Chapter 85: Ice Spring
Jue Panshi’s decisive actions shocked everyone, but it was a clear display of his survival instinct. And if anything, it only emphasized the fear that officials had toward Divine General Fang. Even the commander of the Southern Immortal Prefecture, Jue Panshi, had been fraught with terror upon seeing Fang Chen. It was no wonder that there were rumors about high-ranking officials’ sons getting slapped by Fang Chen in the capital city.
"Did you hear about what happened to Liu Tian?" Fang Chen asked
Jue Panshi's expression shifted, and he replied in a low voice, "I have indeed heard about it and have received orders from the commanding officer to issue an arrest warrant for Liu Tian within the Southern Immortal Prefecture.”
Fang Chen showed a smile. "I suspect these few individuals are colluding with Liu Tian. Take them back and detain them. I'll question them personally when I have the time."
Hearing that, the young man and his companions' expressions changed dramatically. This was clearly a set-up. It was a tactic they were very familiar with—one they frequently used themselves.
Jue Panshi was silent for a moment, waves of turmoil surging within him. He knew more than anyone that, set-up or not, the implications of such a crime was not small, and since it was Fang Chen that had personally issued such a verdict, he might also be placed on the chopping board.
So, Jue Panshi had no choice but to smooth things over, saying, "General Fang, this young man is indeed unruly. But I don’t think he has the audacity to collude with Liu Tian. Would it be possible for you to...”
Seeing that his father was putting in a few words for him, the young man frantically interjected, "Yes, yes! I am definitely not colluding with Liu Tian!"
"That’s not up to you to decide," Fang Chen said, looking down at him with a faint smile.
The crowd's expressions turned even more serious. They all understood the implications of Fang Chen's words.
"Of course, Commander Jue, when you served in the capital city, we've met a few times. I remember you were the deputy general of the West Tiger Battalion back then, right?"
Jue Panshi nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I’m honored that you still remember me."
"I’ve also heard that when you served as the deputy general of the West Tiger Battalion, you were both valiant and courageous in battle, and just and impartial outside of it. That’s why, I am willing to believe that your son wouldn’t collude with a criminal such as Liu Tian. I’ll consider today’s incident a misunderstanding. Take your men back and discipline them properly," Fang Chen said with a smile.
Jue Panshi was initially stunned, then joy flashed in his eyes, and he felt a great sense of relief wash all over him. He expressed his gratitude by bowing repeatedly. Without saying much, he immediately ordered his men to lead his son as well as his companions out of the tea house first.
When they were finally outside the establishment, Jue Panshi turned to Fang Chen and inquired respectfully, "Divine General Fang, did you come to the Southern Immortal Prefecture because of the incident at the Heavenly Sword Villa?"
When the people around them heard that, they pricked up their ears instantly. The matter had already become a hot topic in Southern Immortal Prefecture. The Heavenly Sword Villa was not the only sect to have suffered such a bizarre end, as several other smaller sects had also suffered the same fate.
There were rumors that the Profound Blade Sect was behind those events, as they wanted to take control of the entire Southern Immortal Prefecture. Now that Huangfu Jie had appeared together with Fang Chen, it had no doubt stirred up various speculations.
"Commander Jue, since you were aware of this, why didn't you report it to the capital city? Don’t you know that if we let the situation in the southern region fester, it will no doubt trouble the capital city too?” Fang Chen asked.
Jue Panshi's expression changed, and he explained in a hurry, "Of course I understand that! That was why I dispatched many Valiant Saber Guards to investigate this incident as soon as it happened. I just thought that it would be for the best if we only reported the situation to the capital city after we’ve reached a conclusion."
Fang Chen nodded, but declined to comment on that line of thought. "Have you sealed off the Heavenly Sword Villa?” he asked. “And where did you store the corpses?”
"I've already ordered people to seal off the area. The corpses are currently preserved there as well," Jue Panshi replied.
Fang Chen nodded. If he had ordered for them to seal off Heavenly Sword Villa and preserve the bodies, it indicated that Jue Panshi was not in cahoots with the Spirit Blood Sect.
"Go and wait for me there,” ordered Fang Chen. “We’ll finish our tea and join you."
When Jue Panshi heard that, he couldn’t help but utter, "How about I personally accompany—" but he cut himself short; he had noticed Fang Chen’s inscrutable, indifferent eyes glancing at him.
With that, he bowed respectfully, and left the teahouse.
After he left, the teahouse fell into silence.
Before long, Fang Chen finished his tea. He turned to Huangfu Jie and said, "Pay up. We’re leaving."
Huangfu Jie immediately chucked a few silver taels into the innkeeper’s hand and showed him an amicable smile. "This money should be enough to cover for the tea as well as the broken furniture."
The innkeeper expressed his gratitude hastily. "You're too kind, Sir.”
After leaving the teahouse, the group continued on their way. However, halfway through, Fang Chen brought Abbess Qing He and Fairy Yu on a detour.
"Where are they going?" Yuan Zhuang asked curiously. The rest of their companions had similar puzzled faces.
Seeing their expressions, Huangfu Jie smiled. "Do you know what the tea you had earlier was brewed with?”
Everyone instantly understood; Fang Chen had to have gone to find that spring.
"Well, we might as well catch that guy who has been following us for a while now and ask him about his motives, since we’re going to have to wait for the Divine General to return," Huangfu Jie suggested.
Yuan Yu and the other constables were surprised to hear that.
Someone is trailing us?
With Huangfu Jie bringing this to their attention, several constables were quick to notice the presence of the stalker. They swifty rushed toward him.
In a short time, a figure was tied tightly and brought over.
“Why are you following us, Chen Da?” Huangfu Jie asked with half a smile.
"Seven Profound Blades...” Chen Da hesitated briefly. “I didn't intend to trail you or anything like that. I just wanted to report something to Divine General Fang," he said, glancing all around. When he didn’t see Fang Chen, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Yuan Zhuang said with a stern voice, “Have something to report? Well, you can tell me. I am Yuan Zhuang, an official from the Grand Brilliance Bureau.”
Chen Da shook his head. “I can only tell Divine General Fang about this. Initially, I didn’t plan to reveal this matter because it places my own life in danger. I hope you understand.”
Hearing that, Huangfu couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Yuan Zhuang, then he nodded to Chen Da. "Very well, you can wait here."
*
Fang Chen, Fairy Yu and Abbess Qinghe had ventured deep into the mountains. They followed a bumpy path for several miles before reaching a place surrounded by cliffs on all three sides. Below, was a pool of spring water.
Many locals were currently fetching water from the spring. They first quenched their thirst then hastily left carrying wooden buckets filled with spring water. As they left, they glanced at Fang Chen and the ladies. Not a trace of surprise could be seen on their faces. This miraculous spring filled with chilled water was well-known within a radius of a hundred miles. It was not unusual to see young masters and ladies come out here every once in a while to have a sip and cool off.
"It's nice and cool here. This spring water is truly amazing. It is able to dispel the scorching heat of summer with just its vapor," exclaimed Fairy Yu with her eyes wide open.
Abbess Qing He took a deep breath, inhaling the cold air. “How else could that tea have such miraculous effects?"
Fang Chen smiled. This wasn’t his first visit here. He had heard about this place five years ago and had paid it a visit then. Now that he had stepped into the path of cultivation, he finally had a hunch regarding the origins of the chilly spring.
And as expected, he immediately sensed that the spring carried a faint trace of spiritual energy!
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m