Chapter Thirty-Seven: Muffled Stick

  Chu Hao suffered a great loss at the hands of Xiao Bai Lian and Chu Dong Liu. He couldn't swallow this breath. However, neither Xiao Bai Lian nor Chu Dong Liu was someone he could move against, so he could only take action on Chu Dong Liu's lackeys.

  If this bad breath doesn't come out, Chu Hao's whole body won't feel comfortable.

  But being able to beat someone and also stir up Sun Haoran's innate bloodlust is a two-for-one deal.

  But after hearing Chu Hao's words, Sun Haoran opened his mouth wide and didn't react for a long time. It wasn't until he heard Chu Hao burst out laughing that he suddenly raised his head to the sky and shouted loudly: "Cold-blooded people, thank you for underestimating me in the past, it made me not lower my head, and live a more wonderful life!"

  "Hao Ge, who are we going to beat up?" Sun Haoran first said dazedly, then heard Chu Hao's loud singing, and felt that although the lyrics were common, they were passionate and stirring. Listening to Chu Hao humming, it seemed like something that had been suppressed in his heart was completely opened up and released. Then he asked: "What song is this again?"

  "Just follow Xiao Wang's singing and it will be fine!" Chu Hao sang while hugging Sun Haoran: "From now on, this will be our battle song! From now on, no matter when, don't forget this line of the song!"

  Sun Haoran was also infected and hummed along for a few seconds, then he truly felt the extraordinary nature of this song and sang out his heart's voice. His emotions became even more stirred up, shouting even more enthusiastically, especially when shouting the lines "Let me not bow my head, live a more wonderful life", almost screaming from his throat.

  "Not bad!" Chu Hao laughed loudly, the two of them hooked their shoulders together and walked out of the hall in big strides. Xiao Si had been waiting outside the door for a long time, looking at his master and Sun Jia's young master being so happy, feeling a bit puzzled.

  But listening to Chu Hao and Sun Haoran's off-key, ear-piercing howls, his mouth twitched a few times, and he said loudly: "Young Master Wang and Mr. Sun are truly heavenly music!"

  Chu Hao's face turned red with rage as he pretended to scold, "Where is this so exaggerated?!"

  Then he beckoned to Xiao Si and Sun Haoran, and they walked towards the schoolyard next to the General's Mansion.

  Nan Gongjie has been feeling extremely depressed lately. As the grandson of the Minister of Revenue, Nan Gongjie relied on his fierce and powerful grandmother to be invincible in the capital city, where he could get whatever he wanted with just a word. Except for the princes and other noble young masters who were untouchable, almost everyone else had to give way to him.

  He was in the capital a year ago, and somehow got mixed up with the young prince. Speaking of which, the Nan Gong family is also considered a big household, a merchant family, and with the Minister of Revenue as an uncle, their weight in the capital is still quite sufficient. And when the young prince first obtained Nan Gong Jie, he didn't know how much suspicion and dissatisfaction he had brought upon himself from the sixth prince and the eldest prince.

  However, at this moment, Nan Gong Jie did not have the demeanor he should have had. Sitting in the sedan chair, his face was written with dissatisfaction all over it. Since losing to Chu Hao and others on the Cloud Gathering Building and making a promise to perform on stage for 18 touches during the Flower Lantern Festival, he had some awkwardness in his heart when facing the young prince. For several days, he did not attend the young prince's banquet invitations.

  After all, they had never suffered such a great loss at the hands of Wei Yuanshi before, and this time they lost even more miserably. Thinking that if they really went on stage to sing at the flower lantern festival, not only would they lose face, but also the face of the Shangshu. At that time, even if their grandmother protected them, they would still be beaten by their furious grandfather. Maybe, their good days would come to an end and they would be driven out of the capital.

  At this point, Nan Gong Jie felt a bit anxious and uneasy.

  But if he wanted to go back on his word, Nan Gong Jie didn't have the guts to do so. After all, the young prince had already promised, and with Wu Donghan present as a witness, there was no way to get out of it. Besides, that Crown Prince Chu Hao wasn't someone to be trifled with either.

  Recalling the incident two days ago when he met Sun Haoran at Cuimonth Residence, where he was ridiculed and left with his tail between his legs, Nangong Jie's face burned with anger and his heart seethed with rage.

