Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Emperor’s Punishment

“What are you doing? Let go of my mother!” Imperial Uncle Li roared.

“She has only fainted out of exhaustion. It’ll be hopeless if I don’t save her now,” Fang Chen replied as he sent a surge of spirit ki into the old woman’s body.

Spirit ki had the ability to nourish all beings. Having her body cleansed by spirit ki had restored not just the old woman’s energy but also healed some of her hidden traumas.

The old woman slowly opened her eyes in confusion. “Son, am I in the netherworld?”

Imperial Uncle Li couldn’t believe his eyes. The civilians were dumbfounded too.

“Imperial Uncle Li, you know full well what Li Huang had done in the Greenpine Superior Dojo. Feel free to do your worst if you wish to exact vengeance, but don’t use an old woman as a cover. I don’t intend to take on military roles anymore, so reputation and merit mean nothing to me. I don’t care how the civilians see me,” Fang Chen said with a smile before walking past Imperial Uncle Li to enter the imperial palace.

Eunuch You and You Longchang quickly caught up with him.

Imperial Uncle Li sat in a daze. He could discern the threat behind Fang Chen’s words. Basically, Fang Chen was saying that he had no qualms killing them, and he wouldn’t be deterred by the potential backlash of doing so as he had nothing to lose.

On the palace walls, Ye Qinghe was taken aback. “Fang Chen possesses such means?”

The crown prince’s face turned livid. He was intending to sully Fang Chen’s reputation through this, but who could have thought that the latter had the means to save the old woman? His plan ended up falling flat.

Meanwhile, Eunuch You brought Fang Chen and You Longchang to the Imperial Library, where the emperor was waiting for them.

Fang Chen stood upright with a composed demeanor, whereas You Longchang had his head lowered and body stiffened up out of nervousness.

“What have you done?” The emperor coldly eyed the two of them. “Who granted you permission to make a move on the Greenpine Superior Dojo? Do you understand the consequences of your actions?”

You Longchang kneeled down in fear, not daring to utter a word.

In contrast, Fang Chen smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, the Greenpine Superior Dojo has been a tumor to our capital. Many innocent civilians have died to the Greenpine martial artists in the last five years.”

“Do you think I’m unaware of that?” the emperor coldly replied. “Great Xia in treading on thin ice. So what if you have recovered your fourth stage Ki Manifestation martial cultivation? You might be able to rival a thousand troops, but the Wolf Army alone is already a hundred thousand men strong. Can you deal with it by yourself?

“Our Great Xia is lacking in military prowess. If Greenpine Country attacks us over this matter, Fang Chen, do you have the means to resolve this issue?”

The emperor stared intently at Fang Chen. Even Long Youchang pricked up his ears, curious to know if Fang Chen was truly confident about dealing with Greenpine Country.

“Your Majesty, you don’t know Wolf Marshall Xiao’s personality. He won’t make a move unless he’s absolutely confident of victory.” Fang Chen smiled. “As long as he doesn’t get to the bottom of my situation, he’ll never attack Great Xia.”

“That’s your speculation. I’m asking you if you can take responsibility if something really happens,” the emperor asked once more.

“Yes, I’ll take all the responsibility.” Fang Chen nodded.

“Very well.” The emperor nodded. “You have acted recklessly this time around. Guhe, Longdu, and Yizhou have their eyes on me. They are waiting for my verdict, and they will not rest unless I give them a satisfactory answer. We have already made an enemy out of Greenpine; we can’t afford to offend the other three countries too.”

“Do what you must, Your Majesty. I’ll heed your verdict,” Fang Chen said.

“Your father, Fang Canghai, will be demoted three grades, and he’ll have to hand over the East Tiger Barracks’ Tiger Seal. As for you, you are hereby forbidden from stepping into the imperial court and leading an army for the rest of your life. This is the promise I have made in order to placate them,” the emperor said. “Do you disagree with my punishment?”

