King of Creation
Chapter 457 - 451 Squalid in the Military

Chapter 457: Chapter 451 Squalid in the Military

Sect Leader Guo Qijing gave Ye Zhen two options.

The first option was to make Ye Zhen one of the three Deputy Marshals of the Eastern Expedition. He could be a figurehead or hold a real post, and any position could be given to Ye Zhen if he wished.

Whether it was escorting supplies, gathering intelligence, personally commanding an army of one hundred thousand, or charging into battle, anything was possible if Ye Zhen wished.

The second option was to casually hold the title of Special Envoy Military Officer, free from obedience, only needing to mobilize the War Soul Blood Flag to coordinate with the army at the appropriate time.

Every man harbors a dream of blood-hot heroics and military expeditions, and Ye Zhen was no exception.

Under normal circumstances, most people would choose the first option because commanding an army of one hundred thousand in battle is an incredible feat.

However, after some thought, Ye Zhen gave up on the first option.

Should he command a large army, there would be basically no tactics involved. Firstly, Ye Zhen was not good at commanding, and secondly, once Ye Zhen personally charged forward, any enemy commander would be doomed, unless their commander was someone like the Sect Master of Sword Origin Sect from the Sword Origin Empire.

If that were the case, it would be exceedingly boring.

Of course, what’s most important is that taking up the post of Deputy Marshal would mean Ye Zhen would be tied down in the military camp, deprived of his freedom.

Although the Eastern Expedition of Black Water Kingdom had already begun, the news of the expedition had only just been decided among the upper echelons.

War is an extremely complex affair. Logistics preparation and army mobilization all require a lot of time; even beginning the actual battle would take at least another half a year.

Ye Zhen did not want to waste half a year idly in the camp.

Therefore, Ye Zhen chose the title of Special Envoy Military Officer. Even when the battle started, he could still act freely, unrestricted by military orders, although he needed to cooperate where necessary.

"Ye Zhen, since you have chosen the title of Special Envoy Military Officer, then descend the mountain quickly and report to the military department in Black Water King’s City," Guo Qijing said after Ye Zhen made his choice.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhen’s eyebrows furrowed.

"Sect Leader, didn’t you say that this special envoy title is very free? Why do I still need to report to the military department?"

"It’s all because of the War Soul Blood Flag!" Guo Qijing chuckled lightly, "The military’s confidence in this Eastern Expedition, ninety-nine percent of it comes from the War Soul Blood Flag. Without the War Soul Blood Flag for support, how could they dare to launch an expedition so easily?

The military even proposed to me that the War Soul Blood Flag should be temporarily handed over to them. After I firmly declined, they then required that the bearer of the War Soul Blood Flag must report to the military department as soon as possible to discuss cooperation matters."

"I see..."

"Alright then, I’ll go to Black Water King’s City tomorrow!"

"Good, hurry there. The fellows at the military department have been hounding me these days," Guo Qijing said with a light laugh.

....

The next day, Ye Zhen, tormented severely by the newly titled Profound Ice Immortal Liao Feibai, left Qiyun Sect in a sorry state.

Watching the departing Ye Zhen, the faces of the elders of Qiyun Sect instantly turned sour. Each of them quickly retreated to their dens to announce their seclusion or their travel plans. With their advanced age, none wanted to be tormented by Liao Feibai again.

.....

Although Black Water Royal City is the imperial capital of Black Water Kingdom, Ye Zhen had not visited it very often. Even the Marquis Wusan Mansion owned by Ye Zhen in Black Water Royal City had always been left vacant.

Upon reaching Black Water Royal City, the first thing Ye Zhen did was not to report to the military department but to bring a generous gift to visit the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Justice, Liu Datong.

Without the True Transformation Disguise Technique taught by Liu Datong, whether Ye Zhen could have survived to return was an unknown.

Thus, from the bottom of his heart, Ye Zhen regarded Liu Datong as a mentor.

Residence of Liu Datong in Black Water Royal City was not large, just a small courtyard with two sections. Despite Liu Datong’s impressive title of Chief Constable of the Ministry of Justice, his rank was not very high, merely Sixth Rank, just half a grade higher than a local County Magistrate.

Since Ye Zhen had previously spent nearly half a year at Liu Datong’s residence, he was very familiar with everyone there and went in directly. However, the gate elder mentioned that Liu Datong was seeing a visitor, so Ye Zhen had to wait in the adjacent Flower Hall.

Just as Ye Zhen stepped into the Flower Hall, a young man in his thirties, dressed in military uniform, burst out of the main sitting room, his face as cold as ice.

The fifty-something-year-old, slightly stooped Liu Datong hurried after him, his face full of misery, pleading incessantly.

"General Chu, please stay, please stay!"

"Hmph, why should this general stay, to listen to your excuses?" General Chu’s feet seemed to catch the wind as he strode towards the exit, laughing sharply, "Liu Datong, since you are unwilling, then why the unnecessary talk? This general can only wish your son gains military merits soon and earns the title of marquis!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Datong appeared even more distressed, "General Chu, calm your anger, calm your anger! It’s not that I’m unwilling to part with the Three Treasures Pearl; it’s truly because my elderly mother is seriously ill, and it’s kept by her side. Please give me two or three months, once my mother’s condition improves, I will personally deliver the Three Treasures Pearl to General Chu’s mansion!"

"Hmph, three months later, your old mother will still be gravely ill! Scram!" In a burst of rage, General Chu fiercely kicked out. Caught off guard, or perhaps because Liu Datong didn’t dare to dodge, he was directly sent flying by General Chu’s kick.

