Immortal of the Nine Realms

At the Fang Manor within the Southern Region.

It had been over twenty years since Fang Chen last returned here. The most significant change in this area was the transformation of the once desolate land around the spiritual pond into a thriving area with numerous homes. It had grown from a wasteland into a sizable city, and the most prominent structure within it was the Fang Manor.

Fang Chen frowned slightly. He could tell at a glance that aside from Fang Cangyou and Fang Cangyue, the few people closest to him were all absent. ”The old man isn’t here? Neither are my parents and little sister....”

The guard at the entrance saw Fang Chen and approached with a scrutinizing look. ”Daoist, are you looking for someone?”

The guard appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Although he looked old, he wasn’t weak at all. He was a fourth realm Earth Profound Stage expert, a Longevity Qi Martial Artist.

Fang Chen couldn’t help but smile. ”Wang Wu? You’re all grown up now....”

Having spent so much time in the cultivation world, the passage of time felt vague to him. After all, for cultivators, decades would not cause significant aging. However, for ordinary people, forty or fifty years was half their lives.

The man before him, Wang Wu, was once a war orphan adopted by the Fang Family.

When Fang Chen first met Senior Yun He, Wang Wu was only a little over ten years old. Now, he was probably already old enough to have grandchildren.

Wang Wu was startled, but he took a closer look and recognized Fang Chen. ”My lord!? It’s really you!?”

This was his lord, who had been away from home for many years!

Wang Wu became incredibly excited, his blood rushing. Tears filled his tiger-like eyes and streamed down his face. He hurriedly turned and shouted behind him, ”Quick, go tell the Second Young Master and Third Lady—the lord is back!!”

”What!? The lord is back!?”

The entire Fang manor erupted in excitement. People of all ages ran out—some elderly, some young. The elderly couldn’t hold back their tears upon seeing Fang Chen, while the younger generation stared at him in curiosity. They had only heard about him from the older generations and had never seen him. When they saw how young Fang Chen looked, they choked with emotion.

Surrounded by the crowd, Fang Chen made his way into the main hall. As he entered, he saw Fang Cangyue approaching in a wheelchair.

Fang Cangyue stared at Fang Chen for a long while, then smiled warmly. ”Little Chen, I knew you wouldn’t die so easily.”

Fang Cangyou angrily slammed the armrest of the wheelchair, spitting everywhere as he said, ”Little brat, you left last time and didn’t return for more than twenty years. Now, you’ve left again and made us wait another twenty years! Aren’t you afraid that your third uncle will pass away before you come back and you’ll never get to see me again?”

Judging by his lively and spirited appearance, Fang Chen could tell his uncle still had many years ahead of him.

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. ”Aunt, Second Uncle.”

He looked at Fang Cangyou and said, ”Second Uncle, even if you die, we’ll still meet again. You don’t need to worry about such things anymore.”

”What a bunch of nonsense,” muttered Fang Cangyou.

Though he said that, a smile still tugged at the corners of his mouth despite his grumbling.

Seeing how many people had gathered, Fang Cangyou curled his lip and immediately barked, ”Don’t just stand around! Go get to work. Your lord is back and will probably stay for several days. There’s plenty for you to do.”

”We’ll get back to work then, my lord!”

”If you plan to leave again, my lord, do let us know!”

The crowd reluctantly left, turning back to glance at Fang Chen almost every few steps.

Once everyone had left, Fang Chen and the others entered the main hall, leaving no one to attend them.

Fang Cangyue walked up to Fang Chen and gently brushed his cheek with her hand, a hint of concern flashing in her eyes. ”Little Chen, you’ve suffered all these years outside, haven’t you?”

Fang Chen’s expression turned a bit strange. ”Aunt, did you and that person... stay in the Central Continent?”

Fang Cangyue nodded lightly. ”I’ve seen you a few times through the Heaven Profound Mirror.”

Fang Chen asked, ”He hasn’t been treating you badly, has he?”

”He hasn’t mistreated me,” answered Fang Cangyue. Eyes flickering with uncertainty, she asked, ”Are you planning to look for him in the capital?”

Fang Chen smiled and continued, ”I’ve already met up with him. I also met that girl, Yunxin. I have temporarily set aside what’s between us because there is still something I don’t understand.”

