Chapter 424 - The End of the Zhao Family
Gu Zuo’s face heated up slightly.
There was something else he didn’t mention. After refining the Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia, he learned this cloak’s inside information — In the beginning, it was originally refined by an extremely powerful martial artist to safeguard the one he loved. That beloved person was also a pharmacist, and the martial artist was that pharmacist’s guardian.
It was precisely because of this that the the cloak mainly recognized a pharmacist as the owner, and just so happened to have these requirements.
In addition, when the Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia was initially refined, it was at the heaven level. Later on, due to the pair of lovers’ continuous nurturing, it was elevated to an emperor weapon. Once those lovers perished, the regalia was ownerless, and after it was heavily wounded, its product rank dropped. Afterwards, it pa.s.sed through many people’s hands. Among those owners, it was bundled up with Human King Yan Ruo and her lover. It was just that neither of them were pharmacists. And since the pair were both martial artists, they weren’t able to get it to recognize an owner together. Naturally, it also wasn’t able to truly recover.
Gu Zuo felt that it really was destiny that these two cloaks had fallen into their hands.
Most of all, when the cloaks were obtained, he and big brother were only as close as biological brothers. Now, they had already entered…a dating relationship.
Wasn’t this the same as giving them tailor-made matching outfits for a couple?
A feeling of sweetness unexpectedly blossomed in his heart.
Gongyi Tianheng didn’t know about these things, but since the timing was appropriate, he simply took out his own cloak. For the second time, a drop of blood was used to recognize an owner — After all, the first instance was done too casually. This time around, Gu Zuo claimed ownership in advance. If Tianheng used his blood to gain recognition for this cloak, there would certainly be a different change.
Sure enough, it was unlike what happened when they claimed ownership the first time. Once again, the cloak in Tianheng’s hand revealed an unusual sight. In a short period, many beams of black light emerged, and were absorbed by Tianheng.
Immediately following which, just like Gu Zuo, Tianheng gained full control over his cloak.
…These things really were spirit weapons that had to be refined in the correct way before they could be fully controlled.
After absorbing those pieces of information, Tianheng also realized the cloak’s origins. His thoughts turned, and he understood the reason for Gu Zuo’s slight abnormality just then.
He couldn’t help smiling, and his expression softened even more.
Gu Zuo gave Tianheng a furtive look, and smeared his psychic power across the cloak. In a split second, the cloak transformed into a piece of outerwear, which was draped over his body: “Big brother, this Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia is very useful.”
Tianheng laughed and said: “You’re right.”
He similarly injected his profound qi inside. Suddenly, the cloak in his hand turned into a piece of outerwear that had the same design.
Gu Zuo’s face reddened.
Tianheng liked what he saw, and couldn’t help moving closer to kiss Gu Zuo’s cheek.
Gu Zuo buried his face in his hands: “Big brother! I didn’t mean this kind of use…”
Tianheng had a smile on his face as he looked at Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo held his breath. After a short while, he recovered from that state of mind, and spoke with a wooden expression: “Previously, with that type of shallow refinement method, the abilities of the cloaks could only temporarily exhibit the strength of the Atomic Realm. It could cover one’s facial features and qi emissions, briefly conceal the wearer’s figure, as well as display the defensive capability of resisting the attacks of opponents one realm higher than that of the user. However, after we had the cloaks recognize owners again, all of their uses are different.”
He took a deep breath: “Big brother, in any case, you need to be mindful…”
Naturally, Tianheng had long taken note of these things. It was just that he found Gu Zuo’s responses interesting, and couldn’t help but tease him. Tianheng smiled and said: “What Ah Zuo says is right.”
In actuality, the abilities of the Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia were truly formidable. Originally, it could be said that the extremely powerful martial artist thought of all aspects for the sake of their own lover.
All of those abilities were evolved versions from the prior shallow refinement.
First of all, let’s discuss the temporarily displayed strength of the Atomic Realm. After refinement, the true ability was that martial artists and pharmacists below the Atomic Realm could manifest the strength of the Atomic Realm. Meanwhile, martial artists between the Atomic Realm and Cosmic Realm could briefly raise themselves by one rank. It was just that this kind of improvement was at the cost of burning large amounts of internal qi or crystals. The time one could persevere was also the length of time before the physical body bearing this strength collapsed.