  However, heaven did not abandon Nan Gong. Just when Nan Gong Jie was at a loss for what to do, news suddenly spread like wildfire in the capital that Tao Ran's residence would be auctioning off mysterious weapons and elixirs that could enhance one's cultivation and maintain youthfulness two days later.

  This news is simply a blessing from heaven, and it's also a great help to him. After confirming the accuracy of the message, he became even more calm and composed. If he could get that rejuvenating elixir for his grandmother, perhaps she would remember her own filial piety and not let Grandfather do something rash, which might also avoid a disaster. At this moment, Nan Gongjie was heading towards a brocade shop in the capital, which was one of the Nan family's businesses. As the young master, he naturally went to withdraw funds for the auction preparations.

  Sitting in the sedan chair, Nangong Jie was still a bit worried. Thinking of the young prince making him lose face so badly, with his personality, he definitely didn't want to be around the young prince again. Recently, his cousin and the sixth prince had been getting along well, it was just right to ask his cousin to speak up for him in front of the sixth prince, and then at the auction, he would arrange for some gifts to be sent over, gaining the sixth prince's trust. At that time, with his grandmother and the sixth prince speaking up for him, his grandfather should have no choice but to agree.

  The sixth prince's power is much greater than that of the young prince, and following him will no longer be so suffocating.

  After careful consideration, the gloomy expression on Nan Gongjie's face disappeared, and he secretly admired himself as a true genius, no wonder the old Taoist who calculated his fate said he had the appearance of assisting a king.

  He was so excited that he bumped his forehead on the front and scolded in anger: "You bastards, how did you carry the sedan chair!"

  "Master... Master..." The voice of a servant came from outside, somewhat stuttering.

  Nan Gong Jie was furious, "Damn it, can't even speak properly, what's with this 'public son'..." He lifted the curtain, and when he saw the scene outside, his face also froze in shock.

  Outside, nine big men stood. Tiger-backed and bear-waisted, they all wore vests, revealing their muscular arms, which were twisted with muscle. At a glance, they were obviously practitioners. At this moment, they stared coldly at Nan Gongjie.

  Nan Gong Jie's face suddenly froze, and he rebuked: "What kind of people are you? In broad daylight, do you still want to rob us?" He took a look around and found that they were on San Tong Street in the capital city. The place was deserted, with only a fork in the road about a kilometer ahead, which led to the main street.

  As he thought of this, Nan Gongjie's heart sank. This was clearly a premeditated interception, and the visitor did not come with good intentions. However, when did the security in the capital become so bad? Nan Gongjie's mind flashed with lightning speed as he ruled out one enemy after another.

  At this moment, only two guards and six servants were following behind Nan Gongjie. Although the two guards were both Bone Forging stage warriors, the group of big men in front of them weren't anything to be trifled with either. If things didn't go well, he could easily get hurt.

  He hadn't even had time to gather his emotions when a burly man from the opposite side walked towards him with a sly smile. The guards beside Nangong Jie immediately blocked the sedan chair. The big man stopped two meters away, a contemptuous smile spreading across his face: "Young Master Nangong, you have quite a reputation, my Ninth Master has invited you several times but you couldn't be bothered to attend."

  Old Nine?

  Nangong Jie's heart skipped a beat, his face turned even uglier, could it be that he was one of the Little Emperor's people?

  But thinking of this possibility, Nan Gong Jie was a bit perplexed. After all, having been in contact for a year, the young prince didn't seem like someone who lacked tact, so - could it be that he had seen through his intention to curry favor with the Sixth Prince and come to warn him?

  At this point, Nan Gong Jie let out a hearty laugh and immediately gave a stern look to the trembling servant, thinking to himself that he was useless. He then asked, "I wonder who this strong man is?"

  "Honest people don't speak in riddles." The big man didn't give Nangong Jie any nonsense, and with a wave of his hand, the group of people behind him rushed towards Nangong Jie. Nangong Jie had never practiced martial arts, only knew how to carry a book bag, and at this moment his face was shocked, he hastily hid in the sedan chair. He shouted: "Quickly, quickly, stop them for me!"

