The crowds were gripped by fervent agitation. Some people had already picked up objects from around them and were fiercely hurling them into the Ministry of War.
"Boil this head of Xiao En into soup! My son has a lung condition, and drinking it will surely cure him!"
Someone shouted out blindly, and immediately people began fighting over Xiao En's head.
In their eyes, the flesh and blood of such a villain possessed the power to purify the body and drive away the malignant diseases within them—truly fighting fire with fire!
Inside the Ministry of War, when Ye Dongming heard the servants report that someone had thrown stinking eggs in from the outside, his expression grew even gloomier. He dismissed everyone, leaving only Ye Qinghe behind.
"Qinghe, tell me, why."
Ye Qinghe gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Father, this is the Crown Prince's intent. Fang Chen wanted to kill the Qingsong Kingdom martial artist, so the Crown Prince wants to save him."
"Why would the Crown Prince go against Fang Chen?"
Ye Dongming frowned. "There is no benefit in doing this."
"The Crown Prince merely wants to let the people of the realm know that Fang Chen is wrong, and that not everything he does is right. Only when these people realize this can Fang Chen's rise to power be thoroughly cut off!"
Ye Qinghe said in a deep voice.
"Is the Crown Prince afraid that if Fang Chen regains his military power, it will endanger his—"
Ye Dongming's expression shifted slightly. "The Third Prince has all this time been a hostage in Qingsong Kingdom. Could it be... that he is coming back?"
Everyone in the world knew that Military God Fang and the Third Prince were exceptionally close. Five years ago, when Fang Chen was defeated, the Third Prince resolutely volunteered to go to Qingsong Kingdom as a hostage, with his only condition being that the Emperor must not punish Fang Chen.
Otherwise, the one who would have gone to Qingsong Kingdom back then would have been the current Crown Prince...
"The Crown Prince said that if Fang Chen truly recovers his cultivation, he will use every means possible to rescue the Third Prince back to Daxia. Perhaps... someone is already moving in the shadows."
Ye Qinghe said in a low voice.
"It seems you... really are terrified of Fang Chen."
Ye Dongming sighed softly.
Fang Chen's methods had indeed left a very heavy shadow over the younger generation of Daxia. In truth, how could it be any different for their older generation?
Otherwise, the Crown Prince would not have begun worrying about his position as heir simply because Fang Chen's cultivation had recovered.
Chapter 19: Hidden Dragon
The General Fang Residence.
"What?! Eldest brother was taken to Dahua Temple?!"
Fang Zhixue had originally been waiting for Fang Chen's return, but upon hearing the news that he had been dragged off to Dahua Temple, she immediately moved to rush out, only to be intercepted by Fang Canghai.
"What kind of chaos are you going to stir up? Stay right here!"
Fang Canghai said in a deep voice.
"Father, Mother, are you not worried at all?"
Fang Zhixue was stunned, and then looked toward Fang Cangyou and the Empress. "Second Uncle, Third Aunt?"
She had expected everyone to be extremely anxious, yet contrary to her expectations, including her parents, everyone remained calm and composed, as if Fang Chen had merely gone sightseeing on the Daxia River.
"The fact that your eldest brother recovered his cultivation this time without even telling us means he is secretly plotting something. Now that he has cleaned up the Qingsong martial artists in the Capital, nobody knows what his next move will be, nor can anyone guess it."
Fang Canghai said, "Even though I am his father, I do not know what is truly in his mind. So what we must do right now is not create trouble for him, especially you."
"Will Eldest Brother be subjected to harsh torture in Dahua Temple..."
Fang Zhixue's expression was filled with worry.
She knew what Fang Canghai said was right, but she simply could not help worrying about Fang Chen.
"Heh, who would dare? Not to mention that his Third Aunt is the current Empress, the very name Military God Fang is a golden signboard. Dahua Temple will only serve him fine food and drink while waiting for the Emperor to issue a decree."
