Chaotic Times and Disasters: I Hunt Down Martial Arts Masters and Become a God

The Shengjing General's Mansion is located in the east of Jingjing City, just two streets away from the Martial Academy.

The mansion, with its three courtyards and three entrances, was more than three times larger than the residence of the General Fu Qing had previously lived in. In the back garden, there was a sizable pond with several old willow trees planted along its banks. The willow branches drooped over the water, their reflections shimmering in the water.

On moving day, An Sheng carried his gun and a suitcase and moved directly into the neighboring yard.

"It's convenient to drink since we're close by. Anyway, you, the General of Shengjing, have no soldiers to train and are quite idle."

Liu Wentong came to say goodbye, leaning on his crutches. His leg had mostly recovered, but he still walked with a slight limp.

"General, I must return to my hometown in the southern border to recuperate from my injuries. I will come back to serve as your commander once my leg is fully healed."

Fu Qing patted his shoulder.

"He's welcome back anytime."

When Zhao Laotie returned to the border army, he gave Fu Qing the newly whittled tobacco pipe handle as a souvenir before leaving.

"This is a gift for the general. When the general sees it in the future, he will remember that his subordinate fought alongside the general in the southern frontier."

Fu Qing took the pipe rod and hung it on the wall of his study, next to the narrow-bladed sword that Han Yue had given him years ago.

He stood in front of the wall, looking at the two things in silence for a long time.

Han Yue's knife, Lao Zhao's pipe stick—these were the people who followed him from Ironblood City all the way to the Southern Frontier. Some of them are no longer here, while others continue to follow him.

He turned around and opened the window. Two children were chasing Leo in the courtyard, their laughter echoing throughout the general's mansion.

The two kids quickly became friends with Leo.

Fu Mingxuan especially loved this fluffy big cat. Every morning, the first thing she did after getting up was to run to the pharmacy entrance to find Leo, ride on his back, and have him carry her all over the yard.

"Great Western Cliff! Great Western Cliff!"

Leo protested strongly.

"Miss, I am a lion demon general, not a toy, much less a horse!"

Fu Mingxuan hugged his neck.

"No, no... You're the most fun! If you don't let me play, I'll tell Daddy!"

The Leo shuddered, resignedly lying down so she could ride on top of him.

"I've completely disgraced the Lion Clan!"

Fu Mingdao sat quietly beside the Leo, his small hands rummaging through the Leo's mane, studying the demonic fire.

"Big Lion, isn't my dad... amazing?"

Leo thought for a moment, then spoke earnestly, "My lord's bravery surpasses that of the entire army!"

Fu Mingdao raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded, satisfied with the answer.

Fu Qing had a rare free time that day, so he took his two children out to have some fun.

He restored Leo to half its original form, let the two children ride on the back of the giant lion, and led Leo by its mane down Suzaku Avenue.

Fu Mingxuan sat on the lion's back, her face flushed with excitement, waving to the pedestrians on the roadside.

"My father is the General of Shengjing! This is my mount! It's called Leo! It's incredibly powerful! Even more powerful than my father!"

Fu Mingdao sat quietly beside her, a rare relaxed smile on his face, occasionally leaning down to speak to the Leo woman.

"Walk slowly, don't make your little sister stumble."

There was an old man selling candied hawthorns on Zhuque Street. Fu Mingxuan clamored for some, so Fu Qing took out his money and bought two skewers, one for his daughter and one for his son.

Fu Mingxuan held up the candied hawthorn and giggled.

Fu Mingdao then handed the candied hawthorn to Fu Qing.

"Father, eat first."

Fu Qing paused for a moment, then took the candied hawthorn and took a bite. The hawthorn was sweet and sour, and the sugar coating was crisp.

He handed the candied hawthorn back to his son, ruffled his hair, and said, "Dad has already eaten. You can have the rest."

Fu Mingdao took the candied hawthorn, a satisfied smile appearing on his face, and quietly sat on the lion's back to eat it.

Leo glanced back at Fu Qing, chuckled, and said, "Your son is more polite than you."

Fu Qing glanced at it sideways, and Leo lowered its head.

It was already evening when they returned to the general's mansion.

Fu Mingxuan was so tired from playing that she fell asleep on the back of the Leo, while Fu Mingdao also dozed off next to his sister.

