Chapter 81: His Majesty Should Appreciate Him
As the Heir of the Demon Suppression King, Shen Yanzhou had long been a well-known figure in the imperial capital—yet in truth, few among the upper ranks had ever truly paid him any mind.
Even Wei Gong, the Commander of the Chilin Guards, had only occasionally heard of Shen Yanzhou’s absurd misdeeds through his subordinates and merely laughed them off, never bothering to learn more.
The Demon Suppression King was a cautious man, one who never left any handle for others to grasp. Thus, he kept his family within the capital, even allowing his “son” to indulge in wanton debauchery and idleness.
To put it nicely, it was an act of reading His Majesty’s intentions; to put it bluntly, it was placing his own weakness—the safety of his household—within the capital, so that the great families and even the one seated within the Golden Luan Hall could rest at ease.
Having served Emperor Mingde for many years, Wei Gong could be certain that His Majesty did not care for such petty calculations.
His Majesty’s mind was broad enough to embrace all the geniuses and heroes of Great Qian; one more Heir of the Demon Suppression King mattered little. Why bother hiding one’s talents or feigning mediocrity?
Of course, all this was before Shen Yanzhou’s false identity as the Heir was exposed.
“This bone structure and those brows and eyes…”
At this moment, Wei Gong’s gaze was almost fixed entirely on Shen Yanzhou, completely ignoring Wu Ruyue beside him.
Wu Ruyue was momentarily taken aback and glanced suspiciously at Shen Yanzhou.
What was going on?
Why was the Commander staring at Shen Yanzhou like that?
Even Shen Yanzhou felt a twinge of unease.
He remembered that in the original story, this Wei Gong was rumored to have a certain… peculiar inclination. All his adopted sons were stunningly handsome—fair-skinned, red-lipped, with delicate features that rivaled women’s. They even bathed daily in scented oils.
But they were all eunuchs, of course—so at most, he could only indulge in a little “fondness of touch.”
“Commander?”
Shen Yanzhou reminded him softly.
Only after a few breaths did Wei Gong retract his gaze, sighing faintly in his heart.
“Heir Shen is truly a fine-looking young man. I never paid attention when you were in the capital, but seeing you today—your elegance and poise are remarkable indeed. No wonder Miss Wu speaks so highly of you.” His tone was warm and gentle.
Wu Ruyue’s face instantly flushed red. Why bring her up all of a sudden?
“Commander flatters me,” Shen Yanzhou replied, cupping his hands. Being noticed by Wei Gong could be either a blessing—or a curse.
The reason he followed Wu Ruyue to the Chilin Guards’ headquarters today was, in essence, because of Yu Chenyu’s words from the previous night.
In this imperial capital, if one sought to “cling to a great thigh,” then naturally it had to be the one sitting within the Golden Luan Hall.
And this Commander Wei was the only channel through which he could make contact.
Shen Yanzhou, familiar with the original tale, knew well that Emperor Mingde was a ruler of grand vision—a true wise sovereign. Such a man valued talent above all.
“Does Heir Shen know of the Martial God inheritance that Miss Wu obtained?”
Wei Gong smiled faintly. His impression of Shen Yanzhou was excellent. Indeed, the Heir’s former reckless behavior in the capital must have been deliberate—an act to craft a “wastrel” persona.
In person, he was mild and courteous, almost like a gentleman of old.
“I am aware,” Shen Yanzhou nodded. He had already anticipated this line of questioning.
“Miss Wu also said that you obtained part of the inheritance yourself. Is that true?” Wei Gong asked again.
Wu Ruyue had already informed him of this beforehand.
He still nodded in affirmation.
“Would Heir Shen be willing to demonstrate?” Wei Gong asked.
Wu Ruyue felt a twinge of anxiety. The Martial God’s Secret Scripture she cultivated could not possibly have been passed to Shen Yanzhou.
And Wei Gong was a learned man, versed in countless martial records—if what Shen Yanzhou displayed differed greatly from her technique, suspicion might arise.
Although Shen Yanzhou had already promised her in advance that there was nothing to fear.
“No problem.”
Shen Yanzhou nodded calmly, then raised his wrist and struck forward with an unremarkable-looking palm.
He used no martial technique at all—merely infused a trace of the Breath of Primordial Chaos into the force of his strike.
Bang!!!
Wei Gong’s face still wore its gentle smile as Shen Yanzhou’s palm came forward. He met it casually with his own, a hand adorned with a Buddhist-bead bracelet.
The instant their palms collided, his expression subtly shifted, surprise flashing in his eyes. What began as a casual test suddenly grew serious, and he unconsciously increased his strength.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanzhou’s face remained serene and unperturbed. His strength seemed ceaseless—like rolling tides, surging and unending—as if an entire boundless sea surged behind him.
