Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 324 Intrigue
In the handsome tent.

The generals were caught off guard by Qian Zhong's attack and their expressions changed drastically.

Such actions were akin to a sneak attack. If it weren't for their fear of his position as military supervisor, these arrogant and fierce soldiers would have already stormed off the table.

Even though they were trying to suppress their tempers, they all looked grim and indignant.

Fortunately, the flash of light in the tent disappeared quickly. After passing over the generals, the light was clear and there was nothing unusual about it, and the atmosphere in the tent eased a little.

"It seems that I, the supervising officer, have been overthinking things. I hope you will all forgive me."

Qian Zhong said with a forced smile, then turned to look at the spider-like avatar:

"General Cai...you won't mind, will you?"

"Damn it, of course I'm not surprised!"
But this thing... can it really break through the disguise of demons?
Wouldn't that expose all three avatars within the camp?

The spider-like avatar's mind raced as it stared at the bronze mirror in Qian Zhong's hand, its eyes narrowing.

"Was this mirror made by the Imperial Observatory?"

"Indeed, this mirror can emit a dazzling light to detect demons simply by activating it with true qi. Once a demon is covered by the light, it will lose its disguise and reveal its true form."

Qian Zhong frowned, somewhat displeased, and emphasized in his tone:
"General Cai, please summon the other officers under your command and examine them one by one to prevent any demons from infiltrating the army..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when he felt a lightness in his hand; the demon-detecting mirror had already fallen into the hands of his spider-like avatar.

"What are you doing?"

"I have never seen such a treasure before, and I am very curious."

The spider-like avatar casually replied, secretly urging its demonic energy, only to find that it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with the mirror showing no reaction.

This thing seems to be able to be activated only with true qi.

But did this guy deliberately leave me out, or... does he have something else in mind?
He pursed his lips, deciding to wait and see, tossed the demon-detecting mirror back to Qian Zhong, and muttered:

"I will make the arrangements immediately and have them enter the tent in turn."

Over the next half hour, the officers of the Crimson Scale Guard, starting from the Hundredth Rank and above, entered the commander's tent one by one. Qian Zhong used the Demon-Detecting Mirror to identify their identities, and they all passed the test, proving that there were no demons disguised as monsters.

Even the officers who were being manipulated by the threads were not discovered.

This gradually put the spider-like avatar at ease.

After the last batch of a hundred generals left the command tent, the spider-like avatar laughed and said:
"It seems our guard is still safe; no demons have infiltrated and caused trouble..."

"slow!"

Qian Zhong chuckled lightly, glanced around, and said in a deep voice:

"General Cai, those two valiant men who were attending to you earlier are quite imposing. Why don't you invite them in for a chat?"

The spider-like avatar's gaze sharpened, and it turned to look at Qian Zhong, meeting his ambiguous, half-smiling eyes. A sudden realization dawned on it—

This fellow probably used some tricks when he entered the camp to identify the two avatars, the White Elephant and the Fire Crow, as demons. All that happened before was just an act to lull the generals into a false sense of security.

Only at this moment, after examining all the officers of the Crimson Scale Guard, did the true intentions finally come to light.

At this point, one cannot refuse, otherwise one would be cutting oneself off from the entire guard.

But if he were to follow his lead, the two avatars, the White Elephant and the Fire Crow, might not be able to fool the Demon-Detecting Mirror.

It's all those imposters' fault; they weren't discreet enough and were discovered.

However, Song Laogou and his Imperial Observatory subordinates were quite capable, coming up with a solution so quickly...

These extraterrestrial beings are truly formidable.

That said, Qian Zhong's trip, ostensibly to supervise the army, was probably actually aimed at seizing power!

Even if they can't find an excuse for "identifying demons," they will probably find a pretext to seize power and take over the army in the future.

The power struggle between the central government and local powerful clans has reached a fever pitch.

in this way……

We can't let you live!
The spider-like avatar lowered its gaze and instantly saw through the situation.

