The Daxia Emperor fell silent for a few moments. Ignoring the Empress, he looked instead at Fang Chen.
"Fang Chen, do as Lady Xiao says."
Complex expressions flickered across the faces of the crowd. The guards, palace maids, and eunuchs were struck with terror, never expecting that even here within the imperial palace, they would suffer slaughter at the hands of people from the Qingsong Kingdom!
Clap, clap, clap—
Fang Chen gently applauded. "I can finally understand why Commander Xiao let me leave alive back then."
Goddess Xiao narrowed her eyes slightly.
She recalled her father's parting instructions:
Over the past five years, Fang Chen had suffered immense contempt and insults in Daxia. If he could be won over this time, even if he remained unable to practice martial arts, his allegiance could still contribute toward the Qingsong Kingdom's promotion to an eighth-rank empire—which was the very reason her father had spared his life in the first place.
Whether it succeeded or not would depend on the test: would he make the right choice? If he remained stubbornly devoted to serving Daxia heart and soul, he was to be executed on the spot.
Conversely, if he chose otherwise, they were to bring him back to the Qingsong Kingdom, treating him with proper respect along the way, for he would have seen through her father's intentions.
"Military God Fang, the time has come for you to make your choice. Shall the ones to die be the guards, the palace maids, or perhaps these young eunuchs?"
Goddess Xiao said with a faint smile.
The expressions of all the court officials were stern and heavy. Li Guozhu glanced at Fang Chen, then at the Daxia Emperor, before finally letting out a soft sigh and remaining silent.
Even if they saw through the Qingsong Kingdom's intentions, what of it? The current Daxia no longer possessed the strength to prevent any of this.
Right now, the Qingsong Kingdom was forcing Fang Chen to murder Daxia's own subjects, all to ensure that Fang Chen would become an outcast in Daxia and be completely stripped of his position as Military God!
"If I say that not a single one of them will die?"
Fang Chen said softly.
The Daxia Emperor's expression shifted slightly, and Li Guozhu and the others wore looks of astonishment. Logically speaking, Fang Chen should have understood the stakes involved; given the current situation, his only option was to follow the Qingsong Kingdom's wishes and buy another five years of national fortune for Daxia!
Chapter 9: You Disappointed Your Father
"You have disappointed your father."
Goddess Xiao's gaze turned abruptly cold as she glanced at the Wolf Army leader. Seeing this, the Wolf Army leader, who possessed Imperial Qi cultivation, immediately raised his powerful bow and took aim at Fang Chen.
Yet the next instant, Fang Chen raised his hand and waved it. A Purple Lightning Talisman was activated by spiritual energy, and a terrifying flash of lightning swept across the eyes of the crowd. With a loud boom, the Wolf Army leader was instantly reduced to a pile of charcoal.
Not only that, but several Wolf Army soldiers beside him were also caught in the blast, blown to ashes by the Purple Lightning Talisman!
An Imperial Qi expert was dead, along with several Qi Burst experts, and even their mount, a silver wolf, had not been spared!
This sight left everyone present completely dumbfounded.
What kind of terrifying method was this?!
Wasn't it said that Fang Chen's cultivation had been crippled, reducing him to a useless cripple? Why did he still possess such terrifying means, rendering even an Imperial Qi expert helpless against a single blow?!
"Impossible..."
You Longchang muttered to himself, his eyes filled with terror as he looked at Fang Chen.
"M-Military God Fang's cultivation hasn't been crippled?!"
An official cried out in an involuntary gasp.
Immediately following that, a glimmer of radiance suddenly appeared in the dim eyes of countless officials. They stared at each other in excitement, their shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Li Guozhu's stalwart frame shuddered. He stared fixedly at Fang Chen for several moments before a tear suddenly slipped from his eye, and he muttered to himself, "Daxia's national fortune is saved..."
The Daxia Emperor stared intently at Fang Chen, his expression shifting uncertainly.
The Empress covered her mouth, her eyes turning red with excitement.
"Your cultivation..."
Goddess Xiao's face turned pale.
"I have disappointed your father; my cultivation has not been crippled."
Fang Chen slowly opened his eyes, his grey-white pupils gazing at Goddess Xiao. "Though these eyes of mine can no longer see, it is still no trouble for me to lead troops into battle and slaughter the enemy."
