Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 116 Demon Clan's Rebellious Shrimp Nineteen!
"Damn it! Why is Jiang Xingzhou's literary skill so terrifying?"

The masked leader in black was furious, watching helplessly as ten rebellious scholars and ten demon generals joined forces to launch a fierce attack, using all their skills, yet they only managed to shatter a few dozen outer petals of the red lotus.

"boom--!"

The red lotuses lay layer upon layer, seemingly without end!

Despair welled up in his heart.

If they continue their strong attack and exhaust Jiang Xingzhou's scholarly talent, they may indeed be able to break through this lotus fortress and penetrate its interior.

But it will take at least ten breaths!
And at this moment,
A vast expanse of light shone brightly on the riverbank; reinforcements were about to arrive!
That's too late!

The assassination attempt has failed.

"what--!"

The leader in black suddenly let out a shrill scream, staggered, and plunged headfirst into the river.

Just as it plunged into the river,
He unleashed a water-based rune that he had prepared in advance for his escape.

"Wow!"

A sudden undercurrent surged up, carrying his dark figure, and he shot away like an arrow through the water.

The clamor at the finish line of the dragon boat race could be faintly heard, but inside a simple house by the river, it was so quiet that one could hear the soft rustling of sandalwood incense burning out.

Zhou Shanchang sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, a simple and broad sword lying across his lap.

The sword was plain, yet it subtly exuded a scholarly aura, like a lurking dragon.

He should have been seated at the Wangjiang Pavilion with Prefect Xue and other high-ranking officials—

During the Dragon Boat Festival, the finish line is when the dragon boat racers, all of whom are scholars and officials, are at their weakest.

Although for a hundred years, no demon race has ever dared to cause trouble at the finish line of the dragon boat race.
But what if?
Usually, a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations will be stationed at this finish line to oversee the process.

This year, in particular, is different.

Jiang Xingzhou was on the dragon boat in the mansion.

Therefore, he personally took charge of the area.

With the attic window slightly ajar, he could see the entire stretch of the river leading to the end of the river.

Suddenly.

"You traitorous demon general! You're courting death!"

Zhou Shanzhang opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them, and let out a cold snort.

With a flick of his sleeves,
"Zheng——!"

A bronze giant sword burst through the window, its whistling sound tearing through the sky!

Hundreds of scholars on the riverbank were swarming towards the traitors and demon generals in the river—killing the traitors and demons was a chance to gain merit, and they showed no fear.

But the giant sword struck first, accompanied by a sharp whistle.

"Pfft~!"

With a single sword strike, the turtle demon's hard shell shattered, "Crack!" The crab demon's claws were severed, "Sizzle!" The snake demon let out a miserable cry as its snake head flew off.

In the blink of an eye, three bursts of demonic blood exploded on the river surface, resembling three scarlet lotus flowers.

"It's Headmaster Zhou! Run—!"

The rebels and demon generals were terrified, screamed in panic, and turned to flee.

But it was too late!
At this moment, hundreds of angry scholars from the riverbank had already arrived, unleashing a flurry of swords and a barrage of literary attacks.

Sword light, ink flames, and thunder runes intertwined!
A multitude of literary treasures rain down, and talent spreads like a net.

The fleeing figures of the rebels and demon generals were instantly blasted into a cloud of blood mist, without even having time to scream.

A gust of river wind blew, and the residue fell into the water, turning half of the river red.

"Whoosh-"

The sword's gleam faded, but the wind continued.

Zhou Shanchang appeared on the river, standing with his hands behind his back on his sword, his robes billowing like clouds in the river wind.

He glanced down at the river and saw only churning blood foam, chaotic literary energy, and not even a single intact piece of the demon general's carapace.

Hundreds of scholars and literati have gathered here.

"Master Yuanjun!"

Someone cupped their hands and said urgently, "These traitors and demon generals have all been wiped out, blasted into dust. Without leaving any survivors, it will be difficult to find their accomplices!"

His voice was full of frustration.

River surface,

On the dragon boat of the academy,

Jiang Xingzhou flicked his fingertips, and the page of "I Often Remember the Sunset at the Creek Pavilion," which shimmered with a bluish light, was quietly rolled up and tucked into his sleeve.

"Greetings, Inner-kun!"

Wang Yizhou, Zhao Mengjie, and the other scholars and instructors bowed, about to speak—"Should we investigate this traitorous attack?"

"It's alright,"
This gentleman and Prefect Xue will investigate this matter themselves!

"You should all return to Wangjiang Pavilion!"

Zhou Shanzhang waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

He knew perfectly well what was going on.

Knowing the origins of these traitors and demon generals all along, why bother capturing their henchmen for interrogation?
It's better to kill them all, so as not to alert them.

