Chapter 56: Hand Blade and Hidden Weapons

Chapter Title: 056 Hand Blade and Hidden Weapons

Fang Rulai did not even glance back. She turned to the four maids who had gathered around and said, “She’s not mine, but with a single word from me, your master would ruin her. Such a suspicious and ruthless master—do you still wish to follow him?”

This was Fang Rulai’s established plan. She had no martial arts, so the most direct and effective way to weaken the enemy’s strength was to sow discord among them.

She was quite confident in this approach. After all, hadn’t she already succeeded in dealing with Xu Chunhua as the first step?

A confident smile appeared on Fang Rulai’s face, but it lasted only three seconds before vanishing.

Because the four maids did not stop as they approached.

Fang Rulai was rarely surprised. “Aren’t you afraid of becoming the next Xu Chunhua?”

The four maids did not answer. Instead, it was Brother Qiang, who had crippled Xu Chunhua with a single move, who replied.

“Why should they be afraid? They know perfectly well that I dealt with Xu Chunhua because she tried to abandon her teammates and run away first—that dishonorable act, not your feeble attempt at sowing discord.” Brother Qiang withdrew his hand from Xu Chunhua’s back, fresh blood dripping onto the floor. “Little monk, if you think I’m just another brainless brute roaming the martial world, you’re sorely mistaken.”

His tone paused, then grew fiercer. “Seize her!”

“Yes,” the four maids replied in unison. At their word, they moved into a half-encirclement and raised their palms to attack.

Fang Rulai neither dodged nor blinked. Just as they closed in, she suddenly made a sweeping motion outward. “Look out—hidden weapons!”

The movement itself was not swift, but the objects she flung, so-called hidden weapons, glittered brilliantly.

The four maids instinctively thought it was something dangerous and formidable. They hurriedly halted and retreated, palms raised, ready to strike down the hidden weapons. Yet, as their palms lifted and their inner force gathered, they could not bring themselves to strike.

They finally saw the hidden weapons clearly: plump golden beans!

Their hearts itched and their eyes lit up. Why had they ended up wandering the martial world? Was it not for lack of money? They stayed in the Zhao household because of its inexhaustible wealth. Alas, though they lacked nothing for food and clothing, actual money in hand was scarce, since the Zhao family remained unconquered. Now, a considerable number of golden beans lay right before their eyes—grabbing them instead of striking was a natural, instinctive reaction.

All four maids switched from palms to claws, their eyes filled only with the glittering golden beans, unable to see anything else.

Thus, they failed to notice the murderous gleam in Fang Rulai’s suddenly narrowed eyes, reflecting Brother Qiang behind them, charging with a terrifying, lethal intent brighter than the golden beans themselves.

Four swift, continuous sounds—one after another, the four maids fell, each with a gaping hole in their chest.

Brother Qiang let out a chilling laugh, his blood-soaked hands sweeping outward, collecting every last golden bean Fang Rulai had thrown into his palm.

Blood-red palms, dazzling golden beans—a sight so shocking that Fang Rulai’s face turned deathly pale.

Though she had planned to use the golden beans to provoke infighting, she never imagined the carnage would unfold so brutally, with bare hands as blades, and the outcome delivered in the blink of an eye—an overwhelming, decisive victory.

Her next step was meant to be signaling during the chaos to alert Banxia, who would help her escape. But now, she dared not trigger the signal so easily. She could not be sure Banxia’s speed would outmatch this fiend who had dispatched four people in an instant.

Fang Rulai’s mind raced. Meanwhile, Brother Qiang, tucking the golden beans away, revealed a more terrifying smile. “Little monk, I didn’t expect you to be so wealthy. Enough idle talk—hand over the rest.”

Naturally, Brother Qiang extended his hand, the smell of blood wafting straight into Fang Rulai’s nostrils.

Fang Rulai was immediately overwhelmed by nausea, barely suppressing the urge to retch with all her strength. “There’s none left. I threw them all.”

She spoke the truth. The golden beans had been given to her by Guan Shiyin before she left Shengjing, meant for greasing palms when necessary. But she had been reluctant to use them, carrying them every day in her bosom lest they be lost. Just now, considering the strategy—using the beans to escape, then doubling back to reclaim them after taking down everyone—she had finally steeled herself to throw them all. Yet, who could have foreseen they’d vanish like a meat bun thrown to a dog, never to return.

Brother Qiang did not believe her. He licked the blood from his fingers, menace dripping from his tone. “Don’t you want to try my hand blade for yourself?”

Fang Rulai gripped the armrests of her chair tightly. “The real Second Young Master Zhao Liang died at your hand, didn’t he?”

As she finished, her seated body visibly swayed.

She had used her abilities too much today, and some instances stretched far back in time. She was clearly struggling.