You Longchang was in disbelief. What will happen to me if even Fang Chen is subjected to such severe punishment? Can I keep my position as the vice-commander of the West Tiger Barracks?

“I’ll accept your verdict, Your Majesty,” Fang Chen replied with a clasped fist. There was not the slightest change in his expression, as if he was unfazed by the verdict.

The emperor was irked by his nonchalance. He waved his hand and said, “You may go now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Fang Chen took his leave.

You Longchang was dazed. It’s over? Is His Majesty not going to punish me? He raised his head and saw the emperor picking up a memorial and flipping through it. Not daring to interrupt, he quickly followed Fang Chen out of the Imperial Library.

“W-War supreme-ruler Fang…” You Longchang couldn’t help but call out.

“What’s wrong?” Fang Chen looked at him with a smile.

He’s still able to smile despite that harsh punishment?

You Longchang suppressed his voice and asked, “War supreme-ruler Fang, His Majesty sentenced you to never be able to step foot into the imperial court or lead an army. Do you not feel indignant?”

“Why should I feel indignant? Such a judgment fits my will. It’s exhausting to deal with the imperial court. I’d rather be a carefree young master,” Fang Chen said.

You Longchang could sense the sincerity behind Fang Chen’s words, but that only deepened his incredulity. The old Fang Chen wasn’t like that at all!

The Fang Chen from five years ago was very young, but he wouldn’t hesitate to oppose even Prime Minister Li Guozhu in the morning assembly. He was a political force to be reckoned with in the imperial court. He raised countless officials, and these people were privately known as the ‘Fang Faction’.

However, after Fang Chen’s defeat in the Three Realms Mountain, the powerful Fang Faction practically collapsed overnight. Everyone anxiously drew a line between them and Fang Chen. Some even wrote memorials to pin crimes on Fang Chen!

Thus, You Longchang thought Fang Chen would fight for what he had lost after regaining his martial cultivation. At the very least, he would have done just that.

“I’ll be heading back.”

Once they were out of the imperial palace, Fang Chen bade You Longchang farewell and headed back to the Fang Manor.

He was aware of You Longchang’s skepticism, but he didn’t think there was a need for him to explain himself. Even if he did try to explain himself, the other party might not understand due to the differences in their states of mind.

He didn’t deny that the old him was obsessed with power. While employing all the means he had available to protect the civilians of Great Xia from external harm, he desperately climbed up the political ladder.

It was true that the expert from a grade-8 state invited by Greenpine Country had resulted in his crushing defeat in the battle at the Three Realms Mountain, but his complacency had worsened the outcome.

His arrogance had prompted him to gather all of the soldiers together in hopes of defeating Greenpine Country in a single swoop, but that only led to the death of 600,000 of their soldiers.

The death of these loyal soldiers was a scar he would never recover from.

It had been five years. He dearly regretted his arrogance, but it was impossible to do it over.

“The only thing I can do now is to take care of the people around me and protect the civilians of Great Xia. After that, I think I’ll try becoming an immortal,” Fang Chen murmured with a smile.

Daoist Cloudcrane had been able to travel the world through astral projecting his soul. Once he reaches the same level, he should be able to live the same carefree life.

Before he knew it, Fang Chen arrived at the Court of Great Brilliance.

Li Huafeng was waiting for him at the entrance. “How did His Majesty deal with you?”

“I’m forbidden from stepping into the imperial court and leading an army for life,” Fang Chen replied.

Li Huafeng revealed a heartened smile. He glanced at the chief warden, and the latter ordered his men to bring Huang Sihai out.

“Huang Sihai has been eating five kilograms of beef and three kilograms of rice for each meal. The Court of Great Brilliance can’t afford to keep him anymore, so you can take him away with you,” Li Huafeng coldly sneered before turning away.

“Young master!” Huang Sihai grinned at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen also smiled. “Let’s go. Xu Ge, Tie Ma, and the others miss you.”