Headless Immortal

Chapter 158 The Strategy of Cooperation from Inside and Outside
Head transplant.

The Living Buddha Lu Xun transformed into a seven-foot-tall, red-faced, blue-toothed ape monster. The ape monster's golden demonic eyes looked past the captain at the swaying shadows of the trees along the path, where the wind carried a hint of sultry heat.

Just as Lu Xun's gaze fell upon the scene, the Toothless General guarding him had completely blended into the night and risen high into the treetops.

Gao Qingzhi also noticed the gaze of the golden demon eyes, turned around and explained, "When we came, the general sent a few riders to accompany us, but I was afraid of disturbing them, so I had them wait outside the forest."

Lu Xun had no doubts about the captain. They had basically been through life and death together on this journey, and the important matter they were plotting together was still underway. Meanwhile, Magistrate Niu of Zhang County was sitting comfortably in the rear.

Wu Tong Lu Xun turned to look at the Hundred-Year-Old Marquis beside him, his fangs twitching slightly: "The General requests your presence."

Not much of a surprise to the Hundred-Year-Old Marquis, when he heard Boss Lu repeat himself, he prepared to turn around and find the monsters, saying, "I'll have them pack their bags right away."

Once the mission is accomplished, the demon army must be mobilized, and it will be difficult to continue chopping wood and cooking. Perhaps if we enter the camp now, we can still have a hot meal.

"No rush," Lu Xun stopped him, "I'll go take a look first."

The centenarian's expression turned serious: "Your Majesty, please bring a few guards."

As he spoke, he turned around and looked for the great monster.

He and Lady Green Mountain are recognized as great demons, and they are definitely the strongest.

Shu Er was seriously injured and could not exert 30% of his strength, but he was originally the mountain lord of Juying Mountain, familiar with the mountain's conditions, and had fought against the Corpse King, so he had to go.

If we leave, there's a risk of trouble, especially with Xiong Shan Jun leading the way. Xiong Shan Jun, Mao Jingang, and Lao Shan Xiao also need to go. Without this group of monsters, the rat and the spotted deer will become suspicious. If they come along, we won't be able to explain it to the water monsters, and we'll have to appease the alligator dragon general and the gutless prince.

The thirteen-foot-tall Shoushan Gong counted the great demons on his golden, iron-like fingers. These hundred demons were carefully selected, each possessing magical abilities. If there were no great demons, wouldn't the lesser demons cause trouble? Would they still cook, or gather pig feed? If they weren't fed and clothed, even demons would rebel.

Just as he was in a dilemma, Wu Tong Lu Xun turned around and looked at him.

A hoarse roar escaped from its fangs: "Please, Lord Marquis, stay."

Shoushan Gong was suddenly stunned, his heart skipped a beat, and his pale golden face was full of doubt. When he frowned, a strange look appeared on his face, which was quite complicated.

Lu Xun said, "If I return to my position, I hope that the Marquis can take them back with him."

Shoushan Gong asked, "Where are we going back to?"

Lu Xun replied, "In the mountains." Then, with a calm expression, he said, "I brought them out of the mountains, and I have to bring them back. Bring them back alive."

As he spoke, he strode toward the table, extended his hairy hand, and said, "Well, Your Majesty, the Grand General of the Imperial Court requests your presence. Will you accompany me?"

Holding a wine cup, Lady Qingshan laughed heartily, rolling her phoenix-shaped eyes. With a cold laugh, she followed Lu Xun's hairy legs upwards, fixing her gaze on his golden, demonic eyes. Then, she lightly swayed her gauze skirt and reached out her slender hand to touch him.

A captivating voice, slightly husky and magnetic, resonated as he said with a half-smile and a half-sigh, "It seems the old tree spirit truly understands Your Majesty's heart. So be it."

Logically speaking, this trip should not be dangerous.

It's not the one in ten thousand that's worrisome, but the one in ten thousand. If something unexpected happens, the chosen one will face a near-death experience. No wonder the Green Mountain Goddess rolled her eyes to the heavens. But what can you do? He's the king, so she had no choice but to comply.

