Xiaosuo's heart sank: It has co to this.
He had long guessed that the people blocking their way couldn't possibly be just from the Liu family.
The two madams had controlled the Zhu Clan's backyard for so many years; how could they entrust such a crucial matter entirely to outsiders?
"Who dares to block the third Madam's carriage?"
Although Zhu Sangao had pledged allegiance to Xiaosuo, others were unaware.
Using the Liu family as a banner was still effective for now.
Listening to Zhu Sangao's quick thinking from the carriage, Xiaosuo silently approved.
Though Zhu Sangao talked a lot, his mind worked quickly.
As Zhu Sangao identified their group, a tall, slender man, nine feet tall, stepped out from those blocking the road.
A voice as sharp and grating as chalk on a blackboard reached everyone's ears, causing discomfort.
"What are you? Tell Zhu Wuhua to co here."
Zhu Sangao was slightly taken aback upon seeing the tall, thin man.
This person was soone he could never have spoken to in the Zhu Clan.
He hadn't expected the roadblock to be him.
Seeing no signal from the young master in the carriage, he knew he had to rely on himself to negotiate, quickly thinking of a strategy.
At this mont, Wang Zhengwu, still in the carriage, also sensed trouble upon hearing the voice.
"The voice is unmistakable. It's the Second Madam's steward, Zhu Liucai."
"Zhu Liucai? Is he difficult to deal with?"
"Extrely difficult. Zhu Wulun's predecessor as the Zhu Clan's chief instructor was Zhu Liucai, who later beca the Second Madam's steward. I've never seen him in action, but I've heard Zhu Wulun ntion that they fought once thirty years ago and were evenly matched."
The Shop Assistant asked, "I see Zhu Liucai is over sixty. Can he still fight?"
Wang Zhengwu gave a wry smile.
"Zhu Wulun is fifty-six this year, more than ten years older than , and he can defeat in three moves."
The Shop Assistant was a bit surprised. "I take more than three moves to kill a chicken..."
Hearing this, Wang Zhengwu's expression darkened further.
Xiaosuo quickly changed the subject. "What do you think, Master Wang?"
"I see he brought over thirty hired thugs, equal in number to us, but they're quite skilled. If Zhu Liucai can maintain seventy percent of his strength from thirty years ago, none of us will escape."
The carriage fell silent.
After a mont, Wang Zhengwu spoke again, "I just don't understand why the Second Madam would send Zhu Liucai to block the road, especially on the sa path as Zhu Wuhua. You know Zhu Wuhua has never failed in his tasks. The Second Madam's move seems like overkill."
Xiaosuo thought for a mont before speaking, "Is it possible that Zhu Liucai wasn't originally ant to block , but I just happened to run into him?"
Hearing Xiaosuo's words, Wang Zhengwu also had a realization.
"You an the person he wants to kill is actually Zhu Wuhua? To eliminate third madam's influence? That makes sense, which explains why he's here."
"Let's quickly think if there's any way to survive besides fighting head-on."
The group racked their brains, but Zhu Liucai didn't give them ti.
The sharp, grating voice rang out again.
"This carriage has fringes, looks a bit low-class, probably sothing you snatched from a small household. Zhu Wuhua riding such a carriage would lower his status, so the person inside can't be Zhu Wuhua. Since Zhu Wuhua isn't outside and not in the carriage, he's likely dead. You killed Zhu Wuhua to pledge allegiance to a new master, to show your loyalty. It seems the young master in the carriage has so tricks. I didn't expect Zhu Wuhua to lose control and fall into this. I guess I have to leave none of you alive!"
With that, Zhu Liucai drew the longsword from his waist.
"Listen up, everyone who ca with , grab your weapons and kill! Great wealth is right in front of us!"
"Kill!"
Zhu Liucai acted decisively, imdiately leading over thirty people to charge.
"Wang Zhengwu, they're coming! Protect the young master!"
Zhu Sangao shouted for Wang Zhengwu to assist while organizing his n to resist Zhu Liucai's charge, thinking to himself:
This old man from the sixth generation really has sothing. Even though he's not on the scene, he guessed everything accurately. When will I be able to guess so precisely?
Wang Zhengwu knew they had no choice but to fight, so he jumped off the carriage and pulled out his Broad Back-Cleaving Blade from beside it.
"Fight them! Everyone else, cover us. Ermao, Eryou, co with to kill that old thief! Zhu Sangao, you bring two reliable ones to assist!"
