NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 482-488
Chapter 482: I am Fang Zhengzhi
It wasn’t that Meng Yushu wasn’t agile enough… however, when the huge yacht came crashing into his boat, there was no way he could maintain his balance.
Because…
His craft was simply too small.
The yacht crashed into his craft and split it in two. His craft was instantly swallowed by the water, almost like a watermelon smashed by a punch.
All of the ladies and talents watching in admiration were stunned. They simply couldn’t react in time to Meng Yushu crashing into the water.
“He capsized?”
“Oh, no, it was a crash!”
Even Meng Yushu couldn’t react in time to this. Was this some act of piracy?!
Meng Yushu wanted to tell the perpetrators to stop.
After all, his boat was rather valuable despite its size. He wasn’t going to let them go without getting compensated. Then, a faint voice rang out.
“Meng Yushu? This name is familiar… where have I heard it before?”
Then…
There was nothing else…
The yacht showed no signs of stopping as it continued to steam ahead, almost as if the people on board didn’t see Meng Yushu nor the boat they just crashed into.
However, Meng Yushu knew that…
He knew for a fact that they must have seen him! Else, they would not have found his name familiar.
Hang on!
That sounded like a male voice!
There’s a man on the yacht?
“Stop right there! I am the eldest son of the Meng Family! How dare you crash into me and try to run! You can forget about leaving Huai An County!” Meng Yushu hollered. He could tolerate being rammed by a lady, but definitely not by a man.
Furthermore, he had been embarrassed in front of a group of people.
During this time, Meng Yushu’s abilities had improved greatly.
When he participated in the Dao Examinations, he was merely in the Divine Seal State. But now, he was already in the Star Conglomerate State.
Furthermore, he had topped the Huai An County combat examinations.
He could not walk on water, but he could manipulate the wind to surf the waves.
The yacht was quick, but it was not quicker than Meng Yushu.
He jumped…
Using a piece of his shattered boat as a platform, he leapt into the air. Then, he took a step in the air and grabbed onto the tail end of the yacht.
Even though he didn’t manage to jump onto the deck, simply being able to grab the end of the yacht was enough to elicit cheers and screams from the ladies.
“Wa, Young Master Meng is powerful!”
“No wonder he topped the Huai An County combat examinations!”
“Is this the power of the Star Conglomerate State?”
The screams of admiration from the ladies were accompanied by the jealousy of the candidates. However, none of them had the abilities or money that Meng Yushu had.
At the stern…
Meng Yushu held onto a plank of wood and grit his teeth.
He was not in a good position. Even though he had managed to get a hold on a plank of wood, the yacht was travelling too fast. He ended up dangling in the air.
However, he wanted to give the people on this boat a piece of his mind.
He wasn’t prepared to take this lying down. No matter how hard it would be, he would board this craft! If he fell into the water now, his reputation would be ruined!
He bit his lip.
“Up!” Meng Yushu bellowed as he pushed himself onto the deck with all the power he had in his arms.
Everyone on the shore cheered.
Meng Yushu was happy about this.
However, his expression froze almost immediately after. He saw a sword… a sword which radiated an icy aura…
The sword was lowered at his throat.
Silent and deadly…
He felt a chill down his spine.
He knew for a fact that there was no sword at his throat even before he had boarded the ship.
The only explanation was that at the moment he flipped onto the deck, the sword had been lowered at his throat. The accuracy of his attacker was impeccable.
As for the person wielding the sword…
Meng Yushu didn’t recognize that person, nor could he see the appearance of that person.
That person wore a black cloak and a black veil. The veil extended to the person’s neck.
A veiled sword bearer?
A female veiled sword bearer?
Meng Yushu couldn’t see his opponent clearly, but he could tell that this was a lady by her black dress. This lady had a pretty good figure too.
“I am the eldest son of the Meng…” Meng Yushu was about to announce his identity when he felt pain at his throat. He shut up instantly.
He could feel the sharp tip of the sword and the trickle of blood flowing down his neck.
Was he going to be killed?
This was Huai An County! There were countless witnesses. Who had the audacity to kill with so many eyes on them?
Were these pirates?
But this was a river! Why would there be pirates on a river?? That didn’t make sense!
“Do we have a problem?” The lady’s voice was bone-chilling.
“No… no problem at all…” Meng Yushu wanted them to compensate him. But right now, all he cared about was staying alive.
This was not the time to talk about money.
Naturally, he would say that there wasn’t a problem.
“Get off!” The lady’s voice rang out.
“Ah? Off… okay, I’ll go down now!” Meng Yushu was stunned, but he recovered quickly and leapt off the ship.
Was it embarrassing?
Definitely!
However, it was a small price to pay in exchange for his life.
Meng Yushu looked at the shore.
Countless eyes were staring at him. They had all seen the confrontation on the boat.
Everyone was stunned.
However, they did understand the situation that Meng Yushu was in.
Meng Yushu looked away from the shore and into the sky. He was looking forward to a fun day! He wanted to enjoy himself and bask in the atmosphere of spring.
Yet…
He was about to be sent into the water again…
Meng Yushu was embarrassed. However, at that moment, a male voice rang out. It was not as calm as before. This voice seemed like he had just had a revelation.
“I remember now, Meng Yushu! It’s him!”
Was there light at the end of the tunnel?
Was he about to be saved?
Meng Yushu’s hopes were up!
He froze as tears began to well up in his eyes! Did someone know him? The timing couldn’t be better!
The compensation for his boat was irrelevant!
His reputation!
His reputation was on the line.
He completely tossed the issue with the money to the back of his mind. Anyone who could get such a ship was definitely someone powerful.
If he could stay on deck, that would be the best! He wanted to find a less embarrassing way to escape.
Meng Yushu turned around to look at the veiled lady.
The unspoken question was obvious.
Do I still need to jump?
The answer was equally simple.
The lady didn’t respond with any words. She didn’t lower her sword, but her attitude seemed much more amicable.
Furthermore, she stepped aside and opened a path for Meng Yushu…
“Hahaha, I see that it was all just a misunderstanding. May I know which friend this is?” Meng Yushu chuckled loudly, loud enough for everyone else to hear.
“Young Master Meng, it’s been a long time.” The male voice rang out once again as a figure walked out from the cabin. He wore a blue long-sleeved shirt.
This man’s attitude seemed sincere.
He smiled widely at Meng Yushu.
However…
Meng Yushu froze. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He felt completely paralyzed at that moment.
In fact…
It was almost as if…
He had seen a ghost!
Meng Yushu had thought of many possibilities as to who this man might be. It could have been an official or a scion of a noble family. He even thought of people he barely knew.
However, he never expected this man to show up.
This wasn’t because he lacked imagination… it was simply because this was the last person anyone would have expected to show up.
In fact, this person shouldn’t even be here!
To be more precise, this person should not be showing himself in Huai An County! Most definitely not in broad daylight!
He should at least disguise himself!
Wear a hat?
Or even a veil?
Meng Yushu could have understood it if he had bothered to disguise himself even a little. However, he didn’t do anything to hide! He was the most wanted person in the entire Great Xia!
“Fang… Fang… Fang Zhengzhi?!” Meng Yushu felt like he had just been struck by lightning. He stared at the youth in front of him in confusion.
This guy…
Why would he appear here?
Meng Yushu was not the only one who couldn’t understand what he was seeing.
All of the other talents and ladies couldn’t understand it either. Not all of them knew what Fang Zhengzhi looked like.
However, when they heard Meng Yushu call his name, they all felt the same way.
“Fang Zhengzhi?!”
“That guy is Fang Zhengzhi?!”
“He… he is in Huai An County! Ah!!! Fang Zhengzhi is in Huai An County!”
“How is that possible? Fang Zhengzhi is a wanted man!”
All of the talents were stunned to hear this. They all stared at the youth in the blue long-sleeved shirt.
Just like Meng Yushu…
None of them could figure it out.
Where did Fang Zhengzhi find the courage to appear in broad daylight on the River of Trust?!
They could not shake their suspicions.
However…
Their instincts kicked in.
As citizens of the Great Xia, they had a responsibility and a right to alert others when they saw a criminal.
“Get the authorities!”
“Go, quickly!”
“It’s Fang Zhengzhi! Fang Zhengzhi is in Huai An County!”
“He is on that boat!”
Their voices echoed through the air and figures began running to the city gates and the guards there.
Meng Yushu heard these noises.
His jaw dropped when he heard the shouts and sounds coming from the shore. He felt a chill run down his spine.
He realized that there was a problem.
It was him!
It was him who made Fang Zhengzhi walk out of the cabin!