With a gentle push, she rose gracefully to her feet. Her flowing gauze skirt revealed the intricate and exquisite body armor beneath, clearly indicating that Lady Qingshan was not merely concerned with beauty.

Lady Green Mountain adjusted her hairpins and straightened her waist pouch, then waved her hand and said, "Remove the table."

The little monsters serving beside him busied themselves responding to his calls.

Lu Xun kept everything simple. He had Bai Pi bring Ben Lei over, mounted his horse, and was followed by only six great demons: Green Mountain Goddess, Mud Bodhisattva, Bear Mountain Lord, Tiger Tai Sui, Mao Jingang, and Xin Hongyu.

Lu Xun originally planned to bring Xin Junjie, who is Xin Hongyu's father, but Xin Hongyu begged and pleaded, acting like a pitiful little crybaby, insisting on going to see the central command tent of the imperial army. Even when he mentioned the potential dangers, he couldn't stop Xin Hongyu's curiosity, so he simply brought her along.

The white fox chattered excitedly.

Benlei and Hongyun rode side by side, with several riders following the captain. Their curiosity was even greater than that of Xin Hongyu. However, they were well-trained elites after all. Even though the monsters they were riding with were not monsters, they only glanced at them and did not whisper or question them.

They walked together to the gate of the camp.

Toothless in the sky transformed into a night hawk, gripping a branch tightly, its dark eyes fixed on the departing figure entering the camp.

Beside Toothless, the little red-crowned magpie chirped softly. Toothless glanced at it and said indifferently, "I know. If there's any disturbance, I'll have you inform Du Laifeng."

……

The central military tent was shaped like a yurt-like hall, with three layers of partitions inside and out. At the entrance, there were halberd-wielding physicians with their halberds crossed.

The halberd-wielding physician turned and saw the captain again. His surprise only increased, because standing next to the captain was a group of great monsters: a hairy monster over seven and a half feet tall, a majestic tiger demon eight feet tall, a bear as tall as an iron tower nine feet tall, a round, sculpted monk, a fox spirit with a white fox face, and a tall, slender, icy beauty whose monster form was unclear.

They all crowded around the monkey spirit at the very front.

The monkey spirit, without hesitation, strode forward and, before the halberd-wielding physician could react, the intertwined halberds were deflected.

Just as the doctor was about to speak, his eyes were close to the fierce tiger's eyes, which were like copper bells. It was the tiger demon and the bear monster who were clearing the way for the monkey spirit, like two guardians. He had already been instructed by the captain to step aside.

After passing through two gates, the halberd-wielding physician at the last gate remained as still as a wooden statue, while the general in armor stepped forward to greet them.

The newcomer was tall and angular, with a broad sword hanging at his waist. He didn't smile much, but he wasn't completely expressionless; there was just a hint of unease on his face.

Wu Tong Lu Xun broke the deadlock first, cupping his hands and saying, "General Sui."

Sui Yanshi returned the greeting with clasped hands and said, "The General is in the tent."

"please!"

Regardless of their past disagreements, they were now on the same side. Of course, Sui Yanshi didn't think he had done anything wrong. However, seeing the monkey spirit leave and then return, transforming from a lone wolf into a little demon king with a powerful army, he admired him from the bottom of his heart. A true demon hero never abandons a single person, nor does he act solely for his own sake. He felt ashamed.

The captain said with a smile, "General Sui spoke very well for Boss Lu. If it weren't for the general's recommendation, I wouldn't have been able to do it on my own."

Fortunately, Sui Yanshi's face was dark, so he didn't blush. He just whispered, "I'm just stating the facts."

"Thank you, General."

A true man is straightforward and doesn't waste time with pleasantries; he goes straight into the tent.

As soon as I entered the tent, many eyes turned to me.

At a glance, there were about eleven people in the tent. The commander sat on the table as a burly man with a long beard. His body was so strong that it was almost impossible for an ordinary person to see him. Yet, he had a dignified appearance. Although the two were incongruous, he had a pair of bright, piercing eyes that immediately made people stop trying to figure out his face.

