Gate of God
chapter-483

"Young Master Meng, you didn't make a mistake! I am Fang Zhengzhi!" The youth smirked, ignoring the sounds on the shore.

He was extremely calm.

However...

Meng Yushu was stunned to hear this.

Did he admit to it?

Furthermore, he had admitted it in front of countless other talents and ladies! What was he trying to do? What was happening? Was he not afraid?

Doesn't he know that he is a wanted man?

Meng Yushu couldn't figure it out. He really wanted Fang Zhengzhi to be caught and executed. However, he could not say so.

He had to keep calm and think.

"Is he planning to silence me?!" Meng Yushu shuddered as he felt a chill down his spine.

He was sure that there was no one who would dare to kill him in Huai An County, especially not in front of so many witnesses.

However...

Fang Zhengzhi was an exception.

This was a man who dared to kill the Crown Prince of the Southern Region and wound the Crown Prince of the Great Xia. His position as the eldest son of the Meng Family meant nothing.

"Young Master Meng, you don't look too well. Do you want to come to the cabin for a cup of tea? We can catch up and reminisce. I do have very good tea on board." Fang Zhengzhi smiled.

"Ah... no, no thanks, I... I still have something else I have to get to. Yes, I have an appointment, let's meet another day..." Meng Yushu took a step back.

He didn't dare to move in any other direction.

Stepping forward would be equivalent to signing his own death warrant.

"Okay then, I wanted to reminisce our time together but it would seem that you don't want to. Bye then." Fang Zhengzhi waved.

"Bye?" Meng Yushu was stunned.

"Would you rather take a seat in the cabin?"

"Haha... no need, I'll be on my way. Haha... bye bye!" Meng Yushu turned and jumped without hesitation.

"Plonk!"

There was a huge splash.

Countless people watched as Meng Yushu leapt into the river. However, they couldn't understand how Meng Yushu managed that.

They let him jump into the river?

What was happening?

Fang Zhengzhi ignored the gazes from the banks as he watched Meng Yushu. He asked politely, "Young Master Meng, are you sure you don't want to wait till we dock to disembark?"

"No need, no need. The water is very cooling, haha... I love such cooling water, hahaha..." Meng Yushu's expression changed as he began to swim towards the shore. He didn't even look back a single time.

"Since that is the case, I won't see you off." Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he walked back to the cabin.

At the entrance to the cabin...

Su Jiu paled.

"Master, are we... are we still going to the Northern Mountain Village?" Su Jiu asked cautiously.

"Of course." Fang Zhengzhi replied.

"But the commotion here would have alerted everyone to your arrival. Within the next couple of days, the entire Northern Region, even the entire Great Xia..." Su Jiu was hesitant.

"Yes, so... are you all scared?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he looked at the veiled lady and other figures in the shadows.

"Nope!" They replied in unison.

"Mm, Su Jiu, are you scared?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Jiu.

"I would follow you through the depths of hell! I will do as you say, regardless of how dangerous it is. Why would I be afraid?" Su Jiu pounded his chest.

"Since no one is scared, what is the problem?"

"No problem at all!" Su Jiu shook his head.

Fang Zhengzhi smiled but didn't re-enter the cabin. He turned to look at Meng Yushu, who was swimming desperately towards the shore. Then, he looked at the fear in the eyes of those on the banks.

He knew what they were thinking.

None of them could understand why a wanted man would show himself in broad daylight.

This was something that defied all logic.

Even Su Jiu couldn't understand it.

If Fang Zhengzhi wanted to return to the Northern Mountain Village, he could have done so in many ways. He could have disguised himself as a businessman, a trader...

There were many ways for him to return safely and inconspicuously.

As long as he could avoid the eyes in the Northern Mountain Village, everything would have been fine.

Fang Zhengzhi knew this.

But did he want that?

No!

Fang Zhengzhi's thought process was simple. He wanted to return to his hometown. That was where he grew up.

There was no meaning in returning home if he had to dress up and disguise himself just to avoid being recognized.

The Northern Mountain Village was his home!

He wanted to go back.

And he wanted to do so openly! He wanted the whole world to know that he had returned to the Northern Mountain Village.

"I am back, catch me if you can!"

It wasn't that Fang Zhengzhi wasn't scared of dying, neither did he think that he could antagonize the Great Xia simply because he was being supported by the Shadow Sect.

However...

He would never accept having to return home in a disguise!

Countless people started to run away as rows of soldiers came running towards the river.

As the most wanted felon, Fang Zhengzhi's name attracted more attention than the royal family.

Even though Fang Zhengzhi's name was pretty much a taboo over the past year...

It did not diminish the impact or influence his name carried.

The battle of the Southern Region...

His exploits in the Dao examinations...

When people talked about the war or the recent court examinations, they would be careful to avoid mentioning a name...

However...

Everyone knew that one person had a huge role in both those events.

That person was Fang Zhengzhi!

Without Fang Zhengzhi, they would not have been victorious in the Southern Region. Without Fang Zhengzhi, there would have been no historical tie for first in the court examinations!

Every examination that he took...

He had topped...

Even though his name was missing from the court examination result tablet...

Everyone knew that he would have been tied for first with Nangong Hao.

