Chapter 41: Killing the Noble Son
When Zhou Wen said that sentence.
Instantly.
Childe Guo felt a coldness behind him. Obviously, his little trick had been discovered by Qiao Mu, who was closely following him.
His heart was pounding. At this moment, he had no chance and no time to think!
"Save me!"
Childe Guo yelled, and threw himself forward.
But Qiao Mu was already close to him and noticed his small movement. How could he easily escape?
Just as Childe Guo had taken two steps forward, his running figure suddenly paused.
A sharp tip of a spear came out from his belly and blood flowed out.
Even though Qiao Mu could come back to life, he only had one chance to enter the main mansion.
If he missed this opportunity, he wouldn't be so lucky to seize Childe Guo next time. In the highly guarded situation, he might not even be able to enter the inner courtyard.
So he definitely wouldn't let Childe Guo escape. He decisively drew out his spear without any hesitation.
"Young master?! There's an assassin!"
Zhou Wen, who was guarding outside the study room, immediately became alert and shouted loudly.
Although he didn't like this Childe Guo, as a member of the main mansion, he naturally couldn't stand by and watch.
Just as he was about to rush over, he saw the long spear in Qiao Mu's hand pointing directly at Childe Guo's neck, and he could only pause his steps.
Soon, the door of the study room burst open, and the towering figure of Lord Guo Yan stepped out, his expression instantly trembling when he saw this scene.
His son got stabbed in the stomach with a long spear? Luckily it's not a deadly wound, so he won't die for now...
How did his own son get kidnapped again? And it's Qiao Mu... Qiao Lin? Doesn't this scene feel familiar?
"Qiao Lin? Why is it you? Weren't you supposed to be out of town for a funeral?" The lord's voice remained calm.
"Don't be impulsive. You entered my mansion, so if you want something, just tell me."
"The one who left town was another brother from my Qiao family." Qiao Mu kept his spear-stabbing motion unchanged and his face slightly darkened.
"I came to Yan City today and came to the lord's mansion simply to reason things out with the City Lord."
With Childe Guo interfering like this, his plan to assassinate the city lord should be a failure.
He had already experienced the strength of a seventh-ranked martial artist outside the city. Although he was slightly stronger now than before he jumped off the cliff, it was naturally impossible for him to withstand the pressure of a seventh-ranked martial artist and assassinate a sixth-rank city lord.
A sharp whistle was heard from the side, indicating that the guards in the courtyard had noticed something unusual and many of them came running.
.........
Yan City Military Camp.
Old Huang sat with a worried look at the side of the training field, he didn't seem like a soldier but more like a concerned farmer worried about crop harvest and slow sales.
"What's the matter? Still thinking about our boss's brother?" the monk casually asked.
"Are you talking about Qiao Lin?" Old Huang thought for a moment and had a very deep impression:
"It's strange, his brother is just as brave and strong as him, or maybe even more so."
"Wait, why am I talking about this... I was just thinking about myself," Old Huang shook his head and said:
"Monk, how come I've lived so smoothly for most of my life, but suddenly felt impulsive yesterday?"
Old Huang sighed and still thought about the Hero Courage Soup from yesterday.
He is not a reckless person. When the monk was about to rush up yesterday, he was the one who stopped him.
"What else can we do? If you don't drink that bowl of soup, it will have to be drunk by the boss's sister." The monk also sighed on the side.
"But you did indeed defy the City Lord's son, which is a big problem. Childe Guo seeks revenge for the smallest grievances. If he didn't take care of you on the spot, it's because the boss's older brother is too important, and he didn't think of you for a moment."
When mentioning Qiao Lin, Old Huang and others had a deep impression.
As soon as he entered the door, he went after Childe Guo, almost scaring them silly.
When Childe Guo and others were about to leave, he threatened to send his own younger brother out of the city for a funeral and challenged them... This kind of behavior definitely left a deep impression on him.
However, at this moment, a thought suddenly came to Old Huang's mind.
"Do you think there is a possibility... that Qiao Lin did it on purpose?" Old Huang suddenly thought of this question.
"Did Qiao Lin act so recklessly on purpose, deliberately attracting the City Lord's son's attention? Just to save you?" The monk laughed upon hearing this.
"I don't mean to say, Old Huang, but are you acting a bit too important? Are you trying to be someone cute and lovely?"
"Qiao Lin isn't our boss, we're not related or close..."
Old Huang thought carefully again and suddenly noticed something:
"Wait, haven't we known our boss for a short time? Isn't his sacrifice also for..."
When they talked about Qiao Mu, the two people looked at each other and couldn't find the words to say.
After careful consideration... From the result, compared to what Qiao Lin did, Old Huang's offense doesn't really matter anymore.
At least before City Lord's son killed Qiao Lin, there wasn't time to worry about Old Huang's offense at all.
"If that's really the case, he would be a person who seems rough on the outside but is actually skilled in delicate techniques. Maybe he's even a great person for practicing Iron Crotch Skill. He looks tough and rough, but actually has a lot of detailed skills that ordinary people can't achieve." Old Huang muttered.
