Chapter 3: Grand Xia Hidden Guards
“Big Brother, what’s wrong with you?!” Fang Zhixue was startled. She didn't understand why her brother was bowing to the air!
Even the surrounding servants found this rather strange. They eyed Fang Chen weirdly.
Sighing softly, Fang Canghai called out, "Chen'er...."
Fang Chen turned around and looked at his father. “Father, why is everyone here?”
For a brief moment, they all saw a faint glimmer of life in Fang Chen’s gray, deathly eyes. However, they quickly brushed it off. After all, Fang Chen had been completely blind for the past five years.
“I’m worried about you. You've been standing here for an entire day! If you have an idea in mind, feel free to tell me about it.” Fang Canghai gritted his teeth and added, “No matter what, father will help you!”
A smile appeared on Fang Chen’s face. “Father, do you think that I’m worried about the marriage?”
“Isn’t that why you stood here alone all night?” Fang Canghai stared at him with a trace of shock.
Shaking his head lightly, Fang Chen reassured him, “It’s not about that. I’ve simply figured some things out. Father, you don’t have to worry about my marriage. I will deal with it appropriately,” Fang Chen clasped his fist and added, “I will take my leave now.”
Staring at her brother's departing figure, Fang Zhixue fell into thought.
“Father, what do you think he means?”
“Your big brother's thinking is beyond his age, and his thoughts are different from ordinary people like us. Perhaps, he thought of a way to deal with the situation.” A glint flashed through Fang Canghai’s eyes. His son never spoke without considering the overall picture. Now that he said that he would deal with it himself, there shouldn’t be much for them to worry about.
The only time Fang Chen made a mistake was during the battle at Three World Mountain five years ago.
While ordinary folks did not know the true reason for Fang Chen's defeat, he knew it very well. That expert from the eighth-tier empire had caused the situation to spiral out of control.
“I wonder what Chen’er plans to do.... Could he have chosen to rely on those people? But... his cultivation has already been crippled? Even though they were trained by him, they might not be able to turn the tide when it comes to this matter....” Sinking deep into his thoughts, Fang Canghai failed to notice that Fang Zhixue had been calling his name for a while. Realizing that her father was not paying her much attention, she stomped her foot a few times and stormed away.
*
Even though Fang Chen’s eyes were closed when he walked out of the General’s Manor, he strolled down the street like everyone else. He was extremely sensitive to his surroundings, an ability he had gained after losing his sight. Or rather, it was one he had obtained after meeting the immortal fairy.
Even if his soul didn’t leave his body, he would still have a clear image of his surroundings in his mind.
“Divine General Fang came out for a walk again.”
“Hehe. Our Grand Xia Empire has been enduring the humiliation of the defeat we suffered at the hands of the Qingsong Empire for the past five years. Divine General Fang is the only one who seems unaffected. He even comes out for a cup of tea every once in a while. Doesn’t he feel the slightest bit of shame!”
“Six hundred thousand of our soldiers were buried under Three World Mountain, and he still has the mood to have a stroll and enjoy his tea!”
Everyone walking down the street pointed and cursed at him angrily.
Suddenly, several well-built men in animal skin coats appeared and blocked Fang Chen's way. Only martial artists from the Qingsong Empire had the habit of wearing coats made from animal skin.
“Oh? If it isn't the great Divine General Fang? Oh, wait.... In a few days, we, the people of Qingsong, will have to change the way we address you! After all, we will be calling you ‘Martial Uncle’ from now on!” The face of the leader was painted with disdain, and his mouth rose into a condescending sneer.
When the citizens of the Grand Xia noticed the martial artists of Qingsong on the street, they quickly retreated to the side, hatred flashing through their eyes. However, they hid it really well and none of them dared to openly express their feelings.
“What are they talking about?”
“Call Divine General Fang ‘Martial uncle’? What’s he on about?”
Whispers and murmurs started to fill the air.
