Gu Shang and his troops returned to the domain after their victory over the Moonshade Sect.
At the gates of the domain, many commoners gathered there to welcome Gu Shang and his men.
Four old men could be found mixed in the crowd of commoners, "I'm quite curious to see how this young man looks" The Prime minister said as he massaged his beard.
As they were still talking, the Purple Qilin Cavalry appeared in the horizon on their dragon horses, galloping on a slow pace.
The people began to cheer them on. Gu Shang and his cavalry had become heroes in the heart of the commoners, Gu Shang cavalry was able to shake the unshakable.
To the commoners, a three star sect was unshakable in their eyes, this was a sect that had Immortal Kings and quasi Immortal Kings looking over them. Their empire was a middle tier empire because they had a quasi Immortal King watching over them, but a three star sect was much more powerful and could annihilate a middle tier kingdom several times over without even breaking a sweat.
This was how powerful a three star sect was to them, but Gu Shang had defeated such a massive and powerful force with only a 100,000 soldiers, and had also done so without any casualties on his side, if he wasn't a god then how else would you explain this.
Gu Shang had now replaced the fear, respect and reverence the people had for the Moonshade Sect in their hearts.
The four old men shook their heads, "How fickle can the people be? Just over a day ago, they were cursing and blaming the young general for putting their lives in danger, but look at them go" The first chancellor said with a shake of his head.
"The people move where the wind blows, they don't care about anybody but themselves, they'll support you when you stand up for them, but they'll abandon you when you need them the most.
This is why you must never trust them, they are unpredictable beings" The prime minister added.
Gu Shang arrived to receive the warm welcome and cheering of the people as he passed through the city.
"Long live the prince of the north!"
"Long live the prince of the north!"
"Long live the prince of the north!"
Gu Shang and his troops finally arrived at the Rising Phoenix Manor amidst cheering.
The large silver gates of the manor opened after Gu Shang reached the entrance, all the guards stationed at the entrance went on their knees, "Welcome General!" Gu Shang nodded before entering the manor.
After Gu Shang and his emissaries entered the manor, the first emissary couldn't help but speak out his mind, "Big brother, aren't the commoners in the capital too shameless, over a day ago they were cursing you, but now they are pretending like nothing happened.
Gu Shang got down from his horse and smiled, "Do you know what my master always use to say about people after we duped them?" He turned and faced them.
"He said that if you are loved by all, then there something wrong, if you are hated by all, then run for you life.
Do you understand what I just said?" Gu Shang asked with a smile.
"That it's alright too be loved and hated" The fourth emissary answered.
"Indeed, I'll prefer it like this than people who would always pretend to support me, those people are difficult to find yet dangerous to deal with.
I don't need to tell you what will happen if they all hate me, but a mix of both show they are humans and would always speak their minds out instead of being hypocrites" Gu Shang explained.
"Sigh, the master of mine was definitely a fraud no doubt about it, but lately I've been finding a lot of his teaching come true" Gu Shang said as he began to walk into the manor.
All the emissaries smiled wryly, Gu Shang relationship with his master was a relationship they could never understand.
Both master and disciple were crazy. They shook their heads and entered the manor.
Gu Shang's mother and Liu Feifei were waiting Infront of the gates of the inner courtyard. When Gu Shang arrived there to see the two women waiting for his, his heart was warmed by the gesture.
He embraced his mom tightly.
"Have you been crying?" He asked.
"No no no",she tried to wipe her tears.
Gu Shang shook his head and proceeded to hug Liu Feifei, but before he could embrace her, she dodged Gu Shang.
:(
"You left at dawn, it hasn't been that long, so stop acting like you've been gone for months" Liu Feifei said before dragging Gu Shang's mom away.
Gu Shang stood there speechless. All the maids who had come to welcome him along with his mother and wife bowed their head as they suppressed their laughter.
Gu Shang didn't pay attention to them. He couldn't help but frown, "something is wrong" he muttered to himself.
Maybe his mother and the maids around might think she's doing this because she's shy, but Gu Shang knew her enough to tell that, something was wrong.
Ever since he revealed himself as the Grand General, his relationship with Liu Feifei had never been the same.
"Greetings to the prince'' Elder Mo voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Elder Mo, it's nice to see you. How was things in the manor?" Gu Shang asked.
"Your grace, nothing special happened in the manor, but the heavens eyes have sent a message.
They've located the demonic pill master". Gu Shang narrowed his eyes after hearing this.
In the realm, there were different races and how they all lived, humans and elves all used herbs to concoct pills, but the demon race used humans to produce their pills.
This had led to a war between the two races some several thousand years ago. The humans won that battle and had sealed the demons away in a spatial realm.
But not all demons were sealed away, some escaped and blended themselves among humans. Those that escaped passed on their teaching to some humans they manipulated.
The demonic pill master was one of such human who had received the inheritance of the demons.
He used human hearts to concoct his pills and several family members of his troops had fallen victim to the demonic pill master, this was why he was hunting him down.
"Where's he?" Gu Shang asked.
"He's in the Han prefecture right now, at Hanshu City" elder Mo responded.
"Hanshu City" Gu Shang raised an eyebrow.
"Second brother, I want you to find the demonic pill master exact location in Hanshu City, Tell your men to be very secretive about the search" Gu Shang ordered.
....
Hanshu City
Inside the room of an inn, in the bustling Hanshu City, a young man was sleeping with bandages covering all parts of his body.
An old man who seemed to be in his sixty's, with a regular looking face and a young woman not older than twenty five were also present in the room.
"Father, do you think he was the one who killed all the bandits of the lawless gang?'' The young woman asked curiously. She might not have been the most beautiful girl around, but she had her charms which every man would want.
"We'll have to wait and see" The old man responded as he looked at the young man on the bed, his eyes shimmering with malice.