Chapter Sixty-Five: You Little Rascal!

Jiang Yuan was delighted to hear these words. The canine system truly lived up to its reputation—Supreme Demon-Expelling Pill was indeed effective!

At that moment, he didn’t bother with the high priest’s corpse. The system had already notified him, so the corpse demon was certainly dead and gone.

Jiang Yuan flickered and soon appeared beside Grand Mentor Wen.

“Sire!”

“Greetings, Sire!”

“Sire, your courage and prowess are unmatched! It is the fortune of Great Shang, and the blessing of the world!”

Jiang Yuan looked at Zhang Kui, who spoke these words, and couldn’t help but feel sentimental. His own follower knew how to flatter in ways that pleased him.

“Let me see the Grand Mentor,” Jiang Yuan gestured to the crowd, his tone calm.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers silently parted to make way for him.

Jiang Yuan stepped forward; sure enough, Grand Mentor Wen Zhong was gradually waking up.

“The Grand Mentor should be out of danger now?” Jiang Yuan asked, moving closer.

Character: Wen Zhong

Title: Grand Mentor of the Shang Dynasty, Third Generation Disciple of the Cutting Sect

Realm: Golden Immortal, Full Completion

Possessions: Twin Whips of Yin and Yang, Ancient Bronze Sword, Dustless Seal

Cultivation Techniques: Innate Primordial Qi Art, Golden Radiance True Body, Divine Eye Ability, Five Element Escape Technique

Mount: Ink Qilin

Loyalty: 100

Favorability: 100

Tyrant Value to be gained: 1500

Good heavens, so much tyrant value? The Demon Saint Ji Meng at Golden Immortal completion was only worth one thousand, yet Grand Mentor Wen was worth five hundred more.

It appeared Wen Zhong truly was of extraordinary significance to Great Shang. It made sense; without Wen Zhong’s connections in the Cutting Sect, how could Great Shang have resisted the onslaught from the Elucidation Sect and West Qi for so long?

He was, after all, the indispensable soul of the Shang Dynasty. If he died here today, who knew how much the dynasty’s fortune would diminish?

Though Wen Zhong had not fully recovered, it was only a matter of time. The corpse-transformation curse had been lifted, and the corpse spots were rapidly fading from his body.

Aside from looking somewhat haggard, he was no different from any ordinary elder.

Wen Zhong struggled to open his weary eyes and saw Jiang Yuan approaching to greet him.

He merely replied flatly, “You’re here.”

Jiang Yuan found Wen Zhong’s answer puzzling. Why was his attitude so different from before?

Still, Jiang Yuan responded to this inexplicable question, adopting a tone of concern, “I am here.”

Hearing this, Wen Zhong’s face turned furious. He said to Deng Zhong by his side, “Where are my twin whips?”

Deng Zhong, though confused, respectfully handed over the yin-yang whips. “Grand Mentor, here they are.”

Wen Zhong slowly stood up, took the whips, muttering under his breath.

“You little rascal, your wings have grown hard, and now dare use such a tone with me.”

Jiang Yuan was even more confused. Little rascal—was he referring to himself?

How could Wen Zhong dare? He was the Human Emperor—the Shang Dynasty’s absolute ruler, King Zhou. How could Wen Zhong use such a tone with him?

He doubted Wen Zhong would actually dare to attack him with the whips.

Just as Jiang Yuan thought this, Wen Zhong strode toward him, whips in hand.

Jiang Yuan kept his composure, convincing himself Wen Zhong wasn’t coming for him. He was now in his middle years; surely Wen Zhong wouldn’t beat him without reason?

Besides, he was monarch, Wen Zhong the minister—such disregard for decorum shouldn’t happen.

To be safe, Jiang Yuan asked, “Grand Mentor, what are you planning?”

Wen Zhong glared fiercely. “What am I planning? Of course, I’m planning to beat you, you little rascal!”

Jiang Yuan was stunned. Something was off—why beat him?

Wen Zhong gave him no chance to explain. He’d hit first and talk later, raising the whips and charging at Jiang Yuan.

“You brat, now your wings are truly hard! Even a loyal minister like Doctor Mei you dared to kill? He only spoke a few unpleasant truths! I know my old friend well—he did not deserve death!”

“Now that I’m laying hands on you, are you planning to kill me as well?!”

“Grand Mentor, you jest. How could I ever attack you?” Jiang Yuan replied awkwardly.

Why should I take the blame for King Zhou’s misdeeds? What does any of this have to do with me? I transmigrated here—was that easy? Did I gain any advantage? All I did was bed a fox!

There’s this huge mess in Great Shang waiting for me to clean up!

“Would I dare joke with Your Majesty? I heard that demoness Daji remains untouched—still left to plague our nation? You little rascal, do you not know to repent when you’ve erred?” Grand Mentor Wen spoke with anguish.

“Does Your Majesty not realize how dire the times are for Great Shang? Yet you still indulge in nightly revelry and debauchery? If I weren’t needed here at Tianyuan, I’d have dragged you back to Chaoge for a proper thrashing!”

“Now, good! You’ve come to me—spared me the trip to Chaoge. Stand still and take your beating!”

With these words, Wen Zhong had nothing more to say. He’d aired all his grievances—these were the deeds that had disappointed him most.

By now, most of his anger had dissipated. After all, the fact that the sovereign had appeared here already proved he’d changed.

Perhaps some minister’s persuasion worked, or maybe the king awakened to his own folly?

It mattered little now. Wen Zhong felt gratified—this little rascal he’d watched grow up had not strayed from the path.

Still, he wouldn’t feel right until he’d given the boy a good beating!

Jiang Yuan was utterly helpless. He couldn’t possibly strike an old man, could he? He was a man of principle—he wouldn’t bully his elders.

So, the only thing left to do was—run!

“Stand still, you little rascal! Now your wings are truly hard—dare to fight back when I lay hands on you!” Wen Zhong shouted angrily, chasing after him.

“Grand Mentor, when did I ever fight back? Does dodging even count?” Jiang Yuan protested.

“How could it not?” Wen Zhong retorted, utterly unreasonable.

“Then, Grand Mentor, what do you propose?” Jiang Yuan was at his wit’s end.

He couldn’t win in a fight, and reasoning was pointless—Wen Zhong simply refused to listen!

Such temperament—it’s no wonder he could raise a tyrant like King Zhou.

“Take your whipping quietly, and the matter will be settled,” Wen Zhong insisted.

“Impossible, Grand Mentor. Please don’t make things difficult for me,” Jiang Yuan said firmly.

If he really let Wen Zhong beat him, how could he ever show his face again? Jiang Yuan would rather humble himself and negotiate than endure such a thrashing.

A joke—a beating from a Golden Immortal at full completion, could anyone withstand it? Even Zhang Kui might not survive!

Though Wen Zhong would surely show restraint, Jiang Yuan’s heart rebelled against the idea.

Hearing Jiang Yuan call himself “this junior,” Wen Zhong’s expression softened slightly. He put down the twin whips and said calmly, “Since that’s the case, I have one more request for you.”

“Please, Grand Mentor.” Jiang Yuan let out a sigh of relief.

Zhang Kui, who had followed Jiang Yuan for some time, was deeply shaken. The king actually had moments when he negotiated with others? Even when facing Half-Saint Bai Ze, he had stood his ground.

Now, Zhang Kui accepted a new truth: Grand Mentor Wen’s thigh was thicker than even the king’s!

After all, Zhang Kui had never seen anyone call the Human Emperor a “little rascal” to his face.