Chapter 724: Action

Chu Li stepped out of Zhou Yutian’s room.

Zhou Zifeng quickly went up to him and asked, “Chief Chu, how is he?”

Chu Li sighed and shook his head.

“Chief Chu, is my father’s injury…?” Zhou Zifeng’s expression darkened.

Chu Li scanned through the crowd and murmured, “The High Duke’s injury is different from Second Master’s.”

Zhou Zimo asked frantically, “They’re both Shura Palms, what’s the difference? They should be a piece of cake for you, Chief Chu. As easy as lifting a finger, no?”

Chu Li gave a bitter laugh as he shook his head. “You flatter me, Second Master. I don’t have the skills that you speak so highly of, it comes down to the cultivation level of the person using the Shura Palm… The Asura who wounded the High Duke is way more powerful than the one who injured the second master, his cultivation level is on another level that even I cannot compare against.”

Zhou Ziyu concluded coldly. “So… You can’t heal him?”

Chu Li shook his head. “Please forgive me for being incompetent, Young Masters, I am truly sorry!”

Zhou Zifeng pressed him. “Is there no other way?”

“The High Duke has a profound level of cultivation, perhaps he could slowly suppress the Shura Palm himself,” said Chu Li.

However, this was followed by a disheartening sigh. “But like a snowball, the Shura Palm gets stronger as time passes, so I advise all of you to be prepared.”

“Be prepared for what?” Zhou Ziyu asked worriedly.

Chu Li glanced at Zhou Zifeng and broke into a dry laugh. “It will be difficult for you to shoulder such a big responsibility at such a young age!”

“Can it be that my father, he…?” Zhou Zifeng brushed off the thought quickly. “It can’t be that serious!”

Chu Li shook his head; he did not want to continue the conversation. “Young Masters, I’m also tired and would like to go back to take a rest.”

“I’m sorry to have troubled you, Chief Chu!” Zhou Zifeng did a fist salute.

Chu Li replied apologetically, “I’m the one who should be sorry for not being able to help you, Eldest Master!”

“You can just say that it’s my father’s fate!” Zhou Zifeng shook his head bitterly.

Chu Li did a fist salute to all of them and left with large strides.

Zhou Ziyu huffed. “I think this fella might not be sincere in offering help. I feel like he could’ve helped us, but he just didn’t want to!”

Zhou Zimo hushed him. “Third Brother! Don’t say such words!”

“Second Brother, don’t take his side blindly just because he’s saved your life before, he could’ve come with bad intentions!” Zhou Ziyu warned.

Zhou Zimo scoffed. “Why wouldn’t he help if he could? Is a favor from the Ji Public House really so worthless? What grudge does he hold against the Ji Public House?”

“Who knows?” Zhou Ziyu muttered briskly.

Zhou Mei tugged on his sleeves anxiously.

Zhou Ziyu pursed his lips carelessly and said no more.

Zhou Zimo shot him a look of fury and slowly turned away.

Zhou Zifeng then muttered distractedly, “I’ll go ahead and check then!”

He pushed open the door and entered the room.

Everyone outside fell silent.

They all knew that if something terrible were to befall the High Duke, Eldest Brother would be grief-stricken.

Eldest Brother was the closest to their father, and once they lose their father, Eldest Brother would have to take up the role as the High Duke. This was not an easy feat to accomplish!

The two younger brothers had no intention of snatching the position, because as young masters of a High Duke’s Public House, they knew that although being a High Duke seemed glorious, there was no advantage in doing so – one had to continuously labor both his mind and body. In fact, it was better to remain as young masters, if they did that, they could lead a rather carefree life of leisure.

After a while, Zhou Zifeng called out, “Come on in everyone!”

Everybody entered the High Duke’s bedchamber and saw Zhou Yutian’s sickly-green face.

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Zhou Yutian looked haggard, like he had aged a few more years as his dull, lifeless eyes swept across the crowd.

They all shivered as his fleeting glance swept across each of them. His eyes had only a look of hopelessness in them.

“Father, are you alright? You don’t seem well.” Zhou Zimo asked worriedly.

“Mmm,” Zhou Yutian drawled out tiredly. “I might need to leave all of you earlier than I expected, so you guys must assist your eldest brother properly in the future, don’t be too involved in worldly pleasures — especially you, Ziyu, it’s about time you contribute something to our Ji Public House!”

