Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Zhang Kui frowned slightly in front of the central command tent.

The two guards, each holding a halberd, bowed respectfully, but the wariness in their eyes was clearly visible.

Something is wrong!

Yesterday he was discussing strategies to defeat the enemy with Zhang Guifang and Feng Lin in the tent, but today he even needs to be informed before entering and leaving?

"General Fenglin is discussing important matters with the Commander-in-Chief. Please wait a moment, General Zhang." The guard on the left spoke again, his voice polite, but his grip on the halberd tightened.

Zhang Kui's gaze swept over the two, and his divine sense, at the Xuanxian realm, spread silently like a tide. The next moment, he felt a chill—the central command tent was shrouded in a layer of restrictions, isolating it from the outside world, and not even a sound could escape.

"Who are they guarding against?" Zhang Kui sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm. "Fine, I'll wait here."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze seemingly casually fixed on the distant camp, but in reality, he had already subtly activated the "Great Yin-Yang Void-Penetrating True Eye." A golden light shone deep within the pupil of his left eye, while a silver glow flickered in his right eye, and the patterns of the restriction were clearly visible in his eyes.

" "Crude technique..." Zhang Kui judged in his heart, "It seems to be Feng Lin's work. If I really want to force my way in, I am at least 90% sure I won't alert the one who set up the formation."

But he didn't do that.

The hostility had already been revealed; to act rashly now would be to err. Zhang Kui composed himself and simply waited quietly.

About half an incense stick later, the curtain was lifted.

Feng Lin came out.

In the instant their eyes met, Zhang Kui keenly caught a fleeting glimpse of panic and a strange hostility in Feng Lin's eyes.

"General Zhang," Feng Lin cupped his hands in greeting, his tone stiff, "the commander-in-chief requests your presence."

After saying this, he left in a hurry without waiting for Zhang Kui's response.

Watching Feng Lin's retreating figure, Zhang Kui's eyes flashed with a cold light. He then turned around, lifted the curtain, and entered the tent.

Inside the tent, Zhang Guifang sat in the main seat, one hand pressed to his forehead, looking exhausted. Seeing Zhang Kui enter, he forced a smile: "General Zhang Kui, please sit."

After Zhang Kui sat down, he calmly looked at Zhang Guifang and said, "General, I have come to inquire about our army's next steps. Xiqi has raised the 'no-war' sign; is this an opportunity to besiege the city, or is there another plan?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang fell silent; the only sound in the tent was the crackling of burning charcoal in the brazier.

Finally, Zhang Guifang raised her head, her eyes bloodshot: "General Zhang Kui, the army's food supplies... only last for a little over a month."

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow.

"Therefore," Zhang Guifang's voice was somewhat hoarse, "I intend to order you to return to the rear to oversee the transport of provisions to relieve the army's predicament. This matter concerns the life and death of the entire army, and only a capable person like you can handle it."

After he finished speaking, the tent fell silent once more.

Zhang Kui laughed, his laughter carrying three parts sarcasm, three parts understanding, and four parts anger.

"General," he spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly, "I have come to Xiqi on the orders of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong to help you defeat the enemy."

He stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Xiqi has not yet been conquered, and the enemy's strength has not diminished, yet you want me to transport grain? Zhang Guifang, do you not trust me, or do you not trust the Grand Tutor?"

"Zhang Kui!" Zhang Guifang stood up abruptly, her face ashen. "This is a military order."

"A military order?" Zhang Kui sneered. "Fine, since it's a military order, then please provide the document. Although I, Zhang Kui, am a rough man, I know that military orders are as weighty as mountains. As long as I see a document stamped with the commander's seal, I will set off immediately without a second thought."

These words are a direct attack on the heart.

Zhang Guifang's chest heaved violently, clearly furious, but strangely, he didn't lash out immediately. Instead, he stared intently at Zhang Kui, his expression complex and unreadable.

After a long while, he slumped back into his chair.

"Zhang Kui," his voice suddenly turned low, "what do you think of the King?"

Zhang Kui's pupils constricted slightly.

This question came somewhat abruptly, but he did not avoid it.

"Our king," Zhang Kui said, word by word, "in his youth, he certainly possessed a heroic and martial appearance, was skilled in archery and horsemanship, and could be described as a great ruler of his time."

Then he changed the subject, his tone turning cold: "But in recent years, he has favored wicked concubines, persecuted loyal officials, built the Deer Terrace, set up the torture device of burning alive, dissected the heart of Bi Gan, and imprisoned the body of Xi Bo... If I were to go against my conscience and call him a wise ruler for such actions, then I, Zhang Kui, would be far too shameless."

