Gate of God

...

The night was as cold as water. Compared to the Great Xia Dynasty, the Southern Mountain Range was clearly much colder at night. The water vapour at night froze into hoar frost, causing the entire Southern Mountain Range to seem as if it was covered by a misty veil.

In the Yan Ya settlement.

The big settlement that was closest to the Great Xia, which was also the strategic trading location for the Southern Mountain Range and the Great Xia. The area it covered was huge, containing a total of eighteen small settlements.

In the Yan Ya settlement, a mountain beast at least a hundred pounds in weight was being roasted on a huge bonfire. Animal oil dripped unceasingly onto the flame, producing a sizzling sound.

Around the bonfire satt twenty youths dressed in either robes or armours. The leader wore a fine green armour, holding a jade flute in his hand.

It was Wu Feng.

"Young Master Wu, congratulations!" A youth scholar raised his wooden cup as he bit into the meat, shouting loudly towards Wu Feng.

"It is still a little too early to talk about celebrations." Wu Feng shook his head with a gentle smile.

"Ha ha ha... Young Master Wu is too humble. We have already occupied the two main settlements of Yan Ya and Shi Zun and our army strength have reached twenty thousand people, thirty percent of the total number of participants. The number one of the combat examination is now Young Master Wu’s, not just in name, but also in reality."

"That’s right! Young Master Wu, why do you insist on remaining so humble?"

"Even though we lost in the hands of Young Master Wu, we lost contentedly. If Young Master Wu is able to successfully obtain number one in the combat examination, it would also be a good thing for us."

"That’s right, as long as Young Master Wu obtains first place, our ranking would naturally not be low."

When the scholars heard this, they stood up one following another, raising the wooden cups in the hands and voicing out their inside thoughts.

Wu Feng smiled once again, gazing at the constellations in the night sky. He tightened his grip on the jade flute. "What a pity, I lost in the theory examination!"

"The theory examination is indeed unfortunate. However, the top three in this theory examination aren’t in very favourable positions now." A scholar quickly stood out and advised.

"That’s right, Nangong Hao is still hiding in his Icy Monkey Settlement. Ever since the start of the examination, the number of soldiers in his hand remained at two thousand without any progress. And, even though Yan Xiu now has six thousand people, he is still unable to occupy any settlement, hence also pose no threat to Young Master Wu. As for Fang Zhengzhi..."

"Ha ha ha... can you not mention him?"

"That’s right, he isn’t even here, how can he attain any ranking? Ha ha ha..."

The other scholars also began to laugh out one by one, each of them raising their cups in celebration, their faces flushed red and their eyes filled with mockery.

"As long as the combat examination is ongoing, we cannot even let down our guard for a day. Starting from tomorrow, we will press on with our attack on the Thunderous Lion Settlement!" When Wu Feng heard this, he returned his gaze towards the people around him as a cold smile appeared on the edges of his lips.

"Yes, take down the Thunderous Lion Settlement in one move!"

...

The second morning.

The morning frost emanated waves of chilliness as the wind blew upon it. In a huge army camp within the Southern Mountain Range, rows of soldiers braced the cold, patrolling back and forth the camp.

Their ink-dark skin emanated a faint warm air.

Inside an ordinary military tent.

Fang Zhengzhi stretched out his body, slowly rising from his bed. He looked around his tent and decided to experience the military life of the Southern Mountain Range, at the same time conveniently filling up his stomach.

Just as he reached the entrance of the tent, two spears intersected in front of him.

"Banned from going out!"

"Even my meals must be controlled?" Fang ZHengzhi looked at the two soldiers blocking his path with some confusion. Didn’t he already integrate perfectly into the Southern Mountain Range army?

"Stop, princess has ordered Fang Zhengzhi into her tent for questioning!" Right at this moment, a chief sergeant with a piece of animal skin on his shoulder walked over. Almost a hundred soldiers wearing rattan armour followed behind him.

"Roger!" The two soldiers instantly kept their spears when they saw the chief sergeant.

Fang Zhengzhi frowned slightly. Even though he didn’t know what had happened, from what was transpiring in front of him, it didn’t seem like something good.

However...

If you can’t do anything to prevent them, you might as well sit back and take things as they come.

He didn’t have any better idea at this moment. Who asked him to accidentally step into the main army of Princess Shan Yu. That could only be attributed to fate.

...

Inside the military tent, Princess Shan Yu lay on the golden animal skin. However, the animal leather she wore on her body had changed into a purple and plated leather clothing.

A faint light flowed around the the armour plate. Combined together with her wheat-coloured skin, it revealed a certain beauty and nobility within her wildness.

