CHAPTER 499
He's Clearly Still Alive
The new king is still young and needs your guidance, generals.
This was returning the courtesy to Su Lin—words must be spoken, deeds must be done.
All this is teaching by example. The path to becoming a king is never simple.
Some require a mix of kindness and authority, others must be enticed with benefits, while those resistant to both must be bound by loyalty.
Conflicts among the generals must be resolved, and the planning of their respective defense zones must be handled with care to prevent any single faction from gaining too much power.
While resolving troubles in Su City, one must also create challenges for these fellows. They must never be left idle, for idleness breeds trouble for Su City.
Su Lin sat nearby, watching the former revered leader pour cup after cup of strong liquor down his throat.
They spoke of the past at times, and of the future at others.
Su Cheng seldom complained, but today was different. He rarely vented his frustrations. He couldn't let these men think he was a useless freeloader, could he?
He raised cup after cup—to heaven, to earth, and to the departed.
To honor unwavering loyalty, to honor the vow never to retreat—Su Cheng's words brought tears to the eyes of every general in the room.
"Others may not know, but Ye He, you know—she carried the military banner back all by herself."
"Not a single inch of her body was unscathed. Her armor was shattered to pieces. You have no idea how much it pained me, but I couldn't say anything. I couldn't…"
Everyone wept—even Ye He felt moved!
But just then, Ku Mu, still mid-sob, realized something…
"That's my woman, isn't it? Your Excellency, what—"
Even Ye He couldn't help but laugh. She pulled Ku Mu into her arms and kissed him.
"I haven't forgotten. You saved me."
Little Yu Yan couldn't resist teasing them: "Ku Mu, can I borrow a kiss too? We're all bachelors here!"
"Get lost! Little brat, what's with all the kissing?"
In truth, Yu Yan was a veteran general from the previous dynasty. She had been stationed at Sun Valley since before Su Cheng’s father had passed away.
Su Cheng spoke only briefly, and that was enough. These were his trusted generals; saying more would serve no purpose.
If there was anything to say, it had to be done privately.
Su Cheng exchanged a knowing glance with Xiao Ai and Yu Yan, and both instantly understood.
Shortly after, Su Cheng excused himself and met Yu Yan in the Burning Heart Hall.
After Su Cheng left the gathering, Chu Youwei quickly followed her master. In this unfamiliar place, where none of the people in that room were trustworthy, Chu Youwei thought to herself that she couldn't afford to get separated.
If these people decided to make trouble for her, she'd likely suffer for nothing.
As Mengdie had mentioned, these individuals were all indispensable pillars of Su Cheng's inner circle. Offending them was unwise, for she would need their support to serve her master effectively.
Though most of the Master's entourage were women, the majority of the Godslayer King's followers were men. This room full of generals held scarcely a single pushover among them.
Apart from Amber, who never spoke and only drank quietly, the rest seemed drunk, including Mengdie beside her.
While these generals likely had no shortage of women, if any of them made a move on her, her master would likely have to make a painful sacrifice. She didn't want to cause trouble for her master, so it was best to keep her distance.
This was Chu Youwei's first time in her master's quarters. General Yuyan hadn't arrived yet, so she wandered around the Burning Heart Hall. Her master's room wasn't extravagantly opulent.
Compared to Xiao Ai's Holy Martial Hall, Suzhen's Burning Heart Hall was practically indistinguishable from a thatched cottage.
The Martial Saint Hall had originally been the bedchamber of Su Cheng's mother, Queen Consort Pingji.
After Queen Pingji's death, the hall lay vacant until a girl named Gu Ai stormed into the inner city.
Su Cheng promised her high office and generous rewards, pledged protection, offered the position second only to himself, and vowed absolute trust.
Only then did the hexagonal Queen reluctantly remain by his side, serving as his personal attendant.
"Yu Yan pays her respects to Your Highness."
Yu Yan was also a petite girl, about the same height as Xiao Ai, but she radiated a distinctly more menacing aura.
This had nothing to do with her mood; it was an innate aura of intimidation. Merely approaching her filled ordinary people with dread.
Perhaps in Chu Youwei's world, she might be considered a formidable figure, but before these Godslaying Kings, she was no different from any ordinary mortal.
Upon hearing the commotion, Su Cheng hurried out to greet them, swiftly reaching the doorway to help Yu Yan rise from her kneeling position outside the palace gates.
"Yu Yan, why all the formalities between us? Rise, rise!"
"Hehe, Your Excellency, your words are mistaken. Since we are sovereign and subject, it is only proper to observe the rules and etiquette."
The title had reverted to "Your Excellency" once more, a shift Chu Youwei naturally noticed.
She had noticed this inconsistency in their titles when the civil and military officials had paid their respects.
Some addressed Su Lin as Your Excellency, while referring to Su Cheng as the Fifth Prince.
Yu Yan was among them, though Su Cheng seemed unconcerned by the distinction.
Others addressed Su Cheng as Your Highness while referring to Su Lin as Her Royal Highness the Princess.
Clearly, some were unwilling to submit to this new ruler, though Chu Youwei understood their hesitation.
If she were in their place, she wouldn't acknowledge anyone but her own master either.
This has nothing to do with whether Su Lin is outstanding or qualified—it's simply because she isn't Su Cheng.
"Yu Yan, don't you dare say things like that! You're my precious treasure!"
Chu Youwei and Yuyan rolled their eyes almost simultaneously, though Yuyan dared to voice what Chu Youwei dared not say.
"Heh, Your Highness's 'precious ones' might be a bit too numerous."
Su Cheng and Yu Yan chatted at length, though most of it was concerned inquiry, which Chu Youwei mimicked.
Lord Mengdie was right—she still fell far short of her Master.
The saying that a true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm was embodied in her master.
He employed every trick in the book—flattery, deception, you name it. People said Su Cheng was inept with women, but Chu Youwei disagreed.
Master simply struggled to express his feelings and was always burdened by inexplicable worries.
"Lord Gu Ai, Yu Yan may need to impose on you for a few more days. I humbly ask for your patience."
"Lord Yuyan is a hero of the common people. How could there be any inconvenience? Xiao Ai will personally arrange for Lord Yuyan's care. Should anything be unsatisfactory, Lord Yuyan need only send word, and I shall have it rectified immediately."
Yu Yan and Xiao Ai exchanged a knowing smile. The notion that kings never meet—in this moment, it seemed to hold no weight for the two of them.
Instead, there was a palpable mutual respect between them. One was a general who had guarded an empty city for centuries, whose next campaign might mean never seeing his homeland again.
The other a servant who had waited two hundred and seventy-three years for his master, then accompanied the throne for a thousand years.
Their meetings were few, mostly through letters, battle reports, or military orders.
"Su Cheng, you know what? It's actually a little upsetting that you were in such a rush to find me."
"Uh… Yuyan, did I do something to upset my precious little one?"
Yu Yan burst out laughing: "You could say that. Truth is, you're not as tough as you seem. If it were up to me, I'd be happy to be your little mom~"
"Yu Yan, you should stop hanging out with that Ye He girl. She's no good. She'll lead you astray!"
Yu Yan sat astride Su Cheng's body. She was the War Goddess of the Blazing Sun Valley, the Slayer of Gods. Even deities would fall beneath her battle axe.
"What's your name? Are you new here?"
Yu Yan slowly turned her gaze toward Chu Youwei, who stood silently by the side. This attendant—he seemed to have never seen her before, nor heard of her.
"Greetings, Lady Yuyan. I am Chu Youwei, disciple of my master."
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