Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

The left army camp had a towering gate.

In the biting wind, the camp's defenses stood meticulously, with antlers, trenches, and arrow towers standing tall. Frost clung to the armor of the soldiers on duty, their sharp eyes scanning the vast white snowfield. The continuous high-intensity combat and harsh weather had inevitably taken their toll on this elite force. More importantly, their provisions and heavy crossbow bolts were almost exhausted; without replenishment, even the strongest army would be rendered powerless.

Inside the command tent, Zhang Guifang, the commander of the Left Army, listened to his subordinates report on the situation of each camp, his brows furrowing more and more deeply. Although he was not a Taoist, his martial arts were profound, his qi and blood were condensed to a tangible form, extremely yang and powerful, and his technique of calling out a name and dismounting a horse was invincible, making him a formidable figure in the North Sea.

"General, the rations in each camp are only enough for two days, and the armor-piercing crossbow bolts are almost all gone. Today, three more heavy crossbows broke down due to overuse and urgently need to be repaired by craftsmen, but spare parts are also insufficient," a lieutenant reported with great concern.

Zhang Guifang looked at the map and said in a deep voice, "The rear army's supplies haven't arrived yet? Didn't Chong Houhu send word that the provisions would arrive soon?"

"Reporting to the general, the snowy plains are treacherous, and the rebels and demons are frequently active, making it difficult for the escort team to proceed. There may be delays, or even..." The other general did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was self-evident.

Zhang Guifang snorted coldly: "Chong Houhu, I hope he understands the bigger picture and doesn't try anything funny on this matter." He knew that Chong Houhu was narrow-minded and not on the same page as Grand Tutor Wen, so he was worried that Chong Houhu might withhold or delay the Left Army's provisions.

Just then, a faint commotion arose outside the gate. Immediately afterward, a sentry scrambled over, his voice trembling with excitement: "Report! General, a large contingent of troops and supply wagons has appeared in the distance... Judging by the banners... it's our rear guard escort team, and the leading banner is... 'Zhang'."

"What?" Zhang Guifang jumped to her feet, her face showing surprise for the first time. "They've arrived? Quick, come with me to greet them!"

He strode out of the command tent, followed closely by a group of generals. Climbing the watchtower at the gate, they gazed into the distance and saw a long, black dragon slowly approaching from the edge of the snow-covered plain.

At the head of the procession, a general rode a magnificent black unicorn, wielding a long sword, his figure as upright as a mountain. Behind him were spirited guards, and a vast array of fully loaded grain carts and flatbed wagons specifically for transporting crossbows.

The large flag bearing the character "Zhang" stood out prominently in the wind and snow.

A glint flashed in Zhang Guifang's eyes. Suppressing her excitement, she ordered, "Open the gates to welcome our allies. Notify logistics to prepare for the takeover immediately."

As the procession drew closer, Zhang Kui took the lead and arrived at the gate. He dismounted and saluted Zhang Guifang, who was approaching, saying in a loud voice, "This humble general, Zhang Kui, the Rear Army's Chief of Grain Supply, has come to deliver 300 carts of grain, 300 armor-piercing crossbows, and a number of matching crossbow bolts to the Left Army on the orders of the Marquis of the North. Please inspect them, General Zhang."

Zhang Kui's gaze swept over Zhang Guifang and the generals behind her. They were all in neat military formation, but their brows betrayed their exhaustion and anxiety.

Zhang Guifang strode forward, grabbed Zhang Kui's arm, and carefully examined him. The general before her was covered in dust, and there were even traces of blood and battle on his armor, but his eyes were bright and sharp, and his aura was deep and powerful, clearly indicating that he had been through a fierce battle.

"General, you've worked hard!" Zhang Guifang's tone was filled with undisguised gratitude and admiration. "I've been looking forward to this day and night, and finally you've arrived! The journey has been fraught with danger, yet you've managed to deliver such a large quantity of supplies on time. You are truly a tiger general. This is a timely help, relieving the urgent needs of my Left Army. Please accept my bow." As she spoke, she actually began to bow.

Zhang Kui quickly stepped aside and said sincerely, "General Zhang, you mustn't. This humble general is merely fulfilling his duty and doing what he is supposed to do."

"What a commendable dedication to duty." Zhang Guifang patted Zhang Kui's shoulder heavily, giving him an even higher regard for his humility and sense of responsibility. "Grand Tutor, you truly have a discerning eye. Come, let's talk inside the tent, and the men can hand over the supplies."

He warmly led Zhang Kui into the commander's tent and ordered a banquet to be prepared.

Inside the command tent, the banquet, though not extravagant, was the highest standard ever for the front lines. Zhang Guifang personally poured wine for Zhang Kui, expressing her gratitude once again. The other generals, accompanying him, also toasted Zhang Kui, curiously inquiring about his journey.

