Chapter 45: 1 For 10
Chapter 45: 1 For 10
The crowd stared intently at the lonesome carriage. Tao Yu looked nervous. Yuwen Jing was dripping cold sweat. Zhou Xiu was horrified.
Seconds later, a person emerged from the carriage, and the crowd gasped.
It really was Fang Chen!
Young miss, is that man really War God Fang? He looks young. The womans maid nervously trembled as she instinctively grabbed the womans sleeve.
War God Fang was 18 five years ago, which makes him 23 now. Of course hed look young. The woman tried her best to compose herself, but her quivering voice let slip her agitation.
Well be fine today. The guard leader finally let loose of his tension.
He was confident that the young War God here would stand up for powerless civilians like them, even if the person on the other side was a Longdu noble.
Fang Chen walked over to Huang Sihai and Tie Mas side. He first looked at Yuwen Jing and smiled. It has been a while, Yuwen Jing.
Yuwen Jing hurriedly leaped off his steed and half-kneeled on the ground. Yuwen Jing pays respect to young master!
With their commander on the ground, how could the soldiers dare to remain on their steeds? They quickly got off their horses and kneeled too.
This put Tao Yu and the others in an awkward position. They looked awfully conspicuous being the only ones riding on the horses.
I am a mere civilian now. General Yuwen need not pay such respect to me, Fang Chen said.
Conflicting emotions flickered across Yuwen Jings face. He quietly rose to his feet, as a bitter smile slowly emerged on his face.
Its good that youre here, Fang Chen. Tao Yu clenched his jaws. Viscount Zhou Xiu is a Longdu noble, as well as the prince consort chosen by His Majesty. There appears to be a misunderstanding between your subordinates and him. Ill leave it to you to resolve it.
Misunderstanding? That man slaughtered our civilians as if they were livestock, and you call that a misunderstanding? Fang Chen said with a smile that somehow looked intimidating.
Fang Chen, are you really going to go against me over these lowly peasants? Zhou Xiu asked.
Were in Great Xia. Our Great Xia has no noble clans, only conferred nobles. There is a difference between the two. Conferred nobles are elevated and celebrated by our Great Xias civilians. Without them, our conferred nobles are nothing at all.
Fang Chen then looked at Zhou Xiu and shook his head. This is not Longdu. Youre gravely mistaken if you think that our Great Xias civilians are the same peasants you slaughter as you please in your fief.
Theres no difference between the two. Zhou Xiu harrumphed. Why dont we get to the point? How are you going to compensate me? You have killed so many of my subordinates. I wont let things slip with a mere apology.
There was a short pause before he continued, Your emperor will punish you if I return to Longdu. Youd know what to prioritize if youre wise. Dont sour the ties between our countries over a few lowly lives.
Thats right! Viscount Zhou is our Longdus noble. We beseech War God Fang to handle this matter impartially. Our Longdu has always advocated for peace between Great Xia and Longdu. Im sure War God Fang wouldnt want us to side with Greenpine, right? the Longdu scholars spoke up too, their words carrying threat.
Fang Chen, you need to prioritize whats important here, Tao Yu said.
Those from the merchant caravan turned pale. It was much harder to deal with this matter now that national interests were involved.
How many casualties do you have? Fang Chen turned to the merchant caravan and asked.
The woman and the guard leader were startled. They hadnt expected War God Fang to turn to them. The woman first took a deep breath to calm down, mustered her courage, and bowed. Fang Qingyao pays respect to War God Fang. Our merchant caravan has lost two servants and three guards.
Understood. Fang Chen nodded. He turned back to Zhou Xiu and said, Our Great Xias civilians are worth ten times more than your Longdu cavalrymen. Ill take ten of your lives for each casualty we sustain.
Tie Ma and Huang Sihai caught Fang Chens drift and made their move. As if a tiger leaping into a pack of sheeps, they slaughtered all of the cavalrymen Zhou Xiu brought with ease.
Yuwen Jing and the others watched the situation from afar, not daring to make a move.
It would take a lot of courage for them to confront Huang Sihai even if Fang Chen wasnt here, and Fang Chen was here.
Yuwen Jing would never forget how, back in the Three Realms Mountain, Huang Sihai was encircled by a thousand Wolf Army soldiers and was drenched in blood, but he still slaughtered over a hundred Wolf Army soldiers before finally falling in defeat.
Zhou Xius cavalrymen were outclassed here. Huang Sihai could deal with them with one hand.
Tao Yu and the Longdu scholars were livid. Those from the merchant caravan were dumbstruck. Zhou Xiu was in utter shock, as he pointed his finger at Fang Chen with quivering lips.
In just a few moments, all of the people whom Zhou Xiu brought were dead.
Fang Chen smiled. He turned to Tao Yu and said, Since His Majesty has chosen him to be the prince consort, Ill prioritize the situation and let you take him.
Thank you, War God Fang! Tao Yu gritted his teeth, but he dared not to say anything.
He ordered the soldiers to take the stupefied Zhou Xiu with them before quickly leaving the scene. He dared not linger out of fear that Fang Chen would change his mind.
Lets go, Fang Chen instructed Tie Ma and Huang Sihai before returning to the carriage.
Seeing that, Fang Qingyao clenched her fist and marched up to the carriage alone. She first respectfully bowed to Fang Chen before saying, Qingyao would like to thank War God Fang for saving our lives.
Which merchant association do you belong to? Fang Chen asked.
Our Verdant Apothecary Hall belongs to Striding Dragon Consortium, Fang Qingyao replied.
Verdant Apothecary Hall? You deal with herbs?
Thats right. Fang Qingyao hurriedly nodded.
Mm, Longdu does have a thriving herb industry. Youre doing good. Great Xias herb prices would have remained sky high if not for your people shipping herbs back. Fang Chen smiled. Be more careful in the future.
With that, he told Tie Ma and Huang Sihai to set off, and their carriage slowly disappeared in the horizon.
Young miss, did you just strike a conversation with War God Fang? Fang Qingyaos maid rushed over and excitedly asked.
I did. War God Fang praised us, saying that Great Xias herb prices would have been sky-high if not for us shipping herbs back. He also told us to be careful in the future, Fang Qingyao said with a smile.
Her maid looked envious.
The guard leader galloped over and said, Manager Fang, we should get going.
Mm. Fang Qingyao nodded. She mumbled under her breath, I wonder if Id be able to meet War God Fang again if we deliver this batch of herbs to the capital
Fang Chen spent seven days traveling to and fro Dragonback Lane, but he had reaped huge gains. Not only did he eliminate a Blood Spirit Cultist, but he also obtained better materials for his talisman drawing, over a hundred low-grade ki stones, and two artifacts.
War God Fang, you lied! Celestial Xiao ended up waiting for seven days before she finally saw Fang Chen again.
How did I lie? Fang Chen asked.
Xu Ge said that you went away on a leisure trip for seven days, but theres definitely more to that. You ought to bring me along when you investigate that daoists background! Celestial Xiao said.
So far, I have confirmed that they are indeed after your life. Their motive is to stir war between Greenpine and Great Xia, and they would benefit from our bloodshed, Fang Chen said. What you need to do now is to hide in the Fang Manor and dont get caught. If they succeed, it wont just be our Great Xia who would suffer great losses. Itll be the same for your Greenpine too.
Celestial Xiao was stunned.