Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 23: Trap

The following day, Fang Chen put down his brush.

He had noticed a problem. His weasel hair brush, cinnabar, and yellow talisman paper were only mortal-grade items, so they couldnt harness even more spirit ki. Due to that, the prowess of his Purple Lightning Talisman remained the same despite the rise in his cultivation.

The prowess of the Purple Lightning Talisman is so great that it can strike fear even in a twelfth stage Ki Refinement cultivator, but the Purple Lightning Talisman I draw is nowhere near that. It looks like the problem lies with the equipment. Fang Chen fell into deep thought.

There were no cultivators to be found in Great Xia, but that didnt mean that they didnt have spirit items. He needed a better weasel hair brush, cinnabar, and yellow talisman papers.

Maybe I should ask someone to collect such items for me.

Fang Chen began sieving through the candidates. Quite a few people met the criteria in the Great Xia Shadow Guards. They had several stores under them, but the problem was that they had no spirit ki, so they were incapable of discerning spirit items.

All of a sudden, a thought arose in his mind.

He remembered his Shadow Guards reporting something strange many years ago. It was intriguing, but he didnt pay attention to it as it had nothing to do with the battlefield. Now that he thought about it, it might be related to the world of cultivation.

I should find time to take a trip there, Fang Chen murmured.

War God Fang, the chief warden called him from outside.

How did the negotiation go? Fang Chen asked with a smile.

He had given them a day. No matter how they dragged things out, there should be a conclusion by now.

The court master has received news from the imperial palace. You have been granted an audience with His Majesty, the chief warden replied as he instructed a warden to open the gate.

Young master, youll come and fetch me later, right? Huang Sihai anxiously asked.

You have been here for five years now. Theres no rush. Stay here for now, Fang Chen said.

Fang Chen followed the chief warden out of the prison. Eunuch You and You Longchang were already waiting for him outside.

You Longchang looked defeated. He seemed to have something to say to Fang Chen, but he held himself back.

War God Fang, I have come under orders to fetch you. Please come with me, Eunuch You said politely.

Ill be troubling you, Fang Chen replied.

The chief warden walked them out of the Court of Great Brilliance, and only then did he heave a sigh of relief. Each day Fang Chen stayed in their prison, his stress would increase by a load.

War God Fang, will His Majesty punish us? You Longchang walked beside Fang Chen as he asked with a suppressed voice.

Eunuch You heard those words, but he feigned ignorance. He had brought You Longchang along this time under the emperors orders. After all, You Longchang was an accomplice in his massacre of the Greenpine martial artists.

The ones we killed are Greenpine martial artists. Why would His Majesty punish us for that? You dont have to worry about it. Fang Chen smiled.

You Longchang was unconvinced. You say that, but you have been locked in the Court of Great Brilliance for a day now. However, there was nothing he could do now. Blood had rushed into his head that day, and he killed quite a few Greenpine martial artists alongside Fang Chen.

It didnt take long for them to arrive before the imperial palace.

You Longchang suddenly remarked, Isnt that Imperial Uncle Li and his family?

A group of people were kneeling before the palace doors, ranging from the young to the old. There was even a trembling old woman with snowy-white hair kneeling with them.

One of them noticed Fang Chen and roared, The murderer Fang Chen is here!

Murderer? You Longchang was suddenly reminded of Li Huang. Now that I think about it, I dont think I have met Li Huang since that day. Could it be

You Longchang quickly turned to look at Fang Chen in disbelief. Surely this fellow cant have killed Li Huang too? Li Huangs aunt is one of His Majestys most dotted consorts!

Fang Chen, what grudge does our Li Clan have with you? Why are you so vicious as to kill my son and end our lineage? Imperial Uncle Li stood up and glared at Fang Chen with animosity.

Son, is he Fang Chen? The old woman shakily stood up and pointed a trembling finger at Fang Chen.

Imperial Uncle Li nodded.

