CHAPTER 120: MASTER NINE?

Xiang Xinhe heaved a forlorn sigh, then turned to Fang Che as he said, "Fang Che, if there are no skeletons in your closet, then you'll be able to make it through the Path of Self-Inquisition just fine, but if you really are a spy, then no one can help you."

He was the one that had been most stern and forceful during Fang Che's interrogation, yet now, he was also the one who felt the most sympathy for Fang Che.

"Thank you, Instructor Xiang. Please forgive me for any offense I may have caused you earlier," Fang Che said.

Xiang Xinghe gave a forlorn nod before departing, and Zhao Shanhe closed the door, then pulled out a pair of jade pendants as he said, "It's still not too late to turn back now, Fang Che."

"I never strayed down the wrong path, so why should I turn back?" Fang Che challenged.

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Shanhe's face as he said, "This is where you will embark on the Path of Self-Inquisition. Inject your soul power into the jade pendants, and you will find yourself on the Path of Self-Inquisition."

Zhao Shanhe set the two jade pendants down onto the table, then took two steps back.

Fang Che picked up the pair of jade pendants, one in each hand, then closed his eyes and injected his spirit sense into them.

In an instant, he felt as if he had been transported into another world.

A warm smile appeared on Zhao Shanhe's face at the sight of Fang Che's dazed expression, and he promptly left the secret chamber, then set up a series of soundproofing and protection enchantments to safeguard the secret chamber.

Meanwhile, Fang Che found himself an ethereal space that was filled with white mist that was immensely beneficial to the soul, and it seemed that this was an exceptional place for cultivation.

So this is the Path of Self-Inquisition?

Fang Che had never walked the Path of Self-Inquisition in his past life, so he had no idea what it was like.

However, as his soul drifted through this space, he felt as if he were basked in blissful warmth from all directions, and his spirit sense was growing at an appreciable rate.

Why's everyone so afraid of the Path of Self-Inquisition if this is what it's like? This place is great!

Right at this moment, another soul body appeared up ahead. It was a smiling, white-robed figure, and the white mist naturally parted to create a path for him.

The figure was tall and handsome, and there was an air of unmatched confidence about him, as if he held the entire world in his grasp and had a peerless degree of control over everything around him.

His eyes seemed to contain two vast galaxies of stars, and Fang Che had never seen anyone like him in his two lifetimes thus far.

Why is there someone else here?

The white-robed figure was rather amused by Fang Che's perplexed expression, and he remarked, "You seem confused."

"I am confused," Fang Che replied with a nod.

"It's alright, you'll understand everything soon."

The white-robed figure swept a sleeve through the air as he spoke, and a pergola appeared out of thin air.

"Come. Let's have some tea together."

"May I ask who you are? And is this the Path of Self-Inquisition?" Fang Che asked.

The white-robed figure smiled as he replied, "This is not the Path of Self-Inquisition. There's no way we would put you through that."

So this isn't the Path of Self-Inquisition? Then why did you put on such a massive show? I almost shat myself earlier!

Fang Che was feeling even more confused.

"In that case, where are we right now, and why are you inviting me for tea?"

The white-robed figure slowly made his way toward the pergola as he said, "There are not many people in this world worthy of being treated to tea brewed personally by me, but you are most certainly one of them! It is both my pleasure and my honor to be inviting you to drink tea with me."

Upon entering the pergola, he sat down before gesturing to the seat across from him.

"Please take a seat."

Fang Che duly obliged, and the chair felt no different from a real chair, as was the case for thte table, the cups, the teapot, and the tea.

It was as if this were an extension of the real world, and Fang Che was becoming more and more perplexed by the second.

The white-robed figure began to brew tea in a languid and graceful fashion, and Fang Che felt as if he would still be able to maintain the same level of poise and composure even if the sky were to fall upon them at this very moment.

"Don't be alarmed," the white-robed figure said. "The Path of Self-Inquisition is just a ruse, but everything in here is real."

"The Path of Self-Inquisition is a ruse?" Fang Che asked.

