Lost? Won? Made a Killing!

Making a fool of the commander.

If that accusation stuck, the blade on the Immortal-Slaying Platform might as well have been sharpened in advance.

Chen Wei felt his scalp prickle, his thoughts spinning so fast in his Sea of Consciousness that they left afterimages.

Back down?

Absolutely not.

If his knees went weak and he retreated even half a step now, that would cement the accusation that he had a guilty conscience.

Since I can't dodge it, I'll meet it head-on!

"Please judge wisely, True Lord!" Chen Wei raised his voice, his face brimming with righteous resolve. "My proposal was never meant to make a fool of you! Every part of it was devised with the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, and you, True Lord, in mind!"

Yang Jian remained still, merely lifting his swordlike brows a fraction.

"The demons are deeply entrenched throughout the waters of the Heaven-Reaching River!" Chen Wei spoke at breakneck speed, afraid that a moment's delay would separate his head from his shoulders. "The Three Demons hold the inner river, while the Five Great Demon Sages have stationed their forces around the perimeter. Against such a formation, if the Heavenly Court's army relies on military might and launches a frontal assault, we may raze their underwater stronghold and win a sweeping victory, but we'll inevitably have to throw countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals into the grave!"

"True Lord, those are all losses!"

"The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals are the foundation nurtured by the Heavenly Court's resources! If a frontal assault causes devastating casualties, even if we win, wouldn't every one of those losses drain the Heavenly Court's vitality?"

His argument was watertight, bringing the cost of casualties out into the open.

Seeing that Yang Jian had not interrupted him, Chen Wei felt a little steadier and piled his lofty claims ever higher. "The stratagem of sowing discord I proposed may seem beneath us, but it is, in truth, the supreme path of using demons to control demons! Spread rumors, stir up the old grudges between the Three Demons and the Five Demon Sages, and make them suspect one another. Once Demonkind has been exhausted by internal strife, the Heavenly Court's army can descend like thunder and sweep up the remains."

"Everything I have considered was meant to ease your burdens, True Lord!"

"If you consider a strategy devised for the greater good an attempt to make a fool of you, then I am willing to die beneath your blade to prove my wholehearted loyalty to the Heavenly Court! I came here prepared to die, with nothing to hide, to meet you, True Lord!"

His words landed with the ringing force of metal striking stone.

With that, Chen Wei said no more. He bowed deeply and remained bent forward, utterly motionless.

What level of cultivation did Yang Jian possess?

A Great Luo Golden Immortal could discern the finest autumn hair. How could Chen Wei's nervousness escape him?

Within the Three Realms, what minor immortal would not be nervous facing a Great Luo Golden Immortal?

Anyone who was not nervous was either a fool or a dead thing.

For this minor immortal to suppress his fear and speak with such impassioned conviction, his composure and silver tongue truly did deserve Taibai Jinxing's regard.

"You don't fear me?" After a long silence, Yang Jian abruptly posed the question.

Chen Wei's heart jolted, and his mind raced.

Not afraid?

That would be utter bullshit.

But if he admitted he was afraid, his entire performance of facing death without flinching would fall apart.

Chen Wei straightened, his expression fervent. "True Lord, I can hardly admire you enough. How could I fear you? To tell you the truth, since ascending to the Heavenly Court, the only exalted immortals I have admired most in my immortal life are you, the Third Holy Mother, and Taibai Jinxing! All three of you are examples I study day and night and hold as my guiding standards!"

At the mention of the Third Holy Mother, Yang Jian's tone cooled. "You admire the Third Holy Mother?"

Chen Wei groaned inwardly. Could these siblings be on bad terms?

Or does the True Lord utterly despise other immortals mentioning his sister?

But the words were already out. Spilled water could not be gathered back.

Changing his tune now would only invite greater suspicion.

"Yes! I admire her immensely!" Chen Wei steeled himself and refused to budge. "Though I have never seen the Third Holy Mother's true countenance, her reputation for compassion is known throughout the Three Realms! In my heart, the Holy Mother is the light that guides my path, an immortal moon that must never be profaned! I would never dare forget my reverence!"

He poured out flattering words as though they cost nothing.

Chen Wei's calculations were precise: he had only ever met the Third Holy Mother's maidservant anyway. As for the Holy Mother herself, she was a mighty figure far above him. Where would a mere True Immortal official like him ever get to meet her?

He only needed to cling to the word "reverence" and make it clear that he harbored no improper desires. Keeping his life came first.

After a while, Yang Jian's tone warmed. "You've never met the Third Holy Mother?"

The question left Chen Wei momentarily stunned.

I haven't met her because I haven't met her. What is there to hide?

"True Lord, every word I said was true!" Chen Wei reported honestly, his expression natural. "The Holy Mother holds an exalted position, attends to countless affairs each day, and bestows her grace across the four seas. I'm only a minor immortal official. How could I be fortunate enough to behold her august countenance?"

He really had never met her. Yang Niansan was only the Holy Mother's maidservant. Could meeting her count?

Not at all.

Yang Jian's gaze unconsciously flicked toward the door, and the image of his Third Sister dressed as a man surfaced in his Sea of Consciousness.