Generally speaking, the st.u.r.dier the foundations, the stronger the body of the martial artist, and the longer the length of time one could last. When pharmacists displayed this ability, it didn’t wear down the physical body. Instead, while it burned through internal qi or crystals, it also needed to consume psychic power.
However, it had to be said that, if this type of ability was properly utilized, one could immediately turn things around during a moment of life and death!
After this, there was the ability to mask one’s appearance and qi emissions. After refinement, it was shown that the form of the cloak could be changed by injecting one’s internal qi. At the same time, one only needed to expend a small portion of psychic power and internal qi to change their features, qi emissions, and body shape. The only limit was that the user couldn’t disguise as someone of a higher realm, but disguising as someone of the same realm or lower was no problem. Similarly, the weaker the disguised form, the longer the duration of the effect.
This ability was especially useful when encountering danger and fleeing for one’s life.
Though it wasn’t pleasant on the ears, it was also particularly useful when one wanted to plot and scheme against others.
The third ability was to briefly hide one’s figure. After refining the cloak, this concealment was no longer temporary. Instead, a martial artist used up their internal qi and a pharmacist used up their internal qi and psychic power — As long as there was a bit remaining, they could hide themselves. Only when it was completely spent would they be revealed. In addition, while they were hidden, so long as it was a martial artist below the Lesser Emperor Realm or a pharmacist below the mid-rank Spirit Psyche Realm, it would be impossible to see through this concealment.
Likewise, the ability to safeguard the user’s safety was exceptionally good.
After refinement, the fourth ability’s defense was strengthened enormously. When an opponent, whose realm was one rank higher than one’s own, launched attacks, the defenses wouldn’t consume too much internal qi or psychic power. However, the greater the difference in realms between the opponent and the user, the more energy would be consumed. If the difference was too unreasonable or one’s realm was truly too low… Well, that defensive ability also had limits.
Besides this, there was another ability that was the most important — Unless the cloak was refined with psychic power, this ability wouldn’t appear.
Power amplification.
To put it simply, when a martial artist activated the cloak, this force could improve one’s destructive power. When a pharmacist activated the cloak this force could improve one’s psychic power.
To make it a little simpler, if Tianheng wanted to attack someone, the destructive power of that move could be increased by two to ten times. As for how much the destructive power was multiplied, it depended on the degree of nurtured compatibility between Tianheng and the cloak. For the same reason, Gu Zuo’s psychic power would also be multiplied during attacks.
— When one thought about it, wasn’t the reason why the cloaks were called the Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia because, when one was covered by the cloak, not even the heavens could find them? Moreover, when worn to battle, couldn’t a person fight madly to their heart’s content?
To be honest, when they ascertained the cloaks’ abilities, whether it was Tianheng or Gu Zuo, they both felt that no matter how high the rank of the Void-Breaking Shuttle, it wasn’t as practical as the cloaks.
With the cloaks in their possession, the pair’s survivability had risen by quite a few levels!
Following this, Tianheng swiped a hand across the outerwear. In the blink of an eye, this piece of cloth shrank like flowing water. Unexpectedly, it quickly burrowed underneath layers of clothing. At the same time, there was a touch of soft, white skin revealed on Tianheng’s neck. It was his collar area.
He actually turned the form of the cloak into inner-wear?
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
Tianheng smiled and said: “This thing is rather useful, but it isn’t appropriate to wear it on the outside. It’s better to change it into inner armor, underclothes, and so on. Normally, it will only be used for defense. If we need to use it, the cloak can be mobilized with a thought.”
Considering this, Gu Zuo also felt that this was reasonable. He followed along, and changed the Heaven-Concealing Battle-Crazed Regalia into skin-tight clothing. Then, he stealthily transformed the underclothes to match his big brother’s.
Tianheng glanced at him, and the edge of his lips carried a smiling expression.
Meanwhile, Gu Zuo turned his head, and pretended he didn’t see anything.
It was a sleepless night for the two, and the sky would soon brighten.
Gu Zuo straightforwardly brought out a medicinal cauldron, and prepared to refine medicine for his family’s father once more — It wouldn’t be long for the next soak.
As for Tianheng, he lifted his foot, and walked to the study.
Gu Zuo was a little puzzled.
Immediately following which, he showed a strange expression.
His big brother wasn’t practicing martial arts. Unexpectedly…he went to the study to use the computer?
Subconsciously, Gu Zuo stretched out his psychic power. He didn’t know what big brother was doing. Tianheng wouldn’t be playing games, would he?