  Those two guards also felt a bit apprehensive, as these dozen or so big men were not easy to deal with. But the young master had given orders, and they still steeled themselves and charged forward, only to be knocked down in just a few moves, and lay unconscious on one side.

  "Damn it, I've raised you all in vain! At least give me a chance to take down one of them!" Looking at his own people being taken down left and right, lying unconscious on the ground, Nan Gong Jie's heart was racing. Just then, the curtain of the sedan chair opened, and that big man chuckled and revealed his face, his laughter sending shivers down Nan Gong Jie's spine.

  "I am the grandson of the Minister of Revenue, Nangong Jie. You dare to move me? I, this young master, will not let you off." Nangong Jie's face was stern and imposing, but in his heart, he knew that if it were really the young emperor who had sent someone, he would be completely powerless.

  That big fellow, however, did not use his hands, but directly picked up Nangong Jie like a little chicken from the sedan chair and put him outside. He patted his clothes and said: "Nangong Gongzi misunderstood us, how dare we move our hands on you? Because we are also afraid of Nangong Gongzi's revenge." As soon as he spoke, the big men behind him burst out laughing.

  Nan Gong Jie's face turned purple with rage, being ridiculed by a group of thugs. He was extremely humiliated and shouted: "I want to see Master Jiū! Let me go see Master Jiū! I want justice!"

  "No rush, no rush. If you want to find Master Jiu, you can go tomorrow morning too. Let's just settle today's matters first." The big man's words made Nan Gongjie's heart skip a beat, his fat trembling nonstop, as he stammered: "This is the capital city, under the emperor's feet... don't cause trouble here... I have meritorious deeds... I have meritorious deeds..."

  "It's a great achievement! Up!" The words were cut off mid-sentence, and suddenly several tall men with fierce eyes glared at him, sneering as they approached. Next thing he knew, everything went black as a sack was pulled over his head.

  Nan Gong Jie knew something was wrong, and in a state of panic, he struggled to get up. But how could he resist those big men? His mouth was soon stuffed with the folds of a sackcloth, and all he could make were "uuu" sounds.

  Only to see the corner of San Tong Street, two figures suddenly appeared. Sun Haoran was the first to rush forward, his face filled with excitement, clenching his fists and kicking a sack, knocking Nan Gongjie down, and then raining punches on him.

  At first, Nan Gong Jie was still quite tough and only grunted a few times before falling silent. But as Sun Hao Ran's blows grew heavier, and Chu Hao occasionally kicked him, he finally began to cry out in pain, his voice full of tears, barely audible as "Don't hit me anymore, don't hit me anymore."

  Sun Haoran didn't dare to make a sound, but his hands moved more quickly, until Nangong Paozi was silent. Chu Hao then pulled him back and lifted the sack. They saw that Nangong Paozi's face was bruised and swollen as he lay on the ground, gasping for breath a few times before fainting.

  Chu Hao kicked him a few more times and thought he had really fainted before cursing: "You're really useless."

  After this severe beating, Sun Haoran only felt that his whole body was refreshed, and all the distracting thoughts that had been blocked in his meridians and nerves were driven away one by one. His mind suddenly became clear.

  Among the people around the young prince, Nan Gong Jie was the most despicable. Almost all the bad ideas were proposed by him. The young masters on Chu Hao's side naturally hated him to the bone. However, in the capital city, there were also rules to follow. The military sons from their side, although repeatedly suffered losses at the hands of the young prince, would not escalate to physical violence. After all, quarrels and jealousy were just that, if things got out of hand, there were still the procuratorate and the elders of each family to deal with.

  So after enjoying the thrill of fist and foot, Sun Haoran couldn't help but feel a little worried again. He looked at Nan Gong Baozi lying half-dead on the ground and whispered: "Hao Ge, won't we get into trouble doing this?"

  Chu Hao rolled his eyes: "Look at you now, where's the heroic spirit from just a moment ago? Why didn't you think of this when you were hitting people?"

  Sun Haoran dryly laughed a few times, "I'm worried about you, Ge."

  "Don't worry." Chu Hao patted Sun Haoran's shoulder, heh-heh smiled, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes: "When this beauty is still slowly putting on her shoes, the rumor has already spread throughout the city."