Chapter 366: Heads for Armor

Wow——

The warship cut through the waves, and Prince Jing stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, a scarf made of white fox tail wrapped around his neck because of the late autumn.

Coupled with a face that was 70% similar to Prince Jing, he was already eye-catching in the eyes of the wealthy young women on the ship.

"Your Highness, the official ship ahead is from the capital."

There were only a few figures standing on the much smaller third deck of the warship. Now one of them walked over and spoke.

It was no coincidence that Xu Jinglong, who had been paying attention to Zhao Duan's itinerary a few days ago, appeared here.

Today, Prince Jing openly invited many young men and women in the lake pavilion to take a boat ride and enjoy the scenery in the river.

The entire second floor was temporarily converted into a place suitable for games, and many children of nobles and wealthy businessmen gathered together to have fun.

They also noticed the abnormality at this time, and looked at the approaching official ship in front of them, whispering to each other.

On the first deck, the private soldiers of the royal palace who temporarily controlled the ship had stern expressions. Although they did not explicitly adopt an attitude of opposing the enemy, they already had a solemn and murderous demeanor.

"I saw it," Xu Jinglong said indifferently:

"Keep getting closer. This prince wants to see Zhao Duan clearly. Humph, let him know that there are different princes. Xu Zudi is weak and has accomplished nothing in the capital, but if he wants to land, he must first get past this prince."

After saying this, the prince, who was wearing a gray-white fox fur to keep warm, turned his head and looked at the middle-aged man in a gray robe who quietly walked out of the warehouse, and said with a smile:

"Senior Duan Shuiliu, please help me later."

The middle-aged man with such a grand name is actually a short man.

He was a full head shorter than Xu Jinglong, with a square face, a big nose, and eyes of a rare grey color on his weathered face.

The slightly sturdy figure under the gray robe looked like a farmer working in the fields, with no weapon on his waist.

But just the three words "Duan Shui Liu" are enough to terrify the heroes in the martial arts world.

"Your Highness is too polite. I also want to see the depth of the offering that surpasses that of the young monk Tianhai." The middle-aged man said indifferently.

But his gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing straight at the official ship in the distance.

…

…

"Prince Jing, Xu Jinglong?"

When Zhao Duan uttered this name, his expression became a little subtle.

He was not unfamiliar with this name. The first time he knew this person was when he cooperated with Yuan Li to overthrow Pei Kaizhi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice.

After the matter was over, Zhenbao went up to the Emperor's Tower with him to drink and talk, during which he learned some of the empress's past when she was the third princess.

This includes the love confession of Prince Jing.

Xu Jinglong and the third princess were both members of the royal family. According to the etiquette of the Dayu Dynasty, this was naturally inappropriate, but what could be said... Looking through history books, there were precedents of royal families disrupting social order in the palace.

As a man determined to deceive the emperor, Zhao Duan also conducted a simple investigation on Prince Jing, who had only mentioned Xu Zhenguan once and never mentioned him again.

Whether in reputation, ability or appearance, he is considered the best among the children of the nobility.

A strong enemy.

This time when he came to Hu Ting for supervision, he had known that Prince Jing Xu Wen and his family would come, but he never expected that this guy, who was despised and hated by Zhen Bao, would be so impatient to charge at him.

Without waiting for him to come ashore, he came to meet him.

"Is he in a hurry to die?" Zhao Duan sneered, "Or does he think he can give me a warning?"

He was a little puzzled as to why all the princes' descendants behaved like this, including Xu Zudi and Xu Jinglong.

Well, if we include the princess who had caused him trouble in the past and was later exposed, every prince's offspring has brought him bad luck.

The old worshipper sighed:

"They came prepared. Did you see the man next to Xu Jinglong on the third floor?"

Zhao Duan had amazing eyesight, and he vaguely caught a glimpse of it and wondered:

"Could it be some extraordinary master?"

The old attendant smacked his lips and uttered a few words: "Wu Di City, on the green hills."

"He is Wu Xiankui?" Zhao Duan was shocked.

"..." Hai Chunlin glared at him unhappily:

"Are you worthy enough to snipe a martial artist of the Heavenly Man Realm? However, this man is a disciple of Wu Xiankui. Well, didn't you deal with a young man from Qingshan last time in the capital?"

"That Chai Keqiao?" Zhao Duan had a deep memory of the guy who came to his house with an axe to provoke him.

"The man on the boat is Chai Keqiao's senior brother. He has been in the secular realm for many years and now he is probably also firmly established in the world of great perfection." The old worshiper said with emotion:

"No one knows this man's true name, but he has a well-known nickname: Duan Shuiliu. He is extremely skilled in martial arts and is said to have a strange personality. He is lustful but not obsessed with women, and cruel but not prone to bloodshed. He has roamed the martial arts world for many years without ever being defeated...

Haha, this is mostly bragging, but at least I've never lost a fight in public, the most I've ever done is a draw. But isn't it also a form of wisdom to know who can fight and when to draw?

Duan Shuiliu? Big Brother? Is that such a funny name?

Will this person shout later: Everyone here is garbage?

Zhao Duan complained madly and frowned:

"The people from Qingshan? How did they get involved with Prince Jing? Did Wu Xiankui also defect to the Eighth Prince?"

The old worshipper shook his head and said:

"How could a warrior at the Heavenly Man Realm surrender to some prince? Duan Shuiliu's stance doesn't represent the Daqing Mountain. Haha, the lineage of Wudi City is a little different. Although it also emphasizes the friendship between apprentices and brothers, it is not binding.

