The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 50 Ji Chang’s Destiny

Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Ji Chang’s Destiny

In an era where the average life expectancy was only thirty or forty years, Ji Chang, who lived to nearly ninety, didn’t feel he had died prematurely. "I’ve already lived twice as long as most people, nothing to complain about," he thought.

However, as the leader of the Xiqi regime, he still had many regrets left unfulfilled. But he had to face reality.

The most pressing issue at hand was the matter of succession. He had pondered this problem for a long time. After witnessing Jiang Ziya’s resurrection, he finally made up his mind.

With Jiang Ziya back to preside over affairs, the tension Ji Chang had been holding onto for so long finally released, but the price was that he collapsed into illness and could no longer recover.

In just three to five days, his face seemed to age another twenty years.

On this day, Ji Chang seemed to sense that his end was near. Putting down the Taiping Heavenly Book in his hands, he instructed the wife who had been tending to him closely, "I’m afraid my time is almost up. Go and inform everyone. First, summon Kao’er; I have something to say to him."

Tai Si, who had long harbored this premonition, could not hold back her tears from falling when the moment arrived.

Ji Chang clasped Tai Si’s hand and comforted her, "I have lived over eighty years. Heaven has treated me well. As for the bond between us as husband and wife, we shall continue it in our next life."

Tai Si nodded through her reddened eyes and left the room.

A moment later, the entire civil and military assembly of West Zhou gathered outside the sleeping chamber, while Tai Si led the poised and refined Bo Yikao inside.

Ji Chang, with great effort, was supported to sit up. He said, "Kao’er, you’ve always known my ambitions. I’ve heard that the Great Sage Master and the Saintess reside in the South. Are you willing to go in my stead to serve them?"

Bo Yikao was no fool, and quite wise, in fact. He immediately caught on to the underlying meaning in his father’s words. It would be a lie to say he didn’t feel bitter—bitter from being stripped of his position as heir, bitter from his father’s lack of trust.

But he was truly a filial son, and without hesitation, he knelt and vowed, "I am willing to take my father’s place and serve the Great Sage Master!"

After his declaration, he kowtowed three times, each bow striking the floor with a resounding sound. Ji Chang, seeing that Bo Yikao didn’t even ask for an explanation, felt an even deeper surge of sorrow in his heart.

Choking back the wetness forming in his eyes, he said, "Depart immediately."

Bo Yikao kowtowed three more times, his forehead now bloodied, and turned to leave.

Tai Si watched Bo Yikao’s departing figure and began to weep softly.

Ji Chang then gave another instruction, "Summon the ministers."

Tai Si wiped her tears and went outside. Soon, the entire court officials gathered in the hall, all looking at Ji Chang with confusion, as they had noticed Bo Yikao leaving just moments earlier.

Ji Chang called out, "Ji Fa, Ziya, step forward."

Having already developed a premonition upon seeing his elder brother depart, Ji Fa suppressed his excitement. With a solemn expression, he stepped forward alongside Jiang Ziya.

Ji Chang looked at his second son with a complex expression. "I, Ji Chang, have always revered the Taiping Heavenly Sect. Unfortunately, I have been tied down with worldly affairs and never had the chance to personally serve the Great Sage Master. Thus, I have entrusted Kao’er to fulfill this wish in my stead."

"Upon my passing, Ji Fa shall succeed as Marquis and take charge of Xiqi."

Yes, despite being a rebel, Ji Chang had never assumed the title of king, still styling himself as Marquis instead.

Upon hearing this, the ministers immediately broke into uproar. Bo Yikao enjoyed great popularity among the court and, as the eldest son, was the legitimate heir in everyone’s eyes. How could this decision suddenly change?

"Silence! *Cough, cough.*"

"I appoint Jiang Ziya as the Great Zhou Prime Minister to oversee all three armies. Ji Fa, kneel and pay your respects to Prime Minister Jiang as you would to me."

The situation was abrupt, but Ji Fa trusted that his father would not harm him. Without hesitation, he knelt down with a thud: "Your son, Ji Fa, greets Prime Minister!"

