CHAPTER 498
The King's Tutelage
============================================================
"Yu Yan, paying respects to Your Majesty, paying respects to the Fifth King."
As each God-Slaying King entered, Mengdie introduced them one by one to Chu Youwei.
"This is Yuyan, the God-Slaying King. She is the God of Slaughter on the flanking battlefield, guarding the Blazing Sun Valley. She commands an army of 600,000 and oversees 23 cities. The last time she returned to the inner city was 130 years ago."
This God-Slaying King was also female, appearing about the same height as Xiao Ai. Compared to Ye He and Meng Die, Yu Yan looked distinctly more approachable.
Su Cheng rose slowly, assisting Yu Yan to her feet as well.
"General Yuyan, it's been a long time. Why not rest in the inner city this time?"
"Your Highness, you wouldn't be suggesting you plan to sleep with Yu Yan?"
"Hahahaha, just kidding, right?"
After the jest, Yuyan exchanged greetings with Yehé and Mengdie before taking her seat.
"Qingcang, pays respects to Your Excellency and Her Highness the Princess."
This was a white-haired old general, though Chu Youwei hadn't seen him before in the box. She surmised he was likely not the God-Slaying King.
Mengdie continued the introductions: "This is General Qingcang, a veteran minister of my father, the King of Su City. He commands an army of 150,000 stationed around Qinglong Pass."
"Qingyue Heavy Armor, Amber, pays respects to Your Highness, pays respects to the Fifth King."
Mengdie leaned against Chu Youwei, reeking of alcohol, though Chu Youwei couldn't quite place the scent…
"This is Amber, commander of two hundred thousand elite heavy infantry—Xiao Ai's personal army."
"Though sent by Amber, she represents both the Manor and the Executioner's Blade."
Before long, the old lecher arrived as well.
"Ku Mu, pays respects to Your Excellency, pays respects to Her Highness the Princess."
Before Su Cheng could speak, Ku Mu rose on his own and went to sit beside Ye He, getting all cozy.
Ye He, however, wore a look of utter disgust, as if Ku Mu were an embarrassment.
"That's Ku Mu. I watched him grow up too. Like Ye He, he's one of Su Cheng's closest aides."
"You'd better keep your distance from her, or he might just lure her into bed!"
Chu Youwei looked puzzled. "Doesn't Lady Ye He care about Lord Ku Mu's behavior?"
"Ye He? She's got her own harem, keeping over thirty male favorites."
"Ku Mu is no different. He has his own personal guard of female attendants—all his women. They even squabble over him from time to time!"
"They both live their own lives, but they have a child together. That shows they actually have a marital relationship."
"But… Ye He has always claimed that child is Su Cheng's…"
Hearing this, Chu Youwei froze. Over thirty male favorites…
One by one, legendary figures with extraordinary feats slowly entered the scene. Mengdie consistently used these tales to accompany their drinks, recounting to Chu Youwei the stories of these kings among gods.
Ye He, the Blade of Judgment who led an army of 300,000 into battle and returned alone, bearing the great banner.
There was also the foolish man, Ku Mu, who defied military orders to lead his troops thousands of miles to rescue Ye He from encirclement.
There was the solitary general, Yuyan, who defended the river and mountains alone for hundreds of years.
And Su Cheng, the Revered Lord whose single sword stroke could turn the tide of battle.
These men were living war gods, undefeated kings who slew gods, the hope and dawn of all living beings.
"Ye He, you have the nerve to say that? You damn well passed through my sector, seduced my entire garrison at Drunken Moon City, and led them all away!"
"How the hell is that my fault? The Honorable Lord ordered me to hold the fourth defense line at Linglang River, pushing the western front thirty kilometers deep into the Youguang Forest! What was I supposed to do? If it weren't for giving you face, I'd have dragged your mistress off to be conscripted too!"
"Hahahaha! Look at yourself—you don't even look like a general anymore!"
"Don't even mention her! Thirty years ago, when you 'borrowed' the garrison at Soul-Seizing City—you still haven't returned it!"
The grand hall buzzed with excitement. Everyone seemed delighted to see Su Cheng, and soon the place descended into chaotic revelry.
Most were seasoned generals, now drinking freely—some even singing songs.
"Your Excellency, you must vindicate Ye He! When I asked you for equipment, you told me to figure it out myself, didn't you?"
"But Your Excellency never said you could just steal it! You damn bandits took all my artillery pieces just because you had numbers! I've fought my whole life, and this is the first time I've been robbed by a female bandit like you!"
Some even broke down crying mid-sentence…
"Don't even get me started. My entire heavy-armored division—over ten thousand men—was wiped out in less than three days. Our defenses were shattered!"
"Waaah, I swear to God, I had no choice. By the end, only thirteen of us were left…"
"Then the western front was in crisis. My army raced for three days straight without a bite to eat, just to take over that black sphere's defenses."
"Defenses? There were no defenses left on the eastern flank. Thirteen Leviathan-class aerial fortresses—three hours into the battle, they flattened the mountains!"
"My own brother—his body still hasn't been found!"
Su Cheng simply listened quietly as the others laughed or fretted, watching them for a long time.
Had it not been for that so-called defense line, these men could have saved themselves.
For their own sake, no one would have charged forward so resolutely, throwing themselves wave after wave into the overwhelming tide of beasts.
"Ahem, speaking to me?"
The moment those words left his mouth, murmurs of discontent rippled through the assembled generals below. Yet at this moment, every breathing Godslayer King was present—even Ye He dared not raise a voice.
Who was Su Cheng? He was the Revered One. Defiance equaled treason. Whether it was treason or not, once that label was pinned on them, no amount of explanation would suffice.
Even Ye He couldn't handle so many Godslayers…
If it were just him and Su Cheng, a little flirting or banter might have been harmless. But with so many eyes watching, showing off now would be courting death.
"Ha ha, don't be so serious~"
Su Cheng rose slowly, raised his wine cup, and declared in a resonant voice.
"I missed your victory celebration. Today, I make it up to all you generals. To your health!"
With that, Su Cheng drained his cup of nectar in one gulp before raising it again.
Seeing this, the generals naturally rose one after another. When the Lord offered a toast, none dared refuse.
Seeing everyone finish their cups, Xiao Ai promptly refilled Su Cheng's glass.
"To see all of you generals again…"
His voice caught in his throat, and tears instantly streamed down his face…
Deeply moved by this display, the assembled generals realized their king was not a heartless man.
"Many of you generals have fought alongside me for years. Some were once my subordinates, while others served my father and watched me grow up."
"I left without a word. I've heard many rumors—that I'm a traitor, that I betrayed this world."
"I am grateful for your trust, generals, for not believing those rumors."
Su Cheng didn't care either way—whether they believed him or not, he needed to shut these guys up first.
"To meet again is truly a stroke of luck for me. Heh. I won't hide it from you all—you can see many seats are empty today."
"Naturally, some heroes have passed. Their seats remain here, with wine and food prepared. I have never forgotten them."
"As for the rest, they met their end by my hand."
"I gave them chance after chance, showing restraint time and again. But to end this war once and for all, I had no choice."
"They forgot the glory we shared, forgot why we fought!"
"With this cup, I once more honor you, Generals. Thank you for your trust in me."