Jin Zha, Mu Zha, Your Father Is Calling You Home for a Beating

Sishui Pass.

The night was deep, and the mansion was brightly lit, yet it couldn't suppress the chilling atmosphere brought back from the battlefield.

Li Jing had just come out of Nezha's room. Nezha's injuries looked horrifying, but they were actually just superficial wounds and had not affected his body.

With his powerful physique as a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, supplemented by spiritual medicine, he can recover completely in a few days.

But the wound in Li Jing's heart was a hundred times heavier than the wound on Nezha's body.

Without lingering for a moment, he went straight to the study where Jiang Ziya handled military affairs.

Jiang Ziya stood alone before the enormous map, seemingly lost in thought.

He didn't turn around when he heard footsteps.

Li Jing quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"This humble general, Li Jing, pays his respects to the Grand Tutor!"

His voice was hoarse and heavy, carrying an indescribable weariness and guilt.

Jiang Ziya's gaze fell on Li Jing, calm and undisturbed, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

General Li, have you come for Jin Zha and Mu Zha?

In one sentence, he directly revealed Li Jing's innermost thoughts.

Today, on the battlefield, he noticed that Li Jing's expression was unusual.

When the dozen or so Chan Sect Disciple surrounded Nezha, Li Jing's body was taut like a fully drawn bow.

He tried to speak several times, but held back, his face looking extremely grim.

Jiang Ziya had already made a guess at that time.

The King once told him that besides Nezha, Li Jing had two other sons, the eldest Jin Zha and the second Mu Zha, both of whom were disciples of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect.

It seems that among the Chan Sect Disciple who challenged the enemy at the Xiqi front today, there were two of them.

Upon hearing these two names uttered by Jiang Ziya, Li Jing's burly body trembled violently.

He lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse with extreme shame and indignation.

"Grand Tutor, you are wise... This humble general has come precisely for those two rebellious sons!"

"Those two rebellious sons joined the Clarify Sect and have been away from home for decades, without a trace."

"I originally thought they were practicing meditation in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs."

"But to everyone's surprise, after years of serving the immortals, instead of thinking of repaying the Shang Great Shang Dynasty, they have now aided the rebellion of Xiqi and attacked the Great Shang Dynasty army!"

"He even... he even joined forces with other Chan Sect Disciple to attack his own younger brother!"

By the end, Li Jing's voice had trembled slightly.

He suddenly raised his head, his tiger-like eyes filled with bloodshot eyes of deep sorrow.

"This is all due to my poor discipline, which has resulted in two such disloyal and unfilial wretches!"

"This humble general deserves to die a thousand deaths; I beg the Grand Tutor to punish me!"

Li Jing kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the cold, hard bluestone floor with a dull thud.

Jiang Ziya stepped forward and reached out to help him up.

"General Li, please rise."

"It's not your fault."

Li Jing raised his head, his eyes bloodshot and filled with remorse.

"Grand Tutor, this humble general..."

Jiang Ziya continued.

"Your two sons were taken away by the Clarify Sect when they were young and spent many years cultivating on the immortal mountain. Everything they heard and experienced was from the Clarify Sect."

"In their hearts, the orders of their sect probably outweighed their thoughts of family and country."

"And those people from the Clarify Sect are even more shameless."

Jiang Ziya's tone remained unchanged, but his words sent a chill down Li Jing's spine.

"General Li has long served in Chaoge and is highly valued by the King; this is known throughout the land."

"How could the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Clarify Sect not know this?"

"They knew that you, General, were serving my Great Shang Dynasty, yet they still sent your two sons to the front lines, making them fight against their own brothers and their own father."

"His intentions are utterly despicable."

Li Jing's body trembled, and he said with hatred.

"If I had known this would happen, I, Li Jing, would have risked my life to never have allowed my son to become a disciple of the Clarify Sect!"

He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Jiang Ziya once again.

Grand Tutor!

"This humble general wishes to... wishes to personally go out of the pass to the Xiqi camp and persuade those two rebellious sons to turn back!"

"They may have been temporarily deceived by treacherous people. If I can reason with them and appeal to their emotions, perhaps... perhaps there is still a chance to salvage the situation!"

"This humble general wishes to give them one last chance, to let them see the error of their ways and turn away from darkness to light!"

"Please grant my permission, Grand Tutor!"

He clung to his last glimmer of hope, gazing expectantly at Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"No rush."

"Tomorrow, the Xiqi army will surely come to the pass again to challenge and provoke us."

"They were unwilling to accept their failure to defeat Nezha today."

"Seeing our army displaying Truce Flag again, they will surely think we are cowardly and have come to humiliate us, in order to undermine our morale."

"At that time, the general can take the opportunity to step forward and, in front of both armies, offer some serious advice."

"If they could finally see the error of their ways and abandon their evil ways for the light, that would be the best outcome."

Even if they remain stubborn and unwilling to submit, it doesn't matter.

A strange smile appeared on Jiang Ziya's face.

"Wait until my fellow Martial Nephew arrive."

"I ordered them to capture your two sons alive and bring them to you."

"At that time, whether the general beats or scolds, imprs or punishes him, can be done slowly; there's no need to rush."

Li Jing's face immediately lit up with joy.

"Thank you, Grand Tutor!"

A powerful surge of warmth instantly dispelled all of Li Jing's unease and fear.

He originally thought that because of the betrayal of his two sons, he would be suspected by the Grand Tutor, alienated by his colleagues, and even punished by the King.

Unexpectedly, the Grand Tutor not only did not blame him, but also thought of him in every way, and even paved the way for him after his attempt to persuade him to surrender failed!

What trust! What kindness!

He bowed deeply to Jiang Ziya once again, this time with heartfelt respect and gratitude.

"Grand Tutor's kindness is something I, your humble servant, will never forget!"

Jiang Ziya accepted the bow without hesitation.

What he wanted was Li Jing's absolute loyalty.

This also reveals the deeper meaning behind the King's decision to transfer Li Jing to him.

Li Jing straightened up, his face no longer showing any hesitation, but instead displaying a resolute determination.

"Rest assured, Grand Tutor!"

"This humble general hereby swears!"

"If those two rebellious sons remain obstinate and refuse to surrender..."

"This humble general... this humble general will personally break their legs!"

"Tie them up, take them to Chaoge, and personally deliver them before the King the King so that he may punish them!"

"Good."

That's exactly the attitude Jiang Ziya wanted.

He walked up to Li Jing and personally helped him up.

"General Li's loyalty is commendable; His the King has not misjudged you."

"Alright, go back and get some rest. Tomorrow, you should try to talk to your two sons."

"Yes!"

Li Jing expressed his deepest gratitude and bowed as he withdrew from the hall.