Chapter 6

The surrounding guards were at a loss, but finally knelt on the ground with lowered heads, awaiting Fang Chen's verdict. "Perhaps you would rather be a citizen of Qingsong. In your next life, remember to be reincarnated properly and do not come to Daxia again." Fang Chen smiled faintly. Li Huang suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with venomous malice: "Fang Chen, do you really want to kill me? If you kill me, my aunt will not let you off! Don't think that because you are the Military God you can act without restraint; the Emperor has long regarded you as a thorn in his side!" Splat! Tiedama swept his sword out, cutting Li Huang in half at the waist in a single instant.He did not die on the spot, but the bone-piercing agony and the certain knowledge of his impending doom were to Li Huang a torture akin to descending into the purgatory! "Aah! Aah!" Li Huang shrieked in agonizing pain. The guards beside him stood motionless, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads. "Serving a tyrant, you cannot be spared either." Tiedama sneered and beheaded the guards. "Fang Chen! The Emperor was not wrong about you! You harbored rebellious intentions long ago, secretly cultivating elite assassins. Hahaha, even as a ghost I will not let you go! If the Emperor learns of this, you will soon be coming to keep me company, coming to keep me company! You will never know how terrifying the Emperor truly is, hahaha!" Li Huang laughed like a madman, looking at Fang Chen with eyes full of derision. Moments later, his laughter grew fainter, and a layer of ash gradually covered his eyes. Li Huang was dead. "Have you arranged an identity for yourself in the Capital?" Fang Chen looked at Tiedama. "Not yet." Tiedama said in a low voice. "Good, go to my Fang family's private school." Fang Chen said with a faint smile. "Thank you, Heir!" Tiedama was somewhat excited. This way, he would be able to see the Heir often! Fang Chen walked out of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion alone. By now, the place was surrounded by countless commoners and Daxia martial artists, who were questioning one another, eager to know what had happened here. "You still don't know? The Military God Fang led men and charged right in! I heard the master of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion has already been beheaded!" "There is such a thing!?" "It's the absolute truth!" "Then what are we waiting for!" A scholar rolled up his sleeves and roared as he charged into the Qingsong Superior Pavilion. Immediately after, a peddler handed his child to his wife, his eyes red as he brandished a carrying pole and charged toward the Qingsong Superior Pavilion. More and more people rushed inside—ordinary Daxia commoners, soldiers clad in leather armor, and martial artists wielding swords across the jianghu. They had different backgrounds, but at this very moment, they shared only a single identity. Subjects of Daxia! Before long, a fire was set inside the Qingsong Superior Pavilion. The flames blazed fiercely, and everyone retreated outside, leaving not a single Qingsong Kingdom martial artist to be seen. "Military God Fang, the Qingsong Kingdom martial artists inside are all dead, but some escaped." You Longchang looked at the raging flames of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion and said in a low voice. "Tonight is a sleepless night." Fang Chen said softly, with a faint smile.

