Chapter 23

"Release Zhuque!"

The prison door swung wide open, and a steel blade was placed outside. The towering man, who had been in a state of rage, had his shackles removed. He looked at Xuanwu standing outside and the steel blade on the ground, and a burning anger, capable of melting the roof, began to brew in his heart.

Roar!

In one swift motion, he picked up the steel blade from the ground. The sudden burst of anger was so intense that even Xuanwu, who was well-prepared, was forced to take two steps back. Though he felt ashamed, he also recalled the provocative words and, in a fit of rage, lunged forward to meet Zhuque's blade.

Clang! The two blades clashed, sparking brilliantly. The sound of the collision was so loud that the surrounding guards felt their ears ringing. This was a contest of strength and courage, with no room for tricks or deceit; only blood could end it.

However, mental fortitude ultimately relies on physical strength. Zhuque, unyielding in both courage and will, was far stronger than Xuanwu, who was plagued by guilt. As they clashed blade after blade, the chain-wrapped roller behind Zhuque began to spin rapidly. Zhuque, using the momentum of his charge, struck harder with each blow, as if gathering strength. When his momentum reached its peak, the final, decisive blow would be delivered.

It cannot be denied that those who betray are often very intelligent, and Xuanwu was one of them. Among the Jinyiwei, Qinglong had the highest martial arts skills, followed by Baihu. Zhuque and Xuanwu were evenly matched. However, with Zhuque's rage and determination, Xuanwu would inevitably lose if the fight dragged on.

Xuanwu was well aware of this, so from the beginning, he never intended to clash head-on with Zhuque. Zhuque's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared as he leaped, delivering a heavy and vicious blow. If it landed, it would surely sever his head.

Zhuque's eyes were filled with the satisfaction of avenging a great wrong, but he saw a hint of smugness in Xuanwu's eyes. This smugness made Zhuque's heart sink, and he felt an excruciating pain from his shoulders down, which even paralyzed half of his body.

"Ah!" The intense pain made even a tough man like Zhuque scream in agony, and his movements inevitably paused. This pause was what Xuanwu had been waiting for. The steel blade, which he had prepared, pierced Zhuque's abdomen, and when he pulled it out, a gush of blood spurted out.

Zhuque, in pain, felt his body collapse, and he staggered to his knees. The blow was heavy but did not hit a vital spot. What truly broke Zhuque was the torture he had endured. Being imprisoned and tortured by the Jinyiwei was inevitable, but he had held on through it all with a mix of anger and resentment. This blow made all his injuries flare up at once.

Xuanwu's face lit up with joy, his expression one of satisfaction. He had always been the youngest and least experienced, and though Zhuque and the others had taken care of him, his growing ambition would not allow him to be inferior. Now, his former brother knelt before him, his proud head lowered! In his inflated state, he laughed loudly, stepped over the half-kneeling Zhuque, and grabbed the chain behind him. With a hard pull, Zhuque screamed as his body was dragged up.

Xuanwu swung his blade horizontally, and Zhuque felt a sharp pain in his neck, followed by a dizzying sensation. When he landed, he saw his headless body slowly falling, and his consciousness was consumed by endless darkness.

Zhuque was dead. The moment his head hit the ground, Baihu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he quickly resumed his calm demeanor. However, this fleeting change did not escape Xuanwu's notice.

Baihu's martial arts skills were second only to Qinglong in the Jinyiwei. While Qinglong was well-rounded, Baihu excelled in killing. The calmer Baihu remained, the more afraid Xuanwu became, not of his skills but of his attitude. Had Baihu already decided to join Jia Gonggong? Given Jia Gonggong's character, he would certainly accept Baihu, which would threaten Xuanwu's position.

Baihu's previous actions showed that he still cared for Zhuque, reducing the likelihood of his defection. Xuanwu secretly rejoiced, wishing he could kill Baihu immediately, but he could not act without Jia Gonggong's permission.

"Baihu! Glory and wealth await you! Why cling to so-called brotherhood and loyalty?" Jia Gonggong made one last effort, appreciating Baihu more than the treacherous Xuanwu. Though he himself was a cunning and ruthless man, he admired the free-spirited and loyal nature of true warriors.

Xuanwu's heart tightened as he looked at Baihu, then relaxed. Baihu remained calm, as if he had not heard anything. Xuanwu felt reassured, thinking to himself, "This is your own doing, so don't blame me!"

