Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Qinglong Pass is a strategic pass that stands between two mountains.

The setting sun cast a dark golden glow on this majestic pass. The city walls, over ten zhang high, were entirely constructed of massive, bluish-gray stones, their surfaces bearing the mottled marks of time and war. Arrow towers stood in rows, one every thirty paces, their peaks teeming with figures and archers poised for action.

Zhang Kui rode on the back of the Bixie, carefully examining the renowned pass.

"My lord, this humble general will go and knock on the gate." Wu Wenhua clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and asked for permission.

Zhang Kui nodded: "Go ahead, follow the proper etiquette."

Wu Wenhua spurred his horse forward, reined it in a hundred paces from the city gate, took a deep breath, and spoke in a booming voice:

"Listen up, soldiers on the city wall! Zhang Kui, the deputy commander of the Western Expedition, has been ordered by the king to lead his troops to Xiqi to quell the rebellion. He is passing through Qinglong Pass and wishes to use the passage. Please open the city gate immediately."

The sound echoed through the canyon, startling several birds into flight.

A commotion broke out on the city wall.

Several faces peeked out from behind the arrow sacks, and some soldiers whispered among themselves:

"Zhang Kui? Is that General Zhang who single-handedly fought four Golden Immortals on the battlefield of Xiqi?"

"I've heard he's burly and strong, resembling a demon, and a ruthless killer..."

Amidst the murmurs, an officer leaned out, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and called out loudly, "General Zhang, please wait a moment. I will inform General Qiu Yin immediately!"

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Zhang Kui waited quietly below the pass, his mind preoccupied with the name "Qiu Yin".

He had met this man several times on the front lines in Beihai. Qiu Yin was a disciple of the Jie Sect, an extraordinary person who had attained enlightenment, and possessed profound cultivation. Hidden within the red light above his head was his natal red pearl, which could capture people's souls.

"I never expected him to become the garrison commander of Qinglong Pass..." Zhang Kui mused.

About half an incense stick later, the sound of mechanisms turning came from inside the city gate.

The heavy iron gates of the city slowly opened inward with a deep rumble. Behind the gates stood a hundred-man ceremonial guard, their helmets and armor gleaming, banners fluttering. Leading the procession, a man on a white horse, clad in golden armor, was none other than Qiu Yin.

Compared to his time in Beihai, Qiu Yin had changed considerably. His once somewhat sinister face was now plastered with smiles, but a hint of barely perceptible tension lurked in his eyes. Behind him, banners fluttered, bearing the inscription "Great General of Divine Might"—an official title bestowed by King Zhou himself, a rank comparable to that of a regional lord.

"General Zhang! It's been a long time!" Qiu Yin dismounted and strode forward, bowing deeply with clasped hands. "This humble general, Qiu Yin, respectfully welcomes General Zhang into the pass!"

Zhang Kui dismounted and returned the greeting, saying, "General Qiu, you are too kind. I am on a western expedition and am passing through your pass. I apologize for the inconvenience."

"How dare I!" Qiu Yin waved his hands repeatedly. "General's reputation is renowned far and wide. It is truly an honor for Qinglong Pass to welcome you into the pass today. Please, please come in!"

After saying this, he stepped aside to lead the way, his posture so respectful it bordered on humility.

Zhang Kui's heart stirred slightly.

That's too enthusiastic.

He had no close relationship with Qiu Yin; they were merely casual acquaintances who discussed matters together in the North Sea. Although he had been promoted to deputy commander of the Western Expedition, Qiu Yin was still a general guarding a region. He should treat him as an equal according to etiquette; why should he be so humble?

"Those who offer unsolicited favors are either treacherous or thieves," Zhang Kui concluded.

But he remained expressionless, only smiling calmly as he said, "General Qiu, please."

The two entered the pass side by side, followed closely by three thousand Xuanjia soldiers.

The scene inside the pass contrasted sharply with the desolation outside. The main street was ten zhang wide, lined with shops on both sides, and although it was nearing dusk, there were still quite a few pedestrians. Upon seeing the army enter the city, the people hurriedly made way, but their eyes were mostly filled with curiosity rather than fear—this showed that the Qinglong Pass army was relatively well-governed and had not disturbed the people too much.

"General, please look," Qiu Yin pointed to a mansion in the distance, "that is my general's residence. A banquet has been prepared to welcome you. The soldiers' barracks have also been arranged, right next to the West City drill ground, with all the necessary food and lodging provided."

"Thank you for your trouble." Zhang Kui nodded.

His gaze swept over the defenses inside the pass. Soldiers patrolled the streets from time to time, archers were stationed on the rooftops, and roadblocks were set up at key intersections.

