Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

As Fang Zheng spoke, everyone immediately turned their gaze to Fan Qinghui, who was seated on the stage. Previously, many people had restrained themselves from looking too much out of courtesy, but now, using Fang Zheng’s words as an excuse, they took the opportunity to take in the sight of the Jade Guardian Fairy.

However, some astute individuals frowned secretly because they could hear Fang Zheng’s tone was extremely cold, devoid of any goodwill.

This was very peculiar. Could it be that the Young Lord Jade Face had some grudge against the Jade Guardian Fairy?

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Fan Qinghui hesitated for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply.

"I apologize, Young Master Fang, Qinghui does not understand your meaning."

"It’s not surprising. Isn’t playing the innocent your favorite game? ... Never mind, it’s no big deal."

As he said this, Fang Zheng’s eyes flickered as if he thought of something amusing.

"Alright, so do you want to come down and play with me or not?"

This remark left everyone in an uproar. Anyone could tell that Fang Zheng was not being arrogant; it was blatant humiliation. Allowing a hundred moves, what difference does this make to not fighting back?

"This........"

Fan Qinghui was silent for a moment, deciding to chicken out completely.

"Qinghui is no match for Young Master Fang, so......"

"Really? Are you sure? Don’t regret it later, okay?"

With a smile on his face, Fang Zheng stared at Fan Qinghui and spoke. Fan Qinghui, for some reason, felt a sudden, ominous premonition in her heart upon hearing these words from Fang Zheng. She thought for a moment, but still lowered her head.

"Please don’t tease Qinghui, Young Master Fang."

"Alright then."

Facing Fan Qinghui’s response, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

"It’s your choice. You’ve made your decision, so be it."

After saying this, Fang Zheng surprisingly didn’t cause any trouble for Fan Qinghui. Instead, he swaggeringly turned around and walked down from the stage. This left everyone present with a sense of anticlimax, and for a moment, they were taken aback, not knowing what this Young Lord Jade Face was up to.

No one felt there was anything wrong with Fan Qinghui backing down; Fang Zheng had already demonstrated his strength earlier. From that previous move, it was clear he had reached the level of an innate master, and if the crowd wasn’t mistaken, there were very few in this world who could surpass him. Although Fan Qinghui, as the Jade Guardian Fairy, was quite renowned, no one believed she had the ability to compete with Fang Zheng.

However, watching Fang Zheng turn and leave the stage, for some unknown reason, Fan Qinghui’s unease intensified. She felt she seemed to have missed an opportunity, but what it was, the depths of Fan Qinghui’s heart remained clueless.

The rest of the Martial Arts Tournament proceeded quite smoothly and concluded the first day’s competition. Yet, Fan Qinghui couldn’t shake off her sense of anxiety. She requested someone to investigate where Fang Zheng had gone, only to be informed that the Young Lord Jade Face had left Guiyang City, singing and riding a donkey while eating hot pot.

What was going on?

Learning that Fang Zheng had unexpectedly left Guiyang City, Fan Qinghui was somewhat bewildered. She had originally thought the other party had some conspiracy against her, but ... what was going on now?

Fan Qinghui was at a complete loss, yet her inner sense of foreboding had not dissipated; instead, it grew stronger.

It felt as if... she had made an unimaginable choice.

Fan Qinghui didn’t know what repercussions her choice might have. In fact, her current worry wasn’t even that.

"Master Zhishen, is there really no way?"

Looking at the elderly monk in front of her, Fan Qinghui also frowned in frustration. Compared to Fang Zheng’s inexplicable departure, Fan Qinghui was more worried about the matters of the Pure Thought Zen Temple. The representatives of the Pure Thought Zen Temple had been arrested for harboring an imperial court’s fugitive and were even thrown in jail, which made Fan Qinghui extremely anxious. She hadn’t expected such a situation to arise, but Fan Qinghui couldn’t ignore it since these representatives from Pure Thought Zen Temple were enlightened monks. If she couldn’t rescue these people, then the Ci Hang Brothel’s plan could be said to come to a complete halt.

But......

"We have no way; we can’t break them out of jail."

The old monk shook his head helplessly. The charge against those monks was harboring a fugitive, and there was irrefutable evidence, which Wang Wu had already admitted to. In such circumstances, the next step is a report and judgment. Once the trial is over, those monks would likely spend their days growing potatoes and corn in Siberia.

However, Fan Qinghui didn’t expect herself to be helpless.

In her view, as long as those respected martial arts seniors intervened, at least it could be possible to avoid imprisonment. But what Fan Qinghui didn’t expect was that the laws of this country were not only strict but also very complex. Interfering with a trial was not a minor crime, and no one was willing to deliberately provoke the Ministry of Justice for a group of monks who knowingly committed a crime.

That would be courting death.

"I... might have made a mistake."

Thinking of this, Fan Qinghui lowered her head and sighed softly.

"Made a mistake?"

"Yes, before that Young Lord Jade Face invited me to a match, I refused... I think..."

At this moment, Fan Qinghui also thought she had guessed Fang Zheng’s intention. In fact, she indeed believed that Fang Zheng invited her to the arena to humiliate her. After all, Fan Qinghui was aware of her own strength; if she went down, she would surely be toyed with by Fang Zheng. Just imagine, a woman being thrown to the ground or sprawled out—any goddess-like aura would be ruined.