The monk next to him didn't understand at first, but after thinking carefully, he couldn't help but laugh and cry:
"Is this how it's used? Old Huang, read more books! Stop thinking about your Iron Crotch Skill."
They were joking around, but Old Huang glanced outside the city.
At this time, "Qiao Lin" should still be attending his younger brother Qiao Mu's funeral, right? I wonder if the City Lord's son has sent anyone to stop him.
While thinking about this.
From the direction of the City Lord's residence, there came a sharp whistle.
Not long after, a soldier on horseback came galloping from the direction of the City Lord's residence, heading straight into the military camp.
"There's trouble at the City Lord's residence!"
"Enemies forcefully entered the City Lord's residence and kidnapped the City Lord's son. Hurry, go rescue him!"
Old Huang and the others were initially stunned, but then they exchanged a glance, suddenly struck by an unbelievable thought.
The City Lord's son was kidnapped, sounds familiar? Could it really be...
..........................
In the lord's mansion, Qiao Mu, holding a long spear, confronted Guo Yan with the young master in his grasp.
Guo Yan had a calm face, he was still composed.
Even though his own son was kidnapped, at least this incident of "Qiao Lin" barging into the lord's mansion was discovered.
The mansion guards will arrive soon, and then someone will rush to the military camp to gather troops and horses. The mansion will be surrounded inside and out, and the culprit will have no chance to escape!
What puzzled him was that Qiao Mu didn't panic at all.
Seeing the guards in the courtyard surrounding him, he didn't show any signs of panic. What is he plotting?
Of course, he didn't know that Qiao Mu simply sought death.
Since the assassination attempt has already failed, why not make things bigger so that he can die in a more dignified and grand way?
"Please stay where you are," City Lord Guo Yan raised his hand to stop the approaching guards, and said with a serious face.
"If we are going to talk about reason, you might as well put down your weapon first."
"Isn't this the technique personally taught by City Lord? This long spear is my reason," Qiao Mu said casually.
"In the past, my younger brother Qiao Mu asked the City Lord, have you ever considered the countless sufferings endured by the people due to you and your father, even leading to their destruction and enslavement?"
"And this was how the City Lord answered, right?"
"Afterwards, my younger brother Qiao Mu died."
At that time, City Lord Guo Yan didn't resolve the problem. He simply let his subordinates launch a surprise attack and subdue Qiao Mu, thus dealing with the person who raised the question.
Qiao Mu's current identity is the older brother of the Qiao family who has lost his younger brother.
If he wants to die with dignity and honor, he should not be a wicked person who forcefully enters the Lord's Manor. Instead, he should be well-known and die with honor!
"So it's Qiao Lin, the elder brother of Qiao Mu?" The guards surrounding them exchanged glances.
Yan City is not big, and the young hero Qiao Mu is somewhat of a minor celebrity. They have heard of him to some extent.
This time, it was even more outrageous than the last time.
"I thought Centurion Qiao Mu was brave enough, daring to stand up for the common people and confront the Lord on the street. How can Qiao Lin be even braver?"
"Just now, I heard him say that the Qiao family not only has these two brothers, but also another one who went out of town for a funeral... What kind of family is this? Each one is more fearless than the other."
Qiao Mu confronted Childe Guo in the street and demanded an explanation from the Lord.
And what about Qiao Lin?
He directly stormed into the Lord's Manor and stabbed the young master in the belly!
Qiao Lin looked at the lord, looked at the crowd surrounding them, and calmly said:
"I, Qiao Lin, came to Yan City and entered your lord's residence to ask for one thing."
"Justice!"
"You need to calm down first. If we calm down, we can have a discussion." Lord Guo Yan frowned, finding the situation a bit tricky.
But since this "Qiao Lin" was willing to talk rationally, they could still come to an understanding, just like before.
Lord Guo Yan, having experienced many challenges, was not easily swayed and calmly said:
"Qiao Lin, you are new to Yan City, right? There might be some misunderstandings. You can ask the people of Yan City to find out what kind of person I, Guo Yan, am."
"Your brother Qiao Mu is a centurion in my Yan City Army, known for his bravery in battle and leading by example. I have always admired him and gave him the position of centurion without hesitation. You can inquire about this. And the key point is that it was not me who killed him, but the bandits outside the city."
Qiao Mu smiled.
"What a flawless City Lord you are, but your son is arrogant and cruel, causing harm and carrying all the blame. Yet you manage to earn a good reputation, at most only being lenient in discipline."
"The people don't speak up, is that how you see it?"
The City Lord frowned, "You, an outsider, know more about what happens in this city than the local people? If the people haven't spoken, why are you so anxious?"
Qiao Mu solemnly said, "The people in this city, Yan City, have their own families and naturally have concerns and apprehensions. They dare not speak recklessly."
"The City Lord's son has a reputation for being a wastrel, he always has his servants clear the way for him and even openly commits crimes such as robbery and murder... The people don't dare say you, City Lord Guo Yan, are wrong, at most they can only say that the spoiled son behaves arrogantly."