Fang Cangyou chuckled. "Zhixue, sometimes I wonder if you are truly of our Fang family bloodline. Leaving aside comparing yourself to your eldest brother, you should at least learn how to use your brain to think through problems."
Fang Canghai and his wife cast a faint, lingering look at him.
Fang Zhixue instantly grew anxious and angry. "Second Uncle, you are humiliating me!"
"Alright, alright."
The Empress smiled and waved her hand. "Chen'er has recovered his cultivation and swept away the remnants of Qingsong Kingdom in the Capital. From now on, we won't have to watch those Qingsong Kingdom martial artists strutting around arrogantly in the Capital anymore. This is a joyous occasion."
"Right, this is a joyous occasion."
Fang Canghai stroked his beard and smiled.
"However..."
The Empress's tone shifted, a trace of faint sorrow appearing on her face. "It seems His Majesty has no intention of restoring Chen'er to his official post. In the future... I'm afraid he won't let Chen'er near the imperial court either."
Everyone was slightly startled.
Fang Cangyou let out a proud and cold laugh. "On what grounds?"
"Second Brother, don't speak recklessly."
Fang Canghai frowned and scolded him, then looked toward the Empress. "Third Sister, you need not worry over this matter. Everything depends on Chen'er himself. If he no longer wishes to rank himself in the imperial court, that might not necessarily be a bad thing."
His wife also nodded slightly. "I would rather Chen'er stopped leading troops in the future. Given his age, it is time he settled down and started a family, continuing the bloodline for our Fang family."
Standing behind Fang Cangyou, Xu Ge wore a peculiar expression as he weighed whether to tell Fang Chen about this—after all, his elders seemed to be planning a marriage match for him.
At that moment, a servant hurriedly walked in.
"Master, someone has come to apply as a tutor for our private school, claiming he was recommended by the heir!"
What?!
Recommended by Fang Chen?
Everyone, including Xu Ge, was stunned. A look of curiosity appeared in the Empress's eyes. "Call him over so we can take a look."
Before long, Tiema arrived before the main hall and cupped his fists in salute to Fang Canghai. "Tiema greets General Fang."
Except for Fang Zhixue, the expressions of everyone present turned incomparably bizarre.
"You are... Tiema, one of the two Qi-controlling martial artists of the Qingsong Elite Pavilion?"
Fang Canghai narrowed his eyes and asked.
The Empress looked Tiema up and down.
Fang Cangyou fell into deep thought.
Xu Ge was dumbstruck.
Fang Zhixue wore a blank expression. Wait, the Qingsong Elite Pavilion? Wasn't that a Qingsong Kingdom martial artist?!
Unconsciously, she let out a sharp cry and surged her Qi, preparing to strike.
Fang Canghai pulled her back and said earnestly, "You should ponder your second uncle's words from just now a bit more carefully."
"Father, he..."
Fang Zhixue pointed at Tiema, her expression anxious.
"Since he was introduced by your eldest brother, he is a member of our Fang family. Don't react just hearing the word Qingsong."
Fang Canghai said.
Only then did Fang Zhixue snap back to her senses. That seemed to make sense, didn't it?
"Mr. Tiema, as far as I know, you should be a subject of Qingsong Kingdom, correct?"
Fang Canghai probed cautiously.
"General Fang may not know this, but I am a native-born subject of Daxia. I was merely ordered in the past to go to Qingsong Kingdom and infiltrate the Wolf Army to pass information to Military God Fang."
Tiema said neither obsequiously nor defiantly.
The expressions of Fang Canghai and Fang Cangyou instantly changed. The two brothers exchanged glances and looked at Tiema with incomparably solemn expressions.
"You are... a Hidden Dragon?!"
"Indeed."
Tiema nodded slightly.
Hidden Dragon was the term used by Daxia for those specially sent to infiltrate enemy forces and relay intelligence back to Daxia.
Such people made immense sacrifices and faced extreme danger; out of ten Hidden Dragons, perhaps nine met a tragic end. Therefore, anyone chosen as a Hidden Dragon was invariably supremely elite and utterly loyal to Daxia.