"Xingzhou, are you injured?"

Zhou Yuanjun looked at Jiang Xingzhou, his ruthless tone softening slightly.

"Thank you, Dr. Xie, you're unharmed!"

Jiang Xingzhou's voice was as clear and bright as ever as he smiled.

"Yes, let's go back to Wangjiang Pavilion!"

The instructors and students of Jiangzhou Prefectural Academy, including Han Yugui, Cao An, Shen Zhiyun, and the Xue brothers, Fu and Gui.

The crowd was pale and weak, and they leaped onto the riverbank, stepping on the shattered waves.

at this time,

The vermilion dragon boats of the government office, the black dragon boats of the canal transport, the dragon boats of aristocratic families, and the dragon boats of Zuixianlou in Jiangyin County also arrived at their destination one after another.

On the dragon boats used for grain transport,
Scholar Zhao gripped the jade fan tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He stared at the river surface—

Blood and foam swirled in the vortex, enveloping fragments of armor. Not a single traitor or demon general survived; not even a decent piece of their remains could be pieced together.

Further away, the figure of Dean Zhou had long since disappeared into the mist, and he remained silent about the mess on the river.

Zhao, the scholar, secretly breathed a sigh of relief; the weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted.

There were no survivors, and the Zhao family would not be traced.

On the dragon boat of the government office,
"boom!"

Enraged, Lei Wanting slammed his fist into the dragon boat's railing, shattering it and sending splinters flying like rain.

"You son of a bitch, you bastard!"

They dared to collude with the demon race and wreak havoc in Jiangzhou Prefecture!
"If I catch you all, I'll skin you alive, one by one!"

This towering captain had bloodshot eyes and bulging muscles that stretched his official robes so much they creaked, and he began to curse loudly.

These traitors dared to launch a sneak attack at the Dragon Boat Festival; it was a blatant slap in the face to the Jiangzhou government.

"Puff-"

The leader in black fell into the river like a crow with broken wings; before the splashing water subsided, his figure had already transformed into a wisp of dark, turbid water.

The black line sped along the riverbed, as if a wolf-hair brush dipped in thick ink, leaving a menacing trail in the azure water—fleeing all the way to the East China Sea.

The assassination attempt was exposed.

This will inevitably provoke Prefect Xue of NJ Prefecture and Dean Zhou of the Prefectural Academy.

Prefect Xue's thunderous rage and Headmaster Zhou's demon-slaying sword intent have likely already enveloped the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture.
He dared not flee back to the Zhao family mansion in Jiangzhou—Zhao Bingzhu, the head of the Zhao family, would probably kill him immediately to silence him and prevent the assassination attempt from being exposed.

The only way to survive now is to seek refuge with the demons who occupy the Blood Coral Palace in the East Sea.

Those demon generals who take pleasure in raising human traitors have always admired stray dogs with blood on their hands.

East China Sea coast.

The leader in black knelt on the jagged rocks, his feet sinking into the salty spray of the waves. The incense burning between his fingers twisted and rose, turning into a wisp of smoke as the twilight fell.

"Wow——!"

The water surface suddenly broke open, revealing the rusty, dark red shell of Shrimp Nineteen. Half of its body was submerged in the seawater, and its compound eyes reflected a cold light as they moved.

"Missed?"

It stared at the black-clad leader's panicked face, its tone filled with undisguised sarcasm, "Assassination failed, can Jiang Xingzhou die?"

The leader in black gritted his teeth, his voice filled with resentment and fear:
"Nine rebels and ten demon generals were killed, but they didn't even touch the hem of his clothes!"
The Jiangzhou government will surely launch a large-scale search, and I have nowhere to return... I hope Brother Shrimp will lead me to the Demon Court of the East Sea to lay low for now!

The sea breeze, carrying the stench of blood, choked his lungs. He lowered his head, his posture utterly humble.

Xia Shijiu nodded expressionlessly, signaling him to follow, then turned and dived into the sea.

The leader in black, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, was about to follow—

"what!"

Xia Shijiu's compound eyes suddenly contracted, staring intently at what was behind him.

The black-clad leader's hair stood on end, and he turned around abruptly like a startled bird, fearing that the government officials' pursuers had arrived. "Pfft!"

A shrimp-shaped blade, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, pierced through his chest from behind!

"Well--!"

A spray of blood erupted from the enormous hole. His literary talent was shattered, and his energy, which had been depleted, surged out like a punctured balloon. His literary talent quickly withered away.

"You—I have served the Demon Court for many years. Why—!"

The leader in black staggered and knelt down, his eyes wide with disbelief—a dignified scholar had been ambushed by a shrimp soldier captain!

Shrimp Nineteen sneered and suddenly drew out its shrimp blade. Demonic flames surged on the blade, reflecting its ferocious face.

