Ghost General (2)
No sooner had the officer finished shouting than a commotion erupted inside, and countless Ghost Soldier poured out of the barracks. Starting from the main gate, they stood in two rows, each holding a torch in one hand and a gun in the other, clearing a passage hundreds of meters long all the way to the central wooden platform, their ranks perfectly orderly. The camp of tens of thousands of soldiers instantly fell into such silence that you could hear a pin drop—a truly impressive display of military discipline.
"De'erlang...dang dang dang..." The sound of a pipa came from the direction of the wooden platform, and the hidden murderous intent in it was obvious, which was quite similar to the feeling of Ambush from Ten Sides from all sides.
Yue Qianchou had been smiling, suddenly turned grim and narrowed his eyes. Was he trying to intimidate me? He had been a soldier in his previous life and had seen similar scenes before. The timid could tremble on the spot and even walk unsteadily. This was military might.
A subtle yet powerful aura emanated from Yue Qianchou, instantly transforming him into a completely different person. Even the officer standing before him couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.
Among the disciples of various sects outside the gate, many began to breathe heavily, their breathing clearly audible. Yue Qianchou glanced coldly at the officer, as if looking at an ant, causing the latter to stiffen slightly. He slowly turned back to stare at the crowd, his tone indifferent as he said, "Useless things. A group of living people can't be scared by a bunch of ghosts, can they? With this kind of courage, how will you ever work for me again?" He then turned away without looking back.
Normally, if he dared to say such things, many people would have fought him to the death, including many with higher cultivation levels than him. Yet, not a single one dared to utter a sound. Gu Qingyun couldn't quite describe the look on his face; a fleeting hint of shame crossed his features.
The officer's neck veins bulged, and his face showed anger. He took a deep breath and calmed down, then seriously sized up Yue Qianchou. After looking him over, he was slightly surprised. With his cultivation level of early Ghost King (equivalent to early Tribulation stage in humans), he couldn't see through Yue Qianchou's cultivation level, yet the man looked so young. Truly, appearances can be deceiving. Only now did he become cautious, raising his hand to lead the way, saying, "Please!" His attitude was completely different from before.
Damn it! Face is something you earn yourself. Yue Qianchou put his hands behind his back, glanced at him coldly, then looked straight ahead, gave a nonchalant "hmm," and strode forward. The Ghost Soldier standing on both sides with their spears didn't even register on his radar. The disciples from various sects followed him closely, a few meters away.
The military formation stretching for hundreds of meters was a welcoming ceremonial display for some, but for others it felt increasingly oppressive. Yue Qianchou was currently treating it as the former, slowly advancing with measured steps, his expression unchanged. However, the footsteps of the disciples from various factions behind him grew increasingly chaotic.
When Yue Qianchou was about fifty meters Li Zhong platform, he noticed that the people standing on both sides had changed from Ghost Soldier soldiers to officers wearing armor. He glanced at them twice and then stopped looking. His gaze fell on a big man sitting upright on the platform in front of him.
The further they went, the clearer their vision became. He was a burly man with his hair tied back, two sharp, arched eyebrows that slanted upwards, large, piercing eyes with a piercing gaze, a prominent nose, full lips, a short beard, and a full face. He wore golden armor, and a scarlet cloak draped over his shoulders. A long table sat before him, upon which rested a golden helmet adorned with carved beasts, and several fruit platters. The burly man picked up a slightly translucent purple wine cup, tilted his head back, and poured the liquid into his throat. A maidservant beside him plucked a grape from the table and gently placed it in his mouth.
The burly man chewed on grapes, glanced at Yue Qianchou and his group approaching, then his gaze fell on a stunningly beautiful woman in a plain robe playing a pipa. Every movement she made exuded the air of a military general; if one didn't know he was the Ghost King, who could tell he was here?
