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

Although he won the semi-finals, his opponent in the finals was the Seventh Prince Ling Yuxi. With his Qi at the first level, Fu Qing very decisively withdrew from the competition.

When he told Fan Zheng about his decision to withdraw from the competition, the old general was drinking tea.

Fan Zheng chuckled as he held his teacup. "You're quite open-minded. The Seventh Prince is at the first level of Qi Refining, and his protective Qi Refining is already complete. You, a mere Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, can't even break through his defenses. There's no shame in forfeiting the competition. Go ahead and take good care of your injuries, so you don't develop any lasting health problems."

Fu Qing nodded and turned to leave. As she reached the door, Fan Zheng added something behind her.

"By the way, even if you forfeit the competition, His Majesty has still specifically requested that you attend the Imperial Banquet. The invitation has already been delivered to your home; you'll see it when you get back."

...

When Fu Qing returned home, Song Yawei was looking at the gold-flecked paper over and over again.

Ling Yushu's banquet before the emperor was held on the third day after the Martial Arts Academy Grand Competition.

Although Fu Qing only won the runner-up title, his performance on the stage was amazing and had already spread throughout Jingjing, so Ling Yushu specially invited him to the banquet.

...

On the evening of the banquet, Fu Qing changed into the formal official robes issued by the military. Su Wen stood at the entrance of the pharmacy, holding a bowl of freshly brewed medicine.

"Drink the medicine before the banquet. There will be plenty of drinking at the imperial banquet, and this medicine will protect your meridians to prevent the alcohol from affecting the poison."

Fu Qing took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, while Su Wen took the empty bowl.

"Don't drink too much alcohol. Your spleen is already showing signs of failure, and the alcohol will accelerate the spread of the poison."

Fu Qing nodded at her, and Su Wen withdrew her hand, turned around and walked into the pharmacy, her back view still as aloof as ever.

...

The main hall of Taiji Hall was brightly lit, and the scale of the imperial banquet was even larger than Fu Qing had expected—two long tables stretched from the foot of the imperial steps all the way to the entrance of the hall, and the tables were full of dishes, with people sitting at each table.

The instructors and elite students of the martial arts academy sat on the left, the generals of the military sat on the right, and the civil officials and scions of noble families sat in the middle.

Fu Qing was seated at the back, where he could see the entire main hall.

He had barely sat down when a chubby figure squeezed through the crowd.

Today, Yu Fu was wearing a royal blue brocade robe, with a jade pendant larger than his fist hanging from his waist. He was holding a plate of cakes in his hand and had half a piece stuffed in his mouth.

He plopped down next to Fu Qing and pushed the plate in front of Fu Qing.

"Brother Fu, you're here for a free meal too! This osmanthus cake was made by the imperial chef, want to try some?"

Fu Qing picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Yu Fu chuckled and leaned closer. "Brother Fu, something's not right here today. In previous years, His Majesty would say a few polite words at the Imperial Banquet and then start eating and drinking, but look over there today..."

He gestured with his chin towards the position below the imperial steps.

"The Crown Prince arrived half an hour earlier than usual, and the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince are also here. My father said that these princes usually avoid attending the Imperial Banquet if they can avoid it, so it's quite unusual that they're all here today..."

Fu Qing picked up his wine cup and took a sip. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the lower part of the imperial steps. Crown Prince Ling Moqian sat upright, while Second Prince Ling Mokun leaned back in his chair, sipping his wine.

The Fifth Prince, Ling Moyuan, was joking with the maid beside him, grinning mischievously.

At that moment, Ling Yushu walked out from behind the hall, and the hall fell silent.

The over 300-year-old Emperor Jingguo wore a moon-white dragon robe today, his hair casually tied back with a white jade hairpin, exuding a refined and scholarly air.

He sat down on the throne, picked up his wine glass, and said a few routine opening remarks, then abruptly changed the subject...

"Today's imperial banquet was originally intended for the winner of the grand competition, but I have specially invited one more person this time..."

His gaze passed over the princes and princesses in the front row, over the instructors of the martial arts academy and the generals of the military, and landed on Fu Qing in the back.