After getting a clear look, he found out that his family’s big brother really wasn’t playing games. Rather, he was in the middle of checking some resources. And these resources all had information related to Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. That website was quite peculiar. It seemed to be the type that was very secretive, and it looked like it had a lot to do with ancient martial arts. Perhaps, this was a website that big brother requested from those ancient martial artists?
Shortly thereafter, Tianheng lifted his head, bent his fingers, and lightly flicked them through the empty air like a lover’s caress.
The direction he “flicked” towards was exactly where Gu Zuo’s psychic power extended.
Such an intimate act caused Gu Zuo to blush. Afterwards, his psychic power also conveyed the feeling of intimacy, and abruptly withdrew.
In any case, big brother probably had a lot of plans in mind for whatever he was doing. It was better to leave him to his work…
On the other side of things.
Once Tianheng browsed the internet for a while, he closed his eyes and pondered for a short period of time. His face showed a pensive expression.
Soon after, he sat in meditation on the swivel chair. His fingers constantly shuttled back and forth, drawing out countless profound and mysterious trails.
Some time later, when Tianheng opened his eyes again, there were deep and clear spirited lights dancing in his pupils. He shot out, and immediately crushed the table on the right into powder!
Immediately following which, he jumped out of the window, landed on the rooftop, and sat with his legs crossed.
At this moment, the horizon began to glimmer. After a wisp of purple clouds flew over, faint reddish-gold rays of thread-like light rained down from high above like they were being pulled down from the heavens. These rays of light wrapped around Tianheng, swiftly entered his body, and were completely absorbed into his qi oceans.
It was just that, while these reddish-gold lights were unexpectedly pure, they were too faint. Although Tianheng’s absorptive efforts were extremely great, the speed of absorption was truly slow…
Inside the villa, Gu Zuo called out, and Gu Qi carried Zhao Ji out of the room.
The current Gu Zuo and Gu Qi cooperated with tacit understanding. Once the bathtub was rapidly prepared, Gu Qi had already cleaned up Zhao Ji, and put him in the bathtub.
Following this, Zhao Ji continuously shedded old layers of skin while soaking in the medicinal decoction. His body was gradually improving…
Time pa.s.sed day by day.
News on the Zhao Family was constantly pa.s.sed along by the Tian Family.
First of all, the alliance of the seven organizations successfully caused the Zhao Family to suffer stumbling blocks. While nothing could be seen from one or two setbacks, after the combination of seven or eight stumbling blocks, a few of the Zhao Family’s most profitable businesses were already having cash flow problems. All of their circulating funds were depleted, they had no choice but to put up their fixed a.s.sets as collateral, and they had to take loans from the banks to complete several kinds of businesses.
However, these businesses ultimately failed one after another, which caused the Zhao Family to lose everything they invested. Consequently, some companies under the Zhao Family’s banner had to dump their stocks in exchange for large sums of money to fill in the deficit. At the same time, the seven organizations that had been observing the Zhao Family for a long time swiftly seized the opportunity to infiltrate the Zhao Family’s companies. They continuously purchased stocks, bought out the smaller shareholders, and gradually gained speaking rights in those companies.
Afterwards, through many other pitfalls and traps, they slowly became the largest shareholders. Although the Zhao Family resisted, because of certain reasons, they were hard-pressed and powerless to reverse the desperate situation.
The root cause of this pressure was the continual loss of talented individuals within the Zhao Family.
From the very start, the Zhao Family’s elders were being crippled of their martial disciplines one at a time. Later on, the loyal retainers and outer circle talents who were cla.s.sified as ancient martial artists were removed in quick succession. Although there were no concerns about their lives, they had been reduced to ordinary people. As such, the household name of the Zhao Family, this ancient martial aristocratic family, no longer reflected reality.
Of course, the Zhao Family wasn’t going to let itself fall so ignominiously and obscurely. However, while they thought of countless methods, they couldn’t hold back this decline in fortunes. As for the ones who were crippling the Zhao Family’s ancient martial artists, granted that they set up security cameras and surveillance monitors in every nook and cranny, they still weren’t able to find a trace of those people — The most frightening thing was that, even though they had layers upon layers of guards who stayed up the entire night, when daybreak arrived, they would still lose one or two people without anyone noticing.
Those intruders came without casting a shadow and left without leaving a trace. They were as silent as ghosts and demons.
