Chapter 24 The Zhang Family's Dilemma (Part 1) Second Young Master, don't forget our...
The woman led Zhou Ziheng to a cliff.
Early winter is bleak, especially on the cliff.
Here belongs to the wind, which howls in from an unknown distance, swirling up grass clippings and sand, hitting your face and causing a slight sting.
The cliff is extremely high; standing on the edge, looking down, all you can see is emptiness.
The woman's hair was blown wildly by the wind. She turned to look at the silent Zhou Ziheng: "So, how was Xu Yi's story?"
Zhou Ziheng gave a dismissive laugh: "Very ordinary."
"If I were him, I wouldn't hurt myself because of Xu's parents."
The woman was already aware of Zhou Ziheng's arrogance, so she wasn't surprised. She simply said lazily, "It's easy for you to talk when you're not in the situation."
Aren't you curious why I invited you to admire the moon together?
Zhou Ziheng gave the woman a strange look, as if to say, "Why are you questioning my intelligence?"
"Isn't it just that they don't want me to go back to the Zhang family? Do I even need to guess?"
So the two of them stopped talking and stood silently on the cliff, as if they were truly admiring the moon, letting the wind rage against them.
Zhou Ziheng had no intention of going back. With Huo Qin and Xi Bingyi around, and Xu Yi going back soon, it wouldn't make a difference whether he was gone or here.
The silhouettes of the distant mountains lost their depth under the moonlight, becoming flatter and more distant, like a heavy stroke in an ink painting.
However, this beautiful scene did not last long. Soon, a dazzling firework burst into the sky!
Zhou Ziheng saw the burst of fireworks, magnificent and dazzling, like a blood-red flower blooming in the sky, foreshadowing Zhang's current predicament.
He silently withdrew from the mortal world, looking at the woman before him with a hint of helplessness. The night passed, and the woman remained unmoved; the two stood facing each other like this for the entire night.
"Senior, shouldn't you let me go back now?" Zhou Ziheng sighed.
The woman leaned against the tree with her arms crossed, looking somewhat lazy. She sighed, "I just came to stop you from going back. If you behave yourself, I'll have an easier time too."
Zhou Ziheng was speechless: "Senior, it's almost dawn, and the fireworks have all gone out. No matter what, I won't make it back in time, so why bother worrying about this now?"
Upon hearing this, the woman stood up straight, her right palm facing upwards, assuming a gesture of asking for battle.
"I'd like to test the mettle of the three heroes. Would you be willing to give me that opportunity?"
Zhou Ziheng had no room to refuse; if he dared to utter a single word of dissent, that powerful fist would likely be right in front of him.
So he carried the worldly affairs across his chest:
"Senior, please."
Having said that, Zhou Ziheng was the first to draw his sword and move!
He was like a wisp of wind, blending into the cold wind, silently approaching the woman. The mortal world shimmered with a cold light, like the wind cutting through the face, lightly but sharply cleaving the air in front of the woman!
The woman still had that smiling expression. She raised her knee and tapped her foot, precisely striking the very center of the Red Dust Sword, preventing it from advancing even an inch further.
What incredible strength, and what keen observation skills!
Zhou Ziheng was surprised that the woman could find his position so quickly, and that she could pinpoint the balance point of the mortal world so precisely. He was even more surprised by the woman's strength. Not only could he not advance any further, but he also felt the pain of losing his grip on the mortal world!
Zhou Ziheng took a deep breath, decisively gave up, stopped the stalemate, and retreated straight back, just in time to dodge a punch that the woman threw from the side.
The punch even compressed the air, causing Zhou Ziheng, who was retreating, to feel a strong sense of suffocation. A bead of cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He hadn't even noticed the woman's movement; if he had made the wrong choice, that punch would have landed on his head.
Such pure power, such subtle techniques.
After testing the waters, Zhou Ziheng dared not be careless and focused all his attention on the mortal world.
As if what the woman said were true, she did not intend to kill Zhou Ziheng, and her purpose in coming here seemed to be only to stop him.
The woman didn't move an inch from beginning to end; she even yawned.
Zhou Ziheng dared not relax. He slowly closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of the mortal world and the pulsation and clang of this strange sword.
