Chapter 47: What is the truth?

  Chu Hao sat down in a chair after he finished speaking and suddenly clapped his hands.

  The applause subsided, and the entire courtyard fell silent, with only the sound of clapping echoing through the air. It was as if a strange rhythm began to spread slowly, like an incantation that struck Liu Li's heart, making him feel uneasy all over.

  Creating an atmosphere was Chuhao's specialty, and after a minute of applause, he finally stopped with a "pa" sound. He stood up again, walked slowly towards Liu Li, and said calmly: "I admire your brotherly love, but..." As soon as he said this, Chuhao's eyes suddenly became cold and stern, looking at him coldly, saying: "Do you know that no matter what your purpose is, from the moment you took my elixir three days ago, you have already put your brother's life on the edge of life and death!"

  Suddenly, Chu Hao's loud and stern question made Liu Li's heart tremble violently, as if a towering mountain had suddenly pressed down on him, bringing with it an overwhelming pressure that seemed to cover the entire sky. Liu Li's body involuntarily leaned back, while the people behind him even took half a step back.

  The appearance of this scene made Liu Li and others' faces reveal a look of horror, and they suddenly took a breath of cold air.

  It turns out that just now, although they were all talking, they had been releasing a kind of invisible aura. These people are all soldiers who have killed on the battlefield and stained their hands with blood! The breath of these nine people uniting together not only failed to intimidate this famous young master of the capital in front of them but was instead countered by his single question, using his own personal aura to suppress the deliberately crafted aura of these nine battle-hardened iron-blooded warriors.

  For a moment, everyone couldn't help but think that this prince with a cold expression, who seemed even more overbearing than themselves, was really the good-for-nothing young master rumored to be in the capital?

  Everyone feels a little out of breath.

  "I think you should know why you were arranged to come to the Wang Fu!" Chu Hao didn't give Liu Li a chance to speak, he said one sentence and took a step forward. Liu Li's face turned pale and his body leaned back: "Those few young masters who beat you up that day have a huge background in the capital. If it was discovered that you were doing things for me, you would all be finished!" Chu Hao sneered at this point, saying: "And as for me, little Wang, I'll only receive some insignificant punishment and can still roam freely in the capital!"

  Saying that, Chu Hao no longer paid attention to Liu Li, who had clenched his fists under the pressure of his aura. He turned to the other eight people and said: "I've made it clear, you should understand now. Although you took my elixir, from the moment you started following me to beat up Nan Gongjie, your lives were no longer in your own hands!"

  "The king has summoned you to the palace, not to ruin your future, but to save your lives!" Chu Hao's words attacked wave after wave, giving everyone no chance to think.

  "Your Highness, it was you who instructed us to beat him up. This has nothing to do with us!" Huang Hongjin retorted.

  Chu Hao sneered and said, "This matter involves the face of the imperial court's ministers. Do you think the emperor will listen to your irrelevant words and pardon your crimes?"

  Huang Hong's face turned red with anger and he was speechless.

  Liu Li spoke up at this time, but he no longer had the arrogance of just now, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, you are right. When this matter is investigated, we will indeed not be able to escape!"

  Chu Hao heard him say this, knowing that he had not completely compromised and was not concerned, nodded and said: "I know you all have some resentment in your hearts, but you must be clear, following me does not mean you can't build merit!" As he spoke, Chu Hao pointed at Huang Hongjin and continued: "You were originally a ten-household leader, tell me, how old are you, how many battles have you been through, how many Maya bandits have you killed? What merits have you achieved?"

  "The young man is twenty-three years old, has been to sixteen battlefields, and was promoted from the Mutō Army to the Ryūshō Army. He has killed 28 enemies, including one who was a commander of the enemy's army, which is why he was promoted!" The man shouted loudly.

  At this moment, these people no longer have any contempt for Chu Hao, who is sharp-tongued and holds their lives in his hands.

