The first court assembly since the Demon Race's new emperor took the throne had ended, but its events had been anything but minor. Cheng Yu had pushed six great clans toward ruin right from the outset, leaving some officials sighing inwardly.
"The days ahead probably won't be easy..."
Inside the Demon Race's imperial city, Cheng Yu looked at Niu Da kneeling before him.
"Didn't I tell you to come collect your reward? Why didn't you?"
Niu Da answered in his deep, muffled voice.
"I did everything I could to ask for your help, Prince, but it wasn't for a reward. I just didn't want His Majesty's... er, the late emperor's hard work to go to waste."
Cheng Yu was somewhat speechless. This old bull had absolutely no political sense. Even in the exceptionally unusual political setting of the Eternal True World and the Demon Race, this old bull was truly... well, straightforward!
Cheng Yu felt helpless.
"You'd better stop serving as commander of the Imperial Guard."
Niu Da raised his head and stared at Cheng Yu in disbelief. His eyes seemed to say, I don't understand. Why am I being fired just because I didn't come collect my reward?
Cheng Yu knew there was no point speaking in riddles to this bull-headed fellow. He said softly,
"You're too slow-witted. The late emperor was a mighty cultivator of the Heaven Peering Realm, so having you as commander of the Imperial Guard made little difference. But His Majesty is still young and needs someone meticulous to protect him."
Niu Da replied in his deep, muffled voice.
"I can learn."
Cheng Yu continued patiently,
"I intend to give you another assignment."
Then Cheng Yu said softly,
"Jin Chi, Jin Yang."
Two figures appeared behind Cheng Yu and dropped to one knee, like warriors