Xuanwu, being a treacherous man himself, understood Jia Gonggong well. Given his petty nature, he would not tolerate Baihu's repeated disregard. Sure enough, Jia Gonggong's face turned angry, and he shouted, "Stubborn fool! Release Baihu!"

Baihu's restraints were removed, but he remained motionless. Xuanwu narrowed his eyes and kicked the steel blade on the ground toward Baihu. The blade whistled as it flew toward Baihu's forehead, but it was caught just three inches away.

Baihu's right hand gripped the blade, and the powerful blow did not even cause a tremor. His eyes remained closed. The sudden transition from stillness to movement was so abrupt that no one could follow it. Everything was so sudden and awkward.

Xuanwu was startled, realizing how strong Baihu was. He had never seen Baihu use his full strength before. If Baihu was this powerful, how much stronger was Qinglong?

As Xuanwu's thoughts raced, Baihu moved. He slowly raised the blade, the edge facing inward, and with a sudden, forceful strike, he hit the iron hook that locked his shoulder blades! A spark flashed, and the hook broke into two pieces, one still embedded in his body, the other flying several meters away.

Roar!

A fierce aura erupted with the roar, like a sleeping tiger opening its fierce eyes. All the guards stepped back in fear, and Xuanwu was filled with dread. This aura and presence made him feel as if a ferocious tiger was really behind Baihu!

The chilling killing intent pressed down on Xuanwu, and their eyes met. One was filled with fear, the other with calm. In Baihu's eyes, Xuanwu was already a dead man.

The fierce wind of the blade rushed toward Xuanwu, who, despite being prepared, still felt unprepared. He raised his blade to block, but the overwhelming force pushed him back. His trembling hands almost lost their grip on the blade, and when he looked down, he saw a crack in the blade!

The blade flashed, and Baihu's technique was not particularly impressive. Xuanwu could see many flaws, especially since part of the iron hook was still embedded in his body, distorting his movements. However, Xuanwu did not dare to attack these flaws. Baihu had something he lacked: the courage to face death. This was why he could never match his three brothers.

Since both knew that the outcome of a direct clash would be Baihu injured and Xuanwu dead, they also knew that such a clash would not happen. Xuanwu, though brave, would never risk his life. He retreated, especially after his arm was cut and the blade broke.

After Xuanwu retreated, a moment of disappointment flashed in Baihu's eyes. "He is still so afraid of death. Without the courage to face death, how can he advance further in martial arts?" This disappointment turned into a bitter smile. Xuanwu was no longer a brother, so there was no reason to regret.

"Kill him! What are you waiting for?" Jia Gonggong shouted from upstairs, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding. He, who was obsessed with power, had never seen such a brutal fight.

Jia Gonggong's shout not only spurred the guards to attack but also woke Baihu. Baihu suddenly turned, his sharp gaze making Jia Gonggong retreat in fear. Baihu understood the principle of eliminating evil thoroughly, but the current situation did not allow it.

Facing the guards' steel blades, Baihu's inner strength surged, and the blades, infused with his inner power, forced them back. As a martial artist, he knew his body best. The long-term torture had not broken him, but it had drained his energy. His current strength was sustained by his inner power, and without a chance to recover, he would eventually be unable to fight. Now was the time to eliminate the main enemy!

Roar!

Baihu roared again, his body trembling as his inner power surged through him. His bloodied body became as hard as steel. He charged at a wooden support beam!

Boom!

The prison guards felt their footing waver, and when they regained their senses, the massive support beam was slowly falling! Jia Gonggong was terrified, the beam like a sky falling on him. Clang! The second-floor railing could not withstand the weight and was crushed. Jia Gonggong, retreating, found his back against the wall, the massive shadow looming over him. With nowhere to go, he collapsed on the ground.

Boom! The construction of the Jinyiwei prison was solid, and the support beam was caught by the second-floor floor. Jia Gonggong, dazed, stared at the beam almost touching his nose. Before he could celebrate his survival, he heard the sound of heavy footsteps. Baihu, using the beam as a bridge, leaped toward him.

"Eunuch dog! Your life is mine!" The steel blade in Baihu's hand glowed faintly, a sign of his inner power reaching its peak. This blow was even more ruthless and decisive than the one he had delivered to Xuanwu!