The Courage of a Martial Artist, Young Master of the Zhao Family!

Liu Chu had worked painstakingly and risked his life, killing his way into the Li Family alone with nothing but his blade, only to end up with a mere one thousand taels of silver.

And now, this Xing Butou had the audacity to demand a bribe of one thousand taels!

It was nothing short of stripping him to the bone and sucking his marrow!

He wasn't going to leave Liu Chu with a single cent of profit!

So, all my hard work and the immense risks I took were just to make a wedding dress for someone else? In the end, I've gained nothing at all...

A sense of stifling frustration welled up in Liu Chu's heart.

He slowly set down his teacup and looked toward Xing Butou, his gaze gradually sharpening like a blade.

"Xing Butou, you are... too greedy!"

Liu Chu's voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of killing intent.

Although Xing Butou was also an expert in the Bone Refining Realm, being stared at by Liu Chu felt like locking eyes with a vicious dragon. He couldn't help but feel a chill run through his body and soul, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

But he was, after all, a government constable. Having handled cases for years, he had weathered many storms and seen his fair share of life and death. Backed by the formidable power of the government, he easily regained his composure.

His smiling expression faded, turning gloomy and imposing. He met Liu Chu's gaze and said coldly, "Leader of the Black Dragon Gang, since ancient times, bandits have never fought against officials. Do not forget your place!"

He enunciated every word clearly: "I am giving you a chance—a chance to buy your life. Thinking of it that way, do you still think one thousand taels is too expensive?"

"Heh, buying my life?"

Hearing this, Liu Chu couldn't help but laugh. His laughter was filled with bone-chilling coldness: "My life is for me to decide!"

"That, I'm afraid, is no longer up to you. Your life is already in my hands!"

Xing Butou let out a loud laugh, his tone sounding extremely firm. He looked at Liu Chu with a mocking gaze: "As for the destruction of the Li Family, who the culprit is depends entirely on how I write my report!"

"If I say you are the murderer, then you are, whether you like it or not!"

A smug smile spread across Xing Butou's face: "Besides, you are already a prime suspect!"

Liu Chu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Xing Butou, have you ever heard a certain saying?"

"Hmm? What saying?"

Xing Butou frowned.

"Within a foot's distance... one can defy an entire nation!!"

Liu Chu's voice was soft, yet his killing intent surged like a tidal wave. He stared fixedly at Xing Butou, his hand already gripping the hilt of the long blade at his waist.

"You!!"

Xing Butou's pupils constricted, his heart seized with shock.

"Are you actually going to attack a government constable over a mere thousand taels of silver!?"

Xing Butou looked at Liu Chu's hand on the hilt in disbelief and shouted sharply.

He had come here only to extort a thousand taels, not to fight to the death with Liu Chu!

He had calculated that Liu Chu could afford the thousand taels, even if it meant bankruptcy.

But his years of experience as a constable told him that even if a man were driven to ruin, he wouldn't dare to risk his life against an official.

Especially a gang leader who enjoyed the support of his subordinates and lived a life of luxury.

To them, money could be earned again, but once they raised a hand against a government official, they would have nowhere to run, even to the ends of the earth!

To force a gang leader to abandon the organization he had painstakingly built and give up his status and power...

Xing Butou was certain that the other party would yield and pay the price of one thousand taels!

But now, looking at Liu Chu's hand on his hilt, Xing Butou felt a flicker of doubt in his heart.

Yet, in an instant, he hardened his resolve again, dispelling the fear within him.

"Leader of the Black Dragon Gang, once a blade is drawn, there is no turning back!"

Xing Butou looked into Liu Chu's eyes, which were brimming with killing intent. He remained calm and unafraid, saying, "I bet you don't dare to draw it!"

"Is that so?"

Liu Chu's expression remained equally calm. He tightened his grip on the hilt and slowly began to draw his blade.

The edge slid slowly, creating a faint yet piercing sound as it scraped against the scabbard.

