Chapter 109: He Who Leads the Troops Is a General

Qin Beifeng’s breathing was shallow, his complexion pale to the point of ghastliness.

Earlier, he had been restrained by Cheng Guang, struggling incessantly, but upon seeing the Duke of Zhenguo, Cheng Shiyuan, single-handedly force back two Demon Emperors and slay several Demon Kings, he had instantly fallen into a state of despair. His spirit broken, he no longer harbored any desire to fight.

For Qin Beifeng, the recent turmoil in the Great Yan Dynasty and the subsequent withdrawal of troops from the boundary battlefield had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He had plotted painstakingly for so many years, only to end up with such a result. It was a reality he found impossible to accept.

But now, he had no chance of victory. With the Demon Emperors in retreat, even if the surrounding demons besieging Zhenbei City were numerous, they could never break through the city's defenses. Qin Beifeng’s face was deathly still, his eyes filled with profound sorrow. In the end, he had failed to avenge the Great Chu.

The strength of the Duke of Zhenguo far exceeded his wildest imagination.

As Qin Beifeng sat motionless in his deathly stupor, the Duke of Zhenguo, Cheng Shiyuan, descended slowly from the sky and landed before him. Cheng Shiyuan looked at Qin Beifeng, who was pinned beneath Cheng Guang, his expression complex. He sighed, then turned his back to look up at the sky where the demons were gradually retreating, and spoke slowly.

"Qin Beifeng, Great General Feng, it was the good fortune of the Chu Emperor to have a general like you. Had the Great Chu not fallen, you would undoubtedly have become a man of my stature in the future."

Hearing this, Qin Beifeng’s deadened expression did not flicker. He already considered himself a dead man walking. Sabotaging the city gates and conspiring to murder the Heir Apparent—any one of these crimes was enough to warrant a thousand deaths. Thus, faced with the Duke of Zhenguo, whom he had always deeply respected and never dared to offend, he now found he could be entirely indifferent.

Cheng Shiyuan did not mind Qin Beifeng's lack of respect. He glanced at the retreating demonic figures in the sky, then lowered his majestic gaze to Cheng Guang. Looking at Cheng Guang, who was currently transformed into an Iron-Armored Turtle, the old Duke’s stern eyes could not help but reveal a flicker of shock and movement.

"Duke, this is the Heir Apparent," a high-ranking officer of the Northern Expeditionary Army, noticing the Duke’s shock, explained. "The Heir Apparent suddenly changed into this form for reasons unknown."

Cheng Shiyuan was momentarily stunned; he had clearly not expected Cheng Guang to be capable of such a transformation. Looking at the Iron-Armored Turtle, he noted that the demonic aura it emitted was extremely pure, with no trace of Cheng Guang’s original presence. Had it not been for the officer’s reminder, he would have truly mistaken this creature for a real demon.

As he pondered, he recalled Cheng Guang asking him for demon cores earlier, and then looking at this Iron-Armored Turtle, which possessed the aura of a Ninth-Grade Demon King, he realized what had happened. Cheng Shiyuan chuckled and shook his head; he had never imagined that his grandson possessed such abilities. If this method of using demon cores to transform into a demon were not in his own grandson’s hands, he would have been tempted to seize it for himself. But since it belonged to Cheng Guang, he naturally felt no such greed.

Cheng Shiyuan looked at Cheng Guang and laughed, "Grandson, that’s enough. Let him go; with me here, he can do nothing more."

Cheng Guang, hearing his grandfather’s words, let a smile break across the primitive, reptilian face of the turtle. He decisively released Qin Beifeng. A strange light flashed, and the mountain-like form of the Iron-Armored Turtle vanished in a breath, revealing Cheng Guang’s handsome figure once more.

Cheng Guang smiled at Cheng Shiyuan and called out with a touch of playfulness, "Grandfather."

Having witnessed the transformation, the Duke, who was stroking his white beard, paused for a moment. He marveled, "Grandson, this ability of yours is truly extraordinary. It is one thing to take the form of a demon, but to possess their terrifying strength and defenses is quite another."

