Douluo: Goddess Life Simulator, Qian Renxue Is Addicted

[Douluo Calendar, October 11th, 2024 — General Xing Daorong of the Zhu Nation suffers a crushing defeat, with only three thousand troops remaining. He retreats over three hundred li into Zhu territory, losing control of Zhu's lands. Zhao Kuo leads his army into Zhu, occupying the Great San Pass.]

[Xing Daorong, while awaiting punishment, discovers that Zhou Sheng'an had sent him a letter warning against clashing with Zhao Kuo's forces, stating that Zhao was a bold and impetuous youth with overwhelming strength.]

[Xing Daorong immediately promotes Zhou Sheng'an to vice general, then summons a renowned forger to imitate Zhou Sheng'an's handwriting, crafting a letter that credits Zhou for the idea to retreat from the Great San Pass.]

…

Upon reading this, Zhu Zhuqing's chest rose and fell with rage. The bark of the tree she gripped had been gouged by her fingernails.

"Shameless!!!"

"How can someone be this shameless?!"

"Xing Daorong… I remember now. He's the only son of Marshal Xing of the Star Luo Empire. No wonder a complete idiot like him could rise to the rank of Grand General in our Zhu Nation."

"Bastard! If they had used Mister Zhou, or at least followed his advice, how could we have lost so badly?"

Zhu Zhuqing sat down on a branch and stopped walking altogether, continuing her simulation.

…

Inside the royal palace.

Zhu Zhuqing and Empress Zhu once again sat facing each other.

The Empress sighed and handed Zhu Zhuqing the military report. "Zhuqing, take a look at Xing Daorong's explanation."

Zhu Zhuqing already knew of Xing Daorong's scheme. Reading it again only made her grind her teeth. "Utterly shameless!"

"It is shameless. But what can we do? He's the only son of the old Marshal Xing. Even His Majesty has to give him some face. So, Xing Daorong was merely stripped of his salary and barred from leading troops, sent home for reflection."

The Empress chuckled.

"What about Zhou Sheng'an?" Zhu Zhuqing asked anxiously.

"Him? That fool who gave such a terrible plan, causing this crushing defeat—and without any powerful background to protect him…" the Empress drawled slowly, deliberately teasing Zhu Zhuqing.

"What is it, Aunt?!" Zhu Zhuqing pressed, unable to wait.

The Empress smiled and said, "The emperor planned to execute him for his failure. But I persuaded him. Since you admire him so much, I thought it'd be a waste for him to die so pointlessly. Better to give him a chance."

"So I spoke to General Xiao Tianhe of the Star Luo Empire and told him the truth."

"He's quite interested in Zhou Sheng'an. If Zhou truly has talent, not only will he be safe—this may even become his chance to rise."

The Empress smiled cheerfully at Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up, and she said earnestly, "Aunt, just wait and see! With General Xiao around, Mister Zhou will definitely shine. One day, he'll come back to assist you!"

She was filled with confidence.

General Xiao Tianhe ranked seventh among the Empire's Ten Great Generals. Though elderly, he was a cautious and steady commander, rarely tasting defeat. Most importantly, he was a true soldier.

He valued true talent, not connections like Xing Daorong.

Once he met Zhou Sheng'an, things would fall into place!

…

[Douluo Calendar, October 20th, 2024 — The Star Luo Empire dispatches veteran General Xiao Tianhe with 200,000 troops to the Zhu border. He fortifies the Great San Pass, halting Zhao Kuo's advance.]

[General Xiao personally canes Xing Daorong with eighty lashes, flaying him and forcing a confession.]

[Xing Daorong dares not conceal anything and confesses the truth in full.]

[Upon hearing the entire story, General Xiao furiously shouts: "You wretch! You nearly cost my Star Luo Empire a rare talent!"]

[General Xiao immediately sends out riders to locate Zhou Sheng'an. After a short while, he mounts his own horse and personally gives chase.]

[Though departing later, General Xiao rides fast and arrives at the campfire division by nightfall, only to learn that Zhou Sheng'an has already departed—heading toward the Heaven Dou Empire.]

[Startled and alarmed, General Xiao ignores his fatigue and spurs his horse, chasing after him beneath the moonlight.]

…

"Da-da-da-da-da…"

General Xiao Tianhe galloped along a mountain pass within a gorge.

His aged body bounced with the rhythm of the horse, his weathered face flushed red in the moonlight, but his eyes burned with determination.

In the latter half of the night, he finally found Zhou Sheng'an's tracks and caught up to him in a forested mountain.

"Vice General Zhou, don't go… cough cough… don't go…"

General Xiao called out to the distant figure. He was too anxious and tumbled from his horse, falling to the ground and unable to get up. He stared up, eyes full of expectation, at the figure halfway up the hill.

The figure stopped, turned around, and looked at General Xiao.

Upon seeing him, Zhou Sheng'an quickly ran down.

"Elder, are you chasing me?" Zhou Sheng'an rushed to General Xiao's side, helping him up, puzzled.

General Xiao panted heavily and nodded hard. "Yes… yes, Vice General Zhou. I know you've been wronged. That bastard Xing Daorong tried to throw the blame on you!"

As he spoke, General Xiao studied Zhou Sheng'an carefully.

His first impression was skepticism—Zhou was far too good-looking.

Such appearance rarely commanded respect; it was hard for subordinates to feel awe toward someone so pretty.

But Zhou Sheng'an's eyes were resolute, his voice steady, and his posture and movements bore the hallmarks of military discipline. That won him favor instantly.

Zhou Sheng'an sighed. "I didn't expect to face something like this either."

"But now that I'm here, I won't let someone like you be wronged. I saw the letter you wrote for that bastard Xing. Your analysis of Zhao Kuo was dead-on. That brat really is too headstrong, trying too hard to prove himself."

"And I know you lead troops well. The only victory Zhu Nation had was because of you."

General Xiao spoke in a hurry, as though afraid Zhou Sheng'an would leave in disappointment.

Zhou Sheng'an clasped his fists and asked, "May I ask your name, elder?"

"I'm Xiao Tianhe, commander of Zhu's army this time." General Xiao stroked his beard and smiled.

"So it's General Xiao. With you here, I'm sure we'll soon drive back Zhao Kuo's army," Zhou Sheng'an said politely.

General Xiao's expression turned sour. "Vice General Zhou, I've approached you with sincerity. Do you take me for a fool? You know full well my command style—how could I win so quickly?"

His gaze sharpened as he grasped Zhou Sheng'an's arm. "This battle… I want to see how you would fight it. I can wash away the filth Xing Daorong threw on you, but your supposed 'desertion' won't go unpunished."

It was clear he intended to promote him.

But Zhou Sheng'an looked surprised. "Although there were some deserters, I wasn't deserting. I was scouting alternate routes to bypass the Great San Pass. I explained everything to the deputy general before I left."

"???" General Xiao was dumbfounded.