24: Chapter 24 A Bet!
Zhang Da also snapped back to reality. That night when he went home, there indeed was unfinished beef at his house. He remembered his wife saying her cousin had brought it.
Although he had noticed something was off with his wife at the time, he didn't suspect her too much, let alone think that Li Kai had gone to his house.
Now that Zhao Zilong was describing it in such detail, he was certain it was Li Kai.
"You bastard Li, I'm going to kill you!"
Enraged, Zhang Da pushed aside the people holding him back and rushed at Li Kai once more.
Li Kai sat on the ground, unable to dodge in time; furthermore, his combat ability wasn't stronger than the sturdier Zhang Da.
Previously, Zhang Da had treated Li Kai like an elder brother, so he listened to Li Kai in everything.
Now that Li Kai had betrayed him, there was no need to acknowledge him as an elder brother anymore. He wanted to beat this adulterer to death.
This time, no one stepped forward to pull Zhang Da away.
Li Kai was beaten until he curled up on the ground, screaming in pain.
Zhao Zilong watched the spectacle with a smile on his face, having no intention of stopping it.
Hiding at the side of the building, Cai Wenjing frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on Zhao Zilong.
"This guy knows about this matter not because he stumbled upon it by accident, but because of premeditated tracking. And despite how much Li Kai and Zhang Da bullied him before, he didn't say a word until today. He really can endure; this person is quite terrifying."
"Alright, Zhang Da, stop hitting him. If you keep going, someone will die, and you'll have to pay with your life too."
Li Kai had been beaten until blood sprayed from his nose and mouth, his eye sockets were bruised and bleeding, and his hair was a mess. He looked wretched.
Zhao Zilong didn't want a death on his hands, so he spoke up to stop it.
Zhang Da didn't listen at all. While beating Li Kai, he cursed angrily, "Zhao, you don't fucking have the right to tell me what to do!"
"Zhang Da, Li Kai is a piece of trash, but what have you done? You know it in your heart. Don't make this Banner Master say it out loud."
As he spoke, Zhao Zilong pulled a small notebook from his robes.
He held the notebook up and spoke slowly, "Everyone, this book records some of the things you've done over the past two to three years. If any of you believe you have a clear conscience, this Banner Master will read them out one by one in front of you right now. If anyone has an objection, feel free to raise it."
"However, let me give you a fair warning: this Banner Master won't care how much of an impact this has on you."
Zhang Da stopped. He thought about the shameful things he had done in the past—he could actually recall several—and his face turned pale.
The others were also recalling the unspeakable things they had done, and all of their expressions turned sour.
"It seems everyone has some self-awareness."
Zhao Zilong smiled faintly.
"Zhao Zilong, you aren't bluffing us, are you?"
One person spoke up; his name was Wu Chuan.
Zhao Zilong said, "This Banner Master has no interest in that. Wu Chuan, right? Come over and see for yourself. See if what this Banner Master recorded is incorrect."
Because the original owner of this body had been bullied by these people, he had been collecting evidence of their misdeeds for years.
However, none of them were major enough to get these people killed, so he hadn't used the information for anything.
But it was different now. Zhao Zilong was a Banner Master; he could use these stains to keep these people in check.
Wu Chuan walked up to Zhao Zilong. Zhao Zilong didn't hand the notebook to him but instead flipped it open himself to the page recording Wu Chuan's offenses.
When he saw what was recorded, Wu Chuan's face instantly turned even paler. His body swayed, and he nearly fell over.
"You..."
Wu Chuan stared at Zhao Zilong with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Zhao Zilong asked, "Is anything recorded incorrectly?"
"What do you want?"
Wu Chuan demanded angrily.
Zhao Zilong replied, "If you don't want this to get out, then do your job well for this Banner Master from now on."
"Are you threatening me?"
Wu Chuan glared, his beard bristling.
Zhao Zilong didn't respond to Wu Chuan. Instead, he returned to the front of the room and faced the crowd. He said, "Everyone, many of you have bullied me, Zhao Zilong, in the past. However, truth be told, we don't have any deep-seated hatred. When I recorded these things, I indeed intended to take revenge on you all."
