Chapter 155: Conferring Upon Shen Gongbao the Title of National Preceptor

Having let Jiang Ziya slip away, Shen Gongbao was pondering how to explain the matter to King Zhou.

Fortunately, he had now captured the princess of the Wusang Kingdom along with the Great Wizard Kumar. He believed King Zhou and the others would be greatly interested in such a gift.

Treating them like dangerous criminals, Shen Gongbao bound Jiji Aya and Kumar tightly together and led them back to Chaoge.

About half an hour later, the sudden appearance of an exotic, beautiful woman on the main streets of Chaoge instantly caused quite a commotion.

The townspeople were well accustomed to women with black hair and black eyes, but one with hair mixed with golden and black strands, especially paired with a pair of emerald-green eyes, was exceedingly rare.

Could only a demonic beast grow such strange eyes?

"Ah... Is this woman a monster? How... how can she look like this?"

Terrifying, yet enchantingly beautiful.

"Mother, why does this elder sister look different from us? She looks so special..."

"Ah... This must be a demon..."

Bah! You are the demon! Your whole family are demons.

The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger. To prevent any unforeseen complications, Shen Gongbao directly cast a spell of invisibility and teleportation.

Inside the grand hall of the Star-Plucking Tower.

Shen Gongbao pulled Jiji Aya and Kumar along, treating them much like driving cattle and sheep.

The appearance of Jiji Aya, with her exotic beauty, instantly stirred a commotion among the ministers.

Naturally, some ministers held her in disdain, such as Wen Zhong, Bi Gan, Su Hu, and Huang Feihu.

King Zhou looked quite surprised as he watched Shen Gongbao slowly approach. "Uh... Master Shen, what is this... Who are these people?"

Binding such a beautiful woman so tightly showed that this Shen Gongbao truly had no appreciation for tenderness toward the fairer sex.

King Zhou saw that Jiji Aya possessed such exotic beauty, one that was not the least bit inferior to Su Daji, and it actually caused ripples of emotion in his heart.

Ah!

Men were always creatures who thought with their lower bodies.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the ministers, Shen Gongbao bowed respectfully to King Zhou. "Reporting to the Great King, her name is Jiji Aya, and she is a princess of the Wusang Kingdom... As for this one, his name is Kumar, and he is the Great Wizard of the Wusang Kingdom."

What? They were actually from the Wusang Kingdom? People from an enemy state?

This fellow Shen Gongbao was quite capable!

How on earth had he managed to capture both the princess and the great wizard of the Wusang Kingdom?

What a remarkable feat!

King Zhou's eyes widened in surprise. "Jiji Aya? The princess of the Wusang Kingdom? This... Master Shen, how did you manage to capture them?"

Shen Gongbao glanced at the two of them and guessed half-seriously, "This poor Taoist speculates that the two of them sneaked into Chaoge partly because of the Investiture of the Gods List, and partly perhaps because of Your Majesty."

"Because of Us? Why?" King Zhou asked belatedly, posing a rather foolish question.

You killed their prince, so of course they came for revenge.

After inwardly cursing to himself, Shen Gongbao had to bite the bullet and continue. "This poor Taoist surmises that this girl came to Chaoge for revenge and unfortunately happened to run into me. They claimed they wanted to assassinate the Great King. But with Your Majesty's divine protection, how could an assassination ever succeed? It was nothing more than sheer arrogance, striking a stone with an egg—utterly foolish."

"Striking a stone with an egg, utterly foolish... Haha, Master Shen, your words truly resonate with Us."

King Zhou was very pleased and intended to give Shen Gongbao some tangible rewards, so he asked, "Master Shen, you have rendered a great service today. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Was good fortune finally coming?

Shen Gongbao suppressed his surging excitement, feigned a calm composure, and declined modestly. "Reporting to the Great King, being able to share burdens for Your Majesty is merely this poor Taoist's duty. Such lavish praise from Your Majesty fills my heart with great awe."

"Merit deserves reward, and rewards must match merits; this is the way of a ruler, and the way of man."

King Zhou turned his gaze to Wen Zhong. "Grand Tutor Wen, what vacant positions remain in the palace currently? Tell Us a thing or two."

Wen Zhong felt nothing but contempt in his heart for Shen Gongbao's flattery.

However, looking at it another way, Shen Gongbao capturing the princess and great wizard of the Wusang Kingdom was indeed a notable achievement.

Wen Zhong thought for a moment and finally said, "Reporting to the Great King, there are not many vacant positions left in the palace at present. Apart from the post of National Preceptor, there truly are no other idle positions."

"National Preceptor? This..."

King Zhou hesitated.

A position like National Preceptor could be said to be above ten thousand people and below only one, naturally commanding boundless glory both in public and private.

Yet it seemed to be just that; the National Preceptor held no actual political power.

Upon hearing the words "National Preceptor," Shen Gongbao's eyes began to shine brightly.

The National Preceptor!

Come right into my bowl.

Shen Gongbao's original purpose in coming to Chaoge was targeted precisely at the position of "National Preceptor."

Although the National Preceptor held no real power, once seated in this position, he could take advantage of its convenience to accomplish things and achieve his own goals.

"Very well, Master Shen, you have rendered a great service to our Great Shang. We hereby appoint you as the National Preceptor of our Great Shang, presiding over grand ceremonies and rituals. What do you say to this?"

"Ah! Is this truly acceptable? This subject thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace and favor! This subject accepts the decree!"

Shen Gongbao's body trembled with excitement.

Hehe!

After years of scheming since leaving the mountains, he had finally successfully taken his first step and was about to unfold his grand ambitions.

Wonderful!

"If there is anything you do not understand about future affairs, just ask them more often."

"Understood, this subject will keep it in mind."

What the hell?

The demonic Daoist captured them, and in return, secured the position of National Preceptor for himself?

As Jiji Aya and Kumar were dragged away under guard, the two of them felt like vomiting blood.

Why did they become prisoners, only to pave the glorious path for another?

Ugh!

They continued to spit blood...

The court session dispersed.

Weizi Qi went straight to find King Zhou.

Weizi Qi asked bluntly, "How does the Great King plan to deal with that Wusang princess?"

For King Zhou, this question seemed somewhat difficult to answer.

The princess was so beautiful; should she simply be executed? That would be a terrible waste of natural beauty.

Keep her? As a slave, a maid, or a imperial concubine?

King Zhou was truly torn over this.

Noticing the subtle changes in King Zhou's expression, Weizi Qi perceived a hint of what was going on. "Great King, could it be that your heart has been moved?"

"Uh... Why does Royal Brother ask such a question?" King Zhou suddenly felt his pride bruised.

Even if he were to take the princess as his concubine, that was a matter of his own inner palace; why was his elder brother meddling so much?

Could it be that his royal brother had his eyes on that woman?

"Cough, cough... Royal Brother, you couldn't possibly have feelings for that woman..."

"The Great King misunderstands, it is nothing like that. I am merely concerned about Your Majesty's current situation." Weizi Qi's words carried a deeper meaning.

King Zhou was momentarily stunned. "Concerned about Us? No... Royal Brother, what on earth are you trying to say? You can speak directly instead of beating around the bush. It is exhausting to listen to, and I don't understand."