Chapter 14: Beyond Reach

The nights in the Capital of Daxia were extremely lively and bustling. Although the defeat five years ago had severely crippled Daxia's vitality, the extravagant and decadent lifestyle had instead intensified. When night fell, rows of charming and dazzling lanterns would light up along Daxia's largest river, the Daxia River, and the sweet singing of courtesans drifted from the multi-storied boats and pavilions. This was the favorite haunt of Qingsong Kingdom's martial artists, but tonight's patrons discovered that the usually lavish and overbearing Qingsong martial artists had all vanished without a trace. Just as people were wondering, someone brought word that the Qingsong Superior Pavilion had been wiped out by Fang Chen and his men. This news instantly made tonight in Daxia anything but ordinary! Where did news spread the fastest? Naturally, in taverns and teahouses, but none of these places could compare to the pleasure quarters. Once news appeared here, it would spread like the plague, reaching nobles at the top and common laborers at the bottom—everyone knew of it. Inside the Daxia River's most famous pleasure boat, the "Fairy Yu Boat," seven or eight young gallants were seated. They had booked the entire pleasure boat, spending money with extreme extravagance, all because their backgrounds were quite extraordinary. "Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on Fang Chen's actions this time?" A handsome young man opened his folding fan and shook it gently, appreciating the dozen or so courtesans dancing gracefully before him, while speaking casually to the others. This handsome youth was Ye Qinghe, son of the Minister of War, and he held the highest-ranking father among the young gallants present, which placed him at the head of the table. "I say this move of his is utterly reckless! Although I heard from my family that today in the imperial palace, Fang Chen displayed extraordinary methods, slaying a Wolf Army leader with a single blow and driving Goddess Xiao out of the Capital, he should remember that at the height of his former glory, he was still defeated by Wolf General Xiao!" "Indeed, and now he is slaughtering the Qingsong Kingdom martial artists in the Capital. If word reaches Qingsong Kingdom, I'm afraid Wolf General Xiao will take action immediately, and we don't know how much Daxia will have to pay in reparations to appease his fury." "You Longchang of the West Tiger Camp is truly insane to act alongside him. Didn't he think that if those Qingsong martial artists could be killed, the Emperor would have made a move already? Speaking of which, why hasn't the Emperor's side made the slightest reaction?" "Not only has the Emperor not reacted, but all sides seem to be watching the show. But if they watch to the end, I'm afraid they'll invite disaster upon themselves. Brother Ye, what did Minister Ye say?" "My father only said one thing: wait and see how the situation develops." Ye Qinghe said indifferently. "It seems... Fang Chen's past prestige still deeply terrifies many people. If he had truly become a cripple, it would be one thing, but now his cultivation has actually recovered..." "I believe Daxia's greatest mistake in the past was letting Fang Chen rank above the Ministry of War, and even above the Emperor! That led to his megalomania, which ultimately destroyed six hundred thousand of Daxia's soldiers!" "Brother Ye, I heard that your martial arts have greatly progressed recently, and the soldiers of all the Capital camps hold you in high regard. Why don't you step forward and replace Fang Chen!?" Someone looked at Ye Qinghe with expectant eyes. "My cultivation has indeed improved. By some good fortune, I met a wandering Daoist while traveling, who bestowed upon me a Golden Core. After swallowing it, my cultivation increased quite a bit." Ye Qinghe chuckled lightly. "Compared to Fang Chen, however, I am still far behind." "Far behind..." Hearing these words, everyone's memories flashed back five years. At that time, the most popular saying in the Capital was: "Look at Fang Chen; we are truly left far behind!" "However... Fang Chen's actions do run counter to the current situation, so I ask you all to speak with your families and help me spare one person's life. As long as he lives, Fang Chen's actions today will still have room for maneuvering." Ye Qinghe smiled. The others were slightly startled, curiosity showing on whose life could be so momentous as to change the events of today. Ye Qinghe stood up and looked outside the hall: "Brother Xiao, please come in. These brothers of mine will not betray you." A gloomy-looking young man walked in from outside the hall, and at the sight of him, everyone's expressions shifted. The newcomer was none other than Xiao Tianci's son, Xiao En! They never expected that Xiao En was still alive, let alone appearing on the Fairy Yu Boat. Connecting this to Ye Qinghe's earlier words, everyone immediately understood Ye Qinghe's intention. "Brother Ye, I am grateful for your help. If not for you, I'm afraid I would have died on the streets of the Daxia Capital as well." Xiao En cupped his fists, a trace of self-deprecation on his face: "When I return to Qingsong, I will remember this kindness." "Brother Xiao is too polite. None of us agree with Fang Chen's actions. Now Daxia and Qingsong should unite like friends, not resort to mutual slaughter; that benefits neither side." With that, Ye Qinghe laughed loudly: "Why hasn't Fairy Yu come up on stage to dance yet? I am hosting honored guests today, so do not neglect them!" While inviting Xiao En to sit and introducing him to the youths at the table, a woman in white with bare feet slowly entered the hall and began to dance gracefully on the stage. The woman in white possessed stunning beauty, skin whiter than snow, eyes like stars; every smile and frown was intoxicating, and every movement carried an otherworldly immortal grace. A look of infatuation appeared in Ye Qinghe's eyes, his gaze closely following the white-clad woman's movements. "As expected of Fairy Yu, the most famous courtesan on the Daxia River; this dance truly is as ethereal as an immortal's." Xiao En's gaze was cold. The beauty before him did not dispel his exhaustion from today; instead, it reminded him of the sight of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion burning in raging flames. He clenched his fists slightly. This debt—Qingsong would surely repay it!

While the Daxia River was filled with song and dance, battles were being fought across the Daxia Capital. One by one, Qingsong Kingdom martial artists found themselves with nowhere to run, dying beneath a flurry of blades. As dawn began to break, in the ruined courtyard of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion, Fang Chen sat quietly on an unburned stone stool, talisman papers laid out before him. In the span of a single night, he had produced many more Purple Lightning Talismans, bringing his total to sixteen. Aside from the Purple Lightning Talismans, he had tested the Swift Wind Talisman, Vajra Talisman, and Might Talisman, producing three of each. Their manufacturing difficulty was far lower than that of the Purple Lightning Talisman. "My spiritual qi is about twice as thick as before. It seems I can attempt to condense the second immortal meridian tomorrow and advance to Qi Refinement Level 2." Putting away the talismans on the table, a figure rushed over from afar—it was You Longchang, covered in blood. He felt as though he were dreaming, that one day he would actually be able to take orders directly from Fang Chen and execute Qingsong Kingdom martial artists one by one. "Military God Fang, we can no longer find any trace of Qingsong Kingdom martial artists. Counting the numbers, we are short of the two you mentioned." You Longchang said in a low voice: "One is Tiedama, a Qingsong Kingdom Imperial Qi master, and the other is Xiao En, son of Xiao Tianci. These two seem to have vanished into thin air; no matter how we look, they cannot be found." "I already know where they are, so leave them to me. General You must be tired, go back and rest." Fang Chen said with a faint smile.

