Chapter 112: Ghost General (Part Three)
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Thinking about the “Ambush from Ten Sides” piece from his previous life, it seemed to tell the story of the struggle between Chu and Han, where Chu King Xiang Yu was surrounded by Han King Liu Bang at Gaixia, facing enemies on all ten sides. In the end, the generation’s hero, the Hegemon King of Western Chu Xiang Yu, met his fate by cutting his own throat at the Wu River. He thought silently that he should have remembered correctly. Yue Qianchou stared at the figure on the platform and slowly uttered word by word: “Killing intent overflowing, enemies on all four sides, ambush from ten directions, no way to live, no way to retreat, when the song ends, people die.”
As soon as these words were spoken, there was suddenly a “snap” sound from the platform – the pipa fell from the pipa-playing woman’s hands onto the stage. The generals on both sides also couldn’t help but sway, their facial expressions becoming unpredictable. The Ghost General’s hand that was playing with the wine cup also froze there.
Seeing that Yue Qianchou’s single sentence had provoked such a huge reaction, the disciples from various sects didn’t know what consequences this would bring everyone. They all held their breath and watched anxiously. Yue Qianchou secretly smiled, estimating that the person on the platform was probably an unlucky fellow similar to Xiang Yu.
His guess was correct. This piece was exactly what the Ghost General had composed when he was surrounded in his final battle before death, moved by his feelings. After this piece was played once by his serving woman, the enemy army launched a massive attack, and all the generals present were souls who died in that battle. Just like this, everyone’s memories of that crushing defeat were stirred up by Yue Qianchou’s words – how could they not be moved?
The Ghost General walked to the serving woman, bent down to pick up the pipa, and returned it to her with a sigh. The serving woman held the pipa and looked at him tenderly, gently shaking her head. The way the two exchanged glances fell into Yue Qianchou’s eyes. The latter thought to himself, ‘Bullshit serving woman – I think she’s more like a bedmate concubine.’ Looking again at the woman standing motionless beside the general’s seat, that one looked more like a proper serving woman.
The Ghost General in golden armor and red cloak walked back a few steps, glanced at everyone’s dazed expressions, frowned slightly, stared at Yue Qianchou and shouted in a deep voice: “I don’t care whether you truly have talent or fake talent, but you spoke disrespectfully and disturbed my army’s morale. According to military law, you should be executed.”
It seemed Yue Qianchou’s words had truly hit his sore spot. The disciples from various sects immediately became somewhat panicked – if Yue Qianchou was killed, they would probably be next.
‘Damn! Execute my ass – you’re already dead and turned into a ghost, what military law bullshit.’ Yue Qianchou was stunned, then sneered: “The Great General holds military power and naturally killing me would be easy. But does the Great General still remember? You were the one who asked me to evaluate the music! After the evaluation, you complain that I disturbed the army’s morale. Could it be that the dignified Great General is a fickle petty person? The Great General has a fearsome reputation in the Demon Ghost Domain, but unexpectedly…”
He shook his head and said: “Too disappointing.” After speaking, he thought to himself, ‘Looks like I need to prepare to make a run for it.’
His series of accusations made the disciples from various sects even more panicked. However, the generals on both sides, including the hot-tempered one, all stared toward the Ghost King on the platform.
The Ghost General swept his gaze to both sides, snorted heavily and coldly, saying: “What a silver-tongued boy. Your name is Yue Qianchou, right? Yue Qianchou, Yue Qianchou – I want to see if you can truly leap over a thousand sorrows. Don’t say this general doesn’t give you a chance. If you can restore my army’s morale and recover their fighting spirit, this general will spare you – how about that?”
The Ghost General’s words were undoubtedly making things difficult for him – anyone could see that. Instantly, all eyes fell on Yue Qianchou.
‘Damn!’ Yue Qianchou’s gaze paused on the pipa-holding serving woman on the platform and the guqin on the rack behind her, then he smiled slightly: “The Great General commands, how dare I not comply? It’s just that I have a small request – I wonder if the Great General can agree?”
The Ghost General snorted coldly: “Speak.”
“I want to borrow something from the Great General’s command platform.” Yue Qianchou said unceremoniously. ‘I don’t care what Ghost General or not – anyway, I’m not afraid of you.’
