Volume One, Chapter Five: Who is the Lord of Soldiers? Who is the Traitor?

Chapter Five: Who Is the Lord of War? Who Is the Traitor?

Tu Zhe’s words—“Don’t ask how many immortals there are, just ask where the enemies are!”—sent Little Star, the dog Ye Ma, into a flurry of excitement. But before he could savor the thrill of showing off, a figure emerged from the rending void not far away and interrupted his moment.

The newcomer stepped out from the fissure in space with a single stride. Towering and mighty, he strode upon flames, clad in an armor of thunder crystals, lightning and fire dancing across its surface, his visage bore a resemblance to Chi You, though he lacked the eight arms, eight legs, and wings—a purely human form. Yet the oppressive aura, as if to burn mountains and boil seas, shatter worlds, pressed down on Tu Zhe nearly to suffocation.

The man cast a glance at Tu Zhe, his face full of disdain, and spoke coldly: “A mere ant dares boast of slaying gods and killing immortals.”

The dog Ye Ma had no patience for him and barked in her childish voice, “You’re the ant, your whole family are ants! I’ll stomp your ancestors for eighteen generations, and your descendants for another eighteen!”

A dangerous gleam flashed in the man’s eyes. In an instant, lightning crackled through the air toward the dog.

Chi You laughed heartily, extending an arm. His massive hand snatched the lightning from the air, crushing it to nothing.

Mocking, Chi You said, “Jiang You, Second Brother, you’re getting more and more impressive with age, aren’t you? Even two kids are worth your effort?”

Second Brother? Tu Zhe’s three souls flickered as he desperately searched his memory for ancient texts he’d read in his past life, but found no answer.

The one called Jiang You snorted, hands clasped behind his back, head held high before Chi You. “I can’t be bothered with them. What about you? Still planning to run? Today, let’s settle this.”

Cold flames burned in Chi You’s eyes, his tone mocking: “As you wish. Today, I won’t flee. I’ll settle things with you!”

Tu Zhe stared coldly at Jiang You, deeply disliking the indifference, cruelty, and cunning on his face. He asked, “Ancestor, who is this birdman?”

Chi You laughed. “Boy, you know I once had seventy-one sworn brothers; we pledged with blood to live and die together. After defeat at Zhuolu, my brothers and I, myself included, were all torn apart, save for one—my Second Brother, the very man before you. Later, Xuanyuan appointed him Lord of War, sent him to conquer the wilds, and he ascended to immortality alongside the Yellow Emperor. Now, he’s truly something—Xuanyuan became the Thunder Ancestor, one of the Nine Celestial Sovereigns of the Divine Skies, with five Thunder Emperors under his command. My Second Brother here, well, he’s the Southern Red Heaven’s Firelight Calamity Thunder Emperor. Quite the figure now—an emperor, no less…”

Tu Zhe’s eyes flashed. He raised his middle finger at Jiang You. “So you’re Second Brother? Do you know what being ‘number two’ means in the mortal world? It means you’re nothing but a piece of—well, you know. You’re just a piece of—” From Chi You’s words, Tu Zhe realized Jiang You was a traitor. Fury blazing, he cursed without fear, unafraid of any more lightning or thunder. Hell, he’d already taken bullets—what was lightning to him?

Ye Ma clawed at Tu Zhe’s mouth, gritting her teeth fiercely. “You’re disgusting, Rogue! You talk about cocks like it’s second nature. But he’s not even worthy of that—at most, he’s a single feather. Right, Rogue? Heehee…”

Chi You burst into laughter. “Well said, boy! Since the defeat in the wilds, I’ve never felt so unburdened. You’ve got guts!”

Jiang You’s face shifted through five shades, his anger barely suppressed. “A stray soul from who-knows-where, and a stray little bitch… And you, Oldest Brother, are nothing but a fragment of soul. Compared to before, your powers are nothing. Run your mouths all you want—you’ll leave your lives here.”

Chi You replied, “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep without destroying my soul? But I do wonder, Xuanyuan made you Lord of War, yet you have no soldiers? Are you, the Southern Thunder Emperor, all alone?”

Tu Zhe sneered, “He’s just like Wang Lianju from ‘The Red Lantern’. Xuanyuan was generous not to kill him, let alone give him command. Ever heard the saying ‘the cunning hare dies, the hound is boiled’? If you’re not the sidekick, who is?”

Tu Zhe’s words made Jiang You’s face twitch violently, as if he’d struck a fresh wound. Grinding his teeth, Jiang You spat, “Insolent brat! I’ll grind your bones to dust!”

Tu Zhe retorted mockingly, “Dust my foot, ha!”

The dog waved her paw. “Dust your grannie, heehee!”

Jiang You nearly lost control, but held back, turning to Chi You with a cold snort. “Let’s make a deal.”

Chi You’s face was expressionless. “Speak.”

Jiang You said, “Give me the secret art for forging the Undying Demon Body. You know how powerful it is—once, even the thousand-mile soul-fire of Xuanyuan’s daughter Ba couldn’t harm you. If not for the drum of Kui Niu’s hide from Mount Flowing Wave in the East Sea, which damaged your soul, Xuanyuan would never have succeeded in tearing you apart.”

Chi You asked, “Anything else?”

Jiang You replied, “Give me a drop of your soul blood.”

A cold gleam flashed in Chi You’s eyes. “You plan to return to the wilds and reforge my body and those of our seventy brothers?”

Jiang You said, “No need to hide it. I’ve acquired a mysterious technique that makes me immune to the Kui Drum.”