Y-you! Why did you kill my grandson? Why?! Ill beat you to death! Ill beat you to death! The old woman limped up to Fang Chen and raised her walking cane to strike him.

Not only did Imperial Uncle Li and the others not stop her, but there was even a hint of glee in their eyes.

Eunuch You was at a loss as to what to do. One side was Imperial Uncle Lis mother, and the other side was Fang Chen. He didnt know what he could do to not offend both sides.

While he was still in thought, the walking cane had almost landed on Fang Chens head.

Fang Chen heaved a sigh as he grabbed the walking stick. Old Madam, Li Huang, like the Greenpine martial artists, saw the civilians of our Great Xia as mere livestock and used them as live targets. His Majesty would have beheaded him even if I didnt make a move, and your clan would have been implicated too.

You killed my grandson, and you still want to sully his reputation! My grandson wouldnt do anything like that! Ill beat you to death! The old woman disregarded Fang Chens explanation as she tried to retrieve her walking cane from his hand to continue hitting him.

Meanwhile, several figures were quietly watching as this farce unfolded.

His Highness, how will Fang Chen resolve this matter? Its one thing for him to kill the Greenpine martial artists, but he actually killed Li Huang on top of that. Imperial Uncle Li and Noble Consort Fang wont let this matter slide, Ye Qinghe said.

The crown prince calmly looked at Fang Chen, followed by the old woman, before bursting into laughter. Resolve this matter? Not that easy! Imperial Uncle Lis mother used to be my fathers nanny, so Fang Chen cant afford to touch her. This puts him in a spot. Hahaha!

A crowd was starting to gather in front of the imperial palace.

The Li Clan immediately spread word about Fang Chen killing the innocent, which horrified the civilians. The civilians pointed their fingers at Fang Chen and criticized him.

All of a sudden, the old woman cried in agony. She fell to her knees while clutching her chest. Imperial Uncle Li rushed forward to support her, but at the same time, he roared at Fang Chen, How dare you make a move on my mother?

I didnt do anything. There are many eyes watching us, Fang Chen said.

You are a martial artist, a fourth stage Ki Manifestation martial artist! You dont even need to lift a finger to kill my mother; all you have to do is to exert your inner ki! Imperial Uncle Li bellowed while inspecting the old womans body.

With those words, the surrounding civilians looked at Fang Chen with a different gaze.

Y-you must avenge Huanger The old woman saw her life flash across her eyes as she desperately clutched onto Imperial Uncle Lis sleeves. She obstinately pointed her finger at Fang Chen as she said, Avenge Huanger, kill him, and destroy his clan

The old womans legs finally caved in, and she blacked out.

Imperial Uncle Li roared in sorrow, Mother!!!

Did War God Fang really make a move on an unarmed old woman?

Dont talk nonsense! War God Fang never touched her!

A fourth stage Ki Manifestation martial artist doesnt need direct contact to kill someone. There might be more than meets the eye.

Such discussions could be heard from the crowd.

A young man dressed like a scholar stepped forward and yelled at Fang Chen, War God Fang, no matter what, you should never lay your hands on a civilian of Great Xia!

On the palace walls, the crown prince chuckled at that sight. Qinghe, do you know how it feels to be criticized by everyone?

I-I dont think so Ye Qinghe shook his head.

Just look at Fang Chen. Hes in huge trouble. Its almost impossible for him to make a comeback now, the crown prince snorted.

Ye Qinghe thought about the matter, and his eyes gleamed in realization. Your Highness, this is an ingenious move! Even if His Majesty wishes to reinstate Fang Chen as a marshall, there will be strong resistance from the people as he has lost their support!

It was under the crown princes instruction that Imperial Uncle Li chose to camp outside the imperial palace today.

Whats Fang Chen doing? the crown prince suddenly asked with a frown.

Ye Qinghe looked over and saw Fang Chen squatting beside the old woman and taking her pulse.