He was also the one who had recognized Fang Zhengzhi. Now, he was standing on the deck… there was no way he was going to live.
“Oh, no, I… I was mistaken, hahaha… Fang… no, Young Master Li, hahaha… it’s been a long time.” Meng Yushu chuckled.
He knew that the candidates on the shore would not believe him. If he had a chance to rewind time, he would never choose to board this ship. He would also not have tried to ask them for compensation.
Fang Zhengzhi!
This was a man who was hunted by hundreds of thousands of demons in the Southern Region. He was the man who had dueled Canyang.
Of course…
That was not the most important point.
This was a man who had violated the then Princess of the Southern Region, the current Queen of the Southern Region. He then killed Shan Ling and injured the Crown Prince.
Even though he was rumored to have been crippled.
It didn’t matter…
Meng Yushu looked at the veiled lady as well as the sword she had in his hand. He regretted his decisions…
He shouldn’t have looked back.
He should have jumped.
Reputation?
His reputation meant nothing!
His life was the most important thing. Most importantly, he didn’t want to be embroiled in this…
Even the entire Meng Family couldn’t afford to be embroiled in this!
“Young Master Meng, you didn’t make a mistake. I am Fang Zhengzhi!” The youth smirked, almost as if he didn’t hear the noises coming from the shore.
Chapter 483: Come get me if you can
“Young Master Meng, you didn’t make a mistake! I am Fang Zhengzhi!” The youth smirked, ignoring the sounds on the shore.
He was extremely calm.
However…
Meng Yushu was stunned to hear this.
Did he admit to it?
Furthermore, he had admitted it in front of countless other talents and ladies! What was he trying to do? What was happening? Was he not afraid?
Doesn’t he know that he is a wanted man?
Meng Yushu couldn’t figure it out. He really wanted Fang Zhengzhi to be caught and executed. However, he could not say so.
He had to keep calm and think.
“Is he planning to silence me?!” Meng Yushu shuddered as he felt a chill down his spine.
He was sure that there was no one who would dare to kill him in Huai An County, especially not in front of so many witnesses.
However…
Fang Zhengzhi was an exception.
This was a man who dared to kill the Crown Prince of the Southern Region and wound the Crown Prince of the Great Xia. His position as the eldest son of the Meng Family meant nothing.
“Young Master Meng, you don’t look too well. Do you want to come to the cabin for a cup of tea? We can catch up and reminisce. I do have very good tea on board.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled.
“Ah… no, no thanks, I… I still have something else I have to get to. Yes, I have an appointment, let’s meet another day…” Meng Yushu took a step back.
He didn’t dare to move in any other direction.
Stepping forward would be equivalent to signing his own death warrant.
“Okay then, I wanted to reminisce our time together but it would seem that you don’t want to. Bye then.” Fang Zhengzhi waved.
“Bye?” Meng Yushu was stunned.
“Would you rather take a seat in the cabin?”
“Haha… no need, I’ll be on my way. Haha… bye bye!” Meng Yushu turned and jumped without hesitation.
“Plonk!”
There was a huge splash.
Countless people watched as Meng Yushu leapt into the river. However, they couldn’t understand how Meng Yushu managed that.
They let him jump into the river?
What was happening?
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the gazes from the banks as he watched Meng Yushu. He asked politely, “Young Master Meng, are you sure you don’t want to wait till we dock to disembark?”
“No need, no need. The water is very cooling, haha… I love such cooling water, hahaha…” Meng Yushu’s expression changed as he began to swim towards the shore. He didn’t even look back a single time.
“Since that is the case, I won’t see you off.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he walked back to the cabin.
At the entrance to the cabin…
Su Jiu paled.
“Master, are we… are we still going to the Northern Mountain Village?” Su Jiu asked cautiously.
“Of course.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“But the commotion here would have alerted everyone to your arrival. Within the next couple of days, the entire Northern Region, even the entire Great Xia…” Su Jiu was hesitant.
“Yes, so… are you all scared?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he looked at the veiled lady and other figures in the shadows.
“Nope!” They replied in unison.
“Mm, Su Jiu, are you scared?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Jiu.
“I would follow you through the depths of hell! I will do as you say, regardless of how dangerous it is. Why would I be afraid?” Su Jiu pounded his chest.
“Since no one is scared, what is the problem?”
“No problem at all!” Su Jiu shook his head.
Fang Zhengzhi smiled but didn’t re-enter the cabin. He turned to look at Meng Yushu, who was swimming desperately towards the shore. Then, he looked at the fear in the eyes of those on the banks.
He knew what they were thinking.
None of them could understand why a wanted man would show himself in broad daylight.
This was something that defied all logic.
Even Su Jiu couldn’t understand it.
If Fang Zhengzhi wanted to return to the Northern Mountain Village, he could have done so in many ways. He could have disguised himself as a businessman, a trader…
There were many ways for him to return safely and inconspicuously.
As long as he could avoid the eyes in the Northern Mountain Village, everything would have been fine.
Fang Zhengzhi knew this.
But did he want that?
No!
Fang Zhengzhi’s thought process was simple. He wanted to return to his hometown. That was where he grew up.
There was no meaning in returning home if he had to dress up and disguise himself just to avoid being recognized.
The Northern Mountain Village was his home!
He wanted to go back.
And he wanted to do so openly! He wanted the whole world to know that he had returned to the Northern Mountain Village.
“I am back, catch me if you can!”
It wasn’t that Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t scared of dying, neither did he think that he could antagonize the Great Xia simply because he was being supported by the Shadow Sect.
However…
He would never accept having to return home in a disguise!
Countless people started to run away as rows of soldiers came running towards the river.
As the most wanted felon, Fang Zhengzhi’s name attracted more attention than the royal family.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi’s name was pretty much a taboo over the past year…
It did not diminish the impact or influence his name carried.
The battle of the Southern Region…
His exploits in the Dao examinations…
When people talked about the war or the recent court examinations, they would be careful to avoid mentioning a name…
However…
Everyone knew that one person had a huge role in both those events.
That person was Fang Zhengzhi!
Without Fang Zhengzhi, they would not have been victorious in the Southern Region. Without Fang Zhengzhi, there would have been no historical tie for first in the court examinations!
Every examination that he took…
He had topped…
Even though his name was missing from the court examination result tablet…
Everyone knew that he would have been tied for first with Nangong Hao.
Fang Zhengzhi watched the soldiers on the riverbank. He watched the crowd run in all directions. However, he showed no intention of retreating.
“Come on! Let’s see who can stop me!”
…
The spring breeze was light and the first drops of rain fell on the River of Trust. They created little ripples in the water.
“Master, it’s raining!” Su Jiu frowned as he sheltered Fang Zhengzhi with an umbrella.
“Indeed.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he waved Su Jiu off and walked confidently to the bow of the ship.
“Springtime clouds shroud the walls of the Imperial Garden. The darkening sky brings the blossoming to a halt.”
“Petals fall as the rain assaults the flowers whilst grass is tugged by the wind.”
Fang Zhengzhi paused as he turned to look at the soldiers and talents chasing behind. He smiled.
All of the people on the riverbank were stunned to hear his voice.
“He’s reciting a poem?!”
“He’s in the mood to recite a poem?”
“Doesn’t he know that he can forget about leaving Huai An County?”
No one could understand why a dead man walking could have the mood to recite poems.
“Mighty imperial guards protect the palace whilst incense fills the Lotus Side Palace.”
“When will the meeting be held? With women drinking by their zithers…”
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the candidates as he continued reciting the poem.
“Good poem! A really good poem!”
One of the talents hollered.
“Springtime clouds shroud the walls of the Imperial Garden. The darkening sky brings the blossoming to a halt.”
“Petals fall as the rain assaults the flowers whilst grass is tugged by the wind.”
“Mighty imperial guards protect the palace whilst incense fills the Lotus Side Palace.”
“When will the meeting be held? With women drinking by their zithers…”
“It is a great poem indeed. I heard that Fang Zhengzhi never challenged people to poetry. I never expected that he could compose such a great poem!” The person continued to compliment Fang Zhengzhi.
As that voice echoed through the air.
The other candidates finally understood the gist of Fang Zhengzhi’s poem.
“It is a great poem indeed!”
“This is an exemplary poem! This is the creme de la creme of poems!”
“Even though Fang Zhengzhi is a wanted felon, but his talent is undeniable! It is no wonder he tied for first place in the court examinations!”
“Yes, that is something that has never happened before!”
All of the candidates continued to exclaim as they ran. However, they didn’t realize that the distance between them and Fang Zhengzhi was widening.