He couldn't grasp the true meaning of the mortal world, but he was proud of being the "Sword Master of the Mortal World," so he naturally had his reasons for being proud.
As Zhou Ziheng closed his eyes, the mortal world grew brighter and brighter, like a burning fire bursting with vitality!
"A new trick? Interesting." The woman stared intently at the dazzling, fiery red dust, and murmured, "Xiao Zhou, you really surprise me."
Finally, Zhou Ziheng opened his eyes!
"This move is called, Return!"
It felt like a long time had passed, yet also like only a moment. The world was silent, and the sword's intent kissed the woman's cheek, as if to soothe away all her pain.
After the deathly silence, that sliver of red light became the only bright color in the world. Zhou Ziheng stared intently at that dazzling, fiery red light, his eyes reflecting the fiery red, like a raging flame.
The sword intent sliced through the tree the woman was leaning against from top to bottom, leaving a deep, bottomless crack in the ground!
In complete silence, without a sound, the mortal world silently caused such immense destruction!
Zhou Ziheng showed no sorrow or joy. He lowered the tip of his sword, but did not relax his grip in the slightest. He turned to the side, calmly gazing at the woman who had escaped death.
The woman's black night clothes were ripped open on the back, and it was unclear what material the clothes were made of, but they somehow protected the woman's body from any sword wounds.
The woman was not as relaxed as she appeared. Her internal organs were churning, her chest ached, and she barely managed to swallow a mouthful of blood, taking a long time to calm her turbulent blood and qi.
“That’s astonishing.” The woman’s voice was hoarse, but her gaze was cold. “If I could kill you, I would have done it right here.”
Zhou Ziheng smiled smugly: "Senior has already tested my skills, so I should be able to leave now."
...
The situation within the Zhang family was already tense, with swords drawn.
It's unclear what Xiao Shan and Zhang Yuanhan discussed, but it seems they've had a falling out. His face is grim, and his lips are moving as if he's about to say something harsh.
Zhang Yuanqian, standing on the upper floor, squinted, unable to make out what the two were exchanging.
Soon, Xiao Shan turned and left, leaving Zhang Yuanhan standing there.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head to look at his elder brother, but Zhang Yuanqian had already left, and he saw nothing.
Zhang Yuanhan inappropriately recalled his childhood.
From birth, I was an unwanted child.
He and Zhang Yuanqian were half-brothers; his elder brother's mother was Zhang Daolin's wife, while his mother was an unknown maid.
Zhang Daolin was not a good father, much less a good husband.
He was promiscuous and indulged in lust, but unlike before, he had never allowed any children other than his legitimate son to be born.
Zhang Yuanhan was an accident.
His mother kept it a secret from everyone, used all her savings to hire a midwife, and gave birth to Zhang Yuanhan on a snowy winter night.
Zhang Yuanhan was born on that day.
That day, while chasing a cat, Zhang Yuanqian accidentally wandered into Zhang Yuanhan's mother's dilapidated thatched hut.
Perhaps only at that moment did his mother truly have expectations for him.
She hoped to give birth to a son so she could seek more benefits from Zhang Daolin.
But she never expected that Zhang Yuanhan was a freak and a madman.
Even as an infant, Zhang Yuanhan couldn't speak, let alone express joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.
He is a monster without emotions.
His own mother no longer had any expectations for him, not to mention Zhang Daolin, who was too lazy to even come up with a name.
Only Zhang Yuanqian still looked forward to him, and only Zhang Yuanqian named him "Zhang Yuanhan".
Zhang Yuanhan snapped out of his reverie.
As the storm loomed, the Zhang family members were anxious and restless, but Xiao Shan remained remarkably at ease.
He calmly picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. The taste was mellow and refreshing; even the Emperor rarely encountered such a fine tea. Then, his eyes darkened, and a sarcastic smile appeared on his face.
Before he came to the Zhang family, he arranged for his deputy to lead fifty Imperial Guards to lie in ambush outside. As soon as Xiao Shan set off the signal firework, they would immediately rush in and massacre the Zhang family!
Amidst the changing tides of history, Zhang Yuanqian descended from the small building, his expression calm as his gaze swept across the faces of everyone present.
