Asura Emperor Venerable

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Chu Family Turns Against Each Other

Tong’an Country sent an emissary team over, ostensibly to celebrate Chu Dingtian’s fiftieth birthday.

But the two countries had been at war continuously, so this sudden dispatch of people to celebrate Chu Dingtian’s birthday seemed unfathomable, making one believe they definitely had ulterior motives.

The emissary team arrived during the daytime, but on that very night, the leader of the delegation, Assistant Minister of Rites from Tong’an Country, Tang Ci, personally came to visit Shi Hao.

Throughout the whole process, both parties just drank tea and chatted about the local customs and practices of their respective countries, and as Shi Hao was never fond of trivial talk, Tang Ci took the hint and left.

Originally, this was a mundane matter, yet merely after one evening passed, suddenly a rumor emerged in the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital, claiming that Shi Hao had accepted Tong’an Country’s overtures and would leave soon.

One more day passed, and the rumor became even louder, with numerous additional details.

For instance, the departure of Wu Shibai and others was clearly a prior arrangement by Shi Hao, otherwise, why would they have left again as soon as they arrived in the Imperial Capital?

Shi Hao naturally heard about it and didn’t take it to heart at all.

As long as he lived, the Chu Family wouldn’t dare to act rashly, for who could withstand the retaliation if a Martial Venerable sought vengeance?

If compliant, a pillar of the country, but if not?

A demon that could destroy a nation!

He was soon to visit the White Cloud Sect, so what impact would spreading such rumors have on him?

Shi Hao purchased some supplies, mainly Jade Raw Stone, as well as other herbs, which he made into Hemostatic Powder and such—undoubtedly essentials for traveling.

Then, he prepared to set out.

—Surely, he couldn’t wait for the experts from White Cloud Sect to come to kill him before leaving, could he?

“My lord, where are you going?” Before he could step out the door, a servant approached and asked him.

“Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?” Shi Hao said indifferently.

The servant replied with neither servility nor overbearingness, “Certainly, my lord need not report to me, but Your Majesty needs to know if you truly intend to defect to another country!”

Shi Hao couldn’t help but laugh, “I haven’t sold myself to the Chu Family, so how can there be any talk of betrayal?”

“My lord, you are a Martial Venerable, a pillar of the nation who can leave your name etched in history, shining brightly for thousands of years,” the servant seemed a bit anguished, “but once you defect, you will be nailed to the pillar of shame, infamy lasting for millennia!”

“You certainly have a sharp tongue,” said Shi Hao, “The three Martial Venerables from the Chu Family should be arriving soon, right?”

The servant’s face changed slightly, and his heartbeat quickened.

Shi Hao smiled, “You know full well I could kill you with one punch, yet you have the audacity to talk back, clearly feigning calm and waiting for reinforcements.”

The servant was silent; the reality was indeed so.

“Considering you still have some courage, step back on your own, I will not kill you,” Shi Hao spoke.

The servant showed a hesitant expression; he certainly didn’t want to die, and to actively oppose a Martial Venerable was surely seeking death.

However, if he stepped aside and let Shi Hao leave, then if the Chu Family blamed him later, he would still be held accountable after the fact.

“Too late,” Shi Hao shook his head; he had already shown leniency, but would he be as tender-hearted as a woman?

“Shi Hao, you dare!” Just at that moment, a fierce shout resounded, almost tearing eardrums apart.@@novelbin@@

The servant immediately showed a look of joy; the three Martial Venerable lords had arrived!

“Oh?” Shi Hao smiled, “The man whom Shi Hao wants to kill, who can save him?”

Boom!

With a punch, the servant was instantly blasted into the air, exploding in mid-flight, blood scattering everywhere, the death extremely brutal.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—three figures were seen darting along eaves and walls, rapidly rushing over and positioning themselves atop three separate walls, surrounding Shi Hao in their midst.

The youngest of these three men appeared to be at least fifty years old, while the oldest seemed to be in his seventies or eighties, with white hair but surprisingly rosy and supple skin. His vitality was incredibly strong, not fitting the image of someone near the end of their days.

“I told you to stop, yet you dare kill?” barked the one who was over fifty.

Shi Hao replied with a faint smile, “My servant was sent by another household to keep an eye on me. Should I not kill him? Should I keep him around for the New Year?”

What a retort!

Seeing the three elders showing anger, Shi Hao appeared very leisurely as he said, “You three must be the Martial Venerables of the Chu Family, right?”

“I am Chu Tianxiao,” said the man over fifty.

“I am Chu Yunsen,” declared the man in his sixties.

“I am Chu Tie.”

Shi Hao acted nonchalant and said, “The three esteemed Martial Venerables have graced us with their presence. To what do I owe this honor?”

“Shi Hao, are you feigning ignorance?” bellowed Chu Yunsen. “Colluding with the enemy state, planning treason—don’t you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Shi Hao chuckled dismissively, “Even as members of the Chu family, you can’t just slap false accusations on me. With which eye did you see me collude with the enemy state?”

“Hmph, the delegation from Tong’an Country—unseen by others—came directly to your residence first thing to have a secretive discussion all night. Is that not evidence?” Chu Tianxiao said coldly.

Stroking his chin and pondering for a moment, Shi Hao then said, “Given your intelligence, you shouldn’t fall for such a simple scheme of sowing discord. Thus, there can be only one truth—you’ve wanted to get rid of me for a long time, and this incident merely provided you with a pretext.”

Clapping his hands, he continued, “Right, now I understand why the rumors spread so quickly and couldn’t be stopped no matter what. It was you who were behind it. I’m certain of that now.”

Chu Tie and the others exchanged glances, each of them revealing a hint of surprise.

They were not astonished that Shi Hao could analyze the hidden truth, but that he had done so in such a short amount of time. This sixteen-year-old boy was as wise as a demon.

—They didn’t know that in fact, Shi Hao also had the accumulated experience of Yuan Chengmie’s many years, what kind of situation hadn’t he seen before?

Seeing the three were silent, Shi Hao smiled and said, “Since that’s the case, let’s skip the nonsense and fight!”

The three Martial Venerables of Chu laughed coldly.

Though the young man was clever, he was ridiculously foolish at the same time.

One against three—even if everyone’s strength was equal, there was only a path to death, especially since they possessed the Soul Nurturing stage, a complete domination over the basic stage.

All three engaged, not because they feared losing to Shi Hao, but to ensure he had no chance of escape.

After all, the havoc that a Martial Venerable could wreak if they acted without restraint was immense.

And with the Chu Family’s three Martial Venerables mobilized, the remaining major families of Chen, Zhang, and Wang, who also had Martial Venerables, were alarmed. They too mobilized, yet did not show themselves, watching the battle from the shadows instead.

Three Martial Venerables against one—it was a slaughter waiting to happen; the outcome seemed foregone before it had even begun.

Chu Tie gave a faint smile and said, “Considering your young age and having reached Martial Venerable, that is no small feat. Thus, as long as you swear allegiance to the Chu Family and take this ‘Loyalty Pill,’ we can spare you and even nurture you to advance further.”

Swear allegiance? Heh, that was obviously nonsense. Even if Shi Hao was one to keep his word, would the Chu Family trust such a flimsy commitment?

Clearly, the crux of the matter lay with the Loyalty Pill.