Chapter 298: Bathing

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

General Zheng, dressed in a Flying Fish Robe, was practicing archery at the range.

Feng Siniang stood nearby. The Blind Man sat farther back. A’Ming, Xue San, Fan Li, and Liang Cheng were all present as well.

Aside from the Demon Child, who had remained at the residence to continue watching the baby, everyone was here.

This was not their regular once-every-half-month meeting.

For the group to gather this completely at any other time was genuinely rare.

After all, aside from General Zheng, who was “idle and doing nothing” every day, every other Demon King had several departments’ worth of responsibilities piled onto their shoulders.

Siniang handled the economy and people’s livelihood. The Blind Man oversaw official administration and ideological work. Fan Li was responsible for construction. Xue San had to train scouts while also keeping an eye on the weapons workshops. Liang Cheng handled the army. A’Ming was responsible for product development.

The reason everyone had gathered so neatly today was because the latest battle report from the front had arrived.

Before his death, Emperor Situ Lei of the State of Dacheng had personally led an army to smash the coalition of rebels and savages.

The First Prince then ordered Li Bao’s command straight into Yingdu to seize control of the situation.

Situ Lei’s final strike before death had dramatically widened the State of Yan’s strategic room to maneuver in this war and greatly strengthened its initiative.

At the same time, after the battle, Chief Minister Sun Youdao led Dacheng’s civil and military officials in supporting Situ Lei’s young son onto the throne.

Following arrangements Situ Lei had made before his death, the child then submitted another letter of state to Li Bao.

To a considerable degree, this allowed the Situ Clan’s original foundation to be transferred and handed over in a far more orderly fashion.

So only a few days after ascending the throne, the young Emperor voluntarily lowered his own state’s status.

He no longer styled himself Emperor, but merely Lord of the State.

“You tell me,” Xue San complained gloomily, “if a pig teammate is going to be a pig, then just stay a pig all the way to the end.

“But after pigging around for so long, he suddenly goes godlike at the very end.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?

“Was he playing with us?”

Although everyone present held an official post in the State of Yan, very few of them possessed any real awareness that they ought to consider the interests of Great Yan or the greater strategic picture.

The Blind Man rubbed between his brows.

“Situ Lei was never an easy character to begin with.

“It was simply a matter of timing and fate.

“First he ran into that father of his, then those two elder brothers.

“He somehow fed away far too much advantage in the early game.

“But as an Emperor, he really was capable.”

Situ Lei’s final battle would also leave a great deal of “blank space” in the historical record for later generations to imagine around him.

Without that last battle, future interpretations of Situ Lei would probably have been simple: a powerful minister who rose to dominance, killed his father, drove away his brothers, and finally lost his state.

But because he died immediately after winning that final great victory, later readers of history would inevitably begin wondering.

What if Situ Lei had not been gravely wounded then?

What if he had not died?

What if he had been given several more years?

What would have become of the State of Dacheng?

At that moment, Siniang spoke.

“Master, given the present situation, can we suspend our war preparations for now?

“We could pull five thousand men out and send them into the workshops to help.”

Maintaining a large standing army completely removed from production was an enormous expense and a crushing burden.

That was why so many dynasties throughout history had preferred systems where soldiers also farmed the land.

Unfortunately, those systems tended to produce terrible consequences in the long run.

But Siniang understood Shengle City’s current situation better than anyone.

If they did not find some way to ease the strain, their reserves truly would not last much longer.

“No.”

Zheng Fan gave his decision.

“Yes, Master. A wise decision.”

Siniang did not argue.

She accepted it very cleanly.

Managing the territory in an orderly fashion was one way to play.

Playing all the way into bankruptcy and collapse was another.

The method was different.

At the root of it, they were still playing.

Siniang would not fight Zheng Fan to the bitter end over something like this.

There was no point.

“I keep having this feeling that things are not going to proceed that smoothly.

“So I’ll say the same thing again.

“We still need to remain ready for war.”

Using intuition to make decisions sounded about as reliable as inviting a shaman to dance before making a major strategic choice.

But with shamanic dancing, the more often you guessed correctly, the more people came looking for your services.

Ever since Zheng Fan had awakened in this world, forget everything else—his luck in this particular sense had always been quite good.

That luck did not manifest as some battlefield halo of Heaven’s Mandate that left him completely unscathed.

It manifested in his grasp of the broader trend.

Time after time, he somehow managed to jump onto the most suitable point in the tide.

“We need to give that Savage King a little confidence.

“The reason the rebel army and the savage coalition held back from attacking Yingdu for so long was because they did not want to tear away that final layer of pretense and directly face the State of Yan’s reaction.

