Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Pardon Me For This Disturbance, Your Highness

A massive revolution happened in the South Immortal Commandery in the span of a few days. It involved over 400 officials and a total of 109 sects.

Those who knew about this matter kept their mouths mum, whereas the common populace knew next to nothing about this at all. They only sensed that the trouble around them seemed to have greatly lessened.

The martial artists who usually demanded protection fees from them were nowhere to be seen, and even if they occasionally passed by them on the streets, those martial artists would put up a humble and respectful attitude.

The Auspicious King Manor was located in the South Immortal Commandery’s most affluent Soaring Light City, which was around fifteen kilometers away from the Profound Saber Sect.

As a half-sibling of the Great Xia’s emperor, the Auspicious King was ninth in terms of seniority. He had displayed outstanding talent in managing military affairs back in his younger years, so the previous emperor bestowed the entire southern region to him.

Thirty years had passed since.

The Auspicious King anxiously paced around his solemn and dignified manor. His consort and eight good-looking sons and daughters nervously looked at him.

“Your Highness, is there no chance to turn things around?” the Auspicious King Consort couldn’t hold it in anymore and asked.

“Turn things around?” The Auspicious King looked at her with a vexed smile. “ Fang Chen killed thousands of martial artists with a single strike. How do you expect us to turn things around? His means far exceeds my imagination!”

There was a brief pause before he lamented. “I thought that an Earth Profound martial artist would still be no more than a mere martial artist, but who could have thought that he possesses such overwhelming means?”

“No matter how powerful he is, he is a subject, whereas you’re the Ninth King. The southern region is your conferred land. The Great Xia’s emperor is your older brother! Fang Chen might be bold, but surely he wouldn’t dare to lay his hand on you?” the Auspicious King Consort said with a frown.

“He is the Xia Imperial Duke; my older brother personally conferred the title to him. That is a transcendental position. If we get down to the semantics, his standing is half a rank higher than my Auspicious King!” the Auspicious King grimly replied. “Given my brother’s personality, he wouldn’t have bestowed this title to Fang Chen unless he was cornered. Even my brother can’t curb Fang Chen, let alone me!”

“But father, so what if he’s the Xia Imperial Duke? He’s still an outsider. I don’t believe he’d dare to kick a fuss in our Auspicious King Manor!” one of the youths spoke up.

He was the Auspicious King’s eldest son, Xia Song.

“Big brother is right! Killing a member of the imperial family is equivalent to revolting. No matter how bold Fang Chen is, he wouldn’t dare to do that!” Xia Song’s younger siblings voiced their agreement for his words.

“He won’t kill me.” The Auspicious King shook his head. “But all of the arrangements I have made over the years will be going down the drain. We’ll have to live with our tails between our legs in the southern region from this day onward.”

This notion was even more terrifying than death to the Auspicious King. He had carefully schemed to put his plans into motion for so many years, only to suddenly lose. It was hard to come to terms with it in the spur of a moment.

“I can only say that I was born in the wrong era. For centuries, there hasn’t been an Earth Profound martial artist in Great Xia, but Fang Chen suddenly appeared out of nowhere! On top of that, his means surpasses that of ordinary Earth Profound martial artists. I wouldn’t have made such a risky move if not for him defeating Chillwater’s Ji Lengyue and Nightmare Knights!” The Auspicious King looked defeated.

“Save me, Your Highness!”

A middle-aged man suddenly stumbled into the manor and kneeled before the Auspicious King. Not even the guards were able to stop him in time.

Xia Song and the others looked conflicted.

The middle-aged man was the South Immortal Commandery Chief, a second-grade official just like the Six Ministers. Yet, such a powerful man was reduced to such a pitiful state, looking like an old farmer who had his land taken away because he couldn’t afford the land tax, all because of Fang Chen.

The Auspicious King looked at the middle-aged man with complicated eyes and sighed. “Get up, Commandery Chief Li.”

