Chapter 18 The Secret of the Wang Family

I followed the sound of footsteps and saw Zhao Zhuang walking over with more than twenty people.

Zhao Zhuang was covered in blood again, which meant he had been killing people in the village.

No wonder Zhao Zhuang was so eager to leave. His methods would be considered those of a formidable figure even in the martial world. At the very least, he was decisive in killing and showed no mercy to achieve his goals.

Zhao Zhuang walked up to me and bowed: "Mr. Li, all the able-bodied people from Yuluo Village are here. They have also agreed to your conditions, what do you think..."

"Let's begin!" I didn't want to ask about the process, I only cared about the result.

Zhao Zhuang's expression changed instantly: "Everyone, come forward and swear a blood oath. I, Zhao Zhuang, will never go back on my word. If anyone retreats at the last moment, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Whether they were willing or not, the sorcerers stepped forward.

Zhao Zhuang took a wine jar from a villager and had the white porcelain bowls passed around. He personally poured wine into each bowl, held a bull-tail knife, and roared fiercely: "Cut your wrists, swear the oath!"

More than twenty people cut their wrists simultaneously, dripped blood into their bowls, dipped their fingers in the blood wine, paid respects to heaven, earth, and the gods, and raised their bowls high above their heads. Zhao Zhuang took the lead and said: "I, Zhao Zhuang, swear from this day forth to serve Mr. Li Po as my master, and be loyal as a servant... If I violate this oath, may I be struck down by the heavens."

I wanted them to temporarily acknowledge me as their master, but Zhao Zhuang changed the oath. This was his last trick before submitting to me.

The contract between master and servant, while seemingly giving the master the power of life and death, actually contained a mutual benefit. At the very least, the master couldn't easily watch their servants be killed.

Zhao Zhuang was doing this for his family, forcing the sorcerers of the village with a desperate move, and also using the master-servant oath to force me to save people.

I didn't expose Zhao Zhuang's intentions, which seemed to relieve him as he looked at me with gratitude. Zhao Zhuang raised the large white porcelain bowl, drank the blood wine in one gulp, smashed the bowl, and knelt before me: "Zhao Zhuang greets his master."

As Zhao Zhuang knelt down, I was distracted. I didn't speak, so he couldn't get up. Old Liu touched me at this moment, and I subconsciously said: "There really aren't any sorcerers left in the Wang family?"

Zhao Zhuang replied: "Only the Liu and Wang families in the village have a single line of inheritance. Several generations ago, there was only one descendant left. Although the old Wang family lady had two children left, one of them died later, and now there's only that one idiot in the Wang family."

"That's not right!" I suddenly raised my head and said: "The secret of the dragon fish is in the Wang family, let's go to their house!"

Zhao Zhuang led the way, while Old Liu jogged along beside me, saying: "Mr. Li, you're mistaken, aren't you? All that's left in the old Wang family is that idiot Zhuzi, what secrets could he keep? If we go over there with so many people, won't we scare Erzhuzi?"

I explained as we walked: "Old Liu, haven't you thought about something? If the Shuiying Battalion seized the underground palace, which descendant would be able to become king on the spot?"

I guessed that there probably wasn't a Feng Shui tomb in the world that could bury seven people at once and bestow kingship upon seven of them. Even if there was, the seven families' descendants would have to kill each other. Because their ancestors were fighting desperately for the earth's energy in the tomb, could their descendants still be as close as brothers?

The Wang family ancestor had the highest official position, he was the Qianzong (Battalion Commander) of the Shuiying Battalion, and he must be the one who was finally buried in the underground palace. The remaining six people must have been seeking protection under his wing.

It would be fine if the Wang family still had normal descendants, but all they had left was an idiot. Even if he occupied the underground palace, could an idiot be crowned king? Unless his own father was a king or duke, there was absolutely no possibility of a commoner being crowned king.

If that was the case, why would the Wang family ancestor stubbornly guard the underground palace? Why would he rather call on his subordinates to kill the descendants of Yuluo Village than give up that dream that seemed illusory to normal people?

The Wang family ancestor was not only not stupid, but also cunning. It was impossible for him not to have other arrangements.

If I believed his act, I would be truly stupid.

More importantly, where did the old Wang family lady's confidence come from?

I had been neglecting a detail all along, and that was the old Wang family lady had said that she wanted to see Erzhuzi carry on the family line.

At the time, I thought of it as crazy talk – the Wang family was already dead, who would marry that idiot? Was she counting on the villagers? It was already good enough that the villagers could take care of Erzhuzi, making sure he was fed and clothed. Who could find him a wife?

Where did the old Wang family lady's confidence come from? Unless, she had other trump cards!

Old Liu couldn't help but be stunned after hearing what I said.

Zhao Zhuang also quickened his pace, leading his men to block the gate of the Wang family: "Guard the doors, don't let anyone escape!"

As soon as we entered the courtyard, we saw the old Wang family lady coming out of the house to greet us: "What are you doing? Are you bullying us because there's no one left in the Wang family?"

The old lady pointed at me: "I saw it a long time ago, you're not a good person, and now you've finally shown your true colors!"

I gave Zhao Zhuang a look, and the latter said in a deep voice: "Old lady, we need to find the dragon fish to save our lives. If you know where the dragon fish is, please tell us, we will all be grateful to you."