“Whether Yan would send troops, whether the Situ Clan would fall into Yan’s arms—they considered all of those possibilities long ago.

“Situ Lei’s final resurgence may have been beyond their expectations.

“And this defeat may have dealt a heavy blow to the rebels’ morale.

“But it absolutely was not enough to cripple the savages.

“If that Savage King already calculated that the Great Yan army would enter Dacheng to help fight, then there is no way he failed to prepare a move for afterward.”

Betting their future on the enemy being “clever” was, in terms of both appearance and standpoint, rather ugly.

Yet nobody present felt there was anything wrong with it.

Shengle City needed war.

It needed external warfare to seize population, supplies, and everything else.

Without war, they would have no choice but to reduce the army.

Or, as Siniang had proposed, transfer a portion of the soldiers into a military-farming system.

But everyone understood that once they did that, they would truly become no different from an ordinary regional warlord.

At most, they would look a tiny bit more respectable than the border troops of Qian’s three northern regions, who had once been used by local governments and great clans as little more than laborers.

Trying to cultivate another Zhenbei Army or Jingnan Army under those conditions would become almost pure fantasy.

The Blind Man spoke.

“Master, I’ve watched every move the First Prince has made since taking command.

“I’ve found that he truly came into this campaign intending to advance steadily and fight methodically.

“He will not take risks lightly.

“He means to use the greater strategic situation itself to pressure the savages and Dacheng’s rebels.

“So the chance of him making a serious mistake is not high.”

Originally, everyone had assumed that an imperial prince leading troops would probably be eager to show off.

Add to that the Yan style of warfare, which traditionally emphasized rapid cavalry strikes, and it had seemed likely the First Prince would push aggressively.

Instead, he had actually become cautious.

Truly cautious.

He had one hundred and fifty thousand troops under him.

Only fifty thousand were Zhenbei Army cavalry, true.

The State of Yan’s local commandery troops were not especially strong either.

But however weak they were, that was only compared with the Zhenbei Army and Jingnan Army.

Surely nobody could seriously believe those commandery troops fought worse than Dacheng’s rebels?

And besides, the savages had a famous reputation for being poor at fighting.

Even after they entered the pass, that established impression still had not truly changed.

In mainstream opinion among officials, scholars, and common people alike, the only reason the savages had managed to enter the pass this time was because the Situ Clan’s two ridiculous elder brothers had acted as guides and opened the way for them.

Hadn’t the Marquis of Jingnan taken only thirty thousand cavalry into the snowfields and turned the savages’ homeland upside down?

He had seized enormous herds of cattle, sheep, and horses.

The flood of livestock had even sent mutton prices plunging recently.

The First Prince, however, was taking things step by step.

His vanguard had already reached Yingdu, yet the main army maintained an orderly pace.

Every time it entered a new region, the first thing it did was complete the handover with the local authorities.

The Situ Clan’s original local administrative system was left intact.

Then grain and fodder were organized.

The army was resupplied.

Laborers were levied.

Everything proceeded in calm, orderly fashion.

Those who knew the situation understood the First Prince had come to fight a war.

Those who did not might have thought he had merely come to take over a business.

“Let’s keep watching.

“There’s no rush.”

Zheng Fan drew the bow again and loosed another arrow.

Then he asked, “Isn’t there a Situ Clan military town east of us?”

“Yes, Master,” Liang Cheng answered. “It is called Ningbian City.

“It originally had a garrison of more than five thousand, but by now most of those troops should have been transferred away.”

“Send some troops over and help receive the place.

“While we’re at it, expand the radius of our influence a little.”

“Would that be appropriate?” Xue San asked.

“There’s no appropriate or inappropriate about it.

“The Situ Clan has already submitted internally.

“The territory opposite us is now Great Yan’s territory too.

“We’re merely helping defend it.

“It isn’t as though we’re stealing land.”

“This subordinate understands.”

“Mm.

“If the people over there don’t know what’s good for them, teach them a lesson.

“Pin the crime of rebellion on them and wipe them out.”

“Yes. This subordinate understands.”

“Also, send another one or two thousand men farther into Dacheng to probe around.

“Build out our relay-station line while they’re at it.

“Otherwise, military intelligence from the front is still reaching us too slowly.

“If they run into the First Prince’s scout cavalry and get questioned, tell them we took the initiative to help cover the flank of His Highness’s army.

“The First Prince already asked us to guard his back door.

“He isn’t going to make trouble for us over little matters like this right now.

“As for settling accounts after autumn...

“Heh-heh.

“We’ll talk about autumn when autumn comes.”

Xue San sighed admiringly.

“Master, when you said all that just now, you really had the flavor of some treacherous eunuch chief from the Eastern Depot.

