his past life, these academy students were still very naive.

After greeting everyone, he deliberately moved closer to that girl and said with pleasant surprise, "Cousin, did you all come to welcome me? This is... so unexpected. Sister Xueyun, Sister Bingbing, and... this one—it’s my first time receiving such high-level treatment from so many beauties."

He looked at Wan Zhimei as he said this, the implication being that he didn't know her name.

A burst of laughter erupted.

Amidst the laughter, Fang Qingyun introduced her gently, "That’s your Sister Wan, Wan Zhimei, a senior in my class."

Fang Che nodded in realization. "Hello, Sister Wan."

Wan Zhimei had no choice but to smile and nod. "Cousin is very handsome."

Fang Che laughed heartily, noted the name in his heart, and said happily, "I didn't expect Cousin to be so popular at the Academy, having so many enthusiastic, loyal male classmates and so many beautiful, generous, and gentle female classmates. When I left, my uncle was worried, saying Cousin’s personality was average and you probably wouldn't have many friends. When I go back, I must tell him he was wrong!"

The male students were delighted, and the female students beamed with pride.

Fang Qingyun was completely stunned. *Cousin, where is your sharp tongue? Where is your sarcasm? Bring it out! You’re making everything I said before sound like a lie. Is your sharp tongue and sarcasm only reserved for me?*

"You seem to have grown quite a bit?" Fang Qingyun felt a bit jealous; he was taller than him now.

"Yeah, about a palm’s length. I'm around one-eighty-three now." Fang Che smiled, his gaze dropping to look at his cousin's head.

Fang Qingyun’s mouth twitched. Feeling his scalp being stared down from above, he snorted and stepped back a few paces. He suddenly felt a strong urge to hit someone.

After meeting everyone, the group chatted and walked with Fang Che to register.

"Registration."
"What is your name?"
"Fang Che."
"Fang Che?"

The staff inside the office suddenly went quiet. The crowd waiting outside was baffled. What was going on? This was the first time they had seen the registration process stall after a name was submitted.

Then... they saw several figures soar into the sky from within the Baiyun Martial Arts Academy and fly over from a distance.

The leader was the Proctor, followed by several deacons. Then, another figure arrived ahead of the rest—an elder with a flowing white beard, who descended suddenly. It was actually the Vice Dean.

Everyone was dumbstruck and fell silent as cicadas in winter. They hurriedly bowed, not even daring to lift their heads. Why were these big shots of the academy here today? What had happened?

Then they heard the Proctor ask, "Who is Fang Che?!"

Fang Che was slightly surprised, stepped forward, and said, "I am Fang Che."

"Good, enter him into the registry." The Proctor then said, "Fang Che, come with us."

This was spoken by the Vice Dean.

Following that, the group of big shots took Fang Che and turned to leave in a hurry. Fang Che didn't even have time to say goodbye to Fang Qingyun before he was whisked away.

Behind them, Fang Qingyun and all the classmates were collectively stunned.

What... what just happened?

Not only was his cousin handsome and charismatic, but did he also have such immense influence? But that couldn't be right—the way he was escorted, it looked like they were taking a prisoner away.

Did his cousin commit a crime?