Chapter Ten: The Great Demon Ji Meng!

"Tyrant..." Bi Gan murmured to himself. After a long silence, his eyes suddenly brightened. Yes! So what if he is a tyrant? As long as the King is not foolish and incompetent, so what if he indulges in wine and women? So what if he is harsh and self-willed? The King still leads his armies in person, his ambitions undiminished! Great Shang will eventually return to its most glorious days!

"No wonder Prime Minister Shang Rong is the head of all ministers," Bi Gan sighed.

"You are too self-absorbed. As for the King, we can be at ease for now. When he truly strays from the path, it will not be too late to remonstrate with our lives," Shang Rong replied, his expression resolute. From the start, he had resolved that if the King persisted in his excesses, he would counsel with his own death.

At this moment, Jiang Yuan had no idea what was in the minds of these two ministers after he left. It was only later, when he found it increasingly difficult to gain any Tyrant Points from Shang Rong and Bi Gan, that he realized these two had started to support his rule as a tyrant!

On the march to the Northern Barbarian demon tribes, another contingent was seen approaching the force led by Jiang Yuan. Curious about their identity, Jiang Yuan noted they were still some distance from the fief of Marquis Chong, Lord of the Northern Territories. It was unlikely he'd send people so far beyond protocol to greet them. Who could it be?

"General Huang, do you know who approaches?" Jiang Yuan asked Huang Feihu, who led at the front.

Huang Feihu had already noticed the group trailing behind and was puzzled as well. In response to the King's inquiry, he replied respectfully, "Allow me to investigate, Your Majesty."

"Go, but be cautious. The leader among them is no ordinary figure; his aura is seamless—clearly no easy opponent. I'll have Jiao accompany you," Jiang Yuan ordered.

Yin Jiao immediately understood, eager for action. He hadn't expected a skirmish before even reaching the Northern Barbarians!

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Huang Feihu replied. Though he felt it unnecessary, he did not refuse. After all, it was rare for the King to show such concern for his ministers.

Little did he know that Jiang Yuan was truly worried for his safety. Even from this distance, Jiang Yuan could sense an oppressive presence from the newcomers, whose strength surely surpassed Huang Feihu's. Sending Yin Jiao, at the realm of True Immortal, was a precaution to avoid losing a key general to unforeseen danger.

"Go," Jiang Yuan nodded calmly.

Riding his five-colored divine ox, Huang Feihu flew toward the newcomers, bellowing, "Who goes there, to disturb the royal presence!"

The man, recognizing Huang Feihu, smiled faintly. "General Huang, it's been a long time. I hope you have been well."

An acquaintance? Huang Feihu could not make out the man's face at first and remained on guard. As they drew closer, realization dawned.

"So it’s General Zhang! Why have you left such an important post as Mianchi County to come here?"

Seeing it was someone familiar, Yin Jiao was visibly disappointed—so there would be no fight after all.

Zhang Kui smiled slightly. "Upon hearing that His Majesty was personally leading a campaign against the Northern Barbarian demon tribes’ rebellion, I have brought five thousand troops to offer support."

"So General Zhang does not trust me—or does he doubt our King can win this battle?" Huang Feihu remarked, a little displeased.

"You misunderstand, General. His Majesty is peerless; there is no doubt about the outcome. But the demon tribes involved in this rebellion are no trivial matter. I have come to aid in quelling this chaos swiftly," Zhang Kui explained. "That way, the King may soon return to Chaoge to oversee the realm."

"I see. I will report back at once," Huang Feihu replied, then mounted his five-colored ox and returned to Jiang Yuan.

"Is it one of our Shang generals?" Jiang Yuan asked as Huang Feihu returned.

Huang Feihu replied respectfully, "It is General Zhang Kui, commander of Mianchi County."

Jiang Yuan was startled. Zhang Kui was no ordinary man—the undisputed God of Slaughter during the Investiture of the Gods! After Huang Feihu defected, it was Zhang Kui who killed him. His mastery of Earthwalking techniques was legendary—even Earthwalker Sun paled in comparison.

It was a pity that, in the end, when Shang’s fate was lost, Zhang Kui, formidable as he was, could not prevail alone. He was finally beset and killed, his precious demon-subduing mace used against him.

"What brings him here?" Jiang Yuan asked.

"General Zhang has come to help quell the rebellion quickly, so that Your Majesty may return to the capital and oversee affairs."

"With such loyal generals, what fear is there for Great Shang’s future?" Jiang Yuan exclaimed. "Summon General Zhang."

Zhang Kui rode forward on his one-horned Black-Fog Beast and saluted. "Your humble servant Zhang Kui greets the King."

Looking at Zhang Kui, whose loyalty to Great Shang was unwavering in the tales of the Investiture, Jiang Yuan was deeply gratified. He glanced at Zhang Kui’s attribute panel:

Name: Zhang Kui
Title: Commander of Mianchi County (after the War of Investiture, conferred as the Star of Seven Slaughters)
Realm: Peak True Immortal
Possessions: Black Thunder Blade, Armor of Radiant Thousand Mountains
Cultivation Methods: Earthwalking Scroll, Seven Slaughters Technique
Mount: One-Horned Black-Fog Beast
Loyalty: 100
Affection: 80
Tyrant Points Available: 580

No wonder he was known as the God of Slaughter in the War of Investiture. If the disciples of the Sages had not descended from the mountains, Zhang Kui’s strength could easily overshadow the renowned generals of the age! Peak True Immortal—one step away from Golden Immortal—a true peerless warrior! And his loyalty was absolute!

"Rise, General Zhang. I was just telling Feihu how, with loyal ministers like you, our Shang has nothing to fear for its revival," Jiang Yuan said, growing ever more pleased with Zhang Kui.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Whatever merits I have are but the result of your gracious shelter," Zhang Kui replied humbly.

Jiang Yuan could not see enough of this Zhang Kui. What was King Zhou thinking? Someone so steadfast, eloquent, and powerful—why not grant him high office? At the very least, he deserved a marquisate!

"What is your view on this great demon rebellion, General Zhang?" Jiang Yuan asked with a smile.

Zhang Kui answered directly, without pretense, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that before she attained sainthood, Nuwa was of the demon tribe, with a human face and serpent body?"

Truly a bold man—he spoke the Sage’s name without any honorifics.

"You mean that this demon rebellion is most likely connected to Nuwa?" Jiang Yuan was startled.

"The instigators are not the entire demon tribe, but a particular branch—the very one Nuwa belonged to before becoming a saint," Zhang Kui explained.

"Oh?" Jiang Yuan murmured.

"The current unrest is orchestrated by the great demon Ji Meng, who has rallied the minor branches together. In doing so, he sets an example for all feudal lords who harbor rebellious ambitions," Zhang Kui replied coldly, clearly displeased.

"Ji Meng, one of the Ten Great Demon Saints?" Jiang Yuan frowned. If it was Ji Meng, their current forces might truly be insufficient. At the very least, Ji Meng was at the Golden Immortal level; even with Zhang Kui, their strongest ally, they had only a peak True Immortal on their side.

While for mortals, such a realm was peerless, against ancient demons who had long hidden from the world, it might not suffice.

Zhang Kui seemed to sense Jiang Yuan’s concern and smiled frankly. "Your Majesty need not worry. The national fortune of Shang endures, and you are still blessed by the destiny of Heaven and Earth. Even a Sage would not strike openly at you, let alone a demon like Ji Meng, who is far from being among the truly powerful."

"In my view, Ji Meng is unlikely to show himself. Even if he does, he would not dare attack Your Majesty. No one can bear the karmic flames that come from slaying the Human Emperor."