Yuan Yu looked at Fang Chen, a profound sense of shock rippling through her heart. So Military God Fang was truly as incomparably young as the rumors suggested, and exceedingly handsome to boot...
"Elder Brother has a small matter to consult them about."
Fang Chen smiled, then turned to Yuan Zhuang. "Take your subordinates, let's go."
Yuan Zhuang hurriedly beckoned to Yuan Yu. "Cousin... Yuan Yu, let's go. We have business to attend to!"
With a bewildered expression, Yuan Yu followed behind the two men.
Seeing that Fang Chen had completely ignored her, Fang Zhixue immediately gave chase. "Elder Brother, what are you guys going to do?! I'm coming too!"
Chapter 34: Kuilong Street
"Don't be ridiculous. Elder Brother is going on official business; why would you tag along?"
Fang Chen chided.
"Elder Brother, you haven't taken me out for years. Remember when we were little, you used to sneak me out to buy candied hawthorns..."
Tears welled up in Fang Zhixue's eyes immediately, making her look pitiful and forlorn.
Yuan Zhuang and Yuan Yu awkwardly rubbed their hands together.
"Hmm..."
Fang Chen thought carefully. It seemed... he really hadn't taken Fang Zhixue out onto the streets in all these years.
"Let's go, but don't run around. I am actually here on business today."
Fang Chen sighed helplessly and nodded.
"Fantastic! Let's go, let's go, let's go!"
The tears in Fang Zhixue's eyes instantly vanished. She stepped forward, hooked her arm through Fang Chen's, and looked as happy as if she had just picked up ten taels of gold!
This left the brother and sister Yuan Zhuang and Yuan Yu utterly dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe.
"Forgive me for making a spectacle of you two."
Fang Chen smiled wryly at Yuan Zhuang and his sister.
"Not at all, not at all!"
Yuan Zhuang waved his hands repeatedly.
A sudden thought popped into Yuan Yu's mind: Military God Fang is so terribly polite.
The four of them walked out of the Fang Estate together, where a carriage was already waiting. The one driving was none other than Xu Ge.
The Capital of Daxia was divided into the inner and outer cities. Fang Chen lived in the inner city, while the outer city was split into over thirty streets. The place they were heading to was called Kuilong Street, located quite close to the suburbs and coincidentally near the East City Gate, which was currently the jurisdiction where Fang Canghai served.
"Young Lord, once we arrive at Kuilong Street in a moment, please bear with it somewhat. The neighborhood isn't particularly peaceful. How about Xu Ge and I go ahead in the carriage to scout things out?"
Seeing that they were nearly at Kuilong Street, the surrounding buildings grew increasingly dilapidated, forming a sharp contrast with the prosperity of the inner city. The commoners on the road wore ragged clothes and numb expressions.
"This is still the Capital. What about the commoners outside the Capital..."
Fang Chen inwardly let out a silent sigh. He had once sworn to change something, but later found out how immensely difficult it was—relying on himself alone, it was entirely impossible.
Yet even so, he had never given up; he wouldn't in the past, and he certainly wouldn't now!
"Since we've arrived, naturally we should all go take a look."
Fang Chen smiled calmly at Yuan Zhuang. "You needn't worry. Do you really take me for a delicate person of high birth who avoids any hint of danger?"
Yuan Zhuang suddenly remembered that the youth before him was no ordinary person; he was a ruthless veteran who had fought countless battles back and forth across the battlefield!
"Young Lord, we've arrived."
Outside came Xu Ge's voice, and the carriage slowly came to a halt.
Seeing this, Fang Chen led Fang Zhixue down first, and Yuan Zhuang and Yuan Yu hurriedly followed.
Quite a few nearby commoners cast curious gazes toward them.
After all, on Kuilong Street, it was rare to see people dressed so impeccably. But as soon as they caught sight of the constable's uniform on Yuan Yu, expressions of wariness washed over them, and they turned and fled without daring to linger, avoiding them like the plague.
Before the group stood a dilapidated little house. The front door was half-open, and the latch seemed to have broken long ago without anyone ever fixing it.
"Elder Brother, what are we here for?"
Fang Zhixue asked with curiosity.