  Chu Hao snorted, "Sixteen battles! With your experience, how many more years will it take for you to become a general or a deputy general?" Huang Hongjin's face flushed with indignation as he shouted, "I'm not from a noble family, I don't have any backing, and I'll probably never make it to general in my lifetime!" Chu Hao nodded understandingly, "Since you can't become a deputy general, what will happen if you continue serving in the army? What will be your outcome?" Huang Hongjin hesitated before mumbling, "I don't know." Chu Hao snorted again, "You don't know? Well, let me tell you. You're 23 years old now, and with your age, you'll have to stay in the army for at least another 24 years! Even if you can't become a general, as a squad leader, you'll still have to fight on every battlefield, charging forward and clashing with the enemy. Tell me, how many more times do you think you can survive?" Huang Hongjin was stunned, who could predict whether they would die in the next battle? He took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and shouted, "I'll just have to die!" Chu Hao burst into laughter, "You've given up all hope of promotion, but now that we're talking about death, you seem more at ease!"

  No longer bothering with him, he turned to ask others: "And you? How many years have you been in the army? How did you enter the Dragon Soaring Army, how many battles have you fought, and how many Maya bandits have you killed?! And how long will it take for you to be promoted to general?!"

  These questions, no longer as simple as the first time they were asked, were like a heavy hammer, pounding heavily on everyone's heart. For a moment, everyone dared not speak again, silent as cicadas in winter, and their heads lowered one after another!

  "Good!" Chu Hao pointed at Liu Li and said loudly, "Since you all know that once you enter the battlefield, it's only death waiting for you. But your big brother has been trying every means to make you return to the battlefield and become those cold corpses one by one. Tell me, is such a big brother still worthy of your respect?"

  As soon as the words were spoken, they immediately triggered public outrage. Except for Liu Li, everyone else glared at Chu Hao with anger in their eyes. Huang Hongjin took a step forward and said coldly: "Your Highness, you are the crown prince, we are civilians, we can listen to your orders, listen to your dispatches, but please don't insult us, insult our big brother!"

  "Right!" Another young man stood up, his face flushed with anger, and said fearlessly: "Your Highness, you are just the son of King Weiyuan, nothing more! You have never been to battle. What right do you have to speak to us like that?" The eight Dragon Soaring Army soldiers' eyes turned bloodshot. These men were heroes who had gone in and out of the battlefield, viewing life and death as trivial matters - at least they thought so themselves! In the entire empire's three armies, who didn't look down on the Dragon Soaring Army soldiers? Today, however, they were here, enduring the insults of a spoiled rich kid! How could this be tolerated?! Instantly, their anger was ignited. "Hahahaha..." Chu Hao burst out laughing: "You haven't even let me finish speaking, and you're already so agitated - it seems that even though you are from a military family, you are nothing more than a second-generation descendant relying on your ancestors' achievements! What can you possibly accomplish?" As he spoke, Chu Hao sneered: "As for me, shouldn't you have heard of my past glory?!"

  Huang Hongjin plucked up the courage to retort, "The reputation of 'Little Overlord' has spread throughout the empire, and no one is unaware of it. However, Your Highness is now just a second-generation descendant relying on his ancestors' fame!" Chu Hao was intrigued by Huang's counterattack and didn't get angry. He narrowed his eyes, with a glint of cold light in them, saying, "You dare to speak to me like this; aren't you afraid that I'll order your execution?"

  Liu Ligao shouted loudly: "Huang Hongjin, shut up quickly!"

  "Despicable!" But Huang Hongjin didn't care about him and stubbornly said: "However, what the despicable person says is true!"

  "What a great truth!" Chu Hao burst out laughing, then his face turned cold, staring at the latter, and his body suddenly emitted an astonishing aura! This aura came so suddenly and violently, just like the calm sea surface, which instantly stirred up fierce winds and waves. The overbearing breath was like a stormy wave that engulfed Huang Hongjin and others!

  This aura lasted for only a second or two before being withdrawn by Chu Hao.

  But the faces of the others showed a look of horror, Huang Hongjin and others retreated several steps in a row, their faces pale and breathing tightly. Even Liu Li retreated three steps, his eyes full of incredulous color!

  "This is what you want to see!"

  Chu Hao's voice rang out coldly!