"Heavily guarded," Zhang Kui said with a half-smile.

Qiu Yin's expression changed slightly, then he smiled and said, "General, you are wise. Recently, Xiqi has become powerful, and the activities of the rebel spies have been frequent, so I have to be on guard. But rest assured, General, the area inside the pass is absolutely safe."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the general's mansion.

The mansion occupied a large area, with vermilion gates and high walls, and two stone lions stood in front of the gate. Qiu Yin personally led Zhang Kui to the main hall.

A banquet had been set up in the hall, the air filled with the aroma of hot food and wine.

"General, please take a seat!" Qiu Yin led Zhang Kui to the main seat.

Zhang Kui could not refuse and had to sit down. Wu Wenhua was also seated, accompanied by Qiu Yin's generals.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Qiu Yin raised his cup in a toast, his words dripping with flattery. He recounted Zhang Kui's meritorious service in escorting grain in Beihai, his triumph on the battlefield in Xiqi, his slaying of Western religious followers, and his high regard for the Grand Tutor... as if reciting a familiar story.

Zhang Kui responded with a smile, but inwardly he became increasingly wary.

These events were not secrets, but the fact that Qiu Yin could recount them in such detail indicated that he had been paying close attention to him. Why would a general guarding the border be so concerned about him, who was far away in Chaoge and Xiqi?

When the wine was half-finished, Zhang Kui put down his glass and got to the point:

"General Qiu, to be honest, besides resting and resupplying, I have another request to make of you while passing through Qinglong Pass."

Qiu Yin quickly straightened his face and said, "General, please speak! I will do whatever I can to help you."

"The war in Xiqi is critical. Although Grand Tutor Wen has personally led the expedition, the forces are still insufficient," Zhang Kui said slowly. "I have been ordered to form a detachment to support the main force. However, I only have three thousand Xuanjia soldiers under my command, which may not be enough to shoulder the heavy responsibility. Therefore, I intend to procure some troops and provisions at the passes along the way to bolster our strength."

He paused, then looked at Qiu Yin: "I wonder if Qinglong Pass... can offer any assistance?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yin slammed his hand on the table almost without thinking and said, "General, what are you saying? We both serve the court, so why should we distinguish between us?"

He stood up and shouted towards the outside of the hall, "Messenger!"

A bodyguard quickly stepped inside.

"Go immediately to the Military Affairs Department and retrieve the troop and grain registers from within the pass, and send them here," Qiu Yin ordered, adding, "Also, bring the armory's ledgers."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow slightly.

His quick agreement surprised him somewhat.

Before long, three clerks entered the hall, each carrying an account book, and respectfully presented it.

Qiu Yin took the document and personally presented it to Zhang Kui: "General, please take a look. Qinglong Pass currently has 83,000 garrison troops, including 50,000 elite soldiers and 33,000 auxiliary soldiers. The granaries hold 500,000 dan of grain, and there are also sufficient weapons, arrows, armor, and other supplies."

He opened the military register and pointed to a few pages: "If the general needs it, I can allocate 30,000 elite troops! As for provisions... I'll allocate 200,000 dan first, how about that?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The generals under Qiu Yin looked at each other, some hesitant to speak.

Zhang Kui gave Qiu Yin a deep look.

Thirty thousand elite troops, almost half the strength of Qinglong Pass, plus two hundred thousand dan of grain—this gesture is beyond "generous"; it's practically giving everything they have.

"General Qiu," Zhang Kui began slowly, "this action may damage the defenses of Qinglong Pass. If the rebels attack..."

"General, rest assured!" Qiu Yin waved his hand. "Qinglong Pass is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The remaining 20,000 troops are sufficient to hold it, and besides..."

He lowered his voice: "I have heard that the main force of Xiqi has been tied down by Grand Tutor Wen and is unable to look eastward in the short term. These troops and provisions are just sitting in the pass anyway, so it would be better to hand them over to you, General, so that you can make a name for yourself on the battlefield in Xiqi."

The words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner.

But Zhang Kui understood the unspoken meaning—Qiu Yin was eager for him to leave Qinglong Pass with his troops and provisions as soon as possible.

"Since General Qiu is so hospitable," Zhang Kui said, no longer declining, "it would be impolite of me to refuse. However, the troop movements and the delivery of provisions must be handled in accordance with military law, with all procedures completed, to avoid any future misunderstandings."

"Of course!" Qiu Yin nodded repeatedly. "I will have someone draft the transfer order, and we will both affix our seals."

That night, Zhang Kui was arranged to rest in the east wing of the general's mansion.

In the quiet room, Zhang Kui sat cross-legged, not asleep.

