I Am Immortal in Great Yu

”Changshan City was breached. That very night, Grand General Xuantong took a small contingent of elite soldiers and left with a light retinue to trick a neighboring county into surrendering. Brother Fang, your father is an Entry Grade Martial Artist and a Physician with considerable Medical Skill. I imagine that’s why he was conscripted and taken along.”

”In the days that followed, Grand General Xuantong joined forces with other Rebel Armies. Posing as defeated soldiers from nearby county towns, they bluffed their way into and successfully conquered the three counties of Yunshan, Bai Chuan, and Changhuai. However, the Rebel Army leadership kept this news under wraps.”

”But then they reached Nanxi County Town. I don’t know what went wrong, but they were ambushed and surrounded by the fierce Great Yu general, the Iron Butcher. Grand General Xuantong was gravely wounded, and the soldiers he brought with him suffered heavy casualties.”

Jiang Ping’an sighed. ”Brother Fang, I don’t know for sure if your father took part in this operation... It was only when news of Grand General Xuantong’s defeat reached us and the county started dispatching reinforcements that they couldn’t hide it anymore. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the situation, which is how I got this information firsthand.”

”Right now, forget the people in the city—even within the Rebel Army, very few people know about this!”

”Thank you, Brother Jiang!”

Fang Rui frowned, sighing deeply. ”My dad...”

’On the bright side, Fang Baicao might not have been with Li Xuantong on this operation. But what if he was? Li Xuantong himself was gravely wounded; how could his men have fared any better?’

’Of course, Li Xuantong was a major target. The others would have had a slightly better chance. They might have escaped and returned, or been taken captive. Even if Fang Baicao was part of it, there’s still a chance he’s alive.’

”Brother Fang,”

Jiang Ping’an wanted to offer some comfort, but he opened his mouth and couldn’t find the right words.

If they were just casual friends, platitudes like ”Fortune favors the good” would have come easily, said and then forgotten. But he and Fang Rui had been through life and death together; he felt a degree of empathy for him. Spouting such empty pleasantries would have seemed hollow and insincere.

So he just said, ”Brother Fang, I’ll keep an eye on this. As soon as I have any updates, I’ll come find you immediately.”

With such a major event unfolding, a constable like Jiang Ping’an had to coordinate with his superiors and was extremely busy. After delivering the news, he bid a hasty farewell and left.

...

After seeing Jiang Ping’an off, Fang Rui returned to the house and, without hiding anything, told Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady the news.

”I knew it! I’ve been feeling this strange sense of panic for the past two days!”

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s face instantly turned pale. She clutched her chest and looked at Fang Rui in panic and trepidation. ”Brother Rui, this... your father... What are we going to do?!”

”Auntie!” Third Lady took Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s hand, patting her back and comforting her in a low voice.

The two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, were old enough to understand some of what was happening. They sat quietly on their little stools, their small faces tense, looking like little adults.

It was both adorable and slightly comical.

On any other day, Fang Rui would have gone over and pinched their little cheeks, but at this moment, he was in no mood for it.

Of course, unlike Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan—who were either panicked and anxious, secretly worried, or feigning seriousness—Fang Rui remained calm.

He knew he couldn’t panic. As the pillar of the family, if he lost his composure, it would only make the other four even more worried.

Fang Rui looked at Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, who was anxious, pale, and utterly distraught. After a moment of thought, he suddenly said, ”Why don’t we leave Changshan City and go look for Dad, Mother?”

’Originally, he had been nearly invincible in Changshan City. With the city gradually stabilizing, he had considered lying low in this ”Newbie Village” for three to five years, breaking through to the Upper Three Grades, and then moving on.’

’Unfortunately, as the saying goes, the tree wishes to be still, but the wind will not cease. Then this whole thing with Fang Baicao happened!’

’It wasn’t that he didn’t want to lie low for longer. The real issue was that a shallow pond cannot raise a Flood Dragon. Besides, staying in one place would cause his Tribulation Points to plummet, and his current stock of Great Medicine and Old Medicine would only last three to five years at most.’

’After all, the potency of such medicinal ingredients fades over time. Moreover, once he truly broke through to the Upper Three Grades, the amount of medicine needed just to maintain his body’s daily requirements would skyrocket.’

’Of course, that was his plan before. Now that this had happened, he couldn’t even hope to lie low for three to five months.’

’Forget it. From the looks of it, the Government Soldiers have been mobilized. They’ll probably end up in a drawn-out battle with the Rebel Army. If we stay in Changshan City, we’ll most likely get caught in the conflict... Leaving is better. Yes, leaving is for the best!’ he mused.

”Ah, leave Changshan City?!”

Hearing Fang Rui say this, both Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady were stunned. The room fell silent for a moment as they both frowned, pondering the matter.

「A moment later.」

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was the first to speak. ”The world is in chaos. It’s not like we can just pack up and leave. What if something happens on the road... And even setting that aside, if we really do travel, the silver coins will flow like water...”

”That’s right, Brother Rui,” Third Lady added, trying to persuade him. ”It’s not that I’m afraid of hardship, but we must consider this matter thoroughly.”

”In terms of safety, if we travel with a merchant caravan, plus with my Cultivation as a Martial Artist, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. As for the silver coins... Mother, Third Sister, come inside with me!”

Fang Rui glanced at Fang Ling and Nannan. ”Ling’Er, Nannan, you two wait out here for a moment.”

He led Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady into the room, took out a bundle, and opened it.

CLINK!

A trove of golden leaves was revealed, casting mottled, brilliant gold reflections that danced and shimmered upon the walls. They mingled with the afternoon light, creating a breathtakingly stunning sight.

”Th-that’s so much gold?”

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family cried out, her face a mask of shock. She was completely dumbfounded.

Third Lady also covered her mouth, her clear autumn-water eyes widening in astonishment as she stared at Fang Rui.