Zhao Jundu took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the tea from his hands. When he looked up again, his expression had become serene, though his eyes were clouded and inscrutable. “I will handle this matter. Do not tell Father or the elder brothers for now.”
Wang Bo nodded, but inwardly sighed.
That old incident had been full of twists and turns, leaving behind a bizarre aftermath that no one fully understood to this day. Although Zhao Jundu had been old enough to remember things at the time, how much could a child really have heard? But judging by how he immediately connected the dots today with just a few words, it was clear that he had never forgotten the past and perhaps had even quietly investigated on his own.
“However, about Princess…” Wang Bo hesitated slightly.
A glint flashed in Zhao Jundu’s eyes, and he said calmly, “For his sake, Mother had a difficult childbirth when giving birth to Xi Xi and has yet to recover. Moreover, Mother had no involvement in those events back then, something you should be well aware of, Wang Bo. Why should we trouble her with matters that are not relevant?”
Wang Bo’s heart trembled slightly, and he finally nodded heavily. “Young Master rest assured, I will keep my mouth sealed.”
Wang Bo’s loyalty to Princess Gao Yi was unquestionable. Since the matter had come to him, there was already an intention not to alarm the princess.
Zhao Jundu did not say more, only asking, “What does the person look like? Since he was severely injured and unconscious, you should have been able to get his personal belongings. If I have direct objects related to him, I can find his whereabouts.”
“At the time, Miss did not allow us to get close. However, there is something of his with Miss.”
Wang Bo came prepared, taking out a portrait and a short dagger and placing them before Zhao Jundu. The portrait, while simple, was quite lifelike, capturing Qian Ye’s features with just a few strokes. The short dagger was none other than the Radiant Fangs that Zhao Ruoxi had not returned.
Wang Bo said, “Young Master, this short dagger is part of Miss’s collection. I am merely ‘borrowing’ it temporarily and will need to return it later.”
Zhao Jundu said, “No worries, Xi Xi will be visiting Mother and plans to stay at the North Peak Prince’s Mansion for a few days after. This round trip will take at least ten days. I will not borrow this dagger for more than five days.”
“Then I can be at ease,” Wang Bo said, rising to take his leave. As he approached the door, he paused, hesitating for a long time before saying, “Young Master, there is another matter. I am not sure if I should mention it.”
Wang Bo was preoccupied, but he did not notice Zhao Jundu’s hand shaking as he held the portrait.
“What is it?” Zhao Jundu’s voice was calm and unrippled.
“From what I see, Miss seems to have developed feelings for that person.”
Zhao Jundu suddenly stood up, a look of surprise on his face. “Is it true?”
“If this old man’s eyes haven’t failed me, it is… so.”
Zhao Jundu took a deep breath, regaining his composure. “Alright, I understand.”
After the study door closed, Zhao Jundu examined the portrait for a while before retrieving a gray file folder from the table, which also contained a portrait. The two paintings had entirely different styles, but the faces in them were about 80-90% similar.
Zhao Jundu crumpled the two papers into balls, watching as they were slowly ground into a pile of fine dust in his palms, which then sifted through his fingers. He stood there for a long time before picking up the Radiant Fangs and walking out of the study.
Carriages were always ready in the outer courtyard for travel, and the main residence alone was the size of a small city. To go beyond the estate, transportation was necessary. Zhao Jundu’s face was as calm as water as he boarded the carriage, ordered, “To the Elders’ Hall,” and then closed his eyes, remaining silent.
The coachman, who had served Zhao Jundu for a long time, saw his very bad mood and did not dare to say another word, driving the carriage smoothly and quickly toward the Elders’ Hall in the south wing.
The silver carriage entered the Elders’ Hall and stopped in front of an independent courtyard on the east side.
Zhao Jundu got out of the carriage, waving off the attendant at the entrance, and walked directly into the courtyard.
The courtyard was not large, but the arrangement of flowers and plants was exquisite, with a trellis of purple grapes. It was now in season, and the plump fruit hung from the lush, green vines. An old man was sitting in a wicker chair, his eyes closed, playing with two perfectly round jade balls.
Zhao Jundu entered, and without opening his eyes, the old man said, “It’s Jundu, isn’t it? It’s rare for you to visit this old man. Tell me, what trouble do you need me to deal with this time?”
Zhao Jundu, well-versed in the old man’s character, did not beat around the bush and handed over the Radiant Fangs, saying, “Sixth Elder, this knife left its previous owner not long ago. I want you to help me find the person. He is a young man around twenty years old, probably between the seventh and eighth levels.”
The old man slowly opened his eyes, but frowned, saying leisurely, “I knew it wasn’t going to be anything good. This will cost me a great deal of my energy. Is he in the Western Continent?”
“Not necessarily.”
Hearing this, the old man’s long eyebrows almost knotted together. “Then it will be even harder. You should know that this will consume ten years of my cultivation.”
Zhao Jundu’s expression remained unchanged, and he said, “This matter is extremely important to me, and I am willing to pay the price. I beg the Sixth Elder to assist me.”
“Well…” The Sixth Elder pondered, looking hesitant. Even though he was now retired and no longer needed to engage in violent conflicts, ten years of cultivation was not something easily given up.
Zhao Jundu added, “I heard that cousin Ruming is preparing to break through to the Warlord level. The most rare and valuable herbs he lacks, I might have a way to obtain them.”
A glint flashed in the Sixth Elder’s eyes, followed by a resigned shake of his head. “Sigh, very well, I will make this exception. If Ruming had half your talent, I wouldn’t need to worry so much!”
