Chapter 111: Ghost General (Part Two)
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As soon as the military officer finished shouting, sounds of commotion came from inside. Many ghost soldiers poured out from the barracks, starting from the main gate of the military camp. Holding torches in one hand and spears in the other, they formed two rows, creating a passage several hundred meters long straight to the central wooden platform – extremely orderly. The military camp of tens of thousands of troops and horses instantly became so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard – what a scene of strict military discipline.
“De’er lang… dang dang dang…” The sound of a pipa came from the direction of the wooden platform, containing restrained but unmistakable killing intent, quite reminiscent of “Ambush from Ten Sides.”
Yue Qianchou, who had been smiling cheerfully, suddenly darkened his expression, his eyes slightly narrowing. ‘Trying to show military might to me?’ In his previous life, he had also been a soldier and had witnessed such scenes. The timid could be scared into trembling on the spot, unable even to walk properly – this was military might.
A faint aura burst forth from Yue Qianchou, and his entire presence suddenly changed dramatically, as if he had become a different person. The military officer standing in front of him couldn’t help but look at him twice more.
Among the disciples from various sects outside the camp gate, quite a few began breathing heavily, audibly so. Yue Qianchou glanced coldly at the military officer, as if looking at an ant, causing the latter’s body to stiffen slightly. He slowly turned around to stare at everyone, his tone indifferent: “Useless things. A group of living people actually getting scared by a bunch of ghosts? With such courage, how will you follow me in the future?” After speaking, he turned around without another glance.
Under normal circumstances, if he dared say such words, quite a few people would definitely fight him to the death, including many with higher cultivation than his. Yet at this moment, not a single person dared speak out. Gu Qingyun looked at him with an indescribable expression, a trace of shame briefly flashing across his face.
The veins on the military officer’s neck bulged, his face showing anger. After a deep breath, he calmed down again and began examining Yue Qianchou seriously. After looking, he was slightly shocked – with his early Ghost King cultivation equivalent to early Tribulation Crossing stage in humans, he actually couldn’t see through Yue Qianchou’s cultivation level. Yet this person appeared so young – truly, one cannot judge by appearances. Only now did he become cautious, raising his hand to guide the way: “Please!” His attitude was completely different from before.
‘Damn! Face is something you earn for yourself.’ Yue Qianchou put his hands behind his back, glanced at him coldly with slanted eyes, then looked straight ahead and made an indifferent “hmm” sound before walking forward. The ghost soldiers standing with spears on both sides didn’t even enter his field of vision. The disciples from various sects followed several meters behind him.
The several-hundred-meter-long military display was a welcoming ceremony for some, but for others, the sense of oppression grew stronger. Yue Qianchou currently treated it as the former, walking slowly with measured steps, his expression unchanged. However, the footsteps of the disciples from various sects behind him became increasingly chaotic.
About fifty meters from the central platform, Yue Qianchou noticed that the people standing on both sides had changed from ghost soldiers to armored military officers. After glancing twice, he looked no more, focusing his gaze on the burly man sitting majestically on the platform ahead.
The closer he walked, the clearer he could see. The figure was imposing in stature, with hair tied up, two sword-like eyebrows slanting into his temples, large and spirited eyes with a gaze like torches, a prominent nose and thick lips, short beard covering his face, and full facial features. He wore golden armor with a crimson cloak draped over his shoulders. A long table sat before him, with a golden beast-head helmet at one end and numerous fruit plates arranged on top. The burly man lifted a purple, slightly transparent wine cup and tilted his head back to pour the liquid down his throat. A serving girl beside him picked a grape from the table and gently placed it in his mouth.
The burly man chewed the grape, glanced at the approaching Yue Qianchou and others, then turned his gaze to the side, where an absolutely beautiful woman in plain robes held a pipa and played. Every movement displayed the bearing of a great military general. If one didn’t know he was a Ghost King, who could tell he was a ghost?
Yue Qianchou led everyone to stop in front of the platform, glanced at the woman playing the pipa, and silently praised: ‘Iron blood and tender feelings – what a great general’s style!’