Fang Zhengzhi watched the soldiers on the riverbank. He watched the crowd run in all directions. However, he showed no intention of retreating.

"Come on! Let's see who can stop me!"

　　...

The spring breeze was light and the first drops of rain fell on the River of Trust. They created little ripples in the water.

"Master, it's raining!" Su Jiu frowned as he sheltered Fang Zhengzhi with an umbrella.

"Indeed." Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he waved Su Jiu off and walked confidently to the bow of the ship.

"Springtime clouds shroud the walls of the Imperial Garden. The darkening sky brings the blossoming to a halt."

"Petals fall as the rain assaults the flowers whilst grass is tugged by the wind."

Fang Zhengzhi paused as he turned to look at the soldiers and talents chasing behind. He smiled.

All of the people on the riverbank were stunned to hear his voice.

"He's reciting a poem?!"

"He's in the mood to recite a poem?"

"Doesn't he know that he can forget about leaving Huai An County?"

No one could understand why a dead man walking could have the mood to recite poems.

"Mighty imperial guards protect the palace whilst incense fills the Lotus Side Palace."

"When will the meeting be held? With women drinking by their zithers..."

Fang Zhengzhi ignored the candidates as he continued reciting the poem.

"Good poem! A really good poem!"

One of the talents hollered.

"Springtime clouds shroud the walls of the Imperial Garden. The darkening sky brings the blossoming to a halt."

"Petals fall as the rain assaults the flowers whilst grass is tugged by the wind."

"Mighty imperial guards protect the palace whilst incense fills the Lotus Side Palace."

"When will the meeting be held? With women drinking by their zithers..."

"It is a great poem indeed. I heard that Fang Zhengzhi never challenged people to poetry. I never expected that he could compose such a great poem!" The person continued to compliment Fang Zhengzhi.

As that voice echoed through the air.

The other candidates finally understood the gist of Fang Zhengzhi's poem.

"It is a great poem indeed!"

"This is an exemplary poem! This is the creme de la creme of poems!"

"Even though Fang Zhengzhi is a wanted felon, but his talent is undeniable! It is no wonder he tied for first place in the court examinations!"

"Yes, that is something that has never happened before!"

All of the candidates continued to exclaim as they ran. However, they didn't realize that the distance between them and Fang Zhengzhi was widening.

"Quick, follow closely behind! We must catch Fang Zhengzhi! We cannot let him get away!" One of the leaders of the soldiers ordered.

He didn't care about the poem.

Capturing Fang Zhengzhi would mean a great reward for him.

After all, Fang Zhengzhi was rumored to be a crippled man. There was nothing to fear!

He wasn't going to let this golden opportunity slip by!

"Give the order to set up a blockade further down the river!"

"Don't let him get out of the city!"

"Yes, sir!"

All of the leaders bellowed orders to their troops.

On the yacht...

Fang Zhengzhi stood at the front and looked up at the sky. He ignored the noises on the riverbank.

"Master, if we manage to pass through the next stretch, we will be out of the city!" Su Jiu didn't manage to appreciate the full gist of Fang Zhengzhi's poem.

To him...

Getting out of Huai An County safely was of utmost importance.

"Mm, I haven't seen the Huai An County gates in a long time. I wonder if it has changed?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

"The gate?" Su Jiu was stunned.

"Master, are you saying that you want to exit the city on foot?" The veiled lady spoke up.

"Mm." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

"Dock!" The veiled lady gave the order without hesitation.

"Yes!" The workers nodded.

Su Jiu was stumped.

They were about to get out of the city. Why was Fang Zhengzhi choosing to exit on foot? He was just making life harder for himself! Su Jiu didn't understand it, but he didn't question it.

Because... over the past year... Fang Zhengzhi had always gotten it right.

　　...

The huge yacht began to approach the riverbank. Then, it stopped in full view of the soldiers and spectators.

"What's happening?"

"Fang Zhengzhi's yacht stopped and docked?"

"Am I hallucinating?"

The soldiers were all stunned.

Everyone else reacted in the same way. Meng Yushu, who had just made it onto dry land, couldn't understand what was happening either.

Why would Fang Zhengzhi stop?

Could it be...

Does he want to stay in the city?

Just as they were thinking about it, they saw someone disembarking. Then, they spotted a second figure, then a third... and a fourth...

"They are disembarking?!"

"Quick, capture Fang Zhengzhi!"

The leaders of the soldiers quickly recovered from their shock. They didn't care about why Fang Zhengzhi was disembarking. All they cared about was capturing him.

"Master, please go ahead. I can hold them off!" The veiled lady looked at the charging soldiers, her eyes glittering icily.

"Mm, I am returning home. I do not wish for anyone to be killed." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

"Master, rest assured. I know my limits." The veiled lady turned around and walked towards the soldiers.

Her blade glowed.

At that moment, the rain turned into snow and fell onto the legs of the soldiers. The River of Trust froze over.

Everyone's jaw dropped. Meng Yushu's jaw was on the verge of falling to the ground.

At that moment...

All of them finally understood one thing.

Outnumbering your opponent does not guarantee victory.

When they have people whose abilities supersede those of the soldiers, then they can take whatever path they choose.

This was a fact of life.

"Master, is the city gate still the same?"

"Mm, more or less."