On the evening of October 12, in the study of the head of the Zhu Family compound in Guangen County, Yulin County, Yinzhou…
"What should we do? What should we do..." Zhu Changyun, the head of the Zhu family, paced anxiously in the study room with sweat all over his forehead. He was holding a letter in his hand and kept shaking. "The ultimatum of Yan Liqiang, the governor of Qiyun, has been delivered to our house. Second brother, didn't you say that this matter was kept secret and nothing would go wrong? Now what do you say? Yan Liqiang has asked the shopkeeper of Datong Bank in Yulin County to deliver a handwritten letter to our family today, naming and giving us three days to send the kidnapped Xue Cao and the mastermind to Qiyun County. Otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you. What do you say we should do..."
Zhu Changyun, the head of the Zhu family in Guang'en County, Yulin County, is over fifty years old. He lives a life of luxury and is fat and healthy. He has the final say in the Zhu family and Guang'en County and is very powerful. It is rare for him to be anxious. But at this moment, Zhu Changyun was sweating profusely and was suddenly confused. Ever since the manager of Datong Money House in Yulin County visited the Zhu family this afternoon and personally presented this letter, Zhu Changyun has been anxious and uneasy.
In this study, besides Zhu Changyun, there is another person, Zhu Changhong, who is also the second in command of the Zhu family. The entire Zhu family is ruled by these two people. Compared with Zhu Changyun, Zhu Changhong is a little thinner and has a sinister look. He is a tough guy at first glance. In the Zhu family, everyone knows that the eldest master is in charge of domestic affairs and the second master is in charge of foreign affairs. Many matters of the Zhu family, especially those involving foreign affairs, are basically controlled by Zhu Changhong. Zhu Changhong is good at networking and has a wide range of friends. He is an indispensable figure in the Zhu family. Major matters in the family are also discussed by the eldest master and the second master.
"We did this so secretly, I was wondering, how did Yan Liqiang know about it? Zhu Chenggui left our family for so many years, he was just a pawn released by the family. This time, Zhu Chenggui came back for this matter and did not continue to stay in Qiyun County. How could the news leak out..." Zhu Changhong said calmly, his face did not change much, but he reached out for the teacup while speaking, and when his hand touched the teacup, he was scalded by the scalding hot cup, and he suddenly retracted his hand in shock, revealing a trace of panic in his heart at the moment.
The letter that Yan Liqiang asked the Zhong family to send caught the Zhu family off guard.
“What’s the point of saying this at this time? We will slowly investigate how the news leaked out later. But he only gives us three days. Once three days are up, it will be hard to say. We must come up with a plan tonight…” Zhu Changyun walked around the study twice and sat heavily on the chair next to Zhu Changhong. His sturdy body pressed down with hundreds of kilograms of weight, causing the expensive sandalwood to creak!
"Yan Liqiang just sent a letter. What right does he have to say that it was done by our Zhu family!" Zhu Changhong's face gradually darkened, his eyes flashed with cold light, revealing a hint of cruelty. The following words almost jumped out from between his teeth. "In the Zhu family, besides you and me, only Zhu Chenggui knows about this. The people who kidnapped people are also from the Sword God Sect. It was the Sword God Sect's people who wanted to kidnap people. Our Zhu family just cooperated. Now we just need to deal with Zhu Chenggui and Xue Cao, and make sure they are gone. What right does Yan Liqiang have to insist that it was done by our Zhu family? We can also bite him back and sue him to the governor, saying that he is blackmailing. This is Yinzhou, not Ganzhou. Who is our Zhu family afraid of in Yinzhou?"
"Second brother, if it were an ordinary person, your method would definitely work, but the problem is that the person we are facing now is Yan Liqiang, the new governor Qiyun. Is this person so easy to get rid of!" Zhu Changyun's brows were tightly knitted into a river, and his voice was also heavy and difficult to conceal fear. "This man was penniless back then, but he dared to fight against Lin Qingtian's party in Dijing City. He was a character who was not afraid of anything. A few years ago, he returned to Ganzhou and had a little power. He even looked down on the Transportation Office and dared to skin alive a deputy transportation envoy who came to the door. This... He is a real ruthless person. Do you think such a person would care about Li Jilong in Yinzhou at this time? I heard that two months ago, he went to Baishi Pass and dared to lead the cavalry to destroy the Tuli tribe of the Shatu people, and nailed Tuli's head to Baishi Pass. Look at the end of Feitianmen. Can such a person be fooled? The seven fierce characters of Shatu tribe, when they met him, would not sell their wool at a low price. Think about his terrifying archery skills. If he wants to retaliate, who in our Zhu family can stop him? Such a person, without showing up, can turn our Zhu family upside down..."
