vncnus Page 113
Page 113
Later, Cheng Shifei ate a thousand-year-old Tianshan snow lotus, which increased his power by sixty years out of thin air. Based on the calculation of his power, he should be above Gu Santong.
Of course, in terms of combat experience, Gu Santong is still stronger.
However, in their golden form, both Gu Santong and Cheng Shifei employ a head-on style, with little emphasis on skill or experience.
Even so, Zhu Wushi still managed to break through Cheng Shifei's golden body, which was theoretically superior to Gu Santong's, and still maintained his formidable combat power.
Therefore, it is reasonable that Zhu Wushi was able to defeat Gu Santong.
However, while Luke considered this reasonable, Gu Santong found it unacceptable.
But whether Gu Santong accepted it or not, that wasn't what he cared about most at that moment.
"Why are you suddenly bringing up Su Xin? Don't tell me you're planning to use her to threaten me. Even though we haven't known each other for very long, I can tell you're not that kind of person."
Chapter 205: Martial Arts Crossover: Let's Discuss This!
"It's nothing, I just wanted to find a way to make you obey. Don't misunderstand, I haven't stooped to threatening you with a woman, I'm just giving you a choice."
Luke didn't hide his thoughts and told Gu Santong frankly.
"Don't think that just because you saved me you can make me obey your orders. I will repay the favor, but if you want me to do things on orders, you might as well kill me."
Gu Santong snorted coldly and said in a dissatisfied tone.
Luke raised an eyebrow and said, "How about I help you find the remaining two Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms to save Su Xin?"
"Let's discuss it!"
Gu Santong decisively changed his mind; if the situation allowed, he would even kneel down if Luke needed to.
Don't even mention "unyielding spirit"—he doesn't even recognize those four characters.
At this moment, Gu Santong felt most guilty towards Su Xin, and he also loved Su Xin the most. These two emotions intertwined, which made Su Xin's position in his heart infinitely elevated. In Gu Santong's heart, there was nothing more important than saving Su Xin.
Principles and integrity are things that can be thrown aside.
Luke's lips twitched, finding it amusing. He hadn't even unleashed his ultimate move yet, and Gu Santong had already been defeated.
Luke's ultimate move was, of course, the fact that Su Xin had given birth to a son for Gu Santong.
Once Gu Santong learns of this, he will be overwhelmed with guilt, making it easy for Luke to control him.
"Miss Suxin should currently be placed by Zhu Wushi in Tianchi, the place where you discovered the legacy of the Strange Hero of Tianchi, sealed with millennia-old mysterious ice. Go and bring her back, and then I will go and get the remaining two Heavenly Fragrance Beans. That's the plan. Any questions?"
The plan was somewhat complicated, even troublesome, but for Luke, the gains from completing it were considerable, at the very least bringing him Gu Santong as a henchman.
Luke is indeed very strong, but there are some things he can't handle alone and needs a henchman like Gu Santong to help him.
The sayings "unity is strength" and "many hands make light work" are not just empty rhetoric, but very true.
Throughout history, so many successful cases have shown that those who act righteously receive abundant support, while those who act unrighteously receive little. Following the example of the sages is always a safe bet.
Luke had watched many TV shows in his previous life, and most of the villains in them were killed by being surrounded. He wouldn't repeat the same mistake. Although he didn't consider himself a villain, it was still necessary to find some helpers before his power became strong enough to rival the entire world.
Gu Santong naturally had no objection to Luke's suggestion. After thanking Luke sincerely, he disregarded the fact that his injuries had just stabilized and began to use his lightness skill to head towards Tianshan.
With Gu Santong's physical abilities and years of accumulated skill, traveling a thousand miles a day was no problem. Considering that he should be able to rest and eat in the Central Plains, he should arrive at his destination in three days.
Without wasting any time, Luke turned around and disappeared into a blur, heading towards the palace.
With Luke's current skill level, his agility can truly be described as flying.
