vstars Chapter 54 Conspiracy, Infighting in the Camp
Chapter 54 Conspiracy, Infighting in the Camp
Chaoge, Fei Zhong's residence, study.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating Fei Zhong's ever-changing face. He put down the secret report from Youli, his fingertips turning slightly white from the pressure. "Her Majesty's meaning is very clear," he said in a low voice to You Hun, who sat opposite him, "The Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang, must not leave Youli alive. This villain is adept at winning people's hearts; if we release him back into the mountains, he will surely become a great threat. This... is also what His Majesty desires."
A hint of worry appeared on You Hun's chubby face: "My lord, Ji Chang is imprisoned in Youli, and the general guarding him is Zhang Kui. This man is not only exceptionally brave, but also highly regarded by Grand Tutor Wen. His 30,000 troops are trained to be as swift and disciplined as an ironclad unit. To move against Ji Chang, one must first get past Zhang Kui."
"Zhang Kui!" A hint of resentment flashed in Fei Zhong's eyes. "This man, relying on his military merits, has repeatedly disregarded us. The men we sent to test him last time were all wiped out by him. How can we not avenge this? This time, we can deal with him all at once, fulfilling the Empress's orders, seizing his military power, and cutting off Wen Zhong's wings. It's a win-win situation."
You Hun pondered for a moment and said, "Could we join forces with Marquis Chong Houhu of the North? He seems to have an old grudge against Zhang Kui in Beihai."
"Hmph, Chong Houhu?" Fei Zhong scoffed disdainfully. "That cowardly rat! He was terrified of Zhang Kui back in Beihai, and now he avoids Zhang Kui like the plague. Relying on him? You might as well hope a sow flies. He has made it clear that he would never dare to be Zhang Kui's enemy again."
You Hun's small eyes darted around, and he continued, "In that case, we might be able to join forces with Yin Pobai. He is the commander of the Northern Army, Zhang Kui's direct superior. It would be perfectly legitimate for him to act on our behalf. Moreover, a strange man has recently come to my residence. He is highly skilled in Taoism, calling himself the One Qi Immortal Ma Yuan. He cultivates in the White Bone Cave of Skull Mountain, possesses great supernatural powers, and his temperament... is quite fierce. If we ask him to take action and cooperate with Yin Pobai, I guarantee we can kill Ji Chang and capture Zhang Kui."
Upon hearing this, Fei Zhong's eyes gleamed brightly: "Oh? Immortal Ma Yuan? Good. If this succeeds, it will be a great achievement for both of us in front of the King and the Queen. Proceed according to this plan. You go and contact Yin Pobai and Ma Yuan immediately, and make sure everything goes smoothly."
The central command tent of the Youli camp.
Zhang Kui stood with his hands behind his back before the sand table, his gaze deep. The targeted malice from Chaoge felt like a thorn in his side. He had just personally inspected the prison where Ji Chang was being held, not only increasing the number of guards both overt and covert, but also quietly setting up several layers of warning spells around the courtyard. He would be able to sense any powerful magic or killing intent intruding immediately.
"Wu Wenhua, Zhang Boyuan, Li Zhongqian, Sun Shubao, Zhao Jiyu," Zhang Kui called out in a deep voice.
"Your subordinate is here." The five men solemnly responded, and the atmosphere inside the tent was heavy.
Zhang Kui's gaze swept over them, his tone serious: "There may be unforeseen events in Chaoge. We must be highly vigilant for the foreseeable future. If I am not in the camp, remember one principle for any military orders from Chaoge—delay if possible, and if you cannot delay, execute them with reservations. The priority is to maintain the stability of the army and safeguard the city."
Wu Wenhua scratched his head and asked in a simple voice, "My lord, what if... what if someone comes and orders us to do bad things and aid the wicked?" He had just learned this new word from Zhang Kui a couple of days ago and found it quite catchy.
Zhang Kui was amused by his antics and playfully kicked his butt: "You idiot, is that all you remember?"
Then, his smile faded, and he said seriously, "Remember, we don't want trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either. If anyone is really blind and tries to force us to our deaths..." He turned his gaze to Zhang Boyuan and Li Zhongqian.
Zhang Boyuan understood immediately, suppressing a laugh, and explained to Wu Wenhua, "General Wu, let's use our weapons to tell them that people should be reasonable."
Li Zhongqian interjected, his tone icy cold: "And to avoid future troubles, if necessary, make them—shut up forever."
Upon hearing this, Sun Shubao and Zhao Jiyu's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and they nodded heavily, clearly agreeing. Wu Wenhua seemed to understand, but seeing everyone's serious expressions, he patted his chest forcefully: "I understand. Anyone who's being unreasonable, I'll shut them up."
Zhang Kui looked at the several generals under his command with their distinct personalities; this was the initial foundation he had built up in the chaotic world.
Seven days later, outside Youli City.
Zhang Kui led a hundred personal guards, galloping at full speed. This morning, he received orders that Yin Pobai, the commander of the Northern Army and his direct superior, had come to inspect the troops on the orders of the king and was already fifty li away. He was ordered to go and pay his respects immediately.
Before leaving, he once again instructed Wu Wenhua and the four captains who remained behind: "Keep the camp gates tightly closed and be on high alert. Without my personal written order, no one may move a single soldier."
"Rest assured, my lord," the five replied in unison.
Zhang Kui nodded, spurred his horse, and the One-Horned Black Smoke Beast neighed, transforming into a wisp of black smoke as it sped away with a hundred personal guards.