"Brother, do you mean to hand the person back?"
“What if he refuses to hand it over? Does our Zhu family really want to fight to the death with that evil star just for a child?” Zhu Changyun was filled with grief and slammed his palms hard twice. “I regret now. How could I have been so obsessed as to agree to do this with the Sword God Sect? This is totally not worth it!”
Zhu Changhong was silent for a moment. "I'm afraid that Yan Liqiang will not be satisfied even if we hand the person back. Besides, this was done by the Sword God Sect, and the person is now in the hands of the Sword God Sect. We can't hand over the Sword God Sect's people, right?"
A trace of determination flashed across Zhu Changyun's face. "Let Zhu Chenggui take the blame for this and tell him that we will take care of his family in the future. At most, we can pay a little more money to avoid disaster and give Yan Liqiang a way out. Yan Liqiang sent a message through the Zhong family this time, and he doesn't want to make this matter a complete mess at once. I think there is still room for maneuver. Our Zhu family relies on the Sword God Sect in order to use it to make the Zhu family prosperous. Don't let the other way around and turn us into a stepping stone for the Sword God Sect!" Having said this, Zhu Changyun paused slightly, and the look on his face became deep. "Second brother, didn't you realize that up to now, I have always felt that the Sword God Sect's mountain gate might not know about this matter. The ones who wanted to abduct Xue Cao were the Sword God Sect's disciples who came to the northwest for training, led by Luo Tianyu. Luo Tianyu's nickname is Feixingjian. He is one of the seven outstanding disciples of the younger generation in the Sword God Sect and has a great reputation in the Sword God Sect. This time, he acted privately under the name of his master and the Sword God Sect, and wanted to drag us down. Xue Cao might have something and secrets on him, and Luo Tianyu wanted to force it out of him, and then return to the mountain gate to take credit..."
"So you have the same feeling, big brother!" Zhu Changhong also frowned, "I have been wondering these days. If the Sword God Sect wanted to move against Yan Liqiang, they must have planned it for a long time. They would not send a few disciples in a hurry. At least an elder should come. Although Luo Tianyu is very famous in the Sword God Sect, he should not be Yan Liqiang's opponent. Moreover, after Xue Cao was abducted, Luo Tianyu never let us intervene. He locked Xue Cao in the dungeon in the backyard and interrogated him alone. Even the food was sent in by their people. I think there is something fishy about this!"
"The most urgent task now is for our Zhu family to extricate ourselves from this matter!"
"Does Luo Tianyu know that you received this letter today, brother?"
"How can I let him know about this first? Am I not discussing this with you?"
“In that case, let’s call Luo Tianyu over and show him this letter to see what he says. If it’s really like what he said, and Yan Liqiang knows about this now, let his master and the Sword God Sect deal with Yan Liqiang. Our Zhu family won’t get involved. If he hesitates and can’t handle this, then he has deceived us. In the end, it’s the Sword God Sect that owes our Zhu family. Then we can take measures and use the method that Big Brother said to settle this matter with Yan Liqiang. Even if the mountain gate and elders of the Sword God Sect find out in the end, they can’t say we are wrong!”
"Well, let's do this. Luo Tianyu should still be in the backyard. Second brother, go and invite him over..."
"Okay!" Zhu Changhong nodded and left the study directly.
After a while, Zhu Changhong came to the study with a tall and handsome man with narrow eyes wearing a purple robe...
This man was none other than Luo Tianyu, the Flying Star Sword and one of the Seven Heroes of the Sword God Sect.
"I heard from Second Master Zhu that Master Zhu, you have something important to discuss with me. I wonder what it is?" After the three of them exchanged greetings and sat down, Luo Tianyu crossed his legs and spoke directly. Although he was a guest, his tone was full of arrogance. Zhu Changyun and Zhu Changhong were polite to him.
Zhu Changyun and Zhu Changhong looked at each other, and then Zhu Changyun pushed the letter directly in front of Luo Tianyu, "Mr. Luo, this is a letter that the owner of Datong Bank in Yulin County brought to our Zhu family today. It was written by Yan Liqiang..."
