Many children, many blessings; a stunningly beautiful wife is given to you right from the start.

"Who?! Get your ass out here!"

Wu Zhong's roar almost lifted the roof off.

The door opened with a bang, not pushed open, but shattered inward by an invisible force.

An elderly man in a gray robe walked in slowly, his hands behind his back.

His face was gaunt, his eyes were like those of a hawk, and several shadowy figures in black followed behind him, emanating a chilling aura.

"Who goes there!"

Wu Zhong's personal guards reacted quickly, immediately drawing their swords and stepping forward, shouting sternly.

But before they could finish speaking...

The figures of the men in black swayed slightly, like several dark shadows flitting past in the candlelight.

next second.

With a few muffled thuds of bones dislocating and suppressed gasps, Wu Zhong's most elite personal guards collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The entire process took no more than two breaths, so fast that the movements were barely visible.

Wu Zhong's heart pounded wildly. Where did this top expert come from?!

After the initial shock came overwhelming rage.

Someone actually dared to blatantly trespass on his residence.

"court death!"

Wu Zhong roared, grabbed the broadsword from the table, and made as if to charge forward.

However, the gray-robed elder at the head of the group didn't even glance at him, but calmly took something out of his pocket.

It was a completely black token with a three-clawed dragon carved in gold thread.

Wu Zhongqian's steps came to an abrupt halt the moment he saw the token.

He examined the token carefully for a while, and the rage and murderous intent on his face suddenly vanished.

"Clang!"

The heavy broadsword fell to the ground with a piercing sound.

Wu Zhong knelt on one knee and lowered his head in a humble posture.

"No... I didn't know it was a high-ranking official serving the Third Prince. Wu Zhong has failed to greet you properly; I deserve death!"

Wu Zhong's voice was filled with an uncontrollable tremor.

The Third Prince is the true ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Why would his people suddenly come here?

Before Wu Zhong could figure it out, the old man's voice rang in his ears.

"Just call me Elder Zhao."

The old man's voice was hoarse, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

He ignored Wu Zhong's performance and went straight to the table, picking up the jar of "Drunken Immortal Wine".

He brought the wine jar to his nose, took a light sniff, and his brows instantly furrowed.

Immediately, a pair of sinister eyes slowly turned to Zhao Dezhu, who was standing to the side, already pale with fright.

At that moment, Zhao Dezhu felt as if he were being watched by a venomous snake lurking in the darkness.

The icy gaze chilled him to the bone.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, and his legs began to weaken uncontrollably, almost making him unable to stand.

He wanted to run, but the men in black were standing at the door, and the murderous aura emanating from them made him not even dare to move a toe.

Although Wu Zhong was still kneeling on the ground, he sensed that something was wrong.

He cautiously raised his head and tentatively asked, "Elder Zhao, is there... something wrong with this wine?"

Elder Zhao let out a cold laugh.

"It's more than just a problem."

"This wine contains 'Seven-Day Soul-Severing Powder'."

"This poison is colorless and odorless. Those who are poisoned will have their heart vessels ruptured within seven days, and will appear to die suddenly."

"Even the best coroner in the palace couldn't find a trace of poisoning."

Seven-Day Soul-Severing Powder!?

Wu Zhong was completely stunned, and cold sweat broke out all over his body.

He turned his head in disbelief and stared intently at his good brother Zhao Dezhu.

That look in his eyes seemed to want to devour him alive.

Zhao Dezhu was terrified by his gaze, forcing out a smile that looked worse than a grimace, still making a last-ditch effort.

"Brother! Don't listen to his nonsense!"

"Besides, I...I drank it too! If it were poisoned, would I still be standing here?"

Yes.

He drank it too.

Wu Zhong looked at Elder Zhao with a puzzled expression.

Elder Zhao's gaze remained fixed on Zhao Dezhu, without shifting at all.

"He took the antidote beforehand."

Elder Zhao spoke slowly.

Even so, Zhao Dezhu still tried to argue his way out of it.

"I'm innocent, brother!"

He wept uncontrollably and swore an oath to the heavens.

"How could I possibly harm my brother! We're brothers who've risked their lives for each other!"

"Back then, if it weren't for you, brother, taking a blow for me under the swords of those northern barbarians, I would have been dead long ago!"

"I, Zhao Dezhu, am not the kind of ungrateful person!"

Zhao Dezhu cried so hard that he was hoarse, as if he were the one who had suffered a great injustice.

Wu Zhong hesitated for a moment after hearing him cry like that.

After all, they've been brothers for many years. Could there really be some misunderstanding?

"Oh."

Elder Zhao's face grew even more sarcastic.

"What a life-or-death friendship!"

"Since you feel that I have wronged you, then that's fine."

"Wu Zhong, lock him up. Don't give him anything to eat or drink. Just let him go hungry and thirsty."

"Wait until this time tomorrow, when the antidote has worn off, then feed him the entire jar of wine, not a single drop left."

"Then we'll see if he dares to drink it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhu's desperate cries abruptly ceased, and all color drained from his face.

drink?

Would he dare to drink it?

He knew better than anyone that drinking this wine would lead to his death!

"ah--!"

Zhao Dezhu suddenly let out a strange, inhuman scream, turned around abruptly, and lunged at the open window like a madman.

This action is the most direct form of confession.

"You son of a bitch, you traitor!"

Wu Zhong let out a deafening roar.

The overwhelming anger of being fooled and betrayed, and the lingering fear of almost losing his life, all these emotions erupted at this moment!

Wu Zhong leaped up, grabbed the fallen broadsword, and charged forward in one swift motion.

Zhao Dezhu's body had already jumped halfway out of the window.

"Pfft!"

The sharp blade pierced his back and went straight through his chest.

The tip of the knife, dripping with blood, pierced through his chest.

Zhao Dezhu's body froze in mid-air, his frantic expression of trying to escape instantly frozen.

He lowered his head with difficulty, looking at the knife tip protruding from his chest, his eyes filled with despair.

With bloodshot eyes, Wu Zhong pulled the knife out of Zhao Dezhu's body with a sudden burst of strength.

Zhao Dezhu slumped forward, half of his body hanging on the windowsill, motionless, and soon fell silent.

Fresh blood gushed down the windowsill.

Wu Zhong gripped the blood-dripping knife, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath.

Elder Zhao didn't even glance at the dead Zhao Dezhu, as if he were just an insignificant ant that had died.

He walked up to Wu Zhong and kicked the corpse on the ground with his toe.

"A dog that bites its owner, just get rid of it."

He raised his eyes and looked at Wu Zhong, who was still in shock.

"Now, let's talk about Blackwind City."