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

The cold winds of the north were left far behind, and the further south one went, the less chilly the atmosphere became.

Three hundred Xuanjia personal guards, like a silent black torrent, surrounded their commander, their hooves thundering and shattering the silence of the official road. Wu Wenzhong, carrying his specially made huge wolf-tooth club, walked at a pace that was in no way inferior to a galloping horse, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly, causing the people along the way to flee in fear.

On this day, they arrived at the Yanshan region.

The mountains rise and fall, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the sky suddenly turns gloomy. Thick dark clouds gather from all directions, and the air is filled with the damp, earthy smell of an impending mountain rain.

"General, judging from the sky, a heavy rain is likely on the way," a captain of the personal guards beside him said in a deep voice, looking up at the sky.

Zhang Kui reined in the one-horned black smoke beast. The beast snorted, exhaling wisps of black smoke, its snow-white fur under its hooves standing out starkly in the dim light. He looked up and saw low-hanging clouds, flashes of lightning, and the faint rumble of thunder rolling across the sky.

"Hmm, the weather is extraordinary, not an ordinary rain cloud." Zhang Kui nodded slightly. He was already a Celestial Immortal, and his senses of the energy of heaven and earth were keen. He could sense that the rain clouds contained an extraordinary power of thunder, and he could also vaguely feel a weak but full of vitality and sharpness of spiritual energy being conceived and flourishing somewhere in the mountains.

As he was pondering, the scout who had been exploring ahead galloped back: "General, we have spotted a group of about a hundred men guarding a carriage by the mountain road ahead. They seem to be the carriage of a nobleman. They have stopped and formed ranks as the weather is changing, and they appear to be taking shelter from the rain."

"Oh, do you know who this important person is?" Zhang Kui asked.

"The enemy is on high alert, and we haven't been able to get close enough to ask questions, but judging from their flags and regalia, they seem to be... from Xiqi," the scout reported.

"Could it be Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo?" Zhang Kui's heart skipped a beat. Judging by the time, if the imperial edict from Chaoge had already been issued, this old marquis should indeed be on his way to the capital. He never expected to encounter him here.

Just then, a thunderous explosion rang out in the sky.

Click!

A blinding bolt of lightning tore through the sky and struck the mountain hollow not far ahead, shaking the earth. Immediately afterward, a torrential downpour began, instantly blurring visibility.

Almost at the same time as the thunder roared, Zhang Kui clearly felt the nascent spiritual energy suddenly erupt, becoming incredibly clear—a pure yet domineering aura of thunder, mixed with the vitality of new life.

"General?" The guards looked at Zhang Kui, awaiting instructions.

"Go, let's go forward and take a look. Conceal your killing intent, and do not move without my order," Zhang Kui commanded. The three hundred iron cavalry immediately slowed down, maintained their disciplined formation, and approached the group of people ahead.

……

On the other side, the guards of Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, had just experienced a false alarm. A deafening clap of thunder had exploded nearby, startling the horses pulling the carriage. Just after the thunder subsided, through the rain, the faint sound of a baby crying could be heard.

Ji Chang was skilled in divination and had already foreseen that this journey would be accompanied by rain and thunder, and even vaguely sensed a predestined connection to it. Filled with apprehension, he ordered his guards to search for the source of the sound. Sure enough, under an ancient pine tree, they found an infant in swaddling clothes. The child, seemingly unafraid of the thunderstorm, cried loudly, and strangely enough, faint flashes of lightning surrounded it.

Ji Chang was shocked, realizing this young man was no ordinary person. Just as he was wondering about this, he suddenly heard a deep and oppressive sound of hooves coming from afar. The sound was uniform, like the beating of war drums, piercing through the rain, clearly indicating that an extremely elite cavalry force was rapidly approaching.

"On alert! Form ranks and protect the Marquis!" The head guard's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly.