Chapter 15: Mere Mortals, How Can They Compare to the Heir?

You Longchang was indeed exhausted. Without saying anything further, he respectfully bowed and turned to leave. Silently, a figure appeared by Fang Chen's side. Looking at Fang Chen with a trace of heartache, she walked up slowly and stood behind him, gently massaging his shoulders. "Heir, Ye Qinghe has sheltered Xiao En. It seems he wants to use this person to curry favor with Qingsong Kingdom and deal with you in passing." "You didn't need to come personally; I've already received the news. If someone sees you here, wouldn't the Daxia commoners tear me apart alive?" Fang Chen smiled. A blush appeared on the woman's face: "What are you saying, Heir..." "You are Fairy Yu; the people who like you could form a queue from the Daxia Capital all the way to the gates of the Qingsong Xiao family." Fang Chen said. "These mere mortals, how can they compare to the Heir?" Fairy Yu snorted. "Heir, Tiedama has already returned to the ranks. When can I complete my mission and return to your side? Even if it's just being a maid by your side, beating your back, massaging your shoulders, or washing your feet, that would be better than putting on a forced smile in front of those sickening wretches." "That day won't be long now." Fang Chen smiled, then took out a Swift Wind Talisman, a Vajra Talisman, and a Might Talisman, handing them to Fairy Yu: "Your cultivation has not yet reached the Qi Burst Realm, and these are troubled times. If you encounter any danger, trigger them with your inner qi; they can help you." A martial artist's inner qi could not directly activate talismans, but Fang Chen had already embedded his own spiritual power into them beforehand. All it took was inner qi to stir that spiritual power for them to activate. "This is!?" A look of intense curiosity appeared in Fairy Yu's eyes. "Talismans. Your Heir has attained success in the Dao; you could say I've forged a new path." Fang Chen said with a faint smile. After a brief pause: "Someone is coming, you should leave." "Then I will take my leave." Fairy Yu put away the talismans and slipped away quietly. Although her cultivation was not high, her lightness skill was remarkably profound. In the distance, Xu Ge pushed a wheelchair over slowly. As the sun gradually rose, the surrounding onlookers and commoners slowly grew in number. Seeing Fang Chen still lingering amidst these ruins, a hint of confusion arose in their hearts. "Chen'er, who are you waiting for here?" In the wheelchair, Fang Chen's second uncle, Fang Cangyou, smiled faintly. Yesterday, the Empress arrived at the Fang residence, and everyone in the Fang family had learned that Fang Chen's cultivation had recovered and that he had driven Goddess Xiao out of the Capital. Afterwards, they also learned that Fang Chen had led men to wipe out the Qingsong Kingdom martial artists in the Capital, so the entire Fang household had been busy throughout the previous night as well. Fang Cangyou had not returned yet; once matters were settled, he had asked Xu Ge to bring him to find Fang Chen. "Xu Ge, why did you bring Second Uncle to this place?" Fang Chen frowned slightly. "Send Second Uncle back to the estate." "Yes." Without a second word, Xu Ge pushed Fang Cangyou and turned to leave. "Hey, wait!" Fang Cangyou hurriedly called out. Yet Xu Ge only obeyed Fang Chen's commands, completely ignoring Fang Cangyou's words. "Chen'er, let me finish speaking before leaving." Fang Cangyou said angrily. "Second Uncle, go ahead." Fang Chen nodded slightly toward Xu Ge, and Xu Ge immediately halted. "I have some connections at Dahua Temple. No matter what, I used to hold a position there. I'll stay here with you and wait for the people from Dahua Temple." Fang Cangyou said in a deep voice: "With me here, they won't dare to act presumptuously." He had already guessed who Fang Chen was waiting for here. Yesterday's events had elicited no response from the palace or various factions, but once dawn broke, a silent slaughter would inevitably follow—and Fang Chen was at the very core of this slaughter! "Xu Ge, send Second Uncle back to the estate." Fang Chen said with a faint smile. Fang Cangyou flew into a rage, but no matter how he cursed, Xu Ge turned a deaf ear, quickly pushing him away from the area. Just as they disappeared around the street corner, from the other side, Dahua Temple soldiers and horses surrounded the burned-out ruins of the Qingsong Superior Pavilion. Black-clad constables holding steel sabers maintained a vigilant stance. Among them, an official from Dahua Temple, whose rank was clearly higher, walked up to Fang Chen with a few constables. "Military God Fang." The Dahua Temple official cupped his fists in salute. "Here is a list. Keep it; the names checked off on it are already dead, so you can match them one by one." Fang Chen handed the other party a sheet of paper covered in writing. He had written this during a break while making talismans. Tiedama's name was also strikingly included, and had already been checked off. The Dahua Temple official took the list and glanced at it, his complexion gradually turning somewhat pale. The constables beside him exchanged glances, looking at Fang Chen with a trace of awe. "Over a thousand Qingsong Kingdom martial artists... and only one remains alive..." The Dahua Temple official gave a bitter smile: "Military God Fang, you are making things very difficult for us. I received orders to come and arrest you, take you to Dahua Temple for detention, and await interrogation." Dahua Temple was Daxia's judicial institution. Unlike the Ministry of Punishments, Dahua Temple only dealt with those holding high positions, and its temple master was always held by a direct member of the imperial family. The current temple master was none other than the reigning Daxia Emperor's own younger brother, the Fifth Prince. "There's still one I haven't killed yet." Fang Chen said with a faint smile. "Once he is dead, how about I go with you to Dahua Temple?" The Dahua Temple official smiled bitterly: "Military God Fang, please don't make things difficult for me. If I fail to take you in today, I will be held accountable." "Did the Temple Master say what time I must be brought back?" Fang Chen smiled. "Uh..." The Dahua Temple official was slightly stunned, seeming to recall that the Temple Master had not specified a time. "He didn't say? That's good then. I will go back with you today. If you're worried, you can come along with me." Fang Chen rose and walked away. "Sir, what are we doing now?" A constable asked in a low voice. "I wouldn't dare to forcefully take someone by force, but since Military God Fang said he would return with us once matters are settled, let's just be a little patient." The Dahua Temple official said in a low voice. Just at that moment, a constable hurried over and reported in a low voice: "Sir, Lord Li's son, Li Huang, was also at the Qingsong Superior Pavilion—he has already been cut in half at the waist..." "Things are getting troublesome." The Dahua Temple official muttered to himself, then immediately led his men to follow Fang Chen. As they walked along, they suddenly found the surroundings somewhat familiar, and Fang Chen stopped in front of a manor gate. "Isn't this... the Minister of War's residence?!" The Dahua Temple official was completely dumbfounded. At that moment, Fang Chen had already knocked on the gates of the Minister of War's residence. Inside the Minister of War's residence, the family was partaking in breakfast. The Minister of War, Ye Dongming, sat at the head of the table. Adhering to the rule of silence during meals, the entire family remained quiet. "Sir... Military, Military God Fang is at the door knocking..." An old servant rushed over in a panic, his expression flustered. Clatter. Rice bowls dropped from the hands of quite a few people onto the table, but they immediately snapped out of it, steadied themselves, and turned collectively toward Ye Dongming. Why was Fang Chen here? Wasn't this god of slaughter killing Qingsong martial artists last night? Why come to the Minister of War's residence? Could it be because of that matter from years ago? Ye Qinghe feigned calmness and looked at Ye Dongming: "Father, should we see him or not?" "Why has Fang Chen come to see this old man?" Ye Dongming frowned slightly, pondered for a few moments, and then slowly stood up: "Let's go see him. I want to know what he's up to."