While he marveled, Cheng Shiyuan also felt a sense of relief. It was fortunate that Cheng Guang had more tricks up his sleeve than he had anticipated. Otherwise, he would have had to divide his attention to save Cheng Guang from Qin Beifeng’s lethal strike. Even if he could have shaken off the two Demon Emperors to do so, his subsequent battle with them would have been compromised.

Cheng Guang didn't know how to explain the Demon Transformation Armor, as it was a Heavenly-grade artifact rewarded by the system—extremely rare, even for someone as powerful as the Duke.

"Grandfather, this is a rare treasure I stumbled upon. By using a demon core to record a beast, I can assume its form and inherit some of its abilities."

Cheng Shiyuan stroked his chin and nodded slightly, "I see. No wonder you were asking me for demon cores."

Cheng Guang seized the opportunity, "If Grandfather could find me a Demon Emperor’s core, I might become invincible beneath the Heaven-Man realm."

Cheng Shiyuan coughed twice. That was asking for a lot. Demon Emperors were not so easily slain. He had only just managed to force two of them back; had they not retreated on their own, the fight would have ended in mutual destruction. Of course, in a one-on-one fight where a Demon Emperor could not escape, he was confident he could slay one.

With a slightly reddened face, the Duke replied, "Well... Grandson, when the opportunity arises, I will certainly find you a Demon Emperor's core."

Cheng Guang nodded with a smile, accepting the empty promise. He wasn't truly desperate for one; the Ninth-Grade Demon King core was sufficient for the time being. Some Demon Emperors didn't even have defenses as strong as the Iron-Armored Turtle.

"Grandfather," Cheng Guang asked, looking at Qin Beifeng, "what should be done with him?"

Even if Qin Beifeng was a Great General of Chu acting out of a desire for vengeance, betrayal was unacceptable to the Duke and the Northern Expeditionary Army. Cheng Guang already knew what Qin Beifeng’s fate would be.

The Duke sighed again, looking at Qin Beifeng’s deadened face. "Beifeng, I always groomed you as one of my own. In the future, when my grandson succeeded me, you were meant to be his most capable assistant and most trusted reliance. As for the matter of Great Chu all those years ago, I was merely a blade—a blade of the imperial family. When royals clash, what can we, as mere officials, do?"

Qin Beifeng offered a bitter smile. He knew well enough that the Duke was just a tool, but since he couldn't even touch the Duke, how could he hope to strike at the Great Zhou Emperor in the capital? His plan had been to eliminate the Duke, replace him, seize control of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and use its strength to oppose the Emperor. It was a dream of restoration that had shattered at the very first step.

"Duke," Qin Beifeng said, looking up, "I have lost. I am in this state now; do as you will."

The Duke felt a pang of sadness. He remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand. "Li Bo-xun."

Li Bo-xun, who had been observing from the sidelines, hurried over. "Duke."

"Take him away, seal his cultivation, and lock him in the military prison," the Duke commanded. "His crimes warrant death. Pick a time and execute him."

The Duke walked away without a backward glance. On the surface, the usually gentle Duke appeared cold-blooded. Qin Beifeng was a talent, important to the army, and had only recently become his son-in-law. Yet, Qin Beifeng had betrayed him. If not for Cheng Guang’s warning, the entire city of Zhenbei would have fallen, and the Northern Expeditionary Army would have been wiped out. Just thinking of the consequences made the Duke’s spine turn cold. He wanted Qin Beifeng dead, but he didn't want to do the deed himself.

Li Bo-xun obeyed. After the Duke left, he walked to Qin Beifeng and struck him with a palm. A series of pops echoed as Qin Beifeng’s meridians were sealed, his cultivation rendered useless. Qin Beifeng did not resist; in his state, resistance was futile.

With the matter settled, Cheng Guang returned to the Duke’s mansion. He wasn't sure how to face Qin Yanqiu. They had just been married, and he had been instrumental in the downfall of her father and brother. Qin Yanqiu, no matter how cold her temperament, would surely be devastated. Moreover, he realized that his grandfather’s desire for the marriage had been a political move to secure Qin Beifeng’s loyalty. Now that Qin Beifeng was a traitor, the marriage had lost its strategic value. He wondered if it would be annulled.

...

Cheng Guang returned to the mansion under the escort of his guards.