Dozens of Xiqi guards immediately retreated, drew their swords and spears, and quickly formed a circular formation, firmly protecting Ji Chang's carriage in the center. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

The sudden appearance of such a large number of elite cavalry in this desolate wilderness could not help but make them wary.

The sound of hooves grew closer, like heavy drumbeats striking everyone's hearts. The rain was forcibly torn apart, and a cavalry unit entirely clad in black appeared in the sight of the Xiqi people.

Dark armor, dark cloaks, even the warhorses were clad in black horse armor, creating a scene resembling a moving steel jungle, exuding a chilling aura. The leading general was even more imposing, clad in a dark dragon-scale armor, the dragon carving on the breastplate lifelike, his gaze sharp as lightning beneath the dragon-headed helmet, and the one-horned beast beneath him adding to his fierce and mysterious presence.

The oppressive feeling emanating from this group was far beyond that of ordinary mountain bandits and brigands, even surpassing that of many elite Shang Dynasty warriors they had ever encountered.

Just as the Xiqi guards' palms were sweating, almost unable to resist launching a preemptive strike, the leading black-armored general raised his hand to stop the troops. His gaze swept over the Xiqi circular formation, which stood ready for battle, and finally landed on the carriage tightly guarded in the center. His loud voice pierced through the rain and came clearly:

"Is that the carriage ahead the Marquis of Xibo?" The voice was calm and powerful, without any malice.

Upon hearing this, Ji Chang, who was in the camp, felt somewhat relieved. He gestured to his guards to remain calm and then called out from inside the carriage, "I am indeed Ji Chang. May I ask who the general is?"

The black-armored general bowed slightly atop the black-smoke beast: "This humble general is Zhang Kui, currently serving as the rear army commander of the Beihai rebellion suppression army. I was ordered by Grand Tutor Wen to return to Chaoge on official business. Encountering a rainstorm on the way, I heard some commotion here and came to investigate. I did not intend to disturb Your Excellency; please forgive me."

"Zhang Kui, under Grand Tutor Wen?" Ji Chang had obviously heard of this name before. In recent years, Zhang Kui of Beihai had become quite well-known for his military achievements and cultivation. He felt somewhat relieved and ordered the guards to lower their guard. "So it's General Zhang. I've long admired you. The weather is bad. If you don't mind, General, we can take shelter together."

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Zhang Kui nodded and dismounted from the black smoke beast. He instructed, "Wen Zhong, take the brothers and set up camp to the side to avoid the rain. Do not disturb Your Excellency's carriage."

"Yes, General!" Wu Wenzhong replied in a deep voice, and immediately directed his three hundred personal guards to swiftly and silently set up a simple camp on the nearby high ground. Their actions were so disciplined that the Xiqi guards were secretly amazed, as the elite level of this force was beyond their imagination.

Zhang Kui strode towards Ji Chang's carriage. The guards made way for him, but their eyes remained wary. As he approached, Zhang Kui's gaze inadvertently swept over the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes in Ji Chang's arms. The infant stood out, especially the faint trace of lightning spirit power still lingering around the child, which made him realize what was going on.

"My lord, who is this child?" Zhang Kui asked, feigning ignorance.

Ji Chang sighed and recounted how the boy was discovered after the thunderclap, lamenting, "The boy's appearance is strange, it even attracted heavenly thunder. I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse."

Zhang Kui smiled slightly and said, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Just now, amidst the thunder, I also sensed a pure thunder spirit and a burst of vitality. This child is extraordinary. His birth in the thunderstorm and his meeting with you, my lord, is a divinely ordained destiny. In my opinion, it is not a calamity, but rather an auspicious sign of a 'general star' descending to earth."

"A general?" Upon hearing this, Ji Chang carefully examined the infant in his arms. Seeing the heroic spirit between the child's brows and hearing the loud cry, he couldn't help but believe it a little, and his worries lessened. "If it is truly as the general says, then Heaven has taken pity on us. But... I wonder about his origins?"