Commandery Chief Li remained in a kneeling position and kept kowtowing. “Your Highness, please save me!”

“You shouldn’t be asking me that. Look for Fang Chen instead. He might spare you in view that you’re a high-ranking official.” The Auspicious King shook his head.

“Your Highness, my aides have been captured, and Jue Panshi has snatched away the troops under me. Imperial Duke Fang has clearly made up his mind to reorganize the South Immortal Province! I have committed many crimes serving Your Highness. If he comes after me too, I’d be sentenced to death!” Commandery Chief Li cried. “Your Highness, you’re a member of the imperial family. I’m begging you, please save my life. I’m not asking for much. I just hope to be able to return to the capital and live out my days in peace…”

Just then, a servant suddenly rushed in horror. “Your Highness, I-Imperial Duke Fang is here! General Linghu has stopped him at the doorway for now. General Linghu ordered me to seek your orders as to whether we should allow him in…”

The Auspicious King, the Auspicious King Consort, Commandery Chief Li, Xia Song, and the others were startled.

Fang Chen is here?

Outside the Auspicious King Manor, Fang Chen, along with Jue Panshi and a few other Valiant Defenders, were surrounded by over a hundred guards. These guards wore exquisite armor, and the weapons they held were of top-notch quality.

The leader of the guards was a young general with a tall and muscular physique. He looked at Fang Chen with conflicted eyes as he said, “Imperial Duke Fang, I have sent my men to inform His Highness about your arrival. I can’t allow you to enter without His Highness’ permission, and I ask for your understanding regarding that.”

“Linghu Xu, you should know why Imperial Duke Fang is here today. Get lost!” Jue Panshi harrumphed.

“I only report to the Auspicious King. Chiliarch Jue, you’re overstepping your boundaries,” Linghu Xu calmly replied.

Jue Panshi’s face darkened. He turned to Fang Chen and muttered, “Imperial Duke Fang, Linghu Xu was from the Carefree Palace. While Xian Wuchang was the one who headed the revolution, and the Carefree Palace never made an appearance from the start to the end, that doesn’t prove that they weren’t involved in it.”

“Be patient. The Auspicious King will meet me.” Fang Chen smiled.

Jue Panshi decided to keep quiet and wait patiently.

Soon, a person came out and told Linghu Xu, “General Linghu, His Highness invites Imperial Duke Fang into the manor.”

“This way please, Imperial Duke Fang.” Linghu Xu stepped aside.

Under the escort of the hundred elite guards, Fang Chen was brought to the Auspicious King Manor’s main hall, where he was warmly welcomed by the Auspicious King.

“Imperial Duke Fang, it has been many years! Pardon our lack of hospitality.”

The Auspicious King Consort stood beside the Auspicious King with a bright smile.

Xia Song and the others stood behind them, and they couldn’t help but assess Fang Chen. They had never met Fang Chen before; they had only heard about his affairs.

He is indeed very young… Xia Song thought with a slight frown. He was older than Fang Chen, as well as a member of the imperial family, yet his reputation in Great Xia didn’t even amount to a thousandth of Fang Chen’s.

“You’re too courteous, Your Highness.” Fang Chen clasped his fist with a smile. He eyed Commandery Chief Li, who sat by the corner with a hanging head, and chuckled. “You’re here as well, Commandery Chief Li.”

Commandery Chief Li shook as if he had been struck by lightning. He awkwardly raised his head and looked at Fang Chen with a strained smile. “Imperial Duke Fang…”

“Take him down,” Fang Chen ordered.

Jue Panshi and his subordinates rushed at Commandery Chief Li and tied him up. The latter screamed in horror.

Linghu Xu tried to make a move, but the Auspicious King stopped him with a raise of his hand. The crowd watched as Jue Panshi and the others carried the bound Commandery Chief Li over to Fang Chen’s side.

“Pardon me for this disturbance, Your Highness.” Fang Chen smiled.