Brother Qiang, however, thought Fang Rulai was merely frightened by his hand blade technique, and his smirk grew even more arrogant. “Yes, that’s my favorite, most common, and most effective killing move. But little monk, I’m also quite interested in how you know so much about the past. Perhaps you could be as honest as I am?”

His roguish tone sounded indifferent, but his tense muscles and poised stance betrayed his high alert.

He had targeted the Zhao family for nearly ten years. As he made his moves, the Zhao family never ceased their investigations. Yet, over those ten years, anyone who uncovered clues was eliminated without trace. Now, this little monk, making her first appearance, had accurately recounted their past deeds. Why? How had she managed it?

Brother Qiang felt the full weight of Fang Rulai’s psychological pressure. “Who are you?” He was certain the little monk had no inner force, yet she had uncovered so many secrets. What kind of power backed her?

Fang Rulai locked eyes with Brother Qiang, unwavering. “There are no walls impervious to wind. You targeted the Zhao family’s three sons, thinking yourself secretive, but you never realized all your actions have been under our surveillance from beginning to end.”

Brother Qiang’s gaze did not falter. “Little monk, those who boast will be struck by lightning.”

Fang Rulai snorted coldly. “Boasting? Fine, then listen to more ‘boasts.’ You first dealt with the second son, because you needed to impersonate him to plot against the Zhao family, so you killed him with your signature hand blade. Afterwards, you threw his corpse into a mountain ravine, and the imposter became the real second son. Your build resembled his, but you couldn’t fool the eldest, who had grown up alongside him. The eldest was the first to suspect you, so you used his wedding as an opportunity, poisoning the nuptial cup with something that would cause sudden death.”

“But fate played its hand—he consummated the marriage before drinking the wine. As a result, he died, but by coincidence, left an heir. You had planned to eliminate both brothers, then inherit the Zhao family as the second son, but had to improvise.”

Fang Rulai paused. “Is there a single falsehood in what I said? Shall I continue?”

Brother Qiang was boiling inside, but his face betrayed nothing. “Continue!” He needed to know how much more the monk knew—if it was everything, then…

“Killing the third son and framing the eldest branch was your next step. But the fake third son intervened, and you thought your plan had failed. Later, the fake third son died far from home, Xu Chunhua seized the chance to topple Wang Suzhi, and you, thinking yourself secure, celebrated brazenly. Am I wrong?”

Fang Rulai was answered with applause from Brother Qiang.

“Not wrong—all correct!” Now, Brother Qiang was enveloped in a murderous aura, advancing toward Fang Rulai step by step. “So, are you warning me to silence you to prevent future trouble?”

Fang Rulai smiled airily, her eyes drifting toward the window. “Do you think I could have uncovered all this alone?”

Brother Qiang recalled that Fang Rulai had hinted at this before. He paused warily, then suddenly lunged forward, hand blade flashing. “Who cares how many—killing one is enough to break even!”

As Brother Qiang launched himself, Fang Rulai kicked the table in front of her, her body leaning back as she shouted, “Banxia!”

As the words left her lips, the window nearest Fang Rulai burst open. Banxia, clad in black, shook out a long sword, meeting Brother Qiang’s attack head-on.

In an instant, the two clashed. Unarmed Brother Qiang, against Banxia wielding a sword, showed no sign of falling behind.

Fang Rulai, having fallen to the ground, quickly scrambled up, ignoring the fight, and dashed for the door. “Banxia, I’m going to call for help!”

“Where do you think you’re going!” Brother Qiang seized the moment, retrieving a golden bean from his bosom and hurled it at Fang Rulai’s back. Banxia intercepted with his sword, deflecting the bean, which struck Fang Rulai’s ankle.

Fang Rulai cried out and fell, but stubbornly dragged herself toward the exit.

“You’re asking for death!” Furious, Brother Qiang reached into his bosom again, producing a handful of golden beans. With one hand he fended off Banxia, while with the other he channeled his inner force, shooting the beans toward Fang Rulai.

Banxia moved swiftly, his sword knocking aside half the beans, but the rest continued their trajectory toward Fang Rulai.

Fang Rulai’s eyes widened in terror. “Banxia!” she screamed. Banxia, disregarding Brother Qiang’s incoming palm strike, threw himself toward Fang Rulai.

Bang! Brother Qiang’s palm landed squarely on Banxia’s back.

Thanks to the force of that blow, Banxia propelled himself forward even faster, arriving just in time to shield Fang Rulai from the flying beans.

With an elbow and a sword stroke, Banxia perfectly deflected the golden beans, though blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Brother Qiang laughed sinisterly and prepared to strike again, but suddenly, the tumult of voices and blazing torches outside filled the air.

“Villain, you are surrounded! Surrender at once!”

Thank you dear &! Manman! ^_$ for the encouragement of fresh flowers, mua~ Eat more vegetables and drink less at the end of the year~

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