“Quick, follow closely behind! We must catch Fang Zhengzhi! We cannot let him get away!” One of the leaders of the soldiers ordered.
He didn’t care about the poem.
Capturing Fang Zhengzhi would mean a great reward for him.
After all, Fang Zhengzhi was rumored to be a crippled man. There was nothing to fear!
He wasn’t going to let this golden opportunity slip by!
“Give the order to set up a blockade further down the river!”
“Don’t let him get out of the city!”
“Yes, sir!”
All of the leaders bellowed orders to their troops.
On the yacht…
Fang Zhengzhi stood at the front and looked up at the sky. He ignored the noises on the riverbank.
“Master, if we manage to pass through the next stretch, we will be out of the city!” Su Jiu didn’t manage to appreciate the full gist of Fang Zhengzhi’s poem.
To him…
Getting out of Huai An County safely was of utmost importance.
“Mm, I haven’t seen the Huai An County gates in a long time. I wonder if it has changed?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“The gate?” Su Jiu was stunned.
“Master, are you saying that you want to exit the city on foot?” The veiled lady spoke up.
“Mm.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“Dock!” The veiled lady gave the order without hesitation.
“Yes!” The workers nodded.
Su Jiu was stumped.
They were about to get out of the city. Why was Fang Zhengzhi choosing to exit on foot? He was just making life harder for himself! Su Jiu didn’t understand it, but he didn’t question it.
Because… over the past year… Fang Zhengzhi had always gotten it right.
…
The huge yacht began to approach the riverbank. Then, it stopped in full view of the soldiers and spectators.
“What’s happening?”
“Fang Zhengzhi’s yacht stopped and docked?”
“Am I hallucinating?”
The soldiers were all stunned.
Everyone else reacted in the same way. Meng Yushu, who had just made it onto dry land, couldn’t understand what was happening either.
Why would Fang Zhengzhi stop?
Could it be…
Does he want to stay in the city?
Just as they were thinking about it, they saw someone disembarking. Then, they spotted a second figure, then a third… and a fourth…
“They are disembarking?!”
“Quick, capture Fang Zhengzhi!”
The leaders of the soldiers quickly recovered from their shock. They didn’t care about why Fang Zhengzhi was disembarking. All they cared about was capturing him.
“Master, please go ahead. I can hold them off!” The veiled lady looked at the charging soldiers, her eyes glittering icily.
“Mm, I am returning home. I do not wish for anyone to be killed.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“Master, rest assured. I know my limits.” The veiled lady turned around and walked towards the soldiers.
Her blade glowed.
At that moment, the rain turned into snow and fell onto the legs of the soldiers. The River of Trust froze over.
Everyone’s jaw dropped. Meng Yushu’s jaw was on the verge of falling to the ground.
At that moment…
All of them finally understood one thing.
Outnumbering your opponent does not guarantee victory.
When they have people whose abilities supersede those of the soldiers, then they can take whatever path they choose.
This was a fact of life.
“Master, is the city gate still the same?”
“Mm, more or less.”
Chapter 484: It’s all an illusion!
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the road leading out of Huai An County, a wave of emotions coming over him.
After all, he had funded the construction of this road.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir!”
…
The Northern Mountain Village had changed drastically over the past year. Even though Fang Zhengzhi was a wanted criminal, it had not affected the growth of the Northern Mountain Village.
The Northern Mountain Village had roads and an academy with 50 of the best teachers in the Northern Region.
It was so good that even the noble families of the Northern Region sent their kids here. As such, the Northern Mountain Village had moved away from hunting as their way of life.
Just by size alone…
The Northern Mountain Village had more than doubled in size.
Each house had been extensively renovated. The gardens were bigger and the houses were taller.
However, one thing did not change.
They continued to farm.
It was in their nature to do so. They may be more affluent now, but they were still frugal.
As such, there were still plenty of crops around, from vegetables to fruits.
Spring was the time for harvesting.
This was something that was never going to change.
The villagers started bright and early, working in the fields despite the hot sun.
They started before dawn and ended after sunset.
The sun was about to set. The rays of light stained the ground a golden reddish color.
The villagers began to pack up and got ready to return home for dinner.
At that moment…
Figures appeared on the road to the village. It was a figure in a black cloak. They could not make out his appearance because the veil underneath the hood blocked their vision.
There were more than 10 people.
It was clear that these people were special. They wore good quality clothes and they had weapons in their hands.
Swords, knives, spears…
Every weapon had an icy glow to it. Even those who didn’t know their weapons could tell that these were high-quality weapons.
These people had to be quite special.
The villagers stopped what they were doing. Over the past year, many influential figures had come here. The noble families of Huai An County and the River of Trust Province had all come to visit.
They had seen their fair share.
However, they stopped what they were doing. For starters, this was not the first or last day of school. Secondly, they could see that…
These people were not from any of those noble families.
Because…
All of them traveled on foot.
None of them rode horses and they traveled light. There was no cart of luggage nor did they carry any bags. They looked clean and tidy, without any traces of dust on their clothes. They were not here to deliver things to the sons of those noble families studying here.
The villagers stood in the field and stared.
They wanted to figure out who these men were and what they were here for. However, based on what they saw, they couldn’t figure anything out.
Then, they were shocked by what they saw.
Their eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets.
They couldn’t believe their eyes.
They saw a figure inside this group. This was a youth who was dressed in a blue long-sleeved shirt.
He was skinny, had fair skin, and smiled widely.
“Uncle Li, Auntie Zhang, how are you?” The youth noticed the villagers and waved to them as he walked past.
“Ah…” The couple who had been greeted watched in amazement as the youth walked past them. Their jaws dropped…
The youth smiled, unsurprised by their reaction. He then greeted some of the other villagers.
“Uncle Wang, you are still as young as ever. Auntie Liu, your complexion is getting better, is Brother Zhao married yet? Haha… when you’re free, come over to my house for a meal…”
The youth greeted every villager heartedly as he walked by.
However…
All of the villagers reacted with dropped jaws and stunned looks. No one returned the greetings. They all felt like they had just seen a ghost.
“F*ck me, did… did I just see a ghost?!”
“Me too…”
“You saw it too?”
“Yes… yes…”
“Don’t tell me that you saw Zhengzhi as well?!”
“Yes, I… I saw Zhengzhi… in fact, he even greeted me like he usually does. He does seem a little taller though!”
“Ghost!”
The villagers of the Northern Mountain Village were law-abiding. Fang Zhengzhi was the most wanted criminal in the entire Great Xia.
As such…
They couldn’t believe that Fang Zhengzhi would walk towards them and greet them in broad daylight.
Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of explaining his actions to them.
He took a deep breath and enjoyed the fresh mountain air as he watched the sunset. He loved the calm and serenity of the mountains.
The river at the entrance to the village was clear. The fishes swam around in the clear water, creating little ripples wherever they went.
Fang Zhengzhi was not walking particularly quickly.
However, he arrived at the entrance very quickly. He looked at the new signboard and tablet at the entrance.
The person who had done the inscription was quite a skilled man.
This must have been a result of the increased traffic.
With the academy, the culture in the village had improved greatly and people showed a greater appreciation of calligraphy and the other arts.
There were all sorts of art forms, from statues to wood carvings. Fang Zhengzhi guessed that these were the works of the teachers.
Based on Village Elder Zhang Yangping’s skill levels, these things would have crumbled before they even took root.
He entered the village.
It was bustling.
All the villagers smiled and chatted amongst themselves. Many of the families had a signboard on their house.
However, the entire village quietened down quickly.
All of them saw Fang Zhengzhi entering the city and heard the greetings from afar.
They were all stunned.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi had already left the Northern Mountain Village for more than a year, he was still once the pride of the Northern Mountain Village.
They would never forget him.
Even if Fang Zhengzhi left for five or ten years, they will still be able to recognize him on sight.
In fact…
Everyone had wondered if Fang Zhengzhi would return to the village one day.
But it was just a thought.
After all, the crimes Fang Zhengzhi was accused of were too heinous. Killing the Crown Prince of the Southern Region, violating the current Queen of the Southern Region, and injuring the Crown Prince.
Pardon?
With such heinous crimes, a pardon was out of the question.
Of course, they still entertained the thought that Fang Zhengzhi would return. However, they expected him to sneak in in the middle of the night.
All of the villagers looked up at the sky.
The sun was about to set, but enough light shone on that smiling face.
“Zheng… Zhengzhi?!”
A voice stammered.
Then, all the villagers looked at each other with excitement, fear, and worry.
As villagers, they knew everyone inside the village.
That meant that they knew that there were…
“Zhengzhi, why did you come back?! Go!”
“Where is my mom?”
“Ah?!”