"They dare not speak the truth and can only watch from the sidelines, but it's not their fault. If they have the ability, they should punish evil and promote good; if they have no ability, they should first protect themselves. That is being responsible to oneself and one's family."
"But I am different from them."
Qiao Mu tightened his grasp on the long spear in his hand, his gaze revealing a hint of sorrow. He was starting to get into character:
"My family, my dear brother Qiao Mu, has already died."
"Since I have no worries or obligations, I naturally want to be a fearless man!" Qiao Mu shouted loudly.
"I will say and do things that others dare not!"
Qiao Mu admitted that he was acting, he just wanted to die, he didn't have such a noble purpose as he claimed.
But this didn't stop him from feeling a surge of satisfaction after saying these words.
Being born immortal, he was always someone with extra strength, so naturally he wouldn't stand idly by!
As he spoke these words, the expressions of the guards surrounding him in the courtyard changed.
Previously, they only knew this person as Qiao Lin.
This time, breaking into the mansion, it was probably for avenging his brother.
Seeking revenge for one's own blood, it's a common practice in the world.
Just by looking at Qiao Lin's calm manner despite being in a difficult situation, it seems that seeking revenge for his brother is not the only reason for his actions.
This Qiao Lin is not only risking his life because of Qiao Mu's death.
Even though they are under the command of the lord, this matter still touches their hearts.
In this chaotic world, there are many people who just struggle to survive, but few are truly brave enough to face life and death.
Outside the lord's mansion, Swordsman Jiang Chen came and went, using his light footwork to hide on the nearby roof, quietly listening to the commotion.
He had already lost his pursuers, but upon hearing the signal from the lord's mansion, he returned only to witness this scene.
"This Qiao Mu and Qiao Lin are true gentlemen... I just wonder what kind of family the Qiao family is, to raise such remarkable siblings," he praised in his heart.
Lord Guo Yan's face slowly darkened.
He gradually realized that Qiao Lin's stubbornness surpassed even that of Qiao Mu, and it seemed impossible to persuade him.
"Qiao Lin, you are a brave hero who doesn't fear life and death," Guo Yan could only say.
"But your brother Qiao Mu has already been killed by bandits. Do you also not care about your own life, and insist on letting your Qiao family come to an end?"
At this moment, Guo Yan was starting to have doubts about the so-called "Qiao's family."
In the beginning, Qiao Mu also claimed that he was a nameless and insignificant soldier, but in the end, he ended up killing one Qiao Mu and now there are two brothers. One openly attending the funeral, and the other sneaking into the lord's mansion.
Surprisingly, this question struck right at the heart of Qiao Mu.
When Childe Guo carried the coffin into the door yesterday, Qiao Mu acted so ostentatiously. It was obviously to firmly hold onto his hatred and allow Qiao Canxue to secretly escape.
As long as she leaves this corner of Yan City, then the problem won't be big.
"I, Qiao Lin, am also a reckless man! What do I fear about death!" Qiao Mu laughed loudly.
"The family motto of Qiao family: to die in a worthy way!"
"I, Qiao Lin, only hate that I cannot kill the wicked and heartless people, only worry that I cannot show my courage, and only fear that I will not die fulfilling my destiny!"
When these words were spoken, it immediately struck a chord in the hearts of the people around and even made the lord of the city change his expression slightly.
What kind of family would pass down "fulfilling destiny in death" as their family motto?
In this world, every noble and prestigious family desires to have descendants and continue their lineage, don't they?
Yet, this Qiao family is openly proclaiming their motto of fulfilling destiny in death. Do they want their own descendants to die quickly?
But Qiao Mu didn't give the lord any time to react.
Today, he is determined to make a big scene out of this situation!
"Qiao Mu is already dead!"
"He is weak, and he deserves to die!"
"You are strong, you are right! Isn't this the lesson that the Lord taught my little brother personally on the streets of Yan City?"
"No matter how good the reasoning sounds, it is no match for the Lord's power, that is the greatest truth in this world!"
In the past, before Qiao Mu had learned any martial arts, he encountered an injustice on the street and angrily confronted the Lord, only to tragically die by the hands of bandits.
He died, he became stronger.
And now, he has an even greater truth.
"Today, I, Qiao Lin, have come to share my reasoning with the Lord!"
Just as he finished speaking.
Qiao Mu's hand thrust out the long spear.
Childe Guo, who was being pulled in front of Qiao Mu, trembled all over and looked down in disbelief at his own chest.
A piece of spear pointed had pierced into his chest from his back, and fresh blood flowed out.
The situation was too sudden.
Lord Guo Yan, the ruler of the city, thought that if they wanted to threaten his son, there must be something to negotiate. And Childe Guo also thought that since his own father was involved, there might be a glimmer of hope for him.
However, Qiao Mu's spear completely shattered their hope.
With blood soaking his robe, Childe Guo stumbled forward a few steps, his eyes looking towards his father, Lord Guo Yan, gradually losing their sparkle.
"I... I want to live..."
After saying these words, his body collapsed to the ground and never moved again.
Qiao Mu silently looked at Childe Guo's lifeless body, silently saying to himself:
You want to live? Old Huang also wished his seventh child could survive...