With Wang Zhengwu and his apprentices joining the battle, Zhu Sangao's side felt a significant relief, secretly lanting that his group, used to dirty work and easy fights, was indeed less reliable in a real battle compared to trained fighters.
Zhu Liucai wielded his longsword with an elegant style, his strikes always precise and deadly.
After just three to five exchanges, two of Zhu Sangao's n were pierced by Zhu Liucai's longsword, losing their ability to fight.
Zhu Sangao broke out in a cold sweat.
He had heard of Zhu Liucai's martial prowess but had never witnessed it.
Now, experiencing it firsthand, he realized the reputation was well-deserved.
The Second Madam's steward was indeed a top-notch expert.
In a one-on-one fight, he couldn't last five moves.
But he also knew that the more they tried to run, the more Zhu Liucai would pick them off one by one.
Only by fighting desperately could they carve out a slim chance of survival.
"Yixiu, co with to help Wang Zhengwu!"
"Yes, Brother Gao!"
Wang Zhengwu and Zhu Sangao, along with three others, worked together to surround and attack Zhu Liucai, barely managing to hold off his fierce swordplay.
However, these five were almost the best fighters on Xiaosuo's side.
Zhu Liucai alone was holding off five high-level fighters, leaving the rest struggling against Zhu Liucai's n.
If this dragged on, the situation would definitely not favor Xiaosuo.
But Xiaosuo, powerless in combat, could only watch anxiously.
Wang Zhengwu and Zhu Sangao also realized they couldn't afford to drag this out, so they gave it their all from the start.
Zhu Sangao seized the mont when Zhu Yixiu swung his axe at Zhu Liucai, using his twin blades to block his retreat.
With the axe wind in front and the blade light behind, Zhu Liucai's longsword was held by Wang Zhengwu's two apprentices, seemingly inescapable.
Zhu Liucai suddenly twisted, stepped on Zhu Yixiu's battle axe, and, using the montum, kicked one of Wang Zhengwu's apprentices in the shoulder.
The apprentice staggered back two or three steps, his weapon knocked away, unable to hold Zhu Liucai's longsword.
The uncontrolled longsword trembled three tis.
As Zhu Liucai landed, the longsword returned to his hand.
"Hmph, is that all?"
At this mont, Zhu Liucai suddenly sensed a murderous intent.
Who?
He couldn't dodge in ti, only managing to slightly turn his body.
A blade sliced past his ribs, leaving a deep cut.
Zhu Liucai clutched his abdon, staggering back a step, seeing Wang Zhengwu standing behind him with a Crescent-Moon Blade, bloodstains on the blade.
"Crescent-Moon Blade? Weren't you using a Broad Back-Cleaving Blade?"
Zhu Liucai was shocked.
It was clearly a Broad Back-Cleaving Blade, so how did the handle suddenly extend threefold, becoming a Crescent-Moon Blade?
Wang Zhengwu, seeing his apprentice and Zhu Sangao's n struggling, even his nephew injured, had no choice but to reveal his trump card.
This was his custom-made weapon, with a handle that normally only showed a segnt. Once the chanism on the handle was pressed, two hidden segnts would pop out.
Xiaosuo watched in amazent, not expecting Wang Zhengwu's handle to resemble the telescopic batons he had seen in his previous life, admiring the ingenuity of martial artists.
Facing Zhu Liucai's question, Wang Zhengwu couldn't be bothered to answer.
As an experienced fighter, he knew the battlefield was ever-changing, and in a life-and-death struggle, you strike when the enemy is weak. Explaining to the enemy was like digging his own grave, so he wielded his blade with both hands and attacked again.
"Hmph, I intended to save this move for Zhu Wulun, but I'll test it on you first, old killer!"
The injured Zhu Liucai couldn't defend against the five-man assault as easily as before.
With a grim expression, he suddenly recognized Wang Zhengwu.
"Smart move, using a Broad Back-Cleaving Blade first, then a Crescent-Moon Blade, but not your Hardened Steel Spear, and even disguising yourself. I almost didn't recognize you. Zhu Wude, the spear and blade instructor, you've got so skills!"
Seeing he was recognized, Wang Zhengwu intensified his attack.
Zhu Liucai, while fending off the increasingly fierce five-man assault, shouted in his sharp voice at Xiaosuo:"Young master of the Zhu Clan, tell them to stop, spare my life, and in exchange, I'll tell you Zhu Wude's secret!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
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