Chapter 166: Since That’s How It Was…

After the Divine Queen of Phoenix City left, Fang Cun stayed quietly on the Dharma Ship for a long time. Then he said, “Return!”

Xiao Qingliu had been steering at the front all this time. He heard the entire conversation between Fang Cun and the Divine Queen. Yet, he didn’t ask a single question extra. Fang Cun hadn’t discussed anything with him, but Xiao Qingliu undoubtedly already understood his thoughts.

While they spoke earlier, the Dharma Ship had drifted aimlessly through the sky, traveling several hundred miles. Now, it sailed back toward Great Qingjiang City. During the journey, Fang Cun quietly finished his tea. Many thoughts flashed through his mind. About what he should do. About how to handle what might come next. By the end, he had pretty much made up his mind.

“Elder Fang… you… you’re truly unharmed…”

As they neared Great Qingjiang City, it was Young Sect Master Xu who first spotted the Dharma Ship returning. Startled with joy, he hurriedly leaped onto the deck. Seeing Fang Cun safe and sound, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. His anxious expression didn’t seem fake at all.

“Worried about me?” Fang Cun smiled and looked at him.

Young Sect Master Xu instinctively nodded. “If you died, wouldn’t our Shoushan Sect suffer too?”

Then he caught himself and looked at Fang Cun with an awkward smile.

Fang Cun chuckled, ignoring him. Hearing noises below, he stepped onto the deck. Not only had Young Sect Master Xu been guarding the city outskirts, but the five sect leaders of the city had also rushed to the city gates. Judging by their demeanor, though, they’d clearly been hiding inside the city. Only upon seeing Fang Cun’s Dharma Ship return safely did they hastily come out to greet him, watching nervously.

Beyond the five sect leaders, a large crowd of ordinary people had gathered by the city gates. They craned their necks, peering curiously. After all, the appearance of the Divine Queen earlier, where fiery clouds cascaded hundreds of zhang down, had thoroughly alarmed all the inhabitants of Great Qingjiang City. Human curiosity is a powerful force. Even having witnessed the plight of the Chief Warden and the city’s Divine Generals, they still gathered here, eager to see what happened next.

“Second Young Master Fang, what exactly happened before?” The five sect leaders had spotted Fang Cun on deck and, assured of his safety, they all ascended into the air on wisps of cloud. Their faces bore expressions of concern and sympathy. Yet, no matter how they tried to suppress it, they couldn’t hide that deep, genuine desire to get to the truth.

Why had the Phoenix God King, said to hate Immortal Master Fang Chi the most, appeared in Great Qingjiang City?

Why had she sought out Second Young Master Fang?

Most importantly, given her temper, since she had specifically come to Qingjiang City… why was Second Young Master Fang still alive?

When news of Immortal Master Fang Chi’s demise had spread across Great Xia, theories had flown. Naturally, many busybodies speculated on the fate of the Fang Family, wondering which powerful figure would be the first to act against them. And the most-frequently guessed candidate? That Divine Queen herself. Given her history of intense conflict with Immortal Master Fang Chi earlier, if it wasn’t a matter of mortal enmity, it was very close…

“Nothing much, just an old friend of my late elder brother, passing through Qingjiang, who wanted to exchange a few words with me,” Fang Cun replied, looking at the five sect leaders’ tense and curious expressions. He offered no further explanation, merely brushing it off casually and lightly.

He understood that the image of the Divine Queen appearing in Qingjiang Prefecture to converse with him would likely spread swiftly.

Impossible to predict right now how many rumors it would spark. But he had no intention of explaining himself. At this moment, whether he played pitiful and tragic, or took the chance to boast, waving the Divine Queen’s banner for protection — both could bring advantages. Yet Fang Cun knew well that if he truly wanted to turn this meeting into subtle leverage, the best method was actually to say nothing. Explain nothing. Just let others speculate wildly the more imaginative they got, the clearer his benefit would be.

Seeing Fang Cun reply so casually, the sect leaders indeed exchanged hesitant glances. Given their status, they naturally couldn’t press for details after Fang Cun declined to say more. But observing Fang Cun’s detached expression, their minds bubbled with heightened suspicion.

Such suspicion could, after all, imply something profound and unfathomable.

“Whoosh…”

Just as the crowd exchanged a few more words, before the Dharma Ship had even landed, a vast expanse of dark clouds suddenly surged from the southern sky. Under the moonlight, they rolled swiftly forward, bringing fierce winds. Merely the aura radiating from those approaching clouds seemed to radiate the anger and anxiety of whoever was within them. Even dozens of miles away, a roar could be faintly heard.

“Who just dared to cause chaos in my Qingjiang?!”

Hearing this, the sect leaders all jumped, turning south. Old Master Fan had arrived.

Down below, the worried yet curious onlookers also looked up. They saw the clouds sweeping forward, instantly traversing tens of miles to rush close. As the clouds dispersed, they revealed an old man. His hair flew wildly, he wore a simple night robe, held a sword in his hand, sported a flowing white beard, and had eyes blazing with fury. The chilling killing intent radiating from the sword he held seemed to fill half the sky.

“We greet Senior Fan…”

The various sect leaders hurriedly bowed to him, inwardly curious. They had never before seen the old master look so disheveled.

“Where are my Qingjiang Prefecture’s Chief Warden? The Secretaries? The Divine Generals?!”

