They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 182 There are bad guys among the heavenly soldiers and generals!
"That feels great! That's fucking great!"

Nezha felt even more comfortable today than if he had eaten an elixir of immortality. He crossed his arms, hovered in mid-air on his Wind Fire Wheels, and watched as Chen Guangrui tied up the three gossiping heavenly generals tightly and dragged them like dead pigs toward Li Jing's command tent. Nezha's smile stretched from ear to ear.

Especially when Chen Guangrui just hung those three of Li Jing's lackeys on the training ground and whipped them in front of so many people, he did exactly what Li Jing wanted to do but couldn't because of his status. The slap that landed on Li Jing's face was so crisp and loud.

The clever little monk Tang Sheng followed Chen Guangrui's leg, and seeing that Nezha was happy, he immediately went over, tilting his little face up.

"Third Prince, look how fun it is to hang out with my dad! We can beat up whoever we want. From now on, let's go down to the mortal realm together and fight the fiercest monsters, making the greatest contributions. When we've achieved fame and fortune, we'll find the most beautiful fairy..."

Nezha's eyes twitched as he listened, and looking down at Tang Sheng's innocent little face, he felt it was utterly absurd.

What kind of nonsense is going on in this six-year-old bald monk's head?

"Who did you learn all this from?" Nezha couldn't help but ask.

Tang Sheng chuckled, not answering, but instead pulling on Nezha's red ribbon as he chased after Chen Guangrui.

The atmosphere was heavy in front of the commander's tent.

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Guangrui slammed the three generals, bound like rice dumplings, heavily to the ground. The dull thud broke the solemnity before the command tent.

The three men writhed on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen, their mouths stuffed with rags, only able to groan softly. Their eyes, fixed on the main tent door, were filled with terror and pleading for help.

The heavy curtain of the command tent was suddenly thrown open, and Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, strode out, followed closely by several trusted generals, including the Giant Spirit God.

Li Jing's face was ashen. His gaze swept over his disheveled subordinates on the ground, finally fixing on Chen Guangrui's face.

"Chen Guangrui, what are you doing? Openly binding your colleague, where is military law? Are you trying to rebel?"

Several generals stood to Li Jing's left and right, each with a solemn expression and a furrowed brow.

They didn't shout or yell, but instead scrutinized Chen Guangrui with sharp eyes. The giant spirit leaned forward slightly, tightening his grip on the pestle, but didn't utter a word. If Li Jing gave the word, these people would rush forward.

Facing Li Jing's stern questioning, Chen Guangrui showed no fear, but rather remained unusually calm. He stepped forward and, in front of Li Jing and all the generals, raised his hand and, with a series of resounding slaps, delivered a powerful blow to each of the three men on the ground. The crisp sounds were particularly jarring in the silent camp.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Chen Guangrui finally spoke, his tone calm and even carrying a hint of righteousness in sharing the burdens of his lord.

"I'm doing this to help the Heavenly King. There are bad people among the heavenly soldiers and generals. As his deputy commander, how can I sit idly by?"

Li Jing frowned, his eyes filled with malice.
"Nonsense! How could they undermine morale or have ulterior motives? Don't make baseless accusations!"

Chen Guangrui pointed to the three people on the ground, his voice suddenly rising and clearly carrying throughout the surroundings.

"Your Majesty, it is these three who have been spreading rumors in the camp, saying that it is not Your Majesty who has the final say in this camp, but I, Chen Guangrui, who has the final say. They also say that the first battle objective, Leopard Head Mountain, was not Your Majesty's decision, but was strongly advocated by me, Chen Guangrui."

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the heavenly soldiers and generals who had gathered at the sound of his voice. His tone was filled with indignation at being slandered and a resolute determination to serve his lord.