"You actually endured in silence for five years... Why..."
Goddess Xiao found it somewhat hard to believe.
Pausing for a moment, she ordered sharply, "Kill him!"
A portion of the Wolf Army immediately drew their bows and took aim, while another portion urged their silver wolves to charge at Fang Chen. The killing intent within them could no longer be concealed, and in an instant, a thick aura of slaughter filled the surroundings.
A few more flashes of lightning flickered.
The Wolf Army soldiers charging toward Fang Chen were reduced to ashes, while the soldiers who had drawn their bows to aim gradually revealed a trace of terror in their eyes, their arms trembling slightly.
"Goddess Xiao, your father didn't kill me back then, and today I won't kill you either. Take your men and leave."
Fang Chen said indifferently.
He had already used up five Purple Lightning Talismans; the remaining five might not be enough to wipe out all of these Wolf Army soldiers. If the enemy insisted on a desperate fight to the death, his trump cards would be completely exhausted.
However, that probability was not very high.
Goddess Xiao's expression shifted repeatedly until she finally gritted her teeth and ordered her subordinates, "Let's go!"
She led the Wolf Army in a rapid retreat toward the palace gates.
Seeing this, the Daxia Emperor fell silent for a few moments before instructing You Longchang, "General You, go and see Lady Xiao off."
You Longchang nodded hurriedly and led a group to follow them out.
"Many thanks, Military God Fang, for saving our lives!"
Those few guards, palace maids, and eunuchs flipped over to kneel on the ground, kowtowing to express their gratitude to Fang Chen with immensely emotional expressions.
"Fang Chen, come to the Imperial Study!"
Leaving behind those words, the Daxia Emperor turned and walked away.
The civil and military officials looked at one another in dismay. They had not expected today's events to end in such a conclusion, but the news that Fang Chen's cultivation remained intact was indeed heartening!
Seeing this, the Empress hurried over to Fang Chen with small steps. "Chen'er, has your cultivation really recovered?"
"Auntie, that's a long story. How have you been in the palace these past few years? I haven't seen you come back to visit."
Fang Chen smiled.
The Empress's eyes dimmed as she nodded gently. "Everything is fine. I'm usually too busy with duties to get away, which is why I haven't come back to visit."
At this, the gloom in her heart vanished completely, and a smile appeared on her face. "Now that I know your cultivation has recovered, my heart is greatly comforted. Once you finish at the Imperial Study, I will speak with His Majesty and return to the Fang residence with you."
"Alright."
Fang Chen nodded slightly.
...
...
"Lord Fang, please enter."
Eunuch You, who had been extremely arrogant toward Fang Chen earlier, now wore a submissive expression and an immensely respectful face as he opened the doors to the Imperial Study, bowing at the waist to wait for Fang Chen to enter.
Fang Chen glanced at him and stepped into the Imperial Study. Only then did Eunuch You gently close the door, letting out a long breath and wiping his forehead, which was already covered in cold sweat.
Inside the Imperial Study, the Daxia Emperor sat quietly, his gaze fixed unblinkingly upon Fang Chen.
Fang Chen did not speak either, and the two of them remained quietly like that within the Imperial Study.
After a dozen breaths had passed, the Daxia Emperor suddenly broke the silence: "Fang Chen, when did your cultivation recover? The technique you used just now doesn't look like the Fang family's ancestral 'Mystic Heaven Art'."
"Your humble subject met a Daoist priest last year who taught me a few methods for conditioning the body. I originally thought it was just an ordinary longevity technique, but I never expected it to restore my humble subject's cultivation, and from it, I even comprehended a special martial skill called the Purple Lightning Palm."
Fang Chen cupped his fists, his words a mixture of truth and falsehood.
"A Daoist priest?! Where is that Daoist priest now?!"
The Daxia Emperor suddenly stood up, his expression somewhat agitated.
"Your humble subject only met him once; he must have gone wandering."
Fang Chen said.
"What a pity, what a pity. If you happen to see that Daoist priest again, remember to introduce him to Us; We have always been extremely interested in the Daoist arts."
The Daxia Emperor said.
With that, he paused for a moment. "This time, the Qingsong Kingdom forced Us to have you marry into the Xiao family. For the sake of Daxia's national fortune, We had no choice but to agree. Now that it's all settled and your cultivation has recovered, Commander Xiao will inevitably have misgivings as well, and they won't dare to stir up conflict with our Daxia again anytime soon."
