Chapter 96

96. You have humiliated me.

Unfolding.

Yongheilou.

Around noon, commoners visited the quarters of the palace guards.

Zhaogoming had summoned his wife and children for Feng Yanchao, to arrange what would be their last meeting, as Feng Yanchao's condition was not good.

Still, in front of his family, Feng Yanchao struggled to sit up.

His wife, Lin Zhiling, tried to keep a calm face and said, "You can just lie down."

"I'm fine. For now..."

Despite his words, Feng Yanchao's head was drenched in sweat.

Still, he sat up resolutely, hoping they would remember this image.

After today, he planned not to let them visit anymore.

Even if they came forcefully, he wouldn't meet them.

No matter what anyone said, he couldn't show a worse condition here.

"You should greet your father."

At Lin Zhiling's urging, Yunbi and Xilian hesitantly spoke.

"We are doing well. Please recover soon."

"...Dad, when are you coming home?"

Unlike his older brother, thirteen-year-old Xilian didn't fully understand the severity of Feng Yanchao's condition. So he asked when he would come home and stared at Feng Yanchao.

"...I'll come soon. Until then, listen to your mother and brother."

"Okay."

As Feng Yanchao slowly looked at his family, his face suddenly contorted.

He quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

"Ugh, cough!"

Black blood seeped through his fingers.

Lin Zhiling, startled, approached, but Feng Yanchao twisted his body to refuse.

"...Now, go. I'm sorry."

"I'll come again."

Lin Zhiling led the children out.

On the veranda, Zhaogoming called a nearby guard.

"Xin Xing, make sure no one can come near while I see off the family. If anyone enters the room without my permission, I'll kill you first. Understand?"

"Yes, don't worry."

Xin Zhengshu nodded vigorously.

He knew Zhaogoming's martial prowess and temper, so he didn't dare to think otherwise.

Zhaogoming led the way, followed by Lin Zhiling and the two children.

The courtyard was quiet, as the brothel hadn't started its business yet.

After bidding farewell to the three at the entrance of the brothel, Zhaogoming quickly returned to the quarters. He had left Xin Zhengshu in charge, but he didn't trust him completely.

Upon arriving at the quarters, Zhaogoming shouted.

"Stop!"

Shang Zaiyong, the leader of the Sihai Merchant Guild, who was about to open the door, turned his head.

His face was clearly displeased.

He was upset that a guard was telling him what to do.

"Zhaoguo, were you talking to me just now?"

Zhaogoming glared at Xin Zhengshu.

Xin Zhengshu made a pained expression and said, "Zhaoguo, I tried to stop him, but the leader insisted on checking his condition..."

Zhaogoming's gaze shifted from Xin Zhengshu to Shang Zaiyong.

Honestly, he couldn't blame Xin Zhengshu in this situation.

"Leader, I'll go first."

With that, Zhaogoming stepped onto the veranda.

Shang Zaiyong glared at Zhaogoming and said, "Did you just talk to me?"

"Yes. No one can see my brother without my permission."

"Too much. What do you think of yourself?"

"..."

"Here, I am the owner. You and Feng Yanchao are both my employees. And you think I, the owner, should follow your orders? Do you really think that makes sense?"

"Leader, you are the owner of the brothel, not of my brother or me."

"Heh. So, you, the owner, want to check on an employee, and you're going to stop me?"

"I didn't say I would stop you. I said I would go first."

"Didn't you clearly shout to stop me before?"

"..."

"Your martial prowess makes you think you can ignore the owner, is that it? Is that right?"

"That's not it..."

"What isn't? Heh. I knew ronin were unruly, but this is ridiculous. Tsk!"

Zhaogoming glared at Shang Zaiyong.

He couldn't understand why his offer to protect was being taken the wrong way.

"What's that look for? Are you threatening me!"

Shang Zaiyong's shout made his five bodyguards jump onto the veranda.

The head guard, Jiang Wen, drew his sword and pointed it downward, signaling not to come any closer.

The bodyguards acted as if Zhaogoming was about to harm Shang Zaiyong.

Zhaogoming shrugged and took a step back.

These bodyguards were specially hired by Shang Zaiyong, superior to ronin.

But Shang Zaiyong wasn't satisfied.

Whether out of wounded pride or another motive, he continued to press Zhaogoming.

"What are you doing! Are you going to stand by and watch Zhaoguo insult me!"

At Shang Zaiyong's command, the other four bodyguards also drew their swords.

Jiang Wen spoke on behalf of the bodyguards.

"Zhaoguo, don't resist. Follow our orders. If there's a misunderstanding, you should do so even more."

'Follow our orders' meant being taken prisoner.

Zhaogoming bit his lip.

He hadn't expected his urgent command to stop would lead to this. If he was taken away, there would be no one to protect Feng Yanchao. All his efforts would be in vain.

He was torn between fighting a fierce battle or being captured.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Feng Yanchao stepped out.

"Zhaoguo, just go. I'm going to die anyway. Don't ruin yourself for me. Cough!"

Blood spurted from Feng Yanchao's mouth as he coughed.

"Brother!"