Air is an objectively existing substance, and Luke can indeed be rendered useless by stepping on air.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty, is magnificent and splendid, like a meticulously crafted scroll slowly unfolding before the world.
The magnificent glazed tiles gleamed in the sunlight, each one seemingly containing endless brilliance and glory. They were layered and arranged in a staggered manner, making the entire palace solemn and sacred.
Amidst red walls and green tiles, carved beams and painted rafters, every detail reveals the craftsman's exquisite skills and boundless dedication.
The totems of dragons and phoenixes, and qilin offering auspicious omens, are so lifelike that they seem ready to burst forth from the sky at any moment, adding a touch of mystery and majesty to this royal forbidden area.
The palace gates are majestic, with gleaming copper nails and heavy door knockers. Each opening is accompanied by the echoes of history, as if one can hear the footsteps of emperors and generals of the past, reverberating endlessly in this empty palace.
In the Imperial Garden, exotic flowers and rare plants compete for beauty, blooming in all seasons. Some are budding, while others are in full bloom, their fragrance filling the air and making people feel relaxed and happy.
The artificial hills and flowing water, winding and meandering, with small bridges, streams, and houses, create a unique charm.
The garden is also home to rare birds and animals, some strolling leisurely, others soaring high in the sky, adding vitality and life to this royal garden.
·· ·Requesting flowers··· ···
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the dragon throne hangs high, gleaming with golden light. The five-clawed golden dragon carved on it soars through the clouds, exuding a majestic aura, as if it could take off at any moment and roam the heavens.
The interior of the hall is furnished in a simple and elegant style, with jade steps, golden pillars, beaded curtains and precious canopies, every detail showcasing the nobility and luxury of the royal family.
During grand ceremonies, bells and drums resounded, and officials paid homage, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring scene.
Within the palace, there are not only breathtaking views, but also a rich history and culture. It is an epitome of the Ming Dynasty, a symbol of power and glory, and the dream and aspiration of countless people.
Luke wandered through the magnificent palace, admiring the scenery, and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
..... ..... ...
I don’t know if the Forbidden City in this life is the same as the Forbidden City in my previous life. Unfortunately, I was poor in my previous life and was busy making a living. I had no time or energy to visit the Forbidden City.
As Luke walked, he arrived near the Imperial Study and heard arguing coming from inside.
"A disgrace, an absolute disgrace!"
Inside the imperial study, the young emperor Zhu Houzhao threw the memorial in his hand onto Cao Zhengchun below.
"You four are all top-tier experts of the imperial court, yet you were no match for them even in a four-on-one fight, and you even had a wanted criminal rescued. If this gets out, what will become of the imperial court's reputation? What will become of my reputation? You dog, how dare you report this to me?"
Zhu Houzhao, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a crown, looked furious. Even Cao Zhengchun, who held a high position and great power, couldn't help but tremble with fear at this moment.
In fact, someone like Zhu Houzhao could have been killed by Cao Zhengchun with a single slap.
However, Cao Zhengchun also knew that if he did that, he would probably be the one to die the moment he raised his hand.
How could an emperor not understand the saying that "a common man's anger can lead to bloodshed," yet Zhu Houzhao still dared to do so, because he was certain that Cao Zhengchun would not dare to do anything to him.
Indeed, faced with such humiliation from Zhu Houzhao, Cao Zhengchun shamelessly knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.
"This servant knows her mistake and begs Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Chapter 206: Martial Arts Chronicle: The Eunuch Ancestor
Cao Zhengchun kowtowed deeply, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead, but he didn't even dare to wipe it away.
In the original novel, Cao Zhengchun would not have been so terrified, nor would Zhu Houzhao have humiliated him in this way.
However, in this world, Cao Zhengchun was not the powerful Eastern Depot supervisor who held absolute power in the palace and whose ambitions later swelled to the point that he didn't even respect the emperor.
In the original novel, Cao Zhengchun was the only eunuch, but he is not in this world.