A martial artist from the Qingsong Empire exclaimed proudly, “Oh? Haven’t you guys heard? Marshall Xiao Lang proposed a marriage to the emperor of your Grand Xia. In the near future, your great Divine General Fang will have to marry into the Xiao Family! He’s going to marry Marshall Xiao Lang’s beloved daughter, Goddess Xiao!”
‘He’s marrying... Goddess Xiao?’
The on-lookers' hearts sank into a-new-deep as they stared at Fang Chen in disbelief.
“You’re spouting nonsense! There’s no way Divine General Fang will marry into the Xiao Family!” The face of a nearby scholar flushed red as he hollered in anger.
“How dare a useless scholar talk back to me like that?! What balls you have!” The martial artist from the Qingsong Empire walked toward the scholar and grabbed him by the collar. He slapped him more than a dozen times until his head started to buzz.
Seeing what was happening, Fang Chen clenched his teeth.
The people of the Grand Xia were enraged, but none of them had the courage to say anything.
When the martial artist was done beating up the scholar, he pivoted around and pointed at Fang Chen. “If you don’t believe me, go ahead and ask your Divine General. See if I’m lying.”
“Divine... Divine General Fang, please tell us he’s lying! Does the Xiao Family even have the qualifications to have you as a son-in-law?!” The beat-up scholar stared at Fang Chen with an unyielding gaze despite having a face full of blood and a pair of bruised, swollen cheeks. He stared him dead in the eye, waiting for an answer.
“The Xiao family did indeed propose,” Fang Chen softly replied.
The scholar was still able to force himself to stay on his feet even after being abused by the martial artist. However, his body seemed to not be able to handle hearing Fang Chen's words, and he slumped to the ground.
The citizens of the Grand Xia Empire were suddenly at a loss. If even the former Divine General had to marry into the Xiao family, what hope did their Grand Xia Empire have?
“Hahahahaha! Even the heavens want to exterminate my Grand Xia, my Grand Xia is doomed!” Raising his head to the skies, the scholar bellowed with indignant laughter. Even though what he said was blasphemy, no one tried to stop him.
Unexpectedly, a faint smile rose on Fang Chen’s face as he mumbled softly, “Who said that our Grand Xia is going to perish? Even if the heavens wants to exterminate us, it will have to get my permission first....”
Hearing Fang Chen's words, the scholar's crazed laughter was cut short, and he stared at Fang Chen in disbelief.
Fang Chen didn’t say anything else and instead turned to the martial artist from the Qingsong Empire and asked, “You, what’s your name?”
“Even the heavens have to get your permission to destroy the Grand Xia Empire? Heh. You’re just too arrogant! Whatever, you can call me He Longsheng. I wonder what instructions you have for me, Martial Uncle?” A strange smile could be seen on his face as he replied.
A soft chuckle left Fang Chen’s lips before he turned around and walked away.
“When I raise my sword again, you will be the first person I kill.”
The martial artists of the Qingsong Empire wanted to rush up to him after hearing what he said, but Fang Chen suddenly stopped and turned back, staring them in the eye.
His dead, gray eyes seemed to embody a slight yet terrifying aura, freezing them in their tracks.
By the time they regained their senses, Fang Chen had already walked far away.
“What a braggart! He’s just a cripple!” The martial artist of the Qingsong Empire sneered. However, he couldn't shake a trace of fear from gripping his heart; Fang Chen's eyes seemed to be able to see right through him!
After strolling about for some time and enjoying a cup of tea, Fang Chen arrived at a small courtyard located at the outskirts of the capital.
The small courtyard was covered in dust, and it seemed to have been deserted for a long time. Fang Chen stood silently for some time before suddenly speaking, “You’re here.”
“My lord!”
An array of emotional gazes landed on Fang Chen. No one knew when, but several dozen figures appeared in the courtyard. All of them were dressed differently. Some of them looked like street vendors, several others wore scholarly clothes, while others had swords hanging from their waist. There were even some who appeared especially flashy.
No matter what they looked like, to Fang Chen, they all carried the same identity. They were the Grand Xia Hidden Guards, the divine forces he personally trained!
New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ewebnov(e)l.com