"Oh!" Luo Tianyu's eyebrows raised suddenly. He looked at Zhu Changyun, then at Zhu Changhong, and then picked up the letter.
There were only three sentences in the letter. Luo Tianyu read it in one glance. Then he put the letter on the table expressionlessly and squinted at Zhu Changyun. "Did Yan Liqiang really send this letter?"
"It's absolutely true. This was handed to me personally by the owner of Datong Bank. Yan Liqiang asked the Zhong family to be the middleman to deliver a message!"
"Then how did Yan Liqiang know that Xue Cao was in the Zhu family?"
"This... I just discussed it with my second brother, and I don't know where the mistake went wrong!"
"Then I wonder why Master Zhu called me here?" Luo Tianyu looked at Zhu Changyun with a smile, "Could it be that Master Zhu wants to tie me up and hand me over to Yan Liqiang for his mission?"
"Mr. Luo, you are wrong, you are wrong!" Zhu Changhong smiled. "Our Zhu family is loyal to the Sword God Sect. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are a family. As soon as my eldest brother received the letter, he asked me to invite Mr. Luo to discuss it. In this village, Mr. Luo represents the Sword God Sect. We all want to hear how Mr. Luo plans to deal with it. After all, Yan Liqiang already knows about this matter. It may be difficult to deal with it if it is delayed any longer."
"Haha, what's so difficult about it? This matter has nothing to do with you. The reason why we arrested Xue Cao is just because he offended our Sword God Sect. Yan Liqiang wants Xue Cao, so let him go to the Sword God Sect. I will take Xue Cao away from the manor tomorrow. If Yan Liqiang asks someone to ask again, you just say you don't know..." Luo Tianyu said nonchalantly...
"This..." Zhu Changyun was angry. Luo Tianyu was ready to leave at this time, leaving us Zhu family to explain to Yan Liqiang and let us Zhu family take the blame. Do you really think this is the Sword God Sect? However, at this time, he could only suppress his anger, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face. "Since Yan Liqiang has already sent the letter, it may not be good for Master Luo to take Xue Cao away..."
"What's wrong with that? Xue Cao is just a nobody. He offended our Sword God Sect. We didn't kill him, but just brought him back to the mountain gate for punishment. This is already giving face to Yan Liqiang. What else does he want?"
"Then...if Yan Liqiang asks how Xue Cao offended the Sword God Sect, how should we respond?"
Luo Tianyu smiled slightly and said casually, "One of my junior brothers went to Ganzhou for training. He heard Xue Cao scolding the Sword God Sect and went up to argue with him. Not only did Xue Cao not apologize, he even dared to kill someone. My junior brother was so angry that he took him down and brought him back. He was going to take him back to the mountain gate to deal with him. What's your reason?"
Zhu Changyun and Zhu Changhong looked at each other. This reason was simply a blatant lie, and it didn't take Yan Liqiang seriously at all...
“Hahaha, he’s just a small-time Protector Qi Yun. I heard he’s just a young boy, a lowly official. He’s just a local tyrant. How much power and influence can he have? Why should you worry about anything? We, the disciples of the Sword God Sect, have traveled all over the world. Why should we be afraid of a young boy like him?” Luo Tianyu sneered, “It’s fine if he doesn’t come. If he dares to come, I will let him see the supreme sword skills of the Sword God Sect and make him roll on the ground and beg for mercy!”
Before Zhu Changyun and Zhu Changhong could speak, a sudden voice appeared in the room.
"Yeah?"
Hearing this voice, the faces of the three people in the room changed. Luo Tianyu reached for the long sword at his waist, but before he could draw the sword, a shadow, as fast as lightning, appeared in the room...
There was a crisp sound of "Snap..."
Luo Tianyu's white teeth clenched as blood gushed out of his mouth. He flew into the air, spun several times in the air, hit the wall heavily, and then fell down, knocking down a bookcase in the room...
"Who is it?" Zhu Changyun picked up a machete on the table, and Zhu Changhong suddenly had a soft sword in his hand. The two of them attacked the black shadow together...
The terrifying fist wind was surging, and the whole study room seemed to have turned into the eye of a storm. Before Zhu Changyun and Zhu Changhong could finish their moves, they felt as if their moves had hit a flying iron mountain.
The two men spurted blood, their weapons fell out of their hands, and they fell heavily against the wall...
(End of this chapter)