After receiving the Radiant Fangs, the Sixth Elder slowly ran his finger along the blade and said, “I will use the Star Praying ritual to trace its origin. It will take a few days.”
“Very well, I will wait for the Sixth Elder’s message.” With that, Zhao Jundu left the courtyard.
“A few days…” Zhao Jundu sat in the carriage, his eyes half-closed. After a moment, he said, “Inform the Martial Hall to bring out the ‘Azure Sky’ and place it in the Heavenly Star Pool for nurturing. I will soon be going to battle.”
His voice was neither high nor low, but loud enough for the guards outside the carriage to hear clearly. They all tensed, quickly responding, “Yes, Young Master!”
Zhao Jundu had cultivated the secret technique of the Zhao clan, the Extreme West Purple Qi, since childhood. At fifteen, he had ignited nine source nodes and was on the brink of breaking through to the Warlord level. However, he then took a completely different path, spending five years honing his skills at the ninth level.
In the earlier years, Zhao Jundu had followed the family’s precept, periodically going to the battlefield. But since Zhao Wei Huang had taken the position of Patriarch, he spent more time in the main residence handling affairs for his father, rarely fighting except for grand occasions like the Spring Hunt.
Yet, whenever he fought, he was invincible. Even his personal guards found it hard to gauge the depth of his martial prowess, knowing only that he had never met an equal in his rank.
The atmosphere in Li Bin City was tense in the early evening. Although the city gates could not be closed arbitrarily, the city defense troops were checking people rigorously, causing a long line at the entrance.
In an inconspicuous small courtyard two streets away from the city defense headquarters, Wang Youyuan stood before Zhao Youping, his back bent almost at a right angle, with one side of his face swollen.
“Worthless! Can’t even handle such a small matter, what use are you? Now the goods are gone, the person hasn’t been caught, and several of our city defense comrades have been lost. How do you expect me to explain this to the higher-ups? Hmph, although the old City Lord is near death, he still holds the position!”
Facing Zhao Youping’s furious scolding, Wang Youyuan could only repeat, “I deserve to die,” and slap himself repeatedly.
Zhao Youping suddenly asked coldly, “Still no news?”
The attendant beside him hastily replied, “My Lord, any news will be reported to you immediately!”
“Useless bunch!”
The attendant glanced at Zhao Youping’s expression and hurried out, “I will go urge them again!”
Zhao Youping, feeling restless, walked to the window and suddenly said, “Since the brat is still in the city, that’s fine. I will personally take care of him and end his life!”
“You’re going to handle it yourself?” Wang Youyuan swallowed, carefully saying, “My Lord, that brat is also an eighth-level soldier, on par with you. Even Ma Sandao, who is higher ranked, lost to him. He’s not easy to deal with. Shouldn’t we gather more people?”
Zhao Youping snorted, “How can the Zhao clan’s combat techniques be compared to those of commoners? Even though Ma Sandao’s rank is higher than mine, I can kill him in three moves! Besides, gathering more people? Do you think the matter is not big enough already? The priority now is to eliminate that brat. The goods are secondary. If this gets out, both of us will suffer. That old man’s confidants are always watching for my mistakes!”
“Lord is mighty!” Wang Youyuan quickly flattered, his expression a bit flustered.
The city defense troops were not solely under Zhao Youping’s command; there were two other commanders. One was a confidant of the old City Lord, and the other, the most powerful, was from an outside clan, so he had always remained neutral in factional disputes.
Although Wang Youyuan had promptly disposed of Ma Sandao, he also ensured that the cousin from Xinglong Trading Company was eliminated. Thus, even if the escaping brat tried to appeal, he would lack evidence. Yet, not eliminating the threat was a constant danger.
Zhao Youping suddenly felt agitated and waved at Wang Youyuan, “Get out!”
Wang Youyuan, relieved, quickly retreated towards the door. But just as he reached the entrance, he stepped back again.
“Didn’t I tell you to get out?!”
Zhao Youping saw Wang Youyuan being pushed back into the room with a source gun aimed at his forehead, and a young man followed him in.
Zhao Youping’s eyes narrowed, fixing on Qian Ye, “You’re the one who killed my men?”
“It was me.”
Zhao Youping sneered and began unbuttoning his outer robe, “Daring to kill a Zhao clan warrior and coming here, you have quite some nerve!”
Qian Ye said calmly, “You openly commit murder and robbery, showing far more nerve than I do. Is there still any law in this world?”
Zhao Youping laughed, “Whether there is law or not is another matter. Now that you have killed a Zhao clan warrior, there is no place in the world for you!”
Qian Ye sneered, “Is that so? Then it’s just right. I’ll kill you, the City Defense Commander, and I won’t be at a loss.”
Zhao Youping smirked, “You think you can?”
He had already taken off his outer robe, revealing a black soft armor beneath. He then planted one foot on the ground, lifted the other, and spread his arms, resembling a crane in flight, and shouted, “Let me show you the Zhao clan’s secret technique: Flying Waterbird Fist!”
Qian Ye, expressionless, snapped Wang Youyuan’s neck and pushed the corpse aside, then slowly advanced towards Zhao Youping, adopting a fighting stance.
“Military combat techniques?” A look of contempt appeared on Zhao Youping’s face.
Military combat techniques were the hallmark of commoners. Even lesser nobles had family or lineage-secret techniques, while only commoners who had risen through the military ranks would still use military combat techniques at the eighth level.
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