Zhang Kui briefly recounted the snowstorm and the harassment by the rebels, but only briefly mentioned the bloody battle against the Xuanlang Demon King in Black Wind Gorge, saying only that they had defeated an ambush force. However, Zhang Guifang was no ordinary person. From the marks on Zhang Kui's armor and the faint bloody aura emanating from his soldiers, he could tell that it was no simple "defeat" but a fierce battle.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Zhang Guifang remarked, "General Zhang Kui is such a talented man, yet he's relegated to the rear guard supervising grain supplies; it's a real waste of his abilities. Why don't I write a letter to the Grand Tutor and have you transferred to my left wing, where you can charge into battle, slay enemy generals, and capture flags? Wouldn't that be exhilarating?"

Zhang Kui smiled slightly, raised his cup and said, "Thank you for your kindness, General. However, since Grand Tutor Wen has entrusted me with the important task of supervising grain supplies, I will certainly do my duty to the utmost. Ensuring the smooth flow of supplies for the army is also very important."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang stopped insisting.

Just as the atmosphere inside the tent was lively, a guard came in to report: "General, Cavalry Captain Zhang Shan has completed his patrol of the camp and is here to report."

"Let him in," Zhang Guifang said casually.

The tent flap was lifted, and a young general, dressed in light armor and looking travel-worn, strode in. He bore a resemblance to Zhang Kui, and was also tall and imposing, with a sharp and capable air about him. His brows held a youthful vigor, and his body was full of vitality, clearly indicating that he was quite skilled in martial arts.

The young general entered the tent and first clasped his hands in greeting to Zhang Guifang: "Reporting to the General, all the patrols in the camps are safe and sound..." Before he could finish speaking, his gaze inadvertently swept over Zhang Kui, who was sitting in the host's seat.

Eyes facing each other.

In an instant, both of them were stunned.

Zhang Kui looked at the face that vaguely resembled his childhood features, yet had matured and become much more resolute, and the wine glass in his hand trembled slightly.

The young general stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn't utter a sound.

The generals inside the tent all sensed the strange atmosphere and fell silent, looking at the two men with suspicion.

Zhang Guifang also noticed something amiss and asked curiously, "Zhang Shan, do you... know General Zhang?"

The young general named Zhang Shan suddenly snapped out of his daze, his voice hoarse with excitement. He looked at Zhang Kui and almost shouted, "Brother! Is that you?"

The word "Brother" exploded in Zhang Kui's heart like a thunderclap. He jumped to his feet, his eyes filled with excitement and disbelief: "Second Brother! You're Shanzi?"

"It's me, brother." Zhang Shan could no longer hold back and rushed forward, the two brothers embracing tightly.

The people inside the tent suddenly realized what was going on.

Zhang Guifang was taken aback at first, then clapped his hands and laughed: "Hahaha! Wonderful! So General Zhang Kui and Zhang Shan are brothers. Quickly, prepare a seat for Zhang Shan, place it next to his elder brother."

Zhang Kui's heart was surging, and his voice trembled slightly: "Shanzi, is it really you... You've grown up and become strong. How did you get here? Where's Mother? How is she?" A series of questions brought out Zhang Kui's long-suppressed worries.

Zhang Shan calmed himself down and quickly said, "Brother, don't worry, everything is fine at home. Mother has always been in good health, and the money you left is enough for her to live comfortably. It's just that she can't stay idle and goes up the mountain to gather herbs every few days."

Hearing that his mother was well, Zhang Kui smiled and said, "Mother, you're still the same..."

Zhang Shan continued, "And there's more, brother! Four years ago, Mother rented a small shop in Mianchi County and opened a pharmacy called 'Jishantang'. Business was pretty good. She hired four or five assistants and maids to help with dispensing and drying medicine. Mother herself would occasionally sit in the clinic and treat minor ailments for the neighbors."

"Open a pharmacy?" Zhang Kui was very surprised. He knew his mother was knowledgeable in pharmacology, but because his family was not well-off, she usually just helped the neighbors with their medical needs.

"Yes." Zhang Shan nodded vigorously. "I joined the army four years ago. At that time, my family was doing well, and my mother had settled down, so I thought I would go out and make a name for myself. At first, I was in the local garrison, but later, because of my decent performance, I was transferred to the northern frontier. After going around in circles, I finally came to General Zhang's command a year ago and became a cavalry captain."

Speaking of his cultivation, Zhang Shan revealed a hint of pride: "I have not dared to slack off over the years, and have been practicing military martial arts. I have successively broken through the Body Tempering Realm and the Tendon Changing Realm, and now I have reached the Wolf Smoke Realm, and have initially mastered the method of Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke."

Zhang Kui looked at his younger brother and remembered the boy who used to follow him around, clamoring to learn how to hunt. He smiled and said, "You must serve diligently under General Zhang and obey orders."

"Brother, I will." Zhang Shan nodded emphatically.

The two brothers looked at each other and smiled, and the generals in the tent raised their cups in celebration, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Guifang was also deeply moved and said with a smile, "Come on, everyone, drink this cup to the brim."