Chong Heihu's Death

The northern lands lay locked in ice for a thousand miles.

Even in March, snow still fell over the North Sea.

Across the vast North Sea, the flames of war flared from time to time.

Harsh mountains and treacherous waters bred unruly folk.

It seemed the war in the North Sea could not be quelled anytime soon.

Gu Changqing paid no heed to those minor enemies and headed straight for Wen Zhong's great camp.

"Wen Zhong pays respects to Junior Martial Uncle."

"Chong Houhu pays respects to the Imperial Preceptor."

"Chong Heihu pays respects to the Imperial Preceptor."

"No need for formalities."

When Gu Changqing saw Chong Heihu, he gave Wen Zhong a questioning look.

Three years had already passed. Why had he not killed this traitor yet?

"Wen Zhong, come inspect the front lines with me."

Gu Changqing led Wen Zhong to a secluded spot and asked, "Didn't I tell you to kill Chong Heihu?"

Wen Zhong smiled bitterly. "Chong Heihu has rendered outstanding military service and possesses loyalty and courage. He does not seem like an evil man."

"Doesn't seem like an evil man?" Gu Changqing smiled. "Being loyal for a time does not mean being loyal for a lifetime. He has not betrayed anyone yet only because he has not encountered a price worth betraying them for."

Wen Zhong added, "The Chong brothers are deeply devoted to one another, and Chong Heihu has military merits to his name. We cannot execute him on fabricated charges, can we? If we did, the million armored soldiers would surely be disheartened."

Gu Changqing said, "If we cannot execute him on fabricated charges, why can't we give him an honorable death?"

This...

Wen Zhong froze for a moment before saying, "Why must Junior Martial Uncle insist on Chong Heihu's death? The North Sea is in desperate need of capable people right now."

To sentence a man to death merely because he had the bones of a traitor in his head—Wen Zhong felt that was hardly proper.

If there were conclusive evidence, Wen Zhong would not hesitate to cut off his dog head.

But killing a capable general over something that had yet to happen seemed rather absurd no matter how he looked at it.

"For the tens of thousands of miles of territory in the North Sea, and for Great Shang's six-hundred-year dynasty."

Gu Changqing spoke resolutely. Chong Heihu would bind Chong Houhu and deliver him into the Zhou camp, causing the North Sea to change hands and dealing Di Xin a fatal blow. In the battle at Golden Rooster Ridge, Chong Heihu would personally slay Gao Jineng, laying the foundation for the Zhou army's victory.

Why keep a traitor like that around until the New Year instead of killing him early?

Seeing the resistance in Wen Zhong's expression, Gu Changqing added, "Must I handle such a trivial matter personally?"

"This... I will make arrangements."

Seeing that Gu Changqing was determined to have Chong Heihu killed, Wen Zhong could only compromise.

Gu Changqing was not only his martial uncle but also the Imperial Preceptor. There was no reason for him to frame a mere Chong Heihu.

If Gu Changqing said Chong Heihu had a problem, perhaps that fellow really did have one.

Gu Changqing asked, "The battle has dragged on without resolution. Why have you not requested reinforcements?"

In the original course of events, Wen Zhong spent fifteen years pacifying the North Sea. Gu Changqing felt fifteen years was far too long, which was why he had come to the North Sea.

Wen Zhong replied, "I have already drawn away a third of our forces. If we keep drawing strength from the capital, I fear it will damage the very foundation of the royal domain."

Gu Changqing asked, "Have you sought help from Shi Ji?"

Wen Zhong replied, "Martial Uncle Shi Ji came to the North Sea long ago, but the Western Sect is too powerful. Martial Uncle Shi Ji alone has found it difficult to turn the tide."

"Mm."

Gu Changqing thought to himself, If the Western Sect was determined to throw the North Sea into chaos, Shi Ji truly could not reverse the situation alone. Wen Zhong could increase the number of cultivators on his side, and the Western Sect could do the same.

"Do you know where the Western Sect's main base is?"

Wen Zhong replied, "The Western Sect's experts are entrenched at Vulture Peak Mountain."

Vulture Peak Mountain? Vulture Peak Cave?

Wasn't that Ran Deng's cultivation ground?