Everyone didn’t know what he wanted to do and all looked curiously toward the command platform. Even the Ghost King turned back to glance behind him. Not seeing anything special, he couldn’t help but sneer coldly: “You can use whatever you want from the platform, but if you can’t meet this general’s requirements after using it, don’t blame this general for enforcing military law.” Actually, he was also somewhat curious about what Yue Qianchou was up to.
Seeing his agreement, Yue Qianchou said nothing and nonchalantly climbed up from one side of the command platform. Standing on the platform and looking around, the feeling of having thousands of troops and horses right under his nose was really quite good. Everyone’s gazes followed him.
Yue Qianchou paused on the platform, glanced at the long table filled with fruit plates and fine wine, and said to the serving woman in front of the general’s throne: “Clear everything from this long table.”
The serving woman was stunned but looked toward the Ghost King. The latter’s eyes flashed with a trace of doubt, frowning: “Do as he says.” The serving woman immediately followed the order, quickly clearing the long table and standing aside. The appetite of everyone below the platform was truly whetted.
Yue Qianchou nodded with satisfaction, then walked toward the pipa-holding serving woman, standing right in front of her and examining her with a smile. She was indeed a devastatingly beautiful woman – no wonder she could stay by a hero’s side. The serving woman was also curiously examining Yue Qianchou – she really had never seen such a bold person.
Ah! The disciples from various sects were startled. Yue Qianchou’s appearance really looked like he was molesting a decent woman – no, publicly molesting the Ghost General’s serving woman. His courage was too great.
‘This kid doesn’t want to live?’ The generals on both sides below the platform looked at each other. Having followed the Ghost General from life to death, they naturally knew this woman’s identity. The Ghost General’s face darkened.
Yue Qianchou suddenly shook his head and sighed: “Only the Great General’s bearing could match the young lady’s peerless beauty.”
Having been seen through, the serving woman smiled charmingly, slightly curtsied, and modestly expressed her thanks for his praise. This neither light nor heavy flattery made the Ghost General feel comfortable inside. His eyebrows twitched unconsciously, his darkened expression returned to normal, and he had the patience to continue watching.
Yue Qianchou walked to the rack behind her, took down a guqin, swept his finger across the strings to produce a harmonic sound, tested the tone, and found it quite good. He then walked beside her and asked: “Miss, can you play the qin?”
The serving woman glanced at the Ghost General, smiled at him, turned back and said with red lips slightly parted: “I know a little.”
Yue Qianchou held the qin and smiled: “Just now the Great General had me listen to the young lady’s pipa piece, but the evaluation I gave angered the Great General. Now I’ve happened upon a qin piece and have come especially to repay the young lady. I respectfully request the young lady to listen, hoping the young lady’s evaluation can calm the Great General’s anger. I would be infinitely grateful.” He bowed deeply.
Flattery must hit the mark. Since this Ghost King had the same temperament as Xiang Yu, this woman probably had about the same importance as Yu Ji, and her pillow talk was probably quite powerful too. Yue Qianchou thought this way.
Although Yue Qianchou spoke politely, the serving woman didn’t see any fear of the Great General in him. The serving woman’s bright eyes swept over the Ghost General as she smiled: “I can listen to the piece, but I never interfere in the General’s military affairs.”
These words were spoken cleverly – she was a smart woman, no wonder she could win the Ghost King’s favor. Yue Qianchou smiled, walked to the long table, put down the qin, then sat down on the spot, and gestured to the serving woman to “please sit across from me.”
The serving woman smiled charmingly. Not caring about the impropriety of sitting on the ground, she placed the pipa in her arms on the rack behind her, casually picked up a cushion, and walked over gracefully. The serving woman beside the general’s seat quickly came over, took the cushion from her hands and placed it across from Yue Qianchou. The pipa-playing serving woman also sat down across from him with infinite charm.
Yue Qianchou glanced at the Ghost General and saw him looking at the pipa-playing serving woman with infinite tenderness. He thought to himself, ‘This woman seems to be his weak spot.’
The generals below the platform were dumbfounded, and the disciples from various sects were also dumbfounded. Those female disciples looked at Yue Qianchou with eyes full of worship and admiration, their gazes sparkling. Gu Qingyun’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he thought with excitement: “A true hero! How shameful! I, Gu Qingyun, am not even one ten-thousandth as good!”
