CHAPTER 183: BROCADE BANNER OF GRATITUDE

They could see that Fang Che hadn't held back at all. He had released his baleful qi in full force, and the two young men were standing right beside him, so they had sensed it for themselves.

As for Yu Zhongge, he had been caught completely off guard, and his cultivation base truly was two ranks below Xue Wanshi's.

Fang Che's baleful qi was indeed extremely potent, but it shouldn't have been anywhere near enough to scare a warrior only a single cultivation rank beneath him into shitting themselves!

If Xue Wanshi couldn't even withstand this level of baleful qi, then he really had no one to blame but himself.

Yu Zhongge returned his sword to its scabbard, then made his way back to Fang Che's side as he complained, "I almost shat myself just now, Boss!"

The two young men from the Xue Clan were left feeling even more embarrassed.

It felt to them like Fang Che and the others were intentionally mentioning the word "shit" at every possible opportunity!

Xue Yiren and the others also had their attention drawn to Fang Che by the eruption of baleful qi.

As seasoned warriors of far superior cultivation bases to Fang Che, they could instantly tell if he had been holding back or not.

"How does he have this much baleful qi?" Xue Yiren exclaimed.

"He's been receiving a lot of... unfair treatment of late, and he's built up quite a bit of baleful qi as a result," Li Changkong sighed. "I suppose that could be enough to make someone shit themselves."

"Can you stop bringing that up?!" Xue Yiren snapped.

"Is that not the truth though?" Li Changkong countered.

"I'm sure Fang Che possesses combat prowess several ranks above his cultivation base, and his baleful qi is indeed very potent, but you can't tell me in good faith that it's enough to scare someone into shitting themselves!" Xue Yiren said in a furious manner.

He was furious at Xue Wanshi, not Fang Che.

How spoiled did he have to be to have displayed such an inept reaction to such a paltry amount of baleful qi?

Would he even dare to go to the lavatory at night without someone accompanying him?

"But you're here because that's exactly what happened," Li Changkong stated in a matter-of-fact manner.

"At this point, it's been made abundantly clear to me that Xue Wanshi only has himself to blame for his humiliation. Hence, my objective is no longer to stand up for him. He's not worthy of that! Instead, I'm here to come up with a plan to repair our Xue Clan's damaged reputation!"

"Honestly, I find this very puzzling myself," Xiang Xinghe mused. "What kind of baleful qi could scare someone into shitting themselves? Surely it would have to come from someone who's been in thousands of battles of life and death! How could Fang Che have possibly been through so much at such a young age?"

"Can we not talk about shit anymore?" Xue Yiren pleaded in an exasperated manner. "Please! As a favor to me, if nothing else!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and even Xue Yiren flashed a begrudging grin.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere became much more relaxed and harmonious.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," Xue Yiren sighed. "Unfortunately, when a junior embarrases themselves, the senior has to wipe his ass. Otherwise, the entire clan will be put to shame."

"'Wipe his ass' is certainly a fitting expression here!" Huang Yifan chortled.

"Huang Yifan! Fight me! Now!" Xue Yiren yelled in a furious voice as he drew his sword.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Huang Yifan apologized between fits of laughter, while Xiang Xinghe and the others hurriedly began consoling Xue Yiren.

In the end, Xue Yiren could only sit back down with a defeated sigh.

He felt like he had endured a lifetime's worth of embarrassment in a single day!

Some time later, the five of them decided on a plan.

"I feel a little bad for Fang Che, but it has to be done," Xue Yiren concluded.

"It's fine, but let me make this clear in advance: if your Xue Clan dares to target Fang Che, then we'll collectively travel to the Guardian headquarters to demand an explanation from Master Xue Fuxiao! We'll kneel in front of the headquarters, and we won't leave until Master Xue addresses the situation!" Li Changkong warned.

"Our Xue Clan wouldn't do something so underhanded!" Xue Yiren snapped in a furious manner.

A cold harrumph rang out, and it came from none other than Dong Yunyu, who had just regained consciousness.

Before he had a chance to say anything, Wu Zhibing swooped in to knock him out again.

Everyone had just made peace, yet peace could instantly turn to war in any situation where Dong Yunyu was involved!

"Alright, it's decided then. We'll have a separate battle during next year's World Academy Tournament. Whatever Fang Che's cultivation base is at that time, our Xue Clan will send out someone of a matching cultivation base to serve as an opponent. Regardless of the outcome of that battle, our differences will have been settled. The incident took place in Celestial Being Warrior Academy, so we'll resolve it there as well."

"I'm afraid I can't agree with that," Li Changkong said.

"What do you mean?! We arrived at this plan together! Were the four of you playing me for a fool just now?!"

Xue Yiren was livid!

