With the Blade

Du Chengfeng was quite irritated when someone blocked his door just as he woke up.

Of course, if it were a formidable opponent like Du Chengfeng at the door, he wouldn’t be too angry. After all, it would mean an opportunity to fight a strong enemy, which is absolutely a good thing for a Warrior—however, being kicked in the door by a bunch of the weak, and worse, the utterly powerless, left Wu Zhao feeling nothing but humiliation.

"Who do you think you are to dare kick my door?"

Taking a deep breath, Wu Zhao decided to forgive these ignorant weaklings. There was no need to let such a trivial matter affect his mindset, especially given the vast gap between them.

He only needed to make them understand the price of offending the strong.

And so, as chains encircled the necks of two Wu Zhaos, this small courtyard became the stage for a lopsided slaughter—or perhaps, more accurately, a massacre. These well-trained spies didn’t even have the chance to react before their heads were severed by the golden bronze chains sweeping across their throats.

All of this was achieved by Wu Zhao simply twisting his neck.

Weak beings like ants, when they dare to affront the strong, must pay with their lives.

This wasn’t malevolence from the strong, just the insurmountable gap between the two sides, akin to a person urinating on a tree root, which for ants could wipe out an entire nation.

"Ah, I acted too quickly."

Looking at the corpses scattered all over, Wu Zhao patted his forehead.

Indeed, he acted too quickly. Just now, he was too caught up in stretching that he forgot it was a good chance to test out Du Chengfeng’s methods—though from what he observed, Du Chengfeng being captured alive did cause significant impact for those in Yellow Sand City, but speculation wasn’t as satisfying as firsthand experience.

But now, it was too late to say anything. The ones who came to capture him were all dead, what else could he do?

Moreover, how did this matter get pinned on him?

Clearly, it had nothing to do with him at all.

"Forget it, let’s ask."

Wu Zhao sighed softly.

And thus began the usual secret gathering, with those who had already learned obedience assembling before him once more.

After delegating some to handle the bodies, Wu Zhao disclosed the reason for the incident.

"Among you, someone has betrayed me."

Although it was merely Wu Zhao’s conjecture, he couldn’t come up with any other reason. In this secret meetup exclusively involving his own people, it would be impossible for outsiders to know unless there was an informer.

Moreover, it involved people from the anti-rebellion forces finding him from such a distance—it all looked suspiciously like there was a traitor.

Of course, there might not truly be a traitor, but Wu Zhao didn’t care. He just wanted an excuse to see who among them might not have fully submitted to him.

Apparently, such individuals still existed. Though perhaps normally hidden well, after hearing the news about the anti-rebellion force, a few couldn’t help but reveal expressions of shock or glee.

Thus, Wu Zhao picked these few out, and air-suspended whips lashed at them fiercely until they were covered in blood before stopping.

But only the whips stopped, not Wu Zhao.

After stopping the whips, Wu Zhao had someone bring a bag of salt and lead over a few goats.

"This is the fate of betrayers."

White salt was sprinkled on the mangled wounds, the sharp pain nearly causing those few to faint, yet this was merely the beginning of their nightmare.

The brought goats, following the scent of salt, began licking their bloody wounds.

Among the crowd, some fainted from terror, especially after hearing the screams of the wounded. Even the bravest couldn’t suppress their fear—they had never witnessed such bizarre and cruel punishment, hardly imaginable from another human being.

Especially after watching the goats lick away the salt and continue feasting on flesh, everyone present developed an instinctive fear towards these seemingly docile creatures, potentially even swearing off mutton forever.

This was precisely the effect Wu Zhao desired.

The so-called traitors he picked out might have been innocent, perhaps even all unfairly accused, but this was of no consequence to him.

He simply needed to show the others the fate awaiting traitors, instilling a sense of reverence.

As for the innocent...such concerns were trivial, considering in the past, his daily kill count could easily have been a hundredfold or even a thousandfold higher.

"Truly, I have treated you with utmost kindness."

Seeing the people kneeling before him, with limbs intact, Wu Zhao couldn’t help but marvel at how he had become so benevolent.

Perhaps he was influenced by his opponent, for Du Chengfeng was like that, indecisive and full of virtue rhetoric.

"You are the company you keep."

Recalling the common Southern Chen proverb, Wu Zhao couldn’t help but frown at the thought.

Although this was the objective truth, it was hardly good for him to be softened, losing his decisive edge—especially recalling how he almost considered adopting Du Chengfeng’s ideas, Wu Zhao’s frown deepened.

After all, Du Chengfeng was his opponent, even if they hadn’t fought to the death, that was still his adversary.

And now, he wanted to learn from his enemy.

Wouldn’t that mean admitting inferiority?

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Reflecting on this, Wu Zhao clenched his fists.

"I can still win! I am the right one!"

With this conviction, Wu Zhao looked down at those kneeling beside him.

Then, he waved his hand at them.

"Your training is over, you have learned obedience, mastered the most noble of virtues."

Saying this, Wu Zhao pointed to the door.

"For now, go out and use your skills to teach others this virtue, to discover life’s truth through submission."

"..."

The assembled people remained silent, merely bowing deeply to the two men and one dog.

Without their assent, they dared not speak, for this submission was also part of their lesson.

Now, they could finally spread the knowledge and pain they had learned to others.