Dawnless Sovereign-Chapter 13: A Change in the Mission

"This is a very important time for our church, so we must be careful," Fang Che said in a mature manner. "I want to climb up the ranks, both for myself and for your sake, so I must exercise caution."

Sun Yuan was smiling so wide that his cheeks almost hurt, and he instantly felt like all of his efforts had been worth it.

"You will be sure to catch the attention of some high-up figure in the future. By then, I don't know where I'll be so I want to caution you in advance. There are some people in the church who progress very quickly using certain... unorthodox cultivation arts, and it's best not to get on their bad side.

“If anything happens, just go to the pope. You learned his Seven Blood Spirit Swords, so technically, you're half a disciple of his."

Fang Che hesitated momentarily, then said, "Master, I have a question, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask."

"Go ahead," Sun Yuan prompted.

"I've heard that there are many masters in our One Heart Church who screw over their disciples for their own benefit, so why is that you're so good to me?" Fang Che asked, feigning an embarrassed expression.

Sun Yuan was very amused to hear this.

He was silent for a moment, then replied, "Our One Heart Church is a selfish organization, and it's every man for themselves. In some life and death situations, betrayal is very common, with members often sacrificing others to ensure their own escape.

“However, disciples are different. There are some who take advantage of their disciples, stripping them of their life force or engaging in other nefarious acts, but most of us hope that our disciples can make something out of themselves.

“This is especially true for people like me, who have no hope of further progression, but have disciples who have the potential to surpass us. In the cutthroat environment of our church, there are far too few people that you can be genuine and earnest to. All of us have families, and we don't know when we could suddenly die.

“Hence, we need someone that we can entrust everything to. If you pick the wrong person, then as soon as you die, you can expect that person to turn on your family. Che'er, if something happens to me someday, then I entrust my family to you.

“To us, it doesn't matter whether the world thinks we're good or evil. We do everything for ourselves and our families, but the more selfish we are, the more important it is for us to not burn all of our bridges. Otherwise, we will suffer fates more horrific than we can imagine. You are my most precious bridge.

“You're still young, so it's too early for you to think about these things now, but as you rise up through the ranks, it'll become more and more important for you to build bridges for yourself."

Fang Che nodded silently in response.

"The conversation took a bit of a sad turn, didn't it?" Sun Yuan chuckled. "Anyway, I came here to pass on an instruction from the pope."

"Go ahead, Master."

"The main church has completed the monumental objective of founding a nation, and Xue Fuxiao has also been dethroned. From here, the main church will focus on developing the nation and expanding its territory, while subsidiary churches have been left to our own devices for now.

“There are a total eighteen first-rate churches in this world, split up into five paths, each of which must have a leader. Our One Heart Church is in the southern path along with the Night Demon, the Divine Heavenly Church, and the Three Saints Church, so either we lead them, or one of them leads us and the other two churches.

“Whichever church has the most contribution points receives the leadership position, so we must outcompete the other churches. Hence, the pope has instructed you to permanently disable Ding Jieran of the Night Demon, Huo Churan of the Three Saints Church, and Ximen Xuri of the Divine Heavenly Church at all costs."

"So I have to ensure that they won't be able to cultivate ever again, right?" Fang Che asked.

"That's right, or better yet, kill them altogether! If you don't take them out of the picture, even if they don't claim the top spot over you, they'll continue to do things that could undermine the position of our church.

“Those who manage to infiltrate the Protectionists have many opportunities to earn contribution points, and if we allow them to do that, then we may have to submit to one of the other three churches as our leader. In the wake of our failed attack on Iron Will Fort, we've fallen behind the other churches in terms of contribution points, so you have a very heavy task on your shoulders."

Fang Che was silent for a moment, then asked, "Master, can I ask if our church has anyone among the higher-ups of the academy?"

"Why would you ask that? Such questions are considered strictly taboo!" Sun Yuan said with tightly furrowed brows.

"You're misunderstanding me, Master," Fang Che said. "I don't have to know who that person is, but they have to know who I am."

"Why is that?"

"I'm worried that if they don't know who I am, then they could intentionally target me by helping the other three. If that happens, my chances of completing my mission will be severely compromised. In fact, if our people are under the misconception that I'm a prodigy from the Protectionists, then that I could be in danger myself during the tournament."

"That's actually a very valid point," Sun Yuan mused in a thoughtful manner. "I'll report your concerns to the pope."

"Thank you, Master," Fang Che replied.

I knew it! The Church of the Self-Righteous really does have undercover agents among the academy's top brass! That's going to be a big fish!

