"Heh heh, Master, you flatter me. As far as I know, there are many skilled swordsmen in the martial world, and plenty are better than I am." Li Hao didn't dare claim to be the best swordsman under heaven. That would only invite trouble.
Since ancient times, people had said there was no single best in literature, but in martial arts, there was always someone stronger. If he drew too much attention to himself, plenty of swordsmen would probably come rushing over to challenge him. He'd be driven mad.
"I wonder which swordsmen under heaven are the most skilled. Please enlighten me, Young Hero Li," Jiumozhi asked.
"Master, there's no rush to discuss that. We can talk about it another time. The most important thing now is to burn this brat, before anything goes wrong." Li Hao spoke up to remind him.
What the hell? What did I ever do to you? You're really set on burning me alive, aren't you? Duan Yu bristled instantly. Li Hao already had the Six Meridian Divine Sword manual, yet he was still determined to make things difficult for him. It made no sense.
"Sister Ning, Sister Shiyin, why does my husband insist on burning this young lord? Didn't he agree to write out the manual? Once he's written it down, couldn't we just hand it over to Mr. Murong?" Yi Lin asked curiously.
But although she asked, she didn't try to persuade Li Hao to let Duan Yu go again.
You could do something once, but not twice. Just because her husband had let it slide the first time didn't mean she could keep doing it.
She was part of the Li family. She understood that much.
"Do you know who Duan Yu's father is?" Lin Shiyin whispered.
"Who?" Yi Lin asked blankly. She hadn't even figured out such a simple question.
Yan Shun: I don't know either. Anyway, it's not me.
Li Hei: I have no idea.
"You all know him, and you've even clashed with him. His father is that wicked man who attacked us on the road and nearly killed Sister Ning." Lin Shiyin's words left everyone thunderstruck.
"No way! That evil man was so vicious, and so ugly..." Yi Lin covered her mouth.
"Sister Shiyin, what's going on?" A Bi had been standing nearby, ears perked, and now joined the discussion.
One woman was worth two hundred ducks. A whole group of women...
Li Hao's ears were buzzing. He just wanted to settle this as quickly as possible.
"Yan Shun, the auspicious time is here. You can do it."
With a swish, Yan Shun instantly drew his saber.
"Wait! I have something to say." Seeing that Li Hao still wanted him dead, Duan Yu no longer dared put on airs.
"Then say it quickly. If you delay the auspicious hour, Old Mr. Murong will be unhappy." Li Hao rubbed his forehead. Why was this kid so troublesome?
Jiumozhi: I'm the one who came to burn the sword manual. How did you end up taking over? Well, I suppose you are the master of the Murong Family now.
"I know your Murong Family wants to restore its kingdom. If you spare me, I promise that once I become emperor of Dali, I'll use the strength of the entire nation to help you." Duan Yu was at his wits' end. He'd made a decision that would earn him the scorn of Dali's people and have the ancestors of the Duan family turning in their graves.
"Yan Shun, get ready..."
"Second Young Master, please spare him! Young Lord Duan is far too important. He mustn't be killed!" Deng Baichuan dropped to his knees, crying and begging.
Duan Zhengchun had already been chosen as the next emperor of Dali. Once he ascended the throne, Duan Yu would become the crown prince.
Then, with a little maneuvering, they could make Duan Zhengchun kick the bucket early, and Duan Yu would become emperor.
And then...
Haha! The restoration of Great Yan would be within reach!
Seeing the warriors of Canhe Manor kneeling all over the ground, Li Hao was bewildered.
He only wanted to kill Duan Yu and get a few system rewards. Why were so many people pleading for him?
"Yan Shun..."
"Second Young Master, please! You really can't kill him. If you want to kill someone, kill me instead!" A Bi wrapped her arms around Li Hao's waist, closed her eyes, and stretched out her neck as if waiting for the executioner's blade.
"Miss A Bi, please don't say that. Even if I killed Deng Baichuan, I'd never kill you."
So soft... So ample... That was Li Hao's first thought when A Bi hugged him. His second was that she smelled lovely, a faint, delicate fragrance clinging to her.
Deng Baichuan: What did I do to deserve this?
"Duan Yu, I can spare your life, but you must acknowledge me as your master and serve as my slave for the rest of your life," Li Hao said coldly.
"Second Young Master, please give me the most poisonous poison you have. If I betray you, may I die when it takes effect," Duan Yu said at once.
Staying alive was what mattered. As for dignity, to hell with it. What good was dignity if he was dead?
"Duan Yu, do you take me for a fool? You ate the Mangku Zhuge at the bottom of Mirror Lake. You're immune to all poisons. Do you think I'm stupid enough to control you with poison?" Li Hao looked at him mockingly. He hadn't expected Duan Yu to still be trying to find a way out of this.
"Bastard! How dare you try to deceive my young master? You deserve to die!" Li Hei heard this and immediately drew his saber, swinging it at Duan Yu's neck.
"I, Duan Yu, swear to heaven that from this day on, I will serve Li Hao faithfully until death. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and have my body and soul destroyed!" Seeing the flash of the blade, Duan Yu immediately swore his loyalty to Li Hao.
Clang! Yan Shun stepped in and stopped Li Hei's saber. After all, Duan Yu had sworn his loyalty. They had to give him that much consideration.
"Add this after 'if I break this oath': may my parents die horribly, may my children be slaves for generations, and may every son born to my descendants be impotent," Li Hao suggested.
Duan Yu had no choice. It was a vicious oath, but he was willing to go all out to stay alive.
Duan Yu had studied Buddhist teachings intensely since childhood, and deeply believed in past and future lives. Having him make this oath completely extinguished any thought of betrayal.
He didn't care if his parents died horribly. They had brought it upon themselves. But being impotent for generations to come was rather less appealing.
"Tell me, whose women will all those younger sisters of yours belong to in the future?" Li Hao asked again.
"They'll all belong to Master." Duan Yu glanced at the women surrounding Li Hao and immediately understood what he was thinking.
"And the women around your mother and father? Who will they belong to from now on?" As soon as Li Hao finished speaking, four hands found his waist and started twisting the soft flesh there.
"My father... I mean, they'll all belong to Master," Duan Yu said miserably.
To save his own life, he'd even sold his mother to someone else.
"Mm, not bad. You've got the right attitude. Yan Shun, get the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone. Have him write out the Six Meridian Divine Sword manual, Lingbo Weibu, and the Bei Ming Divine Skill. Duan Yu, did you hear me?" Li Hao stared straight at him, his eyes full of menace.
"This subordinate will write out every martial arts manual I know."
Duan Yu had been forced by Duan Zhengchun to practice martial arts since childhood, and had read countless manuals. On top of that, he had a photographic memory, so he had quite a few manuals stored in his mind.
"Fine, then. Once you've finished, bring them to me to look over. Don't think you can pass off fakes. You're not clever enough to fool me."
"Brother Deng, come here a moment."
"Second Young Master, just tell me what you need. Old Deng guarantees I'll get it done properly," Deng Baichuan said, thumping his chest.
The Second Young Master was far more capable than the First Young Master. The First Young Master had been away for years and still had nothing to show for it.
The Second Young Master was different. With hardly any effort, he'd taken control of the future crown prince of Dali.
Before you continue