Putting aside everything else, just take Yu Huatian as an example. He was the one whom the young emperor helped to challenge Cao Zhengchun, and Yu Huatian was also the young emperor's confidant.
Cao Zhengchun was merely the late emperor's chief eunuch. If the young emperor found him useful, that was fine; but if he didn't, he could indeed be replaced.
A once powerful eunuch has lost his power. Even if his martial arts skills are as high as "583", the fact that he knows too much is enough to make a thousand or ten thousand people want to kill him.
At this moment, Cao Zhengchun was only regretting that he had been a beat too slow in thinking and had come to report this matter in person.
At the same time, he was secretly gritting his teeth, thinking that Zhu Wushi, Guo Juxia, and that little brat Yu Huatian were truly inhuman, not a single one of them honest, all of them were just writing memorials and submitting reports.
The memorial that Zhu Houzhao just used to smash him was written by those three.
"Forget it, get up!"
Zhu Houzhao said irritably.
A few words of criticism are enough, but there's absolutely no need to severely punish Cao Zhengchun for this.
He was a skilled eunuch after all. It was not easy to cultivate a eunuch like Cao Zhengchun, who posed no threat to the imperial power, among so many eunuchs in the Forbidden City. After all, he was a rootless person who could only rely on himself.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Cao Zhengchun was naturally very grateful.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said, "Get up first, and tell me properly what that expert looked like and how he defeated you?"
Cao Zhengchun naturally dared not be negligent and recounted everything that had happened in the prison in detail.
When Zhu Wushi mentioned the eleventh level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, Zhu Houzhao raised an eyebrow and exclaimed in surprise.
"Wow, my royal uncle is actually this powerful! And is that Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique really that strong?"
"Your Majesty, this old servant witnessed it with my own eyes. Shenhou's Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is indeed unparalleled in the world. According to Master Guo, even a high-ranking monk of Tantric Buddhism probably does not have such cultivation."
Cao Zhengchun was subtly trying to sow discord between Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun. After all, Zhu Wushi always called him "Cao the eunuch." Although Cao Zhengchun hadn't done anything good, he wasn't so bad that everyone hated him. Cao Zhengchun knew that Zhu Wushi had played a significant role in this.
"Okay, go on!"
However, Zhu Houzhao seemed to have no reaction, as if he had not understood the deeper meaning in Cao Zhengchun's words at all, and instead let Cao Zhengchun continue speaking.
What else could Cao Zhengchun do but keep talking?
Soon, Cao Zhengchun explained what had happened.
Zhu Houzhao stroked his smooth chin and said thoughtfully.
"It seems that this masked person is a friend of Gu Santong. I remember that before I fell out with Gu Santong, my uncle and Gu Santong were sworn brothers. Is it possible that my uncle knows who this person is?"
Zhu Houzhao quickly dismissed his own conjecture.
"No, no, even if the Imperial Uncle knows him, their relationship is probably not that good. Otherwise, why would he save Gu Santong and show no mercy to the Imperial Uncle?"
Cao Zhengchun said cautiously, "In my opinion, this person should not know the Marquis. The Marquis looked very surprised at the time, so it should be the first time he has seen this person."
Although Cao Zhengchun harbored deep hostility towards Zhu Wushi, he wouldn't stoop so low as to frame him on this point; the only reason was that his methods were too crude.
Zhu Houzhao stroked his chin and suddenly asked, "Zheng Daban, what do you think?"
Cao Zhengchun appeared bewildered for a moment, then his pupils contracted sharply, as if he had realized who Zhu Houzhao was talking to.
The next moment, an old man with white hair and a youthful face, and no beard, suddenly appeared in front of Cao Zhengchun, slowly sat down in a chair, and responded indifferently.
“Your Majesty, this old servant has never seen this man before and has no way of knowing him. However, Little Cao, how did you feel about that palm strike? Tell me.”
This old eunuch's surname was Zheng. He was a chief eunuch under Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty. During Taizong's Jingnan Campaign, this Zheng Daban also fought alongside the army on the battlefield.