This High Martial World is Too Crazy!!!

In the pavilion within the Lieyang Martial Arts Hall, Fang Can felt his aptitude continuously improving. Even without taking pills, it remained at a superb level, ten times the norm.

But Fang Can still couldn’t figure out why it was improving so quickly just by being near the young woman.

If being good-looking could increase one’s aptitude, why didn’t it work with Elder Jiang?

’Or is this girl some kind of Calamitous Star? The type of constitution that jinxes her father, mother, brothers, and sons—bringing misfortune to anyone close to her?’

As Fang Can circulated his energy, all sorts of speculations ran through his mind, but he wasn’t the least bit worried about his own safety.

’Even if she really is a Calamitous Star, I’m not afraid. In fact, I could probably turn that baleful energy into a treasure.’

And just like that, under this "super-strong signal," Fang Can’s cultivation speed began to accelerate wildly.

Meanwhile, not far away, Yuan Dang—who had just finished cleaning Fang Can’s room—stood staring dumbly from a distance at the two people in the pavilion.

A gentle breeze blew. Fang Can and Ye Qingshi were sitting with their backs to Yuan Dang, positioned so close it looked as if they were about to touch.

’How is this possible... How can this be?’ Yuan Dang shook his head, feeling like his mind was playing tricks on him. How long had it been? How could his Senior Sister and that dog-thief Fang be so intimate?

Afraid he wouldn’t be able to suppress the murderous intent in his mind and would attack Fang Can only to be killed in return, Yuan Dang turned and fled, trying to get away from this place.

At this moment, an illusion even began to form in his mind.

’What reincarnation and rebirth?’

’It’s all just the dying hallucination of an ordinary Profound Gate Second Layer disciple from the Lieyang Martial Arts Hall. All of it is just a hallucination.’

Suppressing the unwilling tears welling in his eyes, Yuan Dang disappeared on the spot without a backward glance.

"Did someone just walk by?" Ye Qingshi asked, a little shy. Sitting this close to Fang Can was a great challenge for her personality.

"Don’t worry about it. Just sit still, Miss Ye," Fang Can said slowly, his eyes still closed as he sat cross-legged.

Looking at the young man who had been cultivating continuously for nearly an hour and sensing his steady breathing, Ye Qingshi couldn’t help but ask:

"Is practicing martial arts fun? You all seem so dedicated. My father and the other disciples even castrated themselves for it."

"It’s not fun for me. It’s often exhausting, frustrating, and painful," Fang Can said calmly.

"If it’s so unpleasant, then why do you still want to practice?" Ye Qingshi pressed.

"Because I’m good at it," Fang Can replied, opening his eyes.

"I know for a fact that every person’s path is unique and cannot be copied. And I can see it: beneath my feet, the path of the Martial Dao stretches all the way to the summit. As long as I keep walking, I will reach the top."

Seeing Fang Can’s incredibly arrogant tone, Ye Qingshi couldn’t help but ask, "What about me, then? What do you think of my aptitude?"

"You..." Fang Can glanced at her briefly and shook his head.

"With your current personality, you wouldn’t be able to persevere. Without an obsession born from a deep-seated blood feud or something similar, you can’t walk this path with unwavering determination," Fang Can said honestly.

"Then is it impossible to change one’s aptitude? For example, in those storybooks where the protagonist suddenly has an epiphany and becomes incredibly resolute?"

"It’s possible, but the price is very high," Fang Can said impassively. He had recently gained some new understanding of the Mind-Based Martial Dao, which happened to be related to aptitude.

’He was pondering whether succumbing to evil corruption could be considered a superior method for improving one’s Martial Dao aptitude.’

’After all, the Mind-Based Martial Dao emphasizes the unity of thought and will.’

Of course, this was just one of Fang Can’s theories. It was merely a line of thought for cultivation, and he couldn’t draw any conclusions without testing it.

Hearing that the method came at a high price, Ye Qingshi lost interest in understanding it. She didn’t have much desire to cultivate at the moment anyway, and said casually, "Then forget it. It’s not like I was planning on cultivating."

"Mm," Fang Can grunted softly, closing his eyes again to focus on his training.

...

Accompanied by the young woman, Fang Can trained diligently.

Meanwhile, inside the martial arts hall, Ye Yonglie buried his face in his hands and sighed. "Is my aptitude really so poor? I’ve been meditating for a full hour, but I can’t see even a hint of a Heart Image."

"Master, don’t be impatient. Hasn’t Mr. Fang already agreed to stay?" Yan Zhi said consolingly from the side.

"Every day Mr. Fang stays is another day you can spend in contemplation. If he stays for ten days, that’s ten days of contemplation for you!"

Ye Yonglie lamented, "It would already be a blessing if Young Friend Fang stays for three to five days. But what if my Heart Image requires thirty or fifty days of meditation to form? What am I to do then?"

"Master, do not be anxious. When you feel lost, think of your family," Yan Zhi said.

His words seemed to jolt Ye Yonglie awake. He snapped his head around. "What do you mean by that?"

"If you want to keep our esteemed guest for the long term, it isn’t difficult. It will just require a small sacrifice from Senior Sister Ye." As the sunlight streamed in, it cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across Yan Zhi’s face.

"That Mr. Fang is new to the martial world and easily influenced. We might be able to use this to latch onto him," Yan Zhi said slowly and deliberately. "If our two families were to be joined by marriage, with Mr. Fang’s aptitude, wouldn’t your path to the heavens be assured, Master?"

"This..." Ye Yonglie hesitated.

It wasn’t that he was reluctant to part with his daughter.

After all, when he’d cut off the root of his troubles, he had already resolved to pursue the Martial Dao for the rest of his life. How could a mere daughter be more important than his family jewels?

He was just worried that if the plan backfired, they would end up on bad terms with Fang Can.

"Master, you can’t catch a wolf if you’re unwilling to sacrifice the child," Yan Zhi fanned the flames from the side.

"What’s your plan?" Hall Master Ye asked, looking up. It seemed the decision was already made in his eyes.

"One can be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days. We might not know how to ask for money, but surely we know how to give it away?" Yan Zhi said with a wide, happy smile.

"Master, you just need to do this... and then that... and everything will be settled."

...

Meanwhile, Fang Can used cultivation as an excuse to stay within three steps of Ye Qingshi for most of the day.

When he combined this with taking pills, his cultivation speed skyrocketed, making him wonder just how fast he could cultivate if he held her in a close embrace.

As for the young woman, after enduring it for a full day, she finally arrived at the door to her chambers. Sensing the overwhelmingly present young man not far behind her, she could no longer hold back. "Are you going to follow me into my room, too?"

"Is that really... okay?" Fang Can asked, also a bit embarrassed.

"That wouldn’t be right. How about I just cultivate outside? That way, I won’t disturb your sleep."

’So you *do* know it’s not right!’ Ye Qingshi was so exasperated she laughed, then walked straight inside and slammed the door shut with a BANG.