Gu Changqing frowned inwardly. Had the Chan Sect already colluded with the Western Sect? Or was this merely Ran Deng's personal doing?

Gu Changqing glanced back at the Shang army's great camp and said, "Send Chong Heihu to Vulture Peak Mountain to scout the enemy."

"Yes." Wen Zhong nodded helplessly and returned to camp.

Gu Changqing did not return to the great camp. Instead, he headed for Vulture Peak Mountain.

Shi Ji might have gone to Vulture Peak Mountain as well.

The Western Sect did not lack merit treasures. They might not necessarily fear Shi Ji's Merit Saint Garment.

Although the World-Breaking Shuttle was an Innate Supreme Treasure, its greatest use was escape.

Shi Ji had come to the North Sea not to flee for her life!

Gu Changqing slowly made his way toward Vulture Peak Mountain, and before long, he discovered Chong Heihu following him.

Gu Changqing concealed himself and headed in another direction.

With the Merit Saint Attire shielding him, let alone Chong Heihu, even Ran Deng would find it difficult to detect his whereabouts.

A few days later, Gu Changqing arrived at the outskirts of Vulture Peak Mountain.

Chong Heihu arrived at roughly the same time behind him, about half a li away.

Noticing Chong Heihu's arrival, Gu Changqing became even more careful in concealing his tracks.

Soon, he encountered an old acquaintance.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect!

This...

What perfect timing—just when he was getting sleepy, someone had delivered a pillow.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva was at the Great Luo Peak. Killing an Earth Immortal like Chong Heihu would be as easy as playing around.

Chong Heihu happened to approach Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, who turned his head toward Chong Heihu's direction.

He merely shook his head and turned toward Vulture Peak Mountain.

Clearly, he did not take Chong Heihu seriously at all.

No!

If he just left like this, how was Chong Heihu supposed to die an honorable death?

Gu Changqing frowned inwardly, then a plan came to mind.

Exchanging one hundred thousand merit for a Precious Flower, Gu Changqing held the Precious Flower in his hand and smiled to himself.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva had five hundred Precious Flowers. The sudden loss of one did not draw his notice.

With a flick of his hand, Gu Changqing sent the Precious Flower shooting toward Chong Heihu's heart.

Poor Chong Heihu. No matter how cautious he was, how could he evade Gu Changqing's sneak attack? He was instantly nailed to the ground, his soul and spirit scattered, while a wisp of his True Spirit flew toward Kunlun Mountain.

After succeeding with a single move, Gu Changqing fled far away and arrived behind Chong Heihu.

A Precious Flower?

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva detected that faint spiritual gleam, and his heart jolted.

Wasn't that my Precious Flower artifact?

He looked at the Precious Flowers in his hand and found that one was indeed missing.

After sensing carefully, he discovered that the missing Precious Flower was lodged in Chong Heihu's chest!

This...

Not even Amitabha could pull off something this miraculous!

Could a Precious Flower fly out on its own and kill someone?

And kill some unknown Earth Immortal?

How was that possible?!

In a flash, Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva appeared before Chong Heihu. Upon closer inspection...

It really was my damn Precious Flower!

At this moment, Chong Heihu's subordinates were already terrified. When they saw Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, their hearts sank even further.

Judging from his attire, they knew he was an expert of the Western Sect.

The Grand Preceptor had said that this rebellion was connected to the Western Sect.

Clang!

Several men drew their weapons and confronted Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva.

When they saw the Precious Flower in Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva's hand, their faces filled with fury.

"Was it you who ambushed our lord?"

A leading armored soldier shouted furiously.

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva gave a bitter smile. "If I said this was a misunderstanding, would you believe me?"

Believe him?

Believe my ass!

The Precious Flower in Chong Heihu's chest was identical to the one in his hand, and he was calling it a misunderstanding?

The armored soldier removed the Precious Flower from Chong Heihu's chest and asked, "Is this yours?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva nodded.

The armored soldier asked again, "Is this your exclusive artifact?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva nodded again.

The armored soldier continued, "Is there anyone else in the world who uses this artifact?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva shook his head.

The armored soldier said, "And you still claim this is a misunderstanding?"

Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva nodded, then said to the person behind the armored soldier, "Junior Brother Changqing, we meet again."

Gu Changqing walked over, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and asked, "What happened?"