Chapter 14: Establishing Power

In front of Wang Zhao's small hut, a circle had already formed.

"Brother Zhao, I really didn't steal anything..."

Guard Zhao Zhao Mazi hugged his chest and sneered sideways: "Stole or didn't steal, don't you know yourself?!"

"Tell me, how did the Second Mistress's earring end up in your room?"

"Speak!"

Zhao Zhao Mazi increased his tone.

Behind him stood several guards, all looking unkind. In his hand, he was holding an exquisite pearl pendant, which looked like jewelry that only wealthy ladies and young ladies could afford.

Daring to steal the master's things in the Zhu family is a taboo and will be beaten to death.

These guards were all burly and full of flesh, making people fearful.

Some servants, even if they saw that something was wrong, didn't dare to speak, fearing that the disaster would be drawn to themselves.

This is human nature.

Who doesn't know that Zhao Zhao Mazi is Second Master Zhu Lie's man? The servant follows the master, all unreasonable. If you provoke Zhao Zhao Mazi, there will definitely be endless such framing things in the future.

It has happened several times before.

But Zhao Zhao Mazi has Second Master Zhu Lie protecting him, and he only bullies some servants.

The Zhu family master couldn't tear his face with his own brother for this little thing, and in the end, it was left unsettled.

That is a life!

But the life of a lowly person is not a life at all.

"Go, follow me to see the master and let the master judge."

Hearing that he was going to see the master, Wang Zhao's face turned pale.

The body of the new servant beaten to death by the master last month was still in the mass grave. If he really saw the master, his end would definitely not be much better.

"Brother Zhao, wronged, I was really wronged."

Wang Zhao kowtowed anxiously.

Today, these people rushed into his room early in the morning without saying a word, claiming he stole things, and then searched around. Zhao Zhao Mazi took out a pendant and insisted that he stole it.

Zhao Zhao Mazi sneered: "Are you saying I wronged you?"

Wang Zhao was speechless for a while, looking helplessly at the people around him

This matter is like yellow mud falling into one's trousers—it's impossible to explain clearly.

Zhao Zhao Mazi was already well-versed in such tricks.

As he spoke, Zhao Zhao Mazi prepared to strike again.

He certainly knew whether Wang Zhao had been framed; the pendant had been tucked on his own person the entire time, having been secretly planted during the search.

"If you want to blame someone, blame your master for offending someone he shouldn't have!"

Li Rui was valued by the father and son of the Zhu family, making it difficult to lay a hand on him, but dealing with his apprentice was far simpler, with absolutely no worries about the consequences.

Even if the Master of the Zhu family knew, he would never stand up for a mere servant.

In the eyes of the Master of the Zhu family, Wang Zhao was just a commodity, the kind with a clearly marked price.

"Stop!"

At this moment, Yang Yong and Li Rui squeezed out from the crowd.

Yang Yong shouted sternly.

When Zhao Zhao Mazi saw the main party had arrived, he let out a mocking sound.

"Old Man Li, your apprentice has no conscience and stole from the master of the house; what do you say should be done about this?"

Li Rui ignored Zhao Zhao Mazi.

He stepped forward to help the kneeling Wang Zhao up and brushed the snow off his clothes.

Seeing himself ignored, Zhao Zhao Mazi was instantly infuriated.

It was one thing for the Wu Shi to look down on him, but a seventy-year-old man dared to look down on him too?!

"Old Man Li, I think you're like an old man hanging himself—you're tired of living."

Zhao Zhao Mazi took a step forward and raised his foot to kick.

However, he didn't dare to use his full strength; if he really beat Li Rui to death, he wouldn't be able to answer for it.

But just as his foot was about to touch Li Rui's clothes—

Li Rui delivered a swift kick, striking Zhao Zhao Mazi in the stomach before he could react.

Boom!

Zhao Zhao Mazi instantly put on a mask of agony, rolling like a ball across the snowy ground several times before coming to a stop.

Zhao Zhao Mazi wailed in the snow for a moment, then his eyes rolled back, and he actually fainted.

"Who else among you"

Li Rui withdrew his foot and turned to scan the several guards in front of him.

"Wants to take my apprentice away?"

"This"

Zhao Zhao Mazi's several lackeys looked at each other, all seeing the fear in each other's eyes.

The reason Zhao Zhao Mazi could become the leader wasn't just because he knew how to suck up, but because he could fight like a mad dog and wasn't afraid of pain; otherwise, he wouldn't have been valued by Zhu Lie.

Now that even Zhao Zhao Mazi couldn't withstand a single blow from Li Rui, how could they dare to make another move?

"Why has Old Man Li become so fierce?"

"I heard long ago that Old Man Li had made a name for himself practicing martial arts recently; look at that black hair, he's even had a rejuvenation. If he hadn't started practicing martial arts so late, he could have become a Grand Master."

"A Grand Master?"

"Keep on bragging."

"But Old Man Li does have some skills."

The Zhu family servants watching the commotion were shocked by Li Rui's thunderous methods.

In their impression, Li Rui had always been an easygoing, cautious, and cheerful old man who greeted everyone; many of them had even grown up watching Old Man Li.

But the Old Man Li before them was clearly carrying a fierce aura, like a tiger hiding its strength.

The several guards exchanged glances, no longer daring to provoke Li Rui.

They hurriedly helped up the Zhao Zhao Mazi lying on the ground, demonstrating what it meant to flee in a panic.

"Alright, everyone disperse."

Seeing that Zhu Lie's men had left, Li Rui said to the crowd.

"Old Man Li, how did you become so powerful?"

A sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked young servant asked the question on everyone's mind.

Li Rui smiled slightly: "I recently practiced a martial art called the Eight-Section Brocade; I didn't expect it to be so compatible with me, and I've already achieved minor success."

Upon hearing this.

The crowd was in an uproar.

Old Man Li really did practice martial arts!!

No wonder his physique was much sturdier than before; many people had seen Li Rui's changes.

"It's a pity; if he had started forty years earlier, he might have really become a Wu Shi and shed his lowly status."

An experienced old man pointed out the key.

Don't look at how powerful Li Rui is now; he has no potential left and no possibility of becoming a Wu Shi. At most, he can fight a bit, but as he gets older, this advantage will completely vanish.

In martial arts, timing is very important.

Like the eldest young master of the Zhu family, who started practicing the Boy's Technique at five and ate countless precious herbs—ordinary people simply cannot compare.

The crowd dispersed.

Wang Zhao looked at Li Rui with innocence and gratitude: "Master, I've caused you trouble."

Li Rui did not blame Wang Zhao.

Zhao Zhao Mazi had Zhu Lie backing him and was intent on framing them; such matters were unavoidable, and one could only accept the misfortune.

His sudden outburst today was partly to protect Wang Zhao, and partly because he intended to reveal his strength appropriately.

His changes after practicing martial arts were too obvious; the gossip about him in the Zhu family had reached his ears through Yang Yong, and he could no longer hide it.

Hiding one's light is not the same as being stupid.

Appropriately revealing one's edge can not only dispel the wild thoughts of those people but also deter the petty villains in the shadows, avoiding many troubles.

Moreover, he is now a Rank-Entered expert.

If the Zhu family bullies them too much, at worst, he will take Wang Zhao and kill his way out of the Zhu family overnight, then hide in the mountains to become a hunter or a swordsman.

(End of chapter)