He looked at Fang Chen, his eyes flickering. "You... won't blame Us, will you?"
"How could your humble subject fail to understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts? It was all for the billions of subjects of Daxia. If your humble subject had not recovered his cultivation, I would have gone to the Qingsong Kingdom with Goddess Xiao today."
Fang Chen cupped his fists in salute.
"As long as you understand, as long as you understand. However, since your cultivation has just recovered, you undoubtedly need to rest and recuperate for a while. From now on, don't run around everywhere; just stay properly at the Fang residence and build up your health."
The Daxia Emperor said.
"I will strictly obey the Holy Will."
Fang Chen nodded readily.
The Daxia Emperor, who had been observing his expression all along, suddenly smiled. "Very well, you may leave first."
Fang Chen left the Imperial Study, and Eunuch You eagerly stepped forward to lead him away.
As they walked halfway, they saw a group approaching from the opposite direction. The leader had a face as flawless as jade, wore purple robes, and exuded an air of supreme nobility and imperial dragon-like presence.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!?"
Eunuch You was somewhat surprised and hurriedly stopped to bow in greeting.
The purple-robed youth was indeed the current Crown Prince, though he was not the Empress's son, but rather born of Noble Consort Hua.
"I heard that Military God Fang's cultivation has fully recovered, and I am overjoyed. I have specially come to see Military God Fang."
Ignoring Eunuch You, the Crown Prince walked quickly up to Fang Chen and cupped his fists in a bow, yet his eyes kept wandering across Fang Chen's face, a hint of malice flashing in them from time to time.
He made no effort to conceal it, knowing that Fang Chen was blind and would not be able to see his expression.
"Your Highness, it has indeed been a long time since we last met. However, I am tired today and wish to return to my estate to rest first. We can chat another time."
Fang Chen smiled and brushed past the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince froze slightly. He turned around to look at Fang Chen's retreating back, his expression gloomy. After a long moment, a ruthless look flashed in his eyes as he whispered in a low voice:
"Go investigate what kind of people Fang Chen has been in contact with over the past five years. I want to know how his cultivation recovered!"
"Yes."
Chapter 10: I'll Be the First to Behead You
When Fang Chen walked out of the imperial palace, the Empress's ceremonial procession had already been waiting there for a long time. After calling Fang Chen onto the carriage, they headed together toward the Fang residence.
"Chen'er, has His Majesty restored you to your position as Marshal?"
The Empress asked softly.
Fang Chen smiled. "His Majesty told me to recuperate at the Fang residence, saying that since my cultivation has just recovered, I need to take some time to build up my health."
"Is that so..."
The Empress was somewhat disappointed.
"Auntie, has Noble Consort Hua been giving you trouble all this time?"
Fang Chen asked.
"Although the Crown Prince now honors me as his mother, he was born to Noble Consort Hua after all. Relying on this connection, she stirs up trouble everywhere within the inner palace. While she doesn't dare to openly provoke me, she has tested me time and time again; I'm afraid she has her eyes set on my position."
The Empress smiled.
Pausing, she added, "Look at me, why am I telling you all this? You have always disliked the deceit and scheming within the palace. Since His Majesty has told you to rest more at home, you should just take good care of your health."
Fang Chen smiled and said nothing.
He knew the Emperor's temperament inside and out.
Once upon a time, his reputation had reached its peak, and he was revered as Daxia's Military God. His standing in the hearts of the people even surpassed that of the Emperor, a fact that had already displeased the Emperor.
Yet Fang Chen had no choice; if he wanted to defeat the Qingsong Kingdom and the enemy nations eyeing Daxia with covetous eyes, he needed that exact reputation to ensure his orders were strictly obeyed by the army.
Now that his reputation had finally fallen to freezing point, how could the Emperor allow him to make a comeback? The position of Grand Marshal would likely never be given to him again.
Few people probably knew that the heavy defamation and gossip directed at him over the past five years had all been arranged by the Emperor himself.
On one occasion, when Fang Chen's spirit was wandering out-of-body, he had witnessed with his own eyes the Emperor instructing the Crown Prince to spread rumors in the markets of the Capital—claiming that the defeat at the Three Realms Mountain was caused by Fang Chen's desire for glory and failure to obey commands from the imperial palace.