“Is she at home? Uncle Chen, if you have time tonight, come and have a meal at my house!” Fang Zhengzhi waved to Uncle Chen.
“Have… have a meal? Zhengzhi asked me to go have a meal… at his house?” Uncle Chen was stunned as he watched Fang Zhengzhi and the cloaked figures around him.
…
In the Fang Family garden.
Qin Xuelian was watering the plants. She already had traces of grey hair and there were wrinkles on her face.
Even though Qin Xuelian was still very beautiful, she did seem to age a lot over the past year.
On the balcony on the second floor of the stone house, they planted nuts in a small yard.
Fang Houde stood there, tending to the plants.
He had a teapot and teacup in front of him. Steam emanated from the teacup, spreading the fragrance of the tea contained within it.
“Father of our child, if you’re tired, you should rest.” Qin Xuelian hollered as she saw sweat pouring down Fang Houde’s face.
Her expression darkened when she said this.
She hadn’t called him the father of their children for a long time. She usually cold him by name…
Or by Old Fang…
Yet, she would end up reverting to calling him that every now and then.
“Mother… Xue Lian ah, you should rest as well. Let me cook dinner tonight.” Fang Houde stopped himself.
His expression was dark as well.
However, he cheered up almost just as quickly as he brushed the dirt off his hands and raised his glass.
He took a whiff.
For some reason, a teardrop landed inside this teacup, causing rippled.
“Let me do it.” Qin Xuelian shook her head, her body trembling. Her eyes became slightly watery. She had cried too many times over the past year.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter.
She sat in the garden, watching the passing figures. All she wanted was to see her son.
But there was nothing!
She wasn’t disappointed. Not seeing him was a good thing!
Then, drops of ‘water’ landed in her pail of water. There were more and more ripples by the second. She felt her energy rush out of her body and she grabbed the pail to stabilize herself.
“My son, I… miss you!”
Qin Xuelian screamed in her heart. She screamed it repeatedly, but never out loud.
The pail was shaking.
The water reflected a wrinkled and pale face.
At that very moment, a figure appeared in the water. It was a figure standing at the door, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt.
“My son! It’s Zhengzhi!”
Qin Xuelian wanted to shout it out loud but she dismissed the thought. She had seen this figure too many times.
She knew that this figure should not appear here.
He should not be here!
“Zhengzhi, my son…” Qin Xuelian looked at the reflection, staring quietly. She knew that the figure would disappear after some time.
She wanted to stop time and savor the moment.
But it was wishful thinking.
Yet, this was the only thing that kept her going. This was the only way she could keep waiting for someone who was never going to return.
“Mother!” At that moment, a voice rang out at the gate. It was so clear and familiar.
Qin Xuelian shuddered.
She looked at the pail in her hands. The figure’s reflection was still there. It was almost real.
“My son, Zhengzhi is back!”
Qin Xuelian wanted to look at the gate. However, she knew that once she did that, she would lose sight of the reflection.
She didn’t know what to do…
Her instincts took over and she turned back. She wanted to see who was at the gate.
Time seemed to stop…
Qin Xuelian’s body froze as she looked at the gate. There was a familiar figure there smiling at her.
“Mother!” The voice rang out once again.
“Zheng… Zhengzhi, is… is that you?” Qin Xuelian felt a wave of emotions overwhelm her and she dropped the pail on the floor.
Chapter 485: Coming
Qin Xuelian had dreamt of this many times over the past year. However, she never believed that this day would come.
“Zheng, Zhengzhi…” Qin Xuelian murmured to herself as she stood rooted to the ground.
On the second floor, Fang Houde couldn’t believe his eyes either. His face was contorted.
He too was rooted to his spot.
This was impossible.
“Zhengzhi is back?” Fang Houde clenched his fists instinctively, “No, you are not my son! My son does not look like this! Who are you? How dare you impersonate my son? Go, go away!”
Fang Houde roared.
Fang Zhengzhi watched Fang Houde quietly. His father had aged a lot over the past year.
“Father!”
“Go away!”
“Yes, go away! You are not our son, our son would never come back… please, just leave!” Qin Xuelian’s body was shaking. Her legs turned to jelly and she crumpled to the ground.
At that moment, a figure appeared in front of Qin Xuelian and helped her up. She couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Zhengzhi, my son!” Qin Xuelian hollered as she threw herself into that figure’s embrace, tears rolling freely down her cheeks.
“Where were you the past year? I missed you, I missed you so much…”
“Have you been eating well? Have you been hunted?”
“Zhengzhi, my son… you have come to visit me at last…”
She couldn’t hold back any longer. She hugged the figure tightly, not wanting to lose him ever again.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t move, savoring every moment of that warmth. Tears welled up in his eyes. He had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
“Xuelian, let go of Zhengzhi! He still has time to leave, or else… or else…” Fang Houde’s tears rolled down his cheeks. However, he also knew that there were spies in the Northern Mountain Village.
“Father, mother, it’s fine! Nothing is going to happen!” Fang Zhengzhi raised his head. He knew what his father was thinking.
“What do you mean? How can it be fine? You are a wanted criminal! Everyone is looking for you! There are wanted posters all over Huai An County…”
“Dad, I know.”
“Then why aren’t you leaving? Go now! Right away! I will hold them back! Uncle Yang Ping will help me hold them back as well!”
“Father, I have already removed the eyes they placed here in the Northern Mountain Village!”
“What?! Even so… you can’t stay! They would have sent a message to Huai An County! You can’t stay here any longer! You have to go.” Fang Houde ignored Fang Zhengzhi’s words.
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to tell him that he had already shown himself in Huai An County. However, he knew that it would only cause Fang Houde to worry even more.
It was difficult for him to explain everything to Fang Houde.
“Mom, I’m hungry.” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Qin Xuelian.
“Okay, I will make something for you.” Qin Xuelian wiped the tears from her cheeks and prepared to lead Fang Zhengzhi inside.
“Xuelian!”
“Houde, I, I…”
“Xuelian, you can’t do this! You will only harm him!”
“Can’t we just have one meal together?” Qin Xuelian looked at Fang Houde, her eyes begging.
“Aish…” Fang Houde sighed but didn’t say anything.
He knew that Fang Zhengzhi must have eliminated all of the spies in the village. Else, they would have been here a long time ago.
Just as he thought about that, over 10 figures appeared at their gate.
They all wore black coats and had veils to cover their faces. Most importantly, they held an array of weapons in their hands.
“Uh oh! Son, go now!” Fang Houde’s expression changed.
“Father, these are my friends.”
“Friends?”
“Greetings Mr. and Mrs. Fang!” The figure bowed to Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde in unison.
“Erm…” Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian looked at each other. Then, they straightened their clothes. “Haha, since you are all Zhengzhi’s friends, please come in and have a seat. We don’t have much here but I hope it will be to your liking.”
“Uncle Fang, Auntie Fang, you are too kind. We will stand guard outside.” Su Jiu stepped forward and replied respectfully.
“Stand guard? No, we can’t accept that! Our guests will not stand outside, this…” Qin Xuelian began rambling.
“Eat with us.” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Jiu. He was not an arrogant person, and he knew his parents’ characters well.
“Thank you, Master!” The reply came in unison.
“Master?” Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde couldn’t believe their ears as they looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
Isn’t he a wanted criminal?
Wasn’t he crippled?
Why would he be their master?
“…” Fang Zhengzhi found it difficult to explain it to his parents. It was a good thing they didn’t ask any questions.
News of Fang Zhengzhi’s arrival spread like wildfire.
Zhang Yangping entered the house, huffing and puffing, the moment Fang Zhengzhi stepped through the door. “Zhengzhi, run, run quickly…”
There were countless other villagers who came in behind Zhang Yangping. Even the teachers and the students from the academy came over.
The only thing Fang Zhengzhi could say was, there wasn’t enough rice at home…
…
The Northern Mountain Village was bustling at night. Zhong Yangping has dozens of tables set up at the square.
However, what piqued the curiosity of the villagers was that none of the strangers showed up today.
It was a strange sight.
However, they knew that their absence was temporary.
They would be back.
“Zhengzhi, I have some silvers here. Bring it with you!”
“Yes Zhengzhi, we have some homegrown produce here. It’s pretty good! You can bring some with you and share them with your friends.”
“I have some silvers too.”
“Me too!”
All of the villagers came over to Zhengzhi after they finished their meal and offered him what they had.
“Uncle Li, Auntie Zhang, I don’t need them!”
“What do you mean? Zhengzhi, things are different now. You can use these things outside. You can’t just come back as and when you please. It is expensive to live outside! Just take it! Things are different now!” Zhang Yangping insisted.
