Immortal of the Nine Realms

For normal civilians, it didn’t matter whether the person they were interacting with was from a superior state or not; they would still treat the other party however they should.

However, this was a sensitive matter among the officials. The officials had to regard every civilian from a superior state carefully, lest it cause a diplomatic affair. Superior states could easily destroy a lower state, so carelessness here could have catastrophic consequences.

“Daoye, you aren’t lying, right? You’re really from a grade-6 state?” Xu Ge gasped in disbelief.

“What’s there to lie about?” Li Daoye grumbled in dissatisfaction. “Grade-6 states aren’t that formidable either. There are grade-5 and grade-4 states above them too. Honestly, it’s not that different from grade-9 states.”

“There’s a huge difference! At least Chillwater would have to think twice before dealing with our young master,” Xu Ge exclaimed in delight.

Just then, a commotion could be heard from the entrance. A guard rushed in and reported, “Second master, the Valiant Defenders’ Commander Xiao Shence and the Imperial Guards’ General Yan Beihan are at our door. They are arresting everyone from the Fang Manor for interrogation!”

“They must be out of their mind! Do they intend to bring down our Fang Manor?!” Fang Cangyou was so angry that he nearly stood up from his wheelchair, but he held himself back.

“Our First Madam and young miss have been captured!” the guard anxiously said. “Our men aren’t a match for the Valiant Defenders and the Imperial Guards. Second Master, what should we do?”

“Those bastards!” Huang Sihai smashed the tea set next to him.

Xu Ge’s eyes blazed with fury. Li Daoye was astounded.

“I’ll slaughter them!” Huang Sihai roared as he stood up.

Fang Cangyou quickly stopped him. “Calm down, Old Huang! Chen’er isn’t back yet. Let’s not cause more trouble for him now.”

“Second Master, are we going to let them do as they please and capture everyone from the Fang Manor?” Huang Sihai roared.

“Violence shouldn’t be the first resort. Old Huang, you need to kick that bad habit of yours,” Fang Cangyou said. “Come, let’s head out and take a look. I want to see what Xiao Shence and Yan Beihan are up to this time.”

The Fang Manor was in a mess.

Fang Chen’s mother, Fang Zhixue, the younger Fang Clansmen, the guards, the butler, the servants, and the maids were all surrounded by the Valiant Defenders at the sparring field.

Yan Beihan looked at the hundreds of people before him and sighed. He turned to Xiao Shence and said, “We have thoroughly offended Fang Chen with this move.”

“We don’t have a choice. It’s His Majesty’s order. Our clans will be beheaded if we defy the imperial edict,” Xiao Shence replied.

“It’s fortunate Fang Chen is not in the capital at the moment, or else we’d be put in a spot. Hopefully this matter is properly resolved before Fang Chen returns,” Yan Beihan muttered.

“What are you doing?!” Fang Chen’s mother roared at Xiao Shence and Yan Beihan. “This is the Fang Manor. The least you can do is to provide us with a valid reason before apprehending us.”

“Madam Fang, pardon us for this offense. We didn’t want to do this either. Chillwater’s envoy insisted we apprehend you right away to be interrogated,” Yan Beihan clasped his fist and said.

Chillwater?

The crowd was stunned. Guhe, Yizhou, Longdu, and Great Xia were Chillwater’s vassal states; the four of them had to pay a tribute to Chillwater every year!

“Your Fang Manor is in big trouble. Viscount Zhou Xiu, whom Fang Chen executed back then, had blood ties with Chillwater’s Ji Clan,” Xiao Shence said. “Chillwater has come to demand an explanation. His Majesty has his hands tied too. I hope that you’ll cooperate with us.”

“How could Zhou Xiu be related to Chillwater?”

“How dare they step into our Great Xia?! They received Great Xia’s tribute every year, but they refused to stand up for us back when we were invaded by Greenpine!”

Some of the younger Fang Clansmen were infuriated. Most of them were military orphans, with their fathers being soldiers buried in the Immemorial Mausoleum. The world blamed Fang Chen for losing the war, but they saw the sacrifices the Fang Clan made for Great Xia.

If Chillwater had stepped forward to mediate, there wouldn’t have been such a bitter war between Great Xia and Greenpine. Yet, Chillwater had the galls to interrogate them today over Longdu’s affair—not to forget that Longdu was the invader here! How could they not be angry?

“Madam Fang, you should make them watch their mouths. Your Fang Clan could be executed if Chillwater’s envoy hears their words,” Xiao Shence said.

“Executing our Fang Clan? What arrogant words! This is Great Xia, not Chillwater!”

Xu Ge pushed Fang Cangyou out. Old Huang, Tie Ma, and the others accompanied them.

The Valiant Defenders and Imperial Guards warily eyed them, not daring to carelessly approach.

“You people sure are callous. The least you can do is to wait for my big brother to return first,” Fang Cangyou said.

“Second Master Fang, it’s not that we don’t want to wait. Chillwater’s envoy is the one who doesn’t want to wait,” Xiao Shence replied.

“Forget it.” Fang Cangyou eyed the Valiant Defenders and the Imperial Guards. “Now that we’re all gathered here, tell us what you intend to do. Lock us up?”

“General Fang has already been called to the imperial palace. As for War God Fang, I heard that he’s currently out of the capital. We’ll wait for him to return first. There’s one more person from the Fang Clan who isn’t here yet,” Xiao Shence said.

“One more person?”

The crowd was stunned.

A second later, Fang Cangyou’s face darkened. “You’re referring to my father? He has been in seclusion training for many years now to overcome his pinnacle Ki Control bottleneck. What are you planning to do?”

Fang Chen’s mother bellowed, “Don’t you dare disturb our Old Master, or else there’ll be no room for reconciliation. As long as there’s a single person left in our Fang Clan, we’ll fight you to the dying breath!”

“We’ll fight you to the dying breath!” the young Fang Clansmen and guards roared in unison.

“Haaa…” Xiao Shence sighed. “I already told you this matter is out of my control. We’re just obeying imperial orders.”

He eyed his subordinates. Without any hesitation, five chiliarchs led a large army of Valiant Defenders into the depths of the Fang Manor.

Over there was a peaceful courtyard, where all of the Fang Clansmen knew the Old Master was in seclusion training. It was usually guarded, and no one was allowed to enter the premises.

“Xiao Shence, how dare you!” Fang Cangyou bellowed. “Just try stepping into that courtyard, and I’ll make sure not a single one of you leaves this place alive!”

Old Huang sneered as cracking sounds echoed from his body. Xu Ge and Tie Ma drew their swords and coldly eyed Xiao Shence.

“Are you… rebelling right now?” Xiao Shence asked with sharp eyes.

Yan Beihan heaved another sigh. The last thing he wanted was for things to blow up like this.

“Men, kill anyone who dares to defy imperial orders!” Xiao Shence ordered.

Clang clang clang!

All of the Valiant Defenders drew their weapons, and the situation became even more tense.

Just then, an elderly voice boomed, “What’s going on?”

An old man dressed in traditional clothes walked over from afar.

Fang Cangyou and the others were astonished. Our Old Master has emerged from his seclusion training?