“Pair it with this Flying Fish Robe Siniang embroidered for you herself—absolutely perfect.”

“Heh-heh.

“Is that so?”

Zheng Fan drew the bow again and loosed another arrow.

Xue San added, “Master, shooting targets over and over isn’t very interesting.”

A’Ming, who had been dozing nearby with his eyes closed, opened them and looked toward Xue San.

“It’s fine.

“I’m only keeping my hand practiced so I don’t get rusty.

“Right, A’Cheng.

“Don’t let up on the army drills.

“Try to pour a little more killing intent into our troops.”

“Yes, Master.”

Xue San scratched his ear.

Then he sidled over toward Zheng Fan.

“Master, this subordinate prepared a medicinal bath.

“You’ve just finished shooting.

“Your body’s warmed up nicely.

“Why not go soak now?”

“The medicinal bath you mentioned last time?”

“Exactly.

“The ingredients were damned hard to find.

“I sent more than a hundred men into the mountains searching for half a month.

“Then I bought some additional ingredients from traveling merchants.

“Only then did I finally assemble a full prescription.

“I guarantee there are no side effects.

“This is the sort of thing truly wealthy and powerful households use to temper the bodies of their core family disciples.

“They say the Marquis of Jingnan soaked in this stuff as a child under the supervision of his granduncle.”

“How did that become your catchphrase?”

Zheng Fan found it rather funny.

*The Marquis of Jingnan used this, so it must be good.*

*The Marquis of Jingnan’s armor was forged from this.*

*The Marquis of Jingnan soaked in this while cultivating as a child.*

Did Tian Wujing even know he had somehow become the spokesman for several different brands?

Back then, Little Sixth had also used the Marquis of Zhenbei to endorse roast duck.

The difference was that the Marquis of Zhenbei had always been praised until he seemed practically divine.

But in reality, when it came to martial arts no joke even Zheng Fan could beat him.

Tian Wujing was different.

Among the common people, his reputation was already infinitely close to “great demon.”

But the man had genuinely defeated the Sword Saint.

That was extraordinary.

People feared him, yet also desperately wanted to become him.

So anything connected to Tian Wujing’s cultivation methods, anything associated with Tian Wujing at all, seemed to become instantly impressive and high-class.

“There really won’t be any problem?” Siniang asked with some concern.

Xue San immediately shook his head.

“I confirmed it.

“I soaked in it myself yesterday.

“I feel like I even grew a little taller.”

“Pfft.”

Fan Li, who had remained silent the entire time, burst out laughing.

“It’s true.

“It relaxes the sinews and invigorates the blood.

“It just hurts a little.

“Master only started cultivating as an adult, so this can make up for something he missed earlier.

“It only strengthens the foundation of the body.

“There are no other side effects.

“It isn’t like swallowing pills.”

“Fine.

“I’ll try it.”

Zheng Fan made the decision.

“Master, then we’ll go handle our work,” the Blind Man said. “Third, make certain nothing happens to Master.”

His tone was extremely serious.

Master belonged to all of them.

If Xue San somehow broke Master while playing around, then he could wait for the other six Demon Kings to hunt him down.

Xue San slapped his chest.

“Have some faith in me.

“Back in my original character setup, I was half a pharmacist!”

In films and television, the characters standing beside enormous bubbling cauldrons of green potion did, admittedly, tend to be rather short.

After the meeting broke up, everyone returned to the residence.

Xue San ordered the servants to prepare the bathing pool.

Zheng Fan liked soaking in hot baths, so the residence had its own dedicated pool.

There was no need to bother with a wooden bath barrel.

When Zheng Fan entered, he found that the Young Marquis had already awakened.

The baby was staring wide-eyed in his direction.

Zheng Fan walked over and picked Tian Tian up.

He had to admit, the Demon Child was actually excellent at looking after children.

The baby was clean and dry, and smelled faintly of milk.

“Mmm... wah-oh, wah-oh.”

The Young Marquis babbled something at Zheng Fan, complete with obvious rises and falls of emotion in his voice.

Zheng Fan pretended he understood.

He nodded and smiled along with the rhythm.

The bathing pool was ready.

Xue San dismissed the servants and said, “Master, you can enter now.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

He placed the Young Marquis back into the cradle, removed his clothes, and stepped into the bathing pool.

“Haaah...”

Perhaps because he had soaked in baths so often since coming to this world, combined with the fact that he followed the cultivation system of a Martial Artist, Zheng Fan’s tolerance for hot water had risen higher and higher.

Water hot enough that an ordinary person might not have been able to enter felt just about right to him.

Xue San approached holding a wine jar.

“Wah-oh, wah-oh...”

The Young Marquis in the cradle saw it and immediately began clapping his little hands and calling out.

