Liu Chu had fought tooth and nail, risking his life to storm the Li Family alone with nothing but a blade. In the end, all he got was a thousand taels of silver.
And now, this Xing Butou wanted to extort another thousand taels from him with a single word!
He was practically sucking the marrow from his bones!
Leaving Liu Chu with nothing to show for it!
"So I risked my life and fought like hell, only to make wedding clothes for someone else. In the end, I got nothing out of it..."
A wave of pent-up frustration welled up inside Liu Chu.
He slowly set down his teacup and looked toward Xing Butou. His gaze sharpened, growing as keen as a blade.
"Xing Butou, you... are too greedy!"
Liu Chu's voice was calm, but it carried a trace of murderous intent.
Though Xing Butou was also a Bone Refining Realm expert, under Liu Chu's stare, he felt as if he were facing an evil dragon. A chill ran through him, as if he'd been plunged into an icy cellar.
But he was, after all, a government constable. He had handled cases for years, weathered many storms, and seen death countless times. With the government backing him, he quickly regained his composure.
His smiling face fell, turning dark and imposing. Meeting Liu Chu's gaze, he said coldly, "Black Dragon Gang Leader, since ancient times, bandits have never fought the authorities. Don't forget who you are!"
He spoke each word distinctly. "I'm giving you a chance—a chance to buy your life. When you put it that way, do you still think a thousand taels is too much?"
"Heh. Buy my life?"
At that, Liu Chu couldn't help laughing. His laughter held a bone-deep chill. "The Black Dragon Gang Leader's life is mine to decide!"
"I'm afraid that's not up to you. Your life has long been in my hands!"
Xing Butou burst into laughter, his voice hard and forceful. He eyed Liu Chu mockingly. "As for who wiped out the Li Family, that depends entirely on how I choose to rule!"
"If I say you're the culprit, then the culprit you are!"
A smug smile spread across Xing Butou's face. "Besides, you're hardly free of suspicion!"
Liu Chu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard a saying, Xing Butou?"
"Hm? What saying?"
Xing Butou furrowed his brow.
"Within arm's reach... one man can stand against an entire nation!"
Liu Chu's voice was soft, but his killing intent surged like a raging tide. He stared fixedly at Xing Butou, one hand already gripping the hilt of the long saber at his waist.
"You!"
Xing Butou's pupils contracted in shock.
"Are you really going to attack a government constable over a thousand taels of silver?!"
Xing Butou stared in disbelief at Liu Chu's hand on his saber hilt and shouted the question.
He had come only to extort a thousand taels, not to fight Liu Chu to the death!
He had already calculated that Liu Chu could come up with a thousand taels, even if it meant losing everything he owned.
But years of experience as a constable had taught him that even if a government constable ruined someone financially, that person still wouldn't dare risk his life.
Especially a gang leader, who enjoyed the support of his disciples and lived in wealth and luxury.
To them, money could always be earned again once it was gone. But if they dared attack a government constable, they'd be hunted by the authorities to the ends of the earth, with no chance of escape!
To make a gang leader abandon the gang he had worked so hard to build, give up his position and power...
Xing Butou was certain the other man would yield and pay the price of a thousand taels!
But now, watching Liu Chu's hand gripping the saber hilt, Xing Butou felt a flicker of doubt.
In the next instant, however, his resolve hardened again, and he drove the fear from his heart.
"Black Dragon Gang Leader, once a saber leaves its sheath, there's no turning back!"
Xing Butou looked at Liu Chu's surging murderous gaze. His expression remained calm, and he spoke without a trace of fear. "I bet you don't dare draw!"
"Is that so?"
Liu Chu's expression was just as calm. His hand tightened around the hilt as he slowly began to draw the long saber.
The blade slid out little by little, scraping against its sheath with a faint but grating sound.
"Do you know what a martial artist needs most?"
"Not money!"
"Nor power!"
"But courage!"
"The courage to draw your blade against anyone!"
As if asking and answering himself, Liu Chu drew the long saber a third of the way from its sheath.
He stared calmly at Xing Butou. His eyes were like a deep, still pool, so quiet it was almost frightening.
"Draw your blade!"
Xing Butou felt a hint of pressure, but gritted his teeth, his gaze fierce. "Draw your blade, and it means death. Wherever you run, to the ends of the earth, the government will put out a warrant for your arrest!"
"Besides, even if you really did wipe out the Li Family and have the strength to kill a Bone Refining expert, I'm not some Bone Refining martial artist like the Li Family Head. Do you think you can kill me?!"
As a Bone Refining expert and the Chief Constable of this region, he had complete confidence in his own strength.
At that, Liu Chu couldn't help laughing. His long saber was halfway out of its sheath. "Kill you... One strike is enough!"
"One strike? Hahaha! Then I'll have to see that saber of yours for myself!"
Xing Butou laughed in fury, provoked by Liu Chu's boast and even more firmly resolved.
By now, he was no longer confronting Liu Chu over a thousand taels of silver.
He simply wanted to see whether Liu Chu truly dared to draw his blade!
The two stood facing off, the air thick with tension. Only their locked auras and the slow metallic scrape of blade against sheath broke the silence.
Just then—
"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves. You even have time to spar."
A laugh suddenly came from outside the hall.
A young man in fine clothes strolled into the hall. He wore a warm smile, carried a folding fan, and moved with effortless grace.
An old servant followed at his side. His face was deeply lined, he wore a gray-blue robe, and he leaned on a carved sandalwood cane.
"Two more experts!"
Liu Chu stared at them, startled.
"Young Master Zhao!"
Xing Butou was equally surprised to see the newcomer.
But a smile quickly spread across his face. He hurried over, bowing and scraping. "What brings you here today?"
Yet inwardly, he groaned. "This is bad. Could he be here to recruit the Black Dragon Gang Leader?"
"Heh. I'm here to take care of something."
Young Master Zhao gave a faint smile without answering Xing Butou directly. Instead, he walked up to Liu Chu and said warmly, "You must be the Black Dragon Gang Leader. Truly a man of courage, daring to draw your blade against Xing Butou!"
It sounded like praise, though there seemed to be another meaning hidden in his words.
Then he added, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Zhao Tianyu."
"One of the Three Great Families—the Zhao Family's Young Master?!"
Liu Chu was startled as well.
He had heard of Zhao Tianyu. Though still young, he had already reached the Bone Refining Realm and was expected to break through to the Neizhuang Realm one day. He was well known in Zhaojiang City.
And the Zhao Family behind him was one of Zhaojiang City's Three Great Families, with Neizhuang Realm experts among its ranks.
"Heh. Come to think of it, I heard from one of my family's stewards that the Green Tiger Gang, Golden Fish Gang, and Wild Wolf Gang all pay my Zhao Family tribute every year."
Zhao Tianyu smiled and gently waved his folding fan.
At this, Liu Chu's heart tightened.
"Could he have come looking for trouble too?"
Liu Chu remained secretly on guard.
But Xing Butou's eyes lit up. His greatest worry had been that Zhao Tianyu would recruit the Black Dragon Gang Leader.
Then Zhao Tianyu's next words struck Xing Butou like a bolt from the blue.
"But even after the Black Dragon Gang absorbed the Wild Wolf Gang and the Green Tiger Gang, it hasn't missed a single tribute payment. It seems the gang leader is a man who knows the rules."
After speaking, Zhao Tianyu suddenly glanced at Xing Butou and asked with feigned surprise, "Oh? Xing Butou, what brings you here?"
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