"Do you know what a martial artist needs most?"

"It is not money!"

"Nor is it power!"

"It is courage!"

"The courage to draw one's blade against anyone!"

As if answering his own question, Liu Chu had already drawn a third of his long blade.

He stared calmly at Xing Butou, his eyes like a deep, still pool of water—profound, waveless, and terrifyingly tranquil.

"Draw your blade!"

Xing Butou felt a hint of pressure, but he gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce: "If you draw your blade, it means death. No matter where you run to the ends of the earth, you will be wanted by the government!"

"Besides, even if you truly were the one who wiped out the Li Family, and you really have the strength to kill a Bone Refining expert, I am not a Bone Refining martial artist like the head of the Li Family. Do you think you can kill me?!"

As a Bone Refining expert and the chief constable of a district, he had sufficient confidence in his own strength.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chu could not help but laugh, his long blade half-drawn from its sheath: "Kill you... one strike is enough!"

"One strike? Hahaha, then I would like to see you try!"

Xing Butou laughed in extreme anger, provoked by Liu Chu's arrogant words into becoming even more determined.

At this moment, he was no longer confronting Liu Chu for the sake of a thousand taels of silver.

He wanted to see if Liu Chu truly dared to draw his blade!

The two stood in a standoff, the atmosphere heavy and scorching, with only their auras locked onto each other and the slow, metallic friction of the blade sliding against the scabbard echoing in the air.

Just at this moment.

"You two have quite the refined interest, finding time for a spar."

Suddenly, a laugh drifted in from outside the hall.

A young man in brocade robes slowly stepped into the hall, his smile warm, holding a folding fan, looking graceful and elegant.

Beside him followed an old servant, his face full of wrinkles, wearing a grey-blue cloth garment and leaning on a carved sandalwood cane.

"Two more experts!"

Liu Chu looked at them, his heart startled.

"Young Master Zhao!"

Xing Butou was also astonished to see the newcomer.

But he piled a smile onto his face, hurried over with a trot, and bowed obsequiously: "I wonder what wind blew you here?"

In his heart, however, he was secretly groaning: Oh no, surely he isn't here to recruit the leader of the Black Dragon Gang.

"Hehe, I'm here on some business."

Young Master Zhao smiled faintly, not answering Xing Butou directly, but instead walking slowly to stand before Liu Chu, his voice gentle: "You must be the leader of the Black Dragon Gang? You are truly courageous, daring to draw your blade against Xing Butou!"

He said this as if it were a compliment, yet it seemed to carry other implications.

He then continued: "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Zhao Tianyu."

"One of the three great families, Young Master Zhao of the Zhao Family?!"

Liu Chu was also startled.

He had heard of the name Zhao Tianyu; young and already possessing Bone Refining cultivation, with hopes of breaking through to the Neizhuang Realm in the future, he had quite the reputation in Zhaojiang City.

And the Zhao Family behind him was one of the three great families of Zhaojiang City, with Neizhuang experts within their ranks.

"Hehe, come to think of it, I heard from the stewards in my house that the Green Tiger Gang, the Golden Fish Gang, and the Wild Wolf Gang still pay tribute to my Zhao Family every year."

Zhao Tianyu said with a smile on his lips, gently waving his folding fan.

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Chu could not help but feel a chill in his heart.

Could it be that he is here to cause trouble again?

Liu Chu was secretly vigilant in his heart.

And when Xing Butou heard this, his eyes lit up; his greatest worry right now was that Zhao Tianyu might recruit the leader of the Black Dragon Gang.

But immediately after, Zhao Tianyu's next words made Xing Butou's vision go dark.

"However, although the Black Dragon Gang has annexed the Wild Wolf Gang and the Green Tiger Gang, the tribute money has not been short by a single cent, which shows that the leader is a man who follows the rules."

After Zhao Tianyu finished speaking, his gaze suddenly flicked toward Xing Butou, and he feigned surprise: "Eh, Xing Butou, what is the reason for your visit here?"