If discovered by the enemy, their end was suicide. Some Hidden Dragons did not have time to take their own lives and would endure horrifyingly cruel torture before slowly dying...
Fang Canghai slowly raised his right arm, clenched his fist, and struck his chest.
Fang Cangyou did the same.
At that moment, both brothers performed the exact same gesture—this was the military salute of Daxia.
Tiema returned the salute.
At this moment, the women present remained quiet, maintaining an uncanny silence.
"Mr. Tiema, from now on you are the tutor of our Fang family school. You will need to look after the younger generation of the Fang family in the future."
Fang Canghai smiled with a laugh.
In the General's Residence, there were over a hundred children. Some of these children were collateral branches of the Fang family, while a portion were orphans of soldiers who had fallen in battle.
"You are too kind, this is what I ought to do."
Tiema said.
"Did Chen'er tell you to change your name?"
Fang Canghai asked.
Tiema shook his head slightly. "The heir said to keep this name. If anyone guesses it, let them guess."
"Hahaha, good."
Fang Canghai burst into laughter.
luego he summoned a servant to settle Tiema in. After Tiema departed, Fang Cangyou murmured thoughtfully:
"First the Wind and Cloud Sword, then Tiema—one at Peak Qi Burst, one at Early Qi Control. Even though the Wind and Cloud Sword can't compare to Tiema, Chen'er truly keeps his depths hidden. This foundation is even thicker than our Fang family's...
Early Qi Control, well, our family has gained yet another Early Qi Control expert!"
"Second Master, I am right behind you."
Xu Ge said.
"Am I not allowed to talk about you?"
Fang Cangyou snapped irritably.
He was clearly still holding a grudge against Xu Ge for ignoring his instructions that morning.
"Of course you can, Second Master, feel free to say whatever you like, I don't mind."
Xu Ge smiled.
Meanwhile.
Fang Chen had already arrived at Dahua Temple.
"Heh, isn't this our Military God Fang? I never expected that one day, you too would come to our Dahua Temple."
Directly ahead, a man in his thirties was walking toward them. He was dressed in dark profound garments and followed by a group of investigative officials of the same rank as Yuan Zhuang.
Among them were also the chief clerk and the prison warden.
The newcomer was none other than Li Huafeng, Junior Administrator of Dahua Temple, the principal official second only to the Temple Master.
At the same time, he was an old acquaintance of Fang Chen and one of his former mortal enemies in the Capital. His father was none other than the current Grand Chancellor, Li Guozhu!
Chapter 20: Old Huang, It's Me
The enmity between Li Huafeng and Fang Chen was, truth be told, quite simple.
Six or seven years ago, before Fang Chen had experienced the Battle of the Three Realms Mountain, he was only sixteen or seventeen at the time. Yet his martial arts cultivation was already beginning to show, and he had advanced to the Qi Control Realm early on!
Back then, Li Huafeng's status in the hearts of the Daxia people was the highest of all. At twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, Li Huafeng had already reached Mid Qi Control, making him unquestionably the top figure among the younger generation, surpassing even most of the older generation.
Li Huafeng had already taken office in Dahua Temple at that time, serving as Junior Administrator and personally trying countless high-ranking officials.
One day, he received intelligence that a certain military commander was colluding with Qingsong Kingdom. Li Huafeng personally went to the military camp to drag the man back to Dahua Temple.
Unexpectedly, this commander had an unyielding spine. Regardless of the various forms of torture Li Huafeng applied, he steadfastly refused to admit he was a treasonous traitor, and ultimately, unable to bear the humiliation, he bit his tongue and committed suicide.
This commander had served as Fang Chen's mentor for a period of time, and was also a fierce, brave warrior under Fang Canghai's command.
After he bit his tongue and died, Fang Canghai flew into a rage, immediately petitioning the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the matter.
It was later verified that someone held a grudge against this commander and had fabricated evidence to frame him.
On the day of the commander's funeral procession, Fang Chen, who was only sixteen or seventeen, personally carried the coffin, only to cross paths halfway with Li Huafeng, who had come to offer condolences.