This covered the entire Zhao Family in a terrifying, shadowy pall.
The Zhao Family also tried its best to find helpers, but the results were less than ideal.
Though the seven organizations targeting the Zhao Family remained hidden and unseen, only focused on taking action, most of the other forces watched with folded arms, and a small number of organizations struck while the fire was hot and looted this burning house. Only one or two lone organizations that had been in contact with them many times and even owed the Zhao Family favors privately mentioned a single sentence: The Zhao Family provoked someone who shouldn’t have been angered.
However, it was nothing more than that.
In the end, when everything the Zhao Family owned was stripped away, the only ones who hadn’t been crippled yet were the old Zhao Family Head and the currently-appointed Zhao Family Head, Zhao Hongying.
Although their inner power still existed, under such formidable blows, they had aged quite a bit.
Gradually, they were burdened with intense lethargy and declining spirits… Unlike the past, when they grasped great power and authority, they were no longer daring or energetic.
As an ancient martial aristocratic family, even though the people were still alive, what was the use when their martial forces were crippled? Recently, in order to ask for help, some inside information had been sent out. Some organizations received it, but didn’t give any responses. Others accepted it, but only mentioned things without giving any details. The final outcome was to no avail.
Moreover, even if their Zhao Family endured the humiliation, resolved to withdraw from the world of ancient martial arts, and only sought to continue the family lineage, the Zhao Family’s businesses had been completely occupied by others. Every last industry had been s.n.a.t.c.hed away — Contrary to what one might’ve expected, they weren’t burdened by any debts. However, the methods of the people behind the scenes were truly powerful. Unexpectedly, once all of their affairs were handled, there were barely any funds left. They could only sc.r.a.pe by, and live the most ordinary of lives!
There was nothing…
All that remained was this ancestral residence and this plot of land.
However, the ancestral residence was the land of their forefathers. It was impossible to sell it to other people. It was also impossible to use it for other purposes.
Merely, the present Zhao Family wasn’t even capable of hiring servants to clean up these villas. They could only reduce the staffing, and seal up the majority of the villas.
Only a few buildings were left for those who belonged to the bloodlines of the Zhao Family’s true wife and concubines — If it was like before, they would’ve lived alone in their own villas. Why did they have to crowd around with others in a single building? Why were they so poverty-stricken? What’s more, they could only keep an extremely small number of servants to take care of things. But even though it was like this, it was the same as pulling on the lapels and exposing the elbows. It was very difficult to pay for anything.
The Zhao Family was already completely finished.
But the most lamentable thing was that, from beginning to end, the two family heads had basically no idea why any of this happened!
It had only been a short three to four months…
The old Zhao Family Head and Zhao Hongying powerlessly sat in the ancestral residence. Their eyes were blank and empty.
All of a sudden, they sensed a blast of surging winds slam the window open. Two silhouettes flashed inside, and stood in front of them.
The old Zhao Family Head’s pupils suddenly shrank: “It’s you two!”
Zhao Hongying’s face was consumed with hatred and rage: “Why did you target my Zhao Family?!”
The people who arrived were Gu Zuo and Gongyi Tianheng.
They silently stood across from the two Zhao Family patriarchs. Their expressions were tranquil and their gazes were undisturbed no matter what Zhao Hongying howled.
When the two Zhao Family members finished shouting, Gu Zuo spoke in a cold voice: “Could it be that you two don’t know why we dealt with the Zhao Family?” Speaking up to here, he ridiculed a little, “Yes, the Zhao Family’s sins are too many to count, so you wouldn’t know who would come to seek revenge.”
Zhao Hongying was dissolute and debauched, but when all was said and done, he had lived for sixty to seventy years. He wasn’t considered dim-witted. At this time, he suddenly recalled: “Could it be that it was you guys who came and saved that b.a.s.t.a.r.d child? Right, only you could’ve done it!”
The old Zhao Family Head narrowed his eyes: “What relationship do you two have with Zhao Ji?”
Gu Zuo scoffed: “Still putting on airs. Sure enough, the old Zhao Family Head is impressive!”
As for the one who kept throwing the word b.a.s.t.a.r.d around, Gu Zuo simply ignored him.
Meanwhile, Tianheng slowly said: “Correct. It was indeed us who saved him.”