“Yes, father.” Zhou Ziyu nodded.

He was full of bitterness over the matter but he did not want to disobey his father at a time like this.

Zhou Yutian ordered, “You all can leave, I want to be on my own.”

“Father, let me accompany you,” Zhou Zifeng quickly said.

Zhou Yutian shook his head. “No need, go and do what you need to do!”

Zhou Zifeng inquired, “What should I do about Ji River Valley? Since the villagers are already panicked, I’m worried that once the news of your condition gets out, everyone will become even more scared and leave Ji River Valley an empty city!”

“I will go out for a stroll sometime soon to calm the people’s heart.” Zhou Yutian reassured.

Zhou Zimo finally addressed the elephant in the room. “Father, what do we do if another Asura comes?”

Zhou Yutian turned to him and answered, “I have an old friend in Tempest Temple, Ziyu. You’ll deliver my letter to him. I will ask him to bring a few martial art masters from Tempest Temple for help. They know the best way to handle these Asuras!”

“Alright.” Zhou Ziyu nodded.

“I’ll write the letter now!” Zhou Yutian stood up and walked to his desk with Zhou Zifeng’s help.

Zhou Mei had prepared the ink and put a blank paper in the center of the desk.

As they watched Zhou Yutian’s writing hand tremble, the Zhou Brothers felt their heart ache.

His father might not have a tall figure, but his cultivation level was insanely high, and he was always a heroic figure to them. This was the first time he had revealed such a vulnerable side.

Zhou Yutian took great effort to write the letter, and by the time he was done, his forehead was covered in a cold sweat, making him look incredibly frail.

He motioned for Zhou Mei to seal the letter and told his third son, “Ziyu, I can’t hold on for too long—five days, I can hold on for five days at most, so you must deliver the letter within two days and travel day and night to get it there!”

“Understood!” Zhou Ziyu answered solemnly.

When Zhou Yutian reached his bed, he was already panting like a bull. He waved his hands and shooed them. “Go, get out you lot and let me rest!”

“Yes…” Everyone bowed reverently and shuffled out of the room.

…

Zhou Ziyu told Zhou Mei to pack his bags as soon as he returned to his courtyard. After she was done, he picked up his bags and left; this was a matter that involved the Ji Public House’s safety, he had no time for lovers’ talk.

As Zhou Mei watched his proud silhouette leave, she let out a faint sigh.

Not long after Zhou ZIyu had left Ji River Valley, he suddenly met four Grandmasters.

He was kidnapped, his letter stolen and after that brought to a courtyard within Ji River Valley where his acupuncture points were sealed, leaving him immobile. He could only watch as time passed by, one day, two days, three days… Until the fifth day.

Although his acupuncture points were sealed, he was still conscious. He knew that the number of people moving into this courtyard was slowly increasing. People kept coming in until there were eventually thirty of them.

On the night of the fifth day, these thirty Grandmasters snuck out of the courtyard and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

He knew that these fellas were aiming for the Ji Public House. Thus, he was forced to watched teary-eyed as hopelessness flooded Zhou Ziyu’s heart.

Thirty Grandmasters… even the thought of it would make a person’s blood run cold, there was no doubt that the Ji Public House would not survive.

Once they destroy the High Duke’s Public House, they deal with him. Needless to say, Zhou Ziyu would end up accompanying the entire Ji Public House on their way to the afterlife. ‘Well, at least it will not be a lonely ride,’ thought Zhou Ziyu.

The days crept by like years. He had no idea when these fellas would return, but he knew that the moment they came back, it would mean that the battle was over, the Ji Public House would be nothing more than ruins and he would soon face his death.

Since the Ji Dynasty was founded, there had not been an instance of a High Duke’s Public House being destroyed, but now, the Ji Public House would be the first case in history!

He got furious as the thought entered his mind, he hated himself for being lazy and slacking off in his cultivation. Now, he could only helplessly watch as the Ji Public House fell to ruin.

He was not just being useless, he also did a disservice to the Public House, if someone else had gone in his place, perhaps the reinforcements from Tempest Temple would have arrived by now!

He grit his teeth at the thought.