Chapter 493: Better Off Dead

Facing Zhao Fumin's undisguised threat, Zhu Zaidao remained completely calm, "This old man stands here, not intending to live."

Zhao Fumin's heart stirred, he coldly sneered, "You old brat, you were actually counting on this. Too bad you seem to have misjudged the situation; we stand here not to gamble on Deputy Commander Chen's tactics, nor to put on a show, ending with one person's death to buy peace for the whole family—a self‑moved feeling."

"Old Master Yuan, let this old fool have a look!"

Yuan Qi stared, fell silent for a moment, then turned and shouted at Yuan Dingcheng, "Unfilial son, get over here, go up!"

Yuan Dingcheng:???

Leaning against the pillar, Yuan Dingcheng's arms hung limp, his vision suddenly went black, "Dad, do you want to hear what you're saying? My both arms are broken, I… I should bite with my mouth?"

"Just bite with your mouth!" Yuan Qi shouted angrily.

"You are originally the most important link in my plan; if blame is to be assigned, it can only be yours for breaking your arms, the responsibility lies with you. I don't care what method you use; if you're willing to bite with your mouth, bite with your mouth; if you want to kick with your leg, kick with your leg—that's your business."

Yuan Dingcheng went completely numb.

He hesitated for a moment, then forced himself forward, "Fine, Father, watch my bravery! Even if I bite with my mouth or kick with my foot, I won't fear these bandits."

Zhu Zaidao drooped his eyelids and glanced, "Old Yuan, you actually don't need to do this; giving away your son's life for nothing—what good is it?"

"What's it to you? My son's abilities are hardly something a wretch like you could imagine!" Yuan Qi shouted arrogantly.

Zhu Zaidao gave a disdainful glance, leaning on his cane, continued to watch the melee ahead indifferently.

Yuan Qi suddenly snorted coldly and said, "Old Zhu, now it's your turn!"

"If you can't produce any real skill today, even if I let my son bite with his mouth, I'll have him bite you to death!"

Zhu Zaidao's expression suddenly stiffened, he abruptly turned to look at Yuan Qi, "Old thing, what are you saying? I am a person! Can you hear clearly?"

"I didn't hear clearly!" Yuan Qi dug at his ears.

"However, I can clearly tell you, you're just standing here today; you can't pass this level, even if the Commander doesn't blame me, I and Shopkeeper Zhao will find a way to kill you!"

"Turning traitor in battle, betting on Deputy Commander Chen's odds and methods, old Zhu the wretch, times have changed—you can't take this advantage!"

Yuan Qi, who had been obedient all his life, suddenly became stern, making Zhu Zaidao feel a tightness in his chest.

He really wanted to know if that old thing was crazy.

But now that things have come to this point, if he doesn't do something, he really can't justify it.

Nobody present is a fool; they definitely won't allow him to continue like this.

But the problem is, he really has no manpower.

The Zhu family actually retains retainers, but he rushed out today, didn't think anything major would happen, so he didn't bring any.

It just so happens that the situation is right here.

When he had retinue, few in Hezhou City dared provoke him.

Today he happened to have none, and trouble came.

As he is now, he truly can't advance nor retreat.

All he can do is grit his teeth and hold on here; at worst, he'll just throw away this old life.

"Wait, what did you just say? You're a person? You're not just standing here pretending to pick a side; you mean to charge for Deputy Commander Chen, right?" Yuan Qi suddenly turned and shouted.

Zhu Zaidao took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said, "Yes!"

"Fine, then go up!" Yuan Qi pointed forward, "Our people have all gone up; what are you still standing here doing? Watching the show?"

Zhu Zaidao was so angered by those words he nearly fainted.

"Fine, fine, fine, after acknowledging a new master, your voice got loud, huh?"

"You surnamed Yuan, you old thief, make the old man wait."

"You think my Zhu family has stood in Hezhou for a century for nothing?"

Gritting his teeth, he flung a few harsh words in his heart, Zhu Zaidao leaned on his cane and stepped forward.

"Hurry up, since you, this old fool, claim to be working for Deputy Commander Chen, then show some effort; you're so slow, are you here to command the battle?" Yuan Qi shouted.

Zhu Zaidao tightly closed his eyes, turned and shouted backward, "Zhu Ji, remember grandfather's appearance today; don't do anything else."

Zhu Ji hid among the crowd, so frightened he didn't dare lift his head, "Grandfather, you… you can do this? I don't remember you ever studying martial arts."

Zhu Zaidao's expression hardened, "You wretch! Shut your mouth!"

Zhu Ji shrank his neck, "Grandfather, I didn't say anything wrong, did I? You're old and haven't studied martial arts; this place isn't for you to show off, why not go back first? You forgot you insisted last year that despite your age you were still vigorous and wanted to take a concubine, which caused the family to prepare funerals in the middle of the night while the whole city summoned doctors."

"This matter is far more troublesome than taking a concubine; it could truly cost your life, grandfather!"

Chen Wuji held it in for a long time, finally couldn't suppress his laughter.

Today's scene is rather solemn, even arguably brutal.

Where does all this amusement come from?

The Zhu grandfather and grandson duo completely took on the comic role.

Zhao Fumin and Yuan Qi laughed even harder, doubling over with abandon.

"Old Zhu, you still have this amusing anecdote? We've never heard of it before, and you've kept this news too tightly sealed. If there's ever such a fun thing in the future, be generous and let us hear it too, as a drink accompaniment." Yuan Qi showed no mercy, seizing on Zhu Zaidao's scar and unleashing a tirade.

Zhao Fumin laughed so hard his eyes nearly disappeared, "Old Master Zhu, I don't mean to mock you; I just want to ask, have you consummated with that concubine? Surely you haven't even started and you're already incapable? Indeed, at your age you should accept old age; you're this old, why still think about taking a concubine?"

Zhu Zaidao's vision blackened repeatedly, the hand gripping his cane trembled violently, his body swayed on the verge of collapse.

Today truly would be better off dead.

He clearly felt what Jia Wentao had just felt.

……The taste of being stabbed in the back is truly unpleasant.

But he never imagined that the one who stabbed him in the back would be his most beloved grandson.

"Zhu Ji, you scoundrel, get up here!" Zhu Zaidao pressed down the blood rising in his throat, gritted his teeth and roared, "Grandfather, I'm old, indeed not fit to campaign for the Commander anymore—you go up!"

"Grandfather, I haven't studied martial arts either… or… you should come." Zhu Ji hastily shrank back, "You're old, not afraid of death; I, the grandson, am afraid!"

"Zhu Ji, you scoundrel, get up here!" Zhu Zaidao shouted angrily.

At this moment, he suddenly realized that the grandson he had painstakingly nurtured was basically a heap of mud that couldn't be helped up a wall—such a scoundrel, better off dead.

Zhu Ji shook his head like a rattle drum, "I don't, I don't, I don't want!"

"Get up here!" Zhu Zaidao roared.

Jia Wentao also got angry, "You bunch of Lao Zamao, do you think I'm a dead person?"