"Even if I no longer command a thousand armies, with a cultivator's abilities, protecting Daxia from the harassment of the likes of the Qingsong Kingdom is still a simple matter.
As for court affairs, they will have nothing to do with me from now on. Once I advance to Foundation Establishment, I will head to the Three Thousand Taoist Gates in Zhongzhou to register."
Fang Chen pondered inwardly.
The might of the Purple Lightning Talisman had made its initial display. Though he was currently a mere practitioner of Qi Refinement Level 1, the talismans he crafted could effortlessly strike down Imperial Qi experts. Such methods were simply incomparable to anything a mere martial artist could achieve.
He greatly anticipated what kind of abilities he would possess after his cultivation improved, and he also yearned for the carefree days of wandering freely through the myriad realms with the out-of-body Nascent Soul of Senior Yunhe.
"This lowly one was wrong! This lowly one was wrong! I beg the lord to spare me! It was this lowly one who failed to watch the child properly. Please whip this lowly one instead, do not beat my child!"
A commotion suddenly broke out outside, accompanied by bitter cries for mercy.
The Empress frowned slightly. "What's happening outside?"
A palace maid lifted the curtain and said in a low voice, "It's a martial artist from the Qingsong Kingdom beating a peddler in the street."
A trace of terror flickered in her eyes.
"A martial artist from the Qingsong Kingdom?"
The Empress's expression grew somewhat solemn.
"Auntie, I'll go down and take a look."
Fang Chen stood up and got off the carriage.
The Empress was slightly startled, but remembering that Fang Chen's cultivation had already recovered, her heart relaxed, and she lifted the curtain to look outside.
She saw a peddler clutching the leg of a Qingsong Kingdom martial artist, crying bitterly for mercy. Sitting beside the peddler was a three-year-old child with a flushed cheek, weeping loudly as if having just been heavily slapped across the face.
A crowd of onlookers surrounded them, glaring with hatred at the scene, yet not daring to step forward to intervene.
"Your kid dirtied my boots. How about this, I'll just take one of your legs as compensation. Fair enough, right?"
"Spare my life, my lord, please spare my life! If this lowly one loses a leg, there will be no one to support the family, and all my old and young dependents will starve to death."
"That's none of my concern. What does it matter if a few more of you Daxia scum die?"
Hearing the contemptuous words of the Qingsong Kingdom martial artist, the crowd's anger surged straight to their heads.
The guards of the ceremonial procession clenched their fists so tightly their knuckles turned white, their eyes filled with killing intent.
"Military God Fang."
Seeing Fang Chen appear, the commander of the ceremonial guard hurried forward to cup his fists in salute.
Fang Chen nodded indifferently, then walked up to the Qingsong Kingdom martial artist. "I remember you. Your name is He Longsheng, right?"
"Military God Fang is here!"
The people's spirits lifted.
Although they might have spoken a word or two against Fang Chen over the years, the fact that Fang Chen had shown up here today meant this was definitely no small matter!
"Yo, isn't this our big son-in-law of the Xiao family? Have your marriage and the young lady's been finalized? When are you marrying over?"
Seeing Fang Chen, He Longsheng immediately grinned and joked.
Fang Chen ignored him and instead looked at the peddler kneeling on the ground. "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"Thank you! Thank you!"
The peddler repeatedly expressed his gratitude, hurriedly picked up the child, and fled the scene in a stumbling run.
He Longsheng was instantly angered and wanted to step forward to block them, but noticing that Fang Chen was staring fixedly at him, he felt a chilling sensation run down his spine and ultimately stopped himself.
He looked coldly at Fang Chen. "Big son-in-law, aren't you sticking your nose a bit too far into other people's business? You must remember, from now on you're a man of our Qingsong Kingdom—don't bite the hand that feeds you!"
"Hahaha, you guys probably don't know yet, but Fang Chen is about to become a son-in-law of the Xiao family! From now on, he'll have to call Commander Xiao 'Father'!"
"And you thought he'd stand up for you? Five years ago, your Military God Fang was already dead!"
Among the crowd, quite a few Qingsong Kingdom martial artists jeered tauntingly.
