Chapter 6: Once a Divine General, Always a Divine General
General Fang’s Manor.
Fang Canghai sat at the head of the table and a beautiful middle-aged lady sat to his left. To his right was a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Fang Canghai. He was seated in a wooden wheelchair, with a fox fur blanket draped around his lap.
The middle-aged man spoke calmly, addressing Fang Canghai and his wife at the same time, "Brother, sister-in-law, I’ve heard that Goddess Xiao has arrived in the capital city. Have you really made up your mind to let Chen’er marry into the Xiao Family?”
“I know you bear some resentment toward your big brother and me because of this, but we are also pained that we have to make this decision on Chen’er’s behalf. Given the current circumstances, we have no other choice.” The lady sighed. "Qingsong’s Wolf Army is a strong military force of a hundred thousand men. Our Grand Xia no longer has any troops to resist. Since that battle five years ago, our decline was set in motion. We grew increasingly weaker while the Qingsong Empire strengthened themselves by the day. If Marshall Xiao Lang decides to lead his army over and launch an attack on us, we might not even last a year!”
"Not even a year.... Hahahahaha...” The middle-aged man tittered in self-deprecation.
At that moment, Fang Zhixue entered the hall. She arrived at their side and whispered, “Father, Mother, Second Uncle. Big brother went out yesterday and has yet to return. Could he have run away?”
“With his temperament, even if Marshall Xiao Lang came here personally, he would show no fear. Why would he be afraid of Marshall Xiao Lang’s daughter?” The middle-aged man chuckled. "Chen’er may have gone to settle a few matters since he is about to leave Grand Xia.” ”
“That’s right. ” Fang Canghai and his wife nodded slightly. They knew their son very well.
There were times when they wished that Fang Chen would disappear without a trace. They wouldn’t care about the consequences and neither would they concern themselves with it.
It was a shame that that would never happen given Fang Chen’s personality.
Suddenly, a servant ran into the hall in a hurry, reporting, “Old Master, someone from the palace is here.”
Hearing his words, Fang Canghai immediately stood up and rushed to the entrance.
There, he saw a group of people who were led by a royal eunuch clad in brocade robes. He stood with his back as straight as a pole and held a bright yellow imperial decree in his hands.
Fang Canghai didn’t dawdle and directly bowed to the eunuch. “I, Minister Fang Canghai, respectfully receive the imperial decree!”
The eunuch’s eyes swept past Fang Canghai and his family, his gaze cold. A deep frown appeared on his face. "Where is Lord Fang? This imperial decree is meant for him. Why isn’t he here to receive it himself?”
Fang Canghai's expression stiffened slightly.
He quickly plastered a smile on his face. "Eunuch You, my son is not home at the moment. Please allow me to receive the imperial decree on his behalf.”
Eunuch You used to be humble and cautious in his presence. But after the battle five years ago at Three World Mountain, the emperor started neglecting the Fang family and even the empress herself! Now, even a mere eunuch had the guts to treat them with such disrespect. It wasn’t the first time it happened, either. However, the Fang family had no choice but to endure and be careful about what they said.“What a joke! You want to receive the imperial decree intended for Lord Fang on his behalf? Are you kidding me? I want to see him right this instant. And don’t even think about playing any tricks.” Eunuch You sneered.
The expressions of the members of the Fang Family turned increasingly unpleasant as a crowd started to gather at their front gates. They pointed at the members of the Fang Family and started whispering among themselves.
“Goddess Xiao from Qingsong has arrived at the palace. Minister Fang, I suggest that you call Lord Fang out right this instant.” Eunuch You snorted disdainfully.
"I will send someone to find Chen’er," the middle-aged man in the wheelchair spoke slowly.
Before Fang Canghai could respond, Fang Chen and Xu Ge were spotted walking back toward the manor.
“Divine General Fang is back.”