Rushing forward, Old Master Fan completely ignored the bowing sect leaders, bellowing harshly.

By now, divine lights had already risen from within the city. The previous Chief Warden, Divine Generals, and others dragged their injured bodies forward. One by one, they leaped into the air in front of Old Master Fan. Silently, they bowed. Not a single one could speak…

Even Qi Refiners couldn’t regrow their tongues instantly if they had been pulled out…

“Disgraceful! Utterly disgraceful! You are all worthless!”

Old Master Fan’s face was twisted with fury. He pointed accusingly at them, shouting harshly, “For what purpose does the imperial court raise you? What have I always taught you? As Qi Refiners, you should fear no powerful figures! Your sole duty is to protect the common people! And you… you allowed that… that woman to trample into my Qingjiang City! To terrorize the citizens under my governance?! You even let her… pull out your tongues?!”

The Chief Wardens all looked deeply aggrieved, making mournful expressions, yet none could “explain”!

“Master, calm your anger! Master, please calm down!”

Just then, a streak of sword light urgently shot from the south. Riding it was an old servant dressed in dark robes, hurriedly carrying an outer garment. He rushed to Old Master Fan’s side and draped the robe over him. His voice trembled with boundless concern as he admonished the Divine Generals, “How did you handle matters?! How could you let outsiders crash in at will?! Our old master had just begun his secluded meditation! Upon hearing about events in Qingjiang City, he charged out recklessly, forcibly halting his cultivation! He rushed here frantically without even time to don his outer robes! He’s of advanced age! The Internal Breath surges chaotically! Who knows what harm could come of it?!” As the old servant spoke, Old Master Fan suddenly fell into a violent coughing fit. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, which he angrily wiped away with his sleeve.

The old servant gasped in fright, hastily patting his master’s back, while simultaneously casting furious, accusatory looks at everyone present.

All the Chief Wardens and Divine Generals immediately lowered their heads deeply.

Even the five sect leaders hovering nearby looked profoundly awkward.

Down in the city, however, the common people witnessing this scene erupted into a deafening buzz of discussion.

Truthfully, no civilians had been hurt. Only a few houses suffered collapsed roofs; they had rather enjoyed the spectacle. Suddenly seeing Old Master Fan, worried about ordinary folk like them, despite his great age, rush here sword in hand upon hearing of trouble — hair uncombed, robe not worn — his deep, protective heart obvious for all to see… many were deeply moved. They wept openly as they knelt en masse.

“Quickly! Go console the people immediately!” Old Master Fan shouted harshly to his old servant beside him. “Any injured citizen shall receive medicine provided by the County Mansion! Any house damaged shall be repaired using prefectural funds! The common folk are the foundation of our Great Xia! Their every wisp of safety, every splinter of loss, is of paramount importance! Fail in this task, and I will see your head roll!”

The old servant frantically bowed in assent, then hurriedly rode his sword downward.

For a moment, the sounds of thanksgiving and praise from the people below arose like a roaring tide.

“Nephew Fang Cun, you are unharmed?”

Only at this point did Old Master Fan approach the Dharma Ship where Fang Cun stood. He looked Fang Cun over carefully, then seemed to exhale a very long sigh of relief, righteous indignation burning in his voice: “Great Xia has its laws! Divine Kings guard the nation; they may not leave their posts arbitrarily! That woman… Hah! She dares? The exalted Divine King Nanhuang! Sneaking into my Yuan Nation without a sound! What shame to order is this! Where are the rules?! Where are the Qi Refiners of the Yuan Nation’s Divine Palace at such a time?!”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze back to Fang Cun, tone reassuring: “Fear not. It is fortunate you are safe. Had harm befallen you, this old man would have rammed his head right against the gates of Zhaoge itself to demand justice for you! Fear nothing in the future! So long as you cause no trouble, commit no offense… with me here, let’s see who dares lay a finger on you!”

Hearing this declaration, feeling the weight of his prestige, the surrounding people fell silent.

The five sect leaders subtly averted their faces, seemingly unwilling to witness the scene.

Young Sect Master Xu, standing nearby, hung his head even lower. He nudged a rope on the deck with his toe, pretending to play with it.

……

Fang Cun turned his head. He saw the lingering fury on the old man’s face. He saw the resolute firmness.

He studied this expression quietly for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he smiled.

Since that’s how it was… then…

……

“Senior scholar, esteemed Old Scholar… your profound talent and immense virtue leave this younger generation deeply moved and thankful…”

Right then, in front of the surrounding sect leaders and the countless citizens below, Fang Cun suddenly took a step back. He drew himself up and performed a respectful bow. His voice rang out, clear and strong, filled with emotion: “Since my late elder brother often lamented that being a Qi Refiner requires never fearing the strong, never bullying the weak. To hold the realm’s common folk as fundamental. To stand for justice and drive out evil. Only thus can one be worthy of their capabilities. I, your junior, once thought such character exceptionally rare in the world. Little did I expect to find such a venerable elder right here in our Qingjiang Prefecture. With the presence of one such as yourself, venerable sir… across all the vast lands under heaven, whom could I, your junior, still fear? Whom could our citizens have cause to dread?”

“Huh?”

Hearing Fang Cun’s speech, the five sect leaders nearby froze.

Young Sect Master Xu reacted as if he’d seen a ghost.

Even Old Master Fan was caught off-guard. He hadn’t anticipated this response from Fang Cun.