“Yes yes, please take it!” The villagers urged.
“Uncle Yangping, I’m not leaving just yet, and I am not short on money.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly. He knew what they were thinking.
But he was really not short on money.
“You’re not leaving? What do you mean? You should leave now whilst it’s dark! You can leave via the road on Cang Ling Mountain! Don’t go by the main road!”
“I’m really not leaving!”
“Zhengzhi, don’t be willful. I know that you are powerful, but the Great Xia soldiers are a formidable force!”
“Exactly, Yangping is correct. We are all one family and we are not afraid to die. However, you have a lot of potential! You cannot just die like that!” The villagers advised.
Fang Zhengzhi was speechless.
He knew that there was no way of explaining the situation to them. To the villagers, the imperial courts were like heaven.
There was no way Fang Zhengzhi could survive!
“Go, go!”
“I’m not leaving!”
“Don’t be willful, go!”
“I’m not leaving!”
“…”
Fang Zhengzhi reiterated it multiple times. He didn’t know when the villagers left, but by the end of it, all he wanted to do was sleep.
Convincing the villagers was harder than fighting a war.
Nightfall.
The stars glittered in the sky.
Qin Xuelian sat next to Fang Zhengzhi and adjusted his blanket. Fang Houde stood behind her.
“Xuelian, how about we tie him up?”
“How dare you?! He is our son. If you lay a finger on him, I will fight it out with you!” Qin Xuelian retorted.
“But…”
“I will ask him to leave tomorrow morning! I will personally convince him to go!” Tears welled up in Qin Xuelian’s eyes.
She had waited for this day for more than a year. She had dreamt of it multiple times.
Her son was back. However, as a mother, she had no choice but to advise him to leave. No one could understand the pain she felt.
…
The night quietened down in the Northern Mountain Village.
However, Huai An County, the Five Northern Constabularies, and even Yan Capital were shocked by the news they received.
News of Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance in Huai An County had spread like wildfire.
Inside the Crown Prince’s residence, countless vases had been smashed. Then, countless hangers-on galloped out of the residence on their stallions.
Other than the Crown Prince…
King Duan, the Left Prime Minister, and the Stabilization Constabulary, all received the news at the same time.
“Fang Zhengzhi returned to Huai An County!”
“He went back to the Northern Mountain Village!”
This was powerful and unbelievable news. However, the whole Huai An County had witnessed Fang Zhengzhi’s return.
There was no way this news could be falsified.
“How dare he?!”
“Catch him!”
“We must not let him get away this time!”
Voices echoed through the capital.
Over the past year, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had been able to consolidate his power. No one even came close.
Even King Duan had to step aside.
After all, the victory in the Southern Region and the death of Shan Ling had quelled the unrest there.
This credit, compounded by his position in court, ensured that countless officials declared their loyalty to him.
Lin Tianrong was more than happy to see this happen.
Everyone was certain that the Crown Prince was well on his way to becoming the Emperor one day!
…
…
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t leave the Northern Mountain Village despite all the ruckus. Despite all the advice he got from his parents and the villagers, he continued to enjoy himself.
He was at home here.
“I will leave after lunch!”
“Okay, I will leave after dinner. I promise.”
“It’s late. I’ll leave tomorrow morning, it’s fine, it’s fine…”
Fang Zhengzhi knew that there was no point in explaining. He would just procrastinate.
Dawn, three days later…
Zhang Yangping appeared at the gates of the Fang Residence. However, he was in much more of a hurry this time.
Fear and terror filled his face!
“Oh no, Zhengzhi, run quickly! There are many people here! They are from the army! The army is here! Leave via Cang Ling Mountain!” Zhang Yangping yelled as he panted.
The moment Zhang Yangping’s voice cut through the air…
A figure appeared in front of him. That was a lady in a black cloak and her body radiated an icy aura.
“Master is resting.” The lady looked at Zhang Yangping, her voice icy.
“I know, but… there are people hunting for him outside! I had people watching the area around the village, and I just received news that they are less than three miles out!” Zhang Yangping wanted to go around the lady, but there was no way he could do so.
“Mm, I got it.” The lady nodded.
“Then why aren’t you telling Zhengzhi to run?” Zhang Yangping was nervous.
“Master is resting.” The lady replied flatly.
“…” Zhang Yangping was speechless. He rolled his eyes, realizing that no amount of explanation was going to do any good. He took a step back, “Zhengzhi, there is an army coming for you! Run! Houde, Xuelian, wake him up! Do you want him to die?”
Chapter 486: Chaos
“What?! The army is coming to capture Zhengzhi?”
“Look at what you did! Tell Zhengzhi to leave!”
Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde’s voices rang out in quick succession. Then, there was the sound of someone getting dressed.
A figure appeared in the yard.
It was Fang Zhengzhi.
He wore a blue long-sleeved shirt and yawned as he walked out. His hair was combed nicely, but it was clear that he had just woken up.
“Good morning Uncle Yangping.” Fang Zhengzhi greeted Zhang Yangping.
“Morning? It’s getting late! The army is approaching! Follow me, I have people waiting at the road on Cang Ling Mountain. We have prepared everything for you, now…”
“Uncle Yangping, I’m not leaving!” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head an interrupted Zhang Yangping.
“You’re not leaving?!” Zhang Yangping’s expression changed.
He had heard how anxious Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde were.
They had thought that Fang Zhengzhi refused to leave because he didn’t want to leave their side.
But…
The army was closing in…
Was he courting death?
Or was he going to turn himself in?
“No, my son, you are my only child. I will not let you go to jail! If anything were to happen to you…”
“Mother!” Fang Zhengzhi grabbed Qin Xuelian’s arm.
He knew that there was no use in explaining to the villagers. To them, he was a criminal.
The best way was for them to witness it themselves.
They had to see it.
Fang Zhengzhi squinted as he looked at the veiled lady in Zhang Yangping’s way.
“Qingyi, where are they?”
“15 minutes out.” The veiled lady replied icily.
“Mm, carry on as planned.”
“Yes!” The veiled lady nodded and walked towards the entrance of the village.
Zhang Yangping, Qin Xuelian, and Fang Houde were all terrified when they heard this.
“Zhengzhi, are you trying to fight the army?” Zhang Yangping guessed.
It had happened before.
“Zhengzhi, things are different now. Last time, you were a rank four official and the Princess and Chi Guyan were both here. Now… now you have nothing!” Qin Xuelian was worried.
“Son, I would stand will stand with you, but the Northern Mountain Village…”
“Brother Houde, without Zhengzhi, there would be no Northern Mountain Village. If Zhengzhi wants to fight, we will find the people to fight alongside him!” Zhang Yangping interrupted Fang Houde.
“You don’t need to, we are already here!”
“We came over when we heard that the army was coming after Zhengzhi.”
“Just tell us what we need to do.”
A group of villagers wielding bows and spears came rushing out. It was almost as though they had prepared for this in advance.
“Erm, I…”
Fang Zhengzhi was touched to see this. However, the villagers’ actions left him speechless.
After all, there were not many people in the world who would show such loyalty.
“Zhengzhi, you don’t owe us anything at all. When you came here 10 years ago, you helped us get out of the crisis we had. Even though the surrounding villages suffered during the drought, we still had enough to eat and keep ourselves warm at night! We will always support you!”
“Yes, I will fight them to the end! Even if I lose my life in the process!”
“Fight them to the end!”
“Since you are all ready to help Zhengzhi, let’s go to the entrance and buy Zhengzhi some time!” Zhang Yangping had an idea.
“Yes yes yes, let’s go to the entrance!”
All of the villagers waved their weapons in the air. They didn’t even give Fang Zhengzhi a chance to respond.
Then…
All of them ran to the gate under Zhang Yangping’s leadership.
Fang Zhengzhi’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Were they really going to rebel just to try and buy him some time?
Before he could stop them, Zhang Yangping and the villagers had already disappeared from sight.
More importantly, Fang Houde rushed out of the house and took out a hunting knife that he had kept hidden under his bed.
Fang Zhengzhi had seen this knife before.
Fang Houde would bring it along with him every time he went hunting. However, since he hadn’t gone hunting in the mountains for so many years, the blade was left under his bed.
However, it did not rust.
Fang Houde would take time to polish it every day.
“Father, why did you take out your knife?” Fang Zhengzhi’s eyelids twitched when he saw Fang Houde rush out with the knife.
“They are all rushing to the gate because of you! How can I let them go without me?! Don’t try and stop me! Just do what you need to do!” Fang Houde bellowed.
Then, he went around Fang Zhengzhi and sprinted towards the gate.
