Chapter 20: The Alliance of Faith and Deception

Another sleepless night plagued Tang Jian's mind as he contemplated his newfound side mission. Dark circles marred his tired eyes, evidence of his restless thoughts. Lost in his musings, Tang Jian found himself gazing absently at the radiant sun. Concerned about Tang Jian's unusual behavior, Li Bai approached him, neatly folding his clothes.

"What's troubling you so deeply?" Li Bai asked, genuine concern etched on his face. "Is it related to yesterday's incident? I know you're eager to earn money, but you shouldn't push yourself too hard."

Tang Jian regarded Li Bai with a displeased expression. "Are you dense, Li Bai? Or do you think I'm the foolish one here?" Letting out a heavy sigh, he continued, "I have no doubt that Liu Fan will lose the duel. Why would I spend all night pondering over something so obvious?"

Li Bai, wearing a surprised expression, posed another question. "Then what were you worried about? Is it the final examination? But that's a year away. You shouldn't fret about it. Take a short nap before attending your classes."

Irritated by Li Bai's barrage of inquiries, Tang Jian grabbed an expensive-looking vase and, raising his voice, threatened, "If you keep bombarding me with these pointless questions, I'll shatter your precious vase. Now, go attend your classes immediately!" His anger and frustration reverberated through the room.

Panicking at the sight of the vase, Li Bai pleaded, "No, not the vase, please! It was a gift from my mother. I'll go to class right away, even if it's early. Just spare the vase." Hastily discarding the clothes he had been folding, Li Bai fled the dorm room in a state of panic.

Tang Jian placed the vase back on the table, heaving a sigh as he fixed his gaze upon a delicate white flower within it. "Look at this beautiful flower," he mused aloud. "Colorless, yet it captivates people's hearts. But in the end, these enchanting blossoms wither quickly, while the less attractive ones endure. What a pity." Carefully extracting the flower from the vase, he contemplated its fragility.

"I must complete this mission before it becomes a significant problem," Tang Jian muttered to himself, gently returning the flower to its original place. Determined, he made his way to the library, seeking a solution to his predicament. Today, however, the library teemed with activity as new students flooded in, filling the space with energy.

While searching for a book that might offer some insight, Tang Jian noticed a studious-looking student being bullied by a group of others. Normally, a hero would step forward to protect the weak and innocent in such situations. But Tang Jian was no hero. He ignored the incident, intending to walk away as if it never happened.

"Did you know that the bookworm being bullied is a genius in theory classes?" a voice spoke up amidst the murmuring crowd. "I heard he secured the top spot in the theory exam," chimed in another bystander. These words caught Tang Jian's attention, causing him to reconsider his course of action.

Tang Jian altered his plan and approached the bullies with a vexed expression. "What's all this commotion in the library? Why are you bothering someone who's minding their own business?" he exclaimed, frustration seeping into his voice.

Provoked by Tang Jian's words, one of the bullies stepped forward, sleeves rolled up. "What did you say, you little shit? A dwarf like you dares to challenge me?" he sneered.

"Hey! Are you mad? Can't you see the silver badge on his uniform or his age? He's Tang Jian, backed by the Hall Master of the Soul Cleansing Hall. The four of us are only bronze-level students. We'll be expelled if we lay a hand on him," one of the other bullies interjected, holding back the argumentative one.

Heeding his friend's advice, the aggressive bully quickly backed down, offering an apology to Tang Jian and his friends before hastily leaving the scene. Tang Jian saw no need to escalate the matter and allowed the bullies to depart with a simple warning.

Once they had gone, Tang Jian approached the bookworm, who appeared shaken but uninjured due to the library's rules against fighting. The bookworm's timidity stemmed from being a student in the theory class, dedicated to the martial scholar profession where students created and developed various basic martial arts, rather than practicing them physically.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Leaning in, Tang Jian extended a hand to help the bookworm up. "I'm Tang Jian. May I ask your name?" he asked, mustering a disingenuous smile.

Ding!

[You have gained 3 faith points from Zhao Zhiming and 7 faith points from the onlookers who witnessed your brave and righteous actions.]

"What... What is this about?" Tang Jian muttered, his confusion palpable.

"Huh? Did you say something, savior?" the bookworm inquired, adjusting his disheveled clothes and taking Tang Jian's hand.

