Chapter 83: I’m Fang Chen
When the people inside heard the leader’s discourteous words, strange expressions crept on their faces. The group that the nun was part of clearly consisted of a little over thirty people; they were not to be easily trifled with, but the name Valiant Saber Guards was just way too intimidating, and these people couldn’t help but show signs of sympathy toward Fang Chen’s group.
The youth appeared to be a prominent figure among the Valiant Saber Guards, and it was possible that he was the son of a commander. If he fancied a woman, there was almost nothing in the southern region that could stop him from having her!
While Yuan Zhuang and the others had gloomy expressions, Huangfu Jie raised a faint, cold smile as he quietly observed the youth.
The youth—oblivious to the odd thoughts his words spurred in the mind of those who knew better—was thoroughly captivated by Abbess Qing He. He approached her, clasped his fist, and introduced himself, or rather, his father, "Abbess, my father is the commander of the Valiant Saber Guards in Southern Immortal Prefecture.”
As expected, he was the son of a commander!
The onlookers displayed a hint of fear in their eyes. Even though the position of a commander was not exactly high, a commander’s direct superior was the Chief Pacifist. And since the Chief Pacifist was stationed in the capital city, a commander was the highest authority in the southern region.
Abbess Qing He's eyes revealed a trace of panic. She keenly sensed that the person before her was similar to Li Daoye and quickly turned to Fang Chen, her eyes pleading for assistance.
"Young master, please don't disturb us while we enjoy our tea and rest," Fang Chen said with a faint smile.
The youth expression subtly changed. He glanced at Fang Chen with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He turned to the innkeeper casually and said, "Didn’t I tell you to clear the tables? What are you waiting for?”
Helpless, the innkeeper could only approach a table which housed a number of commoners of relatively no status. They knew better than to argue and were willing to comply. They clearly didn’t want to offend the Valiant Saber Guards.
However, just as they were about to get up and leave the table, the youth pointed at Fang Chen’s table, then Huangfu Jie’s, and then all the tables that belong to the group, and said, "I want those tables. And I’ll personally take this one; it’s good and cool enough."
"Hehe..." Yuan Zhuang and the others couldn't help but sneer. They had already harbored no good feelings toward the Valiant Saber Guards since long before, and the incident of Yuan Zhuang’s severe torture only added to their hostility.
"This..." The innkeeper wasn't a fool. He could tell that Fang Chen's background was likely to be extraordinary as well. He really couldn't afford to offend either side.
"What are you still waiting for? If you don't clear the tables, I'll order my subordinates to clear it themselves." The youth sneered and looked at Fang Chen with derision, a clear attempt to poke at him.
Upon hearing those words, the burly martial artist and the rest of his companions instantly rushed forward and shouted at them, "Scram, get out of here!"
Yuan Zhuang snubbed them and looked at Fang Chen. "What do you think, my lord? Shall we just take them down?"
All the officials from the Grand Brilliance Bureau were Qi Detonation martial artists; dealing with those people would be a piece of cake.
Fang Chen nodded, then said, "Go; take them down."
Yuan Zhuang as well as his thirty constables acted together. Before long, they subdued all the martial artists, pinning them to the ground.
Everyone was dumbfounded, and the innkeeper felt a mix of despair and frustration as he stood helplessly on the side; now they had really gone and done it. Not only did the Valiant Saber Guards have many powerful people in their ranks, but the emperor had posted a powerful general as well to lead them. That general alone could probably rival thousands of men!
Chen Da was puzzled; despite knowing that the opponent was the son of a commander, these people still dared to make a move? The commanders in the southern region were not to be taken lightly. Not only did they control a formidable force of Valiant Saber Guards, they also had a powerful general!
"You have some nerves. Where did you people come from? How dare you not respect the Valiant Saber Guards?" asked the youth coldly, a disdainful smile on his face. He stared at Fang Chen's group as if he were already picturing their miserable ends.
"You're dead! You’re going to die a miserable death!" The burly martial artist who was pinned down, continued to hurl threats, seemingly reveling in his imagined demise of them all.
Fang Chen’s lips suddenly angled upward, and he said, "Official Yuan, I heard that Liu Tian might have fled to the southern region?"
Yuan Zhuang immediately caught on and replied, "Yes, yes, the Grand Brilliance Bureau has verified that Liu Tian has most likely fled to the southern region."
"Well, in that case, these guys may have some connection to him. Keep an eye on them till we return to the capital city. We can bring them along on our way back,” Fang Chen continued.
The youth's expression changed, and his men began to feel that something was amiss.
Grand Brilliance Bureau?
Liu Tian?
That name has been quite high-profile in the southern region recently, as the capital had ordered for his capture! He was the former Chief Pacifist of the Grand Xia’s Valiant Saber Guards!
"Are you from the Grand Brilliance Bureau?" the youth asked, a bit concerned.
Yuan Zhuang sneered. "I am Yuan Zhuang, an official from the Grand Brilliance Bureau."
Hearing that, the youth’s worry fizzled out, and he jeered with laughter, "A mere official dares to provoke me with such an excuse?"
"This is the southern region, the Immortal Southern Prefecture, not the capital city. You don’t even have a branch here! Your jurisdiction is only limited to the Inner Capital!”
Yuan Zhuang didn’t dignify that statement with a response and only sneered. "Too bad. You’re suspected to be in cahoots with Liu Tian."
With that, Yuan Yu and the others rushed forward like wolves and tied up the youth. Shortly after, the arrogant young man and his subordinates were beaten to a miserable state, attracting the attention of the people in the tea house.
"How dare you?!" The youth was so furious, he laughed. Then, he looked at Fang Chen and threatened, "Are you their superior? Do you know that my father is the commander here? Even though I’m tied up now, I’ll make sure you have to kneel down and untie me personally later!"
"Kneel!" Yuan Yu coldly commanded, kicking the back of the youth’s thigh. With a thump, the young man knelt before Fang Chen. He had never suffered such humiliation before. His face turned aflame with anger, and his eyes widened and his expression turned ferocious, the murderous intent in his eyes almost tangible.
"Tell me your name," the youth said coldly.
"I am Fang Chen." Fang Chen smiled.
"Fang..." the young man was about to speak, but his expression changed suddenly. He felt that this name was extremely familiar.
However, Chen Da from the Black River Sect immediately gasped in surprise, half-kneeling on the ground. He said with uncertainty, "Is this... Is this the Divine General Fang?!”
Divine General Fang!?
No matter their identity, everyone sprung up from their seats. They stared at Fang Chen in astonishment. People from the martial world usually looked down on officials, but there was only a single person who had earned the respect of any martial artist in the empire.
He was their Divine General—Fang Chen!
The news of him leading his forces to wipe out the Qingsong Superior Academy had long spread to the southern region. Whenever that event was brought up, they couldn't help but admire Fang Chen. Even many Qingsong martial artists in the southern region had left Grand Xia in a hurry or went into hiding after hearing news of the massacre. Qingsong martial artists were rarely seen on the streets these days, all thanks to Fang Chen’s thunderous methods.
"Fang, Divine General Fang... H-How could it be him.." The young man's eyes betrayed a hint of horror. The arrogance on his face had long disappeared, and he began quivering. Even though his father was a commander, in front of the person before him, this father would have to bow and speak with respect.
Their status and strength were worlds apart!
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