Chapter Forty-Four: Half a Step

Lie Gang is a commander in the Great Zhou military, a man of illustrious service and ferocious prowess in battle. As a primary general of the Eagle-Soaring Division—one of the sixteen armies of the Great Zhou—he commands a force of over fifty thousand, working in tandem with the Tiger-Gallant Division to secure the northern frontiers of the western borders.

In the military system of the Great Zhou, the highest rank is that of the Grand General. Traditionally, this position is held by members of the four great clans: the Su, Huang, Ji, and Nangong. Beyond leading their respective armies, these four generals possess the authority to mobilize and command troops as needed, overseeing the strategic landscape of any conflict. Beneath them are the commanders of the sixteen armies and the four guards, each titled General or Commander.

While the military system is unified, the current era is one of chaos, with demons and spirits running rampant and the fires of war spreading. The various fiefdoms maintain their own garrison forces, also led by individuals titled "General." However, these figures, appointed by local lords and merely confirmed by the capital of Haojing, are far inferior in both strength and reputation to the true generals of the state.

Even so, the total number of all such generals does not exceed fifty. These individuals, who serve the monarch by tending to the state's military affairs and commanding the millions of soldiers across the Great Zhou and its vassal territories, are naturally the elite, chosen from among the most prominent noble families.

Lie Gang, however, is the exception.

He does not hail from a prestigious house, nor even a minor one; he was a commoner. When he first joined the army, he happened to be chosen to guide the father of Huang Chenyuan during an inspection of the military defenses. When the Blood Moon descended early and demons stirred, Lie Gang fought with desperate ferocity, protecting the Grand General and ensuring his safe escape. From that day on, he entered the General’s inner circle. Through years of patronage and his own fearless disregard for death, he finally rose to become a commander.

In the parlance of later times, Lie Gang is a loyalist of the Huang family, a trusted confidant of the clan head, and a pillar of support for Huang Chenyuan within the military. If the Grand General of the western border is the sky, then Lie Gang is among its most brilliant stars—vast, luminous, yet arrogant enough to eclipse the moon and challenge the sun.

Therefore, although the status of Liu Chou and Guan Lan as Tianshan Escape Marquis-Generals was quite prestigious, in the presence of General Lie Gang, they were little more than ants. Their reports were not even deemed worthy of his personal attention, and were instead handled by his deputy and forwarded directly to the Tianshan Escape.

Tu Zhu eventually sent an escort to settle the two men and summon them for an audience.

Walking through the chaotic streets of the Cloud-Stack Manor, Liu Chou found the Tianshan Escape garrison at the entrance of an unassuming small courtyard. The residence was so low-profile that it ill-befitted the status of a Tianshan Escape commander; along the way, Liu Chou had seen houses belonging to mere division commanders that were far more opulent.

When Liu Chou crossed the front courtyard and reached the veranda of the main hall, he saw Tu Zhu.

Compared to their last meeting, Tu Zhu was as enchanting and graceful as ever, her every movement filled with rhythm. Yet, she was now clad in full armor. The dark, ink-colored plating was engraved with dense, intricate lines, as complex as a spider's web, with faint, shimmering tassels suggesting its immense value.

As Liu Chou entered, Tu Zhu stood with her hands behind her back, gazing out the window. Hearing them, she turned, her eyes sweeping over Liu Chou and Guan Lan with a faint smile.

Guan Lan bowed first, saying, "Marquis-General Guan Lan pays his respects to Commander Tu Shen."

Liu Chou followed suit: "Greetings, Instructor."

"Good, you are doing well!" Tu Zhu’s gaze finally settled on Guan Lan. "Red Shen-Head said you were promising and told me to take a good look. It seems he was right..." She scrutinized him from head to toe, then added, "Your killing intent is not heavy. What, have you not killed many?"

"It... it is alright," replied Guan Lan. Red Shen-Head was Red Xiaodou, the chief of the Mirage Tower. It was he who had groomed Guan Lan and supported him through the Marquis-General examination. Hearing Tu Zhu mention him, Guan Lan felt his heart ease. He replied naturally, "In this engagement, Marquis-General Liu contributed much, and he was the one who did most of the killing."

"Is that so?" Tu Zhu said slowly, her gaze already drifting toward Liu Chou. She frowned slightly. "Indeed, since we last parted, you have killed quite a few."

"They were all people who deserved to die." Liu Chou appeared more relaxed than Guan Lan, but the worldly-wise Guan Lan sensed a hidden meaning in his words. Since Liu Chou addressed Commander Tu as "Instructor," there was clearly a bond between them—a history that was not Guan Lan's concern.

"Whether they deserved to die is not important; what matters is whether they are dead," Tu Zhu said coolly. "If they are dead, then they deserved it. If they are not, that is another matter."

"Understood," Liu Chou nodded. He had always held a measure of respect for Tu Zhu—not because she was now a commander, but because she had offered him guidance since his early days in Ghost Valley. It might not have been overt, but whenever he reached a critical juncture, she provided aid. It may have been a tactic to buy loyalty, but for Liu Chou, even if it were a transaction, he was willing to accept the favor.