Chi You sneered, “Ambitious, aren’t you, Second Brother? Trying to challenge Xuanyuan?”

Jiang You replied, “Among all the gods and immortals, who can live forever? After endless ages, all will turn to dust.”

Chi You asked, “And what do I gain?”

Jiang You answered, “I’ll spare these two ants.”

Clutching Ye Ma in his arms, Tu Zhe listened intently to the negotiation. Suddenly, a wave of divine thought swept from Chi You, and his voice sounded in Tu Zhe’s mind.

“Boy, listen closely—I have instructions for you. Don’t show any reaction, lest he notices.”

Tu Zhe replied mentally, “Yes, Ancestor.”

“That villain Jiang You is the most treacherous of men. My defeat was half his doing. No time for details. He’s been hunting me, never letting me recover—soon, I’ll fall by his hand. He’s utterly ruthless. If I hand him the Undying Demon Body’s secret art and my only drop of soul blood, he will break his word and kill you and the dog. Of course, I won’t agree. Soon, I’ll feign agreement, and once he’s off guard, I’ll tear open space—then you and the dog must escape at once. I’m sending the Undying Demon Body’s secret art into your soul now. Practice it diligently, and one day you’ll dominate the heavens.”

Tu Zhe felt a flash in his soul, as a point of light settled deep within.

Chi You continued, “Also, the bodies of myself and our seventy brothers are sealed by Xuanyuan. You know where. Find the way to break the seal, absorb and refine our bodies, and with the Undying Demon Body’s secret art, you’ll achieve ultimate power.”

A dreadful premonition rose in Tu Zhe’s heart, as if Chi You were making final arrangements. “What about you, Ancestor?”

Chi You answered proudly, “Though I’m now but a wisp of soul, Jiang You’s ambitions will come to nothing. Even if it costs me my soul, I’ll see him wounded if not dead. When I self-destruct, a vast soul-storm will erupt—pure soul energy to greatly strengthen your spirit. The storm will carry you away and merge into your soul. Do you understand?”

Damn it, was the Ancestor about to be utterly destroyed? Would there be no more Chi You in all the heavens and worlds?

Grief, fury, slaughter, resentment, bloodlust, darkness, and defiance surged through Tu Zhe’s soul in a torrent.

No—

His soul howled, ready to beg Chi You not to do this.

“Steady yourself, boy—don’t disappoint me.” Chi You’s voice thundered in his mind, instantly quelling the storm.

Tu Zhe regained his composure and replied coldly, “I’m ready, Ancestor. I won’t let you down. Jiang You, Xuanyuan, and every god and immortal who hurt you and my ancestors—I’ll kill them all, one by one!”

Chi You laughed in his soul. “That’s the spirit! If there’s injustice in the world, a man must kill. Ha! There are no cowards among the Jiuli. That’s settled!”

Chi You’s mind withdrew from Tu Zhe’s soul. He sneered at Jiang You, “I accept your terms. But Second Brother, you know your own nature—I can’t trust you.”

Jiang You replied, “Then what do you want?”

Chi You sneered, “These two youngsters leave first, or we’ll all die together.”

Jiang You smirked. “Two ants—what difference does it make if I let them go? Take them—I've no time to waste on them.”

Facing Tu Zhe, Chi You said with deep meaning, “Boy, let the Ancestor send you off.”

A steely glint flashed in Tu Zhe’s eyes as he stared at Jiang You. “Wash your neck and wait for me—I’ll come for your head!”

The dog pinched Tu Zhe’s face and cried, “Don’t insult dogs—if you take a head, it’s a pig’s head!”

Tu Zhe nodded. “Fine, I’ll keep slaughtering pigs.”

Jiang You shrugged indifferently, not bothering to reply.

Chi You raised his fist and drove it into the void. With a thunderous crack, a passage appeared, black as ink, stretching into untold distances.

Chi You seized Tu Zhe and his dog, hurling them into the rift. Tu Zhe felt an irresistible force draw him in, as countless demons shattered and howled in the darkness around them. All he could do was hold the dog tightly, unwilling to let the roaring winds separate them.

Chi You turned sharply to face Jiang You. “Second Brother, it’s time to settle this…”

A dangerous feeling surged in Jiang You’s heart as Chi You’s body shone brilliantly, his massive frame suddenly contracting, as if gathering all his power.

Jiang You cried out in alarm, preparing to tear open space and escape.

But it was too late. Chi You’s form exploded in a soul-storm of apocalyptic force, transforming into countless blades that instantly engulfed Jiang You.

Within the storm, Jiang You had nowhere to hide—his angry roars and agonized screams echoed through the maelstrom.

Then, the soul-storm condensed into a hurricane, sweeping toward Tu Zhe in the void tunnel, enveloping him and the dog in an instant. The tunnel sealed behind them.

Jiang You staggered from the tempest, armor in tatters, blood streaming, his face ashen—obviously gravely wounded.

In a fury, Jiang You unleashed bolts of thunder in the direction Tu Zhe had fled. The void shattered, worlds collapsed, but Tu Zhe was nowhere to be seen.

Gritting his teeth, Jiang You snarled, “Well done, Chi You. You’d destroy your own soul for that brat. Hmph—he must have given him what I wanted. Fine, one day he’ll return to the wilds to seek your body. I’ll settle accounts then…”

Surveying the ruins, Jiang You muttered through his pain, “Time to return to Thunder City. Can’t let Xuanyuan get suspicious…”

With a wave, Jiang You tore open space and stepped toward the Divine Skies’ Thunder City.