Chapter 1077 - 1079: Take Action, Protect Your Subordinates_1
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes widened slightly as she glanced, from the corner of her eye, at Diao Yao, who had just snapped out of Zhou Jue’s charm and was now annoyed with herself. Two words sprang to mind: "Charm Technique!"
She had encountered Zhou Jue several times before and was no stranger to his bewitching beauty, but she had never been disturbed to the point of being unsettled. It was evident that Zhou Jue was different now, and very likely, he had practiced the Charm Technique.
She felt nauseous at the thought. She had heard of women practicing the Charm Technique, but this was the first time she heard of a man doing such a thing.
Thinking of how Zhou Jue could be breathtakingly beautiful even when dressed as a woman, and how he could use the Bone Shrinking Skill to make himself delicately petite, Bai Ruozhu thought it all too terrifying. She even wondered if Zhou Jue, were he to disguise himself as a woman and use the Charm Technique to seduce the emperor, whether the emperor could resist him.
"How come after not seeing me for so many days, you’re staring at me to the point of being stunned?" Zhou Jue said, even tossing a coquettish glance at Bai Ruozhu.
Unlike ordinary men who wore cloth or brocade, he was dressed in a sheer, cross-collared robe. Though he wore an undershirt inside, the chest was half open, revealing a patch of snow-white skin and some enticing collarbones, and even a properly contoured pectoral muscle.
His attire could only be described as extremely flippant, especially amidst a group of guards dressed in black with serious expressions, he stood out as particularly different.
Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly and asked, "When did Chengshui Country become so dilapidated that even a prince can’t stay put and keeps running to our Danliang Country?"
"Daliang is a land of propriety and known for its great hospitality. I heard that certain Mr. Jiang is not around, so I want to see who can stop me this time," Zhou Jue said. Suddenly, he leaped from his horse and shot straight toward Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu was shocked. She had thought that Zhou Jue was just boasting, but she hadn’t expected him to actually dare to make a move in the Capital City, and even attempt to capture her on the street. Had his status really changed?
While she pondered this in her head, she didn’t just stand there foolishly; she quickly rode her horse backward to dodge Zhou Jue’s attack. However, Zhou Jue’s martial arts prowess was indeed formidable. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he burst forward in her direction once more.
His right hand suddenly turned into a hook, and his entire demeanor became more ferocious. He reached out fiercely towards Bai Ruozhu.
Jianqi flew in to block his assault, shielding Bai Ruozhu and the others behind him. Muyu also took a stand, not daring to act rashly, but vigilantly watching Zhou Jue’s subordinates, wary they might attack as well.
Fortunately, without Zhou Jue’s command, those black-clothed guards made no move but remained on their horses as spectators, seemingly unconcerned for their master’s safety.
Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes as she watched Zhou Jue fighting with Jianqi. She knew that this was the Capital City, and with so many eyes watching, she couldn’t act recklessly.
Just then, Zhou Jue flipped his wrist, and his claw-like fingertips suddenly clutched Jianqi’s left arm. Bai Ruozhu was startled and quickly shouted, "Jianqi, come back!"
Jianqi’s left hand was in pain, but since he was a right-handed swordsman, he could still draw his sword and continue the fight. Despite his reluctance, he still obeyed Bai Ruozhu’s command and retreated.
Seeing that Zhou Jue was about to make another move, Muyu hastily stepped forward. Diao Yao, upon seeing this, also joined the fray. Bai Ruozhu opened her mouth, wanting to stop Diao Yao from getting involved in this mess, but it was too late.
She put aside her concerns, as saving Jianqi was more urgent at the moment. She dismounted from her horse, grabbed Jianqi’s left wrist, and whispered, "Don’t move, it’s severe poison!"
Jianqi was shocked, as he only felt a sting, but hadn’t expected to get poisoned when there was a guard wristband in between. How could it have happened?
