Peacock Great Bright King

--Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop!

Banners fluttered, and ten thousand horses galloped. Wen Zhong sat atop the Ink Jade Qilin, gazing into the distance at Chaoge, his blood surging with excitement.

"Soldiers, we're going home!"

"Chaoge!"

"Chaoge!"

"Chaoge!"

Their voices were like vast clouds stirred by thunder, their spirit as unyielding as iron. The momentum of the hundred-thousand-strong army surged like a tide, and their marching speed increased by another three points as they charged straight toward Chaoge's eastern gate!

"We're finally almost at Chaoge!"

Fei Zhong was also so excited that tears filled his eyes. Once they reached Chaoge, he would finally no longer have to live in fear! Along the way, he had always felt that Su Hu kept sizing up his neck...

After I return, I'll definitely become a loyal minister, a capable minister, a good minister!

In this day and age, if I keep acting as a treacherous minister, I might die a violent death any day now...

"Chaoge?"

Su Hu glanced at Fei Zhong's neck once more, then rode over to the front of the phoenix carriage:

"Daji, my daughter, you can still regret this while there's time. Once you enter the palace, it will be as deep as the sea. Take one more step forward, and you'll be at the gates of hell!"

"Marquis Su, what are you doing?"

Fei Zhong spoke in a trembling voice. When Su Hu glared at him, he immediately shrank his neck. Hiding behind the captain of the guards, he forced himself to speak boldly:

"Marquis, we're almost at Chaoge. Please stop this. This is a marriage blessed by Heaven. The Great King will treat Niang Niang Daji well."

"Shut up!"

Su Hu turned around and brought his saber down. A streak of bloodthirsty energy shot straight toward Fei Zhong.

"Ha!"

With a thunderous shout, the captain of the guards, Zhao Tao, thrust out his spear like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, striking the edge of Su Hu's saber head-on!

With a loud bang, Zhao Tao's spear shattered. A huge gash was cleaved into the armor over his chest, yet his body remained completely unharmed.

Still startled, Zhao Tao ignored the sharp pain from his split palm, clasped his fists, and lowered his head:

"Thank you for showing mercy, Marquis!"

"Hmph!"

Su Hu snorted coldly and waited for someone in the phoenix carriage to speak. The dust had not yet settled, and there was no need to tear away all pretense.

Fei Zhong's face turned deathly pale, and his entire body trembled. He no longer dared to say anything else, but his resolve only grew firmer: I must be a good person!

"Father, your daughter has been unfilial. From now on, I won't be able to serve at your side."

A gentle voice drifted from within the phoenix carriage. It sounded separated from the mortal world, yet carried a trace of enchantment. That voice alone was enough to stir one's heart and inspire endless fantasies about what kind of peerless beauty its owner was.

"Alas!"

Hearing Daji's reply, Su Hu let out a long sigh and returned his saber to its sheath:

"Keep moving!"

Only then did the three thousand troops continue onward. At that moment, the two large characters "North Gate" were already faintly visible atop Chaoge's city wall.

--Dong! Dong! Dong!

"The bells and drums of the Nine-Room Hall have sounded. Grand Tutor Wen has returned from the campaign and is triumphant. Please enter the hall!"

Hearing the palace official's call, Di Xin took Yin Jiao by the hand and proceeded to the Nine-Room Hall.

The civil and military officials welcomed Wen Zhong into court. After they all bowed and offered their congratulations, they stood in two rows.

"This subject, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, has finally eradicated the seventy-two rebellious lords of the North Sea led by Yuan Futong, swept through and pacified the ten thousand miles of the North Sea, and now returned to court. I have not failed the late king's profound hopes, nor the Great King's grace!"

Wen Zhong stepped out of the ranks. His eyes were already filled with tears as he spoke, overcome with joy.

"Hahahaha! The Grand Tutor marched far into the North Sea, braved arduous terrain, and exterminated every rebel, displaying the might of Yin Shang! Now that you have returned victorious, you must naturally receive a great reward!"

Di Xin descended the jade steps in three or two strides, supporting Wen Zhong by both shoulders as he said softly:

"Teacher, thank you for your effort."

"It was no trouble, no trouble!"

Ten thousand words of praise could not compare to those few words from Di Xin that struck straight at his heart.

Wen Zhong's entire body trembled. Following Di Xin's strength, he raised his head. His gaze swept over Di Xin's smoothed-out edges (He took supplements every day and had gotten fat), and he was so moved that he could not utter a complete sentence:

"Good! Good! Good!"