A kind of man-to-man appreciation was clearly evident in Yue Qianchou’s eyes. He swept his gaze over the platform twice, smiled slightly, and said slowly: “Grape wine in luminous cups, about to drink when the pipa urges from horseback. Don’t laugh if I lie drunk on the battlefield – since ancient times, how many have returned from war? The Great General drinking and making merry in this military camp truly has elegant interests. Cultivator Yue Qianchou has long heard of the General’s great name and has come especially to meet the Great General.” He cupped his hands, considering this his formal greeting.
Suddenly, a general beside them stepped forward, pointing and shouting: “Audacious! Where did this arrogant scholar come from, daring not to kneel before the Great General!”
This fellow also had a loud voice – without using any cultivation, his shout could be heard throughout the venue. It scared some of the already timid disciples from various sects, making their legs go weak and nearly causing them to actually kneel.
Yue Qianchou glanced over unmoved, sneering inwardly. ‘Generals who look like Zhang Fei all seem to have this explosive temper.’ Not bothering to argue with him, he directed his gaze toward the Ghost General on the platform.
That general was so angry he kept yelling and strode over to take action. The Ghost King on the platform suddenly shouted in a deep voice without looking: “Stand down!” He also waved at the pipa-playing woman, and the pipa music immediately stopped.
The general looked toward the platform in a daze but still obediently retreated.
The sound of golden armor rubbing together rang out as the Ghost General rose from his seat. The fire basins on both sides illuminated his golden armor with brilliant light, making his extraordinary bearing even more apparent. He first stared at Yue Qianchou with deep eyes for a while. Seeing that the other showed no fear and smiled at him, he also smiled back. Then, playing with the purple, slightly transparent wine cup in his hand, his rich voice slowly said: “Grape wine in luminous cups, about to drink when the pipa urges from horseback. Don’t laugh if I lie drunk on the battlefield – since ancient times, how many have returned from war? Since ancient times, how many have returned from war…”
He repeatedly pondered the last line for a long, long time, not knowing what he was remembering. Some of the generals on both sides also softly chanted along: “Since ancient times, how many have returned from war…” Though their voices were small, the desolation in their tone was unmistakable.
Behind someone, Gu Qingyun stared with wide eyes, looking him up and down as if he didn’t recognize him, his heart filled with shock. ‘Is this still the same little scoundrel I saw at the Cultivation Hall who was always scheming and deceiving? Just based on this, he could compose such poetry impromptu to fit the situation? If you say he was pretending to be calm at first, but without this composure, could he have composed such poetry impromptu in front of the Ghost General, who has such a fearsome reputation in the Demon Ghost Domain?’
Among the disciples from various sects were also people of taste, especially the female disciples from Moon Gazing Sect. Women naturally loved beautiful things, and poetry was no exception, especially poetry with such profound artistic conception. The women turned their heads, wanting to see through the crowd to get a fresh look at Yue Qianchou, but unfortunately, all he left them was his unmoving back. For a moment, everyone’s fear actually dropped to its lowest point.
Suddenly, the Ghost General came back to his senses, raised the wine cup in his hand, looked at Yue Qianchou with a smile and said: “This young gentleman is truly talented. Your impromptu composition can be called a masterpiece – you’re a rare talent. Then I’ll trouble young gentleman to evaluate my serving girl’s pipa piece just now! This tune was personally composed by this general. Please evaluate whether it can be considered a masterpiece.”
‘Damn! I’m no scholar, and I don’t understand pipa music. But this tune does sound like “Ambush from Ten Sides” that I heard in my previous life. Whatever, I’ll evaluate it! After all, I’m an expert who learned to play piano with my sister.’ Yue Qianchou put on an appearance of slight contemplation, nodded, and spoke frankly: “This tune can indeed be considered a masterpiece among pipa pieces, but for the Great General, its meaning is greatly inauspicious.”
In an instant, all the generals on both sides and the disciples from various sects behind him focused their gazes on him. The Ghost General made an “oh” sound, turned sideways with his hands behind his back to look aside, no longer looking at him, and said in a deep voice: “How is it inauspicious? Please tell me, young gentleman.” His words actually carried threads of cold intent.