He left Fang Zhengzhi and Qin Xuelian in the garden.
“Mother, my dearest mother!”
…
The water from the stream trickled outside the Northern Mountain Village.
The veiled lady stood at the entrance holding a sheathed sword in her hands. The sword sheath was adorned with cloud patterns.
The villagers stood behind her.
Qingyi didn’t show any intention of stopping the villagers. She stood quietly in her spot like a statue.
Then, the booming sounds announced the arrival of the army.
The villagers tightened their grips around their weapons. They had never fought the soldiers of the Great Xia before.
Plumes of dust were sent skyward as black figures appeared on the horizon.
They traveled quickly.
These were calvary in shining army. They rode black armored stallions!
“The Snow Treading Dragon Stallion!”
“It’s… it’s the Divine Constabulary’s Red Pinion Squad!”
“There must be at least 2000 of them!”
“2000 members of the Great Pinion Squad… oh no! Go… go warn Fang Zhengzhi. Tell him to escape now! The Red Pinion Squad is coming for him!”
The villagers instinctively took a step back when they saw the red triangle on the chests of the approaching soldiers.
If these were just city guards or soldiers of the constabulary, they would have gone forward to stop them.
However…
This was the Red Pinion Squad!
They were the most elite squad in the entire Northern Region, maybe even one of the most elite squads in the entire Great Xia! How could the villagers possibly stand up to them?
The villagers panicked.
Their hands shook, but they did not break. They grit their teeth and held their ground.
“Halt!” The leader commanded.
The 2000 of them stopped. Each one of them towered over the villagers and the Snow Treading Dragon Stallions snorted and growled.
The killing aura was palpable. Everyone could feel the thirst for blood in the eyes of the soldiers. They were terrified.
“Where is Fang Zhengzhi?” The leader didn’t waste any time when he saw the armed villagers.
“In the village,” Qingyi replied without hesitation.
“No, he’s not, Fang Zhengzhi didn’t return!”
“Yes, he didn’t come back at all! General, are you mistaken?”
The villagers all jumped when they heard this. They immediately denied Fang Zhengzhi’s presence in the village.
“Have him come out since he is in the village.” The squad leader ignored the villagers and looked at Qingyi. His eyes fell on her sword.
“You can go in if you want to find him. However, only one of you can enter!” Qingyi shook her head and replied flatly.
The other villagers could no longer remain calm when they heard this.
This was the Divine Constabulary’s Red Pinion Squad. Furthermore, there were over 2000 of them! Why did Qingyi dare to restrict their access to only one person?”
“How dare you?! Do you know who you are speaking with?” The leader’s expression changed as he exuded a domineering aura.
At that moment, the villagers felt a mountainous pressure crash down on their heads. They began to tremble and sweat profusely.
“Uh oh, we have angered the Red Pinion Squad!”
“This is the end of the Northern Mountain Village.”
“I don’t know if Zhengzhi managed to escape…”
All of the villagers were terrified. Having spent all their time in the Northern Region, the Red Pinion Squad were like gods to them.
They were untouchable.
They would never even dream of talking to the Red Pinion Squad in the same tone Qingyi just did.
“The leader of the Red Pinion Squad, Li Jingfeng.” Qingyi ignored the opinions of the villagers behind her. She replied calmly as she glanced at the leader.
“Oh? Who are you?” Li Jingfeng’s eyelids twitched.
As the leader of the Red Pinion Squad, he wasn’t surprised that this lady knew him. However, he knew that there was something else about this lady.
She was powerful!
Even Li Jingfeng couldn’t suppress her.
“Qingyi,” Qingyi replied casually.
“And where do you come from?”
“I am Qingyi.”
“Mm… Qingyi, what if I have the squad force their way through?” Li Jingfeng nodded.
“You can try.” Qingyi didn’t move.
“Okay then, let me find out for myself!” Li Jingfeng lowered his spear at Qingyi. The tip of his spear glowed with a blue light.
“Jingfeng, stand down.”
At that moment, a voice rang out from behind him.
“Yes, my lord!” Li Jingfeng lowered his spear without any hesitation. Then, he stepped to the side.
A middle-aged man stepped forward. He wore a dark purple official robe embroidered with a beast. There was a red triangle on the beast’s forehead.
The killing aura he exuded was palpable.
“Lord?!”
“Could it be…”
All of the villagers thought of one man when they heard what Li Jingfeng said.
The leader of the Northern Five Constabularies.
A truly legendary figure who they never expected to see. One of the leaders of the 13 Constabularies, Chi Hou!
“I am Zhang Yangping, the village elder here. Greetings, my lord, please forgive us!”
If the Red Pinion Squad had struck terror in the hearts of the villagers, seeing Chi Hou in person had taken the fight out of them.
Everyone still remembered how Chi Hou and the Northern Five Constabularies had repelled the barbarians.
All of the villagers fell to their knees.
“My villagers, please rise. I am only here to find Fang Zhengzhi.” Chi Hou withdrew his killing aura when he saw the villagers.
“My Lord, please let Zhengzhi off, he is being wrongly accused!”
“My Lord, please let him live!”
All of the villagers paled when they saw Chi Hou. If Chi Hou had come personally, then Fang Zhengzhi had no chance of survival.
“My dear villagers, the crimes Fang Zhengzhi are being accused of are heinous. It is out of my hands now. Please trust the courts. If he is truly innocent, the courts will acquit him!”
Chi Hou’s eyes glowed when he saw the villagers plead with him. This proved that Fang Zhengzhi had deep ties here.
However…
Why did he send someone to stop them here? And why did he only want one person to enter the village?
Chi Hou was infuriated just about this.
“Fang Zhengzhi, I am your elder! I have personally come to the Northern Mountain Village to find you! How dare you not come out and greet me?! Do you want me to come greet you?”
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Chapter 487: Only choice
“Elder?!”
“Come out and greet me?!”
Zhang Yangping and the villagers were shocked to hear this. Chi Hou’s tone was rather strange.
Weren’t they here to capture Fang Zhengzhi?
To the villagers, the presence of the Red Pinion Squad meant that they were here to catch Fang Zhengzhi.
Why would they ask the person they wanted to catch to come out and greet them?!
What was happening?!
Could it be…
Was the Divine Constabulary giving Fang Zhengzhi time to escape?
Zhang Yangping and the villagers became increasingly hopeful. Even though they had no idea why Chi Hou would cut Fang Zhengzhi any slack, they were just happy that he was.
Just as they were about to express their gratitude…
They heard a voice from behind them.
“My Lord, since you are visiting as an elder, why are you letting my relatives kneel before you?” The voice came from within the village, but one could tell that it was getting nearer with each passing moment.
“Relatives?” Chi Hou squinted, then turned to look at the kneeling villagers. He smiled…
Zhang Yangping and the other villagers were stumped.
They knew that the voice belonged to Fang Zhengzhi, but they could not understand what was happening. Chi Hou seemed prepared to let Fang Zhengzhi escape…
Why would Fang Zhengzhi step forward?
Why would Fang Zhengzhi call them relatives and call Chi Hou his elder?
They were just villagers, how could they possibly be compared to the Divine Constabulary’s leader?
Kneel?
They were lucky that they weren’t killed!
Zhang Yangping and the villagers were anxious. They knew that Fang Zhengzhi was very smart, but they couldn’t help but feel that Fang Zhengzhi was acting stupidly!
Just as they were thinking it, a voice rang out.
“Since you are all Fang Zhengzhi’s relatives, you are my relatives as well. Please rise!” The voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for all to hear.
“Relatives?”
“Rise?”
Zhang Yangping and the villagers looked at each other in confusion. Nobody stood up. None of them knew what was happening.
All of them were stunned.
Did Chi Hou, the leader of the Divine Constabulary, just call them his relatives?
“Are all of you going to continue kneeling? Do you want me to kneel as well?” Chi Hou began to take a knee.
“No, we would not dare. The Divine Constabulary fought against the barbarians. We are just ordinary villagers, how can we be compared with you?”
“Indeed indeed.”
“Everyone, rise.”
Zhang Yangping and the villagers panicked. They scrambled to their feet.
Chi Hou nodded when he saw this. Then, he straightened his back and scanned the Northern Mountain Village. His gaze rested on a wooden statue.
“Rascal, aren’t you going to welcome me?” There was rage in Chi Hou’s voice.
At that moment, a figure walked out from behind the statue. This figure walked slowly and deliberately.
Chi Hou looked at this figure as he walked towards the gate. He didn’t speak, waiting for Fang Zhengzhi to approach.
Qingyi tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. She was waiting as well, however, she wasn’t waiting for Fang Zhengzhi.
