Chapter Forty-Five: Got a Light?

Jiang Yuan had no idea about the tumultuous thoughts raging within Zhang Kui. All he wanted now was to personally experience the effects of the Huazi cigarette. After all, when he’d smoked it earlier, he hadn’t felt any increase in spiritual awareness.

A fresh pack of Huazi appeared in his hand. He tore it open and pulled out a cigarette. Seeing this, Zhang Kui hurriedly fetched his lighter to light it for Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Zhang Kui in surprise—this young man was quite skilled in his duties. Still, he didn’t need Zhang Kui to light his cigarette. Let the boy taste the fickleness of society, learn what it meant to serve a mercurial king.

He snapped his fingers, and a small flame appeared on his index finger. Jiang Yuan brought the cigarette close and took a deep drag.

Zhang Kui awkwardly put away the lighter and handed it to Jiang Yuan. This king truly walked an unconventional path—just moments ago he’d forbidden the use of magic to light the cigarette, and now he’d lit it himself...

Jiang Yuan slowly exhaled smoke rings and, seeing the lighter offered to him, waved his hand grandly: “Keep it. From now on, use this to light your cigarettes.”

“Thank you for your gift, Your Majesty. I shall obey your command.” Zhang Kui accepted the lighter respectfully.

He waited quietly by the side, sensing that the king wished to experience the effects of the divine item himself. He felt anxious—what if the king liked the Huazi and decided to reclaim his gift?

But he reasoned that it wasn’t much of a problem. After all, it was only natural for the king to bestow a divine item without knowing its effects, and even more natural to take it back after discovering its true power. Zhang Kui felt he’d already gained plenty of favor from the king.

Jiang Yuan, unlike Zhang Kui, suffered no “side effects.” After a while, he noticed no discernible increase in his spiritual awareness. Unconvinced, he took another drag, but his spiritual strength remained unchanged. Irritation flared—why did this thing have no effect on him?

“System, come out! I have questions for you!” Jiang Yuan shouted inwardly.

“Just speak, Host. If you’re thinking of cursing the system, perhaps you should consider how you lit the cigarette. Once you remove your magical power, the effect is nullified.”

Jiang Yuan realized the truth, tossed aside the cigarette he’d lit himself, and took out another. Turning to Zhang Kui, he said, “Light this for me.”

Curious but obedient, Zhang Kui lit the cigarette for the king. Jiang Yuan repeated the earlier routine, but still detected no noticeable effect. Was the system playing tricks on him?

“System?” Jiang Yuan suppressed his urge to let loose a string of curses.

“The miraculous effects of the cigarette work only on others, not on the host. As for why, there are only two ways for the host to advance: through personal cultivation and enlightenment, or by exchanging Tyrant Points with the system.”

“Additionally, a friendly reminder from the system: smoking is hazardous to your health!”

Why such discrimination? Was it just because he was handsome?

He sighed. He’d already cursed the system enough for one day, and his vocabulary of insults was running dry, all spent on the system.

“How does it feel, Your Majesty?” Zhang Kui asked cautiously.

“It’s adequate,” Jiang Yuan replied, his tone unreadable. Only he knew what he truly thought.

It seemed the Huazi would serve only as a means to relieve melancholy in the future.

“Will Your Majesty continue to rest?” Zhang Kui asked softly, for it was already late at night.

“Dismissed,” Jiang Yuan said, feeling a headache. In his previous life, he’d grown used to smoking, but this body was different, and there were some adverse effects.

After Zhang Kui left, Jiang Yuan promptly fell asleep. Without Daji by his side, there was no one else to keep him occupied.

At dawn the next day, Jiang Yuan slowly awakened.

Outside, a servant greeted him quietly, “Your Majesty, my master and lady await you in the main hall for breakfast.”

“I understand. I’ll be there shortly,” Jiang Yuan replied casually.

The servant waited respectfully outside. When Jiang Yuan had finished washing up, attended by the maid brought earlier, he was led to the main hall.

Six people sat at the large table: the familiar Li Jing couple and Nezha, and Zhang Kui had also taken his seat. The other two were young men about the same age as Crown Prince Yin Jiao.

Jiang Yuan glanced at their information.

Character: Jin Zha
Title: Eldest son of Li Jing of Chentang Pass
Realm: Mystic Immortal
Possessions: Gilded Staff, Eighteen-section Purple Gold Rod
Cultivation Technique: Fourfold Technique
Mount: Five Sunflower Beasts
Loyalty: 60
Favorability: 60
Tyrant Points obtainable: 80
...

Character: Mu Zha
Title: Second son of Li Jing of Chentang Pass
Realm: Mystic Immortal
Possessions: True Essence Yellow Sand Fork, Seven-star Calamity Sword
Cultivation Technique: Eight-character Technique
Mount: Curly-maned Lion
Loyalty: 60
Favorability: 60
Tyrant Points obtainable: 75

So these were Jin Zha and Mu Zha... Jiang Yuan mused. It seemed the Li family harbored no rebellious intentions; both sons had been well cultivated, and their loyalty to the Shang dynasty was at least passing.

After all, both lived far from the capital, and knew little of Jiang Yuan’s tyranny. Given the former King Zhou’s cruelty, only those with a death wish would spread rumors about him—else the consequences of being reported were dire.

When Jiang Yuan entered the hall, the five others, aside from Nezha, quickly rose in respect. Jin Zha and Mu Zha, seeing their parents’ demeanor, instantly realized this was the King of Shang.

Lady Yin scolded her two sons, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and pay your respects to the king!”

Jin Zha and Mu Zha came to their senses and quickly bowed, “Your subjects Jin Zha (Mu Zha) greet Your Majesty.”

“Rise,” Jiang Yuan said calmly.

He smiled at Li Jing, “General Li, you truly are a tiger raising cubs. All three of your sons are outstanding.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty,” Li Jing replied humbly.

Jiang Yuan smiled and said no more, taking his seat with ease—and deliberately sitting beside Nezha.

Nezha, seeing the one who had sealed his magical powers now sitting next to him, frowned and instinctively edged away.

Lady Yin rolled her eyes at him, refraining from scolding only because Jiang Yuan seemed unperturbed.

Overall, the meal was harmonious enough—at least Jiang Yuan thought so. He cared little for the others’ opinions.

By rights, as one who had achieved cultivation, he had no need for food. Li Jing and his wife had only invited him out of courtesy, never expecting him to actually come.

What did this imply? The king truly favored Nezha. Usually, only those the king valued highly could dine with him!

After the meal, Jiang Yuan took out a Huazi, put it between his lips, and conjured a small flame in his hand. Soon, the whole hall was shrouded in smoke.

A post-meal cigarette, more blissful than a living immortal.

Li Jing was surprised by the item in Jiang Yuan’s hand but suppressed his curiosity.

Nezha, on the other hand, was unabashed. With eagerness on his face, he asked, “What is that thing? Give me one too, will you?”