Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Mu Ye Has Arrived
Mu Ye had once said that Wang Qian thought far too highly of himself.

Wang Qian himself did not feel that way at all. So after he visited Fang Cheng Lang twice and found that Fang Cheng Lang still treated him with the same guarded and distant attitude, he grew very angry and even thought about giving up.

It was Guo Ming En and Tian Han who patiently talked to him again and again, moved him with emotion and convinced him with reason, until they finally calmed Wang Qian down. They even gave Wang Qian a plan that Fang Cheng Lang would definitely not refuse.

On the fifth day after Fang Cheng Lang woke up, Wang Qian visited for the third time. He also brought many medicines for healing injuries, and each one matched Cui Jue’s condition.

It is hard to turn away someone who comes with a smile.

This time, Fang Cheng Lang did not reject Wang Qian’s goodwill. On the surface, their relationship became much closer.

With Guo Ming En and Tian Han secretly reminding him, Wang Qian did not mention his grudge with Yu Zhao. He only told Fang Cheng Lang to stay and rest in peace and also invited him to watch the Young Sect Master assessment that would be held in half a month.

When he learned that Wang Qian was one of the hottest candidates among the disciples for Young Sect Master of Greenwood Sect, Fang Cheng Lang could not help looking at him in a new light and gladly agreed.

The poison in his body had already been cleared. Now he only needed to rest and recover.

But the poison in Cui Jue’s body was very complicated. To lessen his future side effects as much as possible, Elder Lian chose a gentler way to detoxify him, so the progress was very slow.

From the way things looked now, Fang Cheng Lang would have to stay in Greenwood Sect for at least two more months. That just happened to give him time to watch the Young Sect Master assessment.

Wang Qian felt that he had already built a good relationship with Fang Cheng Lang. After that, he never stepped into Fang Cheng Lang’s room again and put all his energy into cultivation.

This time, he was sure he would amaze everyone, seize the Young Sect Master seat, and completely trample Mu Ye under his feet.

Half a month later.

The Alchemy Hall disciple assessment arrived as scheduled.

When the morning bell rang, all of Greenwood Sect’s disciples gathered on the largest Sect Plaza.

Disciples wearing robes in three different colors stood in three separate areas, clearly divided from one another.

On the high platforms on both sides of the Sect Plaza, the Sect Master of Greenwood Sect and the elders sat upright and serious, their expressions solemn.

Today was not just a simple assessment. It also concerned the sect’s future development, so they had to treat it with great care.

As a guest who had come from far away, Fang Cheng Lang was given a seat at the edge of one of the viewing platforms.

Because of long journeys and the torture of the deadly poison, he was thin and his face showed an exhaustion that could not be hidden. Even so, his unique aura and his young, handsome face still drew the eyes of many disciples.

“He is Master Qing Yan’s First Disciple. He doesn’t look that strong.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. He is injured and has not fully recovered yet.”

“Exactly. Senior Brother Fang is a Sword Cultivator. People call him the Gentleman Sword. He is not someone ordinary sword cultivators can compare to.”

“…”

The disciples of Alchemy Hall and Herb Hall mostly felt curiosity and admiration toward Fang Cheng Lang. The Martial Hall disciples, however, had much more complicated looks in their eyes when they saw him.

Some were scornful, some were unconvinced, and some looked eager to try, as if they would rush up to challenge him at any moment.

Among the three halls in Greenwood Sect, Martial Hall disciples held the lowest status. But they did not think they were much worse than disciples of other sects. Yet whenever outsiders mentioned Greenwood Sect, they always talked about the disciples of Alchemy Hall and Herb Hall. Martial Hall almost had no presence at all.

They were all disciples of the same sect, so why was his name known everywhere while they remained nameless?

This unfair treatment made it easier for them to feel hostility toward disciples of other sects, so they were naturally not very friendly toward Fang Cheng Lang.

On the high platform.

Elder Lian sat to the right of the Sect Master. Her gaze kept sweeping over the area where the Alchemy Hall disciples stood. She was burning with anxiety.

The Alchemy Hall disciple assessment was about to begin, but there was still no sign of Mu Ye. Where had she gone?

Elder Wang, Wang Qian’s father, happened to be sitting next to Elder Lian. No one knew if someone had arranged it on purpose or if it was just a coincidence.

Since Mu Ye was one of his son’s strongest competitors, she was also someone he paid close attention to.

Of course, he could not miss the fact that Mu Ye was absent.

He curled his lips in a faint, meaningful sneer and said, “Elder Lian, your beloved disciple Mu Ye still has not arrived. Is she planning to give up on the assessment?”

His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was just enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly.

The elders focused their attention and looked. They really did not see Mu Ye’s figure, and they were all very surprised.

The assessment had not yet begun, but everyone had already agreed in their hearts that the Young Sect Master would only be either Wang Qian or Mu Ye.

No matter which of the two got the Young Sect Master position, they would not be surprised.

Of course, in their hearts, most of them leaned toward Mu Ye. After all, judging from the results of past assessments, Mu Ye’s performance on the spot was always better than Wang Qian’s. As long as she stood on the alchemy platform, she was already halfway to victory.

No one had expected her to be absent at such an important time.

Elder Lian was extremely anxious inside, but her face still looked calm and relaxed.

“Mu Ye has a steady temperament. I trust her.”

“If she was really steady, she would not still be missing. Could it be that she is scared?” Elder Wang said coldly.

“Scared?” Elder Lian let out a soft laugh. “Scared of who? Scared of her defeated opponent?”

Elder Wang and a female elder beside him both stiffened, their faces changing. Just as they were about to refute her, the Sect Master of the Greenwood Sect, Master Wu Sang, opened his mouth.

“There is no need to argue. We will know the answer in half a stick of incense.”

“Yes.”

Elder Lian and Elder Wang answered seriously and stopped speaking.

Time passed quickly.

More and more disciples noticed that Mu Ye, a strong contender for Young Sect Master, still had not shown up. All kinds of guesses began to spread among the disciples.

Wang Qian, Guo Ming En, and the others clenched their fists and silently prayed in their hearts: [Mu Ye, it would be best if you never show up.]

The disciples who were on good terms with Mu Ye were very worried and looked around anxiously.

“The Alchemy Hall disciple assessment is about to begin. When your name is called, enter the assessment area in order.”

Elder Luo’s deep, loud voice spread across the plaza.

Wang Qian swung his fist hard.

With Mu Ye absent, the Young Sect Master position was already as good as his.

“Platform number one, Guo Fang Fei. Platform number two, Sun Ming Yu. Platform number three, Cheng Dao…”

Among the three halls, Alchemy Hall had the fewest disciples, only a little over four hundred. Even if Elder Luo tried to put Mu Ye’s name near the end on purpose, he could not delay for very long.

As the number of Alchemy Hall disciples left below the platforms grew smaller and smaller, Wang Qian could not help showing a look of wild joy.

“…Platform number four hundred thirty-eight, Wang Qian. Platform number four hundred thirty-nine, Mu Ye.”

As soon as the words fell, Wang Qian’s figure appeared on platform four hundred thirty-eight.

Looking at the empty platform beside him, he smiled in satisfaction.

“Number four hundred thirty-nine, Mu Ye. Number four hundred thirty-nine, Mu Ye?”

Elder Luo was not willing to give up yet and called a few more times.

“Hahaha.”

Elder Wang could not help laughing out loud.

All his scheming had been for nothing. It turned out he had worried too much.

Elder Lian was so angry her chest hurt. She was just about to slap the smug little man beside her to death when suddenly, two anxious figures appeared within her divine sense.

She shot to her feet and shouted in excitement, “Mu Ye is here!”