Chapter 492

As the saying goes, under a great reward there must be brave men.

Jia Wentao was willing to go to great lengths to have Chen Wuji killed, offering a thousand taels of silver, a hundred mu of land, plus a beautiful wife and concubines—even the dead would receive five hundred taels.

This reward even tempted Chen Wuji a bit.

Unfortunately, he can't kill himself.

When Jia Wentao acted, the two powerful clans clamoring for Chen Wuji's head quickly sent reinforcements, but they brought only a few men each, totaling about twenty.

The corridor, which had been somewhat spacious, instantly became crowded and narrow as so many people pushed in.

The distance between the two sides wasn't great, but Zhu Zaidao, Zhao Fumin, and others stood in between.

Zhao Fumin slapped his round belly twice, stepped forward, and stood at the front, saying, "Jia Family Head, before killing Deputy Commander Chen, why not first take my fatty flesh?"

It's perfect—I only brought two men, so let these two I hired at high price first test your skills against your hundred or so men.

Thus line 【8】 includes Zhao Fumin, Jia Family Head, Deputy Commander Chen.

It's perfect—I only brought two men, so let these two I hired at high price first test your skills against your hundred or so men.

Jia Family Head, what if these two of us block your hundred or so men—wouldn't you lose face?

Jia Wentao's expression instantly turned uglier than after eating feces, "You Zhao, you Wild Dogs running around everywhere, do you think pretending loyalty will earn the trust of the young master of the Chen family? Your calculations are probably off. Since you insist on dying, I'll satisfy you today."

All who hear the order, anyone blocking the way ahead, shall be slain without exception.

Yuan Qi shoved his son aside, walked over, and stood beside Zhao Fumin, saying, "Brother Wentao, if you're going to talk like that, then this old fool of mine will want to join the fun—please, everyone, first cut down this old scoundrel of me!"

Yuan Qi, what are you up to now?! Jia Wentao couldn't figure it out.

At this point, no matter how he looked at it, he seemed to have the upper hand.

He genuinely couldn't understand why Zhao Fumin and Yuan Qi would do something they knew was impossible.

Having spent many years together in Hezhou, Jia Wentao understood these two better than his own son; these two scoundrels would never do something like this for no reason.

Especially Yuan Qi, who seemed to be disgusting people.

He stood there barehanded, with no weapon, essentially seeking death.

But Jia Wentao didn't believe he would really seek death so easily.

Those two had absolutely no loyalty toward Chen Wuji.

One thing on the surface, another underneath—each had their own calculations, perhaps not so different.

What else could he possibly not know?

Jia Wentao's thoughts raced like lightning, and suddenly he felt inexplicably panicked.

He had prepared so thoroughly—how could he possibly make a mistake?

Could it be that his judgment was wrong, and this bunch of bastards didn't just happen to run into Chen Wuji by chance, but were set up by that damned Chen?

At that moment, Zhu Zaidao also stepped forward.

He leaned on his cane and slowly walked over to stand beside Yuan Qi and Zhao Fumin.

His standing there surprised everyone.

Jia Wentao's pupils contracted sharply, and Zhao Fumin and Yuan Qi also glanced sideways in surprise.

The two old foxes, who usually kept their emotions hidden, now showed their disbelief plainly on their faces.

Jia Wentao's subordinates stood a few steps away from those three, neither advancing nor retreating, each turning their heads to look at their own master.

Well… should we still fight?

When Zhao Fumin stepped forward, they hesitated for a moment and then took a step.

They were still preparing to keep cutting.

But when Yuan Qi and Zhu Zaidao took their stance, they truly dared not move.

As Jia Wentao's trusted subordinates, they were extremely familiar with these two guests who frequently visited the Jia Manor.

At this point, if they moved even a step without the master's order, they would not only receive no reward but likely lose their lives.

Old Zhu, why… why are you also standing against me? You've ruined the plan of the young master of the Chen family, even though you helped set it up—why? Jia Wentao gritted his back teeth and shouted angrily.

Zhu Zaidao let out a long sigh, "Those hasty words shouldn't be taken seriously—Brother Wentao, have your people retreat."

This sentence drove Jia Wentao completely crazy: "Old scoundrel, what are you saying?!"

"You're being foolish!" Zhu Zaidao said slowly.

This old man's way of speaking is interesting, slow and leisurely, as if he intends to tell you a story.

Chen Wuji sat to the side, his mouth twitching.

He couldn't help but want to laugh.

But if he laughed out loud in this situation, he would seem somewhat insane.

But he never expected that the fiercest stab to Jia Wentao would come from his closest ally.

That old man, even at this point, could still hold back from vomiting blood—quite impressive.

"How am I foolish? Zhu Zaidao, tell me how I'm foolish. The situation here is in my hands, and you say I'm foolish—hehe, fine! Then today I'll send you off together with that old dog of yours!" Jia Wentao's face turned ferocious with anger, his eyes even reddening.

The feeling of being betrayed by a close ally should leave a lasting impression on him for life.

"Kill them! Kill them all! Kill them all!" Jia Wentao shouted, his hair standing on end in hysterical rage.

Upon receiving the order, Jia Wentao's hesitating subordinates surged forward, swinging their knives and cutting.

They weren't far from Zhao Fumin and his three companions; a single step brought the blade's edge to their faces.

Just then, two black-clad figures suddenly flipped in from outside the corridor.

No one had noticed where these two had been hiding; it was as if they had suddenly emerged from the shadows, and with simultaneous left and right strikes, they instantly cleared a small space in front of Zhao Fumin and his three companions.

With just the two of them, they managed to suppress dozens of the front-line fighters in an instant.

Chen Wuji didn't move; he simply watched quietly.

Compared to Jia Wentao, he despised this two-faced, backstabbing Zhu Zaidao even more—especially since Zhu Zaidao accused others of being foolish at critical moments, and he wished this old brat would die.

But now it's somewhat awkward that Zhu Zaidao, this old brat, stands together with Zhao Fumin and Yuan Qi.

If any trouble should arise, and he does not act, Zhao Fumin and Yuan Qi these two old fellows will have to be hanged.

But if he takes action, he also has to rescue Zhu Zaidao, this old brat, together.

This Lao Deng not only provoked Jia Wentao, but also disgusted him.

Zhao Fumin turned his head to look at Zhu Zaidao, "My people have taken action, Old Master Zhu, you surely aren't really planning to stand here and knock their heads with a cane, are you?"

"Indeed, that's what I think, the Zhu Jia is not good at retaining scholars." Zhu Zaidao said slowly.

Zhao Fumin's gaze suddenly turned dangerous, "Old Master Zhu, all the good things in the world cannot be monopolized by you alone; if you don't do something today, don't blame me for killing you first."