"Lord Yuan has a case to investigate, and we've come along to take a look."
Fang Chen smiled.
"Investigate a case!?"
Fang Zhixue's eyes lit up, an excited expression surfacing on her face.
"I told you before we came, don't run amok."
Fang Chen tapped her on the head, then motioned for Yuan Zhuang to step forward and knock on the door. Although the door was open, walking right in without the owner's permission was still improper.
"Who is it?"
Before long, an old, raspy voice came from inside, occasionally accompanied by a few coughs.
"Auntie Wu, it's me, Yuan Zhuang."
Yuan Zhuang said.
"It's Lord Yuan!? Please come right in. Old woman's bones are poor and I can't get up to welcome you, so I must beg Lord Yuan's forgiveness."
The old woman's voice grew noticeably more rushed.
The group entered the house. It was extremely dim inside, completely bare of furniture except for a broken bed, a broken table, and a broken stool. An old woman lay on the bed, struggling to sit up at that moment.
Yuan Zhuang hurriedly stepped forward to support her.
"Lord Yuan, is there any news about my son and daughter?"
The old woman grabbed Yuan Zhuang's arm, her voice trembling.
Her eyes were grayish-white, remarkably similar to Fang Chen's, clearly indicating she was blind as well.
Seeing this scene, Fang Zhixue couldn't help feeling a pang in her nose.
"This..."
An awkward smile crossed Yuan Zhuang's face. The old woman still didn't know that Junior Minister Li Huafeng of Dahua Temple had long since closed the case.
"Auntie Wu, would you be willing to file a grievance at Dahua Temple?"
Fang Chen suddenly spoke up.
The old woman froze, a blank expression appearing on her face. "This old woman doesn't know a single character; how could I file a grievance with the officials?"
"If you are willing, I can have someone write out a petition for you and submit it to Dahua Temple."
Fang Chen said.
Yuan Zhuang wanted to speak but hesitated. Re-filing a case that Li Huafeng had already judged was utterly useless and would only invite Li Huafeng's fury.
"Didn't the official from Dahua Temple tell this old woman back then that my son and daughter stole valuables from the Junior Minister's estate and absconded with the money? Who is this old woman supposed to accuse?"
The old woman muttered.
"That is true."
Fang Chen smiled, glanced around their surroundings, and then said to Yuan Zhuang, "Let's go."
Yuan Zhuang was stunned. They had traveled this far on a long trip, only to ask two questions and leave?
However, since Fang Chen had already walked outside, he didn't dare linger. He hurriedly exchanged a few parting words with the old woman, leaving behind a tael of silver in the end, before hastily following after him.
Outside the door, Fang Chen whispered a few words to Xu Ge, who nodded slightly and turned to leave.
"Cousin, what did we come here for today?"
Yuan Yu quietly tugged on Yuan Zhuang's sleeve.
"Hold your tongue."
Yuan Zhuang issued a warning, then walked up to Fang Chen's side and lowered his voice. "Military God Fang, are we heading back now?"
"Do you not feel that something is rather odd?"
Fang Chen turned around to look at the dilapidated little house, a pensive look in his eyes.
"Odd? What's odd about this house?"
Yuan Zhuang was taken aback.
"Elder Brother, that granny can't see anything, and she has no family by her side. How do you suppose she manages to survive?"
Fang Zhixue whispered softly.
Fang Chen smiled and nodded. "Precisely. How *does* she manage to survive—and it's been two years."
"Military God Fang!?"
A flash of shock crossed Yuan Zhuang's eyes.
"Did you notice? Although this old woman is dressed in rags, she is remarkably clean. Furthermore, when we went in, the threshold was overgrown with moss. Only when a place has been left untraversed for a very, very long time does it become like that."
Fang Chen said calmly.
"Auntie Wu's health is poor, and she is bedridden year-round..."
Yuan Zhuang said in a low voice.
"Someone has to bring her meals, right? For two years, without offspring to care for her by her side, if not even a single relative came to look after her from time to time, an elderly person probably wouldn't even survive a single winter season."
Fang Chen said indifferently.
Yuan Zhuang's expression jolted. That was true—the more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.
