Victory Is Justice, Rich Rewards

"Splendid, Grandmaster. Your adopted son's methods were quite impressive."

"The outcome had been decided. Zhou Kuai lost, so he had no grounds to argue. Next, the Zhou Family would punish him under its internal disciplinary code!"

The Eight Lords applauded and cheered, delivering their verdict before asking the Three Lords, "Third Brother, do you have anything to add?"

"No."

The Three Lords smiled and shook his head. Then, meaningfully, he said, "Grandmaster Nanwang, the style your adopted son displayed just now bears some resemblance to the Southern Border Tiger Blade."

Uncle Wang added from the side, "Their foundations were broadly connected, though changing the blade into a staff must have taken considerable thought."

Zhou Nanwang was taken aback and explained, "He came from the northern lands, where that style of boxing is common. Perhaps it was merely a coincidence."

"Oh, back then Marquis Shen swept through the Southern Border's heroes alone with nothing but a staff. He has guarded the frontier ever since, a model among hereditary marquises."

"I vaguely heard that among the Southern Border experts he defeated was a formidable foe called the 'Tiger Blade,' who later fled to the northern lands and spread his branches and leaves. Could your adopted son be one of his disciples or descendants?"

As the Three Lords spoke, his smile grew increasingly pronounced. "Interesting. If Marquis Shen learned of this, he would surely be very interested."

"It was merely an old matter from years ago. Marquis Shen is now a Heavenly Grandmaster guarding the Southern Border, while his former foe cowers in the northern lands, only dragging out a lingering breath."

Zhou You understood. The tiger corpse's past seemed quite extraordinary. The "Tiger Blade" everyone spoke of was most likely him; even if it was not, there had to be a deep