The captain introduced, "Lord Di, General Di."

Lu Xun of Wutong stepped forward with his hands clasped and bowed, saying, "Lu Xun of Jiangzhou Water Mansion greets the Great General."

The general at the command desk said, "Sit down."

Lu Xun took his seat, while the great demon stood behind him, surrounded by a forest of swords and halberds.

Lady Green Mountain frowned. She, the master of Green Mountain, didn't even have a position.

He had initially intended to mock the old tree spirit for not having the fortune to meet a high-ranking official, but now he felt it would be better if he stayed in the camp and let the old tree spirit come instead. Despite these thoughts, he didn't throw a tantrum, standing calmly behind Lu Xun, his eyes lowered, surveying the people in the tent with his azure-gold eyes. *Thud.*

A demon king who commanded thousands of lesser demons in the three mountains of Zhangzhou fell like a pebble, causing only a slight ripple.

The six people in the upper seats, dressed in Taoist robes, kasayas, and Confucian gowns, did not pay much attention to them.

The garrison commander turned his gaze to the captain but did not ask any questions.

The prefectural commandant's expression was indifferent.

A general, as black as a bear, cupped his hands and said loudly, "General, I still stand by what I said: attack the city! Attack the city now! The faster we move, the safer the people in the city will be. The people in the city are all the soldiers' fellow villagers, their parents, wives and children are all here. As long as the city gates open, taking back Hao County will be a piece of cake."

The refined scholar in an indigo robe and a square cap stroked his goatee and said, "General Zhang is absolutely right, but what if Jingshi makes a move while we are attacking the city?"

"That's why we need to race against time."

"When will we be able to take it? Half an hour or an hour?"

"In short, as soon as possible."

The middle-aged cultivator in the Taoist robe shook his head. Such a reckless attack on the city would cause countless casualties, and even if they won in the end, it would still result in widespread suffering. The Taoist's long, flowing beard, exuding an otherworldly aura, returned to its original shape, and his strong, white-and-red fingers slowly touched the table as he picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

General Di asked, "What insightful opinion does Zhang Gaogong have?"

His surname is Zhang.

Wu Tong Lu Xun then raised his eyelids and looked at the Taoist who looked to be in his forties or fifties.

Zhang Mingren put down his teacup, cupped his hands slightly, and said, "Reporting to the General, perhaps we can send a team of extraordinary individuals to infiltrate the city and kill the troublemaker Li Gan. I see that the General is so well-informed, so I think there must be an inside agent in the city. The only thing we lack is a capable army."

General Di smiled and said that what Gao Gong of Longhu Mountain said was absolutely right.

The long-browed monk lowered his head and put his hands together, saying, "Amitabha, Hao City is shrouded in an array. If we rashly sneak in, we will alert the sorcerers of the Jing Shi Society."

It's unclear which expert set up such a powerful array. Although the three families have their own methods, they still have to consider the people in the city.

Zhang Mingren said, "That's why we need to choose."

General Di asked, "In that case, who does Gao Gong think is capable of great responsibility?"

Zhang Mingren considered carefully and said, "The old man of Gushan has a Five Ghosts Transporting Technique that can be used to conceal things. Zha Zhiliu is proficient in a paper doll technique that can deceive the county town's formation."

As he spoke, he pointed with his finger and continued, "The clay bodhisattva behind this Boss Lu is skilled in clay figurine making and can fool people."

Mud Bodhisattva's face turned pale. How could he not recognize the Taoist priest? He was none other than a high-ranking Taoist priest from the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain. He just didn't expect that his origins would be revealed so directly.

He glanced at the ape-like monster sitting upright in front of him, wanting to speak but unsure how to say it. Whether to go or not seemed to be beyond his control.

General Di's dragon-like eyes flew over, brushed past the clay Buddha, and slowly landed on Wutong Lu Xun's face. He asked, "Boss Lu has many capable and righteous men under his command. May I ask how many troops Boss Lu has brought this time?"

