Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Zhao Yu smiled and raised his hand, his tone still calm: "Chief Qiu is too kind. The Iron Palm Technique is unparalleled in its power and is indeed one of the top palm techniques in the world. Looking across the world, I'm afraid only the Beggar Clan's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms can compare with it. I have also benefited greatly from today's battle."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianren could only manage a bitter smile, speechless.

His most prized Iron Palm skill couldn't gain him even the slightest advantage in the hands of others, so what else is there to say?

The obsession with becoming the best in the world that I had before vanished instantly after this battle, leaving only a feeling of utter dejection.

However, this dejection only lasted for a moment before he shook his head violently, shaking all those distracting thoughts out of his mind.

The prince before me has ambitions to rule the world. In the future, I may have a chance to compete with him in the martial arts arena.

Moreover, the merit of following the dragon is the path to heaven, the advancement that Qiu Qianren has always dreamed of.

Seeing that Zhao Yu possessed unparalleled skills and had a very high chance of succeeding, this was a good thing in itself.

Thinking of this, Qiu Qianren no longer hesitated, pulled Qiu Qianchi beside him, and bowed deeply to Zhao Yu.

"Your Highness is a man of extraordinary talent, destined for greatness. My sister and I are willing to serve you with utmost loyalty, even unto death!"

"good!"

Zhao Yu laughed heartily, strode forward, and personally helped Qiu Qianren to his feet: "With Chief Qiu's assistance, I am like a tiger with wings. Come, follow me inside; we shall drink until we drop today!"

On that day, a banquet was held in the Prince's mansion, where Zhao Yu and Qiu Qianren drank and chatted happily.

The next day, the two had another long talk in the study.

Zhao Yu briefly explained his plan to Qiu Qianren, ordering him to return to Iron Palm Peak immediately and select elite and trusted members of the gang to infiltrate Lin'an in batches, ready to be deployed at any time.

Qiu Qianren received the order and dared not delay. That very day, he took Qiu Qianchi and left Lin'an, riding at full speed to Iron Palm Peak on Jinghu South Road.

After seeing Qiu Qianren off, Zhao Yu stood at the gate of the Prince's mansion, gazing south of the city, muttering to himself, "The ten-day deadline has arrived. Xia Zhen, Grand Commandant Xia, it's time for you to give me an answer."

South of the city, Xia Zhen's residence.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered, casting intermittent light on Xia Zhen's face, making him appear deathly pale.

He paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back, his steps hurried, like an ant on a hot pan.

The tea on the table had been replaced pot after pot, and had long since gone cold, but he hadn't touched it at all.

Every now and then, Xia Zhen would suddenly look up at the door and windows of the study, but each time he saw the empty doorway, he would be quickly filled with disappointment and fear.

It's been ten days.

It has been a full ten days since the man in black broke into the study and planted that evil life-and-death talisman on him.

During those ten days, Xia Zhen almost went mad.

He searched for all the famous doctors in Lin'an City, and even invited the most skilled physician in the Imperial Medical Academy to his residence.

They even went so far as to use their connections to bring in several renowned masters from the martial arts world.

But no one could remove the life-or-death talisman from him and his staff.

All that could be diagnosed was that both he and his advisor harbored a strange, foreign kind of true energy within their meridians.

But those so-called famous doctors and experts couldn't even figure out what this true energy was, let alone dispel it.

He watched helplessly as his staff member, tormented by endless itching and pain, gradually went mad, frantically scratching his body until he was covered in blood and his skin was ulcerated, and he breathed his last in endless agony.

He would never forget the horrific way he died.

The thought that he also possessed such true energy within his own body sent chills down Xia Zhen's spine, and he would even be awakened by nightmares at night.

Just as he was feeling uneasy and went to the window to look outside again, he suddenly felt that there was another person in the study behind him.

Xia Zhen froze and turned around abruptly.

The masked man in black was sitting in his usual armchair, toying with his official seal, looking at him with a half-smile.

Xia Zhen's heart clenched, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He suppressed his fear, straightened his clothes, and, feigning composure, bowed to Zhao Yu, saying, "Your Excellency truly keeps your word; you promised ten days, and you did so without fail."

Zhao Yu chuckled and casually tossed the heavy official seal back onto the table with a dull thud.

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and slowly asked, "How is it, Grand Commandant Xia? How is your advisor?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhen's body trembled involuntarily, his face turned even more pale, and cold sweat instantly seeped out from his forehead.

His lips trembled slightly, his voice shaking uncontrollably: "He...he didn't make it, he's gone. Your methods are truly...unpredictable."

Even now, Xia Zhen still can't understand what kind of evil magic it was that could leave even the world's most renowned doctors helpless.

It's called martial arts, but where in the world can you find such martial arts?

Xia Zhen himself knew some kung fu and had associated with some martial arts people, but he had never seen such skills before.

Zhao Yu nodded, showing no surprise whatsoever, as if he had expected this outcome.

Seeing this, Xia Zhen quickly turned to the side, pointed to two large wooden boxes in the corner of the study, and forced a smile at Zhao Yu.

"Your Excellency, this is a small token of my appreciation: two boxes of jewels, worth 100,000 taels of silver. Please accept it with a smile. I only beg Your Excellency to be lenient and remove the life-or-death talisman from my body. In the future, if Your Excellency has any requests, I, Xia, will do my utmost to help, even at the cost of my life!"

As Xia Zhen spoke, he glanced at the teacup on the table.

In case of any unexpected event, he only needs to smash the cup as a signal, and the martial arts masters and dozens of imperial guards lying in ambush outside will rush in and surround the place completely.

Xia Zhen was, after all, the Grand Commandant who commanded the Three Imperial Guards. Even if he was afraid of death, he couldn't possibly place all his hopes on a mysterious man in black.

Jewelry is a means of appeasement and a test, while the ambush outside is his final trump card.

But his little tricks were completely exposed to Zhao Yu.

Before he appeared, Zhao Yu had already sensed the breathing sounds inside and outside the study. However, he was skilled and daring, so he showed up without fear.

To subdue this person, how could it be possible without showing some skill?

Zhao Yu didn't even lift his eyelids. He only glanced at the two jeweled wooden boxes before turning his gaze back to Xia Zhen.

"Grand Commandant Xia, you only said half of what you meant, didn't you? Is there a second half to your statement? If I'm ungrateful and refuse to accept the jewels or give you the antidote, are you going to have your men in ambush come out, capture me, and then we'll settle things further?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhen's expression changed drastically.

How could he know there was an ambush?