He pondered how to deal with Yin Pobai, whether to feign compliance or... However, he did not know that shortly after he left, Yin Pobai did not wait at the military camp, but personally led an elite guard, keeping the flags and drums down, and took a shortcut straight to the Youli camp, intending to take over military power by force in his official capacity while he was away.
Meanwhile, deep within Yin Pobai's seemingly ordinary military camp, inside a tightly isolated tent, chilling chewing sounds and intermittent wails could be heard.
Suddenly, the tent flap was lifted by a hand with large knuckles and sharp nails, and a figure stepped out.
This man was tall and extremely ugly, with a blue face and fangs, especially the two exposed fangs, which gleamed with a chilling white light. Around his neck hung a string of prayer beads made of skulls and human bones inlaid with gold edges, and in his hand he carried a huge gold-inlaid gourd with dark red stains on the edges. He exuded a strong stench of blood and a savage, ferocious aura.
He licked the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth, his scarlet tongue like a snake's forked tongue, his eyes filled with cruelty and greed: "That brat Yin Pobai said there's a general named Zhang Kui with vigorous blood and energy, a perfect blood concoction... Hehe, I'm just hungry. And that Ji Chang, I heard he possesses great fortune, swallowing his heart and liver will surely greatly advance my cultivation."
The Yin camp was in ruins, outside the gate.
Zhang Kui reined in his black-smoked beast, his sharp gaze sweeping across the excessively quiet camp before him. The guards at the camp gate were soldiers of the Northern Army; upon seeing him, their eyes flickered, and their salutes were slightly awkward.
"This humble general, Zhang Kui, has come to pay homage to the Commander-in-Chief by order!" Zhang Kui announced in a deep voice, his voice carrying clearly throughout the camp with the blessing of the True Immortal's power.
A trusted lieutenant of Yin Pobai strode out to greet him, a smile plastered on his face: "General Zhang has arrived. The Commander-in-Chief has been waiting in the tent for quite some time. Please follow me."
Zhang Kui remained calm, giving a signal to his guards behind him to keep watch outside the camp, while he followed the captain towards the central command tent. His divine sense, like invisible ripples, quietly spread out, instantly sensing a faint, malevolent aura permeating the camp, and... a very faint smell of blood. More importantly, he did not sense Yin Pobai's familiar aura fluctuations within the central command tent; instead, he sensed an extremely powerful and eerie aura, filled with a devouring desire, from the side and rear of the camp.
"Something's not right!" Alarm bells rang in Zhang Kui's mind. "Yin Pobai isn't in the main tent. There's an ambush in this camp, and there are experts among them."
Just as he paused slightly, preparing to retreat—
"boom!"
The previously silent tent to the side and rear suddenly exploded. Amidst the flying wood chips, a dark figure pounced out like a ghost, moving with astonishing speed and bringing a foul stench, heading straight for Zhang Kui.
"Heh heh! Junior, I'll take your heart." The newcomer chuckled, his five fingers forming claws, the nails growing over a foot long, gleaming with a sinister blue light, aimed straight at Zhang Kui's heart. This claw contained immense magical power no less than Zhang Kui's, and carried an eerie, soul-stealing force. If an ordinary person were struck by it, their mind would likely be instantly taken away, and their body would disintegrate.
In a flash, Zhang Kui remained calm under pressure. His Golden Core Dao surged forth, and pure, vast magical power instantly spread throughout his body. Facing this sudden, fatal blow, he didn't retreat but advanced, uttering a low shout: "Size at will!"
His body swelled slightly, his muscles and bones throbbed, and his blood and qi surged like the Yangtze River. Suddenly, his right fist erupted with dazzling five-colored light, with faint phantom images of dragons and tigers coiling and roaring within. This punch, infused with the true essence of dragons and tigers and the power of the five elements, had its power concentrated to its extreme by the Great and Small Ruyi Divine Power.
"Bang!"
Fists and claws clashed, producing a dull, resounding crash, like the sound of leather being struck.
A violent shockwave exploded from the two of them, cracking the ground and sending dust billowing into the sky. Zhang Kui swayed slightly, the bluestone ground beneath his feet shattering into powder. Ma Yuan, on the other hand, was forced back several steps by the powerful and fierce punch, the excruciating pain in his claws filling him with both shock and rage.
"A true immortal? Good lad, you do have some skills." A hint of surprise flashed in Ma Yuan's scarlet eyes, which was then replaced by an even stronger greed. "If I devour you, I'll definitely be able to complete the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top faster, and maybe even glimpse the Great Dao of the Golden Immortal."
Zhang Kui shook his slightly numb fist, his eyes as cold as ice: "You cowardly heretic, how dare you be so insolent before me? State your name, for I do not kill nameless ghosts." He quickly judged that this fiend's magical power was sinister and immense, likely at the True Immortal realm, but his physical body was strong and his supernatural abilities were strange, not to be underestimated. Moreover, Yin Pobai had lured him here and then sent this fiend to ambush him, revealing his ambition to seize military power and harm Ji Chang.
"Hehe, I am Ma Yuan, the One Qi Immortal of the White Bone Cave of Skull Mountain. Boy, prepare to die!" Ma Yuan sneered, no longer wasting words. His figure blurred, turning into several afterimages, and he pounced on Zhang Kui from different directions. At the same time, he opened his mouth and spewed out a dense black evil aura, which was filled with ghostly wails and wolf howls, directly attacking Zhang Kui's soul.
A major battle suddenly erupted in this seemingly peaceful military camp...