As Zhaogoming reached out, Feng Yanchao pushed him away.

"Just go! Do you want me to bite my tongue and die before you leave?"

Exhausted, Feng Yanchao leaned against the wall, panting.

The commotion drew the attention of the other guards of Yongheilou.

Shang Zaiyong shouted to the gathered guards.

"Block Zhaoguo from escaping! He insulted me, so he mustn't leave until he pays for it!"

"Yes!"

The guards of Yongheilou drew their weapons.

Since they had gathered for money, they followed Shang Zaiyong's orders without question.

"Ha!"

A sigh escaped Zhaogoming's lips.

His former comrades drew their swords without hesitation at Shang Zaiyong's command.

Among them was Xin Zhengshu, who had seen everything.

They valued their employer's orders more than right and wrong. The same went for the bodyguards, disciples of prestigious schools. There was no trace of honor or righteousness.

"These are just bandits."

Muttering, Zhaogoming slowly drew his saber.

He didn't know why, but Shang Zaiyong seemed unwilling to let him go easily.

Was it such a big mistake to shout 'stop' in a hurry?

Was it worth several people dying over?

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, but that's how the powerful acted.

'Fuck! If I'm going, I'll take as many as I can with me.'

At the moment of tension,

A familiar, grating laugh echoed from a distance.

"Hehehe! What's this ridiculous situation? I smell something. I smell something, don't I? Master?"

Xintong's words made Lian Jieha frown.

"Old man Xintong, stop talking about smells. Clear these people out. What kind of brothel is this? Is this how you treat guests at Yongheilou? One of the top three brothels in Kaifeng, a den of courtesans?"

Feng Yanchao, who was on the verge of death, suddenly opened his eyes.

"You're in big trouble now..."

Following him, Zhaogoming slammed his saber into the floor and shouted.

"Wow! Shit! I thought I was going to die. Old man Xintong! Brother Lian! Did you see what these people are doing? Did you see? I'm so angry and frustrated, I can't even hold my sword. Do something about these bastards!"

Xintong strolled across the courtyard and said,

"By nature, when a tiger descends from the mountain, it is mocked by a pack of dogs. Hehe! Dogs, the butcher has arrived. Put down your swords quietly."

Six guards of the brothel lunged at Xintong.

"What the hell!"

"The old man has gone senile!"

Xintong walked as if on a stroll, swiping his leaf-shaped saber.

With a 'yelp,' the guards dropped their weapons one by one.

The six guards, clutching their bleeding wrists, trembled.

Xintong, now at the pavilion, looked up at the bodyguards on the veranda.

"Shall I come up, or will you come down?"

The head guard, Jiang Wen, asked tensely.

"Who are you, old man?"

"Hehe! Why? Are you going to beg for forgiveness? You're a fool. Your teacher, who taught you, is a fool, and the school that has fools as students is a fool. Can't take it anymore? Then jump down. I'll cut you right away."

"Grind!"

Jiang Wen, grinding his teeth, shouted at the bodyguards.

"What are you waiting for? Kill the old man! Kill him now!"

As Jiang Wen descended the veranda, the four others followed.

Shang Zaiyong, left alone on the veranda, looked at Zhaogoming with a troubled expression.

It didn't feel good.

The bodyguards were skilled, but they didn't seem to be a match for the old man.

Zhaogoming, with an anxious face, said to Shang Zaiyong,

"Think the world is easy? Everyone is at your feet. But what can you do? You stepped in shit today. To save your life, you might have to crawl like a dog."

"Nonsense."

"Surely you don't trust those bodyguards? They'll be shattered before I finish talking. Watch. One, two, three. Now two are left. No, four, five. It's over."

Shang Zaiyong's face turned pale as he watched the courtyard.

Just as Zhaogoming said, the bodyguards were scattered in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the guards of Yongheilou and Shang Zaiyong's bodyguards knelt in front of the pavilion.

Shang Zaiyong awkwardly remained on the veranda, watching the situation.

Zhaogoming, Lian Jieha, and Xintong ignored him, their attention focused on Feng Yanchao.

After a while, Lian Jieha, who had finished talking to Feng Yanchao, turned to Xintong.

"Old man Xintong, go find the people from Jixuelou. We need to know who did this quickly."

"Yes."

Just as Xintong was about to leave,

Shang Zaiyong, hesitating, spoke cautiously.

"Um, if you're looking for assassins, I can help."

"Really? If you're lying, you won't die easily."

Xintong glared, and Shang Zaiyong nodded vigorously.

"It's true."

Shang Zaiyong genuinely wanted to help them.

If they went to the assassin guild, the truth about Chuyejin's contract would soon be revealed.

He needed to act first.

He would reveal that everything was done at the request of Zhang Wenhao, the head of the silk merchant guild.

Then, he would deal with Chuyejin before Chuyejin could implicate him.

Since hitting Zhang Wenhao alone would confirm the truth,

He had already hinted at it to the Thousand Killer Demon Eye, Chedao Guang. He just needed to make contact.

Swallow.

His throat was dry.

Thinking about the rapid actions ahead, his mouth felt parched.