"The workings of heaven and earth are mysterious and extraordinary. Since this child is destined to be with you, my lord, it must be the will of heaven. You might as well adopt him first, and when he grows up, the truth will be revealed." At this moment, Zhang Kui was 100% certain that this child was the future Lei Zhenzi.

Ji Chang pondered for a moment, then nodded: "General, what you say makes sense. In that case, I will accept this child; he will be my hundredth son." He looked down at the infant, his eyes filled with affection, "Since the child was born after the thunderclap, let us name him 'Lei Zhenzi' (Thunderclap Child)."

By this time, the guards had already set up camp and lit a campfire. Zhang Kui invited Ji Chang to move into the tent to avoid the rain and have a detailed discussion.

Inside the tent, the flickering firelight dispelled the chill and dampness of the rainy day. The two men sat down as host and guest, with Ji Chang holding his newly acquired Lei Zhenzi.

"General Zhang's return to the court this time, is it because of the court..." Ji Chang hesitated, his expression solemn.

Zhang Kui's expression turned solemn, and he nodded, saying, "Your Excellency must have heard about the recent situation in Chaoge. The Grand Tutor is far away in the North Sea, and is extremely worried. He has specially ordered me to return first to meet with His Majesty, explain the situation, and hope to stabilize the court."

Ji Chang sighed deeply, his face filled with worry for the country and its people: "A bewitching concubine has bewitched the emperor, loyal officials have been wronged, the court is in chaos, and the people are uneasy... I myself am filled with trepidation upon being summoned to court this time. I wonder what good strategies the Grand Tutor has?"

Zhang Kui then summarized Wen Zhong's ten pieces of advice, saying in a low voice, "The Grand Tutor's primary intention is to advise the King to stay away from evil spirits, abolish cruel punishments, and appease the hearts of his subjects. Only with a stable court can the Beihai army be free from worries about the rear, quell the rebellion as soon as possible, and return to the capital in triumph."

After listening, Ji Chang remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Grand Tutor, you are a wise and experienced strategist, and your words are all invaluable advice. However... His Majesty is now... Alas, I fear that even wise words cannot sway him. General, your journey is arduous and far-reaching; please proceed with extreme caution."

"This subordinate understands," Zhang Kui said in a deep voice. "Even if there are countless difficulties, we should do our best. Your Excellency is highly respected and we hope that you will work together with us to support the country during your visit to the court."

"Of course," Ji Chang solemnly promised. "As long as it benefits the country and its people, I will not shirk my duty."

In the turbulent Yanshan camp, the two conversed in hushed tones for a long time about the situation in Chaoge and the general trend of the world, finding themselves increasingly compatible. Zhang Kui discovered that Ji Chang was indeed as benevolent and wise as in history, with a heart for the common people; while Ji Chang also felt that although Zhang Kui came from a military background, he was insightful, had a deep understanding of the world, and was upright and honest, certainly not a sycophant.

Before we knew it, the rain stopped, the clouds dispersed, and the sky brightened again.

"The rain has stopped." Zhang Kui stood up. "My lord, since we're going the same way, why don't we travel together and look after each other?"

Ji Chang readily agreed: "That would be excellent."

The two groups joined together and continued their march towards Chaoge. Zhang Kui's three hundred Xuanjia cavalry led the way, the Xiqi chariots were in the middle, and Wu Wenzhong carried a giant club at the rear. The procession, in a grand and imposing manner, emerged from the Yanshan Mountains.

Just outside the mountain pass, the official road became flat and wide. Not far ahead, a Taoist priest stood quietly by the roadside, as if he had been waiting there for a long time.

The Taoist priest wore a cloud-patterned crown, a flowing robe, a silk sash around his waist, and hemp shoes. He was handsome and had an unusual appearance, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance. His clear eyes smiled as he watched the approaching procession, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo… and the infant he held in his arms.

Zhang Kui's eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand to stop the group.

This person is no ordinary individual...