"From today onwards, my Snow Bear Army has gained another battalion. Its name is... what is its name? You, Helilong, lead your three hundred tribesmen into the camp, and you shall be the general. Helilong, are you willing?" Chisha man Helilong possessed astonishing strength, which greatly pleased Zhou Fugui. He immediately announced the addition of a new battalion to the Snow Bear Army.
"Your Excellency, the General, shows us such great favor. We are overwhelmed with gratitude. How could we possibly refuse?" Helilong responded, a mix of shock and joy in his voice. "It's just... after we join the camp, what will we do? Will we only be throwing these Heaven and Earth Thunders? And this battalion name... I humbly request Your Excellency to bestow a name upon us."
Helilong and the other three hundred Chisha tribesmen had previously been treated almost as servants within the Yan army. Now, Zhou Fugui was establishing a new battalion specifically for them. What reason could Helilong and the three hundred tribesmen possibly have to refuse? All of them showed expressions of extreme joy. However, the battalion name needed to be not only present but also powerful and imposing. A powerful and imposing battalion name could boost the morale of the troops.
"This fellow is really picking on the most difficult point," Zhou Fugui thought to himself, glaring at Helilong. He couldn't come up with a single powerful and imposing name despite racking his brains.
This was the straightforward nature of people from the north; they spoke their minds without regard for their superiors or the difficulties their superiors faced.
"The Heaven and Earth Thunder is a formidable weapon never before seen in this world. Upon entering the battalion, you will not only diligently practice and master this weapon but also assist that young Daoist priest in further refining it. In addition, you must not neglect close-quarters combat, archery on horseback, and physical fitness. Helilong, do you understand what I mean?" Zhou Fugui said to Helilong.
"This humble subordinate understands," Helilong replied.
Helilong should have referred to himself as "your subordinate" or "this junior general." His long-held subservient habit made it difficult to change. Zhou Fugui paid it no mind, believing that with the passage of time, they would undergo some changes.
"As for the battalion name..." Zhou Fugui stroked his chin, his mind still churning.
"Let me! Let me!" The young Daoist priest, Ge Rufeng, having successfully named the Heaven and Earth Thunder, was brimming with confidence. Seeing Zhou Fugui's dilemma with the battalion name, he eagerly stepped forward, wanting to involve himself in the naming process.
All eyes turned to Ge Rufeng. Everyone perked up their ears, eager to hear his suggestions.
"Heavenly Blessings Unbounded Daoist Camp? The Grand Unity Thunder God Manifestation Daoist Camp? Demon Subduing Palace?" Ge Rufeng mused, then asked with no small amount of pride, "How is it? Majestic? Imposing?"
Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but smile, suppressing their laughter.
"Get out of here, go find somewhere cool to hang out..." Zhou Fugui, unsure whether to laugh or cry, chided Ge Rufeng. "This is not your Daoist temple where you cultivate. However... 'Subduing Demons and Eliminating Devils'... with the Heaven and Earth Thunder as a formidable weapon, to slay all demons and monsters in the human world, to cleanse all wicked spirits and fiends from existence... how about calling it the Fiend Camp?"
The crowd applauded in unison. This name was both imposing and mysterious. They all felt there was no better name than the Fiend Camp, and if there were, they couldn't think of it...
Only Ge Rufeng grumbled, "Borrowing someone else's words, nothing to be amazed about!"
"Little Daoist priest, don't forget your true profession," Zhou Fugui said irritably to Ge Rufeng.
"What true profession?" Ge Rufeng asked.
"The matters we are pursuing, and... do you still remember you are a cultivator?" Zhou Fugui said.
"Of course, I remember. This Daoist has been a Daoist since birth. How could I forget?" Ge Rufeng replied.
"Hmph, I don't see it. You're neglecting your proper duties," Zhou Fugui snorted coldly.
"Hurry as the law commands, Heavenly Fire Thunder and Lightning Decree!"
"Bang!"
"Ouch..."
"Heavens! Can't a man even relieve himself in peace?"
...
Two months later
"Creak!" Zhou Fugui pushed open the wooden window. A gust of fresh air flowed in, carrying the scent of wild grass and flowers, intoxicating. The chirping of skylarks could be heard from outside. This was the season of birdsong and fragrant flowers in Lin Winter City, a rare period of mild climate throughout the year.
"Yingying, are you adjusting well to life in Snow Lin City?" Zhou Fugui asked Murong Huiying, who was inside the room, after taking a deep breath of the fresh air.
"Mmm..." Murong Huiying tidied Zhou Fugui's clothes and replied with a sweet smile, "As long as I'm with you, my days in Purple Moon will be as sweet as honey."
Over the past two months, Murong Huiying had effectively become the mistress of the Valiant General's mansion. She had been intimate with Zhou Fugui, doing almost everything except the ultimate act, and to outsiders, they appeared as a young married couple.
To show respect for Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui refrained from touching her before their official marriage, wanting to save the most beautiful moments for their wedding night. Murong Huiying naturally felt incredibly sweet and happy at her lover's thoughtfulness. However, Zhou Fugui, like an ascetic monk among the seven beautiful ladies of the General's mansion, indeed found it difficult and was quite repressed...