"Fu Qing, come sit in the front."

All eyes in the hall turned to Fu Qing.

The princes sitting in the front row turned around one after another, the instructors of the martial arts academy put down their wine cups, and the generals of the military whispered among themselves.

Fu Qing felt everyone's gaze on him. Yu Fu nudged him with his elbow from the side.

"Brother Fu, His Majesty is calling for you."

Fu Qing stood up, straightened his clothes, walked from the back row to the foot of the imperial steps, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject Fu Qing greets Your Majesty."

"No need for such formalities."

Ling Yushu smiled and pointed to an empty seat on the right-hand side, "Sit."

That position was to the left of Crown Prince Ling Moqian, and opposite him was the Second Prince Ling Mokun.

When Fu Qing sat down, Ling Moqian turned his head to look at him and nodded slightly as a greeting.

Ling Moyuan leaned halfway out from the opposite side and waved to him with a bright smile, even though Fu Qing was not familiar with him at all.

Once Fu Qing was seated, Ling Yushu picked up her wine glass and stood up, and everyone else stood up and raised their glasses at the same time.

"My lords."

Ling Yushu glanced around the hall. "Today, I wish to offer this cup of wine to one person: Fu Qing!"

"In the Battle of Ironblood City, he, at the level of the Meridian Opening Realm, led eight hundred cavalry to sweep across the rear of the Di Kingdom, captured the grassland king's uncle, and forced back one hundred thousand Di troops. Such military achievements are rare since the founding of the Jing Kingdom."

"Although he did not win the championship in the Martial Academy Competition, he fought against An Sheng, who was at the seventh level of the Meridian Opening Realm, with his fourth level of Meridian Opening Realm. He traded his life for his life and broke the Dragon Turning Technique with one strike. I heard An Sheng say that if he had fought desperately on the battlefield, he would have been the one to die."

Fu Qing raised his wine cup. "Your Majesty flatters me. I was merely doing my duty."

"Doing one's duty?"

Ling Yushu shook his head slightly, "If everyone could fulfill their duties, I wouldn't have to worry so much about my country."

He downed the drink in one gulp, and as he put the glass down, he chuckled.

"A thousand years ago, Feng Changyang, the Prince of Zhenbei, stood shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Gaozu to establish the Jingguo Kingdom. A thousand years later, Heaven has taken pity on the Feng family line, leaving you, the only surviving member of the family, in the world. You have even made contributions to the Jingguo Kingdom. This is truly a blessing!"

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent for several breaths before all eyes turned to Fu Qing again, their faces filled with shock.

The instructors at the martial arts academy exchanged bewildered glances—they knew better than anyone what being a descendant of the Feng family meant in the Jingguo court!

The military commanders whispered among themselves.

"No wonder he's such a fierce fighter; he's a descendant of the Wind King!"

The princes and princesses sitting in the front row had different expressions—some were surprised, some frowned, and some calmly raised their wine glasses to cover half their faces.

The Third Princess, Ling Moxie, sat next to Ling Yushu, took a sip of tea, and glanced at Fu Qing's face.

Fu Qing stood up, cupped his hands to Ling Yushu, and said, "Your Majesty, my parents died early, and the family genealogy only records two generations. I know nothing about my own background."

"I know you don't understand."

Ling Yushu put down his wine cup.

"That is why I must explain your background to all the officials in front of me. Back then, Feng Changyang was the greatest contributor to the founding of Jingguo. The Feng family made great contributions in the early days of Jingguo."

"Now that the descendants of the Feng family have made great contributions in battle, if I do not clear your name, I will be ashamed of the late emperor and the descendants of meritorious officials."

He raised his glass to Fu Qing, his smile gentle and sincere, "This glass of wine is a toast to Feng Changyang."

Fu Qing picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, feeling as if he had become the center of attention.

The royal banquet officially began, and a row of dancers entered and began to dance gracefully in the hall.

Fu Qing put down his wine cup, picked up his chopsticks, and took a piece of venison. Just as he put it in his mouth, Crown Prince Ling Moqian, who was on his left, turned to the side while holding his wine cup.