Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen’s words immediately caused the expressions of everyone to change.

Displeasure and annoyance appeared on the faces of the scholars from the Guhe Empire, especially Long Huixin, whose expression changed very rapidly.

The scholars from Grand Xia only knew a part of the current affairs in Guhe. They were not even aware that not everyone in Guhe had the privilege to study or join the military.

In Guhe, ordinary people spent their entire life as miners, with their children and grandchildren following in their footsteps. Only disciples from big clans were born into a life of abundance. They enjoyed the finest food and clothing, whilst the commoners struggled to survive. They were the only ones who had the qualifications to climb the strict hierarchy of the empire.

Even the martial art path in the Guhe Empire was firmly controlled by these big clans. No matter how talented ordinary people were, they were not allowed to learn and practice martial arts.

The nobles shut down all paths of progression for the commoners under them.

“What qualifications do you have to be so arrogant? If Grand Xia did as you did, and abandoned the commoners and gave yearly offerings to a higher-tiered empire, do you think that Qingsong would still be able to step all over us?” Fang Chen smiled.

Long Huixin’s face turned pale. She exploded, “Fang Chen, enough with your nonsense! Who told you that the commoners in Guhe are poorly fed and clothed?”

“Stop being delusional. Even I, a blind man, can see the truth for what it is. How can a disciple of the Long family be so ignorant?” Fang Chen scoffed. “We are fighting with the Qingsong Empire so that the commoners of our nation can at least afford a mouthful of rice and stay warm during the winter. What Fairy Yu said is right. For someone who’s so clueless and ignorant of the world and its people, what qualifications do you have to be discussing poems?”

Hearing that, Fairy Yu’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she stole glances at Fang Chen. She was pleased that the lord had berated Long Huixin and stood on her side. She was well aware that he disliked being in the limelight. The only reason he spoke up was to stand up for her.

As a woman, Goddess Xiao was particularly sensitive to things between men and women, and her senses told her that something was off. She took a look at Fang Chen, then at Fairy Yu.

Fairy Yu noticed her stare, and her gaze landed on Goddess Xiao with a trace of curiosity in her eyes. She was certain that the lord didn’t have any personal maids. So, where did the one standing beside him come from?

There had to be something going on! She felt a little threatened, and a trace of hostility appeared in her eyes as she stared back at Goddess Xiao.

“Divine General Fang, since this is a poetry gathering, it’s normal for Lady Long and Fairy Yu to get a little heated talking about the poem. But you don’t know much about poetry, so why don’t you stay out of it?” Ye Qinghe intervened.

The expressions of Long Huixin and the others looked rather unpleasant, and their faces screamed that they wanted to leave. However, the scholars from Longdu and Yizhou were quick to persuade them to stay.

The argument sparked from Fairy Yu calling the poem “utter bullshit.” As the person who wrote the poem, Tao Yu suppressed his anger and said, “Divine General Fang, since you have been criticizing the theme of the poetry gathering for some time now, do you have a poem to share with us instead?”

“You’re asking me to recite a poem? That is indeed challenging. But... I once came across a poem in an ancient book that resonated with me. Shall I recite it to everyone?” Fang Chen said.

“Go ahead,” the crown prince said calmly.

The attention of everyone, including Fairy Yu and Goddess Xiao, fell on Fang Chen. According to their understanding of him, he shouldn’t know anything about poetry, not to mention reading ancient poetry books.

Fang Chen shut his eyes, organizing his thoughts for a second. He flashed a smile and said calmly, “During the Qin Dynasty, the moon was brilliant, and the Han Dynasty’s gate was closed. A long march of ten thousand miles with no return. With the Soaring General of Dragon City present, no warhorses dared tread across the Yin Mountains.” His voice, infused with spiritual energy, resonated in the ears of everyone clearly.

The crowd pondered for a while but was unable to comprehend what they had just heard.

Their expressions changed as they looked at Fang Chen with disbelief.

“What is Qin? And where is Han?”

“What does the warhorses here mean?”

“Soaring General—Is he referring to himself?”

“What a great poem!” Fairy Yu couldn’t help but exclaim.

“I am not the one who wrote this poem, nor does it pertain to Grand Xia. Stop jumping to conclusions, everyone.” Fang Chen stood up with a smile, then took his leave.

The memories he had suppressed for more than twenty years appeared in his mind once more.

Goddess Xiao chased after him with a solemn face. She felt that the warhorses in the poem were a metaphor for the Qingsong Empire!

“Your Royal Highness, I’m feeling unwell. I’ll take my leave first.” Fairy Yu stood up and bade her farewell. The crown prince nodded slightly as he waved for someone to send her off, but she declined politely.

Whilst both Fang Chen and Fairy Yu had left, they seem to have both left a mark behind in the atmosphere of the gathering. The crowd fell into a deep silence as some of them quietly recited the poem Fang Chen had left behind.

Tao Yu’s expression turned green. He was completely embarrassed. His poem was dismissed by Fairy Yu as bullshit, whilst Fang Chen’s poem received praise.

Ye Qinghe coughed dryly. “Ahem. Don’t take what he said to heart, everyone. He has already made it clear that he did not write this poem.”

The crowd looked at him in silence. It wasn’t written by him? But they had never heard of that poem before...

“Everyone, today’s theme is ‘Stopping War,’ let us continue,” the crown prince said. Even though the crowd nodded, the crown prince knew from their faces that the poetry gathering today was a flunk.

He looked icily at the general direction where Fang Chen left.

“With the Soaring General of the Dragon City present, huh? It’s only a good thing if the Soaring Dragon is not present, ” he mumbled.

***

After leaving the Grand Xia River, Fang Chen left to visit a tea house he often frequented. Along the way, Goddess Xiao asked in a low voice, “Is your poem referring to the Grand Xia and Qingsong Empires?”

Fang Chen shook his head. “No. Your Qingsong Empire isn’t qualified to live up to what the poem intends to portray.”

Goddess Xiao was enraged, but she sneered and changed the subject. “Why did you attend the poetry gathering today, anyway? Have you sent someone to investigate the identity of the Daoist yesterday?”

“What’s the hurry? We can talk more once we are at the tea house.” Fang Chen smiled.

They soon arrived.

The people inside seemed accustomed to seeing Fang Chen. However, after learning that Fang Chen’s cultivation had recovered, their attitude changed.

“Divine General Fang, here’s your tea.” It wasn’t long when he took his seat that a waiter served him his favorite tea. The waiter then took a quick glance at Goddess Xiao before retreating.

Fang Chen raised his tea cup and found a note underneath.

With her sharp eyes, Goddess Xiao saw the content of the note.

Six years ago, the Daoist appeared at the banquet hosted by the crown prince while following the army of the Fifth King.

The Fifth King. An idle prince who was known to be at peace with the world. Who was the bureau head of the Grand Brilliance Bureau. Could he be related to the Spirit Blood Sect?

“There’s something fishy about him. Why would he willingly serve the emperor when he has such a formidable person under his command?” Goddess Xiao said faintly.