"Pah! Why?"

"The human race I admire most is Jiang Xingzhou!"

"You scum, how dare you plot to kill him?!"

Xia Shijiu's eyes were filled with disgust.

"Since all the other traitors and demon generals are dead, why don't you die with them?!"

Before he finished speaking, Xia Shijiu swung his blade again, and the surging demonic flames suddenly surged, completely engulfing the black-clad leader's screams and confusion!

"boom--!"

The flames swept through, leaving not even a trace; the ashes were swept away by the tide and vanished without a trace.

Xia Shijiu glanced coldly at the sea surface, then turned and leaped into the deep sea, swimming towards the palace of the Royal Fish Demon General.

Anyway... all nine traitors and ten demon generals are dead, so who would care if one more piece of trash died?
Deep in the East China Sea lies a coral palace of demons.

Shrimp Nineteen moved like an arrow, cutting through the dark waters, and rushed straight towards the majestic Coral Demon General's Palace.

The palace is entirely constructed of crimson coral, shaped like the interlocking fangs of a giant beast, and its surface is covered with glowing deep-sea barnacles, gleaming eerily in the dark water.

Outside the hall, several dark figures darted about—they were sea-patrolling yakshas, ​​with blue faces and fangs, holding rusty bronze forks, and foul-smelling slime seeping from between their scales.

They lay lurking among the coral reefs, their eerie green eyes slowly turning as they followed the movements of Shrimp Nineteen.

On either side of the palace gate, two rows of fish demon soldiers stood like stone sculptures, with drops of undried blood dripping from the tips of their coral tridents.

Two fish-oil lamps hung from the eaves of the palace, their flames flickering eerily in the water, casting Xia Shijiu's shadow on the palace wall, twisting and elongating.

"Reporting to the Commander!"

Shrimp Nineteen knelt outside the hall, its carapace still tainted with the lingering stench of blood. Its head was bowed, its compound eyes reflecting the flickering light of the fish-fat lamp, and its voice echoed in the deep, dark water:
"The assassination attempt by the rebels failed; Jiang Xingzhou is not dead."

"Ten traitors, ten demon generals... the entire army was wiped out, not a single survivor!"

The roar of Shrimp Nineteen echoed between the pillars of the Coral Palace, startling several small, fluorescent fish that darted about.

Deep within the Coral Palace, the enormous figure of the Royal Fish Demon General sat atop the Demon General's throne.

Its bluish-gray scales gleamed with a metallic sheen, and its whiskers swayed gently with the current.

"..."

After a long silence, a heavy sigh stirred the water:

"understood."

A sinister glint flashed in the eyes of the Emperor Fish Demon General, and wisps of black mist seeped from between the gaps in his scales.

"That fool Zhao Bingzhu chose to make his move at the Dragon Boat Festival, where human scholars gathered! Three of my generals... have been lost in vain!"

roll! "

A violent burst of demonic energy erupted, causing the entire Coral Palace to tremble.

The yakshas patrolling outside the palace shrank into the shadows in terror, even distorting the flames of the ever-burning lamps.

"Yes!"

Shrimp Nineteen's shell made a cracking sound as it struggled under the weight, and it hurriedly bowed its head, swimming backwards out of the palace.

Even after swimming hundreds of feet away from the Coral Palace, its shell still trembled slightly due to the oppressive aura of the Royal Fish Demon General.

"Sooner or later, I will be just like that!"

In the instant it turned around, it glanced back at the majestic and menacing palace, and a barely perceptible hint of envy flashed in its compound eyes.

In the Demon Court of the East Sea, only by rising to the ranks of Demon Generals can one truly wield the power of life and death.

Yes, you can create your own demon palace!

Yes, recruit demon soldiers and buy seahorses to independently command a demon army!
However, one may attend and speak during the East Sea Demon Court's meetings!
These thoughts grew wildly in Shrimp Nineteen's mind like poisonous algae.

It looked down at its sharp shrimp blade, a trace of blood still remaining on its surface, which was now slowly spreading in the seawater, turning into a wisp of dark red smoke.

Ever since secretly practicing Jiang Xingzhou's poetry and prose skills, specifically the poem "Shooting the Pot"—[Drunk, leaning against the screen, laughing at Zhou Chu, who once slew the dragon in vain]—he has comprehended a move called "Dragon-Slaying Blade"!

This line of poetry pierced its demonic core like a poisonous thorn.

Whenever the moon is hidden, it hides in the coral reef house, using its shrimp blade as a knife and seawater as ink, repeatedly sketching the sword strokes that would slay the dragon.

Whenever Jiang Xingzhou wrote new poems, it would always try its best to collect them from the rebels as soon as possible, bring them back to the Coral House, and study them day and night, which actually benefited it greatly.

