Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The night wind howled outside the tent, causing the tent to sway slightly and the candlelight to flicker.

The moment Deng Chanyu lifted the curtain and entered, a beam of moonlight squeezed in through the gap in the curtain, landing precisely on her profile. Her usually imposing face was now softened by the moonlight, the silver armor reflecting a cool light, yet unable to conceal the deep weariness between her brows.

Zhang Shan had already gotten up to greet him.

He looked at Deng Chanyu, who was still in her silver armor, her hair a little messy, and her eyes showing that stubbornness he knew all too well, but beneath that stubbornness lay an undisguised unease.

"Chanyu, it's so late, why aren't you resting yet?" Zhang Shan reached out and took the silver helmet from her hand, his fingertips inadvertently touching the back of her hand, which was icy cold.

Deng Chanyu didn't speak, but sighed and sat down opposite him. She rested her hands on the edge of the table, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the wood grain.

There was a moment of silence in the tent, with only the occasional soft crackling of the candlelight.

"I can't sleep," she finally spoke, her voice a few decibels lower than usual. She paused, then looked up at Zhang Shan, her clear eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. "Zhang Shan, I have this unease in my heart, this feeling that this battle..."

She stopped halfway through her sentence, as if she didn't know how to continue.

Zhang Shan didn't urge her, but just watched her quietly. Deng Chanyu was never one to easily show her vulnerability, but at this moment, she shed that hard shell.

"Do you think we can't win this battle?" Zhang Shan's voice was very low.

Deng Chanyu nodded, then shook her head, her eyes filled with a complex expression.

"I can't say for sure either." Her voice was filled with confusion. "My father has been fighting for many years, but he has never been so...stubborn. It's as if something is pulling him from the shadows beneath the walls of Xiqi, compelling him to fight until he's utterly destroyed."

Zhang Shan fell silent.

He recalled Deng Jiugong's demeanor at Sanshan Pass. Back then, Deng Jiugong was as steady as a mountain, his fierce eyes sweeping across the battlefield, able to discern every opportunity. He loved his soldiers like his own children, and his military strategy was divine; every decision was carefully considered, and he never acted rashly or greedily.

But everything changed after they received the imperial decree to conquer Xiqi.

Deng Jiugong now seemed like a completely different person, impatient for quick success and instant benefits, unwilling to listen to advice, and even lacking the most basic caution. Zhang Shan watched as he slammed his fist on the table in the central command tent, pointing at the generals who had advised him to proceed cautiously and cursing them, his eyes burning with an almost insane flame.

"The general... perhaps he's eager to make a name for himself." Zhang Shan carefully chose his words, trying to make his tone sound calm. "After all, with Grand Tutor Wen dead in battle, no one in the court can suppress King Zhou. If he can achieve merit in Xiqi, he can return to the court and restore order..."

No.

Deng Chanyu interrupted him, her tone tinged with impatience. She abruptly stood up and paced back and forth in the tent, her silver armor making a soft clanging sound with her movements.

"I know my father. He's not the kind of person who craves fame and fortune." She stopped and turned to look at Zhang Shan, her eyes burning. "Zhang Shan, you don't understand. The thing my father cared about least in his life was fame and fortune. He once told me that he only hoped the people would not suffer from the ravages of war. But this time is different. He seems..."

She bit her lip, as if searching for the right words, her brows furrowed tightly.

"It's like he's possessed by something." She finally said it, her voice trembling slightly, "He won't listen to anyone. He won't listen to anything I say, and he won't listen to anything my older brother says."

A thought suddenly struck Zhang Shan.

He recalled what his elder brother Zhang Kui had once said. During the Investiture of the Gods calamity, cause and effect were entangled like a tangled mess; some tribulations were difficult even for immortals to escape, let alone mortal generals. Could Deng Jiugong's unusual state truly be due to something influencing him?

"And that Tu Xingsun!" Deng Chanyu suddenly lowered her voice, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Today in the central command tent, in front of everyone, he said he wanted to invite me to inspect the military camp. I almost used the Five-Colored Divine Stone to crack open his head."

As she spoke, her hand unconsciously pressed against the leather pouch at her waist.

