The Grandmaster 03

Fang Zhiyi glanced at her. "Have you all forgotten?"

This abrupt statement left everyone bewildered. Forgotten what?

But the next moment, Fang Zhiyi's figure vanished, reappearing right in front of Abbess Rowei. The Abbess was startled and immediately reached for her sword. However, she only managed to draw it halfway before Fang Zhiyi pressed it back into its scabbard. Then she felt his hand clamp onto her shoulder, and she was sent flying.

When someone tried to intervene, Fang Zhiyi merely used a single palm strike and a fist, and the would-be obstructors were laid flat on the ground.

Abbess Rowei landed, staggering back several steps unsteadily, only to be seized again by Fang Zhiyi. He then turned his head. "Hey, daughter-in-law, come here."

Yue's mouth was hanging open. It wasn't until Fang Zhiyi called a second time that she scurried forward.

"Mas... Master," her voice was tiny. She had heard from Li Xiuyu that his master was stubborn and hidebound. Meeting him today, she had thought he would choose to stand aside. Yet now, for the sake of Li Xiuyu and herself, he was actually confronting these sects. She couldn't quite figure him out.

"Come on, slap her," Fang Zhiyi motioned with his chin.

Abbess Rowei's eyes widened in shock. A domineering surge of true energy had sealed her pressure points, rendering her immobile. But her heart was filled with terror. How could Fang Zhiyi possess such power?

"This..." Yue hesitated.

Fang Zhiyi frowned. "Didn't she call you a 'demoness' earlier? And didn't she slap you a dozen times?"

Yue instinctively touched her face. It was already swollen, with blood at the corner of her mouth.

Fortunately, this girl wasn't like Li Xiuyu. Yue raised her hand and struck, a series of solid, real slaps—unlike the Abbess who used internal force—a dozen or more in quick succession. The sight made everyone watching wince.

Fang Zhiyi cracked his neck. "Who's next? Who wants to challenge me?" Only Little Hei, observing from the side, knew that Fang Zhiyi's current body had reached its limit. That display just now had pushed him to the brink.

But the effect of that move was now apparent. Anyone with half a brain could see it, and they remembered: Fang Zhiyi had once been a leading figure in the martial world, a sect master! That single move demonstrated strength surpassing Abbess Rowei's.

Instantly, the restless crowd fell dead silent. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

"Sect Master Fang, shielding the Evil Cult's Saintess is an unforgivable crime," another aged voice rang out. The crowd parted as an old man with a kindly face, accompanied by two guardians, walked forward.

Fang Zhiyi locked eyes with him.

This old man was no simple opponent. His current level was on par with this fellow.

The next moment, Fang Zhiyi suddenly smiled and beckoned the old man over. The old man looked suspiciously at this suddenly changed individual, but he was confident in his own abilities and strode forward.

Those behind watched in confusion as Fang Zhiyi and the Valley Master of the Cloud Pasture Valley put their heads together, almost craning their necks to see. Then Fang Zhiyi turned and walked to his young disciple, whispering for a while. Li Xiuyu kept nodding, but it was only after Fang Zhiyi gave him a few slaps that a look of clarity returned to Li Xiuyu's eyes.

He walked back to the Cloud Pasture Valley Master, said something quietly, and slung an arm around the old man's shoulders.

"Now, who dares to challenge us?"

The scene was utterly silent. The members of the various sects were dumbfounded. A suddenly aggressive Fang Zhiyi was already hard enough to deal with, but now the Cloud Pasture Valley Master had joined him? And what on earth had they talked about? The old man was now standing firmly by his side?

"Hmph! I refuse to believe your Cangyue Sect can slaughter all of us today!" A burly man pushed through the crowd and stepped out.

"Excellent! It's the Black Vajra, master of the Vajra Gate! His Iron Body skill has reached perfection. He has a seventy or eighty percent chance against Fang Zhiyi!"

"Listen up, the moment he makes a move, we all charge!"

"Our targets are Li Xiuyu and that demoness! If that fails, grab the child! We just need the information on Sun Kui's whereabouts!"

Their greed was now completely undisguised.

But to everyone's astonishment, in the blink of an eye, Black Vajra also wore a puzzled expression as he listened to Fang Zhiyi's whispers, with the Cloud Pasture Valley old man chiming in beside him occasionally. After a brief debate, Black Vajra crossed his arms and stood to Fang Zhiyi's right.

"Who else?!" Fang Zhiyi's voice was full of confidence.

The crowd collectively drew a sharp, cold breath. This wasn't right, was it? Is the Cangyue Sect an evil cult? What kind of evil cult brainwashes people this fast?

For a moment, the situation was awkward. The crowd could neither advance nor retreat comfortably.

Suddenly, a shifty-looking man pushed through. "Let this Hu Feng experience your superior skills!"

And then he was sent flying.

Fang Zhiyi clapped his hands. "Trash!" He looked at the crowd. "Anything else? If not, get lost!"

A dozen or so sects looked at each other. Before, there might have been a chance if they swarmed him; even if Fang Zhiyi was powerful, he couldn't protect so many people. But now... two sects had already switched sides. What were they to do?

Reluctantly, they had no choice but to retreat from the Cangyue Sect's main gate. However, everyone kept a wary eye, leaving people behind to watch. They wanted to know why the Cloud Pasture Valley and the Vajra Gate had defected. Only the Frost Flow Sect carried their master away hurriedly. Today was far too humiliating.

Watching the crowd disperse, Fang Zhiyi gave Yue a thumbs-up. Thankfully, this daughter-in-law was sharp. If that fool had been the one to speak, it would have been a fight to the death today. While he was confident he could kill most of them, his disciples would likely have perished.

"Sect Master Fang, now can you tell us about Sun Kui's treasure?" Black Vajra couldn't wait any longer.

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "We've been at it all afternoon. Everyone's hungry. We'll talk over food. The treasure isn't going anywhere." He glanced at Yue, who understood instantly and began to think.

The Cloud Pasture Valley Master said solemnly, "This old man is not here for the treasure. Sun Kui killed my disciple. I am only seeking justice for my pupil."

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "Understood, understood." Inwardly, he scoffed. Nonsense! No one stirs up such a fuss purely for justice. Trying to have it both ways.

At the dinner table, Li Xiuyu, having been secretly warned by his master, kept his head down and ate. The young Li Weiyang was directly ushered into a room by someone Fang Zhiyi arranged, lest the little rascal say the wrong thing again.

Yue began to speak about Sun Kui. According to her account, Sun Kui possessed a divine weapon, a chest of secret manuals, and also a treasure map.

Hearing this, the two men's eyes gleamed, and they pressed for Sun Kui's whereabouts incessantly. What was the point of roaming the martial world? Fame? And what was fame for? Of course, it was for wealth, for secret manuals, for divine weapons! And Sun Kui represented all of their desires.

Yue glanced at Fang Zhiyi and revealed one location, then added two more.