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

The rear army of the Yin Shang dynasty, the grand tent of Chong Houhu.

Ever since the last meeting of the Central Army, Marquis Chonghouhu of the North has held a grudge against Zhang Kui, especially since Zhang Kui has not come to pay a visit to his superior since taking office.

Inside the command tent, the charcoal brazier crackled and popped, but it couldn't dispel the chill and resentment in his heart. His son, Chong Yingbiao, stood by, his face showing no attempt to conceal his venom.

"Father! What is Zhang Kui? He's just a brute who got lucky and gained Grand Tutor Wen's trust, and now he dares to climb over us. The position of Grand Grain Commissioner should have been mine, but now he not only controls the logistics, but he's also shown off in front of the Grand Tutor, making those so-called shortbreads and stealing all the limelight." Chong Yingbiao gritted his teeth, his voice trembling slightly with anger.

Chong Houhu slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at his son, and sneered, "Shut up! You good-for-nothing! If it weren't for your previous incompetence and repeated delays in supplying provisions, how could anyone have seized on this lucrative and merit-earning position? What good is it to roar in front of me now?"

Chong Yingbiao shrank back after being rebuked, but he was still unwilling: "Are we just going to let it go like this? The war is going to drag on. If he makes any more contributions, will there be any place for my son and me in the army? That old man Wen Zhong is clearly trying to use him to keep us in check."

"Hmph, forget it?"

A sinister glint flashed in Chong Houhu's eyes as he lightly tapped his knuckles on the cold table. "It's not that easy. Wen Zhong values ​​him only because he has some brute strength and happened to have made those marching pastries, which are advantageous to the current battle. But what if... he suddenly dies? Or what if he commits an unforgivable mistake, such as... losing crucial supplies and weapons?"

Chong Yingbiao's eyes lit up: "What does Father mean?"

Chong Houhu revealed a cruel and cold smile: "With a major battle imminent, the mobilization of troops and the transport of supplies are inherently dangerous matters. I have decided to order Zhang Kui to personally escort a batch of emergency supplies and a stockpile of armor-piercing crossbows through the treacherous snowfields where enemy activity is unclear, to Zhang Guifang's location in the Left Army. This journey is long and will pass through several areas where rebel activity is frequent..."

Chong Yingbiao immediately realized what was happening and excitedly said, "Father is wise! I will make arrangements immediately to have my trusted confidants secretly leak the marching route and schedule of this supply convoy to Yuan Futong, ensuring that they will have an 'unexpected' encounter."

"That alone may not be enough," Chong Houhu said thoughtfully, his eyes flashing. "Zhang Kui is no ordinary man, having earned Wen Zhong's favor. Ordinary rebel soldiers might not be able to capture him. We need to add another layer of protection to ensure he never returns."

He pondered for a moment, a hint of heartache and determination flashing in his eyes, and ordered the guards outside the tent: "Go, take my token and secretly invite Immortal Qiu Yin over for a chat. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with you, concerning a great destiny for 100,000 souls."

About an incense stick's time later, the tent flap stirred slightly, and a chilling aura quietly seeped in. Qiu Yin, wearing a golden headband and resembling a wandering ascetic, had silently appeared in the tent. The red light above his head flickered slightly, making his indifferent face even more eerie.

"What brings you here, Marquis of Bei?" Qiu Yin's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying an inhuman coldness. His gaze swept over Chong Yingbiao, who immediately felt a chill rise up his spine and subconsciously lowered his head, not daring to look directly at him.

Chong Houhu waved for Chong Yingbiao to leave, leaving only himself and Qiu Yin in the tent. He put on a warm smile and personally poured Qiu Yin a cup of hot wine: "Immortal Qiu Yin, please sit down. I apologize for inviting you here, Immortal, because I have a deal I would like to discuss with you."

Qiu Yin did not touch the wine cup, but looked at him coldly: "My lord, please speak plainly. I do not like beating around the bush."

"Immortal Master, you speak frankly!" Chong Houhu put down his wine jug, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice, "I've heard that you are currently refining a 'Soul-Capturing Crimson Pearl.' This treasure is incredibly powerful, but to reach its full potential, it requires a massive amount of living souls to nourish it, especially the living souls of cultivators or powerful warriors as a catalyst. Is that true?"

A glint of interest flashed in Qiu Yin's eyes: "Oh? Your information network is quite impressive, Lord Marquis. Indeed, this is true. This is also the reason I came to this bitterly cold land of the North Sea."

On the battlefield, there is no shortage of dead, but the large-scale collection of living souls, especially powerful ones, is easy to violate taboos. Although Wen Zhong is also a member of the Jie Sect, military law is strict and he will never tolerate Qiu Yin's reckless behavior.

Chong Houhu's smile widened, but it carried a hint of ruthlessness: "This Marquis can lend you a hand, Immortal Master. An opportunity is right now: not only can we obtain the living souls of a large number of elite soldiers, but also the soul of a general with considerable cultivation, which can be used as our main soul!"

"Conditions," Qiu said succinctly.

"Help me kill someone." Chong Houhu's tone turned cold. "Zhang Kui, the rear army's grain supply officer!"

