The Ci Hang Sect definitely pays taxes.
If they don’t pay taxes, the Great Han would directly send in the troops and demolish their mountain gate. However, because of this, Fang Zheng also learned the exact location of the Ci Hang Sect—well, after all, this world isn’t the original Martial Hero World, where secret sects are hidden among mountains, unknown to anyone; such things can’t happen.
Because secret sects also have to pay taxes!
By the way, Fang Zheng also checked their tax records and found that this Ci Hang Sect had been around since the founding of the Great Han...
Unbelievable, never thought they were hiding right under my nose for so many years.
By the way, Fang Zheng also found Pure Thought Zen Temple’s tax records, and indeed, as was heard before, it’s a new sect established last year, with Ci Hang Sect as its guarantor.
Hmph, so that’s how it is.
After learning this information, Fang Zheng understood. It seems this group of bald donkeys has been scheming against the Great Han for a long time, only hiding quietly behind the scenes before. Probably because the Great Han has risen, they now want to take advantage of the Great Han’s prestige to integrate. After all, the enhancement of material civilization and the shaping of spiritual civilization are inseparable; when people are well-fed and content, they inevitably pursue all sorts of nonsensical things.
You should know that even in modern times, some people still seek gods and pray to Buddha; even in this era, with Fang Zheng teaching, it’s perfectly normal for some nationals to be fooled.
After all, every year there are plenty of people deceived by phone scams.
Now that the Ci Hang Sect has established its ground in the Great Han, do they want to bring in Pure Thought Zen Sect too?
Keep dreaming.
In the following period, events at Bamboo Forest Lake Association quickly spread in Guiyang City, especially since the Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin. Representatives of various sects and martial artists have nearly all arrived, naturally making all sorts of gossip even more popular. Of course, Li Tianming inviting eight Young Heroes to attend the Bamboo Forest Lake Association was quite the sensational event.
Especially the verbal battle between Fang Zheng and Fan Qinghui, which was naturally the highlight. However, attitudes towards this incident among those who heard of it can be divided into three categories.
One category, like Fan Qinghui, thinks Fang Zheng went too hard on those criminals; although they did commit crimes, using such borderline tactics for inhumane punishment is indeed too sinister and vicious. Even some "wise men" are calling for the Imperial Court to regulate such matters and abolish the death penalty, to demonstrate the Great Han’s magnanimous royal grace...
To these people, Fang Zheng naturally reacts with a smiling face in public, but secretly notes their names down in a little book, waiting to blacklist them back at the palace. Anyone calling to abolish the death penalty is either foolish or bad, or both. Ci Hang Sect probably wants to use this wave to boost their reputation, but for Fang Zheng, this also helps him identify a group of black sheep hidden among cultured individuals.
Don’t be fooled by their current enthusiasm; be wary of the final reckoning.
There’s still plenty of candidates to plant potatoes in Siberia.
As for the second category, they resolutely support Fang Zheng. Most of these are women, who, upon hearing of the deeds of those underworld villains, themselves wish to devour them whole—how could they think Fang Zheng was too harsh? Moreover, Fang Zheng is handsome and charismatic, so in this age, good looks are justice, right?
As for the third category, they admit Fang Zheng’s words are correct, but they still criticize him vehemently. The reason is simple; in modern terms, these people think Fang Zheng lacks gentlemanly demeanor. They believe openly humiliating a woman in front of so many martial arts peers and seniors is unbecoming of a Martial Hero.
Of course, this third group makes the loudest noise, but Fang Zheng pays them no attention.
What gentlemanly demeanor? He only shows gentlemanly demeanor to his own people. For someone like Fan Qinghui, a treacherous woman wrecking the nation, Fang Zheng would rather abolish her martial arts and send her to the Government Institute as a slave—oh, and he also abolished the Government Institute...
Then send her to the desert in the Western Region to plant trees.
That’s also a kind of merit...
As for those criticizing him for not having gentlemanly demeanor, Fang Zheng couldn’t care less. They’re just jealous because he’s handsome and popular with women, finding an excuse to criticize him. It’s like everyday people criticizing rich second-generation heirs as uneducated, superficial, and empty on the inside, but they never lack women around.
Your view of a Goddess falls for the rich heir’s sports car, so what if you condemn them a thousand times? Will it change anything?
So to these jeering voices, Fang Zheng treats them as the barking of loser dogs, completely indifferent.
After all, being handsome and charismatic, talented and wealthy, it’s natural that people would be jealous. You can’t forbid them from scolding him a bit, can you? That would be too unreasonable, don’t you think?
No matter what, these rumors indeed spread widely, making the Martial Arts Tournament much livelier. On the eve of the Martial Arts Tournament, disciples from various sects are flocking in. Thus, Guiyang City is packed with people, watching those disciples from various sects arriving, dressed in different colored outfits.