"This is utterly absurd! A complete joke! Everyone in this camp knows that the Heavenly King is strict in his military discipline and that his orders are obeyed without question. Every military matter is decided solely by the Heavenly King. I, Chen Guangrui, am merely a deputy commander, assisting with horse administration and logistics. What merit do I have to dare to make decisions for the Heavenly King? This is clearly someone with ulterior motives, spreading rumors and stirring up trouble, attempting to sow discord between the Heavenly King and me, and openly challenging your command authority, Heavenly King, to shake the morale of my 100,000 Heavenly Soldiers! If such a scourge is not severely punished, where will our military prestige be, and where will the Heavenly King's authority remain?"

Chen Guangrui spoke forcefully and resolutely, twisting the core of the rumor from his own position to the claim that he had usurped Li Jing's power. This accusation, which undermined the commander-in-chief's authority, was both huge and heavy, yet Li Jing was unable to refute it for the time being.

Li Jing's face instantly turned extremely ugly, alternating between pale and flushed. He knew perfectly well what had happened, and he was even more aware that Chen Guangrui was using this as an excuse to make trouble.

But Chen Guangrui's repeated pronouncements about "upholding the Heavenly King's authority," and his apparent concern for the commander-in-chief, stifled his anger, preventing him from venting it. He stared intently at Chen Guangrui, his eyes as piercing as ice picks, a chilling, ugly smile creeping onto his lips.

"What a fine way to share my burdens! What a fine way to uphold military prestige! Vice Marshal Chen, your actions today have truly opened my eyes!"

Li Jing's voice was filled with suppressed anger and deep sarcasm.

The generals nearby exchanged glances, all seeing astonishment and unease in each other's eyes. Chen Guangrui's distorted account, ironically, occupied the noble position of "protecting the commander-in-chief," leaving them momentarily unable to find a suitable point of rebuttal.

The giant spirit was so angry that his face turned red, and the muscles on his cheeks bulged and then calmed down.

"Pfft!"

Nezha, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, couldn't help but burst out laughing. He quickly covered his mouth, but his shoulders kept trembling, clearly struggling to hold back his laughter.

Watching Li Jing get thoroughly disgusted by Chen Guangrui under the guise of "doing it for his own good," yet unable to turn against him on the spot, was a hundred times more exciting than watching a grand drama.

Tang Sheng also hid beside Chen Guangrui's legs, her little face buried in the monk's robe, her shoulders trembling slightly.

In front of the command tent, only the desperate whimpers of the three people on the ground and Chen Guangrui's calm breathing could be heard.

Seeing Li Jing's expression, as if he had swallowed a fly, Chen Guangrui knew the time was right. He bowed slightly, his tone becoming earnest, even tinged with a hint of helplessness.
"Your Majesty, rumors are rampant in the camp, pointing directly at my overstepping my bounds and accusing me of plotting to seize your command. Such rumors may slander me, but they are far more damaging to Your Majesty's prestige. If I remain in the camp, I will not only fail to share Your Majesty's burdens, but I will also become a breeding ground for rumors, allowing those with ulterior motives to continue stirring up trouble, which will be extremely detrimental to the army's expedition."

He raised his head, looked directly at Li Jing, and revealed his true purpose.
"To uphold the prestige of the Heavenly King as commander-in-chief, and to clarify the rumors and set the record straight, this humble general dares to request permission from the Heavenly King to leave the camp and seek out other demons to subdue. I will not go to Leopard Head Mountain. This will also make it clear to the soldiers of the three armies that in this camp, only Heavenly King Li is the true commander-in-chief!"

Li Jing was so angry at Chen Guangrui's explanation of "upholding the authority of the commander-in-chief" that he laughed out loud.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling anger, sounding particularly jarring in front of the silent command tent.

He looked at Chen Guangrui, his eyes sharp as knives, "Vice Commander Chen, your painstaking efforts have truly moved me...."

He deliberately emphasized the word "moved," and the irony in it was obvious to everyone.