"We have no objections, but it's up to Zhao Shanhe whether Fang Che can step onto the platform. Only with Zhao Shanhe's approval can Fang Che take part in this private match," Li Changkong explained.

"Why? Is Fang Che Zhao Shanhe's illegitimate son or something?" Xue Yiren exclaimed.

"Of course not! What the hell are you thinking?!" Li Changkong snapped. "Fang Che was reported, and he's still suspected of being a demonic church member. Not only can he not take part in tournaments on behalf of the academy, he's exempt from all other benefits and rewards as well."

Xue Yiren's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

Li Changkong gave him a detailed recount of events, and Xue Yiren was furious after hearing what he had to say.

"That's so unfair! Which clan reported him? How is he still under suspicion even after making it through the Path of Self-Inquisition?"

"I don't know, but that's the current situation," Li Changkong said. "Hence, if you want Fang Che to be able to take part in the private match in a year, your Xue Clan will have to take up the matter with Zhao Shanhe."

"Alright, we'll do just that! Zhao Shanhe has gone way too far! He's trying to ruin the future of one of the continent's brightest prodigies!"

Some time later, the trio from the Xue Clan finally departed, and the two young men were very reluctant to leave.

All of their arrogance and hostility had melted away, and they were chatting spiritedly with all of the White Cloud Warrior Academy students.

Their conversation was still ongoing even after the impromptu meeting between the five senior figures concluded, and they were quite saddened by the prospect of having to part ways.

"The issue has been resolved. You'll have a rematch against a representative of the Xue Clan in Celestial Being Warrior Academy during next year's World Academy Tournament. All things considered, this is a pretty good outcome.."

Fang Che was very satisfied with this resolution.

The Xue Clan was Xue Fuxiao's clan, and Fang Che didn't want to make an enemy out of such a behemoth, not to mention that Xue Fuxiao was one of the people that he respected the most.

"The Xue Clan has also said that they'll give you some form of compensation regardless of the outcome of that battle. All's well that ends well! Although it's completely over for Xue Wanshi," Li Changkong sighed.

"If a Shit King came out of my clan, we would immediately hide him from the public until everyone forgets about the incident for the most part," Xiang Xinghe chuckled in amusement. "The Xue Clan has been quite reasonable in taking care of this matter."

"Reasonable my arse! We have to thank Dong Yunyu for completely killing their flair!" Lü Jiaoshan scoffed, and everyone erupted into laughter.

Indeed, the Xue Clan had fully intended to seek retribution, but in the end, all of their fury was redirected to Dong Yunyu.

"I have to admit, that Dong Yunyu really is something else! Especially that mouth of his!" Li Changkong sighed.

On the rest of the way back to the academy, Dong Yunyu remained quiet for the most part, recovering from his injuries.

Upon arriving at the entrance of White Cloud Warrior Academy, Wu Zhibing asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

"I have! I'm not going back!" Dong Yunyu replied. "None of you will let me speak, and just looking at the three of you pisses me off! Jun Hefang looks like a clueless idiot, Hua Kaixie may as well be a girl with the way that he acts all the time, and you're constantly going around acting all cold and arrogant..."

Shortly thereafter, Wu Zhibing's trio departed from the academy to return to work, leaving the speechless first-year team to carry the once-again-unconscious Dong Yunyu into the academy.

Having just suffered a brutal beating at the hands of Wu Zhibing's trio, he was going to have to take at least a day off work.

***

A hero's welcome had been arranged in the academy, and a bunch of female students instantly erupted into cheers upon seeing that Fang Che was also among them.

"Academy Idol Fang's back!"

"Academy Idol Fang! Academy Idol Fang!"

"Academy Idol Fang has grown even more handsome!"

Fang Che could only walk along in silent exasperation.

Mo Ganyun exchanged a quick glance with the others, then shoved Fang Che into a group of girls, following which the five of them immediately fled the scene.

***

While the welcome ceremony was taking place, Gao Qingyu was staring at Li Changkong and the others in a dumbfounded manner.

"What did Fang Che do at Celestial Being Warrior Academy?"

Li Changkong and the others exchanged some concerned looks. Could it be that Celestial Being Warrior Academy had already reported the incident to the dean?

Before they had a chance to explain, Gao Qingyu continued, "As soon as Qin Fengyun took over as the new dean of Celestial Being Warrior Academy, he immediately sent an assistant dean to deliver a handwritten letter from him and a brocade banner for Fang Che.

“On top of that, he gifted Fang Che an honorary upperclassman badge, and he said that Upperclassman Fang Che is always welcome to return to Celestial Being Warrior Academy at any time!"

Li Changkong and the others: "???"

The brocade banner was spread open, and it read: "All future students of Celestial Being Warrior Academy thank Upperclassman Fang Che for saving their lives!"