Tu Zhu did not dwell on the matter, abruptly shifting the subject: "Are you clear on the incident at Blackfire City?"

Liu Chou paused, then said, "I was in the city at the time."

Tu Zhu nodded slightly, her expression grave. "I suspected as much when I received the battle report. It seems I was correct..." Some things were understood between them without needing to be spoken aloud. She went straight to the point: "Did you cross paths with them? What is the enemy's strength?"

"They are not easy to deal with. At least for me, I had no power to resist," Liu Chou shook his head. "I fought only one of the demons and was trapped in an illusion. There were at least three or four others there, all stronger than him. In my estimation, even if you were to go, Instructor, you might not be able to prevail."

Tu Zhu’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing as she pondered. "Then, in your opinion, how do those great demons compare to the Valley Master?"

"Even the Valley Master would only be an even match."

"Half-step Great Demon!" Tu Zhu’s complexion shifted. "This is ominous."

"How so?"

"The reason for deploying troops to Cloud-Stack Manor was to intercept that unit of demons from Blackfire City. We mobilized surrounding soldiers and requested the assistance of my Tianshan Escape to hunt them down. I thought it was a certainty, but now you tell me a half-step Great Demon is involved. This changes everything."

"A half-step Great Demon is but a half-step away from ascending. Does the Great Zhou not have cultivators capable of resisting them?"

"How could we not? But we are not facing a simple question of resistance. The demon race rarely launches such large-scale incursions, and the use of a half-step Great Demon in a clash between our two races either signals a major event or is the precursor to an all-out war!"

Guan Lan’s eyes widened in shock at such a secret, but Liu Chou was unmoved. Having heard similar rumors from Mo Yun, he remained calm, even smiling slightly. "The strong prey on the weak; it has been so since time immemorial. Since they are not of our kind, a clash was inevitable. What difference does it make if it comes sooner or later?"

"If a great war begins, the casualties will be catastrophic. Do you not care about that?" Tu Zhu looked at Liu Chou and offered a bitter smile. "Whether human or demon, the death toll will be staggering. This is far from the harmony of the Heavenly Way."

Liu Chou was slightly surprised; he had not expected an assassin like Tu Zhu to possess such compassion. Not wanting to debate it further, he could only say, "That is a matter for the gods to govern. We common folk have the heart but lack the power. Even if we are unwilling, what use is it?"

Tu Zhu fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "True enough. We ants are lucky to steal a life; how could we possibly influence the variables of the Heavenly Way or the mysteries of the universe?" She paused, then composed herself. "I must deliberate on this. You two go and rest for now, and await further orders."

Liu Chou and Guan Lan took their leave. Tu Zhu remained in the room, lost in thought. Finding no answers, she finally gave in to her frustration and ordered her messenger basin to be brought out.

By the time the two reached their quarters, their emotions had settled. From Tu Zhu’s words, it seemed someone was willing to cover for what happened at Blackfire City. As a fellow commander, Tu Zhu’s influence was at least equal to that of Jie Kong, so they need not worry too much about future repercussions.

Liu Chou, however, had his own interpretation of Tu Zhu’s remark about "those who deserve to die." Perhaps it was a hint that she intended to deal with Jie Kong herself. Having already killed a sub-commander, adding a primary general to the tally meant little to him. Whenever the time came, he would act without hesitation.

Guan Lan handed the corpse of the sable-rat to the record-keeper Tu Zhu had sent to claim their military merit. Everything regarding the creature had been documented, though the final verdict would only come after it was delivered to Quanqiu. Like Guan Lan’s previous experiences, the corpse could not be placed in a standard storage bag and had to be kept in a copper box alongside other miscellaneous items.

They were provided with two separate small houses. Since Liu Chou disliked being crowded, he stepped out and found a spot in a nearby tree to rest, intending to sleep for a full day before waking to face whatever came next.

After the extended combat starting from the Xiyi prison to the return journey across the Qinling Mountains, Liu Chou was physically exhausted. Having served months of continuous fighting, he decided to take this chance to clear his mind before the impending war.

Perhaps this was a memory from his past life. Even then, after every kill or narrow escape, he had made it a point to rest and recover his composure before continuing his path of vengeance and slaughter.

But!

"Past life..."

The phrase was like a door. Even as Liu Chou struggled to remain calm, the gates of memory swung wide, dragging forth scene after scene that flickered and overlapped before his eyes.

It was sudden, violent, and struck directly at his mind, tearing through his consciousness.

Liu Chou squeezed his eyes shut. Before him appeared unknown visions: the angry, desperate face of a man, accompanied by wails of grief echoing in his ears. On the bed before him lay shapes of various sizes covered by white sheets, alongside machines emitting a rhythmic, droning sound.

This was everything he had lost; everything he had cherished!

A crystalline tear welled in the corner of his eye and fell in silence.