Lu Xun said, "One hundred demons, one hundred demon riders, a total of two hundred."

"I heard that Lord Peng of Shoushan sent out invitations and gathered thousands of people, so why did Boss Lu only bring a hundred demon riders?"

The one who asked the question was a middle-aged martial artist wearing a lion-head armor, with a tiger's head and a beast's mouth swallowing his shoulders. He had eyebrows that were parted in the shape of the character "八" (eight), bright eyes, a long and broad face, and was very dignified. He had many waist tokens tied around his waist.

"Commander of the Garrison." The Senior Captain's voice was barely audible.

Lu Xun nodded almost imperceptibly. He had said that the other party's temperament was more like that of a martial artist than a military general. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "The quality of an army is more important than its quantity. A few thousand rabble would only be a burden. My hundred demon riders are all experts. Each one of them could take on ten men in the martial world."

"Ah."

A sneer fell from the upper table.

Lu Xun narrowed his demonic eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.

The one who laughed was a middle-aged military general dressed in magnificent armor. Though he was called a general, he was also nonchalant and disdainful. However, there was something else in his eyes, like a kind of indifference that extended to the crows in the house: "Mountain spirits and monsters, what do they know about the martial world? A hundred monsters dare to be so audacious as to call themselves an army. Could it be that they want to rebel?"

Tiger King Tai Sui was furious and about to step forward, but Bear Mountain Lord stared at the middle-aged man with his bear-like eyes, clenching his fists. White-haired ape claws rose to block Tiger King Tai Sui, calming Bear Mountain Lord down, and Lu Xun said indifferently, "May I ask who you are?"

“Xue Gaoqiu, Commandant of Jiujiang Commandery.”

"Commander Xue".

A lukewarm voice slammed down from the command desk, and General Di stared coldly at him.

Xue Gaoqiu then restrained himself. He simply couldn't stand monsters, especially since he himself had been persecuted by them. If it weren't for the monsters, his brother-in-law's family wouldn't have died so tragically, and his money-making schemes wouldn't have been cut off. The thought still pained him, so he was even less likely to give monsters a friendly look.

General Di said, "Boss Lu, your demon cavalry will be placed under the command of General Sui Yanshi, and you will be given the title of 'Captain'."

"Entering the city to behead someone requires highly skilled and decisive individuals. It's best not to have too many. I think the Commander should select two captains from the Earth Bureau, and the three families and various heretics should each send four more. Including these three, that makes a total of nine, three per team."

"Commander Lu, you can go and transfer your troops to the main army. Find the quartermaster for weapons and provisions."

Lu Xun clasped his hands in a fist salute, stood up, and the group prepared to leave.

Only Mud Bodhisattva remained in the tent. It wasn't that he didn't want to leave, but he simply couldn't. He had no choice but to stop and call out to Wutong Lu Xun, "Your Majesty..." His voice was full of genuine emotion.

Lu Xun paused, patted the Mud Buddha on the shoulder, and lowered his voice: "Stay close to the captain."

He was leading his demon cavalry outside and couldn't provide timely support to Mud Bodhisattva. However, Lu Xun felt that the commander of Danfan Garrison was knowledgeable in military affairs, and this time the selection would definitely be a captain, namely Gao Qingzhi. Mud Bodhisattva would be much safer following Gao Qingzhi.

The clay Buddha nodded.

……

"Your Majesty."

Shoushan Gong hurried forward and immediately saw that Qingshan Niangniang had an icy expression, Huwei Taisui was baring his teeth and looking furious, Xiongshan Jun had a gloomy face, and only the little fox Xin Hongyu could not hide her excitement.

Weren't they all eager to go? Why are they all coming back looking so dejected?

Hey?
It's a clay Buddha.

One is still missing.

Shoushan Gong asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Lu Xun dismounted and handed the reins of Benlei to Bai Pi.

"Have a meal!"

(End of this chapter)