He looked directly at Zhang Guifang and uttered eight words: "It's not an exaggeration to say that he doesn't look like a ruler."

"Watch your words!" Zhang Guifang shouted sharply, but her voice carried a hint of helplessness, as if it were... an instinctive reaction.

Zhang Kui laughed, his laughter full of mockery: "Zhang Guifang, you seem to have forgotten that you were the one who asked first. For a subject to criticize his ruler is disloyal—shouldn't you also tell yourself this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

He stared blankly at Zhang Kui, his lips moved, and his voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, "Yes, and so am I..."

Silence fell inside the tent.

Looking at his comrade-in-arms who had fought alongside him on the front lines in Beihai, Zhang Kui said loudly, "Since the general has issued the 'military order,' please send the document immediately. Once I have the document, I will leave right away."

As the curtain was lifted, sunlight streamed in from outside.

Just then, Zhang Guifang's voice rang out again, "Zhang Kui, do you and Nezha... have a past?"

Zhang Kui's hand stopped on the curtain.

With his back to Zhang Guifang, a look of understanding crossed his face. So that's how it is; it seems his meeting with Nezha last night has been discovered.

Zhang Kui's hand stopped on the curtain.

With his back to Zhang Guifang, a look of understanding crossed his face. So that's how it is; it seems his meeting with Nezha last night has been discovered.

"That's right," Zhang Kui said frankly, "Nezha and I have a life-or-death bond; we once fought side by side against the enemy."

He turned around, his eyes clear: "Zhang Guifang, if you suspect me of treason because of this, then please produce evidence. If you can't, then please remember this—I, Zhang Kui, act with integrity and uprightness, and who I befriend is my own business."

Zhang Guifang looked at him for a long time before slowly saying, "I understand."

He paused, then said something that surprised Zhang Kui:

"Also... thank you."

Thanks?

Zhang Kui frowned slightly, then suddenly realized—his words had revealed a fact that Zhang Guifang dared not, did not want to, but had to face.

In fact, he had already figured it out, but he just didn't want to admit it.

"No need to thank me," Zhang Kui shook his head, "I was just telling the truth. Zhang Guifang, you'd better watch yourself."

He didn't linger any longer and lifted the curtain to go outside.

The sun shone brightly outside the tent, but a gloomy atmosphere hung over Zhang Kui's heart.

Before long, a personal guard delivered a military order written by Zhang Guifang. Zhang Kui took it and glanced at it—it was indeed stamped with the seal of the Marshal of the Expedition, ordering him to "immediately go to Mengjin to supervise the transport of three months' worth of provisions to the front line of Xiqi, without any mistakes."

"Mengjin..." Zhang Kui sneered, "It takes at least twenty days to transport grain from Mengjin to Xiqi. A round trip, plus preparation time, will take at least two months. Zhang Guifang is determined to transfer me away from the front lines."

But he did not argue.

Since the other party has already become suspicious, forcing them to stay would be counterproductive.

"Very well," Zhang Kui put the documents away, "It's a good opportunity to leave this place of trouble for now."

As he left the camp, Zhang Kui glanced back at the sprawling Shang army camp and then at the Zhou banner fluttering atop the city of Xiqi in the distance, sighing deeply.

……

Three days later, in Xiqi City.

In the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Ziya had just returned, covered in dust from his journey, but his eyes were filled with joy.

"Uncle-Master!" Nezha was the first to greet him. "Was the trip to Kunlun Mountain successful?"

Jiang Ziya nodded with a smile: "The Heavenly Venerable has granted my request, and fellow disciples will be arriving to assist me soon. Furthermore..."

He took out a small apricot-yellow flag from his bosom. The flag was no bigger than the palm of his hand, but it faintly shimmered with auspicious light, and a vast aura of righteousness and peace emanated from it.

"This is..." Nezha's pupils contracted.

"The Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner," Jiang Ziya said solemnly, "is one of the Five Primordial Banners bestowed by my master. With this banner in hand, one can be invincible, and no matter what kind of name-calling or horse-dismounting technique he uses, it will be difficult to harm him in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the hall were invigorated.

Just then, a scout reported: "Reporting to the Prime Minister, there has been a disturbance at the Shang army camp. It is understood that Zhang Kui left the camp three days ago and went east to Mengjin to oversee the transport of grain."

"What?" Jiang Ziya was taken aback.

Jiang Ziya frowned slightly. "Zhang Kui is an unfathomable man. His sudden departure may not mean he's really gone. Send the order to all departments to strengthen their defenses and be wary of any tricks by the Shang army."

"Yes!" the generals replied.

After everyone had left, Nezha stood alone in the hall, gazing into the distance...