Chapter 228

"So, you already know the origin of this incantation."

The Emperor looked at Wu Zhiheng gloomily.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When Wu Zhiheng reached this point, it was as if he had finally been relieved of a burden, and the hesitation from his speech just now had vanished.

"Among Heaven-Man level experts on one path, perhaps only those who have cultivated the Jiezi Realm can see the clues. But those of us who are retainers of the imperial court are all Heaven-Man level experts on two paths. By drawing inferences, even if our comprehension is poor, after looking a few more times, we can all know."

"Therefore, this subject asked Your Majesty to dismiss those around."

The scene was quiet for a moment.

After a long while, the Emperor slowly spoke.

"And then? You, why didn't you take the incantation and escape? Even if you were heavily injured, Retainer Liu might not have been able to keep you."

Wu Zhiheng let out a long sigh.

"Because, there was something on my mind."

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Hearing Li Miao say this, the several retainers looked at each other and exchanged glances.

There might be fools who can cultivate to the union of two paths; after all, comprehension is not linked to intelligence. But those who can cultivate to the union of two paths, and have been retainers for decades without their lifespans being consumed by the imperial court's errands, must be smart people.

The five retainers present all knew Li Miao's meaning.

With this cultivation method, the prerequisite for the imperial court to control the retainers would completely disappear.

Of course, they all knew that the imperial court must have left other countermeasures on them. The Retainer Tang that Wang Zhi brought a few days ago died by this means. But no matter how miraculous this means was, it could not take their lives from thousands of miles away.

As long as they rushed out of the Imperial Mausoleum, the world was vast enough for them to go anywhere. Without the step-by-step pressure of the five decays of Heaven and Man, with their martial arts, where could they not live in luxury and act as they pleased?

Besides... the Emperor was not the type of person who valued "not doubting those he uses."

You say you only took one look?

Who would believe it?

This thing is not a physical object; it is remembered in the brain. You can't dig out your brain and show it to the Emperor, right?

The Emperor would absolutely not allow this cultivation method to spread; the simplest way was—silence them!

It could be said that the moment they stepped into the Xiaoling Mausoleum, the several retainers stood completely on the opposite side of the Emperor, and they were crystal clear about this.

Retainer Qi turned back to look at the others.

"Everyone, what do you say?"

"What else can we say! Go! Go now!"

Retainer Liu said.

"The Emperor is almost here; if we want to go, it must be now!"

"We have broken free from our slumber and can stay awake for at most three days; after three days, the five decays of Heaven and Man will arrive. But with our light-body techniques and true energy, we can at least escape a thousand miles! When the time comes, we will take turns sleeping, and then split up when we reach the Western Regions!"

Retainer Wang said.

The remaining retainers all nodded, only Wu Zhiheng remained silent.

"Brother Wu... what do you mean?"

The several retainers all noticed this point, exchanged glances, and slowly approached, surrounding Wu Zhiheng.

"You, are you not leaving?"

"I am not leaving."

Wu Zhiheng shook his head.

"And, I must also stop you all; please step over my corpse to leave."

"Brother Wu!"

Retainer Wang roared.

"Have you become stupid from being this damn 'retainer'!?"

"No."

Wu Zhiheng slowly clenched his fists.

"I am not stupid, nor am I crazy."

"I know clearly that after seeing this cultivation method, there are only two paths: death and escape. I am not a loyal subject, and I have no loyalty to speak of toward the Emperor."

"It's just that, when death was imminent, I suddenly realized that there were some things I still couldn't let go of... and because I couldn't let go, I couldn't just walk away."

"Brother Wang."

Wu Zhiheng looked at Retainer Wang, and then scanned the other retainers.

"Everyone, having been retainers for decades, you've almost forgotten your own names, right? Do you still remember your sects and nicknames in the Jianghu back then?"

"Green Willow Manor, 'Grudges Unclear', Wang Ming."

"'White Blade', Li Ai."

"'Black Blade', Liu Xi."

"'Qi Family Blade', Qi Xiang."

Wu Zhiheng pointed to himself.

"Cao Gang, 'Iron Lock Across the River', Wu Zhiheng."

"I am the Leader of the Cao Gang, Wu Zhiheng."

Wu Zhiheng's waist and back suddenly straightened, and he assumed a boxing stance.

"Brother Wang, as fellow retainers, sharing the same fate, I could be on good terms with you. But now, I must break off our friendship!"

"Green Willow Manor is an evil path! Li Ai, Liu Xi! You two are even more solitary demons!"

"You have also seen the incantation of this cultivation method! 'Qi dissipates and spirit withers, bones serve as a boat'! This is a method that uses the lives of others to ferry oneself to the other shore!"

"If it is taken by you and flows into the Jianghu, I don't know how many people in this Jianghu will be killed to practice this technique! The Emperor only uses Heaven-Man level experts, but Heaven-Man level experts are rare; you evil path people will absolutely try to use ordinary Jianghu people, or even innocent commoners, to practice!"

"Before becoming this damn retainer... I was the Leader of the Cao Gang! A hero of the righteous path!"

"Pah!"

Retainer Wang let out a cold snort.

"Good, good, good. So you have always looked down on me in your heart."

"Fine, righteousness and evil are incompatible; I do not wish to associate with you anymore either."

"But, don't make your words sound so beautiful."

He said with a cold laugh.

"You are the Leader of the Cao Gang, and your descendants are all in the Cao Gang now. You are merely afraid that if you leave, your descendants will be implicated."

Wu Zhiheng did not answer.

No one knew whether what he was thinking in his heart was Jianghu morality or personal feelings. But seeing that he had already secretly activated his true energy and set his stance, it was clear he had made his choice.

"Brother Qi, what do you say?"

Retainer Wang turned to look at Retainer Qi.

"Just now, the one surnamed Wu said that I, Brother Li, and Brother Liu are evil paths, but you are a righteous path. If I remember correctly, back then you fought against Japanese pirates in the southeast coastal region and made a great name for yourself."

"Today, are you still going to be this hero?"

Retainer Qi slowly drew the long blade from his waist and smiled.

"The empty fame from decades ago has long since vanished like smoke; why talk about being a hero or not? I fear no one in the Jianghu remembers it anymore."

"Naturally, I want to join Brother Wang and fight for a way to live."

"Good!"

Retainer Wang shouted.

"In that case, the one surnamed Wu, don't blame us for being ruthless. It is you who insisted on making things difficult for us; for the sake of the friendship of the past decades, I will give you a quick death!"

"Do it!"

Swish!

Thump!

"You!"

Retainer Liu retreated violently; at his side, Retainer Li's headless corpse fell to the ground.

Retainer Qi tucked his blade into the crook of his arm, wiped away the blood, and said with a smile.

"Two against three, I estimate we won't win."

"Now two against two, it's about right."

"The one surnamed Qi! What do you mean by this!"

Retainer Wang roared.

"What else could I mean?"

Retainer Qi said playfully.

"Didn't you say it yourself, I am a hero. Naturally, I cannot be in the same boat as you evil path people."

"Besides, you also said just now that if we leave, our descendants will definitely be implicated. Whether the Emperor wins today or the Jianwen Emperor wins, they will settle the score later."

Retainer Qi pointed his long blade at Retainer Wang.

"I am different from you solitary evil path people; my son is the Assistant Commander of the Dengzhou Guard! As a father, I naturally cannot ruin my son's future!"

"Those with different paths do not conspire together!"

(End of Chapter)