"And then?" Zhang Shan frowned, a nameless anger rising in his chest.

"My father and elder brother both stopped me at the same time." Deng Chanyu's voice was full of grievance and resentment, and her eyes were slightly red.

She tried to calm herself down: "I can understand my father stopping me. After all, Tu Xingsun was recommended by Shen Gongbao, so we should give him some face. But my elder brother... he's always been the one who dotes on me the most, how could he..."

Before she could finish speaking, her voice choked with emotion.

When Zhang Shan saw her eyelashes tremble slightly, his heart ached, and he could no longer sit still.

He got up and walked to Deng Chanyu's side, reaching out to gently embrace her. The silver armor was icy cold, and he could feel the chill even through the fabric.

"Chanyu, don't be sad." Zhang Shan put one arm around her shoulder and gently patted her back with the other.

Deng Chanyu leaned on his shoulder and said in a muffled voice, "What hardship could make him not help his sister in front of outsiders? That Tu Xingsun, he's obviously no good, with shifty eyes and a lecherous nature."

But the way Tu Xingsun looked at her actually frightened Deng Chanyu. That naked, undisguised possessiveness made her feel like prey being targeted by a venomous snake.

A flash of murderous intent crossed Zhang Shan's eyes, but his hand continued to gently pat her back: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, no one can touch you."

Deng Chanyu raised her head through teary eyes, then suddenly smiled, a smile filled with indescribable emotions.

"I know," she said softly, "that's why I came to find you."

The two embraced each other, neither of them saying another word.

After a long while, Deng Chanyu gently pushed Zhang Shan away. The tear tracks on her face had dried. (Chapter 205, "Men Should Marry When They're of Age, Women Should Marry When They're of Age," updated! Read now!) That familiar stubbornness returned to her face.

She straightened her expression, as if she were about to say something serious: "Zhang Shan, I'm afraid of this battle..."

"Afraid something might happen to them?" Zhang Shan chimed in.

Deng Chanyu nodded, her eyes filled with worry: "I heard that Xiqi has the help of a Golden Immortal from the Chan Sect, and Jiang Ziya is an extremely difficult person to deal with. Although Father is a famous general, he is, after all... he is still just a mortal."

Zhang Shan remained silent.

No matter how strong a mortal is, they cannot defeat the magic of immortals.

"I will do my best to protect my uncle and elder brother," Zhang Shan said earnestly, looking intently at Deng Chanyu. "As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to them."

Deng Chanyu looked into his eyes for a long time, as if trying to ascertain the weight of his words.

Finally, she nodded and whispered, "I believe you."

The two chatted for a while longer before Deng Chanyu stood up and said, "Alright, I should go back now."

Zhang Shan nodded and handed her the silver helmet.

Deng Chanyu took the silver helmet and turned to walk out of the tent.

Zhang Shan stood by the tent flap, watching her figure disappear into the night.

"Stop looking, they've all gone far away."

A familiar voice sounded from behind, carrying a distinctly mischievous tone.

Zhang Shan turned around abruptly and saw Zhang Kui sitting cross-legged in the corner of the tent, one hand supporting his chin, with a look of anticipation on his face.

"Big brother, when did you get back?" Zhang Shan was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed. "Wait, you... you've been here the whole time?"

Zhang Kui shrugged, neither confirming nor denying, but the smile on his lips said it all.

Zhang Shan's face immediately darkened, turning as black as the bottom of a pot: "Brother, you didn't see everything, did you?"

"Saw what?" Zhang Kui feigned innocence, his acting flawless. "I didn't see anything, I just heard someone say to Miss Deng, 'Don't be afraid, I'm here, no one can touch you.' Tsk tsk tsk, those words were truly touching!"

"Big brother!" Zhang Shan was furious and embarrassed, wishing he could punch Zhang Kui.

Seeing this, Zhang Kui quickly waved his hand, laughing so hard he almost fell over: "Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. I just came back from scouting outside and only just entered the tent a short while ago. I didn't hear a single one of your mushy words, really."

Zhang Shan looked at Zhang Kui with suspicion, but finally sighed helplessly.

This older brother is great in every way, except he has such a sharp tongue. From childhood to adulthood, he has been teased by Zhang Kui countless times, but he still gets so angry every time.