The surrounding citizens wore expressions ranging from bewilderment and rage to utter despair.
At that moment, You Longchang and his troop turned back. Spotting Fang Chen, he stepped forward with a mixture of doubt and anxiety. "Military God Fang, what is going on here?"
"Has Goddess Xiao been seen off out of the Capital?"
Fang Chen asked with a faint smile.
"She has been seen off."
You Longchang nodded.
Goddess Xiao had left? Then why hadn't Fang Chen gone with her? But wasn't Goddess Xiao supposed to have just arrived in the Daxia Capital today? Why would she leave on the very same day?
He Longsheng and the others felt somewhat puzzled.
"You keep calling me son-in-law left and right; you almost had me feeling embarrassed. Unfortunately, I have no fate to marry into the Xiao family, so I am still just myself."
Fang Chen looked at He Longsheng and smiled faintly.
"How could that be..."
He Longsheng was slightly stunned.
"You Longchang, lend me your sword."
Fang Chen held out his hand.
You Longchang froze for a moment. Subconsciously, he glanced at He Longsheng, the Qingsong Kingdom martial artist, and a sudden look of shock flashed in his eyes.
"Military God Fang..."
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Yes!"
You Longchang immediately unclasped the sword at his waist and handed it to Fang Chen.
"I once said that when I draw my sword again, the very first person I behead will be you, He Longsheng."
Fang Chen grasped the hilt and slowly drew the fine-quality longsword.
The Military God was going to behead a Qingsong Kingdom martial artist?!
At that moment, all the surrounding Daxia citizens revealed expressions of absolute shock, staring at Fang Chen in disbelief, while the Empress inside the carriage also gently widened her eyes.
He Longsheng froze for a second, then let out a sudden burst of laughter. "You're going to behead me? My backing is the Qingsong Kingdom!"
"Hahaha!"
After a moment of shock, the surrounding Qingsong Kingdom martial artists also burst into laughter, as if this was the funniest joke they had heard in five years.
Seeing this, He Longsheng couldn't help but stretch out his neck. "Come on, Military God Fang, hack right here. If I even make a peep, I'll..."
Slash!
A flash of sword light swept past.
He Longsheng's head parted from his body, landing heavily on the ground and rolling over a zhang away, fresh blood gushing like a fountain from his severed neck.
Chapter 11: After Today, the Heavens Will Change
The surroundings plunged into utter silence.
The Qingsong Kingdom martial artists who had been laughing a moment ago saw their smiles freeze stiffly on their faces, their eyes filled with disbelief, as if they had never imagined that Fang Chen would dare to truly kill someone from the Qingsong Kingdom.
You Longchang and his subordinates were completely dumbfounded.
The members of the Empress's ceremonial guard were struck dumb as wooden chickens.
The surrounding Daxia citizens covered their mouths, their eyes wide open.
Over the years, Qingsong Kingdom martial artists had run amok in the Capital, acting with total impunity. The citizens had witnessed such scenes countless times, and while they had often imagined tearing the perpetrators to pieces in their hearts, they knew it was an impossible feat.
Killing people from the Qingsong Kingdom would invite fierce retaliation from them, something the current Daxia simply could not endure!
Yet right before their eyes, they were watching a Qingsong Kingdom martial artist die by Fang Chen's hand.
Shock and bewilderment washed over them, but closely following was a surge of wild elation—it was overwhelmingly gratifying!
"Fang Chen, how dare you!"
A Qingsong Kingdom martial artist shouted in terrified anger.
Wielding his sword, Fang Chen walked toward him, and the surrounding citizens instinctively cleared a path.
Slash!
Another head hit the ground. This Qingsong Kingdom martial artist, possessing only Qi Condensation cultivation, had no power to resist whatsoever in Fang Chen's hands.
"You have some nerve! Such towering audacity! Aren't you afraid that my Qingsong Kingdom will utterly annihilate your Daxia nation and exterminate your bloodline!!"
The Qingsong Kingdom martial artists were filled with furious panic, screaming at the top of their lungs.
"Starting today, I do not want to see a single Qingsong Kingdom martial artist in the Daxia Capital."
Fang Chen said indifferently.
Amidst the crowd, several figures nodded softly upon hearing his words, moving like ghosts as they quietly slit the throats of the nearby Qingsong Kingdom martial artists.