He once used the entire world as his stage, playing chess with the emperor and his ministers, ultimately winning by a hair's breadth and transforming into a demon through sheer luck. His political maneuvering was already at a level of consummate skill.

Therefore, upon hearing Qian Zhong's request, he guessed his entire scheme.

"General Cai? General Cai!"

Seeing the spider-like avatar's shifty gaze, Qian Zhong's lips curled slightly, and he urged it repeatedly:

"Those two brave men... do they perhaps have something they can't say about?"

"To be honest, my two bodyguards are demons in human form."

The spider-like avatar stopped standing, its fawning smile vanished, and its aura surged instantly, like a mountain pressing down, giving Qian Zhong no chance to speak:

"A few days ago, a thief took advantage of the demonic bird's attack on the camp to assassinate me. Fortunately, Jiang Li, the Cloud-Turning Swordsman, risked his life to save me, and I escaped with my life."

Upon learning of this, my ancestor immediately dispatched two demons with ties to the Cai family to the camp to protect me.

"Lord Qian, are you perhaps going to lump them together with those monstrous creatures that have infiltrated the military camp, waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble?"

Only after he finished speaking did he abruptly withdraw his imposing manner, pointing to the other officers in the tent, his eyes flashing with a strange light:

"They can all testify to this matter. If Lord Qian does not believe it, he may ask them."

"you……"

Qian Zhong was furious at being blocked, but he couldn't find a reason to stop. He squinted and kept silent, thinking to himself that he had underestimated this eldest son of the Cai family of Hedong.

The explanation that it is a spider-like incarnation is plausible and has precedents.

Moreover, they brought out the endorsement of the Cai family patriarch, so who would dare to investigate further?
This man is a veteran of three reigns, with his students and former officials spread throughout the court.

Even Grand Commandant Song Yingtian treated him with courtesy.

As Song Yingtian's lackey, how could he dare to be negligent?

This is the source of confidence that powerful families have when they speak.

After the spider-like avatar saw through his scheme, it went all out and nipped Qian Zhong's attempt in the bud.

Qian Zhong was furious, his face flushed, but he couldn't retaliate. His usual ruthless methods were nowhere to be used.

However, he quickly calmed down, thinking to himself that "there's plenty of time," and decided to take over the matter and wait for the next opportunity to act.

However, the spider-like avatar did not let him off easily and pressed on, asking:

"Lord Qian, shall I call them both in?"

Qian Zhong's breath hitched, he forced a smile, waved his hand, and then excused himself, saying he was "not a good drinker".

Just as he was about to leave, the spider-like avatar called out to him, smiling faintly:
"Lord Qian, you've overlooked me. Take a look, am I human... or a demon?"

When a petty person gains power, they become arrogant and haughty!
Qian Zhongsheng cursed under his breath, gritted his teeth, and breathed heavily, trying his best to suppress his anger and force a smile:
"General Cai is joking. You are the eldest son of the Cai family of Hedong. With Grand Tutor Cai's handwritten manuscripts protecting you, what demon would dare to approach you?"

After saying that, he hurriedly left, but after experiencing the spider-like transformation technique, he felt fear and dared not stay to be rebuked.

Or rather, it's a deliberate show of weakness to create an opportunity for a future attack.

As soon as he lifted the curtain and left, a chorus of cheers erupted from inside the command tent:

"The general is mighty!"

All the commanders and captains beamed with joy, looking at the spider-shaped avatar with utmost respect.

They had previously suffered at Qian Zhong's hands, unable to retaliate or argue back.

Seeing that the spider-like incarnation had managed to make Qian Zhong flee in disarray with just a few words, he felt greatly relieved.

"Alright, all of you go down and keep your men in check, so they don't fall into Qian Jianjun's hands."

The spider-like avatar chuckled and cursed, then waved its hand and said in a deep voice:

"Get ready. Two days from now, we will march on Wohu Ridge and strive to wipe it out in a single day!"

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)