“Hm?

“You want some?”

Xue San hesitated.

Strictly speaking, this was the formula your father used to soak in when he was young.

Letting you soak in it too did not sound completely unreasonable.

But you’re far too small.

If something goes wrong after soaking you in this...

Fuck.

That would be terrifying.

Even so, Xue San walked over to the cradle and pulled the stopper from the jar in front of the Young Marquis.

The little fellow leaned his head forward and took a sniff.

Then—

“Wah-oh...”

*Thump.*

He toppled backward and actually fainted from the fumes.

“Heh-heh.”

Xue San chuckled.

To help the medicinal ingredients blend and absorb more thoroughly, he had added quite a lot of their own high-proof alcohol.

“ROAR!”

At that exact moment, a stone shot through the air.

The Demon Child’s figure manifested.

His furious gaze locked firmly onto Xue San.

“Well...

“That...

“This...”

Xue San was a little frightened.

Even though everyone was currently on roughly the same level, Xue San still did not believe he could beat the Demon Child.

The bastard was, after all, designed as the biological son.

He was definitely supposed to be a little stronger than the other Demon Kings.

Apart from the bug where he loved killing his father.

“I’m going over there.

“Over there.”

Xue San furtively pointed behind him, meaning he still needed to help Zheng Fan with the medicinal bath.

The Demon Child suppressed his anger.

In the end, he did not attack Xue San.

Instead, he returned to the cradle, manifested his true form, and knelt beside the Young Marquis.

“Jie-jie-jie-jie... jie-jie-jie-jie...”

The Young Marquis, drunk from the fumes, stared at the Demon Child through hazy, peach-blossom eyes.

He answered, “Wah... ohhh... wah-ohhh... heh-heh...”

Cold sweat broke out across Xue San’s back.

He had only wanted to tease the child.

He truly had not expected the Demon Child to develop genuine feelings from babysitting him.

That posture just now he had looked fiercer than a mother hen protecting her chicks.

If Master had not been waiting in the bathing pool, the Demon Child probably would have fought him on the spot.

Tsk, tsk.

In the end, Master really knew how to play.

Holding the wine jar, Xue San returned to Zheng Fan.

General Zheng was reclining in the water with a washcloth over his face.

Such decadence...

“Master, I’m pouring it in now.

“Since this is your first medicinal bath, it may hurt a little.

“As the saying goes:

“When the channels flow, there is no pain; when there is pain, the channels do not flow.

“Once the medicinal bath takes effect, your tendons and meridians should be tempered and widened.”

“I know.”

“All right.”

Xue San poured the contents of the jar into the bathing pool.

The medicinal liquid entered the hot water and immediately began spreading.

“Hiss...”

Zheng Fan’s body suddenly convulsed.

He shot upright so violently that the washcloth slid from his face.

“You call this... a little painful?”

This no longer felt like bathing.

It felt like soaking in sulfuric acid.

If Zheng Fan had not known for certain that Xue San would never intentionally harm him, he would have jumped out immediately.

“This proves Master’s body still has enormous potential!”

Zheng Fan could only close his eyes and continue soaking.

Gradually, black, clotted blood began seeping from the corners of his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Dark blood also oozed from the pores across his body.

The effect was already slowly revealing itself.

Zheng Fan could clearly feel the qi and blood inside him becoming excited, flowing faster and faster.

His heart gradually began to settle.

But almost the instant it did, it leapt back into his throat.

The speed of his circulating qi and blood was still increasing.

Faster.

Faster.

It had already reached the point where he could no longer control it.

Zheng Fan’s vision began to blur.

What filled his eyes was no longer merely rising steam.

Phantom images seemed to appear all around him.

Within those illusions came wave after wave of demonic roaring, while an aura of curses and calamity churned and howled violently.

“THIRD!”

Zheng Fan roared.

“Huh?”

By now, Xue San had started panicking too.

He nervously bit at his fingernails.

“This is a medicinal bath?”

*Tian Wujing soaked in this damned thing every day when he was young?*

*That bastard surviving long enough to grow up was really not easy.*

Zheng Fan felt as though his body was on the verge of exploding.

At this point, even if he wanted to leave the bathing pool, he could no longer move.

His entire body felt like an overinflated balloon that would burst at the slightest touch.

“Uh...

“Master, it really is a medicinal bath...

“It’s just that this subordinate...

“This subordinate added a little something.

“This shouldn’t be happening.

“It shouldn’t.

“I soaked in it myself.

“It wasn’t this violent at all...”

“What... did you add?!”

“Uh...

“A’Cheng’s blood... and A’Ming’s.”

“...”

Zheng Fan!

[End of Chapter 298]