He understood perfectly why Chen Guangrui was determined to leave, and he knew even better that Chen Guangrui would never touch the Yellow Lion Demon of Leopard Head Mountain. It was most likely a spy planted by the Taoist sect right under the Buddhist sect's nose. Knowing that Leopard Head Mountain was a target and embroiled in rumors, now was the perfect opportunity for Chen Guangrui to escape.

"Vice Commander Chen, I really can't refuse your protection." Li Jing stroked his short beard, feigning contemplation.
"I understand Vice Commander Chen's good intentions. However..."

He changed the subject, a troubled look on his face. "You should know that the Yellow Lion Demon of Leopard Head Mountain is no ordinary creature. It has been entrenched at the foot of Mount Ling for many years, deeply rooted and possessing powerful demonic magic. Only by leading 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals can I be confident of wiping it out in one fell swoop. If I were to divide my forces with you now, I fear we would lack sufficient troops, delay the battle, and ruin His Majesty's mission."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Chen Guangrui, then looking at his generals who stood silently around him. "In my opinion, it would be better if Vice Commander Chen went down to the mortal realm to subdue the demon first. After I have pacified Leopard Head Mountain, I will send troops to assist you. What do you say?"

He has made it very clear: if you, Chen Guangrui, want to leave, you can, but you can't take anyone with you.

You're all alone; let's see how you subdue this demon.

Nezha crossed his arms and chuckled softly, his voice just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Tang Sheng hid behind Chen Guangrui, looked at Li Jing, then at his father, and couldn't help but purse his lips when he heard Li Jing's words.

Chen Guangrui met Li Jing's gaze.
"Your Majesty is overthinking this. When I descend to the mortal realm, I need not take a single soldier with me, including all the warhorses in the stables. These will all be left for Your Majesty's army to use. I will only take my son, Tang Sheng, with me. I will not delay Your Majesty's great undertaking of pacifying Leopard Head Mountain."

Upon hearing this, not only was Li Jing taken aback, but even the generals behind him showed expressions of surprise.

Nezha stared wide-eyed at Chen Guangrui, as if confirming whether he had gone mad. No soldiers, no horses, just a little bald monk to subdue demons? Wasn't that just courting death?
Tang Sheng puffed out his little chest, looking proud of himself, as if to say, "My dad is the best."

A glint flashed in Li Jing's eyes, which then turned into deep mockery and disbelief.

He suppressed the slight satisfaction he felt at Chen Guangrui's "sensible" relinquishment of control of Tianma, feigning surprise on his face and raising his voice slightly, laced with a sarcastic tone.

"Oh? Vice Commander Chen, are you serious? You don't want a single soldier? Just you and your son?"

He deliberately raised his voice so that all the heavenly soldiers and generals around him could hear him clearly.

"Deputy Commander Chen actually possesses such extraordinary abilities? He subdued a great demon single-handedly without using a single soldier from the Heavenly Court? This has truly broadened my horizons. If this is indeed the case, then the position of Keeper of the Heavenly Horses is a waste of his talent! A waste of his great talent!"

The generals behind him chuckled softly in agreement, their eyes filled with contempt and amusement as they looked at Chen Guangrui. The Giant Spirit God grinned broadly, silently mocking him.

Chen Guangrui ignored the sneers and mockery around him, as if he were merely stating a perfectly ordinary fact. He bowed slightly, his tone remaining calm.
"Your Majesty flatters me. One's abilities are only known after one has done them. This humble general has only done his best to share the burdens of the Heavenly Court and dares not presume to claim any divine intervention. This humble general here wishes Your Majesty a resounding victory, the pacification of Leopard Head Mountain, and the achievement of great military exploits."

Li Jing was taken aback by Chen Guangrui's composed yet assertive attitude, especially his phrase "You'll only know after you do it" and his "wishing" for his victory. While it sounded like flattery, a closer look revealed it to be an implicit challenge. He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying...
"Very well! Since Vice Commander Chen is so confident, it would seem petty of me to obstruct him further. Granted! I will wait here for Vice Commander Chen's good news. I hope this good news won't keep His Majesty and the Supreme Dao Ancestor waiting too long!"