So, Fan Qinghui would rather admit defeat than go down and lose face; otherwise, the image and status she painstakingly built in the martial arts world would collapse in an instant.

Now, however, Fan Qinghui understood Fang Zheng’s meaning—perhaps what he said earlier was that if she embarrasses herself in the arena, he would let these monks off?

But... she didn’t agree...

Thinking of this, Fan Qinghui regretted deeply.

The fact is, Fan Qinghui didn’t know that Fang Zheng did have an idea, but it had nothing to do with those bald monks.

Actually, this idea came to him when he invited Fan Qinghui to the arena.

At that moment, Fang Zheng suddenly thought, why is he entangled with Fan Qinghui here? After all, she’s just a disciple from Ci Hang Brothel, even though she’s a favored disciple, she’s ultimately just a puppet—so if he was going to confront anyone, why not directly confront Ci Hang Brothel?

With this thought, Fang Zheng immediately had a plan.

Of course, this is a rule-of-law society, and he wouldn’t commit something like wiping out entire families like in martial arts novels. But conversely, Fang Zheng could completely rely on his charm to turn the women from Ci Hang Brothel into his playthings, couldn’t he? Since you all worship Buddha, how about getting to know the Laughing Buddha?

Fang Zheng knew very well that, combined with his charm and the might of a dragon and a deity, it was enough to create a brainwashing effect similar to the School of Illusions. Just like the hypnosis brainwashing games he often played in his past life, controlling princesses and noble ladies, turning them into puppets loyal to him.

In fact, from a certain perspective, Fang Zheng’s ability is stronger than the simple hypnosis brainwashing in those games because hypnosis brainwashing can be undone, but the charm of a deity cannot be resisted by mortals. Once Fang Zheng truly releases the seal, those girls would kneel before him, swear to give him their everything, with attitudes even more fervent than those self-sacrificing cultists.

This is the power of a deity.

However, Fang Zheng rarely uses this power to achieve his goals, partly because it’s too dull, and secondly, this approach, although it can gain devoted followers, also comes with drawbacks. In fact, even a True God like the Goddess of Order rarely uses this power; according to the Goddess of Order herself, "A bunch of stalkers follow you around all day and you can’t get rid of them; you hit them and they’re happy anyway—don’t you find it disgusting?"

Yeah, frankly speaking, it really is quite disgusting.

And comparatively, Fang Zheng prefers to win women’s hearts with his own capabilities rather than relying on these cheat-like charm skills.

But for the women of Ci Hang Brothel, Fang Zheng doesn’t need to restrain himself as much.

First, they are enemies, and Fang Zheng has always used any means against enemies—only caring about the outcome.

Secondly, the women of Ci Hang Brothel are trained to please men; otherwise, why would a Fan Qinghui, no matter how beautiful she is, attract so much attention from men? Charm, conversation, and demeanor—each requires learning and practice.

In essence, Fan Qinghui is just the best star in Red Mansion from Ci Hang Brothel, dispatched to seduce the masses.

But Fang Zheng’s view of Ci Hang Brothel differs from his view of Red Mansion.

During the Warring States period, he had visited many Red Mansions, yet Fang Zheng never regarded those Red Mansion women as so lowly.

The reason is simple: Red Mansion women are forced to sell themselves to survive; they have to learn how to please men, otherwise, they can’t earn money and won’t survive, so these Red Mansion women are forced by livelihood and if given a chance to escape the bitter sea, they also want to lead ordinary lives.

However, the women of Ci Hang Brothel are different; they are not driven by survival needs; they have very clear goals and sacrifice everything for these goals. In fact, if you place Ci Hang Brothel in the Main World, they would undoubtedly be classified as cultists.

Look, hiding in the dark, using their allure to influence nations, control politics, secretly seizing power—if this were in the Country of Order, they’d have been eradicated long ago without a trace.

These women are not forced by livelihood; they voluntarily, fervently joined this path. Fang Zheng scoffs at the notion of a prodigal son returning home with golden redemption; since they’re already slaves to deities, they might as well become his slaves.

After all, he’s a True God himself, and he’s killed more than a few thousand Buddhas.

So on the arena, Fang Zheng mischievously extended an invitation to Fan Qinghui.

If Fan Qinghui comes down and confronts him, then Fang Zheng will turn Fan Qinghui into his slave and bring her to Ci Hang Brothel to face humiliation.

If Fan Qinghui doesn’t come down, then Fang Zheng will go to Ci Hang Brothel, brainwash them into his slaves, and humiliate Fan Qinghui.

Hence Fang Zheng gave Fan Qinghui a choice, to see what her thoughts were.

The result now... hmm, this is also good.

After all, losing a forest for one tree is rather not worthwhile.

And now, Fang Zheng has already ridden his donkey to the foot of Titafeng, according to records, Ci Hang Brothel is within this mountain.

Indeed, a forest.

Looking at the lush forest before him, Fang Zheng’s lips slightly curved.

"Ten years to grow trees, a hundred to grow treants—since you, Ci Hang Brothel, have diligently planted this forest for Laozi, then I shall gladly accept."

Fang Zheng is now very curious as to what expression Fan Qinghui will have when she returns to Ci Hang Brothel only to find her sect transformed into something else. When everything they’ve fought for dissipates in an instant, will this woman still act so indifferent and innocent?

Hmm, this is also a very interesting question.

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