Instead of feeling the slightest bit of guilt, Li Huafeng had mocked the deceased commander for being rash, claiming his suicide made matters even more complicated.
That day, Fang Chen struck.
And that day, Daxia finally discovered that a youth much younger than Li Huafeng already possessed the cultivation of Peak Qi Control!
How could Li Huafeng, at Mid Qi Control, be a match for Fang Chen? That very day, his four limbs were broken by Fang Chen, and a portion of his Qi ocean was shattered. From that day onward, Li Huafeng's cultivation regressed to Peak Qi Burst, never to advance another inch!
Had Grand Chancellor Li Guozhu not rushed over with reinforcements, Li Huafeng's life likely would have ended right in Fang Chen's hands.
Ever since, the two had become mortal enemies.
Li Huafeng would occasionally stir up minor troubles for Fang Chen, and Fang Chen would take them on one by one. In the end, the one who always suffered losses was Li Huafeng.
"I never expected that after all these years, you are still the Junior Administrator of Dahua Temple."
Fang Chen grinned and said.
Li Huafeng's expression shifted repeatedly. Perhaps to ordinary people, this position of his was already beyond reach.
Yet to him, it was far from enough!
His heart belonged to the military; he too wanted to take to the battlefield and match wits and strength with the Qingsong Kingdom martial artists. Regrettably, Fang Chen had cut off that desire and destroyed his brilliant future.
Therefore, Fang Chen's words were a public humiliation.
"A dead duck has a hard beak. If your fists were as hard as your mouth back then, you wouldn't have suffered such a miserable defeat at the Three Realms Mountain."
Li Huafeng sneered, unwilling to waste any more words with Fang Chen. He immediately ordered the prison warden by his side to take Fang Chen down into the dungeons, leaving the case to be tried at a later date!
In the Dahua Temple prison, the inmates saw a newcomer arrive and grew as excited as a group of monkeys. Some began shouting threats, while others offered sarcastic, cynical jeers.
"This Dahua Temple prison really isn't small. It holds all sorts of people."
Fang Chen glanced over roughly; this prison held at least a hundred people, and according to Dahua Temple's rules, those imprisoned all held some degree of official standing.
"This cell is yours."
The guiding warden pushed open a cell door. Inside were already six or seven prisoners of varying ages, their only commonality being exhausted, haggard faces.
They cast a cold, indifferent glance at Fang Chen without a word. Clearly, they did not recognize his identity.
"Warden, I've already instructed my servants to send some things over. Can you help me bring them here?"
Fang Chen said calmly.
The warden was slightly startled. "What things?"
"Nothing much, just a wolf-hair brush, a bit of cinnabar, and a stack of talisman paper."
Fang Chen said calmly.
The warden wore a peculiar expression. Was this Military God Fang before him planning to draw talismans? He thought for a moment, then shook his head, his tone turning somewhat cold:
"The prison has its rules, unless Senior Administrator Huafeng gives the word."
"You are Li Huafeng's man."
Fang Chen said calmly.
"Senior Administrator has shown me immense kindness."
The warden nodded indifferently, then turned and walked away.
After he left, the prisoners became even more active.
An inmate in the opposite cell mocked Fang Chen, "Kid, you want to draw talismans in the Dahua Temple prison? I've been locked up here for so many years, and your request is a first. Interesting, truly interesting, hahaha!"
"Kid, you look so young, what offense did you commit to get thrown in here? Anyone who can enter Dahua Temple is no simple figure. Who else is left in your family?
Do they have connections to bail you out?"
Some inmates wanted to probe Fang Chen's background.
The prisoners sharing the cell with Fang Chen also spoke up. "The prison has its rules. Since you're the new guy, cleaning the night-soil bucket will be your job from now on."
"Clean the night-soil bucket?"
Fang Chen glanced at the corner of the cell and chuckled lightly.
"What are you all making a racket about? Won't you even let people sleep?"