Qiu Yin frowned slightly: "Zhang Kui? The one Wen Zhongxin promoted? It's said he has some Wu clan blood and is quite strong. Killing him wouldn't be difficult, but why do I have to do it? Does the Marquis have no one else to rely on?"

"This boy is quite eccentric. To ensure everything goes smoothly, we need someone with such great supernatural powers as the Immortal Master to handle this," Chong Houhu flattered, then continued, "He will be ordered to escort a batch of provisions and weapons to the Left Army. At that time, the rebels will receive the news and go to intercept and kill him. The Immortal Master only needs to remain hidden in the shadows, waiting until they are both exhausted, or when Zhang Kui is worn out, then strike swiftly and kill him, and collect all his souls. At that time, the battlefield will be in chaos, and there will be no way to prove the death; it will all be blamed on the rebels. After the deed is done, I will offer you a great gift, and I promise that in future battles in the Northern Border, any captured rebels will be given priority for the Immortal Master to extract their souls, until we reach a total of one hundred thousand!"

Upon hearing the promise of "100,000 living souls" and priority supply for prisoners, the red light above Qiu Yin's head brightened noticeably, clearly indicating his strong desire. His cultivation path was inherently unorthodox, requiring a large number of living souls, and the conditions offered by Chong Houhu were hard for him to refuse. As for Zhang Kui, a young general who had just switched to Xuanmen cultivation techniques, he didn't even consider him a threat.

"Location and time," Qiu Yin uttered.

Chong Houhu knew that the other party had agreed, and he was relieved. He immediately informed Qiu Yin of the planned route and departure time for Zhang Kui's escort team.

After a brief private discussion, Qiu Yin transformed into a faint, ethereal breeze and quietly departed.

After seeing Qiu Yin off, Chong Houhu revealed a savage grin, clearly confident of victory: "Zhang Kui, Zhang Kui, let's see if you survive this time!"

The following morning, Chong Houhu summoned Zhang Kui to the rear army's main tent under the pretext of discussing military affairs.

Zhang Kui stepped into the tent, and Chong Houhu, with a warm smile on his face, took the initiative to rise and greet him: "General Zhang has arrived, please have a seat. During the previous military meeting, you were highly trusted by the Grand Tutor and entrusted with important responsibilities. I am also very honored."

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Kui's mind. Why was this old guy being so overly solicitous? What was he up to?

He remained expressionless, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Your Excellency flatters me. I was merely fulfilling my duty. May I ask what brings you here?"

Chong Houhu sighed, waved his hand, and feigned magnanimity, saying, "Alas, it is shameful to say. Ying Biao was young and impetuous, and quite unruly. I have already reprimanded him severely. We are both serving the Grand Tutor in the army, so we should value harmony and prioritize national affairs. I hope General Zhang will not take it to heart."

Zhang Kui's eyes flickered slightly as he watched Chong Houhu's performance. Something was definitely amiss; this old fox's sudden show of goodwill was surely suspicious. He said calmly, "Your Excellency is too kind. I have not taken the young marquis's matter to heart. We both serve the court and should naturally work together."

"Excellent! General Zhang is indeed a man of great integrity." Chong Houhu clapped his hands and laughed, seemingly very pleased. "In that case, I happen to have an important military matter here, which only a capable man like General Zhang can handle."

He walked to the military map and pointed to a treacherous canyon: "Zhang Guifang's left wing is advancing rapidly, and the heavy crossbows they carry have suffered heavy losses and urgently need replenishment. At the same time, their food supplies are also being consumed very quickly. However, the wind and snow here are extremely severe, and small groups of rebel troops are frequently active. I am really worried about sending ordinary generals to escort them. After much thought, only General Zhang, with his superb martial arts skills and extraordinary courage, can undertake this important task."

He turned around and looked at Zhang Kui with "earnest" eyes: "I order you to immediately gather eight thousand strong and capable laborers, accompanied by one thousand guards, to escort three hundred armor-piercing heavy crossbows and enough provisions for the Left Army for ten days. You must deliver these supplies to General Zhang Guifang within seven days, passing through Black Wind Gorge. This matter concerns the overall situation; the military situation is urgent and cannot be compromised. Can you, General, accomplish this?"

Black Wind Gorge? Zhang Kui understood.

The terrain there was complex, and enemy forces were active. Chong Houhu deliberately sent him down this route; his intentions were despicable. His claim that he was indispensable was clearly a ploy to use someone else to do his dirty work.

He looked up, meeting Chong Houhu's seemingly sincere yet murderous gaze. Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, a hint of arrogance in his smile:

"Rest assured, my lord! I will deliver the provisions and weapons to General Zhang Guifang on schedule. It just so happens that... I have recently made a breakthrough in my cultivation and would like to go to the battlefield to test my skills."

His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he had seen through all of Chong Houhu's schemes, yet he didn't care at all, and was even eager to try.

Chong Houhu felt a sudden unease under that gaze, but quickly suppressed it, dismissing it as Zhang Kui's ignorance and fearlessness. He sneered inwardly, saying, "Very well! Then I wish General Zhang swift success. I await your good news!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Zhang Kui clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around and strode away, his armor clanging as he walked away. His figure appeared exceptionally upright in the light and shadow cast by the falling curtains.

As Chong Houhu watched the direction Zhang Kui disappeared in, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by utter coldness and resentment.

"Let's see how long you can stay arrogant."