Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 47: Thorough Search

Young master, why didnt you tell them what Zhou Xiu did? Tie Ma asked.

Them? Fang Chen burst into laughter. Are they worthy?

Tie Ma nodded. If the young master said they arent worthy, they must be unworthy.

Chener, why did you mess with Longdus cavalrymen? Fang Cangyou asked.

Fang Chen quickly explained the incident to Fang Cangyou. The latter was infuriated upon hearing Fang Xius deed. If I knew, I would have ordered my men to beat up that bastard!

Just then, a person discreetly approached them.

Do you need me for something? Fang Chen asked with a smile.

It was the constable under Yuan Zhuangs command, Yuan Yu.

Young master, my cousin has gone missing! Yuan Yu anxiously cried out.

Fang Chen frowned. Missing? Tell me more.

Ever since the day we apprehended those two at Phantom Dragon Street, he hasnt shown up at the Court of Great Brilliance. I thought he had a private case to work on, so I didnt think much about it at the start. However, he didnt show up for the subsequent days, and even his parents asked me if I knew whats going on, Yuan Yu said with a suppressed voice.

Calm down. Come in first. Fang Chen nodded before gesturing her into the Fang Manor.

Yuan Yu was worried. Her instincts told her that something had happened to Yuan Zhuang, and it likely had something to do with the case he and Fang Chen worked on a few days ago.

In the guest room, Yuan Yu had settled down on one of the chairs and was fidgeting nonstop. She looked at Fang Chen and saw him resting on the chair with closed eyes. She grumbled in displeasure, but she forced herself to remain calm and wait a bit longer.

More time passed, but Fang Chen remained completely still.

Yuan Yu finally lost her patience and said, War God Fang, my cousin went missing due to the case we handled together. You cant just leave him in the lurch!

Calm down, Constable Yuan. Our young master is thinking, Xu Ge replied.

Thinking? Whats there to think about? The first thing he should do right now is to mobilize his connections to search for my cousin! We have to first find him before deciding on the next step! Yuan Yu was frustrated.

She didnt know that Yuan Yu had drawn out his soul and was combing through the capital.

Finding a person in the huge Great Xias capital was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack, but Fang Chens soul could pass through walls and search with great efficiency. There was a good chance he could find Yuan Zhuang as long as the latter was in the capital.

An hour later, Fang Chens soul arrived at the Valiant Defenders barracks in the inner city.

The Valiant Defenders were busy as ever. Some were busy reviewing cases, while the others were rushing to and fro its corridors. There was no end to its work.

The inner citys Valiant Defenders had ten chiliarchs who took on purely academic roles, which meant that they didnt have soldiers under their command. These chiliarchs reported to the Enforcement Envoy, who wielded far greater power.

The Enforcement Envoy had the authority to mobilize the Valiant Defenders and put an arrest warrant on an individual. They also had the power to take anyone into custody, including officials, without going through the Court of Great Brilliance.

Their barracks had a private prison, where a bloodied Yuan Zhuang was tied to a wooden pole. Standing before him were two Valiant Defenders centurions, who were ready to commence the next round of torture on him.

Lord Yuan, I advise you to confess. Now that youre in our barracks, you wont be walking out of here intact even if you survive this ordeal. Its impossible for you to be reinstated as a Court of Great Brilliances rectifier, one of the centurions said with a flaming brand in hand.

What should I confess to? Yuan Zhuang opened his swollen eyes and glared at the centurions. I, Yuan Zhuang, have never done anything against my conscience. What rights do you, Valiant Defenders, have to arrest me?

His Majesty has decreed that criminal investigations in the inner city have to go through the Court of Great Brilliance, followed by the Bureau of Justice. You Valiant Defenders have no enforcement right in the inner city, especially not against a Court of Great Brilliances rectifier like me! A civil servant who knowingly violates the law will be subjected to capital punishment!

The other centurion burst into laughter. Lord Yuan sure has a tough mouth. We, the Valiant Defenders, might have been impeached and suppressed by the imperial court, but you shouldnt forget that were working for His Majesty. Do you think wed fear you?

His Majesty Yuan Zhuang was startled.

Speak! Why were you investigating a case with Fang Chen in the outer city? the centurion holding the flame brand coldly questioned. If you insist on remaining silent, Ill seal your mouth with the brand so that you never utter a word again.

This is too much! Yuan Zhuang was alarmed. They are going to seal my mouth with a brand? How can I face others in the future?

Thats why Im telling you to confess. We wont hurt you as long as you come out clean, the centurion sneered.

Ive told you everything I know. I accompanied War God Fang to the suburbs for leisure, and we coincidentally bumped into that incident. What else do you want me to say? Yuan Zhuang exclaimed in frustration.

The two centurions glanced at each other. One of them scoffed, I know you have been investigating the Vice Minister of Rites disappearance case. Tell us, how much do you know about that?

Are the Valiant Defenders involved in that case? I knew it! No wonder that Centurion Xu from the outer city protected Grandpa Lu. Were you the ones who kidnapped those missing people? Yuan Zhuang roared in anger.

Were the ones asking questions here, the centurion holding the flame brand sneered as he pressed it against Yuan Zhuangs chest.

Sssss!

White smoke puffed from the point of contact.

Yuan Zhuang trembled from the excruciating pain, and cold sweat wouldnt stop flowing down his forehead. After going through days of torture, he barely had the strength to weakly harrumph a bit to the torture. His willpower was already reaching its limit.

Nevertheless, he continued to hold on because he knew the other party was up to something.

He couldnt tell these two fellows that Fang Chen was the one who dragged him into this case. He could only pray that Fang Chen would somehow find and rescue him.

War God Fang has everything under his control. I have been missing for days now, so Yuan Yu should have knocked on the Fang Manor to inform him about my disappearance. He should be on the verge of finding me by now. I just have to hold on a bit longer

If not for Yuan Zhuang clutching onto this sliver of hope, he would have long succumbed to the torture.

Speak! How much does War God Fang know about this? the centurion holding the brand questioned.

Kill me then! Make sure to thoroughly dispose of my corpse. Otherwise, all of you will be slaughtered if War God Fang finds out about this! Yuan Zhuang spat a mouthful of bloodied water. You should open your eyes and see who youre going up against. War God Fang has already regained his martial cultivation. He didnt hesitate to light up Greenpine Superior Dojo; who do you think you Valiant Defenders are?

The centurion holding the brand was infuriated. He raised the brand to seal off Yuan Zhuangs mouth, only for the other centurion to immediately stop him.

Dont go too far. He makes sense, the other centurion said with a suppressed voice.

While Fang Chen was no longer in the imperial court and had no soldiers under his command, his means still struck fear in the hearts of many. Even the Valiant Defenders dared not to cross him!

Even a dead tiger gave off an air of intimidation, not to mention this tiger was well alive!

The two of them chatted a bit more before leaving the prison. A man wearing a black cloak was waiting for them outside.

Enforcement Envoy Liu, his words remain the same as the last few days, the two centurions respectfully reported.

Continue interrogating him, Enforcement Envoy Liu replied.

Meanwhile, in the Fang Manors guest room, Fang Chen slowly opened his eyes and turned to the nervous Yuan Yu. Lord Yuan is in the Valiant Defenders barracks. Follow me there.