Fang Zhengzhi happened to see this when he walked in.

However, he kept silent. Because, there were twenty generals wearing heavy armours standing along the two sides of the military tent, their expressions solemn.

Interrogating a criminal?

Fang Zhengzhi felt that the atmosphere seemed strange, hence obediently kept his mouth shut.

"Why didn’t you kneel upon seeing the princess?" A trace of anger flashed across a general’s face when he saw Fang Zhengzhi’s behaviour.

"Ah... All of these elaborate formalities and etiquettes should be done away with whenever possible. Even I didn’t complain, what are you all complaining about?" Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth, glancing at the other party with disdain.

"Preposterous! You have already betrayed your country for glory. Now, you are a person of the Southern Mountain Range, hence you should naturally obey the rules of the Southern Mountain Range. How could you just do whatever you want as and when you..."

"Alright, Fang Zhengzhi, I have a question that I wish to ask you." Princess Shan Yu sat up at this moment, gesturing towards the general who was prepared to continue speaking and looking towards Fang Zhengzhi with her dark eyes.

"Princess, please ask!" Fang Zhengzhi instantly replied.

"Two voices are echoing beside my ear. I want to listen to your opinion. The first voice is that even though the Southern Mountain Range is a vast territory with abundant resources, there are many mountains and forests, and also heavily populated by fearsome beasts. Furthermore, every year, we have to donate tens of thousands of horses to the Great Xia. Most importantly, we must take up the responsibility of being the natural shield of the Great Xia to defend them from the demon race. It is very unfair." As Princess Shan Yu spoke, she fixed her eyes tightly upon Fang Zhengzhi’s.

"It is indeed very unfair!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded without even thinking.

"Yes, the second voice is that even though the Southern Mountain Range donates tens of thousands of horses to the Great Xia, the Great Xia gives us crops and foodstuff in exchange. Our Southern Mountain Range indeed serves as the natural shield for the Great Xia, however, the Great Xia has sent people to teach the Law of Dao, strengthening the foundations of the Southern Mountain Range. Hence, it is very fair!" Princess Shan Yu continued when she saw Fang Zhengzhi nod.

"Yes, it is very fair!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded once again.

"..." Princess Shan Yu’s mouth opened a little. Looking at Fang Zhengzhi’s sincere expression, she actually didn’t know what to say next.

On the other hand, when the twenty generals standing by the side heard this, they began to shake their heads. Can this guy at least have some opinions of his own? He simply might as well not have said anything.

"Princess, please continue." Fang Zhengzhi waited for a while before urging, seeing that Princess Shan Yu didn’t speak.

"Continue with what? I have finished what I wanted to ask!"

"Oh, since you have asked all that you want, there is nothing else. I will make my move first." When Fang Zhengzhi finished speaking, he immediately turned around and walked towards the entrance of the tent.

"Stop right there!" A general bellowed.

"What is it?" Fang Zhengzhi turned back his head with a confused look on his face.

"Why did you not answer the questions princess asked?"

"I have already answered. You didn’t hear it? Are you dreaming just now?"

"You... you call that an answer?"

"Then you teach me how to answer."

"The person who princess asked is you!"

"That’s right, princess indeed asked me. I have already answered. If you don’t have anything else for me, I will make my move." Fang Zhengzhi turned around once again.

"..." The twenty generals were instantly speechless once again.

"Fang Zhengzhi, I want you to choose one among these two." Right at this moment, Princess Shan Yu opened her mouth once again.

"Princess, I don’t know anything about these national matters. You can ask them, they are all generals. Why do you ask a lowly soldier like me?" Fang Zhengzhi replied gloomily.

"Fang Zhengzhi, I am asking you very seriously!"

"I am also answering very seriously!"

"Somebody come, bring him out and kill him!"

"Wait a moment, after some consideration, I feel that the answer just now is somewhat flawed. I think it can be elaborated further." Fang Zhengzhi instantly changed into a bright smile.

"Is it? But, I don’t think there is any problem with it!"

"There is definitely a problem!"

"With you?"

"..." Fang Zhengzhi was slightly taken aback. His eyes finally looked seriously at Princess Shan Yu, who had sat up. From Princess Shan Yu’s eyes, he inferred an expression different from that the day before. If Princess Shan Yu the day before was a merry girl, then, Princess Shan Yu today was clearly a completely different person, turning into a wise commander.

This girl actually set a trap for me?

Luckily, I am resourceful.

"Princess, it is not that I don’t want to reply this question. Instead, no matter how I reply, the outcome would both be death!" Fang Zhengzhi finally revealed a bitter smile.