Zhang Yangping and the villagers were anxious as well. They never expected this to happen. The Red Pinion Squad, the Divine Constabulary…
Never in their wildest dreams would they have expected this to happen.
Most importantly, Chi Hou’s attitude was a surprise. Elder? Relatives? What was happening?
Fang Zhengzhi stopped in front of Chi Hou.
“Greetings, my lord!” The figure bowed towards Chi Hou.
“That’s better!” Chi Hou spoke after Fang Zhengzhi bowed. Then, he turned to look at the 2000 Red Pinion Squad soldiers, “Jingfeng!”
“Here!”
“Have the Red Pinion Squad wait outside the village. If there is nothing important, do not enter and disturb us!” Chi Hou ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Jingfeng nodded as he turned to face the Red Pinion Squad, “Red Pinion Squad, set up camp here!”
“Yes, sir!” The soldiers dismounted and got to work.
Zhang Yangping and the villagers were all stunned when they saw this. The Divine Constabulary really wasn’t going to enter the village?
How was that possible?
This was the Red Pinion Squad, the elite squad of the Northern Five Constabularies! Yet, they were going to stay outside the village?
“Rascal, I came on your rules, shouldn’t you be showing me some gesture of friendship?” Chi Hou looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
“What would you like to eat?”
“I heard from Chi Guyan that the meat you grill is very nice. Since I am here today, I must eat my fill.”
“The meat I grill is expensive.” Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched.
“Price is not a concern to me. I didn’t bring any money with me.”
“…” Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why people said Chi Hou was a difficult man to deal with. Chi Guyan was much easier to deal with.
It was impossible that he left home without bringing some silvers with him?
Unbelievable!
…
The 2000 Red Pinion Squad soldiers were still camped outside the village. The villagers couldn’t possibly ignore the most elite squad in the Northern Region.
The villagers began to cook for the soldiers.
Li Jingfeng didn’t stop them. He thanked them briefly, then shoved a few silvers into Zhang Yangping’s hand.
“No wine!” He remarked.
“Okay, okay!” Zhang Yangping knew that the ‘no drinking whilst on duty’ rule. He told the villagers to keep the alcohol.
In the Fang Residence…
Qin Xuelian was stunned.
Fang Zhengzhi had told her before he left that he would have someone home for dinner.
However…
Qin Xuelian never expected that the guest would be Chi Hou!
Why would the leader of the Divine Constabulary dine here?!
She couldn’t believe it, but she had no other choice. He was standing in front of her. Fang Houde was equally shocked.
Fang Houde had seen Chi Hou at the gates of the village. He also heard Chi Hou say that he wanted to eat the meat that Fang Zhengzhi grilled.
For free!
…
Since grilling the meat would take some time, they had some food to manage their hunger.
There was an animal being roasted on a rack.
Chi Hou and Fang Zhengzhi sat by the fire.
“Thank you for looking after the Northern Mountain Village over the past year.” Fang Zhengzhi remarked.
“That was something Chi Guyan wanted to do. It had nothing to do with me.” Chi Hou shook his head.
“I see, no thanks given then.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“No thanks? You rascal, even though taking care of the village was Chi Guyan’s idea, she has been in the Heavenly Dao Pavilion for the past year. Who do you think carried out her wishes?” Chi Hou squinted.
“It wouldn’t have been you either way.”
“…” Chi Hou was stunned. Then, he chuckled, “Okay then, you don’t have to thank me for that, but you must thank me for what I’m about to say next!”
“I’m guessing that your visit has nothing to do with Chi Guyan.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“Hahaha, I see that you’ve already seen through my motive for coming. Since that is the case, I will not beat around the bush. I came on my own accord.” Chi Hou chuckled.
“Not King Duan?”
“Oh? You have matured much in the past year!” Chi Hou’s eyes glittered as he nodded, “King Duan did send a letter to me!”
“Spare me if I align myself with you, kill me if I say otherwise?” Fang Zhengzhi added.
“Exactly!”
“What if I choose not to comply? Will you kill me now?”
“Kill you? I never considered that. If you choose not to take this offer, then I will catch you and bring you back to stand trial!” Chi Hou shook his head.
“So I should just count my lucky stars and accept your offer?”
‘”Yes, because you don’t have a choice!” Chi Hou asserted.
“Okay then, please arrest me.”
“You rascal, do you really want that to happen? Me, King Duan, and yourself know the truth about what happened in the Southern Region. However, what we know is of little importance. You should know what this is about!” Chi Hou’s eyes glittered.
“The fight for the throne?”
“That is just one side to it. There is also diplomacy! The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne! If our Crown Prince killed the Crown Prince of one of our vassals, it would cause an international incident! The Emperor would never let this happen, unless…”
“The Crown Prince was disposed of.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“Exactly. The Emperor would not touch this case until he decides to get rid of the Crown Prince. He would not investigate this incident either. As such, you will have to wait if you want to live.” Chi Hou nodded.
“Wait for the Crown Prince to be disposed of?”
“Yes.”
“But I have already shown myself. How can I still live?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.
“The purpose of my trip is to give you a chance to escape. Once you escape, you will be given a new identity and appearance. King Duan and I will personally arrange for you to enter the courts!”
“Enter the courts? Are you trying to send me to the slaughter?”
“Haha, of course not! Fang Zhengzhi, you should know that the Emperor is a smart man, much smarter than I ever thought.” Chi Hou chuckled.
“What you’re saying is… the Emperor wouldn’t kill me even if he knows who I am?” Fang Zhengzhi smiled.
“Exactly. If he wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t have been able to live until now. The Emperor will spare you and will place great value on you. You may even become a minister in the future!” Chi Hou asserted.
“What makes you so sure?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.
“Rascal, aren’t you a smart person? I think you can tell!” Chi Hou raised his teacup.
“Because I am the only one who can keep the Crown Prince in check?”
“Exactly. The Crown Prince has allies in the courts and the constabularies. The balance in the courts has been broken over the past year. The Emperor isn’t against a united front, but he does not want the Crown Prince to go unchecked!”
“So the Emperor wants someone who is willing to go against the Crown Prince?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.
“Yes, as long as you appear in the courts, you will become a hindrance to the Crown Prince. He will not let you remain, so he will do everything in his power to get rid of you. That means that he will be distracted from consolidating his power…” Chi Hou nodded.
“And I won’t be hunted?”
“Rest assured. I will personally accompany you into the capital. With King Duan at the helm of the army, your safety is assured!”
“Is your excuse to enter the capital to ask for forgiveness for your inability to capture me?”
“Hahaha… you have really matured over the past year. Yes, I will go there to apologize for failing to capture you.”
“Aren’t you afraid that this will cause you to lose power over the Northern Five Constabularies? Aren’t you afraid that Su Qing will capitalize and take over your territory?”
“Do I look afraid to you?” Chi Hou asked.
“You come here to help me escape. Then, you plan to go to the capital to apologize for the same reason. You are using that as an excuse to smuggle me into the capital just to destabilize the Crown Prince’s hold on the courts. This is a good plan. I wonder who is the mastermind?” Fang Zhengzhi was impressed.
“Haha, that is not important. The important point here is that there is no downside here for you. Your cultivation has been wrecked and you cannot possibly go down that path anymore. The courts are your only choice now!” Chi Hou replied solemnly.
Chapter 488: Chi Guyan as a bedwarmer?
“Do you really think that my cultivation has been ruined?” Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he looked at Chi Hou.
“Am I… mistaken?” Chi Hou hesitated as he stared at Fang Zhengzhi, a faint glow in his eyes.
He suddenly realized that no one had verified this information. After his duel with Canyang, the consensus was that his cultivation was likely to be ruined…
But…
Since no one had verified it, Fang Zhengzhi may still have his powers!
He was stunned when he thought about this.
Still had his cultivation?
If he could duel Canyang over a year ago, how powerful would he be now if he could still cultivate?
Terrifying!
That was the only way Chi Hou could describe it. Of course, the even more terrifying thing was that Fang Zhengzhi was still below 18.
He wasn’t 18 yet…
The Double Dragon Roll Champion would shock the world!
“Haha, I was just kidding. I’m sure you didn’t take me seriously!” Fang Zhengzhi chuckled and began butchering the beast on the rack.
He cut through it slowly because of the toughness of the hide. This seemed to require a lot of effort and he didn’t use any powers to help him butcher the beast.
Then, he placed the meat in pre-prepared bowls and handed one to Chi Hou.
“Please try it.”