Once Gu Zuo was done mocking, he calmed down: “I think the old Zhao Family Head is wise and brilliant, but the family head was also preoccupied by thousands of matters every day. Perhaps you guys forgot that, within that family you broke apart ages ago, there was also a child who hadn’t grown up yet.” His voice became even colder, “My father’s name is Zhao Ji, my dad’s name is Gu Qi, and my name is Gu Zuo. Tell me, what is my relationship with my own father?!”
The old Zhao Family Head sagged, and his body leaned heavily against the chair’s backrest. But —
“As expected!” His face revealed a twisted kind of hatred, “Back then, I should’ve told them to be ruthless. I should’ve had them eliminate you and that perverted dad of yours together!”
Gu Zuo knew that these words were this loser’s way of comforting himself.
He didn’t quarrel with him, and only said: “Unfortunately, the ones coming to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots isn’t you. It’s us.”
After hearing this, the old Zhao Family Head’s complexion abruptly changed. Zhao Hongying also suddenly understood something, and couldn’t help rushing over to the old Zhao Family Head.
Gu Zuo didn’t make a move, but the two Zhao Family members didn’t have time to be glad about that. They saw a blur before their eyes. They found that the other person approached them with movements invisible to the naked eye!
Immediately following which, there were two m.u.f.fled thumps.
Tianheng’s palm strikes were extremely fast. The hollow of his palm didn’t even touch their bodies. The qi energy that burst forth rapidly destroyed the two people’s dantians and meridians. This caused all of their inner power to pour out in torrents. They would never be able to gather it again!
In the blink of an eye, the old Zhao Family Head became wrinkled and white-haired, and his entire figure turned crooked and stooped. Meanwhile, Zhao Hongying instantly lost all of his energies — Yes. He lived loosely for many years, and he had lost much of his yang qi. If it wasn’t for the practice of martial arts supporting him, he would’ve been left with a ruined body and died from exhaustion. It was only a matter of course to collapse now.
Looking at the appearances of these two figures, Gu Zuo promptly felt much better.
However, his tone still wasn’t too good: “You guys separated my father and dad, harmed our family, prevented us from reuniting for so many years, and almost destroyed my father. Thus, I have destroyed the things you guys cared about the most. I have pushed your Zhao Family completely into poverty. Never again will you be able to rely on martial strength or authority to push others around!”
He gritted his teeth: “If it wasn’t for wanting to let you guys experience a small taste of suffering, I wouldn’t have let you guys off at all. Since you caused father to become like that, not even a hundred deaths would make up for it! From now on, you guys can properly enjoy yourselves! Isn’t the Zhao Family going to follow the rules of inheritance? You guys can’t have any more kids, and father only loves dad. The disgusting Zhao Family should’ve ended long ago!”
After venting these final words, Gu Zuo didn’t want to speak with the Zhao Family anymore. In any case, the bodies of these two were completely ruined. They wouldn’t live for much longer.
While they were still alive, their final days would be enough to witness the Zhao Family become more and more dest.i.tute and lowly. They could carry that wretched inheritance with them, and repent in the underworld!
Afterwards, Gu Zuo turned around, and grabbed Tianheng’s extended hand.
The pair flashed out of the window, quickly flew into the sky, and left the territory of the Zhao Family.
It wasn’t even known how long they could keep this piece of land… The current Zhao Family’s direct line was like the light of a flickering candle. Once they died out, the rest were basically the concubine branches who were suppressed by the direct line as well as those people who originally attached themselves to the Zhao Family. None of them would be sentimental about the ancestral land like the direct line. Maybe they would sell it, and leave it in other people’s hands… Or perhaps, Zhao Hewei had other plans in mind?
However, that had nothing to do with them.
The matter of the Zhao Family was settled here. Gu Zuo and Tianheng had already seen to the majority of its end.
Anything that happened afterwards didn’t require their attention.
Once they went back, Gu Zuo told Gu Qi about this last matter of the Zhao Family.
After a moment of silence, Gu Qi nodded: “This is good enough. In the future, the Zhao Family and whatever else have nothing to do with us.”
Gu Zuo didn’t say anything, and only nodded his head.
Although they would be returning to the other world, the Zhao Family, which had previously forced their family so hard that they could barely breathe, already wasn’t worth mentioning and could be destroyed at will. However, the pain and suffering the Zhao Family caused them left permanent marks that would always be hard to erase.
Just like Zhao Ji, who still hadn’t been completely healed…
T/N: Happy holidays, everyone!
Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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