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice rang out.
The noisy din of the crowd instantly quieted down, and they turned their gazes toward the deep recesses of the cell block.
"Another newcomer has arrived, eh?"
That voice sounded again. "Newcomer, state your name!"
"Why aren't you hurrying to state your name? Do you know who that speaker is? That's one of the Four Dragon Generals under Military God Fang himself!"
Seeing that Fang Chen remained silent, someone could not help urging him.
"Back then, those Four Dragon Generals were truly majestic. What a pity that in the battle of Three Realms Mountain five years ago, three of them died directly, and the only survivor was locked up here in Dahua Temple. It's been a full five years, and his case has yet to be tried in court."
Someone muttered softly.
"Old Huang, it's me."
Fang Chen said softly.
Old Huang?!
The crowd stared at Fang Chen in disbelief. Had this kid grown tired of living? How dare he address that person by such a name! They knew full well that even the warden in charge of the cell block had to respectfully address him as General Huang!
That voice fell silent for a long moment, then erupted like a thunderclap: "Marshal?! How did they drag you into this place too?! Ahhh, damn them, they deserve to die!"
Boom—
It sounded as though a prison cell had been smashed apart by brute force, the massive roar causing pain to well up on people's faces and compelling them to cover their ears.
The next moment, a figure as massive as a small mountain appeared before Fang Chen.
The crowd was shocked.
This figure stood a full half-head taller than ordinary people, with arms as thick as an adult man's waist. Though clad in prison garb, he exuded an aura that inspired awe, making no one dare harbor the slightest shred of contempt.
His round eyes stared fixedly at Fang Chen. "Marshal, how dare they drag you into this place! They lied to me—I'm going to slaughter them all and take you out of here!"
Marshal?!
The prisoners who had just been mocking Fang Chen all fell silent. They knew what the word "Marshal" meant when spoken from this man's mouth.
"This youth turns out to be... Military God Fang?!"
"What happened outside?! Why was Military God Fang locked up?"
Shock bloomed across everyone's faces.
At the same time, the prison guards in the cell block rushed over in swarms, staring in extreme terror at the giant. Daring not step forward, they could only puff out their chests and bark in a frail tone of bluster:
"General Huang, return to your cell at once!"
Chapter 21: Innate Divine Strength!
"If you dare utter another half-syllable of nonsense, I'll slaughter the lot of you!"
The giant turned to glare at the guards. His eyes were bloodshot, and the killing intent within them had practically materialized into sharp blades, pricking the guards' scalps until they went numb and their legs turned to jelly!
"Old Huang, I came in of my own accord, it has nothing to do with them."
Fang Chen smiled.
This former subordinate of his was still the exact same as before, without a single change. Even in a place like this, not only had he not lost weight, but he seemed even sturdier than before.
Huang Sihai—an ordinary man who had never practiced martial arts, yet possessed innate divine strength comparable to a Qi Control powerhouse—had once been one of the Four Dragon Generals under his command.
In that brutal massacre, three of the Four Dragon Generals had died, and while he too had suffered grievous injuries, his constitution was stubbornly tough. Not only did he survive, but within a short half-year he had completely healed without lingering chronic ailments.
"Marshal, I..."
"I am no longer the Marshal. Call me the heir."
"Heir, I only stayed here obediently because they told me that if I did, they wouldn't touch you, His Majesty wouldn't touch you... they lied to me!"
Huang Sihai stared fixedly at Fang Chen, the fury in his eyes impossible to suppress.
"What?!"
"General Huang stayed in the prison and never escaped... precisely because of this reason?"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They knew deep down that keeping Huang Sihai locked up in this prison was virtually impossible.
"They didn't lie to you. For these past five years, indeed no one has come to harass me."
Fang Chen smiled.
Because of him, countless people had silently endured various constraints over the past five years. Tiema was one of them, and Huang Sihai was another.
Now, he was going to shatter this situation with his own hands.
"Heir, since that is the case, why did you enter this place? Was it that fellow Li Huafeng?"