“I didn’t expect him to be free enough to go for a stroll today....” Eunuch You looked up and met Fang Chen's gray pupils, causing a chill to run down his spine. He quickly brushed it off, however, and snorted in derision.The person in front of him was no longer the Divine General who had the nerves to slap members of the royal family at the entrance of the palace. Why should he be scared of someone like that?
“Father, Mother, Second Uncle.” Fang Chen walked up and bowed to them one by one—not confusing anyone for the other, which caused everyone present to wonder if he was actually blind.Fang Canghai sighed softly. “You're back....”
“Heh. Lord Fang, and here I was thinking that you were too afraid to receive the imperial decree.” Eunuch You sneered, with schadenfreude clear on his face.
Smack! Fang Chen's palm abruptly landed square on Eunuch You's face, the crisp sound of the slap ringing through the air.
Eunuch You’s official hat was sent flying.
The area suddenly turned eerily quiet, to the point where one would hear a pin drop.
Many eyes filled with disbelief landed on Fang Chen. Even the members of his Fang Family hadn’t expected Fang Chen to slap Eunuch You.
The group of palace eunuchs and guards from the palace quickly reacted, and those with weapons immediately reached for them. However, all of them froze when Fang Chen’s grayish-white pupils swept past them.
The image of the invincible Divine General Fang returned that very instant. He slapped many people in the Grand Xia Capital City back then. Sons of generals, sons of high-ranking officials, and even relatives of the imperial family...! None of them could escape his wrath. Even the princes in the palace suffered in his hands!
“How dare you slap me?!” Eunuch You covered his face, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. A mixture of disbelief and rage filled his eyes.
‘How dare this useless cripple hit me?! How dare he hit me in front of so many people?!
“I have received the decree. You can scram now.” Fang Chen took the imperial decree from his hands before waving his sleeves as though he was chasing a fly away.
“Ridiculous! This is outrageous!” Eunuch You was furious. He immediately screamed at his subordinates, "Seize him! I order you to apprehend him right this instant!” His angry cries seemed to be the only sound anyone could hear.
No one moved a muscle.
His subordinates just exchanged glances and didn’t do anything—they didn’t have the guts to. The corners of Xu Ge’s lips curled upward, and he revealed a smile that didn’t really seem like one while looking at Eunuch You. There had been people who insulted Fang Chen behind his back, but that was it. None of them had the courage to do it to his face!
The arrogant martial artists of Qingsong might dare mock Fang Chen, but none of them was brave enough to actually make a move on him!
Even if he was a cripple, he was once a Divine General. Nothing could change that fact!
Smack! Fang Chen raised his hand and gave Eunuch You another slap.
His slap sent Eunuch You reeling, and the young eunuch behind him had to step forward to support him.
“You, you...” Eunuch You’s fingers trembled as he pointed at Fang Chen. He was shaking so much that he seemed like he could die from anger at any moment.
“So what if the commoners curse and insult me? The farmers toil in the fields and harvest mulberries. So what if the soldiers scold and mock me? They’re fighting on the battlefield and putting their lives on the line. Those people are the pillars of our Grand Xia. But what about you? Apart from those pitiful political games you play in the palace, have you made an actual contribution to our Grand Xia?” Fang Chen said with indifference. “You’re not qualified to be wagging your finger at me. I’m only addressing you as ‘Eunuch You’ because of the emperor. You’re not worthy of a title otherwise.”
His words caused the listeners to view him in a new light.
And it caused Eunuch You to seethe with anger, to the point where blood started trickling from the corner of his mouth. The young eunuch supporting him realized that they couldn’t linger here any longer, and without hesitation, brought Eunuch You away.
“Divine General Fang! Even though you were defeated five years ago and became a cripple, you’re still alive! As long as you live on, even a hundred thousand martial artists can’t take your place!” a martial artist in the crowd yelled.
Fang Chen didn’t reply. He strode into the manor with the imperial decree in hand. The crowd followed his retreating figure expectantly. Even though everything looked bleak, they seemed to have seen a trace of hope.
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