Immortal of the Nine Realms

Xia Ji’s fears came true. The Qingsong Kingdom, aided by Hanshui, once again launched an offensive against Grand Xia.

Fang Chen, who had not attended court or involved himself in state matters for years, was summoned back, and at a ripe old age, he once more led troops to war.

The first year, crushing defeat.

The second year, crushing defeat.

The third year, crushing defeat.

Grand Xia’s national strength was exhausted, and an agreement was eventually made with Qingsong. Each year, Grand Xia would pay tribute in gold and silver to both Qingsong and Hanshui, and hostilities would cease.

The prestige Fang Chen had built in his youth was, in his old age, tarnished beyond repair. The impeachment reports Xia Ji received against him could be stacked as high as a man.

That same year the treaty was signed, the old master of the Fang Family passed away, followed soon after by Fang Canghai and his wife.

At the Fang Family Manor, during dinner, Fang Chen sat beside Fairy Yu, with their son, daughter-in-law, and young grandson at the table.

This was the Fang Family’s rule—the family had to eat together. Only Fang Cangyou often vanished for long periods, rarely staying at home.

Fang Chen glanced at his son, whose eye corner bore a bruise and a split in the skin. ”What hurt you like that?”

His daughter-in-law hesitated to speak, but he stopped her and replied respectfully, ”Father, I accidentally bumped into something while walking.”

”You’re already grown and still walk so carelessly? Watch your step in the future.” Fang Chen smiled, then picked up a piece of pork belly for Fairy Yu. ”Xiao Yu, the pork is crisp outside and tender inside, truly delicious.”

After dinner, their son and daughter-in-law took their leave.

Only then did Fairy Yu glance at Fang Chen with a worried expression. ”Dear, because of these recent defeats, many people have been throwing filth at the Fang Family. The injury on our son’s face was likely from being struck, not from an accident.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”I know.”

Fairy Yu was taken aback. ”Then you’re not worried?”

”What the hell should I worry about?” Fang Chen thought inwardly, then smiled in reassurance. ”Don’t fret, it’s fine. Everything’s all right now, and there’s no more war to fight. We will just have to keep our heads down.”

Sure enough, in the years that followed, Qingsong became more brazen. Relying on Hanshui’s backing to repeatedly break the treaty, Qingsong raided Grand Xia’s borders. It even brazenly opened an upscale Qingsong House in the capital.

The court could no longer withstand the impeachments against Fang Chen and also needed a target for public anger.

Thus, the Fang Family suffered. First, Fang Chen’s son was stripped of his office under a pretext and reduced to a commoner. Then, Fang Chen’s titles and honors from his youth were stripped away one by one.

Fang Cangyou was also implicated and soon died of illness. With him gone, Fang Cangyue, who had never left an heir, also passed away shortly after.

Another ten to twenty years passed. The once-prominent Fang Family was now no different from commoners.

Fang Chen’s son and daughter-in-law, unable to remain in the capital, took their grandson to seek a livelihood elsewhere and had not returned in years.

Fang Chen and Fairy Yu moved into a small commoner’s home.

Fang Chen spent his mornings walking outside before bringing back a light breakfast for her.

Fairy Yu had fallen ill, and fried dough was too greasy for her to eat.

A burly Qingsong warrior was passing by Fang Chen and noticed his old, frail look. Finding him displeasing to the eye, the warrior gave him a hard kick. ”Out of the way, old man! Don’t block this lord’s path!”

Fang Chen still retained some martial skill, but he did not dodge. He took the blow head-on, stumbling back a good distance.

The man laughed heartily and strode away.

Scenes like that played out often in the capital, and people had grown used to them, never interfering. These days, you could provoke anyone, but not a member of the Qingsong Empire.

Fang Chen wobbled back home, helped Fairy Yu up, and fed her while telling her of what had happened on the streets.

As she ate, tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks. ”My lord, are you truly content with this?”

She had called him ”Dear” for decades, but now she used the title from their younger days. For a moment, it was as if time had turned back.

”What’s there to be discontented about? Life is like this. Different choices bring different ends. Cause and effect, that’s all.” Fang Chen smiled. ”Drink your porridge. Once you’re well and stronger, I’ll take you to sea one last time. This time we’ll go far, so that when that unfilial son returns, he won’t find either of us. Then we won’t have to be bothered by him anymore.”

Fairy Yu froze for a moment, then obediently drank the porridge.

A few days later, she passed away.

Fang Chen held a simple funeral for her. When it was done, he sat at the door, watching the flow of people on the street.

Suddenly, an old man shuffled closer. Seeing Fang Chen looking at him, the old man grinned, revealing only two or three teeth, which made him look rather comical.

”Lord, do you still remember Xu Ge of Grand Xia’s Shadow Guard?”

”Xu Ge? You’ve grown this old too? What brings you to me? Here, sit down.”

Fang Chen patted the spot beside him.

Xu Ge sat down shakily and began rambling about his years. His own path had been rough, and now he was alone in the world.

”Lord, has the third prince come to see you in these years?”

”No.”

”Oh... perhaps the third prince has forgotten your friendship.”

”Maybe.”

”My lord, are you truly content?”

”You have to accept fate.”

”What if... what if we rebel?”

”You’re joking. See that young man there? Barely in his teens, brimming with vitality. If you and I joined forces, we’d last at most ten moves against him, maybe only five.”

”...Then... I’ll take my leave.”

Xu Ge left.

Years later, some bastard set Fang Chen’s house on fire. Nearly a century old, the man found himself homeless.

He laid out a cloth on the street and set up as a fortune-teller, speaking line after line of jargon that left ordinary folk baffled, but it kept him alive.

Not far away, several figures stood, watching Fang Chen and whispering.

”This man’s completely unresponsive.”

”No matter how we provoke him, he won’t react.”

”Could it be... he’s realized where he is?”

”Impossible.”

”Then we can only use the final method.”

Before long, a new figure appeared before the stall, an old Daoist with white hair and a childlike face, smiling as he looked at Fang Chen.

”Daoist Friend, I see you have great potential. Would you like to cultivate immortality with me?”

Fang Chen blinked. ”What are the benefits of cultivating immortality?”

The old Daoist answered softly, ”You can gain eternal life and command the wind and rain; nothing will be beyond you.”

Say yes, say yes!

The figures in the distance looked on tensely. If he agreed, their mission would be complete.

Fang Chen’s expression grew more solemn. ”May I know... how to address you, Senior?”

The old Daoist smiled. ”I am Yun He.”

Fang Chen sighed lightly and waved his hand. ”You and I are both charlatans; why try to trick an old man like me? I have little silver left. The name is supposed to be so refined, yet you look so stupid. It doesn’t suit you.”

The old Daoist cursed his stupidity, then stormed off in anger.

”This man is beyond saving.”

”Yes, beyond saving. We’ve wasted too much time. Leave him.”

”Find someone else.”

”Agreed.”

A few days later, Fang Chen suddenly sensed something, and joy flashed in his eyes. He murmured to himself, ”Time to die.”

He closed his eyes, and his breath ceased.

When he opened them again, he was back in the Desolate Academy.

Before him stood not only Elder Xun, but also Yun He, the old master of the Fang Family, and Li Jingnian, all three Anomalies.