Chapter 74: Longdu’s Count, Yu Hanguang

Fang Chen was trapped in the Grand Xia River?

Baron Xian was Marquis Xian Yu in disguise?

That news left everyone in the Imperial Study dumbfounded. The only Qi Core martial artist in Grand Xia was held down by another Qi Core martial artist from Longdu? That was unheard of!

"Longdu never intended to negotiate with us." The emperor's voice was ominous.

"Your Majesty, I will lead my men to reinforce General Fang Chen immediately," Xiao Shence said respectfully.

The emperor nodded slightly. "Go, and if possible, cooperate with him to capture the Qi Core martial artist."

With that, Xiao Shence turned around and bolted away.

Afterward, Yan Beihan, the commander of the imperial guards, entered the imperial study. His expression was solemn. He looked at the emperor and reported, "Your Majesty, the palace’s defenses have been fortified. It's as solid as an impregnable fortress. Even Longdu’s cavalry won't be able to break in easily."

His movements were somewhat stiff, indicating that his leg injury had yet to heal. He relied on his internal qi to support himself. An ordinary martial artist who had both legs pierced through by an arrow wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for at least ten days. Maybe even half a month.

Unexpectedly, the emperor berated him, "Who asked you to fortify the palace? If the cavalry from Longdu breaches the capital, we won’t be able to hold this place no matter what. Take the imperial guards and go and defend the capital gate."

Yan Beihan was slightly taken aback. "Your Majesty, if we leave the palace empty, your safety might be..."

Ye Dongming and the others quickly spoke up as well, advising the emperor that there ought to be a decent amount of guards at the palace to ensure his safety.

"This is a command!”

Yan Beihan could only nod and turned to leave.

Li Guozhu sighed. "Your Majesty, should someone take advantage of this situation and attack the palace while it’s empty like this, then..."

The emperor laughed indifferently. "Who would dare harbor ill intentions at a time like this?" he said. "Don’t overthink this too much. You can leave if there’s nothing else."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Everyone bowed and left the imperial study.

Leaving in a hurry, Ye Dongming’s face showed a trace of anxiety.

Li Guozhu and the others knew that Ye Dongming was going to the Grand Xia River with his people. After all, Ye Qinghe was currently there with Marquis Xian Yu.

"Prime Minister Li, what should we do now? With our meager forces in the capital, we can't possibly defend against Longdu’s cavalry..."

"That’s right. Should we advise His Majesty to evacuate the capital first, and then wait until the situation is settled?"

Lii Guozhu shook his head. "You all just don’t get it. If His Majesty leaves, the capital will be even more vulnerable. We scholars are weak; we can’t be of much help. Let’s just leave it up to fate.” He then left with his hands behind his back.

When the ministers heard that, they were suddenly woken up to reality, and they exchanged glances; they were indeed quite useless in this situation.

Fang Manor.

All members of the Fang Family had gathered in the main hall and were currently under the surveillance of the guards. Since Fang Canghai was not present, Fang Chen's mother took charge. She looked calmly at her family members as well as the disciples who were panicking and reassured them, “Don't be afraid. Longdu won’t be able to break into the manor.”

Hearing that, the young members and disciples of the Fang Family calmed down gradually. Suddenly, a voice emanated from outside the main hall. “Is Divine General Fang here?” it asked. Shortly after, a soldier appeared in the main hall, escorted by one of the servants.

The soldier naturally recognized Fang Chen's mother and quickly half-knelt on the ground, reporting, "Madam, General Fang Canghai asked me to inform Divine General Fang that the city is under attack by Longdu!"

"Chen’er is not in the manor," Fang Chen's mother said calmly.

The soldier was slightly surprised. "Not in the manor?"

Fang Zhixue was also taken aback, and hastily asked, "Where is he, Mother?"

Fang Chen's mother didn’t answer her and instead glanced at Huang Sihai and asked, "Where did your lord go?"

Huang Sihai scratched his head. "He went to the Jade Immortal Boat."

Upon hearing that, Fang Zhixue was immediately furious. "What! Big brother actually went to such a place?"