"But I didn't expect us to be so fated. I have become your Banner Master. Since I am your Banner Master, I must have a broad vision."
"I, Zhao Zilong, can guarantee that past matters will not be pursued. But you must also guarantee to me that you will follow me and do your jobs well from now on. Otherwise, don't blame me, your Banner Master, for being heartless."
No one responded; they all lowered their heads.
Now that Zhao Zilong held their leverage, if they didn't obey, he would make their deeds public. While it might not cost them their lives, it would certainly be humiliating.
Moreover, having their secrets held by someone else made them feel uneasy.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Zhao Zilong spoke slowly, "I know what you're thinking—that this Banner Master is threatening you. But what I want to tell you is that I didn't bring out this notebook to threaten you, but to clear the air between us."
"We will be working together from now on. We must turn our swords into plowshares."
"Xiaotian, bring the brazier."
Zhao Zilong called out to the side. Zhao Xiaotian came running over carrying a brazier and placed it in front of Zhao Zilong.
Zhao Zilong said, "Everyone, this Banner Master will burn this notebook now. The matters recorded inside will also turn to ash."
As he spoke, under the surprised gazes of the crowd, Zhao Zilong threw the notebook into the brazier.
The notebook ignited upon touching the fire, turning yellow and then black until it finally became ash.
"Zhao Zi—cough, Banner Master Zhao, you're really not going to use this to threaten us?"
Wu Chuan was somewhat surprised, unable to believe it.
Zhao Zilong said, "What this Banner Master wants is for you to follow me sincerely, not because I hold leverage over you. I know you can't accept my status as Banner Master all at once, but that's fine. I'll give you time to adapt and accept it."
"But, remember not to cause trouble for this Banner Master, or else I won't be polite."
"Oh? Who is this? You really think you're something, don't you? Calling yourself 'Banner Master' this and that—aren't you afraid of tripping over your own tongue?"
Three people walked over.
They were all from the Fuzheng Division.
Zhao Zilong looked over; he recognized them all.
They were from the Second Banner.
The one walking in the lead was named Ge Hua, a Second-Grade Martial Artist.
Zhao Zilong narrowed his eyes at Ge Hua. He had no history of conflict with Ge Hua.
Now that Ge Hua had come over, it was clearly aimed at him. He was puzzled.
"Brother Ge, what is the meaning of this?"
Zhao Zilong had no intention of backing down.
The original owner of this body used to yield in everything, but Zhao Zilong would not.
Fortunes change over time. He was already forty years old; it was time for some things to change.
"Zhao Zilong, are you playing dumb? I'm asking you: as a mere scribe, even if you've become a First-Grade Martial Artist now, what right do you have to serve as the Banner Master of the Third Banner?"
Ge Hua shouted angrily.
He had thought that if Cao Yun retired, this Banner Master position would belong to him.
But even if it wasn't him, it shouldn't be Zhao Zilong's. Was Zhao Zilong worthy?
What right did he have?
"So you're saying you, Ge Hua, have the right?"
Zhao Zilong stared intently at Ge Hua.
Ge Hua said, "At least more than you."
"Oh? Then why don't you tell me, what rights do you have?"
Zhao Zilong snorted.
Ge Hua said, "I am a Second-Grade Martial Artist."
Zhao Zilong chuckled and said, "And then?"
"What do you mean 'and then'?"
Ge Hua was a bit dazed.
Zhao Zilong said, "In this past year or so, how many Remnants of the Previous Dynasty have you captured?"
Naturally, he hadn't caught a single one. This was something he obviously couldn't say.
Ge Hua felt a bit embarrassed. He glared at Zhao Zilong and said, "Zhao Zilong, are you implying that you can catch the Remnants of the Previous Dynasty?"
Zhao Zilong said, "Is it that hard to catch them? Only a brute like you, Ge Hua, would be unable to catch them."