Husband and wife in harmony, their lives were as melodious as zither and lute. Murong Huiying felt that these past two months in Snow Lin City were the most comfortable of her entire life.
Alas, good times never last.
"Mmm, thank you, Yingying," Zhou Fugui said, sitting by the couch and gently embracing Murong Huiying.
"Thank me for what?" Murong Huiying rested her head on Zhou Fugui's broad shoulder, sniffed his cheek lightly, and smiled, "Purple Moon now knows that you are a gentleman."
"A gentleman?" Zhou Fugui chuckled at the remark. "This is the first time anyone has called me a gentleman... Whether one is a gentleman or not depends on the person. When faced with a scoundrel or a hypocrite, I, Zhou, might be even more of a scoundrel."
"Hehe!" Murong Huiying giggled and said, "Liuxia, Feiyun... they are... virtuous and lovely. Why don't you take them as your concubines?"
"Heh heh..." Zhou Fugui smiled and replied, "This time, I, Zhou, will truly be a gentleman. I will have no entanglement with them before our marriage."
"And after marriage?" Murong Huiying asked with a sly glance at Zhou Fugui, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"That will still depend on my dear wife's wishes," Zhou Fugui answered with a smile.
"Slap!" Murong Huiying playfully slapped Zhou Fugui and chided him, "I knew your wicked heart wouldn't rest."
If one called him a fickle, unscrupulous playboy, he had truly not touched the two girls, Liuxia and Feiyun, during her absence and she hadn't heard of any scandals. Murong Huiying mused inwardly. If one called him a devoted man, he still had a concubine at home. The Valiant General's mansion in Snow Lin City also housed six other beautiful ladies. The fact that he neither took them in nor let them go stirred countless imaginations.
Murong Huiying's heart was in a tangle, her thoughts entirely focused on Zhou Fugui.
"Snow Lin City is a place of harsh cold and severe climate," Zhou Fugui said to her earnestly after a period of intimacy. "After finally waiting for spring to arrive and flowers to bloom, we must depart."
"Depart?" Murong Huiying exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, an imperial order. I am to lead the army south immediately," Zhou Fugui nodded.
The imperial order was, in fact, from Empress Murong Qing, who commanded Marquis Zhongluo to lead the border troops south. Marquis Zhongluo, in turn, ordered Zhou Fugui to lead his contingent as the vanguard. The intention behind this was quite obvious.
Zhou Fugui had no choice but to obey the order.
He was eager to reunite with his family, but more so, he was worried about the uncertain future.
"Zhou Lang, how do you plan to handle this?" Murong Huiying asked after a long silence.
"We can only act according to the circumstances," Zhou Fugui replied, shaking his head slightly.
"Zhou Lang..." Murong Huiying said with great concern, "The political situation in the court... she ordered you to return to the capital to contend for the throne. And... my father is the Crown Prince... are you planning to oppose Father, or...?"
Being caught in the vortex of the struggle for the throne was Murong Huiying's concern. What worried her even more was the prospect of Zhou Fugui leading his troops against Zuo Xianwang Murong Bole. If that were to happen, their marriage would be the least of their problems; the greater issue would be Zhou Fugui turning against Murong Bole, perhaps even engaging in a battle to the death.
After all, at this very moment, Zhou Fugui was, at least on the surface, loyal to Empress Murong Qing.
Without Empress Murong Qing, Zhou Fugui would have long since returned to the netherworld, and he would not be where he was today.
How could Zhou Fugui be unaware of Murong Huiying's worries? This was an agonizing matter. Zhou Fugui had known of Murong Huiying's concerns and fears for a long time but had always avoided thinking about them, reluctant to dwell on them or even mention them.
If Zhou Fugui had not met and fallen deeply in love with Murong Huiying, he might not have hesitated to attack Murong Bole and others, perhaps even killing Emperor Murong Xi of Yan. After all, Zhou Fugui had no good feelings for them.
Murong Xi viewed Zhou Fugui as a mere jester, while Murong Bole had shown no concern for Zhou Fugui after his downfall and had even opposed his marriage to his daughter. Zhou Fugui had long harbored resentment for these reasons.
However, with Murong Huiying caught in the middle, Zhou Fugui found himself in a difficult position, unsure of how to proceed, which caused him immense headaches.
"Huiying..." Zhou Fugui pondered for a long time before covering her cold little hand and saying, "You are my wife. No matter what, no matter when or where, I, Zhou, will never be your enemy, nor would I harm you."
Zhou Fugui's current plan was to lead his troops back to the capital, then play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole lurking behind. He would wait for them to fight until the skies turned dark and the sun and moon vanished, and then seize the opportunity to strengthen his own power.
His was not the only contingent of the Yan army entering the capital. His meager force of ten thousand could pretend to be foolish and confused. Once the situation became clear, he would make his decision. Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
However, would his desire to play the fool and act confused be fulfilled? The answer was yet unknown! At the same time, in the idiom "the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole lurks behind," who was the mantis, and who was the oriole? That, too, remained to be seen.
"Zhou Lang..." Zhou Fugui's profound affection brought tears to Murong Huiying's eyes. She threw herself into his arms, wishing to give him her everything.