"Like I said, there's no way we would put you through the Path of Self-Inquisition. I'm only using that as a guise to create this opportunity to see you. I had to kick up a big fuss so Yin Shengong felt a bit of pressure. Yin Shengong needs to cherish you more than he does now.

“It'll be very difficult for me to see you without arousing suspicions, so I had to do this. From an outside perspective, you're here to be tortured and interrogated, but in reality, all you're doing is chatting with me. Rest assured, this is a place of absolute secrecy."

The white-robed man filled Fang Che's cup with tea as he spoke, then introduced, "This is true soul tea, and only less than a kilogram has been produced in the entire world over the past century. Please have a taste. I assure you it's very beneficial to the soul."

Fang Che downed the cup of tea in one go, and he instantly felt its fragrance permeate through his entire soul, yielding a sensation of indescribable bliss.

At the same time, the power of his soul had been drastically elevated.

A slightly forlorn look appeared on the white-robed man's face as he said, "There are other things that I could offer you, such as Heavenly Star Soul Pills, which perfectly complement this tea, but if you consume such a pill, then others will be sure to notice."

"May I ask who you are?" Fang Che asked in a cautious manner.

"You've already guessed the answer, have you not?" the white-robed man chuckled.

Fang Che put on a stunned expression as he exclaimed, "Could it be that you really are Master Xue Fuxiao?"

The white-robed man burst into laughter as he scoffed, "What a dishonest man you are! You've clearly already guessed who I am, yet you intentionally said another name!"

This time, Fang Che was truly astonished, and he exclaimed, "You really are Master Nine?!"

"I knew you'd already guessed it," the white-robed man chuckled.

Fang Che's mind went completely blank, and he felt more overawed than he had ever felt in his two lifetimes.

This is Dongfang Sansan, the chief advisor of the Guardians!

Never had he imagined that he would be granted the honor of meeting Dongfang Sansan in the flesh!

He immediately rose to his feet to extend a respectful salute.

Dongfang Sansan was the pillar that was holding up this world that was on the precipice of collapse, the closest thing that this world had to a savior, and he was deserving of nothing short of the utmost respect!

"No need for formalities. Considering the risk you are taking now, you are a much more admirable man than I am. I can accept that salute from anyone, but not from you. You have ventured deep into enemy territory all on your own with no handlers or allies. You are a brilliant man, Fang Che!"

"You're far too kind, Master Nine," Fang Che said, and he was beginning to feel teas welling up in his eyes.

"Not at all," Dongfang Sansan said with a smile.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he asked, "Have you... recovered your memories?"

Fang Che felt as if a bombshell had just been dropped onto his head.

Why would he ask that? Does he know what happened to me?

Fang Che took a deep breath, then replied, "No, but it doesn't really bother me as I've pledged myself to living as Fang Che anyway."

"I suppose that's for the best," Dongfang Sansan sighed.

He didn't speak any further on this subject, and Fang Che didn't ask any questions.

"Right now, we are the only two people in this space, and I am the only one in this world aware of your true identity, so you don't have to worry about your secret being exposed," Dongfang Sansan reassured.

"Does Zhao Shanhe know about this?" Fang Che asked.

"Zhao Shanhe is one of my most trusted subordinates," Dongfang Sansan replied with a smile. "Even he doesn't know that I've come here to personally see you. I'm sure he must've put on a very convincing act."

"He sure did! I thought it was over for me!" Fang Che chuckled.

Dongfang Sansan burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Ever since Huang Yifan told me about you, I had a feeling that you were on our side. Huang Yifan told me that he doesn't think you're a bad person because he once interrogated you under intense mental pressure, yet you didn't crack at all. However, I told him to do away with such thoughts, and that you are most definitely tied to the One Heart Church."

A wry smile appeared on Fang Che's face upon hearing this.

It suddenly made sense to him why Huang Yifan's attitude toward him had flip-flopped back and forth in such an inexplicable fashion.

"As we secured more and more intelligence from you, I began to keep a closer and closer eye on you. It was this recent sequence of events concerning the Blood Spirit Ginseng, the demise of the One Heart Church branch helm, and this search for jade that finally made me realize that something wasn't right. All of these things were happening too thick and fast, so I decided that I had to come and see you no matter what. Do you know why?"