Chapter Twenty-Six: The Crown Prince Stirs the Seas!

“Ding! The host is lecherous and lustful, fitting the conduct of a tyrant. Tyrant value rewarded: 10 points. Current tyrant value: 200 points!”

Early the next morning, Jiang Yuan stepped out of his room, this time without Daji by his side.

A smile played at the corners of his lips as he glanced at the sleeping Daji upon the bed, feeling a surge of pride.

“Zhang Kui?” Jiang Yuan called tentatively, uncertain whether Zhang Kui could hear him.

To his surprise, after he called Zhang Kui’s name, the man appeared beside him almost immediately, which startled Jiang Yuan.

“Did you come because I summoned you, or did you come of your own accord?” Jiang Yuan asked curiously.

“Of course, it is because of your summons, Your Majesty,” Zhang Kui replied respectfully.

Jiang Yuan paused at this, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “So General Zhang, you’ve been keeping watch on my chambers this whole time?”

The sensation of being watched was, frankly, rather unsettling.

Zhang Kui seemed to realize something amiss and, a bit embarrassed, said, “Rest assured, Your Majesty, I only pay attention to what I ought to. Anything I should not hear, I have not pried into.”

Jiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief at this. He had to admit, Zhang Kui possessed keen discernment, knowing exactly what to do and what not to do.

Loyal to a fault, it seemed he deserved cultivation and trust in the future.

“Well then, General Huang, you may come out as well,” Jiang Yuan coughed lightly.

Sure enough, Huang Feihu appeared from the void, his face awkward.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty,” Huang Feihu said respectfully.

“Now that you are both here, let us prepare to depart for the South Sea. Have you seen Jiao’er?” Jiang Yuan asked.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui’s pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly begged forgiveness. “Your Majesty, please do not be angry. I was too concerned with Your Majesty and neglected the Crown Prince. The prince has not entered Echeng at all. I shall go seek him immediately!”

Zhang Kui was about to leave, but Jiang Yuan stopped him.

“Forget it. If he hasn’t entered Echeng all night, there’s no need to search now. Jiao’er’s abilities are not lacking; he shouldn’t run into any major trouble,” Jiang Yuan said calmly.

“Yes.” Zhang Kui had no choice but to give up, though his face still bore the traces of deep remorse.

Although Jiang Yuan spoke thus, in truth he was concerned for Yin Jiao’s safety. After all, the boy was his son in name and had remarkable talent; there was no reason to simply abandon him.

With a thought, Jiang Yuan began to issue orders: “Jiao’er should have gone to the South Sea. General Zhang, accompany me to seek him there. As for General Huang, lead the 150,000 troops prepared by the Marquis of Nanbo and march toward the South Sea to confront the water tribes.”

“As you command!” Huang Feihu replied, then withdrew.

Jiang Yuan summoned his mount, the Violet Jade Kirin. Seeing this, Zhang Kui brought forth his own mount, the One-Horned Smoky Beast, quietly following behind.

Thus, the two arrived ahead of schedule at the waters of the South Sea.

Before they could begin their search, Jiang Yuan and Zhang Kui saw two figures ahead, locked in combat with a dragon!

Both figures had three heads and six arms; one was clearly Yin Jiao, whom Jiang Yuan was searching for. The other was a child, standing atop two Wind-Fire Wheels, red silk fluttering about him.

“Who would have thought someone could match the Crown Prince’s talents—and he’s even younger! Truly, the young are to be feared. I wonder whose son he is,” Zhang Kui remarked in awe.

Jiang Yuan, of course, knew the child’s identity—he was Nezha, son of Li Jing of Chentang Pass!

Yet Jiang Yuan was curious: Nezha should currently be at North Sea’s Chentang Pass—why had he come to the South Sea?

Could it be that Nezha’s havoc at sea was actually in the South Sea? The thought amused Jiang Yuan for a moment; this was Nezha, Third Prince, causing chaos at sea alongside the Crown Prince of Shang.

“General Zhang, how do you think Jiao’er compares to this child?” Jiang Yuan asked lightly.

Having found Yin Jiao in good health, Jiang Yuan wasn’t in a hurry to interrupt their battle. This was a perfect chance to observe his son’s abilities and see what he had learned under Guang Chengzi.

“Your Majesty, from what I see, the Crown Prince holds a slight advantage for now. But that child, so young, is terrifyingly gifted. Who knows what master could nurture such a disciple?” Zhang Kui sighed.

Jiang Yuan mused that Nezha’s talent was beyond question—otherwise, Taiyi Zhenren wouldn’t have traveled so far to Chentang Pass to take him as a disciple.

“If this child becomes an enemy of Shang in the future?” Jiang Yuan asked, seemingly casually.

Zhang Kui did not take this as an idle question. Nothing spoken from the mouth of the Human Sovereign was mere jest.

He considered carefully: Nezha, so young, already possessed such power, armed with magical treasures, and his lineage and tutelage were undoubtedly extraordinary.

But if he were to become Shang’s enemy one day...

Zhang Kui’s brows furrowed and he said coldly, “Your Majesty, should I eliminate this potential threat to Shang now?”

Though he cherished talent and feared Nezha’s formidable background, if Nezha ever threatened Shang or the king, Zhang Kui would not hesitate to act!

Jiang Yuan smiled. “No rush. He is the son of Li Jing of Chentang Pass, a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect, and Taiyi Zhenren’s favored pupil. No wonder he possesses such treasures.”

“Li General’s son?” Evidently, Zhang Kui knew Li Jing.

“This child is called Nezha,” Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile.

“I have heard Li General’s wife was pregnant for three years before giving birth. Is this that child?”

“Indeed.”

Upon hearing this confirmation, Zhang Kui could not help but marvel, “It seems prodigies are always accompanied by omens at birth.”

“That is true. General Zhang, what do you make of that dragon’s strength?” Jiang Yuan asked casually.

Zhang Kui glanced at the Azure Dragon being besieged by Nezha and Yin Jiao, and replied with ease, “The Crown Prince and Nezha are competing in secret, using the dragon as their measure. Each wants to slay it themselves but is blocked by the other.”

“If not for this contest, the dragon wouldn’t still be so lively. Though they compete, the dragon has no hope of escape—it can only wait for the victor between the Crown Prince and Nezha.”

“Then this dragon’s luck is truly miserable,” Jiang Yuan joked.

To encounter such monsters—it’s a wonder anyone else is unlucky enough!

“Your Majesty speaks true. Shall I intervene? I sense a large force of aquatic tribes approaching, and one among them seems to possess the power of a Golden Immortal. I fear trouble for the Crown Prince, especially since this is the South Sea,” Zhang Kui said respectfully.

Jiang Yuan nodded. “Go.”

Zhang Kui answered, then shouted at the Azure Dragon, “Audacious fiend! How dare you harm the Crown Prince of Shang? Prepare to meet your end!”

Ao Xi was stunned at first, then filled with indignation.

Open your eyes and see clearly—who is harming whom? I’m the one being beaten, am I not?

I’d love to escape, but I’ve never been given the chance!