Right at that moment, a group of people suddenly approached from nearby. These individuals looked menacing and fierce at first glance, clearly no good sorts. Upon catching sight of Fang Chen's group, malicious grins instantly spread across their faces as they stalked toward them.
"Such a pretty lass, heh heh heh..."
The leader stared lasciviously at Fang Zhixue, letting out a strange laugh.
Chapter 35: Threat
Fang Zhixue's expression darkened as she stared coldly at the man.
"Lass, you look so pretty, you ought to smile more. Come on, give your lords a smile."
The leader teased lewdly.
Yuan Zhuang flew into a rage. He had been secretly worrying about this exact sort of trouble, only to actually run into it. This fellow was utterly courting death!
"Vermin, nothing good ever comes out of a dog's mouth! Shut your stinking trap this instant!"
Yuan Zhuang shouted angrily.
"Yo, and what sort of thing are you? When your Grandpa Lu is talking, is there any place for you to interrupt?"
The leader looked at Yuan Zhuang, his gaze gradually turning fierce.
Yuan Zhuang was stunned. Were these fellows genuinely unafraid of death? Even if they couldn't recognize Military God Fang, or recognize him as a Senior Inspector of Dahua Temple, they surely should have recognized the constable's uniform on Yuan Yu!
"You lot certainly have some nerve."
Yuan Yu stepped forward, saying coldly.
"Well, a female constable too! Hahaha, brothers, come take a look. A female constable has come to our Kuilong Street! Look at that figure, that face—if she weren't a bit dark, she'd actually be quite a looker."
Instead of feeling any fear at the constable's uniform Yuan Yu wore, the fellow laughed even louder and more boisterously. His subordinates burst into laughter as well, their gazes filled with aggression and greed as they looked at Yuan Yu.
Yuan Yu was utterly dumbfounded.
She had just assumed office today, her very first day as a constable, yet she never expected to run into such fearless, reckless punks who didn't even hold constables in their eyes!
Were the ruffians on this Kuilong Street truly this daring?
Standing to one side, Fang Chen looked on coldly.
At that moment, the death-defying fellow who called himself Lord Lu suddenly saw his expression sink as he stared coldly at Yuan Yu:
"Remember, this is Kuilong Street. You inner-city constables shouldn't come sticking your noses around here for no reason. If Grandpa Lu catches sight of you again next time, I don't care what your background is—we're breaking both your legs first!"
Yuan Zhuang suddenly understood something. His expression gradually darkened as he stepped forward and said, "I am Yuan Zhuang, Senior Inspector of Dahua Temple. Who sent you?"
Senior Inspector of Dahua Temple?
This Lord Lu was clearly taken aback for a second, but then burst into laughter. "So it's just a head constable."
His subordinates chuckled along as well, their laughter dripping with disdain.
In their view, a Dahua Temple Senior Inspector was simply a head constable who usually led a few underlings around to put on airs; nothing special at all.
Furious, Yuan Yu instantly drew the saber at her waist with a *clang*: "You lot dared to harass innocent women in broad daylight and have the audacity to threaten a Dahua Temple constable. Today, you are all coming back to Dahua Temple with me!"
"Just you lot? You think you're worthy?"
Lord Lu gave a cold laugh, suddenly throwing a punch. A massive wave of Qi surged forth from his fist, transforming into a white dragon that viciously shattered Yuan Yu's saber.
Yuan Yu froze.
Qi Burst?
Yuan Zhuang's expression shifted repeatedly. He genuinely hadn't expected the other party to be a Qi Bursting Martial Artist. Such a figure existed right here on Kuilong Street?
"Do you still want to take me back to Dahua Temple now?"
Lord Lu chuckled lightly.
Fang Zhixue immediately rolled up her sleeves, intending to let the fellow witness her prowess, but was pulled back by Fang Chen.
Fang Chen smiled and said to Yuan Zhuang:
"Yuan Zhuang, if I recall correctly, you are also at Early Qi Burst? Your subordinate's saber was just smashed to pieces by someone—don't you have something to say about this?"
"All of you are going to stay put at Dahua Temple today!"
