Chapter 318: Fang Can

Late at night, Fang Can sat cross-legged on a soft couch.

As his emotions were slowly drained away, he became like a wooden doll, unaware and unfeeling.

Feeling the arrogance pearl coalesce within his body in the span of just one incense stick, Fang Can felt this was far from enough.

The more you invest now, the stronger you will become later.

In the next instant, within Fang Can’s mind sea, the golden chain writhed wildly like a spirit serpent.

Since his first transformation, these past three months, he had recorded daily without pause.

Even while in the ice chamber with Liu Qingmeng, he never stopped writing, documenting every single detail that stirred emotion between them—the unlocked postures and actions.

One could say this golden chain, woven from his diary, was the sum total of Fang Can’s emotions over these past three months.

Ying Han had once said this diary restricted his cultivation—her words were entirely correct.

To suppress his growing evil thoughts, only one-tenth of his strength went into his body; the rest was stored within this golden chain.

This chain contained all of Fang Can’s evil.

Once it unravels!

At the moment Fang Can succumbs to dark thoughts, his power will instantly surge more than tenfold.

But Fang Can did not choose this path—he chose instead to completely sacrifice this golden chain!

The most basic arrogance pearl requires a century’s worth of thoughts to form.

Fang Can’s power exceeds the peak of the third transformation; his thoughts are dozens of times more vigorous than an ordinary person’s—just one incense stick’s worth equals a century’s cultivation of the first transformation.

The emotional power within this golden chain equals nine times the sum of Fang Can’s emotions over these past three months!

The next moment, the golden chain within Fang Can’s mind sea shattered completely.

Within the swirling golden dust, a black flame emerged.

Then the flames transformed into pure emotional light, and a vast torrent of emotional energy coalesced within Fang Can’s mind sea into a single black Buddha bead bearing nine markings—named Arrogance.

The moment the Buddha bead formed, it instantly dissolved, merging into Fang Can’s limbs and bones.

By the time he realized it, the bead was gone.

‘What is going on?’

Fang Can instantly opened his eyes, glanced around, found nothing unusual, yet felt an extraordinary lightness—as if a thousand jin of weight had been lifted.

Indeed, that was exactly the case.

Without the golden chain’s restraint, his restless mind now moved freely at will—of course he felt light.

Over the coming days, the effects of Arrogance would subtly manifest within him.

And no longer suppressed negative emotions would make him more like a person with seven emotions and six desires… a countryman?

‘Who cares!’ Fang Can waved his hand dismissively, his eyes indifferent:

‘It’s just an eighth-transformation technique. Can I even die?’

With that thought, he calmly sat back down, closed his eyes, and entered meditation and breath regulation.

He immediately noticed: without the golden chain’s suppression, his cultivation efficiency was ten times—or even nine times—greater than before, incomparable.

This discovery naturally gave Fang Can renewed motivation; he spent the entire night immersed in mind-sea breath regulation.

Night passed; dawn broke bright.

Fang Can returned from his mind sea, stood up, and stretched lazily.

Tap-tap-tap—

After a knock at the door, Ji XinYu’s respectful voice came from outside: ‘Elder, the kitchen has prepared breakfast. Will you join us?’

‘Yes, I’ll be there in a moment,’ Fang Can said casually, reaching for the wooden mask beside him to cover his face—but then his brow furrowed.

‘Why should I wear a mask? Why must I wear a mask?’

‘My face is perfect—every muscle, bone, feature, and skin is the pinnacle of humanity, as if heaven itself crafted me from the ideal human template.’

Fang Can pondered: ‘Those who see my face and love me are only doing what’s natural. Why should I hide my face like some rat afraid to be seen?’

‘Those who see my godlike visage should be the ones feeling inferior!’

‘Of course! What the hell am I even afraid of? Afraid too many people will love me?’

‘What’s wrong with having many who love me? Loving me doesn’t mean they can fuck me.’

‘It’s others who should be afraid! What do I have to fear?’

‘Fuck it—I’m not wearing it!’

With that thought, Fang Can grabbed the mask and stowed it away.

He ran his fingers through his silver hair, deliberately styling it into a sunlit look, then stepped outside.

Creak—

As the door opened, Fang Can frowned at the girl standing there: ‘What are you doing here? Go eat breakfast.’

Ji XinYu said nothing, only stared blankly at Fang Can’s face for one or two seconds.

Since yesterday, when Fang Can began wearing the mask, he’d shown his face to no one—she had sighed, mourning the loss of such unparalleled beauty.

Now, seeing the boy’s hair fluttering in the wind, shimmering like light, the girl froze, breath caught—she assumed he’d forgotten the mask and instinctively reminded him: ‘Elder, you haven’t put on your mask.’

‘Why bother wearing it?’ Fang Can dismissed her, placing his hand on her shoulder and pushing her toward the dining hall:

‘Come on, hurry up and eat. You’re so slow-witted.’

‘The Elder just touched me…’ Ji XinYu’s heart pounded.

In this matriarchal world, where gender boundaries were extreme, a man deliberately touching a woman was an implicit declaration of interest.

Fang Can’s action unconsciously led the girl to misinterpret: ‘Could it be… the Elder likes me too?’

The answer was… indifference!

The old Fang Can, sensitive and cautious, would instinctively recoil from physical contact with the opposite sex.

He feared his blunt actions might cause the other to overthink.

If someone developed improper feelings because of him, it would unfairly affect their entire life.

But now, he didn’t care at all.

Let them overthink—what do I care? Do whatever I want!

Now, he walked shoulder to shoulder with Ji XinYu toward the dining hall, and just then, met Yang Danhong stepping out.

‘Good morning, Master Yang,’ Fang Can said casually, waving at the beautiful woman.

The tone of his voice and his hair color instantly revealed his identity to Yang Danhong.

‘Fang… Fang Elder, you’ve grown so breathtakingly beautiful—your beauty makes the moon hide and fish sink.’ Yang Danhong instinctively turned her eyes away, unable to meet his gaze.

She had previously assumed Fang Can wore the mask because of some facial flaw; now, seeing him, she realized her assumptions were utterly wrong.

‘Yes—if he hadn’t worn the mask, his entrance into the city might have caused more than just chaos,’ Yang Danhong thought.

‘I’d prefer you call me majestic and dashing. Your compliments are too feminine,’ Fang Can said matter-of-factly: ‘Master Yang, pay attention to your wording next time.’

‘Ji, stop daydreaming—go eat!’ He pulled Ji XinYu’s shoulder close.

Feeling the girl’s body stiffen beside him, he smirked with the satisfaction of a prank well played.

Xiao ChuNai was so easy to tease.

(End of Chapter)