Jiang Ziya’s expression turned complicated. Ji Chang’s motives and plans were clear as day to him—this was his way of forcing Jiang Ziya to pick a side. Having died twice already, his root bone, cultivation, and Qi Fortune had all declined drastically. Old Jiang had no choice but to resign himself to reality.

He truly had no affinity left with the Immortal Dao.

Looking at the aged, frail visage of Ji Chang, memories of their days debating the Dao came flooding back. In the end, Jiang Ziya couldn’t help but soften. He knelt deeply and solemnly bowed. "Your servant, Jiang Shang, thanks the lord for his grace."

This marked Jiang Ziya’s complete submission to Ji Chang.

"Good, good, excellent..."

Father!

Lord Wen!

...

Ji Chang passed away, and Ji Fa ascended to power.

Previously, they had stalled for time using the ceasefire token. Now, with a new pretext, Ji Chang’s funeral as Duke of Xibo ensured that Great Shang would be unable to send troops during the mourning period, as per customs.

Ji Fa simultaneously held the funeral while recruiting soldiers, making up for earlier losses in military strength, and strategizing a way to repel the enemy forces.

Watching Ji Fa, who relentlessly pursued his goals, Jiang Ziya began to understand why Ji Chang had entrusted him with leadership of Xiqi.

Truthfully, Jiang Ziya didn’t have a concrete solution either, but he maintained an enigmatic demeanor and declared, "Rest assured, I have a way to defeat the enemy."

Ji Fa outwardly expressed confidence but was inwardly skeptical. "Last time you said this, you were killed with a single blow. You might be resurrected, but my soldiers certainly are not."

Thus, during Ji Chang’s funeral, Ji Fa aggressively recruited more soldiers, even compromising with the nobles. The benefit was a rapid increase in military troops, though the drawback was the dismantling of the systems Ji Chang had painstakingly established.

Meanwhile, in the underworld, Nezha slumped over his desk, swamped with bureaucratic affairs. While most routine matters were handled by others, critical tasks still required his personal attention as King Yama. Fortunately, this didn’t interfere too much with his cultivation.

Frustrated, Nezha tossed aside a stack of documents, sprawled out his legs, and leaned back with a sigh. "How nice it’d be to have someone else do all this work!"

"Great King, Great King, an old man glowing with golden light has passed the exams outside. What position should we assign him?"

Nezha immediately straightened up. "Bring him here, let me see."

Intrigued, Nezha’s curiosity was piqued. A man radiating golden light—surely, he must be a great sage. But who could it be, dying and yet still not entered in the registers?

The underworld officials escorted Ji Chang to the Yama Hall. Glancing at him, Nezha instantly recognized the visitor.

"Ji Chang!"

"Great Sage Master!"

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

Nezha’s question stemmed from his recollection of Ji Chang’s century-long life. Why had he passed away so early?

Ji Chang, on the other hand, was truly shocked: "Wait, aside from being a Great Sage Master, you’re also moonlighting as King Yama?"

After some discussion, Nezha pieced together the situation. It turned out to have some connection with his actions as well. Since you’re already here, why not stay?

"Though you’re protected by Merit, entering the cycle of reincarnation will inevitably subject you to its hardships. Why not work for me? High pay, light workload, free meals and lodging, and a leadership position to boot! Plus, you can occasionally visit your family. Doesn’t that sound great?"

Ji Chang readily accepted. After hearing the job requirements, he felt the work was indeed simple and even found the prospect of seeing his family now and then quite appealing.

Nezha promptly handed over the official seal and robe. "You’re officially on the job now!"

Then, he registered it with the Six Dao Reincarnation Order and appointed himself as a "Consultant" as well. With the underworld’s bureaucracy essentially reorganized, Nezha turned his attention to dealing with the Endless Blood Sea.

Though he didn’t yet have a solid plan, stirring up a little trouble in the meantime seemed doable.

Accompanied by a band of idle witches, Nezha headed to the guard posts near the connection to the Endless Blood Sea and began assigning patrol duties.

"You, you, you—take shifts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."

"You, you, you—Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday."

"Everyone reports for duty on Sundays!"

"If you see any Asura snatching souls, beat them up!"

With the commanding demeanor of a security team leader, Nezha barked orders at hulking figures nearly three meters tall, pointing fingers and assigning shifts without breaking a sweat.

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