Anyone who joins the Wudi City lineage, after 'leaving the apprenticeship', no longer represents the Wudi City's position. In the past, there have often been cases of fellow apprentices from the Wudi City lineage leaving the mountain to join different factions and turn their swords against each other."

Zhao Duan's expression eased slightly, and he curled his lips and said:

"So, after we defeat this Senior Brother Duan Shuiliu, we don't have to worry about Wu Xiankui coming down the mountain to avenge our disciples, right?"

Eunuch Hai: “…”

Haitang: “…”

Good guy, I haven't really done anything yet, but you're already thinking about beating me up.

Haitang rolled her eyes and thought to herself, do you really not know the value of "perfection in the world"?

At this level, it is difficult to seriously injure someone unless someone from the Heavenly Man Realm takes action. At worst, if you can't win, you can just run away. Without being surrounded by people several times stronger than you, it is almost impossible to stop them.

During the conversation, the two ships finally closed to a sensitive distance.

The other cargo ships in the distance on the river caught a glimpse of the warships and had already adjusted their sails and moved away.

So, in the vast waters around them, only these two ships were left, facing each other alone.

As the ships of both sides stopped in tacit understanding, the huge shadows cast by the warships on the river almost covered the small official ships.

"alert!"

Haitang didn't need to be reminded, as she had already ordered the Jinyi officers and the imperial guards on board to line up on the deck.

The men and women who were having a party on the opposite boat also looked over in surprise.

The next second, a short middle-aged man's voice thundered under the dragon flag fluttering in the wind on the third deck of the warship:

"How can Zhao Duan be on the boat? Return the Six Talisman Armor of Emperor Wu City to me immediately!"

The warrior opened his mouth, his voice as loud as thunder.

There was clearly no roar, but a thunderous roar swept across the cold river water between the two boats, causing ripples on the surface of the water.

Zhao Duan?

The empress's lover in the capital?

New celebrity?

At this moment, before Zhao Duan could react, the young people who were out partying on the second floor of the warship made a noise, all attracting their attention to this name.

Many young ladies, in particular, stood on tiptoe, held the railings, stretched their slender necks, and looked forward, wanting to catch a glimpse of the legendary "White Horse Zhao Envoy".

Zhao Duan's face was strange, and he murmured, "Are you looking for trouble like this?"

Xu Jinglong came to cause trouble, either because of their "rival in love" relationship or to show his power at the Huting meeting.

In short, at a time when the Eight Kings and the imperial court had not yet gone to war, the other side's arrival in warships was just a deterrent. It was impossible for them to be so crazy as to directly use ironclad ships to sink and tear apart the official ships.

Even if there is trouble, I will find a reason to get away with it.

But he didn't expect that the starting point for Prince Jing to find fault was the protective magic weapon [Six Talisman Armor] that the Empress had awarded him.

Zhao Duan still remembered that Zhenbao had said at that time that this magic weapon was the spoils won by the royal family in a gambling fight in Wudi City.

Therefore, it has a special meaning of shame for the disciples of Wudi City.

He tried every possible means to get back the "lost" magic weapon.

Naturally I brought it with me this time when I went out, and I’m wearing it now.

He didn't want the news to leak out, which led to Duan Shuiliu coming to demand it.

"Haha," Zhao Duan suddenly burst into laughter, his voice amplified many times by the vibrations of his Qi. After suppressing the clamor, he restrained his smile:

"I had no idea that the news of my visit to the lake pavilion had become so widespread that it was hard for Prince Jing to come personally to greet me. However, I had no idea when Prince Jing's mansion had started keeping retainers from Qingshan. Xu Jinglong, what are you up to?"

Stop pretending, just call him by his name!

When in the capital, Zhao Duan gave face to Xu Zudi on the surface, but now he called Xu Jinglong, who was also a prince, by his name.

On the warship, Xu Jinglong, wrapped in a fox fur scarf, looked gloomy. Then he put his hands on the railing, leaned forward slightly, and said with a smile, looking down:

"I have long admired the reputation of Envoy Zhao. I have heard that he acts arrogantly, but today I have witnessed it for myself.

How could someone be convicted without even a shred of evidence? What kind of person is Senior Duan Shuiliu? He's a renowned figure in the martial arts world, a figure halfway to becoming a god. How could he possibly be a retainer in Prince Jing's mansion?

We just happened to know each other and went on a boat trip together today.

I just learned that Envoy Zhao stole your treasures, which is surprising. This prince advises you to return them. Don't provoke your anger, or you'll lose face before you even enter the lake pavilion."

Haha, if I really gave it to you, I would lose face... Zhao Duan did not get angry, and said calmly:

"That precious armor was a gift from His Majesty. Xu Jinglong, are you saying that His Majesty stole it? Or is it you, the Xu royal family, who stole it?"

He then looked at Duan Shuiliu, who was wrapped in a gray robe, had a square face, a large nose, and gray eyes, and said with a teasing smile:

"Broken... what's going on? Did you hear that? It was the Xu family who took your family's treasures. What do you want from a Zhao official? Well, if you want it, I'll make the decision."

He raised a finger and pointed at Xu Jinglong from a distance, the corner of his mouth raised, his expression suddenly solemn:

"You take off his head and exchange it for the armor in my hand. What do you think? Hahaha..."

Thanks to Mercury for supporting the Masked Rider 100 Awards

(End of this chapter)