“Excellent.”
A glint of admiration flickered in Wei Gong’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but praise aloud. Golden light burst from his palm as he continued to exert more force, his robe billowing in the energy’s wake.
Though there was no wind within the pavilion, Wu Ruyue beside them could barely stand upright.
It felt as though she were amidst stormy seas—her small frame like a lone boat, ready to capsize at any moment.
Heaven and earth vast and boundless, the ocean endless—she stood at the center, feeling herself infinitely small.
“I’m also at the Sixth Rank of the Martial Path and have obtained the true inheritance of the Martial God—so why is it that before Heir Shen and Commander Wei’s exchange, I can’t even stand straight?”
Wu Ruyue was utterly astonished, even doubting whether the Martial God inheritance she received was genuine.
“Has Heir Shen yet to use his full strength?” Wei Gong asked.
“I’ve still held back a little,” Shen Yanzhou replied.
“Haha! No need to restrain yourself—strike with all your might,” Wei Gong said, smiling.
“Very well.”
Boom!!!
It was as though lightning split the heavens, thunder shaking the earth.
Outside the pavilion, on the training grounds, many of the Chilin Guards practicing there were startled and instinctively looked up toward the tall building.
“What’s going on? Could someone be sparring with the Commander?”
Before the building, Zhenfu Liu Ci couldn’t help muttering.
He knew the Commander’s habits—when meeting a promising talent among the Guards, he often couldn’t resist testing them personally.
Such a commotion was rare. As for the thought of an assassination attempt, it never crossed his mind.
Nearby, Ran Yi sat idly, propping her smooth, jade-like chin with her hand. Hearing the disturbance, she glanced up and curved her lips slightly. “The one fighting must be the Heir.”
Moments later, the noise began to subside.
Within the pavilion, Wei Gong withdrew his palm and stood upright, his beardless face wearing a gentle and appreciative smile.
Opposite him, Shen Yanzhou seemed slightly overpowered, retreating several steps before regaining his footing. His palm tingled faintly, trembling ever so slightly.
“Not bad.”
Wei Gong praised with a nod. “But Heir Shen, your acting skills still need some polish. Just now, at that instant, you clearly held back a great deal of strength.”
“If we were at the same Sixth Rank, even if I went all out, I would not be your match.”
He had deliberately kept his strength within the scope of a Sixth Rank martial artist, not exceeding it. Yet aside from the very last moment, he distinctly felt Shen Yanzhou restraining himself.
The young man still had plenty of power left untapped.
Wu Ruyue, hearing this, couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise—then felt an unexpected pang of discouragement.
When she had once sparred with Wei Gong, she had exhausted every ounce of her strength, yet hadn’t managed to make him budge.
She was the Martial Champion and bearer of the true Martial God’s inheritance, and yet she was far inferior to Shen Yanzhou, who had spent these years feigning incompetence.
In front of him, how could she still call herself a genius?
“Commander, you flatter me. This junior was already at his limit, truly unable to continue.”
Shen Yanzhou sighed softly, showing an expression of helpless modesty. Some courtesies were necessary, after all.
If he were to crush Wei Gong easily despite being in the same realm, it would be too shocking—and even if word of it spread, it would embarrass this high-ranking eunuch publicly.
In any case, it was time to secure the goodwill he needed.
“Haha…”
Wei Gong laughed heartily, choosing not to expose him. From their brief exchange, he had already realized—perhaps the true Martial God inheritance was in Shen Yanzhou’s hands.
Compared to Shen Yanzhou’s inner energy, Wu Ruyue’s cultivation, though fierce and powerful, was clearly inferior.
To be precise, Wu Ruyue’s technique possessed a hint of power beyond the First Rank, while Shen Yanzhou’s inner force completely transcended that level.
Even his own Second Rank martial true energy—purified and condensed through countless refinements—had been easily disrupted and scattered like paper. That alone spoke volumes of Shen Yanzhou’s strength.
“This matter, I will personally report to His Majesty later. We must celebrate the rise of another outstanding youth in Great Qian.”
Wei Gong nodded with a smile. His gaze toward Shen Yanzhou grew ever more admiring—and carried with it other subtle undertones.
Surely, if His Majesty saw Shen Yanzhou in person, he too would be impressed.
As he thought this, he instinctively reached for the jade token at his waist, intending to present it to Shen Yanzhou—but upon touching his side, an awkward realization struck him. He remembered that he had already given it to Wu Ruyue a few days earlier.
