Chapter 446: Victory and Defeat Are Decided

To block or not to block—that is the question.

Chen Guanlou was a man who loved comfort and hated hardship, especially injury and bloodshed. Even though the Immortal Dao Fruit repaired his wounds, the pain was real.

Moreover, he could never reveal before others the miraculous ability of the Immortal Dao Fruit to heal his body.

So he stirred slightly, curled his fingers, and the teacup shattered midair, its shards falling onto the table in orderly, precise patterns. The tea inside, as if guided by an invisible force, surged like twin blades straight toward Xiao Jin's eyes.

Xiao Jin's face turned pale with shock—he had prepared, but clearly not enough.

His defense was clumsy and inadequate. He barely dodged the water blades, but half the tea splashed to the floor, the other half drenched his robes.

One remained dry as a bone, the other nearly drowned—victory and defeat were clear!

Someone was utterly defeated!

Xiao Jin's face turned pitch black, as if someone owed him a thousand taels and refused to pay, or as if his favorite concubine had been stolen and he'd been crowned with a green hat.

Chen Guanlou bowed slightly and said, "Your courtesy."

Xiao Jin took a deep breath, quelled the storm inside him, and offered a faint smile. "I'm out of my depth. I never imagined such a humble place as Tianlaomiao could harbor a master like Prisoner Chen. Is Tianlaomiao finally rising?"

"You're joking, Master Xiao. Tianlaomiao remains exactly what it always was. I remain just a negligible little soldier. Today I invited you for tea—you drank my tea, so you owe me a favor. I beg you, Master Xiao, give me some leeway. Don't push me too far."

"Prisoner Chen, you're full of wit. With your abilities, the whole world is open to you. As for the conflict between Hou Fu and Jiang Tu, it has nothing to do with me. I've received no orders to interfere."

"Oh? So the rumors I heard are false. Everyone says Jiang Tu has the Embroidered Uniform Guard's backing—like a tiger with wings—and Hou Fu is doomed."

"With you around, how could Hou Fu possibly be doomed?" Xiao Jin laughed. "I'm curious about one thing: why do you, with your skills, remain trapped in Tianlaomiao? I see nothing here worth staying for."

"That's because the world is prejudiced and blind. I think Tianlaomiao suits me fine. I'm no match for you, Master Xiao, with your lofty ambitions. I'm just a small man with no drive, no dreams—content with modest comfort. If no one bothers me, I won't stir trouble. If someone does, then I'll fight to the death."

Chen Guanlou smiled, raised his teacup, his expression simple and pure—as if the threat he'd just uttered hadn't come from his lips at all.

Xiao Jin understood.

"I understand your stance, Prisoner Chen. Very well. Later, I'll come with official documents. I'll need your cooperation—I must personally confirm the safety of the Great Ming Prince."

"As long as there are official documents, every guard in Tianlaomiao will follow procedure. No obstruction," Chen Guanlou pledged solemnly.

The corrupt rules of Tianlaomiao must be changed. Anyone can waltz in—what kind of order is this?

Tianlaomiao is a sieve because it once cared only for money, not real governance. Who had the most influence could enter and leave freely.

The guards grew accustomed to bowing three steps lower—regardless of rules, if someone held higher status, they obeyed without question.

Xiao Jin rose and took his leave.

He came and went in a flash.

No sooner had he left than Mu Yiguan emerged again.

Chen Guanlou looked at him. "You're still here?"

Mu Yiguan grunted. "What did the Embroidered Uniform Guard want?"

"On the surface, to visit the prisoner and check on the Great Ming Prince's condition. I refused because he had no documents. In truth, he was testing my depth."

"Did he test you?"

"He did."

"And?"

"He left so cleanly—what do you think?" Chen Guanlou gave a small, smug smile.

Mu Yiguan froze, then stared in disbelief. "You actually beat Xiao? I heard he's exceptionally gifted—he recently advanced his cultivation."

"He did advance. His cultivation rose rapidly—he's highly talented," Chen Guanlou affirmed.

"You beat him?" Mu Yiguan couldn't hide his excitement, as if seeing Chen Guanlou for the first time.

Chen Guanlou smiled. "I merely held a slight edge—not quite a victory."

"You're not humble when you should be, but you insist on humility when you shouldn't. Winning is winning. Holding an edge is winning. In martial contests, even the slightest advantage is victory," Mu Yiguan said seriously. "I'm growing more curious about you—and I'm not alone. You must be careful. In the past, when you were invisible, you were safe. Now that you've risen, you're growing more dangerous."

Chen Guanlou rubbed his fingers lightly. "No big deal. One comes, I kill one. Two come, I kill two."

"Need me to prepare some healing medicine? I won't charge you—cost price only."

"Perfect. The more, the better."

Chen Guanlou immediately paid the deposit. Though he wouldn't use it, for the sake of protecting his secret, a little Qian Cai meant nothing.

Later, Xiao Jin returned with official documents and successfully met the Great Ming Prince.

The Great Ming Prince despised the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Recognizing their uniforms, he immediately launched into a torrent of filthy curses—words so crude even Chen Guanlou couldn't utter them.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's faces turned black with rage.

If the Great Ming Prince were held in Zhao Yu, they'd have dragged him straight to the torture chamber and shown him the eighteen forms of punishment—see if he'd dare curse then.

Only Tianlaomiao, with its cowardly, useless guards, would feed and pamper the Great Ming Prince like this.

Chen Guanlou warned the Embroidered Uniform Guard: "The Great Ming Prince is poisoned. His life hangs by a thread. Don't provoke him. If he dies, it's your fault. Even if this goes before the Emperor, I'll say the same."

"How could Tianlaomiao even think of poisoning him? In Zhao Yu, we'd have thrown him into the torture chamber—within three days, he'd be begging for mercy."

"There are too many people outside who want him. Would sending him to the torture chamber stop those watching from afar? Your Embroidered Uniform Guard always act brutally—never with subtlety or strategy."

Chen Guanlou shot back without hesitation.

Throughout, Xiao Jin said nothing. He simply stared at the Great Ming Prince—as if trying to see flowers bloom on his face, or calculating where to begin the slicing during lingchi.

His gaze was deeply strange, deeply evil—making everyone feel uneasy.

As he left, he finally spoke: "Great Ming Prince, the Emperor hopes you'll take good care of yourself. Don't disappoint His Majesty's expectations. Your homeland, your followers—their lives rest in your hands."

"You… are vile! They are subjects of Da Qian!"

"You're wrong. The moment they aided you, they betrayed the court, betrayed the Emperor—they are no longer subjects of Da Qian."