Finally, his gaze settled on Zhang Yuanhan's face.
The two brothers stared at each other. Zhang Yuanqian's lips moved, but no sound came out. Zhang Yuanhan neither saw nor heard clearly; he simply watched his elder brother quietly, watching the Zhang family, beset by turmoil.
Zhang Yuanhan thought to himself, with Xu Yi and Zhou Ziheng gone, the two brothers' strongest support had vanished. Was the next battlefield going to be just him and his elder brother alone?
As expected, Zhang Yuanhan's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Xu Yi was an accident and a turning point many years ago. Today, many years later, the two brothers are finally going to stand on the same starting line and compete against each other.
He's a monster. He's coveted the Zhang family's power for a long time. They should have fought each other long ago!
Zhang Yuanqian lowered his head, concealing the disappointment and sadness that momentarily overwhelmed him.
"Someone, please invite Lord Xiao to sit in the water room."
Zhang Yuanqian spoke slowly and deliberately, staring intently at Xiao Shan, who was laughing wildly.
"Trying to mess with me?" Xiao Shan grinned maliciously, having anticipated this situation. "You're oversimplifying things!"
With a snap, Xiao Shan set off the signal firework, and a dazzling display of fireworks burst in the sky above the glass pavilion, officially kicking off the event!
Zhang Yuanqian was the first to draw the sword from the guard beside him, and while Xiao Shan was still launching the signal flare, he slashed at the man's right hand without any mercy.
Xiao Shan sneered, raising his embroidered spring knife from its sheath with his left hand, the scabbard blocking the incoming blade. After setting off the fireworks, he drew his knife with his right hand, retaliating in kind, and went to sever Zhang Yuanqian's tendons with the embroidered spring knife.
Zhang Yuanqian, however, only intended to obstruct the process. Seeing that his obstruction had failed, he immediately withdrew his hand and shouted, "Men, seize Xiao Shan! His life or death is irrelevant!"
Behind him were five guards who were poised to attack. Upon receiving the order, they immediately flew towards Xiao Shan like swallows returning to their nests.
Xiao Shan sneered, the Embroidered Spring Blade clashing with the weapon, producing a chilling sound. His voice was gloomy: "Young Master, my men are lying in ambush two miles away. Are you sure you want to attack me?"
Zhang Yuanqian's eyes were vicious. He laughed contemptuously, "Lord Xiao, you are far too arrogant. Do you think the Zhang family has only been doing maritime business all these years?"
Xiao Shan pondered the deeper meaning in Zhang Yuanqian's words. He frowned, his body stiffened for a moment, and he was slashed on the back by the guard.
He was somewhat incredulous: "Zhang Yuanqian, keeping a private army, could it be that you really intend to rebel?!"
Although he came prepared, he never expected that the Zhang family would harbor such wolfish ambitions and raise a private army! The Zhang family's repeated concessions over the years had lulled him into a false sense of security, leading him and the court to mistakenly believe that the Zhang family was weak and easily bullied. He never imagined they would do such a thing behind his back!
Zhang Yuanqian was amused by Xiao Shan's guess and squeezed out the words through gritted teeth: "Lord Xiao, you're joking. It's just the navy, don't accuse us of rebellion."
Xiao Shan knew that Zhang Yuanqian had a specially approved navy, but that navy consisted of ordinary people who knew a little about martial arts. Xiao Shan did not believe that Zhang Yuanqian was so blindly confident that he thought his navy could go toe-to-toe with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
As he was forced to retreat under the combined attack of the five guards, he was burning with rage: "Zhang Yuanqian, you better be a real naval commander! If I don't die today, tomorrow a accusation that you have treasonous intentions will be presented to the Emperor!"
Zhang Yuanqian's eyes darkened, and his tone turned cold: "It seems that Lord Xiao is doomed to die today!"
After provoking Zhang Yuanqian, Xiao Shan didn't look at Zhang Yuanqian again. Instead, he turned his gaze to Zhang Yuanhan, who was watching from the sidelines. He asked with a smile, "Second Young Master, what are you waiting for?"
"Don't forget our promise!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