He immersed his consciousness in the Qiankun Diagram in his arms, sensing the vast Yin and Yang energies within it. This innate spiritual treasure was infinitely profound. Although he had initially refined it, he would still need time to comprehend it in order to fully master it.

"We must be wary of Qiu Yin," Zhang Kui thought to himself.

Using the Five Elements Great Escape technique, Zhang Kui transformed into a streak of earth-yellow light and silently disappeared underground.

The combination of Earthwalking Technique and Earth Escape Technique allowed him to move freely on the earth. In less than ten breaths, he arrived at the West City Training Ground—the encampment of three thousand Xuanjia Army soldiers.

Wu Wenhua was reviewing military texts in his tent when he suddenly felt a slight tremor in the ground. Zhang Kui had risen from the earth.

"My lord!" Wu Wenhua quickly stood up.

"No need for formalities." Zhang Kui waved his hand. "Tomorrow, I will personally inspect the 30,000 troops that Qiu Yin has allocated. Remember, focus on three things: first, the quality of the soldiers, to see if they are old or weak filling the ranks; second, the weapons and equipment, to see if they are in good working order; and third, the background of the generals, to see if they are Qiu Yin's cronies."

"Understood, sir!" Wu Wenhua replied in a deep voice.

Zhang Kui further instructed: "When the grain is delivered, open the bags and inspect them according to the specified proportions to prevent them from being mixed with sand, stones, or moldy grain. You can assign this task to a few careful soldiers."

"yes!"

After giving his explanation, Zhang Kui once again disappeared underground.

He did not return to the general's mansion, but instead toured around Qinglong Pass. The military camps, granaries, armories, government offices... everything was operating as usual.

The transaction began the following morning.

Qiu Yin kept his promise. Thirty thousand elite soldiers lined up in formation on the drill ground, their armor gleaming, and their morale quite good. Zhang Kui and Wu Wenhua personally inspected them and found that these soldiers were indeed mostly young and strong, well-trained, and not just a hastily assembled group of old and weak men.

"General, please look," Qiu Yin said, pointing to the army formation.

Zhang Kui nodded slightly. At least on the surface, Qiu Yin wasn't trying to fool him.

Next came the inventory of the grain. Two hundred thousand dan (a unit of weight) of grain were piled up like a mountain. Wu Wenhua led his men to randomly open and inspect the bags; all were new grain, and every grain was fresh. .

"General Qiu, you've gone to so much trouble." Zhang Kui finally showed a genuine smile.

"Of course, of course!" Qiu Yin wiped the sweat from his forehead, whether from being busy or feeling guilty, it was hard to tell.

After the handover was completed, Zhang Kui's forces increased to 33,000 men, with ample food supplies and complete weaponry.

At dawn on the third day, the army set off.

Qiu Yin personally escorted him ten miles outside the pass, and before parting, he repeatedly instructed him: "General, you must be victorious on your journey to Xiqi. I will await your report of victory at Qinglong Pass."

Zhang Kui clasped his hands on the back of the Bi'an and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, General Qiu! When I return to the capital in triumph, I will surely ask the Grand Tutor to recommend you for credit."

"No, no!" Qiu Yin waved his hands repeatedly.

The army gradually moved further and further away, eventually disappearing at the end of the dirt road.

Qiu Yin stood there, watching the dust rise, and let out a long sigh of relief. He wiped his forehead and then realized that his palms were covered in cold sweat.

"Finally, we've gotten rid of this 'plague god'..." he muttered to himself, his voice still filled with lingering fear.

The adjutant beside him asked in bewilderment, "General, although Zhang Kui is renowned, you are also a Divine Might General appointed by the imperial court. Why bother with this..."

"What do you know!" Qiu Yin glared at him, lowering his voice, "This man is unfathomable! Do you know what he did in Xiqi? He fought against four Great Luo Golden Immortals: Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Julusun, and Cihang. Do you know who is standing behind him? Zhao Gongming of the Jie Sect, Wudang Holy Mother, and Jinling Holy Mother all have a history with him."

With each sentence he spoke, the lieutenant's face paled a little more.

"Such a person," Qiu Yin gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "we should avoid offending him if possible. Thirty thousand soldiers and two hundred thousand dan of grain, in exchange for one favor from him... it's worth it."

He turned back to the gate, his steps becoming lighter.

Thirty miles away, Zhang Kui reined in his beast and looked back towards Qinglong Pass.

This person must have something in mind, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was yet. But it didn't matter; he'd deal with whatever came his way.

"My lord?" Wu Wenhua rode forward.

Zhang Kui turned his gaze back to the winding road ahead.

"Order the entire army to speed up the march," he said calmly.

"yes!"

With the order given, the 30,000-strong army moved forward like a long black dragon.

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