This somewhat resembles a parade before the tournament’s opening, but each sect takes this very seriously. After all, in this world, the Great Han has a nine-year compulsory education system, while the sects serve roles similar to modern martial arts schools or vocational schools. Taking disciples isn’t impossible, but in today’s society, few families willingly let their child join a martial sect. Given the current peace and prosperity, everyone has plenty to eat and somewhere to live, whereas martial arts conflicts are places where bloodshed is most common, thus making induction not so easy.
And the annual Martial Arts Tournament serves as an advertisement for the sects in society. The sect with the strongest abilities, the most attractive attire, and the most appealing aura can entice children keen on martial arts to join them, so they strive to showcase their sect’s charm.
Sitting upstairs in the restaurant, watching the disciples of the sects below, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but recall the scene from his previous life’s participation in a student sports meet.
"...Accompanied by the March of Athletes, the various sects enter the city for a week-long tour. What we see now is the formation of the Mount Hua Sect. They hold high the flag of Mount Hua Sect, showcasing the heroic spirit of the Warriors of Mount Hua. Come on, Warriors of Mount Hua, friendship first, competition second!"
"Develop sports activities to strengthen the people’s physical quality! Exercise to defend the motherland! One, two, three, four!"
"Launch nationwide martial arts fitness, comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society! Next is the entry of the Taishan Sect, Taishan Sect disciples entering the field!"
"Who says women are not as good as men? The third to enter is the formation of Emei Sect disciples. Look, they are coming with their orderly steps..."
"Strive hard and never give up, embrace victory with civility and discipline. Next to enter are the disciples of the Xuanwu Gate! They bring a vigorous spirit, showcasing a youthful energy that we should all cheer for and applaud...!"
"Pioneering and enterprising, only we Bagua, unite and create everlasting glory!"
"Now entering are the members of the Bagua Sect, Bagua Sect..."
Watching the martial arts sect parade below, it was almost as if Fang Zheng was brought back to the sports meet, making him laugh to the point of almost choking.
Soon, most of the well-known sects in the martial arts world had finished their walk, and what followed were some lesser-known small sects, causing the street to quiet down considerably. Until finally, Fang Zheng saw a group of monks come in, each holding a Zen staff in one hand and placing the other hand on their chest in prayer, looking quite distinctive.
Hmm?
However, at that moment, Fang Zheng’s gaze swept past, then focused on a particular monk. It seemed to have caught the monk’s attention, who then raised his head to glance in Fang Zheng’s direction. Upon seeing the Jade Fan in Fang Zheng’s hand, he was instantly shocked and hurriedly turned around, attempting to flee!
Yet the monk hadn’t even managed to fully turn around, when suddenly he found Fang Zheng had appeared right in front of him, one hand pressing down on his shoulder.
"Yo, isn’t this the Blood Hand Butcher Wang Wu? You actually dare appear in Guiyang City, planning to turn yourself in?"
"Amitabha..."
Seeing Fang Zheng in front of him, the monk’s face turned ashen, and he clasped his hands in prayer.
"Benefactor, you must be mistaken, this humble monk’s Dharma name is Shanzhi, I do not know this Wang Wu you speak of..."
"Oh, becoming a monk and joining the temple and you think your past can be wiped clean? You think the laws of Great Han are made of paper? Since you’re here, don’t leave, come, come, I’ll invite you to the yamen for tea. There’s the finest Bi Luo Chun, you’ll definitely have a taste before your end."
"Master, Master, save me! Save me!"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the monk turned pale, pleading for help from the elder monk beside him as he knew that Fang Zheng’s heart was ruthless, falling into his hands was truly worse than falling into the hands of the yamen.
And hearing the monk’s plea for help, the surrounding elder monks also changed their expressions, quickly surrounding Fang Zheng.
"This benefactor, why do you trouble our Pure Thought Zen Temple? To forcibly take our disciple on the street is not the action of a great hero."
"What? You’re sheltering a fugitive?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing through.
"Then I apologize, but you all need to come with me to the yamen!"
"Amitabha, we hope the benefactor will turn back before it’s too late!"
Hearing Fang Zheng speak, the monks’ expressions turned stern. They never expected Fang Zheng to actually have the audacity to cause trouble right here under everyone’s watchful eye! Hearing these bald monks speak, Fang Zheng chuckled.
"Those words should be said by me to you, sheltering an imperial court criminal is a grave crime... None of you leave, stay here!"
"Whoosh----!"
As Fang Zheng finished speaking, the monk named Shanzhi in front of him abruptly changed his expression, then turned his palm into a claw, fiercely striking towards Fang Zheng’s chest!

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