A flash of anger sparked in Yuan Zhuang's eyes. The aura around him abruptly shifted, bearing no resemblance to his cowering demeanor before Fang Chen; in this moment, he was a genuine Qi Bursting Martial Artist!
"Take all of them down. I'll go test this Dahua Temple Senior Inspector."
Lord Lu instructed his subordinates before engaging Yuan Zhuang in combat.
The two exchanged blows back and forth, every surge of Qi capable of posing a grave threat to the other.
Upon seeing this scene, nearby passersby hurriedly hid in the shadows, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.
Lord Lu's subordinates let out lewd chuckles, their gazes landing alternately on Yuan Yu and Fang Zhixue. Just as they prepared to make a move, Xu Ge returned.
Xu Ge's sword remained in its scabbard, yet with lightning speed, he struck each of those fellows once in the back, instantly robbing them of their combat capability.
"Elder Brother, why didn't you let me make a move? Such a rare opportunity..."
Fang Zhixue complained with some dissatisfaction.
"If Father and Mother found out you crossed blows with these ruffians in a place like this, the one getting chewed out when we got back would definitely be me."
Fang Chen said with a faint smile.
Yuan Yu knew nothing of Xu Ge's background. Seeing his methods so clean and neat, she realized he was no ordinary coachman, and a look of shock inevitably crept into her eyes.
"Young Lord, I've asked clearly. Some of the nearby neighbors all took money."
Xu Ge walked up to Fang Chen and spoke in a low voice.
Bang!
Yuan Zhuang was sent flying heavily by Lord Lu, landing in a disheveled heap right in front of Fang Chen. The moment he raised his head, he met Fang Chen's gaze looking down at him, and shame could not help but surface on his face.
"You're both at Early Qi Burst, yet you couldn't beat him. You should reflect properly when we get back."
Fang Chen gave a slight shake of his head. "Xu Ge, take him down."
"Understood."
Xu Ge nodded and walked toward Lord Lu.
Lord Lu had still been feeling immensely smug, but upon discovering that all his subordinates were already sprawled on the ground, he stared at Xu Ge in sudden, alarmed shock.
With this look, he seemed to notice a few subtle clues, and his pupils gradually dilated. "The Wind and Cloud Sword..."
Bang!
Xu Ge's sword still hadn't left its scabbard. With a continuous series of strikes, he hit Lord Lu squarely in the chest, the back, and the shoulder blades—vital points that stripped him of his mobility.
"As expected of the Wind and Cloud Sword..."
Yuan Zhuang was left with nothing but envy in his heart.
As a Senior Inspector, he naturally knew the background of the man following at Fang Chen's side.
"Go have a chat with Auntie Wu, and bring them along too."
Fang Chen smiled and turned back into the dilapidated house.
In the courtyard, Lord Lu and the others lay sprawled limply on the ground. Yet their arrogance had not vanished; instead, even after Lord Lu recognized Xu Ge's identity, he continued with his threats:
"Wind and Cloud Sword, you dare stick your nose into muddy waters like this? Don't think that just because you're at Peak Qi Burst you can act with impunity in the Capital of Daxia."
Xu Ge cast a contemptuous glance at him. He might not be able to act with impunity, but as for the one who *could*, this fellow couldn't even recognize him, yet still dared to issue threats right here?
"The Wind and Cloud Sword!? One of the Capital's Top Ten Peak Qi Burst experts, the Wind and Cloud Sword!?"
Only then did Yuan Yu come to her senses, inwardly shocked, though she also felt it made complete sense—with an existence like Military God Fang, it would be stranger if he didn't have a few experts by his side.
"Is that Lord Yuan outside? Why is it so noisy out there?"
From the inner room came Auntie Wu's aged and raspy voice.
"Xu Ge, tell us what you found out just now."
Fang Chen smiled.
Xu Ge cast an indifferent glance toward the inner room. "The Wu siblings who lived here lost both mother and father at a young age."
"What!?"
Yuan Zhuang was startled.
The inner room instantly plunged into an absolute silence.
"Go drag her out."
Fang Chen ordered.
Xu Ge nodded and stepped into the inner room. Before long, he dragged out the bedridden Auntie Wu. Her hair was disheveled, and she was crying tearfully:
"What are you people doing? What are you people doing?!"