Bai Ruozhu quickly removed Jianqi’s wrist guard and pulled out the silver needle to administer acupuncture to suppress the poison. Then she gave him a Detoxification Pill, but Zhou Jue’s poison was very peculiar, and she didn’t have a way to detoxify it at the moment. She could only temporarily ensure that Jianqi’s arm wouldn’t become useless.
Zhou Jue suddenly burst into laughter and then leaped back onto his own horse. Seeing him return among his guards, Diao Yao and Muyu didn’t dare to pursue him any further. Moreover, both of them understood that they were no match for Zhou Jue if they continued fighting.
"It’s just a guard; if he’s poisoned, cut off the arm, and you’re sure to make the cut. Does a master really need to personally treat the injury? It can’t be that with Jiang Yichun not around, you couldn’t bear the loneliness and sought out this guard?" Zhou Jue’s tone was teasing, and he deliberately raised his voice.
Angered, Muyu was about to charge at Zhou Jue and fight to the death when Bai Ruozhu, with a cold face, shouted, "Come back, don’t just throw your life away!"
She looked coldly at Zhou Jue, finding him more and more distasteful and nauseating.
"I will protect my own subordinates. If one can discard even their subordinates as if they were nothing, what humanity is left? So this is how the sixth prince of Chengshui Country treats his people," Bai Ruozhu said coldly, her hands continuing the acupuncture without pause. Jianqi, however, influenced by Zhou Jue’s words, tried to withdraw his hand to avoid suspicion, earning a fierce glare from Bai Ruozhu. "Do you want your arm to become useless? Where is your toughness from usual days? Are you upset just because of some obnoxious words from that demon?", she said harshly.
Jianqi was stunned. How could he have been so easily provoked by Zhou Jue?
Muyu stepped back, shouting indignantly, "Yeah, that dead demon never treats his subordinates like people, unlike our master and madam who are so kind. Not to mention treating her own guard’s injuries, our madam even helps ordinary soldiers when they’re wounded. Who in the army doesn’t know of our madam’s righteousness?"
Zhou Jue was taken aback. As a prince, he was always treated with the utmost respect and couldn’t understand why Bai Ruozhu would bother to save those lowly soldiers. Wasn’t she afraid of dirtying her hands? He thought Bai Ruozhu was just foolish.
But Bai Ruozhu was still treating Jianqi and didn’t even glance at him, which infuriated Zhou Jue. He had intended to leave, but suddenly changed his mind and once again leaped out, reaching for Bai Ruozhu.
"Madam, be careful!" Muyu cried out and intercepted, but he hadn’t anticipated that Zhou Jue’s lightness skills were far better than his. Zhou Jue, catching him off guard, actually bypassed him!
It was all over; how was he going to explain this to his master! This thought flashed through Muyu’s mind when the next second he saw Chu Hai block in front of Bai Ruozhu and engage Zhou Jue in combat while Diao Yao and Xiaosi also jumped off their horses to help. Bai Ruozhu watched in alarm. Diao Yao was fine, but Chu Hai was a semi-invalid and Xiaosi was too young. What if Zhou Jue dealt them a poisonous blow?
Zhou Jue was extremely skilled in martial arts and proficient in using poison. He was simply difficult to guard against.
Just then, the sound of troops approached from not too far away. It was Liang Jing, the Left Commander of Jinwu Guard, who had brought his men for inspection.
"Who in the Capital is brawling and seeking trouble ahead? State your names immediately!" Liang Jing commanded loudly, and in no time, he had arrived on horseback.
He nodded slightly toward Bai Ruozhu. He, together with Jiang Yichun, served as the Left and Right Commanders. They had a good relationship privately, and before Jiang Yichun had left the Capital, he had entrusted Liang Jing to look after the Bai Family.
Zhou Jue’s face revealed an amused expression as he said, "I am the Crown Prince of Chengshui Country. Visiting Danliang Country, I encountered an old friend and merely shared a joke and a little spar."