It was the hour of the Rooster. The air in Zhenbei City was cold, frost covering the garden plants. The mansion was brightly lit, casting a melancholic beauty into the night.

In the courtyard, Qin Yanqiu was practicing her swordplay. She wore her Silver Moon armor, her movements elegant and cold. Because of the recent battle, the Duke had kept her away from the front lines to protect her, so she was still unaware of her father’s betrayal.

As Cheng Guang entered, she stopped and looked at him. "How is it?"

"It’s almost over," Cheng Guang replied, sitting at a stone table.

Qin Yanqiu let out a sigh of relief. "If the Duke hadn't forbidden it, I would have participated in this battle." There was a trace of disappointment on her cold face.

Qingluan, who was busy cooking nearby, laughed, "The Young Mistress has been fretting about not being able to join the battle all day."

Cheng Guang kept his silence, intending to tell her the truth after dinner. Qin Beifeng’s affair was something she had to know.

After the meal, Cheng Guang looked at Qin Yanqiu, who was sipping tea. "I have something to tell you."

Qin Yanqiu sensed his gravity. "What is it?"

Cheng Guang looked at her. "Your father, Qin Beifeng, is in trouble."

Qin Yanqiu froze. "Is he injured?"

"No," Cheng Guang shook his head. "He betrayed the Northern Expeditionary Army."

Qin Yanqiu’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She searched his face for a sign of a joke, but found only solemnity. "Why? My father has no reason to do such a thing."

"He does," Cheng Guang said softly. "Do you know his origins? He was once a general of the Great Chu. His betrayal was an attempt to avenge his fallen nation."

Qin Yanqiu fell into a daze. "Great Chu" was a foreign term to her.

Cheng Guang stood up and patted her shoulder, then walked toward the bedroom. He had more important matters to attend to—collecting his mission reward.

He had been rewarded with a "General’s Talisman." He closed the door, sat down, and whispered, "System, claim reward!"

Golden light swirled in the air, coalescing into a primitive, bright yellow talisman covered in complex, cryptic markings. Even before being used, it exerted a subtle pressure on the mind. When Cheng Guang reached out to touch it, it turned from ethereal to solid, feeling as heavy as cold iron.

Information flooded his mind: *General’s Talisman: He who leads soldiers is a general. The talisman can summon a hundred soldiers to obey you and can be used to amplify the morale and strength of your troops.*

Cheng Guang stared at the talisman, his expression turning odd. It was quite literal. He couldn't experiment here, as summoning a hundred men into his bedroom would be problematic. He decided to wait until he returned to the capital.

He carefully tucked the talisman away. Suddenly, he heard a voice outside.

"Young Master."

Qin Yanqiu stood at the door, her face showing signs of exhaustion. She entered and lay down on the bed, still wearing her armor. Cheng Guang watched her, feeling a mix of pity and detachment. He knew she was likely hoping that by consummating their marriage, he might plead for her father’s life. But he knew the Duke would never compromise on this.

As midnight approached, the system’s cold, emotionless voice sounded in his mind:

*September 10, 34th year of the Sage Era... You have uncovered the mastermind within the Northern Expeditionary Army to be Qin Beifeng... You realize Qin Beifeng is merely a pawn; there is a greater force behind him. You suspect the remnants of the Great Chu...*

*Four-Star Mission: Find the Remnants of Great Chu.*
*Reward: Princess's Tomb.*

Cheng Guang’s brow furrowed. If Qin Beifeng was a pawn, who was the master? He had heard of the "Great Chu remnants" who had allegedly died in the Great Yan capital, Fire City, but whose bodies were never found. If the system was giving him this mission, it meant they were alive.

He looked at the sleeping Qin Yanqiu, then stood up and walked to the prison.

Qin Beifeng was a broken man, chained and withered. When he saw Cheng Guang, he looked up with a bitter smile. "Young Master."

"Qin Uncle," Cheng Guang said directly, "is the person behind you from the Great Chu royal family?"

Qin Beifeng’s eyes widened in sheer terror. How could Cheng Guang possibly know? The shock was absolute. His pupils trembled as he stared at the young man, his mind reeling in incomprehension.