“Ahem…”
Wei Gong cleared his throat lightly and withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened. The command token symbolizing his authority had already been given away; he truly had nothing else suitable to offer.
Besides, considering Shen Yanzhou’s false heir identity, it would be more proper for any reward to come personally from His Majesty.
“For today’s luncheon, Heir Shen shall dine here,” Wei Gong said after a brief thought, then ordered his attendants to prepare the meal.
He wanted to send a clear message.
Shen Yanzhou’s willingness to accompany Wu Ruyue to the Chilin Guards’ headquarters and his deliberate display of talent at the Dragon-Tiger Institute were all meant to reveal his worth.
As a false heir, his situation was precarious. Once the true heir returned to the capital, it could turn dire.
Hence, he urgently needed a powerful backer. Combined with the recent rumors and news—
During the incident at Hidden Moon Mountain, both the Chilin Guards and the Bureau of Immortal Inspection had suffered minimal losses, yet nearly all of the attendants and retainers from the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion had been wiped out.
Only one retainer, the one who had served Shen Yanzhou since childhood, survived.
Such a coincidence was too convenient to be ignored.
It was clear that the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion had orchestrated the event themselves—to eliminate this false heir under a veil of legitimacy. But they hadn’t anticipated that Shen Yanzhou, after years of self-restraint and concealment, would survive despite all odds.
With no other choice, the Demon Suppression King had been forced to return to the capital and publicly announce the so-called “truth.”
Whether that “truth” was real or not—everyone knew better.
The capital, for now, simply needed such a “truth” to pacify unrest and stabilize the court.
“Thank you, Commander,” Shen Yanzhou said with a smile, knowing he had achieved his goal.
With the protection of the Chilin Guards’ banner, his situation would greatly improve.
“Just call me Wei Gong,” the Commander replied with a chuckle. “No need to be so formal.”
Wu Ruyue wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she found Wei Gong’s attitude toward Shen Yanzhou strangely familiar—almost affectionate.
Within the Chilin Guards’ headquarters, no one ever addressed him by name—all referred to him only as “Commander.”
And yet… Shen Yanzhou was given an exception.
——
Thanks to Shen Yanzhou, Ran Yi also stayed to have lunch at the Chilin Guards’ headquarters.
The infamous “Fourth Fiend” of Southern Border, who once struck terror into her enemies, now appeared quiet and well-behaved in the presence of this all-powerful eunuch—unlike that morning, when she had deliberately teased Shen Yanzhou.
Wei Gong was well aware of Ran Yi’s identity. During the meal, he casually inquired about the situation in Southern Border while also expressing his appreciation for Shen Yanzhou.
Ran Yi, perceptive as ever, instantly understood—this great eunuch was publicly backing Shen Yanzhou, signaling to the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion that he stood behind him.
She couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had earned Shen Yanzhou such favor.
“His Majesty’s anger has yet to fade these past few days,” Wei Gong said faintly after lunch. “There’s something this old servant wishes to remind the Demon Suppression King.”
“Please speak, Commander. I will report your words truthfully to the Prince,” Ran Yi replied quickly.
“Above one’s head, the gods watch all. If one wishes to keep deeds hidden, one must first not commit them.”
“The length of his reach in the Southern Border—His Majesty sees it all clearly from the capital,” Wei Gong said.
Ran Yi’s heart trembled.
——
At the same time, in the Southern Border, within the grand fortress city of Yao Pass—
“These past few days feel strange. The number of guards in the city has dropped sharply—they said they were being reassigned elsewhere…”
“But outside the walls, the number of demonic beasts is clearly far greater than before. Why pull troops away now of all times?”
Inside an inn, several adventurers were conversing.
“Something’s wrong. I think we should leave Changyang City as soon as possible,” said a dark-faced adventurer, standing by the window and gazing out at the unusually quiet streets. His brows remained furrowed in unease.
“Wooo—”
Suddenly, a deep, resounding horn call rolled in from far beyond the city walls—vast and thunderous, echoing through the skies.
Its sound was ancient and mighty, like the roar of dragons and tigers, carrying immense force.
Even across the great distance, it reverberated through the clouds, spreading across the land.
“Not good—it’s the Bison Horn of the Demon Suppression Army! A beast tide is coming!”
The adventurers throughout the city immediately understood, their faces draining of color.
Those in the inn who had just been talking moments ago now looked equally grim.
“Whenever a beast tide erupts—or a Monster King stirs—that horn is sounded as a warning.”
“But who ever heard of a warning being sounded after the garrison’s been moved away first? Isn’t that sending people to their deaths…?”
They cursed bitterly.
Throughout Yao Pass, towers lit signal fires in response, smoke rising in thick yellow clouds along the border’s length.