Yue Qianchou led everyone to the front of the stage and stopped. He glanced at the woman playing the pipa and secretly praised her, "Iron-willed yet tender-hearted, what a Great General's demeanor!"
A man's admiration for another man was evident in Yue Qianchou's eyes. He glanced at the stage, smiled slightly, and slowly said, "Fine wine in a luminous cup, I long to drink, but the pipa urges me on. Do not laugh at me, drunk on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles? It is truly a fine pastime for the Great General to be drinking and making merry in this military camp. I, Yue Qianchou admired the Great General's name and have come to pay my respects." He then cupped his hands in a gesture of greeting.
Suddenly, a general stepped forward, pointed his finger, and shouted, "How dare you! Where did this arrogant brat come from, daring not to kneel before the Great General?"
This guy had a loud voice; despite not having any cultivation, his shouts were loud enough for the entire audience to hear. This frightened some of the sects, and the already timid disciples' legs went weak, almost causing them to kneel down.
Yue Qianchou glanced at him unmoved, a cold smile playing on his lips. It seemed all generals who looked like Zhang Fei had this fiery temper. He decided not to lower himself to his level and turned his gaze to the Ghost General on the platform.
The general roared in anger and strode forward, ready to attack. Suddenly, the Ghost King on the platform, without even looking at him, shouted in a deep voice, "Step back." He then waved to the pipa player beside him, and the pipa music stopped abruptly.
The general looked at the stage for a moment, then obediently retreated.
A rustling sound of golden armor filled the air as the Ghost General rose from his seat. The braziers on either side illuminated his armor, making it gleam and enhancing his imposing presence. He stared intently at Yue Qianchou for a moment, and seeing the latter smile at him without fear, he returned the smile. Then, toying with the slightly translucent purple wine cup in his hand, he slowly recited in a deep voice. "Fine wine in a luminous cup, I long to drink, but the pipa urges me on. Do not laugh at me, drunk and fallen on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles? How many have returned from ancient battles..."
He pondered the last line repeatedly for a long time, seemingly lost in thought. One of the generals on either side also softly recited, "Since ancient times, how many have returned from battle..." Though his voice was low, the desolation in his tone was palpable.
Gu Qingyun, standing behind someone, stared wide-eyed as he looked him up and down, as if he didn't recognize him. He was shocked. Was this really the same swindler he had met at the Cultivation Pavilion? How could he possibly compose such a poem on the spot? If he was just pretending to be calm at first, how could he possibly compose such a poem in front of the renowned Ghost General of the Demon Ghost Domain?
Among the disciples of various sects were many with refined tastes, especially the female disciples of the Wangyue Sect. Women naturally appreciate beautiful things, including poetry, particularly poems with profound meaning. The women shook their heads, trying to look past the crowd and get to know Yue Qianchou again, but all they saw was his unwavering back. In that instant, the fear in their hearts subsided to its lowest point.
Suddenly, the Ghost General came to his senses, raised the wine cup in his hand, looked at Yue Qianchou and smiled, "This young gentleman is indeed a genius. His impromptu work is a masterpiece. He is a rare talent. Then please, young gentleman, evaluate the pipa music played by my maid just now! This piece was composed by me personally. Please judge whether it can be considered a masterpiece."
Damn it! I'm no genius whatsoever, I don't know anything about pipa music. But this piece does sound like the Ambush from Ten Sides from Ten Sides" I heard in my past life. Whatever, I'll give it a try! I am, after all, a master who learned to play the pipa from my sister. Yue Qianchou put on a thoughtful look, nodded and said bluntly, "This piece can be considered a masterpiece among pipa pieces, but for the Great General, it has a very ominous meaning."
In an instant, all the generals on both sides and the disciples from various factions behind them focused their attention on him. The Ghost General said "Oh," turned his body to the side with his hands behind his back, no longer looking at him, and said in a deep voice, "What kind of ominous sign is it? Please tell me, young master." There was even a hint of coldness in his voice.
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