Chapter 220 - Villain Sword
Chapter 220 of "After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times" opens revealing: Zhao Ming and Fu Tinghan listened indifferently and did not interfere, and Zhao Cheng was... Keep going!
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 couldnât help but whisper, "Arenât you going to stop this?"
Thatâs the Glazed Workshop!
Zhao Cheng replied calmly, "Why stop it?"
"Fine, you consider money as dirt, I canât compare."
Would Zhao Hanzhang consider money as dirt?
Of course not.
Itâs just a glass workshop, and Xiahou Ren wouldnât really set up the workshop in Shangcai and Xiping. Once he takes the craftsmen and recipes, they could simply train new personnel.
She doesnât 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 isnât 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 wonât lose, even if sheâs 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 couldnât even see her movements clearly. He instinctively raised his sword to block, but it was too late â Zhao Hanzhangâs 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, youâre dead once."
Xiahou Renâs 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 Hanzhangâs wooden sword targeted his heart, striking precisely.
Xiahou Ren: ...
He felt as if heâd competed, yet also as if he hadnât.
Zhao Hanzhang sheathed her sword and cupped her fists, "Uncle, thank you for showing mercy."
Xiahou Renâs face finally showed some change, though it appeared slightly green. He had much to say but couldnât express it.
He Cheng spoke on his behalf, "This isnât the Gentlemanâs Sword; itâs the scoundrelâs sword."
"Thatâs incorrect," Zhao Ming came down from the corridor to defend Zhao Hanzhang, "Theyâre all killing swords, why distinguish between Gentlemanâs Sword or scoundrelâs sword?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded deeply in agreement.
He Cheng frowned, "Her sword strikes are vicious, with angles so harsh and sinister, itâs unbecoming of a gentleman."
Zhao Ming snorted coldly, "A gentleman wouldnât resort to violence, anyone who does isnât a gentleman."
"Which ancient sage didnât practice the six arts? Martial arts is one of them, how is it not gentlemanly?"
Zhao Ming: "Ancient sages wouldnât rely on age and strength to covet othersâ property."
Heâs wary of the Xiahou Family, but that doesnât mean heâs afraid of the Xiahou Family. That Zhao Hanzhang proposed using the Glazed Workshop as stakes, and the other side agreed, shows that heâs long had his eyes on the Glazed Workshop.
Yes, he is indeed double-standard.
Zhao Hanzhang can have her eyes on othersâ manuscripts, and yet Xiahou Ren cannot have his eyes on the Zhao Familyâs Glazed Workshop.
With these words, not only Xiahou Ren but even He Chengâs 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 donât recognize it then..."
"Recognize, recognize, recognize," Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly interrupted, "Why wouldnât I recognize? Uncles, thereâs no need to argue. Isnât it just Gentlemanâs Sword and scoundrelâs sword? Scoundrelâs 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 scoundrelâs sword do you know?"
Zhao Hanzhang quickly pacified him, "Uncle, just because I know scoundrelâs sword doesnât mean Iâm a scoundrel. For example, knowing Gentlemanâs Sword doesnât 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 scoundrelâs sword?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied cheerfully, "I can practice, but a solo dance might not show if itâs scoundrel or gentleman, so Iâll need Uncle Xiahou to spar with me, this way everyone can see if itâs scoundrel or gentleman."
The four elders were somewhat intrigued by her words. They wondered what her so-called scoundrelâs sword looked like.
Xiahou Ren thought that heâd already lost, and lost so quickly and embarrassingly twice, a third loss wouldnât hurt, so he calmly held his wooden sword and stepped back, nodding, "Then come on."
Fu Tinghan couldnât help his gaze from drifting downward, thinking he might be overthinking, but...
With his modern mindset and understanding of Zhao Hanzhang, the so-called scoundrelâs sword might...
Before his thoughts settled, Zhao Hanzhang had started sparring with Xiahou Ren. This time, perhaps to let everyone see her so-called scoundrelâs 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 Hanzhangâs 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 couldnât 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 wouldâve 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 scoundrelâs sword, itâs 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 couldnât let the Zhao Familyâs disciples gain the same reputation as hers, and cheerfully said, "Uncle, this scoundrelâs sword wasnât learned within the family, I learned it outside."
She smiled and asked, "Do you find this a scoundrelâs sword?"
Xiahou Ren: "Itâs indeed scoundrelly!"
Zhao Hanzhang clapped and said, "So, the sword I used in the duel earlier was the Gentlemanâs Sword, and this is the scoundrelâs sword."
No, both are clearly scoundrelâs swords; this oneâs just more scoundrelly.
But Xiahou Ren didnât argue further, afraid sheâd 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 Renâs face grew darker, Zhao Ming saw this wasnât good and quickly said, "Since the duel is over, about the stakes..."