Tang Jian lifted the bookworm, Zhao Zhiming, and replied, "It's nothing important. Don't mind me. By the way, you haven't told me your name yet. And why do you call me a savior?" Tang Jian asked politely, even though he already knew the bookworm's name. He had to ask to avoid suspicion.

"Pardon my rudeness. I'm Zhao Zhiming. As for why I call you a savior, you should figure it out if you think about it," Zhao Zhiming replied, his smile radiant.

Observing the crowd's admiring gazes fixed upon him, Tang Jian realized the significance of the notification he had received. It became clear that earning faith points involved more than just completing missions. Tang Jian's mind cleared of nonsensical thoughts, and he gently placed his hand on Zhao Zhiming's shoulder.

"You can always count on me to stand up against any bullies. Tang Jian will fight for the weak and innocent," he proclaimed, wearing a gentle smile that exuded righteousness.

Ding!

[You have gained 2 faith points from Zhao Zhiming and 4 faith points from the onlookers.]

Witnessing Tang Jian's heroic demeanor, Zhao Zhiming and the onlookers were fooled, perceiving him as a virtuous defender of the weak.

Little did they know the truth—Tang Jian scolded the bullies solely to win Zhao Zhiming's favor. Though Zhao Zhiming was only a theory specialist, he held the key to Tang Jian's current needs. Unexpectedly, Tang Jian's actions brought him an unforeseen benefit. Now, he could masquerade as a righteous person, earning faith points through deception. But was there another condition related to this faith value that had yet to come to light?

Returning to the present, Zhao Zhiming burst into tears, gripping Tang Jian's hand tightly. Concerned about the onlookers' perception of the weeping bookworm, Tang Jian inquired, "What's the matter? Why are you crying like this? What have I done to cause you such distress?"

"It's just... it's just that I've never received kindness like this before. From now on, I'll do anything you ask, Savior. Can I hug you right now?" Zhao Zhiming sobbed, tears streaming down his face.

Tang Jian felt repulsed by Zhao Zhiming's crying and the thought of being hugged, but he had to maintain the façade of a righteous person. Reluctantly, he replied, "Of course, why not? You can hug me for as long as you'd like."

The surrounding crowd started buzzing with gossip upon witnessing Tang Jian's compassionate actions. Some praised him, while others watched in silence.

"Ahem! May I ask for a favor, Student Zhao Zhiming?" Tang Jian politely interjected, pushing away from Zhao Zhiming.

Ceasing his tears, adjusting his slipping spectacles, Zhao Zhiming responded sternly, "Of course, you may ask for any favor, Savior Tang Jian. As I mentioned before, I will do anything you request."

Chuckling, Tang Jian replied, "You are truly a kind person, Student Zhao Zhiming. Let's discuss it over a meal in the cafeteria. Allow me to treat you to something delicious."

Zhao Zhiming nodded, countering, "I can accompany you to the cafeteria, but please allow me to treat you instead."

Agreeing to Zhao Zhiming's proposal, Tang Jian and Zhao Zhiming left for the cafeteria. As they departed, the crowd dispersed, still abuzz with discussion about the day's events.

As Tang Jian and Zhao Zhiming made their way to the cafeteria, Tang Jian couldn't help but reflect on the newfound strategy for earning faith points. It seemed that displaying acts of righteousness and helping those in need could provide him with a steady stream of faith points, even if his intentions were not entirely genuine. This realization opened up a whole new avenue for him to explore.

The cafeteria bustled with activity as Tang Jian and Zhao Zhiming found a quiet corner to sit. They ordered their meals and engaged in light conversation while they waited. Tang Jian couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This encounter with Zhao Zhiming presented an unexpected opportunity, and Tang Jian intended to make the most of it.

As their food arrived, Tang Jian took a moment to observe Zhao Zhiming. Despite his timid appearance, there was a certain spark in Zhao Zhiming's eyes—a hunger for knowledge and a determination to excel in his field. Tang Jian saw the potential for a mutually beneficial partnership.

Taking a bite of his food, Tang Jian decided to open up to Zhao Zhiming. "Zhao Zhiming, there's something I need to tell you. I have a secret objective here at the academy—a mission that could potentially change the course of my life. And I believe you can help me with it."

Zhao Zhiming's eyes widened in curiosity. "A secret mission? What does it entail? How can I assist you?" he asked, his voice filled with intrigue.