"Why is this so?" A faint smile appeared on Princess Shan Yu’s face as she heard this. Evidently, this wasn’t very unexpected.

"Princess had said that you heard two voices beside your ears. If I become one of these voices, the other voice would naturally hunt me to death. After all, I am only a lowly soldier, powerless and defenceless. Bullied and mocked in this army camp, I... I don’t even dare to talk back!" Fang Zhengzhi became sadder and sadder as he spoke, seeming as if he was about to burst into tears.

"Don’t pretend to be pitiful. Tell me what I have to do for you to reply." Princess Shan Yu simply didn’t fall for Fang Zhengzhi’s trick, and immediately waved her hand.

"If you appoint me as a Tiger General and give me a hundred thousand troops, I think that I would be able to reply!"

"Do you think that will happen?" Princess Shan Yu looked towards Fang Zhengzhi in disdain.

"Else, fifty thousand should also be sufficient."

"Dream on!"

"Then at least five thousand?"

"Five hundred, no more than that."

"Thank you Princess!" Fang Zhengzhi gritted his teeth. What the hell, even something as small as a mosquito was still food. Having five hundred was at least better than having nothing.

"Speak."

"Let me tell princess a story."

"A story?"

"Yes. Once upon a time, two starved people received the kindness of an elder. One fishing rod and one basket of big, fresh fishes... In the end, the person who picked the fish died beside the empty basket. The other used the fishing rod to fish everyday, living a blessed and happy life. End of story." Fang Zhengzhi stopped talking.

"What kind of story is this?" A general asked with a confused look after Fang Zhengzhi was done speaking.

"Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for today; teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime." Fang Zhengzhi replied.

"Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for today; teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime?" When the generals heard this, they softly mouthed this phrase over and over again. For a moment, there was nobody who spoke.

Princess Shan Yu’s brows also threaded together into a frown. Her jet-black eyes flashed with a faint glow. Only after fifteen whole minutes did she gradually let out a sigh.

"So, this is your answer?"

"Yes!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

Princess Shan Yu descended into silence once again. Her dark eyes swept across the twenty generals standing at the side. After waiting for another fifteen whole minutes did she finally speak again. "Fang Zhengzhi, I have a task for you to complete."

"Can I reject?"

"You cannot."

"Roger, Princess’s task is the meaning of my life. I will definitely carry it out with my life, swearing to fulfill princess’s wishes. Even if I die horribly, I wouldn’t mind!"

"Stop your nonsense. I want you to deliver a letter to the Sagely Mountain City!"

"Deliver a letter? To the Sagely Mountain City?" Fang Zhengzhi looked towards Princess Shan Yu, then looked at the twenty generals at the side with immense confusion.

Delivering a letter. You have to specially instruct such a thing to me in front of so many people?

Furthermore...

Most importantly, these twenty generals seemed to have knew this long ago. When they heard Princess Shan Yu’s words, they actually didn’t raise any objections. There wasn’t even a change in their expressions.

"Is there a problem?" Princess Shan Yu asked again when she saw that Fang Zhengzhi was silent.

"No problem, but... in the road towards the Sagely Mountain City, I am not familiar with the geography, and there are many fearsome beasts outside. I fear that I would be too weak and lose the important letter. When that time comes..." Fang Zhengzhi evidently seemed to be in somewhat of a difficult situation.

"That is why I promised to give you five hundred troops just now." Princess Shan Yu seemed to have already guessed that Fang Zhengzhi would say this.

"Five hundred? I fear that it wouldn’t even be enough to fill the teeth of a few fearsome beasts." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head again.

"If they were any ordinary soldier, of course it wouldn’t be enough. But, if they were my five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry, that would be enough!" Princess Shan Yu revealed a confident expression when she said this.

"Five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry?!" Fang Zhengzhi was truly taken aback.

He had naturally seen those before.

It was exactly because of their existence that he was captured with no way of escape and brought directly to Princess Shan Yu. However...

Wasn’t the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry Princess Shan Yu’s strongest forces?

Giving himself five hundred out of the three thousand Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry?

This was simply even more extreme compared to winning a five million dollar lottery in his past world! Furthermore, most importantly, why were the twenty generals around him still so calm when they heard this!

This is impossible!

I am an "outsider", how can nobody object when Princess Shan Yu gave himself five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry without any good reason? He really couldn’t understand this.

It was just as if somebody had suddenly ran over and told him that he was the truly Son of Heaven, and asking him to immediately ascend the throne and become the Emperor!

What the hell, who would dare to do so?!