Chapter Thirty-Eight: Are You Out of Your Mind!

Before long, Jiang Yuan followed Lady Yin into the Li residence.

“Please wait here for a moment, my lord. I shall fetch my husband,” Lady Yin said gently.

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded.

“My lord, I don’t think General Li Jing and his wife harbor any rebellious intentions against the Shang dynasty. Why, then, is their son of such a temperament?” Zhang Kui asked with some curiosity.

“Too much motherly kindness spoils the child. And besides, it’s not entirely their fault. Lady Yin is a doting mother, but Li Jing is a strict father. Nezha turned out this way because Chan Sect’s teachings were so ‘excellent,’” Jiang Yuan replied with a cold snort.

Zhang Kui saw that his king was already rather indignant and wisely held his tongue.

Soon, Lady Yin returned with a middle-aged man whose face was marked by resolute features and a righteous air.

Jiang Yuan recognized him at once—it was Li Jing, the Guardian General of Chentang Pass and Nezha’s father.

Character: Li Jing

Title: Guardian General of Chentang Pass

Cultivation Level: True Immortal, Perfection Stage

Possessions: Tiger-head Black Kirin Blade, Bronze Whip, Chain-linked Silver Leaf Armor

Cultivation Technique: Innate Primordial Qi Art

Mount: Cloudmist Beast

Loyalty: 80

Affection: 70

Potential Tyrant Value Gained: 550

He finally breathed a sigh of relief—clearly, the Li couple bore no ill intent.

“General Li, it has been a while,” Jiang Yuan said with a smile.

He recalled that King Zhou had met Li Jing once, long ago in Chaoge, when Li Jing received his title. He wondered if Li Jing would still recognize him.

Hearing the commanding yet familiar voice, and glimpsing Zhang Kui at Jiang Yuan’s side, Li Jing immediately understood who stood before him.

At once, he pulled Lady Yin down with him, kneeling respectfully, and declared, “Your humble servant Li Jing, accompanied by my humble wife Lady Yin, greets the king! Long live the king!”

“No need for such formality, General Li. Please, you and your esteemed wife, rise,” Jiang Yuan replied, in high spirits.

At least he could count this mighty general still among Shang’s ranks!

Lady Yin, hearing her husband’s words, was chilled to the core. This was the king of Shang—the infamous, tyrannical King Zhou. Her son had offended him. Was there any hope left?

All at once, she felt her strength fail her, blood surging in her chest. Kneeling on the ground, she seemed on the verge of collapse.

Li Jing hurried to support his wife, apologizing, “I beg your pardon, my lord. My lady has been unwell with a chill lately.”

“It is nothing. If your wife is unwell, she may rest,” Jiang Yuan said, knowing all too well what troubled Lady Yin’s heart, though he made no mention of it.

Lady Yin came to herself, her gaze sorrowful as she looked to Jiang Yuan and asked, “May I ask, my lord, what trouble has my son caused you?”

Jiang Yuan glanced at Li Jing, who was silent for a time before sighing, “We beg your frankness, my lord.”

“It is nothing much. He simply called me a tyrant to my face and threatened to one day attack the gates of Chaoge,” Jiang Yuan replied calmly, showing no sign of anger.

Lady Yin was struck with terror at these words, her face ashen, her eyes filled with distress. “My son, how could you bring such disaster upon us?”

Jiang Yuan cared little for Lady Yin’s reaction, but Li Jing’s response mattered greatly.

Li Jing glared fiercely at the unconscious Nezha, then, helpless, sighed, “So be it. I will consider it as though I never had such an unfilial son.”

“Li Jing! How could you say such a thing? I bore Nezha for three years before he was born. How can you speak of abandoning him so easily?” Lady Yin shouted at Li Jing in anger.

Li Jing was silent. Of course he cherished his youngest son, but to have offended the most exalted sovereign in the land—even he could not guarantee Nezha’s safety. The entire Li family might face ruin.

Jiang Yuan looked meaningfully at the kneeling couple before him, smiling but saying nothing.

After venting her anger, Lady Yin realized her outburst had been inappropriate, yet she could not resign herself, tears in her eyes as she entreated Li Jing, “At least plead with the king! How can you be so heartless?”

“The fate of this unfilial child is for the king to decide, not for us to influence,” Li Jing replied gravely.

“Is General Li truly unwilling to plead for your son? I think the boy, though rebellious, still has an innocent heart. Perhaps he may yet mend his ways,” Jiang Yuan said with deeper meaning.

With these words, Li Jing’s eyes brightened—did this mean there was still hope for Nezha?

“Would General Zhang kindly wake my son?” Li Jing asked with a bow.

Jiang Yuan nodded at Zhang Kui, who understood at once and carelessly tossed Nezha onto the ground.

Now with no more power than an ordinary child, Nezha stirred, pursing his lips, and slowly awoke.

On waking, he seemed to have forgotten what had happened. His small form sat up, rubbing his eyes—an altogether charming sight.

“Wretched child! What have you done?” came a furious shout.

The haze cleared from Nezha’s eyes. Seeing his father’s rage, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

Just now, that tyrant King Zhou had knocked him out—and had really fetched his parents!

“Father, I…” Nezha began to explain.

Without another word, Li Jing kicked Nezha across the courtyard.

“What more is there to say? You dared insult the king, boasted shamelessly—how could I have sired such a rebellious beast?”

Blood trickled from Nezha’s lips as he landed. He made no move to resist, nor did any trace of his previous arrogance before Jiang Yuan remain. He shrank into a corner, silent.

This surprised Li Jing. Usually, whenever he disciplined Nezha, the boy would resist. And with his true immortal strength, Li Jing could hardly hurt him at all, so each punishment was delivered with all his might.

But this time, just one kick and the boy bled?

“General Li, there’s no need. Your son’s scapulae have been sealed by my hand—he is now no different from an ordinary mortal,” Jiang Yuan explained with a smile.

Hearing this, guilt and regret flashed in Li Jing’s eyes. He couldn’t believe he’d struck his now-mortal son so hard.

Jiang Yuan saw and understood—what parent does not love their child? It is only their manner of love that differs.

He knew that even if he killed Nezha before Li Jing and his wife today, they would say nothing. But Nezha was their child; the rift would be undeniable.

“My lord fears you are not appeased. My son deserves death,” Li Jing said, steadying his heart.

“So, you think I ought to kill him?” Jiang Yuan asked, his tone curious.

Li Jing hesitated, unable to utter any word of agreement.

“Let us not be hasty in deciding Nezha’s fate. I have some questions for General Li, if I may?” Jiang Yuan changed the subject.

“Please, my lord, ask whatever you wish.”

“After Nezha was born, did he stay here at the Li residence?”

Li Jing hesitated, but finally answered honestly: “My wife bore our youngest son after three years’ pregnancy. He could speak from birth, though his mind was like that of any other child. On the day he was born, the Immortal Taiyi, one of the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, came and took him as a disciple to instruct him. So in truth, my wife and I have seldom seen Nezha over the years.”

“Who could have expected that Nezha would return home so unruly? In the past, when he caused trouble, he relied on Immortal Taiyi’s backing. Those he bullied dared not complain. Though I would visit to apologize and discipline him severely, he never mended his ways. This time, after running away, he has now provoked the king himself.”

Hearing all this, Jiang Yuan sighed, “General Li, you have been blind!”