"Thank you, Heavenly King, for granting my request."

Chen Guangrui said no more, and bowed again. He bent down to untie the ropes binding the three burly men at his feet.
The three men were bound by the Golden Rope for a long time, and the other two were tortured in the Jade Bottle and the Purple Gold Gourd. Finally, they were whipped by Chen Guangrui. By the time they were untied, they had no strength left.

Chen Guangrui ignored the complicated expressions on Li Jing's and the people behind him, reached out and took Tang Sheng's little hand, then turned and left.

Nezha watched his retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, made a big face at Li Jing, and then followed after him on his fiery wheels.

……

At the same time, in the Heavenly Court, in a side hall of the Lingxiao Palace.

Having just finished listening to the report on the movements of Li Jing's army, the Jade Emperor picked up his jade cup and took a sip of his fine wine. He put down the cup, as if suddenly remembering something, and turned to Taibai Jinxing, who was standing beside him, and said…
"Venus, I heard that Chen Guangrui actually left the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King's command camp on his own. Is this true?"

Venus bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Great Heavenly Venerable, this is indeed true. It is said that Vice Commander Chen requested to leave the camp to seek out other demons to conquer."

The Jade Emperor frowned slightly, a hint of regret on his face.

"Alas... Chen Guangrui is ultimately too young and impetuous. He was personally recommended to me by Laozi and entered the gates of the Tushita Palace. Laozi had high hopes for him, expecting him to gain experience in the army and achieve something. Now that he has left on his own, what about Laozi's reputation? Isn't this a betrayal of Laozi's painstaking cultivation?"

He paused, tapped his fingers lightly on the jade table, and gave instructions to Venus.
"Here's what you'll do: go to the Tushita Palace and ask Laozi what he thinks. Now that Chen Guangrui is gone, what about his position as deputy commander... Laozi, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"

The Jade Emperor shook his head as he spoke, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval.
"In the end, he was nothing more than a stable boy."

The Jade Emperor stopped there.

Upon hearing this, some of the other celestial officials standing in the hall nodded slightly, while others remained silent. It seemed they had all forgotten that there had once been a stable boy who had fought his way through heaven and earth.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sat serenely on a lotus throne below the Jade Emperor, holding a vase and willow branch, her countenance solemn and dignified. Throughout the entire process, she listened quietly, her eyelids slightly lowered, her face expressionless, as if all of this was merely fleeting smoke, leaving not a ripple in her heart.

Only after the Jade Emperor finished speaking and Venus received his order to leave the side hall did Guanyin Bodhisattva slowly rise, put her palms together in a slight bow to the Jade Emperor, and silently take her leave.

Amidst the drifting auspicious clouds, after leaving the South Heavenly Gate, the tranquility on Guanyin Bodhisattva's face faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. She spoke to her disciple Muzha, who was following closely beside her.

"When Chen Guangrui descended to the mortal realm, the only person he could rely on was Sun Wukong, the stone monkey of Flower Fruit Mountain. That monkey was his henchman, but also a variable."

Muzha respectfully asked, "What is the Bodhisattva's intention?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva gazed down at the vast sea of ​​clouds, her voice clear and calm.

"Go and find a reliable person to go to Flower Fruit Mountain. There's no need for a big fuss; just find a way to distract that monkey so he can't get away and can't respond to Chen Guangrui's summons."

Mu Zha frowned slightly: "Master, Sun Wukong is incredibly powerful and arrogant. Ordinary methods may not be enough to restrain him. We need to carefully consider who to send."

A faint smile seemed to flicker across Guanyin Bodhisattva's lips, as if she knew everything.
"Anyone can be chosen. Although that monkey is wild and untamed, it now has a weakness."

(End of this chapter)