It has already figured out several tricks of demonic writing from Jiang Xingzhou's poems!

Shrimp Nineteen's strength has recently increased by leaps and bounds, and he seems poised to break through from the captain of the shrimp soldiers to become a shrimp demon general!
Its audacity grew, and its ambition grew stronger. Things it never dared to dream of when it was a shrimp soldier, it now dared to covet.

But this matter must not be known to any demons.

And Young Master Jiang must not be killed by these damned traitors of the human race!
As long as Jiang Xingzhou's poetry and prose continue to flow, it dares to assert that it will one day become a powerful shrimp demon.

Thump—!
Boom-!
Boom-!
Thump—!

Four deep, resonant bell tolls rose from the Confucian Temple, their echoes rippling across the sky above Jiangzhou Prefecture.

The gray tiles trembled with the sound, startling the birds that had been roosting all over the city.

The talent that had been dormant for a century seeped out from the cracks in the blue bricks, flowed through the cracks in the archway, and condensed on the stone railing of the ancient well, turning into specks of golden light that floated in mid-air.

The cultural heritage of the entire city seemed to awaken suddenly, and even the mottled vermilion pillars gleamed with a lustrous sheen.

In Jiangzhou Prefecture, the roof tiles of every household trembled with the sound of bells, and the accumulated talent seeped out from the cracks in the bricks, the well edges, and the archways.

Within the city of Jiangzhou, the lotus stems in the hundreds of ponds unfurled at a speed visible to the naked eye, their new leaves layered like jade plates, and in the blink of an eye, thousands of red lotuses bloomed in succession, their rich fragrance spreading with the sound of bells.

"Young Master Jiang's poem about dragon boats has reached the court!"

"The lotus flowers in the pond are bursting with talent!"

In an instant, the cheers of the people throughout the city were like a steamer that had been suddenly opened, with shouts erupting one after another in the white steam.

Wangjiang Pavilion.

Prefect Xue suppressed his anger, maintaining a warm smile on his face, and led a group of officials, scholars, and ladies from Jiangzhou Prefecture to welcome the returning dragon boat team.

After all, it is the Dragon Boat Festival, so even if one is furious, one must hold back for the time being.

We'll discuss this further after the feast.

The towering pavilion overlooks the great river, with colorful flags fluttering and the aroma of wine filling the air.

"Congratulations, Dean Zhou! After ten years, the Prefectural Academy has once again won first place in the Jiangzhou Prefecture Dragon Boat Race!"

Prefect Xue laughed heartily.

"This is mostly thanks to Jiang Xingzhou!"

Professor Zhou smiled.

"I dare not accept such praise! You are too kind, seniors! Our victory in this dragon boat race is all thanks to the joint efforts of all the instructors and students!"

Jiang Xingzhou quickly replied modestly.

Amidst the clinking of cups and the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments, the scholars of Jiangzhou Prefecture chatted and laughed, as if the entire city had gathered here in celebration.

As the setting sun bleeds and dusk settles, the commotion gradually subsides as guests head home.

As dusk settled, Jiang Xingzhou returned to the Xue State Duke's mansion with slightly tipsy steps.

The exquisite wine from Wangjiang Pavilion was still warm in my throat, but a night breeze suddenly dissipated its effects.

"Young master, a messenger has delivered a message."

The gatekeeper quickly bowed and handed over a blue cloth bundle.

Jiang Xingzhou frowned.

In the past, only Xue Lingqi would send him letters from Jiangyin County.

But Xue Lingqi was still in the mansion, so how could someone send her a letter?
He weighed the bundle in his hand; it was so heavy it seemed to contain many letters.

He went back inside.
Open,

As the candlelight flickered, more than ten sealed letters with water-based ink spilled onto the table.

The sealing wax was stained with blood; the moment it was opened, Jiang Xingzhou's pupils constricted sharply—

It left him speechless.

These dozen or so secret letters were all secret correspondence between Zhao Bingzhu of the Zhao family and the East Sea Emperor Fish Demon General.

Other than that,

Beneath the sealed letter lay a crumpled piece of rough paper, the handwriting crooked and illegible, resembling the claws of a shrimp or crab crawling out:
Young Master Jiang!
The Zhao family has colluded with the East Sea Demon Court to kill you!
The evidence is here!

Burn after reading!

—Shrimp Nineteen]
Jiang Xingzhou's expression changed drastically.

"Shrimp Nineteen, who is that? A shrimp soldier? Ranked nineteenth?!"

But he had no time to investigate further at that moment.

These dozen or so secret letters, as irrefutable evidence, were enough to warrant the execution of the entire Zhao family! Even with the support of six powerful relatives by marriage, they couldn't withstand the deadly force of the label "traitor"!
Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)