CHAPTER 819: CHAPTER 500: FORCEFUL TAKEOVER

All the changes happened without any warning.

This "negotiation" seemed to spiral out of control the moment Xu Zudi stepped into the tent.

According to many people’s expectations, the Princely Heir’s presence was bound to involve a mix of grace and intimidation, a play of minds.

But Xu Zudi chose the most straightforward and brutal option from the many negotiation plans.

This made Zhao Douan lose his intention of watching the show, indirect probing, and testing:

"...Take one of my moves."

A glimmer wrapped around the folding fan, and at first glance, it seemed ordinary, but Zhao Douan subtly infused his exceedingly thick Qi Mechanism of the Worldly Realm into the fan’s bones.

"Be careful, Young Master!"

Unexpectedly, the expression of the gray-clad elder standing behind Xu Zudi changed suddenly, and his body almost left an afterimage.

In the blink of an eye, he pushed the Princely Heir aside with his right hand, lifted his left arm hanging past his knee, and his two steel-like fingers went to "clamp" the folding fan.

Last autumn, Zhao Douan had thrown a flying knife at Xu Zudi in the capital using the Divine Chapter Realm, which was easily blocked by this gray-robed elder.

Now, more than half a year later, a similar scene was happening again. However, this time, the gray-robed elder’s calm face drastically changed the moment he touched the fan.

It was as if he had been electrocuted, the sleeve of the elder’s left arm suddenly tightened, slapped against flesh with a "snap", and then his entire arm trembled violently with red blood seeping from the pores.

"Not good—"

After having been in the Divine Chapter Realm for years and serving at the Prince Heng’s Mansion, the gray-robed elder’s face turned deathly pale, letting out a sudden scream. His entire arm made a "crack" sound as it broke forcefully under the folding fan’s strike, and the fan’s force was not yet exhausted, impaling his shoulder like an arrow.

The next moment, under everyone’s gazes, this palace guard with extraordinary martial arts cultivation was knocked back as if hit by a siege hammer, feet plowing the earth, like leaves caught in a whirlwind, and was slammed against another attendant of the Princely Heir.

The two fell to the ground, overturning, with the folding fan pinned like a steel nail, almost nailed the elder to the ground!

Blood seeped out, staining the shoulder red.

A dead silence fell.

Not only the Princely Heir’s side but even the commanders of the Five Army Camp, led by Yuan Feng, narrowed their pupils suddenly, looking at Zhao Douan in shock.

They knew Zhao Douan’s martial arts had advanced further, but they didn’t expect the gap between the two sides to be so enormous.

Yet Zhao Douan just shook his head in disappointment, contrasting it with the knife strike that destroyed Divine Dragon Temple, thinking: Not even as good as an Arhat.

"You... you dare act against your superiors?!"

Xu Zudi was stunned for a moment, incredulously staring at this "Deputy General" he had never bothered to look at, first with shock and anger, then in a furious rage, yet with a subtle undercurrent of fear:

"Yuan Feng! Are you courting death?"

He turned his gaze, locking onto Commander Yuan.

In his mind, this arrangement couldn’t be unrelated to Yuan Feng, as to why his protector was so "weak" and unable to withstand a single blow, panic prevented him from understanding immediately.

Yuan Feng, being questioned, also felt a chill in his scalp; this was a bit different from the "fake surrender" he had imagined, causing him to involuntarily turn his head to seek answers.

Zhao Douan calmly paced out, suddenly, without any warning, kicked Xu Zudi to the ground.

His right hand rested on the back of the chair on the ground, lifting the chair, spun it one hundred eighty degrees, elegantly took a seat, with a cold expression, looking down:

"It seems you still don’t understand the situation."

Xu Zudi, caught off guard, was kicked over like a stray dog, landing with a bruised face, the last attendant behind him rushing forward, only to be punched down by one of the Five Army Camp’s commanders.

"You... who are you? What do you want?" Xu Zudi kneeled on the ground, panic-stricken, once again looked towards Yuan Feng:

"I am an Imperial Family member, you dare to rebel..."

"Shut him up!" Zhao Douan said coldly.

The crowd hesitated, the commander who punched earlier took the lead, swung his large fan-like hand, and with a "snap", slapped down harshly.

The soldier’s strength was immense, causing the tender-skinned Princely Heir to nearly spin on the spot, his cheek swelling high, blood spurting out.

The commander cursed: "Bah, I’ve long found you eyesore, daring to speak to Mr. Zhao like that?"

Xu Zudi’s head was buzzing, but still caught the keyword "Mr. Zhao", his heart pounding violently, finally directing his gaze at the "Ordinary Deputy General" sitting in front of him.

At this moment, Zhao Douan wiped his face with his right hand, revealing his true face, smilingly said:

"Xu Zudi, do you recognize this official?"

Zhao Douan!

Xu Zudi felt as if struck by lightning, his face visibly turned pale, shouting:

"Impossible! How are you still alive and here?"

Zhao Douan smiled without warmth:

"Surprised? Unexpected? Initially, I wanted to play along to gather intel, but since you delivered yourself, there’s no need for that effort."

Xu Zudi’s eyes flooded with intense fear, scrambling backward with hands and feet:

"What do you want? I am an Imperial Family member; who dares to touch me..."

Yuan Feng suddenly stood up, the square-faced commander speaking in a low voice:

"Her Majesty has returned to the capital, Mr. Zhao is here today under imperial edict to suppress the rebellion, Xu Zudi, do you still think a title can protect you?"

What? The Empress returned? When?!

Xu Zudi’s cold sweat flowed, he wanted to question, but when met with Zhao Douan’s indifferent gaze, he couldn’t utter a single word.

His expression changed, finally realizing he had fallen into a dangerous trap.

"I... no, Brother Zhao, this is a misunderstanding..." Xu Zudi’s face fluctuated, able to yield and stretch, he managed a smiling face.