Chapter 36: Brave Saber Guard
"Lord Yuan, why are you bullying a blind old crone? What on earth have I done wrong!?"
Auntie Wu was still struggling.
Fang Chen, however, said indifferently, "A blind person doesn't go around sizing things up. Xu Ge, take the things out of her eyes."
"Understood."
Xu Ge chuckled, reached out roughly, and fumbled around Auntie Wu's eyes a few times, pulling out two whitish, semi-transparent membranes. Auntie Wu's eyes were instantly bright and clear—where was there any sign of blindness?
Both Yuan Yu and Fang Zhixue stared in utter bewilderment.
Yuan Zhuang's expression stiffened slightly. After a long moment, a look of self-mockery appeared on his face; he, a dignified Senior Inspector of Dahua Temple, had been played around with in the palm of someone's hand!
"Young Lord, the skin peeled off fish eyes—it's just a trick we've all played to death."
Xu Ge mocked.
At that moment, Auntie Wu's expression stiffened, her gaze darting about as if scheming something. Taking advantage of Xu Ge's momentary inattention, she tried to break free and bolt—not a trace of her previous sickly demeanor remaining.
Unfortunately, escaping from the grasp of a Peak Qi Burst martial artist was no easy feat.
Xu Ge grabbed Auntie Wu by the neck and said coldly, "The Young Lord hasn't said you can leave, so you aren't leaving. Try running again, and I'll break your legs!"
"Tell us, where did the siblings who disappeared from here go?"
Fang Chen said indifferently.
Auntie Wu's expression shifted before she offered an ingratiating smile. "This old woman really doesn't know, sir. This old woman merely saw that this place was uninhabited and wanted to move in, occupying the spot so I'd have a place to spend my old age."
"Tell the truth."
Fang Chen smiled. "This place has been uninhabited for a very long time. If you simply had nowhere to live, you ought to have stayed here all along."
Never expecting the other party to see through even that, Auntie Wu's expression flickered repeatedly.
"If you don't tell the truth, we'll take you back to Dahua Temple for questioning. Once you're there, everything you should and shouldn't say will come pouring out."
Yuan Zhuang said coldly.
"Lord Yuan, this old woman will tell the truth, this old woman will tell the truth."
Hearing this, Auntie Wu didn't dare conceal anything and recounted the cause and effect of the whole affair.
The woman was originally an itinerant old swindler who specialized in finding vacant houses, disguising herself as a relative or the like, and then seizing an opportunity to sell the property.
A few years ago, upon learning that this house was empty, she bribed several nearby neighbors and then disguised herself as the blind mother of those siblings to take possession of the house.
"The matter isn't that simple."
Fang Chen smiled faintly. "If you refuse to talk, you won't need to speak at all. Take her away."
"No, no, no, I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Auntie Wu's expression changed slightly, and she blurted out in a rush, "This matter truly is a bit unusual. Back then, someone approached this old woman to inform me that there was an vacant house here, telling me to occupy it, but there was one condition: I had to pretend to be the siblings' mother to deal with any officials who came by."
Yuan Zhuang's face turned ashen. If that was the case, the disappearance of those siblings back then was indeed no simple matter; otherwise, why would someone orchestrate it from behind the scenes?
"Who was that person?"
Fang Chen said calmly.
"This old woman really doesn't know. I was only acting under compulsion, too. He said that if this old woman didn't comply, he would kill me—this old woman wouldn't dare cross such desperate men."
Auntie Wu pleaded for mercy, "I beg the lord to show mercy and spare this old woman this once; this old woman will never dare do it again."
Fang Chen glanced at her, then turned his gaze to Lord Lu. "And you? Who told you to come?"
"Who the hell are you?"
Lord Lu glared fiercely at Fang Chen. "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. The person behind me is someone you can't afford to provoke!"
"What incredible audacity from you lot at Dahua Temple! You can't even catch enough corrupt officials in the inner city, so you run all the way out to my outer city to stick your noses in!?"
Suddenly, a middle-aged man strode in with a group of people, shouting angrily the moment he crossed the threshold.