Fu Qing lifted the two children off the lion's back. His daughter turned over in his arms and continued to sleep, her little face pressed against his chest.

He gently placed her on the bed, covered her with the blanket, and then went to hug his son.

Fu Mingdao groggily opened his eyes, saw it was Fu Qing, and then closed them again.

"Will Daddy take us out to play again tomorrow?"

Fu Qing flicked his forehead lightly. "Okay, I'll take you out again tomorrow."

The son rolled over contentedly and fell asleep.

Song Yawei walked over and placed a newly sewn garment next to Fu Qing. It was sewn for him, and the fabric was chosen from the best cloth shop in Jingjing, with fine and neat stitches.

Fu Qing held her hand; her hand was rough from years of working, but it was warm.

"You've had a tough time these past few days... I'm so sorry, I wanted you to have a better life, but I just couldn't find any rest..."

Song Yawei pulled her hand away and gently patted his shoulder.

"Nonsense, what man stays at home all day and doesn't go out and work..."

She pressed her head against Fu Qing's and hugged his waist.

"I was always afraid of hearing your name whenever I heard news of battles in the south, but now I'm finally free to be afraid."

That night, Fu Qing again had his two wives sleep together under the same quilt.

Song Yawei was still so shy, and she hesitated before speaking.

"The children aren't sound asleep yet; it wouldn't be good if they woke up and came over."

Song Nini had already burrowed under the covers, leaving only her two bright eyes peeking out, and chuckled.

"Sister, don't do this every time. Your husband just came back from the war, let him rest properly."

Song Yawei blushed and slapped her, but was eventually pulled into bed by Fu Qing.

...

On this day, Fu Qing led Fu Mingdao by the hand and walked into the gate of the martial arts academy. The disciples who were training on the training ground all stopped what they were doing.

A sharp-eyed student from the elite class was the first to recognize him and immediately bowed in greeting.

"Senior Brother Fu!"

All eyes in the training ground turned to them.

Several young disciples who were queuing in front of the strength-testing monument pushed and shoved each other to look in this direction.

"That's the General of Shengjing!"

"Nonsense! Who in the Martial Arts Academy doesn't know him? He can argue that a white horse is not a horse, he can cleave Xiahou Jun with his Thirteen Martial Arts Techniques, and his poem 'Nian Nu Jiao' completely overshadows Master Kang Guo!"

Some people were whispering.

"He's not much older than us, and he's already at the Golden Body Realm..."

Han Duo was also in the crowd. He was the one whose steel whip had been broken by Fu Qing's single strike back then, but now he smiled and spoke to his junior brother beside him.

"See that? That's Senior Brother Fu I told you about. I'm the only one in the entire Martial Academy who survived a single blow from him."

Fu Qing smiled and nodded to everyone, then looked down at her son and said...

"Mingdao, this is where Father used to practice his sword."

Fu Mingdao looked up at the young disciples sweating profusely on the training ground, then at the deep and shallow fist marks on the strength-testing monument, his little face filled with curiosity.

"Did Father practice his sword here before?"

Fu Qing hummed in agreement and pointed to the ironwood stake that had been stripped bare in the corner of the training ground. "That stake was chopped down by Father."

Fu Mingdao's eyes lit up instantly. He broke free from Fu Qing's hand, ran to the ironwood stake, reached out his little hand to touch the surface of the stake, and then turned back to call out to Fu Qing.

"Father, there are knife marks on this! Did you leave them?"

Fu Qing walked over and squatted down, gently tracing the crisscrossing knife marks on the pile surface with his fingers.

"These marks were made by Dad, and those next to them are Uncle An Sheng's gun marks. He fought with Dad before."

Fu Mingdao's eyes lit up even more.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the entrance of the drill ground, followed by Yu Fu's highly recognizable loud voice.

"Brother Fu! Brother Fu, you're here! Something terrible has happened! Something catastrophic!"

The chubby boy, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, ran around sweating profusely, his round face jiggling.

An Sheng followed behind him, his face so dark it could drip water.

Fu Qing stood up and dusted off his hands.

"What happened?"

The fat man was panting heavily.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty wants to return the land in the north of Yue! The King of Yue offered a Heavenly Seal in exchange, and Your Majesty actually agreed! That land was won with the lives of 60,000 people! 60,000 people! Just for a seal! A broken seal!"

Fu Qing was greatly shocked and found it hard to believe.