Chapter 88: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Liu Feng's figure flickered, and in an instant, he was in the courtyard. He looked down at Zhao Gaofeng, who lay sprawled on the ground, and there was a trace of pity in his eyes.

Zhao Heng, Zhao Linfei, and Zhao Tu hurried to Zhao Gaofeng's side, their faces etched with sorrow; after all, fratricide is one of the cruelest acts in this world.

Zhao Gaofeng gazed at them with a cold expression and said, “To the victor go the spoils. Kill me or spare me as you wish.”

At that moment, Zhao Xu stepped forward. Hearing Zhao Gaofeng’s words, he trembled with rage, his palm landing fiercely across Zhao Gaofeng’s face.

A sharp crack rang out as blood spurted from Zhao Gaofeng’s mouth and nose, leaving him in a wretched state.

“You unfilial child! Blinded by power, you would even harm your own brothers. You are truly heartless,” Zhao Xu said, his voice quivering as he lowered his hand.

“Father, what should we do with these people?” Zhao Linfei asked, glancing at Sun Xin and the other nine, who were tightly bound.

“Hand over the antidote at once. There’s still a chance to live. Otherwise, you’ll be sent to your deaths right now,” Zhao Xu said coldly to Sun Xin and his group.

Sun Xin’s eyes flickered as he quickly considered his options. “Fine, the antidote is on me. But I warn you, you’d best not harm me, or you’ll incur the endless wrath of the Hundred Poisons Sect.”

Zhao Linfei strode over and searched him, retrieving a small white porcelain bottle. Uncorking it, a fragrant aroma wafted out, invigorating those who smelled it.

“Is this truly the antidote? You’d better not lie,” Zhao Linfei demanded.

Sun Xin replied proudly, “This is the only antidote to the poison. You won’t find a second.”

Zhao Linfei was skeptical. After a moment’s thought, he quickly took out a pill and placed it in Sun Xin’s mouth. “If this is poison, you’ll be the first to die.”

“You…” Sun Xin was so furious he could barely speak.

After a few moments of observation, seeing Sun Xin unharmed, they proceeded to administer the antidote to the poisoned victims one by one.

Zhao Xu’s gaze turned cold as he looked at those who had just stood with Zhao Gaofeng. He hadn’t imagined these men would be such cowards.

Feeling his glare, some of them grew uneasy. A few immediately knelt with a thud, sobbing, “Old Patriarch, please give us another chance! We swear never to betray the Zhao family again!”

Zhao Xu shook his head with a sigh. “If you can betray once, you can betray again. I will not keep a potential threat by my side. Strip them of their cultivation and expel them from the Zhao family—they are never to be employed again.”

At once, more than a dozen of the old patriarch’s trusted men stepped forward, swiftly destroying the traitors’ dantian and internal energy. They then dragged them away, tossing them out of the Zhao household.

Passersby on the street looked on in confusion, unable to fathom what had happened within the Zhao family.

At that moment, Zhao Da suddenly rushed out and knelt before Zhao Xu, pleading in anguish, “Grandfather, please spare my father. He was only momentarily blinded.”

Zhao Heng, Zhao Tu, and Zhao Linfei all spoke up in support.

Zhao Xu frowned, contemplating for a moment. “The crime he’s committed is too grave to overlook. Here’s what I’ll do: abolish his cultivation and assign people to guard him.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lock Sun Xin and the others away for now. We’ll wait for their sectmates to come rescue them, and then capture them all in one fell swoop. When enemies attack, we must show no mercy,” Zhao Xu instructed Zhao Tu and the others.

They nodded in agreement and ordered trusted men to take Sun Xin and his group to a secret chamber.

“Father, with our current strength, I fear we cannot contend with the Hundred Poisons Sect. I hear their sect master has already reached the Fusion Realm. Even if we all joined forces, we might not be his match,” Zhao Tu said, worried.

“I have already thought this through. I’ve decided to unite with City Lord Wang Rui and the Song family. With the combined strength of our three families, we should be able to handle the Hundred Poisons Sect’s forces,” Zhao Xu said, stroking his beard.

“Who will go to the Wang and Song families?” Zhao Heng asked.

“I’ll visit the Wang family myself. Heng and Linfei, you two will go to the Song family,” Zhao Xu decided after some thought.

“Father, our victory today is all thanks to Xiaofeng. If he hadn’t cured us, the Zhao family would already be in the hands of the Hundred Poisons Sect,” Zhao Linfei said.

Zhao Xu was visibly moved. He looked at Liu Feng with disbelief, unable to imagine that a crisis threatening the Zhao family could be resolved by a boy of merely fifteen or sixteen.

“Come, Xiaofeng, let your grandfather have a good look at you. Let me see what makes my grandson so capable,” Zhao Xu said with a broad smile, beckoning Liu Feng over.

“Go on, Xiaofeng, your grandfather is calling you,” Zhao Jing said with a laugh, giving him a gentle push.

Liu Feng quickly came before his grandfather. “It was everyone’s effort; I dare not claim all the credit.”

“So young, yet already so modest—very good,” Zhao Xu said, stroking his beard with a smile.

“Have the assembly hall repaired at once. Let’s set up a banquet in the central front courtyard to celebrate the Zhao family overcoming this disaster,” Zhao Tu ordered the servants.

At his command, the members of the Zhao family sprang into action.

The important figures of the family, as well as the young talents, all made their way to the front courtyard, where the banquet was already being prepared.

Before long, the feast was ready. Everyone drank and toasted, eating and celebrating with great joy.

When the banquet ended, Zhao Xu took Liu Feng with him to the City Lord’s Mansion.

Soon, the City Lord’s Mansion appeared before them. Zhao Xu approached the gate, presented a calling card, and had the guards announce their arrival.

“Patriarch Zhao, what a rare visitor! What brings you here today?” A sonorous voice soon rang out, followed by a tall figure—Wang Rui, the City Lord of Nanzhou City.

“Zhao Xu greets the City Lord,” Zhao Xu said, bowing respectfully.

“No need for formalities, Patriarch Zhao. Please, come inside,” Wang Rui replied, gesturing for them to enter.

Liu Feng followed behind Zhao Xu into the City Lord’s Mansion, marveling at its majestic architecture.

Soon they stopped in front of a house.

“Please, Patriarch Zhao,” Wang Rui said, opening the door and instructing the guards to keep watch and admit no one.

Liu Feng entered as well.

Once seated, Wang Rui asked, “Patriarch Zhao, what brings you here today?”

Zhao Xu sighed and recounted the day’s events, including the plan to deal with the Hundred Poisons Sect.

Wang Rui nodded. “So, Patriarch Zhao wishes to unite the Wang and Song families to set a trap for the Hundred Poisons Sect?”