”What? You’ve seen him?” Fang Cangyou’s expression became concerned. ”He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

Fang Chen smiled faintly. ”What could he do to me? In terms of cultivation, he’s not my match; in terms of background, he’s no better off either.”

Fang Cangyou let out a sigh of relief. ”That’s true. After all, I am now the Southern King. No matter what, he has to give me some face.”

Fang Chen looked at Fang Cangyue.

Fang Cangyue indifferently revealed, ”The emperor has granted him the title of Southern King. Everything south of Grand Xia belongs to him, while everything north of Grand Xia is under the emperor’s jurisdiction. However, your second uncle has been a bit lazy, delegating most of the work to Xia Yuan. He used to be the emperor of Grand Xia, so managing the southern territories is no problem for him.”

Fang Cangyou snorted. ”I’m not being lazy. It’s just that Xia Yuan really manages things well. We can’t let such a talent sit around all day drinking tea with a bunch of people.”

Fang Chen asked, ”Uncle, Aunt, what about Grandpa? Has he not come back at all?”

”He came back once, together with your aunt, and that Xia Xuanji fellow.” Fang Cangyou snorted. ”If it weren’t for Yun Xin, I would’ve had a full reckoning with him. Every single debt would be settled once and for all.”

”And then? Did he leave just like that? Didn’t he leave any message?” Fang Chen wondered.

”A message?” Fang Cangyou shook his head slightly. ”I don’t remember him saying anything to me.”

Fang Cangyue nodded. ”He did.”

Fang Cangyou looked at her in disbelief. ”Third Sister, what did he say? Why haven’t I heard bout this?”

”Father said you don’t need to know. It has nothing to do with you,” said Fang Cangyue.

After a pause, she looked at Fang Chen. ”Father said that the road you’re treading is very difficult. If one day you feel tired, just turn back... and return here.”

Fang Cangyou suddenly laughed out loud. ”Third Sister, is Father muddled? This kid needs him to ensure his safety? Don’t forget; if it weren’t for this kid’s fists and kicks, Grand Xia wouldn’t be where it is today, and the Fang family wouldn’t have what it has now.”

Both Fang Chen and Fang Cangyue fell silent.

Fang Chen gently patted Fang Cangyou’s shoulder, softly sighing. ”Second Uncle, sometimes ignorance can be a blessing. I’ll go out for a walk.”

”You’re calling me ignorant? Stand right there!”

Fang Cangyou instinctively tried to get out of his wheelchair, but then suddenly paused. In the end, he could only glare angrily at Fang Chen’s retreating figure.

Fang Cangyou looked at Fang Cangyue, his expression full of suspicion. ”Third Sister, be honest with me. Are you hiding something from me?”

Fang Cangyue replied, ”It’s not so much that we’re hiding something from you, it’s just that we didn’t think it was necessary to mention it before. I think Father was likely a cultivator a long time ago. His cultivation might have far surpassed what either of us can imagine.”

Fang Cangyou looked astonished.”Is that true? If that’s the case, how could he have been seriously injured by someone with the surname Ji when he was younger?”

Fang Cangyue shook her head with a smile. ”As for this, I don’t know. But now, everything is fine. I’ve finally put down the last of my worries.”

***

Fang Chen had initially planned to fly directly to Seven Profound Sect to visit Huangfu Jie, and perhaps look for Old Yellow and the others. However, he suddenly felt that it had been a long, long time since he had truly slowed down and enjoyed the scenery.

”Grandmother, do you really know the ancestor of the Seven Profound Sect?”

”I heard that the ancestor was once a friend of Divine General Fang. Have you ever met him?”

”Grandmother, you...”

”Can you speak less? You’re seriously ill now and shouldn’t be overexerting yourself,” Fang Cangyue chided. She then added, ”As for General Fang, yes, I really did know him.”

Fang Chen’s gaze shifted. He turned around and looked ahead.

On the mountain path leading to the Seven Profound Sect, there were about ten martial artists from the Jianghu, with a white-haired old woman leading them. On her back was a little child with a round, tiger-like head. The child was deathly pale, and he was completely bald. It was clear he was gravely ill.