“Sure, I heard from Chi Guyan that your skills are excellent! I will not hold back now!” Chi Hou nodded and looked away from Fang Zhengzhi. He was extremely excited. However, in his excitement, his hands shuddered and a piece of meat fell out of his chopsticks…
And onto the floor.
At the same time, Chi Hou looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi’s hands moved.
They moved the moment the meat fell to the ground. He thrust his knife at the piece of meat, his movements fluid.
Chi Hou’s eyes glimmered and he flicked his fingers.
“Clang!” The knife hit the meat, but it was almost as if it had clashed with a resistive force.
Then…
The meat fell to the ground and became contaminated by dirt.
Fang Zhengzhi shook his head when he saw the piece of meat on the ground. However, he didn’t say anything. He simply passed Chi Hou another piece of meat.
Chi Hou didn’t say anything when he received it. He held it with his chopsticks. He didn’t drop it this time.
He bit into it.
His mouth was filled with that intense flavor.
“Hahaha… Chi Guyan was right! This meat is exquisite! It is one of the best I’ve ever eaten!” Chi Hou chuckled.
“It is a pity that we wasted one piece.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head lightly as he looked at the piece of meat on the floor.
“Waste?” Chi Hou squinted as he looked at that piece of meat. Then, he smiled, “When I was fighting the barbarians, I ate everything, including tree bark! What is a little bit of dirt?”
Chi Hou extended his hand.
The piece of meat on the floor appeared between his chopsticks. He put it in his mouth without hesitation. He didn’t even wipe the dirt off the meat.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t stop Chi Hou. All he cared about was cutting off another piece of meat for himself.
“Actually, we can’t finish so much meat either. Even if we drop one piece on the ground, it’s not much of a waste.” Fang Zhengzhi explained.
“You rascal. Enough of your nonsense. When do we return to the capital?” Chi Hou didn’t wait for Fang Zhengzhi to carve out another piece for him. He simply tore a chunk of meat away with his hands.
“My lord, if you are in a hurry, you can leave first.”
“Leave first? You rascal… what do you mean by that?” Chi Hou hesitated.
“I do not plan on returning to the capital with you.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“You don’t plan on returning to the capital with me? According to my intel, the Crown Prince’s men are already on their way. Without me, you will not be able to get to the capital! The people around you are not enough!” Chi Hou asserted.
“That might be the case, but I have no intention of pledging allegiance to King Duan. How can I have you escort me in that case?” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“You… rascal! Other then the Crown Prince, King Duan is the only person you can pledge allegiance to. Are you really going to align yourself with the Crown Prince?” Chi Hou’s expression changed.
“Can I choose neither?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.
“No!”
“Okay then… if that is the case, I have a condition of my own.” Fang Zhengzhi waved his hands when he saw Chi Hou’s expression.
“I knew that you would have some conditions. Tell me, what do you want? Money or treasure? I will give you whatever you need within my abilities.” Chi Hou replied.
If Fang Zhengzhi didn’t take this opportunity to get something for himself, he wouldn’t believe that Fang Zhengzhi was going to be loyal to King Duan.
“Let Chi Guyan be my bed warmer.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
“What?! You rascal… that’s impossible! I wouldn’t even let her marry you, much less be a bed warmer! I can’t make decisions for her! Ask me for something else!”
Chi Hou nearly dropped the piece of meat in his hands when he heard this request.
“I don’t have any other conditions.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head in disappointment.
“Fang Zhengzhi, I am a rank one official and general of the Great Xia! I marched for 48 hours straight to get here when I heard you returned. I have given you more than you deserve! Don’t push your limits!” Chi Hou fumed.
“Are you going to flip out on me?” Fang Zhengzhi seemed to panic when he saw this.
“Aish… even though we got off on the wrong foot when we first met in the Divine Constabulary, I do not hate you. Furthermore, with all that you had done for the Great Xia in the war, I do not want you to die!” Chi Hou sighed and shook his head.
“I chose the path myself, and I will keep walking it. Since you can’t make Chi Guyan my bed warmer, I will have to do it myself.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“You are telling me that you can make Chi Guyan your bed warmer?” Chi Hou was stunned to hear this.
“Mm.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“You rascal, don’t bite off more than you can chew!” Chi Hou squinted as he exuded a domineering aura.
“Three months. Three months from now, I will have her tell the whole world that she will be my bed warmer!” Fang Zhengzhi replied casually.
“Are you for real?” Chi Hou’s eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets.
“Of course!”
“And if you can’t do it?”
“Then I will do as you say and stay in the courts for three to five years. I will get back my rank three post.” Fang Zhengzhi waved him off.
“Okay, I will give you three months!”
“And if I manage to do it?”
“Hahaha… then I will follow you! I will listen to you and follow your orders!” Chi Hou chuckled scornfully.
“Follow my orders? What if I asked you to rebel?”
“Rubbish! How dare you speak of such things?!”
“Haha… I was just kidding.”
“You rascal, if you can really make Chi Guyan your bed warmer, I will follow any of your orders as long as they don’t involve rebellion!” Chi Hou replied.
“It’s a deal!”
“Okay, I will give you three months. I will protect you in the meantime. If you try to play me, I will not show you any mercy.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
“Mm, since everything is out in the open, when do you plan to return to the capital?”
“Soon. I am just waiting for a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Did you really think that I grilled such a huge beast for the two of us?” Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched as he looked at the roasted beast.
“Oh? I heard that the leader of the Shadow Sect is a female. However… I’ve never seen her in person. Maybe it’s a good thing for me to meet her today.” Chi Hou responded.
“Haha…” Fang Zhengzhi chuckled but didn’t say anything else.
At that moment, two figures appeared in the distance. They traveled quickly, and they exchanged blows as they ran over.
The glow of the swords was clear for all to see…
A wave of iciness clashed with a pale blue glow. The duel sent plumes of dust skyward, almost like two ravenous wolves fighting it out.
This was Qingyi and Li Jingfeng.
Chi Hou frowned. He knew that Li Jingfeng would not fight with Qingyi unless he had a good reason to. Li Jingfeng was a soldier.
A soldier follows orders.
Even a verbal exchange could not cause Li Jingfeng to go against direct orders and enter the village.
There was only one possibility.
There was something urgent that even Li Jingfeng didn’t dare to handle himself.
“What’s happening?” Chi Hou waved his arm and a thin aura flew in between Li Jingfeng and Qingyi.
The fighting stopped.
“My lord, there is a squad of soldiers two miles away and heading towards the village. Intel puts their numbers at about 3000. They are traveling quickly and in formation. They must be a trained force!”
“An army? A trained one? Do we know who they are?” Chi Hou was stunned.
This was the Northern Region! The only trained army here was his!
“No, they are all wearing veils and their armor is being covered by black cloaks! Furthermore, they are quite aggressive and feel powerful! However, we can’t tell who they are by their appearance!”
“Aggressive and powerful? Are they the barbarians?”
“Probably not. Their aura is similar, but the barbarians cannot possibly be this well trained. Intel tells us that this squad is even faster than the Red Pinion Squad. They are also able to maintain formation throughout. My guess is that they are not weaker than the Red Pinion Squad!” Li Jingfeng shook his head.
“Not weaker than the Red Pinion Squad?” Chi Hou’s expression changed.
He trusted Li Jingfeng’s judgment. However, there were few squads that were on par with the Red Pinion Squad. The Mountain Breaking Army was one of them, as well as a couple of other elite squads in the constabularies.
Or maybe some of the larger noble families.
But…
None of them should have been able to come up to the Northern Regions!
Who is it? The Stabilization Constabulary?
Impossible.
Chi Hou rejected that idea almost immediately. Even though the Stabilization Constabulary had interacted with Fang Zhengzhi during the war…
They wouldn’t come up here to find him.
Xing Yuanguo was a principled man. If he planned to enter the Northern Regions, he would have sent a letter to Chi Hou.
Even if time was of the essence…
He would not bother to disguise himself and hide his identity. The Stabilization Constabulary didn’t need to mask themselves!
This was definitely not the Stabilization Constabulary!
The fact that they were veiled meant that they didn’t want to be recognized.
Were they trying to hide their movements?
Definitely not!
The movements of 3000 soldiers traveling in formation were impossible to hide! The only reason must be that they wanted to conceal their identity!
The Crown Prince?!
How did they get here so quickly?
Chi Hou turned to Fang Zhengzhi when he thought about this.
Then, he realized that Fang Zhengzhi’s expression didn’t change when he heard what Li Jingfeng said. In fact, there were traces of surprise on his face.
Could it be…
Chi Hou squinted, “I never thought that the Shadow Sect had grown to become such a formidable force in the past year! I have underestimated Wu Yuer!”