Volume One: The Young Man Enters the World Chapter Ninety-Two: Alliance

By the time Fang Tian and the others arrived at the training grounds where their earlier contest had been held, the place was already packed shoulder to shoulder with disciples of the Clear Brook Sect. He and Mu Qiaoqiao had come a little late and were standing toward the back of the crowd. The raised platform was still empty, yet all around them was quiet; everyone waited where they stood.

Not far away, Xie Qing spotted them and came over to say in a low voice, “Brother, you’re here. How come I haven’t seen you leave your room these past few days?”

Fang Tian turned and said, “I’ve been cultivating these last few days, so I didn’t go out.”

“Oh, I see. You’re already so formidable, and you still cultivate every moment. Truly diligent,” Xie Qing said, raising his thumb.

Mu Qiaoqiao, standing nearby, heard this and cut in, “So these past few days, were you in seclusion because you were preparing to fight me?”

Fang Tian replied calmly, “More or less.”

Mu Qiaoqiao looked at him with a meaningful gaze. “Even if you cultivate more, I will still defeat you for real.”

“That may not be so. I’ve gained quite a bit from these days of cultivation,” Fang Tian said very evenly.

“If you’re so confident, then let’s see,” Mu Qiaoqiao shot back coldly, then turned her gaze to the platform again.

Having listened to their exchange, Xie Qing more or less understood what they were up to. He tilted his head and whispered, “Brother, how exactly did you offend Mu Qiaoqiao? From the way she said it, it sounds like she still wants to fight you.”

Fang Tian said, “I only offended her by accident.”

“Brother, you’re in for some fun now. During the days you stayed hidden, quite a few people, taken by this girl’s beauty, tried to get close to her. And do you know what happened? They were all beaten away by her. Not one of them was her match. To be honest, I even wanted to try my luck at first, but thankfully I gave up in time. Anyone who tried to approach her got battered black and blue. See those few over there? Aren’t their faces swollen and bruised?”

“Oh? Such things happened? What a pity. I seem to have missed quite a spectacle,” Fang Tian said, following the direction Xie Qing pointed. He thought to himself that a beauty like this really could attract the opposite sex wherever she went.

It was hardly surprising, only her way of driving people off was rather forceful. Yet on the other hand, it was also an excellent way to refuse them; those she had beaten would surely be too ashamed to come near her again.

Xie Qing put a hand over his mouth, signaling him to stop. In his heart he thought Fang Tian really was too fearless, still finding time to tease people at a moment like this. If he provoked Mu Qiaoqiao and she took it out on him during the match, he would have a hard time indeed.

Mu Qiaoqiao had heard the two of them talking. Though she did not turn around, she was already thinking whether she should let Fang Tian suffer a little. He had dared to mock her again and again; did he really think she was easy to bully?

Of course Fang Tian had no idea what Mu Qiaoqiao was thinking. At that moment, his attention was fixed on the platform.

Before long, the sect master of the Clear Brook Sect and the others from the previous day, including Fu Cang, had stepped onto the platform. Everyone was wondering what matter had summoned them so hastily.

Yet when the crowd saw the sect master’s grave expression, as though he were in no mood at all, and when they noticed the dark clouds on the faces of the people beside him, it was clear that something major had happened.

The sect master let out a sigh, then said slowly, “I have called you here to speak of one thing. Not long ago, one of our Clear Brook Sect disciples went out to sea to purchase supplies and was robbed by a band of pirates. Those pirates were vicious beyond measure. Of the entire ship, only two survived. Had they not been rescued by a young expert from Ice Spirit Island, they too would likely not have lived.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below exploded at once.

“What?”

“How could this happen?”

“How brazen of them, to dare target our Clear Brook Sect disciples.”

“So that’s why Zhang Cheng and Li Wan’er looked so sorrowful that day.”

“These pirates truly have no humanity. It’s one thing to steal the goods, but they spared not even the people.”

“Thankfully a master intervened, or we might still be kept in the dark, knowing nothing for a long time.”

“Exactly.”

“...”

The sect master knew that once he spoke, it would certainly cause a great uproar. His own heart was also heavy, for many of the dead disciples had been personally instructed by him. Among the dead was even his junior brother. In the Clear Brook Sect, he had always regarded the sect members as family.

Though he was in great pain at that moment, he could not remain lost in grief. As for the pirates, he had already discussed the matter with Fu Cang and several other elders. They intended to join forces with the other islands and wipe out those pirates in one fell sweep.

Looking at the increasingly noisy crowd, he raised his voice and cut them off. “All of you, be quiet.”

At that, everyone quickly stopped speaking. However indignant they felt, they still had to let the sect master finish.

“I understand your feelings. I feel the same way. Our own people have been killed by others; you can imagine how it feels. But the dead cannot return to life. However sorrowful we are, they will not come back.”

“Then is the sect master simply going to let this go?”

“Yes, Sect Master. If we do nothing at all, wouldn’t that mean they died with no one to avenge them?”

“Rest assured. The Clear Brook Sect will surely avenge them. And not only us—two other islands have also agreed to take part. When the three islands join forces, we will make those pirates pay in blood.”

Hearing this, the disciples of the Clear Brook Sect, apart from Fang Tian and his companions, suddenly grew spirited. This meant they would have a chance to avenge the dead with their own hands, for among the fallen were many of their closest relatives and friends.

“Perfectly said, Sect Master! Let them pay in blood!” they cried in unison.

“Very good. I am greatly comforted to see you united in this matter. As sect master, I am deeply gratified. Departure is set for three days from now. At that time I will discuss matters with several elders and select half the sect to go. Once those pirates are dealt with, we will then attend the Hundred Islands Assembly.”

The sect master was very satisfied with the emotions the crowd had displayed. Not a single one of his disciples entertained any other thought; to have such cohesion was indeed a sign of the sect’s prosperity.

“At your command, Sect Master!”

“What I have to say is all here. I have already arranged for memorial tablets to be set up for the fallen. I know many among you were their relatives or friends. If you wish to pay your respects, go to the ancestral shrine.”

With that, the sect master could not help but sigh again, then departed from the area.

After he left, the crowd quickly headed toward the ancestral shrine where the memorial tablets had been erected, and their faces were more or less sorrowful.

Seeing everyone moving in one direction, Fang Tian thought for a moment and chose not to follow. He was somewhat unable to adapt to such a scene, and feared being affected by the atmosphere of grief, which might remind him of past matters.

He was preparing to turn and leave.

Mu Qiaoqiao, sensing that he was a little strange, asked softly, “Fang Tian, aren’t you going to take a look? We’re all disciples of the Clear Brook Sect now, after all. It wouldn’t be very proper not to go.”

Fang Tian waved a hand. “You go ahead. I’ll pass.”

With that, he left in a straight line, without looking back.