The Great Xia Country was a grade-9 state, but their crushing defeat to the Greenpine Country at the Three Realms Mountain had greatly weakened them. Many unfair clauses were imposed on them, resulting in widespread unhappiness amongst the people.
From the nobles and officials down to the civilians, there was one person they cursed and swore at—the young master of General Fang Manor, Fang Chen!
Five years ago, Fang Chen had become the number one expert of Great Xia despite only being eighteen years of age. He was a brilliant strategist excelling in offense, and he had never tasted defeat since becoming a commander. As such, he was known as the Great Xia’s War God.
Yet, 600,000 of the 800,000 soldiers Fang Chen had brought to the Three Realms Mountain to attack the Greenpine Country had died. He even had his eyes blinded and his ki sea destroyed, thus reducing him to a cripple.
In the majestic General Manor, a young man with sharp eyebrows quietly gazed at the sky. He still gave off a faint air of enigma that made it hard for one to see through him.
In truth, he could hardly see anything at all with his grayish-white eyes.
Five years ago, he had led his army to subdue the Greenpine Country’s First Wolf Marshall. It should have been an easy victory, but the tables were turned when the Greenpine Country brought in an expert from a grade-8 country to ambush him.
He was defeated. His ki sea was shattered, reducing him to a cripple.
As he teetered on the brink of death, he saw a fairy gazing upon a world amidst the blazing sun. The fairy saw him too, and a brilliant light enveloped him. Since then, he has been blind.
The First Wolf Marshall chose to let him go instead of killing him, saying, “You’ll know what it means to live a life worse than death once you return to the Great Xia. This will be the worst torture to you.”
And over the past five years, he had suffered loads of curses and humiliation. Those who used to be on good terms with him also avoided him as if he was venomous.
“Second sister, you should be eighteen this year, right? You’re already of marriageable age, but you’re still teasing your older brother?” Fang Chen suddenly spoke up.
Fang Zhixue, who had secretly crawled up till she was only a few steps away from Fang Chen, pouted in dissatisfaction. “Big brother, how are you able to notice me every time? I have already reached the second stage of Human Profound, Ki Explosion!”
There were four stages to Human Profound, Ki Condensation, Ki Explosion, Ki Control, and Ki Manifestation.
Those who had reached second stage Ki Explosion could already be considered experts in Great Xia, and those who went a step further and reached third stage Ki Control could even start their own sects.
Fang Chen, with his unparalleled talent, had reached the fourth stage of Human Profound at just eighteen years old, becoming the only Ki Manifestation expert in Great Xia!
“You were looking for me?” Fang Chen asked.
“Big brother, His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon you…” Fang Zhixue’s face suddenly sank.
“Why would His Majesty suddenly bestow a cripple like me with a marriage? Which young miss would be interested in me?” Fang Chen chuckled. “Something is amiss here.”
“His Majesty wants you to marry into the Xiao Clan to ease our Great Xia’s relationship with Greenpine Country. There have been suspicious movements from Greenpine Country in recent days, so His Majesty is worried.” Fang Zhixue’s eyes reddened, and she tightly clenched her fists. “Our father… has already agreed to it…”
“You’re talking about Greenpine Country’s number one clan, the Xiao Clan where Wolf Marshall Xiao is from?” Fang Chen was taken aback, but he quickly composed himself. “Why? I am a mere cripple. I don’t think I am of any value to the Xiao Clan. Moreover, I used to be Wolf Marshall Xiao’s nemesis.”
“It was proposed by the Xiao Clan’s first young miss. She said that she had met countless men, but she wants to have a taste of Great Xia’s ex-War God. She threatened His Majesty to bestow you to her, or else Greenpine Country will invade us, and this time around, they won’t stop until they reach our capital,” Fang Zhixue quietly replied.
“My enemy’s daughter wants me to marry into her clan? Hahaha…” Fang Chen laughed softly.
Fang Zhixue anxiously urged, “Big brother, let’s escape. I’ll bring you to the remote mountains. They won’t be able to find us there.”
“Second sister, what will happen to our Fang Clan if I escape? Do you think His Majesty will spare our clan?” Fang Chen shook his head. “I’m a mere cripple. It’d be worth it if my useless body can buy a few years for Great Xia. There might be an opportunity for us to turn the tables or at least protect ourselves from Greenpine Country.”
“Big brother, do you know how the officials and the populace have insulted you over the last five years? How can you side with them even now? Even shop assistants and servants have been humiliating you behind your back. Is it worth doing this for them?” It infuriated Fang Zhixue just thinking about it.
“There’s you, father, mother, and people like them. I’d have done it just for your sake. Not to mention there are innocent children who don’t know anything and haven’t insulted me at all.” Fang Chen waved his hand. “Give me some time to myself.”
Fang Zhixue let out a sigh before leaving. She knew her big brother’s temper. He wouldn’t change his mind once he had made his decision.
Fang Chen continued gazing at the sky with his dull grayish-white eyes. It was unfortunate he had never met that fairy again after that momentary glance. He wanted to get to the bottom of it, especially why he had gained the ability to draw his soul out of his body after that day.
Before he knew it, his soul had already drifted out of his body and was gazing over the capital from the sky. He could hear the merry laughter in the imperial palace, the shouting vendors on the streets, and everything around him.
He saw martial artists from Greenpine Country acting wilfully on Great Xia’s streets, beating up the civilians as they deemed fit. Even officials would be viciously beaten up for talking back to them.
He could see the rage seething in the civilians, the sorrow reflected in the soldiers’ eyes, and the indignant faces of the officials.
“Haha, your Great Xia is useless! Make sure to address us, those from Greenpine Country, as milord, or else our First Wolf Marshall will trample over your capital with his army and drag your emperor down from his imperial throne!”
The laughter of Greenpine Country’s martial artists evoked the resentment, anger, and also helplessness of the civilians.
“Oh? What a coincidence to bump into a fellow daoist astral traveling in such a small country,” a surprised voice suddenly echoed behind Fang Chen.
Alarmed, Fang Chen quickly turned around and saw a half-transparent daoist floating in mid-air. The other party was assessing him with curious eyes.
Fang Chen’s heart jolted. For five years his soul had wandered in the sky, but never had anyone noticed him or talked to him. He clasped his fist and greeted the other party, “A good day to you, daoist. How should I address you?”
It should be right to call the other party a daoist since he addressed me as such.