master of untold daos
Duan Shou was browsing the Nr. 6’s records. There were many items noted down, but one thing was of interest to him; a stele wasn’t an easy find.
A Blade suddenly arrived in his hall and bowed, “Sire Faceless, there are two Gold Immortals wrapped in thick undead energy. They must be the previous Faceless’ Gold Immortals.”
“What did these guys show up for?”
Nevertheless, no Gold Immortals could put the fright in him, not since he had gained great power, “Let them in.”
The two Gold Immortals covered in undead energy cupped their hands as they entered, “We were once turned into tiger thralls by the Faceless, but thanks to Sire’s help, we have regained our freedom. We are eternally thankful for Sire’s kindness. We returned to our clans, only to find them in ruins, we are alone in this world. Please take us in, Sire!”
Duan Shou thought for a sec. He wasn’t about to spill the beans that Chen Ming killed Nr. 6, or they’d be proclaiming loyalty to him. If they turn out as spies, Won’t I be handing traitors right next to Mountain Lord?
Letting them next to me shouldn’t be a problem.
Anyway, my fate hangs with Yan Mountain. It makes little difference if they’re loyal to me or Mountain Lord.
Duan Shou asked, “Do you know where he kept his stele?”
“I know, I will take Sire to it.”
The Gold Immortal stepped in the center, opened the secret door, but didn’t enter. He shattered the stone steps leading further in and exposed a black tablet.
Duan Shou smiled, “What a brilliant move. Men! Ah, forget it, I’ll do it myself.”
The stele was too valuable for anyone but him to have it. He didn’t want any slip-ups.
He handed it over to Lu Qingxuan to take it to Chen Ming, then returned to Atlas Constellation. Only now he realized why the Heavenly Court’s generals near Nr. 6 were so weak.
He was raising pigs. With such trash, he collected half the souls from them each century while they never had the nerve to rebel.
What good would that do? They’d be replaced!
In any case, they’d chalked it up as being robbed by Faceless and make up some story about it.
Despite the Faceless was replaced, rules weren’t. Duan Shou sent the six Heavenly Court’s generals a letter, inviting them here to negotiate.
A month passed and all six generals stood before him.
One began, “I wonder why has Sire Faceless requested us?”
“What, you saying I can’t get you to come over if I’m bored?”
While his colleagues were smart enough to keep silent, the first to speak replied, “The Faceless has been replaced and I think you’re weaker than him. Shouldn’t you lower the number of souls for the next century?”
Duan Shou only stated, “Do you have the nerve to tell me your name?”
“There’s no harm in telling you. I am General Zhao Wuming and am proud of it!”
Duan Shou nodded, then spoke, “I’ll see you out!”
He rose and left the hall.
The other generals gave thumbs up, “Awesome, bro Zhao!”
“You’ve got guts bro Zhao!”
“Bro Zhao, you’re a true Heavenly Court general!”
Zhao Wuming was immensely pleased, “How can a newbie Faceless show off in front of us? Look, he can only see us out!”
They joked and laughed, but all felt the last line was a bit evil.
Duan Shou watched them leave, “If not for Mountain Lord telling me he wanted to kill a Gold Immortal personally, I would’ve end them myself.”
“Once I have everything ready, Mountain Lord will do the job himself.”
One month later.
In Zhao Wuming’s River Office, in a large tavern on the main street.
Four people in black and wearing bamboo hart were enjoying their meal when Zhao Wuming dismounted and entered the tavern, “Let this general listen to the latest story.”
The tavern owner was overjoyed, “Lao Zhongtou, hurry up and begin!”
Lao Zhaotou took out his erhua, “Hear, hear, everyone. Today I will tell you my latest story. It is about none other than our Heavenly Court’s General Zhao Wuming. He is tall, strong, of marvelous complexion, just like the sun. He is dignified beyond compare!
“Today I will tell you of the story of how Zhao Wuming rebuked a Faceless!
The drunkards cheered, “Alright, let’s hear it!”
“Faceless always hide in the shadow, how could they fight against our Heavenly Court’s general?”
“Every year they come pillaging our Heavenly Court, but Zhao Wuming showed them!”
Zhao Wuming was sitting there, quite comfortable actually.
The four in black and bamboo hats were Duan Shou, Chen Ming, and the two new Gold Immortals.
Chen Ming asked with suspicion, “There was pillaging?”
Duan Shou shook his head, “Zhao Wuming bought the services of some bandits to wave the Faceless banners. If not for this, no one would believe him. He never dared fight Nr. 6, after all, so he wrote this in his report. The Heavenly Court let him off and he came to deal with the bandits.”
Chen Ming nodded, “I see.”
Duan Shou asked, “Sire, when do we act?”
Chen Ming chuckled, “Why the rush, let’s listen first.”
Zhao Wuming was enjoying the story. How could he spare any attention to the hush-hush comments of some black-robed men?
Chen Ming turned to Duan Shou, “Is everything in place?”
“No worries. I prepared a full immortal armor set and weapon for him, as well as pills. It’s guaranteed to make him flourishing!”