I Can Replicate Martial Arts-Chapter 140 - 81: A Healthy Beating

"Good. You’re a bold one, Fifth Master! Since it’s come to this, will you end things yourself, or shall I help you?"

Zhao Jinze said coldly.

His words struck everyone like a thunderclap on a rainy night.

Limp Zhang and Peng Laohu’s faces paled in alarm. "Brother Zhao, you can’t!"

"Jinze, stay your hand."

The others who had come to back up Fifth Master also paled, chiming in to dissuade him.

"Director Zhao, it’s come to this, but it’s always better to settle things peacefully."

"We’re willing to vouch for him. Whatever your demands may be, Brother, I’m sure Fifth Master will meet them. Isn’t that right, Fifth Master!"

It wasn’t that these men who spoke up for Fifth Master shared some profound, life-or-death bond with him.

Rather, everyone present was involved. If things truly went that far, who knew if Zhao Jinze would use it as an excuse to make a bigger issue of it.

’And wipe them all out in one fell swoop?’

A peaceful resolution was the best way to get out of this situation.

Hearing their pleas, Zhao Jinze stared coldly at the grim-faced Fifth Master, not saying a word.

The atmosphere in the room instantly plunged, as if they had been thrown into an ice cave, chilling everyone to their very core.

One wrong move, and a river of blood would surely flow.

When that happened, the Court would intervene and the Patrol would arrive. The heavens of Yishui’s underworld would be turned upside down.

"Hahaha!"

After a moment of grim silence, Fifth Master, the man at the center of the storm, suddenly burst into a hearty laugh. "I’ve been fighting and killing for decades. I’d say I’ve lived a good life."

"If I left this massive fortune in the hands of this worthless son of mine, it would lead to our family’s ruin sooner or later anyway. I won’t need to trouble Brother Zhao."

With that, he struck out with his palm toward his son, Song Maowen, who lay on the floor groaning, completely spineless.

"Father, what are you doing!"

Song Maowen was scared out of his wits, utterly terrified. He wanted to get up and run, but the sharp pain in his chest kept him from mustering any Force.

He could only watch helplessly as his father’s immense Palm Force bore down on him.

Everyone there was dumbfounded. They never imagined Fifth Master would be so ruthless.

’It’s over!’

Minds raced as everyone began calculating how to get out of this conflict, or perhaps, how to profit from it.

THUD!

Just then, a powerful wave of Palm Force appeared from nowhere, firmly blocking Fifth Master’s descending right hand.

Everyone started, their eyes drawn to the center of the room. The person who had intervened was, surprisingly, Zhao Jinze.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Fifth Master frowned, confused. ’Does he want to kill him himself?’

"Fifth Master, I just saved his life. Do you acknowledge this favor?"

Zhao Jinze said calmly.

"A life-saving favor?"

After a moment of hesitation, understanding dawned on everyone present, and their faces lit up with pleasant surprise.

Fifth Master’s eyes narrowed. He never expected Zhao Jinze to possess such magnanimity.

A glint flashed in his eyes, and he laughed heartily. "Brother Zhao, this old brother of yours is truly impressed. I accept this life-saving favor!"

"Good!"

Zhao Jinze smiled calmly and withdrew his hand.

"What are you all gawking at? Get in here, clean this mess up, and carry this bastard out of my sight. What a complete disgrace."

Fifth Master barked, frowning at his men outside.

Immediately, seven or eight of his men rushed in to clear away the broken tables, chairs, and other debris on the floor.

They also carried out Song Maowen, who was still lying on the ground after his narrow escape from death.

Meanwhile, Fifth Master and the others had already retaken their seats in the Grandmaster’s Chairs, as if nothing had happened at all.

Zhao Rui sat beside his third uncle, calmly sipping his tea. ’Yuqian Longjing. Not bad at all.’

"Fifth Master..."

"Eh, none of that ’Fifth Master’ business. I’m a few years your senior, so just call me Fifth Brother. My younger brother, you are a magnanimous man with a grand vision. If I weren’t so ashamed of myself right now, I would love nothing more than to become sworn brothers with you."

Fifth Master said with a shake of his head and a sigh.

"I, too, have long admired you. It was just a strange twist of fate that led to this conflict," Zhao Jinze said with a smile.

"Well now! If you both feel that way, why hesitate? Just become sworn brothers today!"

Peng Laohu chimed in with an encouraging smile.

"Well? Brother Zhao?"

Fifth Master looked at Zhao Jinze.

"Fifth Brother!"

"Younger Brother!"

The two men rose simultaneously, clasped hands, and burst into laughter.

"Bring wine! Bring incense! Today, I will become sworn brothers with my new younger brother!"

At Fifth Master’s command, the entire restaurant instantly bustled with activity.

Zhao Rui watched from the side, completely baffled.

’How should I put it? They’re just a bunch of slippery old foxes—always sizing up the situation, obsessed with saving face, and stirring up all kinds of trouble.’

’If it weren’t for the air conditioner and television in the room, he’d have thought he’d traveled back to ancient times.’

’But for some reason, he felt this was a hell of a lot better than working a desk job until he died of old age.’

’The Jianghu... what is the Jianghu? Fighting and killing is the Jianghu. But so are romance and poetry, kindness and grudges, love and hatred.’

A carefree smile spread across Zhao Rui’s face as understanding dawned on him.

With a sword in hand,

I *am* the Jianghu!

...

The business of becoming sworn brothers had nothing to do with Zhao Rui, and he couldn’t be bothered to get involved, no matter how skilled he was in Martial Arts.

He was still Zhao Jinze’s nephew.

All he had to do was watch his uncle put on a show.

As for the deliberate attempts by men like Scarface to curry favor, he handled them with composure, tactfully deferring to his third uncle.

After all, he was just a young man who had only just turned eighteen.

After the ceremony of pledging brotherhood to heaven and earth, a night of drinking, feasting, and debauchery was inevitable.

If there was one thing Fifth Master had in abundance, it was money and women.

At a table of ten men, there were ten women to attend to their every need.

Zhao Jinze glanced over at his "big" nephew, who looked perfectly at ease and suave, comfortably letting a pretty girl attend to him.

His eyelid couldn’t help but twitch.

’That smooth demeanor... This can’t be his first time at a party like this!’

Noticing his third uncle’s gaze, Zhao Rui immediately sat up straight, putting on the air of a well-behaved child.