***

Sun Yuan departed after leaving behind all of the cultivation materials he had gathered.

Fang Che had thought that Sun Yuan was going to stay with him in his manor, but that wasn't the case.

"Officially, I'm not affiliated with either the Guardians or the Church of the Self-Righteous, but there's no guarantee that I'm not under any suspicion, so it would be best for me to avoid staying with you. I'll find some other place in the city to live, and I'll be able to visit at any time. You're definitely already under suspicion as well, but if you're smart about it, you can use that to your advantage," Sun Yuan said in a meaningful manner.

"I understand."

After departing from Fang Che's manor, Sun Yuan stood on the street, looking at the passersby in a slightly dazed manner.

He would've loved to stay in his disciple manor, but he didn't dare.

As he had said, Fang Che was his most precious bridge, and he didn't want to cause him even the slightest amount of trouble.

He knew that recently, more and more people had begun scrutinizing him, and if his identity were exposed, then he would be killed for sure. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Even if he weren't exposed, someone far more powerful than him could kill him on a whim.

Fang Che was someone that he had entrusted his future to, so he couldn't do anything that would put Fang Che at risk.

Some people in high-up places were already keeping an eye on Fang Che, but it was exactly because of this that he was much safer. In contrast, he was far older and less useful than Fang Che, so they wouldn't be so tolerant of him.

As he made his way down the street, he was suddenly struck by a sense of extreme loneliness.

He thought of the question that Fang Che had asked him, then thought about his answer, and he couldn't help but heave a forlorn sigh.

Throughout his life, there were countless occasions where he had sold out his companions for his own benefit.

So many comrades that he had been on missions with had been mercilessly used by him, abandoned to stave off the enemy while he fled for his own life.

Selling out his friends in life and death situations had become second nature to him, but if it were Fang Che by his side in such a scenario...

Would I still do the same and throw him out to save myself? Perhaps so. Perhaps I was simply born a heartless scoundrel.

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face as he vanished into the crowd.

***

Fang Che was sitting in the study, lost in thought.

He hadn't even examined the natural treasures that had been brought to him by Sun Yuan.

Instead, he was mulling over what he had just been told by Sun Yuan.

The One Heart Church, the Divine Heavenly Church, the Night Demon, and the Three Saints Church comprised the southern path.

It was clear that Yin Shengong harbored lofty ambitions, and he had intentionally given Fang Che a codename that matched the name of the Night Demon Church.

Fang Che was feeling rather hesitant about the mission that he had been assigned as it went against his initial objective.

He didn't want to kill the three prodigies from the other three churches. In his eyes, they were already exposed, so he had originally only planned to defeat them.

After that, he could even befriend them to gather more intelligence on the three churches.

Yin Shengong's initial mission was only for him to defeat those three, but his heightened ambitions in the wake of recent events had clearly caused him to change his mind.

I have no choice.

Fang Che was feeling quite conflicted.

It would be a real waste to kill or disable them. Not only are those three connected to the three churches, they're also tied to their respective clans, and I can really take advantage of that. This is not the time to expose them. It's too early, I won't be able to take full advantage of them, and I also run the risk of exposing myself. I need a plan.

He finally turned his attention to the items that Sun Yuan had brought him, and he was quite impressed with what he saw.

Soul Rest Ginseng, Ice Crystal Spirit Fruits, Vajra Herbs, Body Refinement Tea, Meridian Clearing Orchids...

None of these things could enhance one's cultivation base, but they were all extremely valuable when it came to establishing a foundation.

Fang Che heaved a faint sigh.

Sun Yuan was a member of the One Heart Church, and there were definitely many heinous crimes to his name, but he was truly very good to him.

Unfortunately, our beliefs are different. I can die for my brothers, and my brothers are willing to die for me. Never will I be able to bring myself to sell out my brothers to save myself as you do. If you die someday, then I'll look after your family for you as repayment, provided they haven't committed any heinous crimes themselves.

***

The next morning.

Ye Meng dressed Fang Che up meticulously before sending him off to the academy.

It was the first day of the new student tournament, and even as he was making his way toward the academy, he was still pondering what he was going to do with the three students that he had been tasked with killing.

How could he satisfy Yin Shengong while simultaneously deriving the greatest benefit for the Guardians and himself? How could he take maximal advantage of them to strike at the other churches?

At the same time, there was another question on his mind.

The Church of the Self-Righteous has so many subsidiary churches, have they really only planted three seeds in White Cloud Warrior Academy?