Chapter 74: Stunned
Stunned! Everyone was utterly bewildered.
They stared blankly at Fang Qingyun.
Madness!
Had this fellow lost his mind?
Right in front of the Research Institute’s martial officers, he had just killed another high-level warrior—while they were brimming with murderous intent toward him.
Principal Sun’s mouth hung wide open, nearly dropping his jaw.
Who gave you such courage?
Are you truly unafraid of death?
Or do you believe a Snake King can devour the world?
“Fang Qingyun!”
The old man with white hair erupted in rage, power surging violently from his body, murderous intent spewing forth like a volcano.
The demon’s eye in his palm glowed with a blinding light.
Principal Sun stared at him, every ounce of his strength summoned and ready.
In response, Fang Qingyun lazily yawned and said, “Remember, there are a few more people from your Research Institute I intend to kill. Tell them to wash their necks and wait for me.”
With that, Fang Qingyun dragged Principal Sun behind him, swaggered back to his room, and slammed the door shut.
A single door, as if dividing two worlds.
Silence reigned outside.
Only the old man’s heavy breathing could be heard as he watched Fang Qingyun walk away and close the door.
The chief secretary glanced at him furtively, gathered his people, and hurried away.
Fang Qingyun was nothing short of a lunatic!
Now the white-haired elder was on the verge of madness himself.
If he didn’t flee now, when would he?
They wouldn’t dare kill Fang Qingyun, but wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. If he were murdered, at most he’d clash with the city lord—a trifle compared to Fang Qingyun.
“Sir!”
The high-level warriors finally snapped out of their daze, their faces full of disbelief.
Someone had shot and killed their comrade right in front of them, right before the eyes of the Research Institute’s martial officers!
This wasn’t a dream, was it?
“Sir, this matter must absolutely not—”
The rest of the words died on the lips of the high-level warrior.
The old man’s cold, crazed gaze pinned him, and he said icily, “I’m giving you a task: report everything that happened today to the Snake King. Understood?”
The high-level warrior was dumbfounded.
Snake King?
How was he supposed to do that?
He didn’t even know where the Snake King was! And if he went, would he even survive the return?
Still, seeing the old man’s near-madness, he nodded quickly and whispered, “Yes!”
The white-haired elder turned again, staring at Fang Qingyun’s door, and said coldly, “Fang Qingyun, I won’t forget you. We will meet again!”
…
“Remember me then! Do you plan to bite me next?”
Fang Qingyun leaned against the door, sneering.
Principal Sun looked at him as if he were an idiot. “You act so nonchalant, but your legs are shaking.”
Fang Qingyun curled his lip. “Principal, you don’t understand. I’m just putting on a show for that old man. He’s lived so many years—if I didn’t cooperate, he’d lose face. If he gets too angry and kills himself, what then?”
Principal Sun stared at him silently for a long while.
Finally, he sighed. “Are you truly insane?”
Today, even he had been startled.
He’d intended to use his power to forcibly protect Fang Qingyun’s life.
Who would have thought Fang Qingyun would solve everything himself, swiftly and decisively?
Though the boy was clearly shaken, barely able to stand after closing the door, leaning against it, trembling all over.
Yet, he had truly passed through this deadly ordeal!
Fang Qingyun sighed. “If you don’t show a bit of backbone, these people will pounce like hyenas at the first sign of weakness.”
Principal Sun frowned. “What’s the story behind the Snake King’s order?”
“Oh!” Fang Qingyun replied carelessly, “Didn’t Snake King say in his speeches? ‘Those who harm their own kind will be executed without mercy!’”
Principal Sun sighed helplessly.
He knew Fang Qingyun had just been bluffing!
‘Those who harm their own kind will be executed without mercy!’—everyone says things like that. Even Sun Qingshu himself had said it.
Every martial artist has made such proclamations.
But still, Principal Sun looked at Fang Qingyun with admiration.
Today had been madness.
Yet—
He had to admit, Fang Qingyun had handled it beautifully.
Had he not acted so brazenly, had his demeanor faltered even a little, the white-haired elder might have struck.
Of course, the most crucial thing was the Snake King’s previous appearance in Flower City. No one really knew if he’d come for Fang Qingyun.
Such ambiguity left everyone uncertain.
Without confirmation, who would dare gamble their life?
Still—
It was only a foundation for Fang Qingyun.
Everything else, Fang Qingyun had fought for himself.
Especially his final act of killing the high-level warrior—seemingly a provocation to the white-haired elder, but in fact, it bolstered his own confidence, making the elder even more cautious.
The elder was already a martial officer, an old man who’d seen every storm.
Fang Qingyun had killed before him—essentially slapping him twice across the face. Endure it, and it passes.
If the Snake King were truly offended, the whole clan would perish.
Moreover, the slain high-level warrior had no real connection to him; perhaps there was even some hidden conflict.
“Have you thought about what’ll happen if the Snake King finds out?”
Principal Sun asked softly.
Fang Qingyun replied carelessly, “We’ll deal with it then. Honestly, I had no choice. Ever since I stepped into the Spirit Pressure Chamber, the Research Institute had their eyes on me. If I hadn’t stirred things up, who knows what they’d do? Now, at least, they won’t dare act rashly.”
“That’s true!”
Principal Sun smiled. “Even their covert actions will be restrained. If the Snake King discovers anything, he’s the sort who never listens to reason.”
“But you needn’t worry too much. You are the pride of First High School. We’ll ensure your safety. I’ll have Old Li follow you for a while, to protect you.”
“By the way, where’s Old Li?”
Fang Qingyun grumbled, “I thought he’d be the first to arrive at my home, but it was you, Principal!”
“Him?”
Principal Sun chuckled. “He’s still in the Poisonous Swamp, breathing in fumes!”
At that moment, Old Li was hurrying back, cursing loudly.
He had no idea where Fang Qingyun had gone, had wandered the Poisonous Swamp several times, and finally, unable to endure, had to retreat.
“Kid, I don’t know what happened to you, but if you really died here, I suppose I’d have avenged you!”
He glanced behind.
He had just driven Cheng Yi of the Research Institute and his ten men deep into the Poisonous Swamp.
Those fellows might escape by some other route, but they would certainly suffer losses.
“What a pity. If only Cheng Yi had that thing with him, I'd have wiped them all out!”
Old Li clutched his abdomen.
Cheng Yi had suddenly unleashed a powerful secret treasure, injuring him and escaping.
Otherwise, with his abilities, in a place like the Poisonous Swamp, he had countless ways to deal with them all.