"In this battle, the rebels were originally no match for us. However, among them was an extraordinary expert with profound cultivation who set up an evil formation..."

After the deep bond between ruler and subject had been expressed, Wen Zhong wiped away his tears and briefly recounted the battle.

"Great King, therefore, the credit for this great victory belongs to the soldiers who fought bravely and slew the enemy, while the attack succeeded because Pavilion Master Kong Xuan arrived in time and broke through the enemy army's evil technique in one strike. This old minister is already advanced in years, and wealth, fame, and rank are of no use to me. If the Great King wishes to show his favor, you would do better to richly reward Pavilion Master Kong Xuan and lavish rewards upon the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country, as well as these battered young men."

"Teacher, there is no need to say more. I will not let the soldiers who fought bravely on the front lines suffer physical wounds and heartbreak as well!"

Di Xin turned and climbed onto the high platform, then faced the assembled officials:

"For the soldiers who died in this battle, raise their official rank by one grade and provide the corresponding compensation. Those who suffered severe injuries may retire from the army; all corvée labor obligations for three generations of their families shall be waived, their official rank raised by half a grade, and additional rewards granted! For all other soldiers, waive two generations of their families' corvée labor obligations and double their rewards!"

"Furthermore, all soldiers in the army who are forty-five years old, below the rank of centurion, shall retire. Raise their official rank by one grade and grant them generous rewards!

"Those who are fifty-five years old, below the rank of commander of ten thousand, shall all retire. Raise their official rank by half a grade and grant them generous rewards!"

"Furthermore, if the families of any soldiers who went on this expedition relocate to the North Sea, each person in the family shall receive twenty mu of fertile land! The army will clear the way and escort them!"

"Furthermore, all rewards from this campaign must be safely delivered to every person's home:

"Those who falsify records shall be killed!

"Those who secretly withhold rewards shall be killed!

"Those who insult the martyrs shall be killed! Killed! Killed!

"I will clear the road with slaughter. These soldiers who fought for Yin Shang must not suffer the slightest injustice!"

"This subject, Wen Zhong, thanks the Great King on behalf of the hundred thousand soldiers for his grace!"

Wen Zhong bowed again. Looking at the high-spirited Di Xin, whose bearing was that of a true king, he had only one thought: I can die without regrets!

"The General of Sanshan Pass, Kong Xuan, has rendered heaven-shaking merit in this campaign and must be rewarded! With extraordinary beings running rampant and the Star-Gathering Pavilion soon to be completed, I hereby specially confer upon Kong Xuan the position of Pavilion Master of the Star-Gathering Pavilion, placing all extraordinary beings within Yin Shang under his command! I further bestow upon him the title of king: Peacock Great Bright King!"

The golden light of the Kongtong Seal in Di Xin's hand suddenly scattered, and a layer of Yin Shang's destiny settled upon Kong Xuan.

"This subject, Kong Xuan, thanks the Great King for his grace!"

Kong Xuan nodded. The Human Race Destiny merged into his own destiny, confusing the heavenly secrets and concealing his true nature!

"Great King, making him a king—this...?"

"This is inappropriate, Great King!"

Amid the uproar, Di Xin spoke again:

"He is merely being granted the title of king. He will receive no fief and no slaves. The court will fund the construction of the Peacock Great Bright King's residence."

"Great King! This reward is acceptable!"

Wen Zhong calmed his emotions and spoke out in support. The boiling court fell silent in an instant.

"This subject agrees!"

"This subject seconds the proposal!"

Seeing this, Di Xin scrutinized the Four Great Earls before speaking again:

"Kong Xuan, fill the Star-Gathering Pavilion as soon as possible and register all extraordinary beings. I grant you the authority to execute first and report afterward! However, if extraordinary beings cause trouble again in the future, I will hold you accountable!"

"This subject will not fail the Great King's profound hopes!"

Having obtained the Human Race Destiny, Kong Xuan naturally cooperated fully with Di Xin.

"Hahahaha! Men, prepare a banquet! On this day of great joy, I shall drink with all my beloved ministers until none of us can return sober!"

Before Di Xin's voice had even faded, Fei Zhong came rolling and crawling into the main hall:

"Report! Great King, Marquis of Jizhou Su Hu has arrived with his daughter and is waiting outside the hall."

Mm, that's right. It is a day of great joy.