pdf-ebookys Chapter 45: Four Great Masters?
Chapter 45: Four Great Masters?
Xia Zhen couldn't understand how the masked man had discovered him when he had been so secretive, with the ambush outside and the experts there, and even his trusted confidants in the mansion barely knowing about it.
Does having superb martial arts skills mean you know everything?
He clearly didn't know just how skilled Zhao Yu was in martial arts.
But now that things have come to this, and someone has called it out to my face, there's no point in denying it anymore.
Having risen to the position of Commander of the Palace Guard, and having made the right bet in a palace coup, Xia Zhen has never lacked decisiveness and ruthlessness, climbing from a central army commander to the top military leader in Lin'an.
He knew all too well what it felt like to have his life and death in someone else's hands. If he didn't take a gamble, he would be at the mercy of this mysterious man for the rest of his life.
Moreover, Xia Zhen had his own plans. This person had gone to great lengths to plant evil magic in him, yet refused to kill him immediately, so there must be a reason why he needed him.
The position of Commander of the Palace Guard is a high-ranking and powerful position in all countries under heaven, and it is certainly not a pawn that can be sacrificed at will.
Even if he turns against them and fights, and fails, the other party will most likely not take his life; at most, they will let him experience the pain of the Life and Death Talisman.
Only with this confidence did Xia Zhen dare to take the plunge; he could never be satisfied without trying.
Years of pampered life had worn away the fighting spirit he had displayed on the battlefield in his youth, leaving him only with a mind full of scheming.
Xia Zhen gritted his teeth, grabbed the celadon teacup on the table, and smashed it hard on the ground.
"Snap!"
The teacup shattered with a loud crack, the sound particularly jarring in the quiet study.
Xia Zhen staggered back two steps, glaring fiercely at Zhao Yu in the armchair, and shouted with feigned bravado, "Your Excellency, it's not too late to relent. I've deployed four top-tier martial arts masters, renowned throughout the land, inside and outside this study, along with fifty elite Imperial Guards armed with powerful bows, completely surrounding this place!"
"If a fight really breaks out, no matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you might not be able to escape unscathed!"
"Now that things have come to this, if you obediently remove the evil spell from my body, those two chests of jewels will still be yours, and I can pretend that today's events never happened. Otherwise..."
"What if that's not the case? What can you do then?"
Zhao Yu chuckled, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth beneath the black veil covering his face.
These days, it seems like any Tom, Dick, or Harry can claim to be a top expert.
The people Xia Zhen brought couldn't even hide their auras. Let alone compare to Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qi, even Qiu Qianren today could probably take on a whole group of them with one hand.
With these few scoundrels, you dare to say you'll keep him? That's utterly ridiculous.
No sooner had Zhao Yu finished speaking than the doors and windows of the study were simultaneously flung open!
Four figures flashed in, their movements swift and silent, instantly surrounding the Grand Master's Chair, forming a tight encirclement that completely blocked all of Zhao Yu's escape routes.
"Grand Commandant, step back! Let us deal with this villain!"
The middle-aged man at the head of the group held a long steel sword, his face was stern, his eyes were sharp, and he cupped his hands in greeting to Xia Zhen, his voice steady.
Seeing this, Xia Zhen felt much more at ease. He quickly retreated to the door of the study, where he was protected by more than a dozen trusted elite imperial guards who were already waiting outside.
He leaned forward and shouted to the four people in the study, "Gentlemen, all you need to do is subdue this thief and force him to hand over the method to undo the spell. Under no circumstances should you harm his life! I have promised you a thousand taels of gold and a hundred acres of fertile land, and I will not go back on my word."
"Rest assured, Grand Commandant, we understand."
The man with the sword responded in a deep voice, then turned his head and looked at Zhao Yu, who was still sitting steadily in the armchair, his brows furrowing slightly.
The masked man in front of them hadn't stood up to fight since they barged in; he hadn't even left his chair, and was still slowly sipping his long-cold Longjing tea.
It was as if these four masters, who had been famous for many years, were nothing more than roadside servants in his eyes.
This composure was either feigned bravado or genuine daring and confidence, showing no regard for them whatsoever.
The swordsman steadied himself, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Yu, and said in a deep voice, "Young brother, I am Chu Jingtao from Jiangnan. I have been wandering the Jiangnan martial arts world for over thirty years and have earned a small reputation. My friends in the martial arts world have been kind enough to give me a nickname, Thunderclap Sword."
"Young man, relying on your unorthodox martial arts skills, you dare to coerce the Grand Commandant of the court and commit such a treasonous act. You are far too audacious."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of threat: "Young man, you are young and your martial arts skills are hard-earned. Why not give me face? Before things escalate, hand over the method to undo the spell, surrender, and I might even plead for you before the Grand Commandant and save your life."
"If you insist on resisting, you will end up with your head separated from your body, and then it will be too late to regret it!"
Zhao Yu picked at his ear with his little finger and scoffed, "Thunderbolt Sword Chu Jingtao? What kind of name is that? Never heard of him. What face do you have here?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jingtao's face instantly darkened, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
He had been famous in the martial arts world of Jiangnan for many years. His swift sword technique was unparalleled in the martial arts world. Everyone who saw him would respectfully call him "Hero Chu".
How can I not be angry when I am so looked down upon by a mere brat?
"Amitabha, Benefactor Chu, I think you shouldn't waste your breath on this kid."
The fat monk standing next to him touched his bald head, grinned to reveal a mouthful of yellow teeth, and spoke in a carefree manner.
The monk who was speaking was burly and fat, with a heavy iron dagger hanging from his waist, and his face was covered with thick, fleshy features.
His eyes were full of greed, and he kept glancing at the two boxes of jewelry in the corner. He didn't look like a monk at all.
"This brat won't listen to reason, let's take him down and torture him severely. I don't believe he can keep his mouth shut and still refuse to hand over the antidote!" The monk licked his lips, his greed intensifying. "Then, we'll split the gold and these two chests of jewels the Grand Commandant rewards us with, wouldn't that be great?"
This monk, whose Buddhist name was Yuanye, was originally a disciple of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song. However, he broke out of the temple after secretly learning martial arts and violating the precept against lust. After that, he began to mingle in the underworld of Jiangnan.
He possesses considerable skill in the Mad Demon Blade Technique and the Shaolin Prajna Palm, and is ruthless and vicious, making him a notorious outlaw in the martial arts world.
Chu Jingtao glanced at him, his brows furrowing even more, but he didn't refute him.
He was already furious at Zhao Yu's disdain, and Yuan Ye's words struck a chord with him.
However, Chu Jingtao prided himself on being a righteous person and had no intention of associating with a Shaolin traitor like Yuan Ye.
He turned to the Taoist priest in green robes standing on the other side and asked in a deep voice, "Master Liu, what is your opinion?"