"Let's get down to business."

Zhang Kui's joking expression vanished, replaced by a serious one. "Are you serious about Deng Chanyu?"

Zhang Shan was taken aback, not expecting his older brother to ask this suddenly. After a moment of silence, he nodded solemnly.

"That's good." Zhang Kui stood up, walked to Zhang Shan's side, and patted him on the shoulder. "I'll stay by your side and protect you secretly. As for Deng Jiugong..."

He paused, his gaze becoming profound: "All we can do is try our best."

As he spoke, Zhang Kui took out a scroll from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Shan. The scroll felt heavy in his hand, with faint shimmering light flowing within it, as if an entire world was sealed inside.

"This is the Qiankun Diagram. You must carry it with you at all times; it can save your life in a critical moment."

Zhang Shan accepted the Qiankun Diagram, feeling an immense power emanating from it, as if he were holding a vast ocean. Knowing it was his elder brother's prized possession, he quickly declined, saying, "Brother, this is too precious, I can't..."

"Take it if I tell you to." Zhang Kui interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're my brother, if I don't protect you, who will? Besides, it's not like I'm giving it to you. Moreover, I'll stay in the Qiankun Diagram for the time being to protect you."

Zhang Shan wanted to say something more, but Zhang Kui raised his hand to stop him.

"Alright, stop with the fuss. I'm going to cultivate in the Qiankun Diagram first. If you need anything, just call out to me with your divine sense, and I'll know."

After saying that, Zhang Kui's figure flickered, transforming into a stream of light and disappearing into the Qiankun Diagram.

Just as he was about to disappear completely, he suddenly popped his head out of the picture again, grinning mischievously, and said, "By the way, next time you hug a girl, try putting your arm around her waist, not her shoulder. It feels different. Try it and see."

"Big brother!"

Zhang Shan roared, but the Qiankun Diagram had already returned to calm and showed no further response.

He was so angry he wanted to tear Zhang Kui out of the picture and beat him up. Unfortunately, he couldn't beat him.

"That bastard..." Zhang Shan cursed under his breath, but a hint of curiosity involuntarily appeared on his face. "How about... we try it next time?"

……

Within the Qiankun Diagram lies the chaotic void.

In the boundless void, there is no sky, no earth, only endless surging chaos.

Zhang Kui sat cross-legged in the void, his body surrounded by five-colored divine light, like a five-colored sun. Three halos of light hung above his head, casting down the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, enveloping his entire being.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearls floated in the center of the Purple Mansion, arranged in a mysterious formation. Each pearl emitted a faint light, like twenty-four bright moons, reflecting each other.

Zhang Kui has already refined three of them. Each of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls contains immeasurable world power. If all twenty-four are refined, they can manifest the Twenty-Four Heavens, whose power is unimaginable.

The Qiankun Ruler floated next to the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

Three feet and three inches long, the color of green jade, simple and unadorned, with no superfluous patterns on the ruler, only a natural Taoist charm flowing within it.

Unfortunately, unless one's cultivation level breaks through again, or one finds a special refining method, the only way to completely refine the Qiankun Ruler is through painstaking effort and slow progress.

……

Within the Qiankun Diagram lies the chaotic void.

In the boundless void, there is no sky, no earth, only endless surging chaos.

Zhang Kui sat cross-legged in the void, his body surrounded by five-colored divine light, like a five-colored sun. Three halos of light hung above his head, casting down the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, enveloping his entire being.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearls floated in the center of the Purple Mansion, arranged in a mysterious formation. Each pearl emitted a faint light, like twenty-four bright moons, reflecting each other.

Zhang Kui has already refined three of them. Each of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls contains immeasurable world power. If all twenty-four are refined, they can manifest the Twenty-Four Heavens, whose power is unimaginable.

The Qiankun Ruler floated next to the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

Three feet and three inches long, the color of green jade, simple and unadorned, with no superfluous patterns on the ruler, only a natural Taoist charm flowing within it.

Unfortunately, unless one's cultivation level breaks through again, or one finds a special refining method, the only way to completely refine the Qiankun Ruler is through painstaking effort and slow progress.