"Master Liu!"

Ye Zhen exclaimed, his figure shooting out like lightning, catching the tumbling Liu Datong mid-air. As soon as he caught him, Ye Zhen’s anger flared.

This kick from General Chu, if it had been three inches higher, could have taken Liu Datong’s life, especially considering that General Chu possessed the cultivation of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"Scoundrel, to strike with such malice!"

Seeing Ye Zhen suddenly appear, and sensing that he was no weaker, also a martial artist of the Spirit Transformation Realm, General Chu’s eyes narrowed immediately, "Heh, what’s this, Liu Datong? Found yourself a friend from the Martial Arts to assist you? What, you want your Martial Arts friend to teach me a lesson?"

Seeing the sinister light flickering in Chu River’s eyes, the joy on Liu Datong’s face disappeared instantly as he hastily waved his hands, "Misunderstanding, General Chu, this is just a misunderstanding, he is just a friend visiting by coincidence, he means no harm to General Chu!"

"Really?"

Chu River sneered playfully and strode toward the outside of the mansion. From afar, Chu River’s voice rang out.

"Liu, if I don’t see the Three Treasures Pearl within three days, prepare to receive your son’s death notice! Rest assured, I will definitely place your son in the Vanguard Camp of the Vanguard Army!

By the way, the Vanguard Army will be deployed in three days!"

After speaking, Chu River’s figure vanished within the gate, and Liu Datong, supported by Ye Zhen, was already cold to the touch, his face pale.

"Master Liu, don’t worry, it’s just some dirty business within the military, leave it to me!" Watching Chu River’s disappearing figure, Ye Zhen’s gaze turned icy cold.

From the brief exchange earlier, Ye Zhen had already discerned some clues about the situation.

One was about the military’s red notice, a tradition within Black Water Kingdom’s military to send condolence notices to the families of soldiers killed in action—a note which is dreaded by all military families.

The red notice mentioned by Chu River referred to the condolence notice for Liu Datong’s son. According to Chu River, if Liu Datong failed to comply, he would place Liu Datong’s son in the Vanguard Camp of the Vanguard Army, where the mortality rate was highest.

If deliberately assigned to dangerous tasks, Liu Datong’s son would likely perish.

Having addressed Chu River as General, within the military of Black Water Kingdom, only those commanding over ten thousand troops are titled as Generals. Thus, he certainly belonged to the middle-to-high ranks of the military, with the capability to engage in such underhanded actions.

Liu Datong’s son, Liu Hu, whom Ye Zhen knew well, was an earnest young man who hadn’t inherited his father’s shrewdness. Thus, Liu Datong had used some connections to place him in the military, where he accumulated merits over the years and rose to the rank of Capital Commandant, though promotions had slowed due to the recent years of peace.

"Ah, that’s better!"

Seeing Ye Zhen taking on this matter, Liu Datong was somewhat relieved. He knew of Ye Zhen’s identity, but he was still keen not to escalate the issue, carefully instructing Ye Zhen.

"Brother Ye, I know of your capabilities! But you must tread carefully with this matter, do not stir up too much trouble. As long as my son is in the military, he cannot escape from these dirty dealings. Just help him through this crisis. As for the Three Treasures Pearl, after my mother recovers, I will send it over."

Mentioning the Three Treasures Pearl only added to Liu Datong’s frustrations.

The Three Treasures Pearl, a treasured heirloom of the Liu family, possessed three amazing effects: preserving youth, expelling sickness, and replenishing primordial energy. These effects might be nothing to martial artists, but to ordinary people, they were incredibly precious.

Liu Datong’s elderly mother’s longevity, well into her eighties, depended entirely on this pearl.

Somehow, the news that Liu Datong possessed the Three Treasures Pearl had leaked, which led to that scene of Chu River demanding it at his doorstep.

Liu Datong was a resigned man, having long decided to give up the pearl to ensure safety, but then his mother fell ill again with a chronic illness, requiring the pearl to sustain her life. This issue could only be delayed over and over until Chu River’s threatening visit today.

"Master Liu, don’t worry, I won’t let Liu Hu suffer! Besides, I have friends in the military too; if worse comes to worst, I can have someone look out for Liu Hu!"

"Well then..." After this episode, Liu Datong was somewhat out of his wits.

Since Chu River had said the Vanguard Army would be deployed in three days, Ye Zhen didn’t linger long at Liu Manor. After drinking a cup of clear tea, he headed straight for the Military Department, ready to resolve the situation regarding Liu Hu.

Because it was a period of military readiness, the Military Department’s security was strict, and no one was allowed entry without a command talisman. After showing his military officer’s Golden Order, he was directly led to the inner hall of the Military Department to meet the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition!

Unlike the usual solemn atmosphere, with the Eastern Expedition imminent, affairs were innumerable; at this moment, high-ranking military officers in uniform were continuously entering and exiting the hall, seeking approvals for various directives, creating a scene of bustling activity.

"Eh, it’s you?"

An astonished voice abruptly came from across Ye Zhen.

What a coincidence!

General Chu River, whom Ye Zhen had met half an hour ago at Liu Datong’s house, was unexpectedly encountered in the inner hall of the Military Department, looking at Ye Zhen with surprise.

After just one glance, Chu River shouted at the official leading Ye Zhen, "Have you verified his identity? The inner hall of the Military Department is not a place just anyone can enter!"

(To be continued. If you like this work, please vote and monthly ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)