Some wanted to settle things with force, but as soon as the sect leader led his men to the city gates, the authorities were alerted!
Faced with armed soldiers on the walls and martial artists at the gates, the troublemaking sect tucked their tails and fled.
There was no helping it—the accusation of rebellion was thrown at them, and who could bear such a label? Though the imperial court seemed distant, they still commanded armies, and even the martial world had to show them some respect.
Many sects wilted under the pressure.
But resistance persisted. The leader of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, for instance, sent a letter to the Demon Sect, exposing their Left Envoy’s collaboration with the righteous factions. Indeed, Fang Zhiyi’s school had become a gathering place for both orthodox and unorthodox factions.
The Demon Sect initially wanted to ignore it, but after the Five Mountains Sword Sect’s taunts, their pride was wounded. They marched to the gates of Youzhou Martial School with their current Left and Right Envoys in tow.
Fang Zhiyi, having received word in advance, was already waiting. With a single display of qi manifestation, he stunned them, followed by the intimidating presence of the school’s renowned veteran instructors.
The Demon Sect’s leader quickly backpedaled, claiming he was merely there for a visit. His anger, stoked by the Five Mountains Sword Sect, had cooled instantly under Fang Zhiyi’s unsettling gaze. He instinctively clutched his money pouch, sensing trouble.
That same day, news spread that the Demon Sect, moved by Headmaster Fang’s influence, had generously donated a substantial sum to Youzhou Martial School.
The report was handwritten on a single sheet, with rough sketches in the margins depicting a few figures in discussion.
From that day onward, the "Martial World Daily" began circulation, available for purchase at "Swiftwind Select." The novelty of the newspaper fascinated many, though the major sects felt an uneasy premonition.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the Martial World Daily expanded from a single sheet to multiple pages, packed with advertisements for Swiftwind, enrollment notices for the martial school, discreet promotions for Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion’s hidden weapons and Hidden Sword Manor’s auctions—and on the back, a juicy scandal about the Five Mountains Sword Sect leader’s extramarital affair.
The martial world buzzed with gossip, and everyone reveled in the drama.
By the time the Five Mountains Sword Sect leader learned of the news, his wife’s Eagle Claw Technique was already aimed at his face.
"So, what’s our advantage?" Fang Zhiyi asked, looking at Mei Ruoxue, Jiang Rou, Jin Yidao, and the others—his trusted inner circle.
"We have shops everywhere."
"We can smear anyone we dislike in the Martial World Daily!"
Only Jiang Rou consistently impressed Fang Zhiyi: "All the major factions are tied to us through mutual interests—they’ve tasted the benefits of Swiftwind Courier and won’t easily sever ties. As for the school, I think it’s your reforms, Headmaster. They’ve caused quite a stir. The Martial World Daily... well..." She hesitated, struggling for the right words.
Fang Zhiyi finished for her: "Controlling the narrative. That’s what I told you all when you first came to me."
At the mention of those early days, the group grew sheepish.
"Righteous or evil depends on who tells the story. Whoever controls the narrative decides what’s true," Fang Zhiyi said, his gaze settling on Zhao Yang. "Zhao Yang, you’ll oversee the Martial World Daily from now on. Remember—no fabrications."
Zhao Yang blinked, then pumped his fist excitedly. "Yes, Headmaster!"
"Stick to the facts."
"Got it!"
"Later, consult Jiang Rou. She’ll provide the advertising rates for our partner factions. Ask if you’re unsure."
Zhao Yang nodded eagerly. Jiang Rou was already the de facto head of Swiftwind, rumored to earn enough in a year to buy a grand estate—a fact that made him hang his head in shame whenever he returned home, since her house stood right next to his.
Fang Zhiyi continued expanding the school. With growing enrollment, he opened a branch on the city outskirts and introduced new courses, including traditional medicine taught by the Ghost Doctor he had rescued, as well as his own passion project: culinary arts.
Initially, students scoffed at cooking—until they tasted Fang Zhiyi’s dishes after sampling Mei Ruoxue’s. Some immediately switched majors to study under him.
Due to limited resources, spices had to be delivered by Swiftwind caravans from distant regions, so culinary students trained in martial arts during regular hours and honed their cooking skills in their free time.
Graduates could find employment directly—whether with Swiftwind, the school itself, or even local martial factions near their homes.
This policy moved Fang Zhiyi’s allies deeply. "Look at this man! He trains students only to send them to us! Such generosity!"
Fang Zhiyi’s reputation began to shift.
Between Swiftwind Courier, Youzhou Martial School, and the Martial World Daily, people reevaluated the former Demon Sect Left Envoy.
But one man returned to the Central Plains with murderous intent. Rubbing his shaved head, his eyes burned with fury.
"Damn that mad monk, forcing all his inner energy onto me! As if I’d become a monk!" The Western Regions’ lunatic monk who had abducted him was formidable but mentally unstable, his personality oscillating between devout and deranged.
Lin Muran had suffered immensely, even being forcibly tonsured. But during one of the monk’s manic episodes, he had transferred all his inner energy to Lin Muran, who seized the opportunity to kill him.
The overwhelming energy left Lin Muran in discomfort, forcing him to spend months assimilating it. Combined with Dugu Yin’s martial manuals, he emerged with peerless skills—only for fragmented memories to flood his mind upon leaving seclusion.
Scenes flashed before him. Lin Muran’s expression darkened from shock to venomous hatred. "Fang Zhiyi... just you wait." He wasn’t stupid—the only one acting suspiciously had to be Fang Zhiyi, who must have also regained memories and resented his adopted daughter’s loyalty to Lin Muran.
Back in the Central Plains, he encountered a female warrior—once part of his harem in his past life. But at the sight of his dusty robes and shaved head, she recoiled in disdain.
The rejection ignited Lin Muran’s smoldering rage.
He confronted her, demanding why she didn’t recognize him. Confused and fiery-tempered, the woman retorted, and their argument escalated into a fight. Her taunt—"toad"—triggered Lin Muran’s memories of her past fawning, and the stark contrast shattered his restraint.
He struck brutally, leaving her gravely injured. As city guards approached, Lin Muran hesitated, then fled, his heart set on vengeance against Fang Zhiyi.