Chapter 95: Fang Zhentian
The old man had a face filled with wrinkles that made him look as if he was ready to return to the soil, but not a single person present dared to make light of him.
Fang Zhentian was an imperial courts veteran, having served three generations of emperors. His seniority towers above that of the Minister of Justice, Jiang Yushu. His achievements were also resounding, as more than thirty percent of Great Xias territory was conquered by him.
He was a prodigious martial artist, reaching pinnacle Ki Control at a young age. However, the many internal traumas he had received from his many years of fighting rendered him unable to advance to Ki Manifestation.
As he advanced in age, he handed over his military power back to the imperial court and began idling at home. Fang Canghai and Fang Cangyou were in their prime then, so they took his role and became the new pirs propping Great Xias military.
Even so, there was a huge gap between Fang Zhantian and his two sons in terms of their martial art talent and theirmanding ability. The Fang n slowly began to lose its prestige, till Fang Chen emerged.
A key reason behind Fang Chens swift rise to power back then was due to Fang Zhentians influence. Many of the older generations saw a younger Fang Zhentian in Fang Chen, and they felt inclined to support this rising star of Great Xia.
Xiao Shence and Yan Beihan reflexively took a step back, with doubt brimming in their eyes. <em>The Fang ns Old Master hase out of his seclusion? Does that mean he has managed to make a breakthrough to Ki Manifestation, or did he fail?</em>
Father, did you make a breakthrough? Fang Cangyou asked with hopeful eyes.
You brat, how did you end up on a wheelchair? If you listened to me and started a family, you wouldnt have gotten into trouble and crippled your legs, Fang Zhentian roared.
Fang Cangyou looked awkward. Yan Beihan also fidgeted ufortably on the spot, as he was the one who crippled Fang Cangyou.
Father.
Fang Chens mother rushed forward to support Fang Zhentian. Fang Zhixue quickly followed suit and supported the old man from the other side.
Lass, you have reached Ki Explosion? Not bad, not bad. You are the most talented woman in our Fang Manor. Fang Zhentian looked at Fang Zhixue with a smile.
Fang Zhixue responded with a proud smile. Grandfather, Im nning to reach Ki Control in the near future.
Good, good. I hope to see it when that dayes. Fang Zhentian patted Fang Zhixues head. He turned to Fang Chens mother and asked, Wheres Canghai?
ording to them, my husband has been taken to the imperial court.
Fang Chens mother concisely exined everything that has happened to Fang Zhentian.
Oh? Chener has regained his martial cultivation? Thats good news. A glint shed across Fang Zhentians eyes.
Fang Cangyou quickly added, Father, Fang Chen has not just regained his martial cultivation but is now stronger than ever. You dont have to go into seclusion anymore.
It was when Fang Chen was defeated in the Three Realms Mountain five years and lost his sight and had his martial cultivation crippled that Fang Zhentian went into seclusion, determined to reach Ki Manifestation so that he could protect his n.
Wheres Chener? Fang Zhentian ignored Fang Cangyou and asked Fang Chens mother.
Chener has gone to the southern region to settle some matters. Im not sure when hell return, Fang Chens mother replied.
Are the martial artists in the southern region causing trouble again? Fang Zhentian muttered. Those fellows arent easy to deal with, but Chener should be able to suppress them.
There was a pause before Fang Zhentian turned to Xiao Shence and Yan Beihan. What did His Majesty tell you?
His Majesty ordered everyone from the Fang Manor to head to the Pce of Great Peace. Chillwaters envoy wants to get to the bottom of Zhou Xius death, Xiao Shence said.
Who did Chillwater send? Fang Zhentian asked.
The Ji ns Ji Lengyue, Xiao Shence replied. His Majesty has his hands tied for this matter. Chillwater is interfering in this because Viscount Zhou Xiu, whom Fang Chen killed not long ago, happens to have the Ji ns bloodline.
The Ji n who created the Nightmare Knights? Fang Zhentian frowned. I crossed blows with the Nightmare Knights in my younger years. They are indeed a force to be reckoned with.
The crowd was startled. Xiao Shence and Yan Beihan exchanged gazes too.
<em>Was the Fang ns Old Master so formidable as to have shed with the Ji ns Nightmare Knights?</em>
We should head to the Pce of Great Peace since it is His Majestys order, Fang Zhentian said. Regardless of the problem, we just have to talk things through.
Old Huang and the others dropped the idea of resorting to force. They knew that Fang Chen would punish them if they defied Fang Zhentians orders.
One of you should remain here to update Chener when he returns, Fang Zhentian told Xiao Shence.
Commander, Ill stay behind. Chiliarch Niu Jue volunteered himself.
Xiao Shence nced at him before nodding. All right, youll stay behind.
A huge crowd had gathered outside the Fang n by then.
The arrival of the Valiant Defenders and the Imperial Guards had caused such a hugemotion that it was impossible to conceal what was going on. Many ns had sent their servants over to scout out the situation.
The crowd was taken aback when they saw the Fang n being escorted out of their manor by the Valiant Defenders and the Imperial Guards.
Does Chillwater intend to massacre them? They are taking their servants and maids too!
Where is War God Fang?
A few people in the crowd eyed the Valiant Defenders and the Imperial Guards with eyes overflowing with hostility, but after some exchange of gazes with Xu Ge and the others, they chose to hold themselves back.
Our emperor cant possibly turn a blind eye to the matter now that Chillwaters envoy is here. The Fang Manor is doomed.
Whos that old man?
Hm? Could that be the Fang Manors Old Master?
It does look like him
It looks like things have gotten serious. Of course, how could Great Xia dare to fool Chillwater?
Why is Fang Chen nowhere to be seen?
I heard hes out of the capital.
Did that brat escape because he knew Chillwater wasing?
Guhe and Yizhou schrs pointed their fingers at the Fang Manor as they gossiped among themselves.
Meanwhile, a group of Great Xias scions, led by Tao Yu and Ye Qinghe, was also watching the situation from the streets.
Even the Fang Manors Old Master was forced out of his seclusion? Ye Qinghe was astonished.
He had heard much about Fang Zhentians affairs from his father; thetter was practically a Fang Chen in his era. Yet, they forced such a person out of his seclusion?
The Fang n is over. Tao Yu frowned. Without the Fang n, our Great Xias military will be much weaker than before. This isnt good for our soldiers morale.
Brother Tao, this is good news. The Fang n has always dominated the imperial court. Their absence will be a blessing to our Great Xia.
Indeed. Fang Chen only knows how to cause trouble. He messed with the wrong person this time around and got us into trouble with Chillwater.
Quite a few youths agreed with Ye Qinghe. They were envious at how Fang Chen, despite being at the same age as them, had aplished feats beyond what they could do in their lifetimes.
You fools. Tao Yu red at them in disdain. We might be on bad terms with Fang Chen, but this is just an internal conflict. Do you really think the downfall of the Fang n will benefit our Great Xia? What if Longdu attacks us once more? Who is going to stop them?
The crowd was taken aback.
Ye Qinghe looked at Tao Yu and calmly replied, There are many other talents in the military, just that they have been outshone by Fang Chen. Others will naturally step up to defend our Great Xia if the Fang n falls.
Qinghe, Id have agreed with you if the Fang n fell when we werent facing external threats. That would have been good news. However, you are taking our Great Xias security for granted. We cant allow the Fang n to fall, at least not at this juncture. Tao Yu shook his head.
Ye Qinghe wanted to argue against that, only to suddenly notice something and exim, Hm? Those from the Court of Great Brilliance are here!