CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 215: VILLAIN SWORD

Zhao Ming and Fu Tinghan listened indifferently and did not interfere, and Zhao Cheng was even more unconcerned.

Lu Le looked at the people in the courtyard, then at the calm Zhao Cheng on the side, and couldn’t help but whisper, "Aren’t you going to stop this?"

That’s the Glazed Workshop!

Zhao Cheng replied calmly, "Why stop it?"

"Fine, you consider money as dirt, I can’t compare."

Would Zhao Hanzhang consider money as dirt?

Of course not.

It’s just a glass workshop, and Xiahou Ren wouldn’t really set up the workshop in Shangcai and Xiping. Once he takes the craftsmen and recipes, they could simply train new personnel.

She doesn’t believe Xiahou Ren can dominate the entire glazed market; currently, the production is excessive, and prices are bound to drop. Workshops are no longer researching new glass styles but are focused on cost and success rate control.

Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang isn’t afraid to lose, and those who understand her, like Zhao Ming and Fu Tinghan, have also thought of this, hence they calmly watched on the side.

Of course, Zhao Hanzhang won’t lose, even if she’s not afraid to.

As soon as Xiahou Ren uttered the word "please," Zhao Hanzhang drew her sword. Xiahou Ren felt a chill on his back and couldn’t even see her movements clearly. He instinctively raised his sword to block, but it was too late — Zhao Hanzhang’s wooden sword pointed straight at his throat.

Though it only lightly touched, cold sweat poured out, and he felt chilled all over.

If this was on the battlefield, or if they were using real swords...

Xiahou Ren swallowed and looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang slightly smiled at him, sheathed her sword, "Uncle, you’re dead once."

Xiahou Ren’s mental fortitude was commendable; despite sweating on his forehead, his expression quickly returned to normal. He changed his sword stance, "Again."

This time, he decided to attack first, Zhao Hanzhang let him, only raising her sword to block once his sword approached, then turned swiftly and struck. Still, Xiahou Ren barely saw it before Zhao Hanzhang’s wooden sword targeted his heart, striking precisely.

Xiahou Ren: ...

He felt as if he’d competed, yet also as if he hadn’t.

Zhao Hanzhang sheathed her sword and cupped her fists, "Uncle, thank you for showing mercy."

Xiahou Ren’s face finally showed some change, though it appeared slightly green. He had much to say but couldn’t express it.

He Cheng spoke on his behalf, "This isn’t the Gentleman’s Sword; it’s the scoundrel’s sword."

"That’s incorrect," Zhao Ming came down from the corridor to defend Zhao Hanzhang, "They’re all killing swords, why distinguish between Gentleman’s Sword or scoundrel’s sword?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded deeply in agreement.

He Cheng frowned, "Her sword strikes are vicious, with angles so harsh and sinister, it’s unbecoming of a gentleman."

Zhao Ming snorted coldly, "A gentleman wouldn’t resort to violence, anyone who does isn’t a gentleman."

"Which ancient sage didn’t practice the six arts? Martial arts is one of them, how is it not gentlemanly?"

Zhao Ming: "Ancient sages wouldn’t rely on age and strength to covet others’ property."

He’s wary of the Xiahou Family, but that doesn’t mean he’s afraid of the Xiahou Family. That Zhao Hanzhang proposed using the Glazed Workshop as stakes, and the other side agreed, shows that he’s long had his eyes on the Glazed Workshop.

Yes, he is indeed double-standard.

Zhao Hanzhang can have her eyes on others’ manuscripts, and yet Xiahou Ren cannot have his eyes on the Zhao Family’s Glazed Workshop.

With these words, not only Xiahou Ren but even He Cheng’s expression changed.

Xiahou Ren no longer stayed silent and said solemnly, "Zi Nian, what do you mean? The duel and stakes were proposed by Third Sister Zhao, if you don’t recognize it then..."

"Recognize, recognize, recognize," Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly interrupted, "Why wouldn’t I recognize? Uncles, there’s no need to argue. Isn’t it just Gentleman’s Sword and scoundrel’s sword? Scoundrel’s sword, I know a bit too, should I demonstrate it again for uncles to see?"

She was afraid if they continued talking, her stakes would vanish.

Zhao Ming turned angrily to Zhao Hanzhang, "What scoundrel’s sword do you know?"

Zhao Hanzhang quickly pacified him, "Uncle, just because I know scoundrel’s sword doesn’t mean I’m a scoundrel. For example, knowing Gentleman’s Sword doesn’t automatically make me a gentleman."

Xiahou Ren felt her words were targeting him, He Cheng also felt the same, quite displeased with her insults to his friend, his face darkened a bit, "What do you mean by scoundrel’s sword?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied cheerfully, "I can practice, but a solo dance might not show if it’s scoundrel or gentleman, so I’ll need Uncle Xiahou to spar with me, this way everyone can see if it’s scoundrel or gentleman."

The four elders were somewhat intrigued by her words. They wondered what her so-called scoundrel’s sword looked like.

Xiahou Ren thought that he’d already lost, and lost so quickly and embarrassingly twice, a third loss wouldn’t hurt, so he calmly held his wooden sword and stepped back, nodding, "Then come on."

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help his gaze from drifting downward, thinking he might be overthinking, but...

With his modern mindset and understanding of Zhao Hanzhang, the so-called scoundrel’s sword might...

Before his thoughts settled, Zhao Hanzhang had started sparring with Xiahou Ren. This time, perhaps to let everyone see her so-called scoundrel’s sword, her strikes were deliberately slow and somewhat feigned, initially giving Xiahou Ren the upper hand.

Even Xiahou Ren was under the illusion he might win, but then Zhao Hanzhang’s attacks began to divert, suddenly stabbing toward his lower body, incredibly fierce, scaring Xiahou Ren into switching offense to defense and blocking the attack.

The three of Zhao Cheng stared wide-eyed, while Zhao Ming raised a hand to cover his face, then put it down, thinking it would be undignified.

Only Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

In the moment Xiahou Ren was caught off guard, Zhao Hanzhang withdrew and thrust her sword towards his heart, the speed slow, even a bit weak and leisurely. Under normal circumstances, Xiahou Ren would’ve blocked it, but his thoughts were disturbed, causing him to react a moment too late.

That single moment made Xiahou Ren lose.

Xiahou Ren: ...

Zhao Hanzhang cheerfully said, "Uncle, this is the scoundrel’s sword, it’s handy when the weak confront the strong."

Xiahou Ren looked blankly at Zhao Ming and Zhao Cheng, "Is this how the Zhao Family teaches its disciples?"

Zhao Ming uncharacteristically did not refute, Zhao Cheng frowned and looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t let the Zhao Family’s disciples gain the same reputation as hers, and cheerfully said, "Uncle, this scoundrel’s sword wasn’t learned within the family, I learned it outside."

She smiled and asked, "Do you find this a scoundrel’s sword?"

Xiahou Ren: "It’s indeed scoundrelly!"

Zhao Hanzhang clapped and said, "So, the sword I used in the duel earlier was the Gentleman’s Sword, and this is the scoundrel’s sword."

No, both are clearly scoundrel’s swords; this one’s just more scoundrelly.

But Xiahou Ren didn’t argue further, afraid she’d drag him into another scoundrel sword duel; the previous time not only embarrassed him but also scared him enough to sweat coldly.

How could one attack there, and moreover, Zhao Hanzhang is a lady; if her strike hit too hard...

Xiahou Ren’s face grew darker, Zhao Ming saw this wasn’t good and quickly said, "Since the duel is over, about the stakes..."