Huang Sihai hurriedly explained, "The southern region's Seven Profound Blade, Huangfu Jie, is in the capital, and my lord wanted to treat him.”

"Considering the situation... Chen’er should be back soon," Fang Chen's mother muttered softly.

"Madam, Fang Chen won’t be coming back," a voice rang out as a figure appeared outside the hall. That person was dressed in a black robe, and he had extremely pale skin, lips as red as blood, and two dark circles under his eyes. It was as if he hadn't slept for ten days. His appearance alone could send shivers down people’s spine.

Huang Sihai frowned. "Who are you?"

The figure chuckled lightly and walked into the hall unhurriedly. "Longdu’s Count, Yu Hanguang," he replied. Then, His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Huang Sihai. "You should be Huang Sihai, one of the four Dragon Generals under Fang Chen, right? The other three Dragon Generals who were at the peak of the Qi Manipulation Stage died in Three World Mountain. Ironically, you, who were not versed in martial arts at all and only had the divine strength you were born with, had managed to return to Grand Xia alive. How lamentable.”

Yu Hanguang wore a strange smile on his face.

Fang Chen's mother stared at him intently as she asked, "What do you mean when you say my son won’t be coming back?”

"Are you unaware, Madam? Marquis Xian Yu has already entered the capital. He is a martial artist in the mid Qi Core Stage, one level higher than Divine General Fang. He should be enjoying a drink with Fang Chen at the Jade Immortal Boat on the Grand Xia River right now. So, when I say he won’t be coming back, I mean he won’t be coming back today, neither tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow. You’ll never see him again in the future.”

Yu Hanguang chuckled. Then, he said, "Now that Fang Canghai is guarding the capital, Fang Chen is by the river, and the family patriarch has reportedly secluded himself and hasn’t appeared for many years, only Huang Sihai is left in the Fang Manor. Therefore, Marquis Xian Yu has ordered me to come here to send you on your way. Please don’t make things difficult for me and just cooperate. I still have to rush back and deliver the news to him. At that time, I’m sure Divine General Fang’s expression will surely be amusing.”

The people in the hall were shocked, and the armed guards had no choice but to surround them, but in all honesty, they had already resigned themselves to fate; since Yu Hanguang dared to come here knowing that Huang Sihai was present, he had to be in the Qi Manipulation Stage.

“You guys can step back. He’s a top expert in the peak Qi Manipulation Stage,” Huang Sihai said suddenly.

Yu Hanguang smiled, a faint self-satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "You’ve heard of me? Since that’s the case, I’ll make sure to give you a swift, clean death when I kill you."

Huang Sihai smiled faintly, raised his hand, and unleashed a low-grade Purple Lightning Talisman as he said, "It's a pity, but you will be the one to die today."

Even though he had mid-grade Purple Lightning Talismans, it wasn’t worth using such a precious item to kill a mere martial artist in the peak Qi Manipulation Stage. He ought to save resources for his lord, after all.

Thunder roared and the lightning flickered, striking fiercely at Yu Hanguang. When it hit him, Yu Hanguang, who had been all cool and collected just now, turned into a large piece of charcoal in an instant. White smoke rose from his body, and his face was messed up beyond belief. He was unrecognizable.

Everyone was stunned, and Abbess Qing He was taken aback momentarily, then she murmured gently, “Amitabha.” Her eyes then drifted from his corpse to somewhere else in the air, and she said under her breath, “You’ve picked the wrong person to mess with. Go on to your next life quickly...”

Seeing the guards all dumbstruck in their place, Huang Sihai berated them, saying, "Why are you all just standing there? Quick, don't let him block our way. Hurry up. Clean this mess and throw him into the firewood room.”

Then, he looked at Fang Chen's mother, clasped his fists, and said, "Rest assured, Madam. My lord is safe over there. They miscalculated their approach!”

Fang Chen's mother exchanged a glance with Fang Cangyou and gradually revealed a smile on her face. She said to Huang Sihai, “Sihai, you’ve worked hard.”

Huang Sihai laughed heartily. "Hahaha! It's my duty.”