So, after all that, this fellow is blind?

Third Sister has been under his nose every day, helping him devise strategies and even personally asking for command of troops, yet this brat hasn't recognized who she really is and keeps insisting he's never met her?

Still, since Yang Chan's identity had not yet been discovered, there was plenty to be done with this situation.

He might as well offer a few benefits to head off this fellow's thoughts, while securing a chess piece for himself. Let this little pawn cross the river and see whether he could become a rook.

Having worked that out, Yang Jian suddenly gave a soft chuckle. "Heh..."

Chen Wei smiled along, though inwardly his skin crawled.

What is the True Lord laughing about?

Is never having met the Holy Mother really that funny?

Yang Jian casually set down the Three-Pointed, Double-Edged Blade and leaned back slightly. "Very well. Since you are so wholeheartedly loyal to the Heavenly Court and have a sound strategy, it would make me seem unreasonable if I refused to oblige you."

"Thank you for granting my request, True Lord!" Joy stirred in Chen Wei's heart. He knew his life was safe now.

Yang Jian waved a hand, cutting off Chen Wei's thanks, and issued a military order. "I will assign thirty thousand heavenly soldiers to your command and appoint you Vanguard of the army. Proceed at once to the outer waters of the Heaven-Reaching River and quell the Demon Calamity."

Thirty thousand heavenly soldiers?

Vanguard?

He was a civil official who wielded a writing brush. Even counting Ma Muzhi, Yang Niansan, Pang Long, and Xiao Yan, that was only four immortals in all, and he was supposed to lead thirty thousand regular troops into the vanguard?

How was that any different from tossing him into a demon king's mouth as an extra meal?

"True Lord, I fear the position of Vanguard is beyond my..." Chen Wei had barely begun to decline.

"The matter is settled!" Yang Jian gave him no chance to refuse, his gaze unfathomable. "However, let me remind you of one thing. The demonic scourge of the Heaven-Reaching River is deeply entrenched and cannot be quelled overnight. This campaign must not be rushed. You must proceed gradually. Do you understand?"

As soon as he heard this, Chen Wei rapidly analyzed it in his Sea of Consciousness.

Must not be rushed?

Proceed gradually?

Chen Wei had spent years studying High Immortals. In moments, he understood the deeper meaning behind those words.

The army would march out with tremendous fanfare and consume vast resources. If they wiped out Demonkind in a few strokes as soon as they arrived and returned to court, what would the High Immortals think?

They had to make a grand spectacle, draw things out, and make the fighting look genuinely deadlocked.

Only then could they demonstrate how difficult the rebellion was to quell and make their achievements shine.

Let the thin stream flow long, and everyone would be happy.

Yang Jian had changed his mind and granted Chen Wei command not so he could win battles, but so he could make some noise and put on an offensive posture, giving Yang Jian's uncle a little face.

It was a guaranteed victory anyway. Why resolve it quickly?

Lost?

Won?

Made a killing!

Chen Wei reached that conclusion too, and everything clicked into place.

"I understand!" Chen Wei cupped his fists and said respectfully, "True Lord, you plan victory from within the command tent. I will strictly follow your decree and never advance rashly in pursuit of glory. In all things, I will proceed! Slowly! And! Carefully!"

Yang Jian nodded.

Though this fellow had eyes but failed to see, his mind certainly worked quickly. He could not be better suited to serving as a chess piece that stirred up the board.

"You may leave." Yang Jian waved his sleeve.

"I take my leave!" Chen Wei bowed deeply once more and withdrew.

Outside the door, Chen Wei felt light from head to toe.

His life was safe, he had picked up command of thirty thousand soldiers for nothing, and most importantly, he had obtained the True Lord's supreme directive.

He had made an absolute killing this time.

Yang Niansan had been idly kicking at the clouds beneath her feet. Seeing Chen Wei emerge in one piece, with delight on his face to boot, she hurried over to greet him.

"My lord, how did it go?"

"I didn't deceive you, did I? Isn't the True Lord easy to talk to?"

"Of course!" Chen Wei clasped his hands behind his back and began boasting. "The True Lord and I had a lengthy, intimate discussion, and he praised my strategies again and again. See? He decided on the spot to assign me thirty thousand heavenly soldiers and appoint me Vanguard of the army, responsible for quelling the demonic scourge on the outskirts!"

Yang Niansan's expression lit up with delighted surprise!

She had talked herself hoarse, yet her second brother had stubbornly refused to lend her any soldiers. Chen Wei had barely been inside before he secured not only troops, but the title of Vanguard too?

When did Second Brother become so agreeable?

Could Second Brother really have recognized Chen Wei's talent and decided to focus on cultivating him?

At that thought, Yang Niansan could not suppress the rising corners of her mouth. She opened her folding fan, her smile blooming like a flower. "My lord, your immortal talent truly is outstanding! My admiration knows no bounds!"

"Come on. Let's head back and discuss this properly." Chen Wei waved a hand, looking utterly unruffled. "Since the True Lord values us so highly, we must put on a good performance at the Heaven-Reaching River!"

His words rang loud enough to shake the heavens, while inwardly he added, Pull off a big one and fish in troubled waters.