Chapter 16: Every Obstruction

"Fang Chen ran off to the Minister of War's residence?" "Could he still be holding a grudge over that incident back then? But you can't blame Ye Dongming for that; it was a subordinate's mistake that caused the military rations meant for Fang Chen to be shipped elsewhere..." "Is there any news from the Emperor's side? Why hasn't Dahua Temple taken Fang Chen down? Why are they still letting him run around?" At this moment, the higher-ups in the Daxia Capital were keeping a close eye on Fang Chen's movements, each dispatching people to investigate so they could receive news at the first possible moment. The gates of the Minister of War's residence slowly opened. Ye Dongming, accompanied by his family, exchanged a silent gaze with Fang Chen. "Does Military God Fang think Xiao En is hiding in the Minister of War's residence?" A look of shock flashed in the eyes of the Dahua Temple official. Logically speaking, the Minister of War had no reason to harbor remnants of Qingsong Kingdom martial artists, especially since Fang Chen was the one hunting them down. Hiding someone wouldn't that be making an enemy of Fang Chen? "Military God Fang, it has been a long time. Ever since you stopped attending morning court, seeing you has been as difficult as ascending to the heavens. However, before long, we will be able to see each other in the imperial court again. I wonder what brings Military God Fang here today?" Ye Dongming was silent for a few moments before slowly speaking. The members of the Ye family were also sizing Fang Chen up. Compared to five years ago, Fang Chen seemed to have lost much of his sharpness, nor did he appear as youthful as he once had.