Chapter 919: The Awakening of the Surrendered General

Liu Yan's words are half true, half false; how much is true and how much false, Chen Wuji cannot tell at all, but the purpose he said of entering Shenxian Ling must be false.

Damn it, you've come all the way here, yet you're still preparing to head for Yunan, and you tell me it's to launch a Revolving Horse Spear at Yan Zhou? Is that the road to Yan Zhou?

Liu Yan felt embarrassed again, wishing he could give himself two slaps.

The habit of speaking too quickly isn't something that can be fixed in a short while.

He gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Commander Chen, please calm my anger, I… spoke too quickly just now. Yan Yan originally indeed instructed me this way. Yu Shu Mei can testify; she is the person Yan Yan sent to assist me, but actually to watch over me."

But I momentarily had a bit of ambition, wanting to take the Gu Zhandao and measure myself against Commander Chen; that was my own arbitrary decision. As a result, Commander Chen now also sees that I have paid a huge price for my own arrogance and conceit; Commander Chen truly lives up to the name of Slaughter War God, indeed formidable, I admire him greatly!

"Do I now have the title of Slaughter God?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Commander Chen, you are the War God!"

"Enough nonsense, I will take your life now!" Chen Wuji flipped his eyelids, and killing intent surged instantly.

This damn thing is fortunate to have a good older sister.

Otherwise, with his emotional intelligence, he would be toyed to death in minutes in a place like the imperial court. He may indeed have some expertise in certain areas, but mostly it's self‑conceited scheming.

With that level of ability, without anyone protecting him, he amounts to nothing; the best outcome would be a corpse.

Liu Yan kept his mouth shut honestly, and after a while said, "I also don't know where Commander Chen's title comes from, but it seems to stem from his bloody suppression of the Qiang People; anyway, that's how he's called in the court now, and everyone believes Commander Chen is the bravest in Yunan, posing a threat to the court."

"Continue!" Chen Wuji snorted coldly.

Although he showed no expression on his face, Chen Wuji was actually quite satisfied with the title of Slaughter God.

The previous person he knew who had the nickname Slaughter God was Bai Qi.

Being able to share the same nickname with Bai Qi is still a source of modest pride.

"Continue? Where did I just leave off… Commander Chen, let me think for a moment." Liu Yan said nervously.

When Chen Wuji's killing intent showed, his aura was somewhat strong.

So strong that he instinctively felt his heart pound, as if being stared at by a beast; a cold sweat broke out instantly, and he could not even recall what he had just said.

Originally Liu Yan thought that even as a Prisoner of the Steps, his status was roughly equal to Chen Wuji's, and he had always tried in speech to find an equal footing to negotiate with Chen Wuji.

Only at this moment did he realize the gap between them.

At the moment Chen Wuji's killing intent showed, Liu Yan's mind held nothing else but a single phrase: "When the hero rages, corpses pile up by the millions!"

That fear stems from the soul, arising from instinct.

Just like an animal encountering its natural enemy, no matter how he comforts himself mentally, his body instinctively shrinks back.

"You said Yu Shu Mei is the person Yan Yan sent to watch over you?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Yes, yes." Liu Yan quickly came to his senses, nodding repeatedly.

"She is the Eleventh Princess, but in the palace she is not favored; she bears a grudge against His Majesty and against several princesses and princes, so she secretly defected to Yan Yan, hoping to use Yan Yan's hand to kill them."

"However, I am not clear exactly which princes and princesses Yu Shu Mei bears a grudge against; I am not interested in these matters and have not sent anyone to investigate. I only know that, due to her mother's status, she grew up in the cold palace; although she is a princess, as a child she had to do chores like the palace maids."

Chen Wuji frowned slightly and asked, "Where did she learn all her martial arts?"

"This… I am not entirely clear either." Liu Yan said, "But in the palace, wanting to learn martial arts is actually quite simple; the palace stores a large number of martial arts manuals, and there are also many masters."

Although Yu Shu Mei was not favored in the palace and was extremely neglected, perhaps someone took notice of her and secretly taught her martial arts. This woman has a solitary temperament and is not easy to get along with; this time she worked with me, I actually wondered about this as well, but she did not say.

Chen Wuji nodded, not wishing to continue the topic of Yu Shu Mei, and instead asked, "Tell me about Yan Yan's layout in Yan Zhou; I want to hear the most detailed account, and there's no need for any more nonsense."

He also has a princess by his side now, so wanting to know Yu Shu Mei's situation is not difficult.

This matter can be looked into when necessary; if not needed, tossing it aside makes no difference.

The princesses sleeping beside him are just one with a little martial skill, but actually having no other value; to him they are merely that.

"Yes." Liu Yan unconsciously cleared his throat, and while recalling said, "This time the court dispatched a great army; on the surface it was Yan Yan who overrode all opposition and acted obstinately, a mad move defying public opinion, but in fact his fundamental purpose was still for this army of four hundred thousand assembled from various forces."

"However, others seem to have similar plans, each making their own arrangements. But no one has laid this out openly; they all hide behind Yan Yan, secretly making their own arrangements."

"Before Yan Yan mobilized the troops, he secretly revealed to me part of the crucial information. Moreover, Yu Shu Mei also holds in her hand a portion of a fairly crucial list; I know such people exist, but I do not know exactly who they are, and Yu Shu Mei only revealed a bit to me, so I am unaware of the whole."

"What I currently know is that the overall commander who coordinates the various routes, the Pacifying Envoy Li Yu, is a man of the Wise King; this Wise King appears to have no strength on the surface, but over these years he has made plenty of preparations in secret."

"Also there is Cao Lin; on the surface he belongs to the Neutral Faction, not aligning with any side, but in fact he is a man of Ruan Yuchang. However, Yan Yan told me that when the time comes, I should go boldly to negotiate with Cao Lin, for he has a way to make Cao Lin betray Ruan Yuchang."

Chen Wuji already knew all these matters, but he did not interrupt Yan Yan's speech, continuing to listen; he wanted to hear how Yan Yan's version differed from what he knew.

"I have heard that Cao Lin is skilled in battle; if he defects over, who will be in command of this Bīngmǎ then?" Chen Wuji asked.

This question is still rather crucial.

This decides whether he should believe what Liu Yan says and take a gamble.

"Naturally it's me!" Liu Yan suddenly gained confidence, "Cao Lin can indeed fight, but since he was formerly on Ruan Yuchang's side, how could he possibly be allowed to take charge?"

"Furthermore, Yan Yan had me, after Cao Lin's defection, look for an opportunity to kill this guy; one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and I do not feel at ease with such a ruthless person as Cao Lin—how could Yan Yan possibly truly rely on him?"

"Back then, Yan Yan gave me several directions, saying it would be best to borrow Commander Chen's hand, so as not to affect his reputation."