Borrowed Sword

Chapter 26: My Rules

Since he certainly couldn’t win, Chu Huaixu decisively decided to make his move.

He walked up to Liu Chenggong, and raised both his hands.

“Junior Brother Chu, what are you doing?” Liu Chenggong asked.

“Huh? You’re not going to tie me up?”

I know the procedure! When I was at Spring‑Autumn Mountain, I had a clear picture of the four great sects—more or less the same!

Liu Chenggong looked at this handsome and extraordinary young man before him, and a sneer appeared on his face.

“No need, but with your measly Qi‑Opening Stage, do you really think you can resist?”

“You surrendering now would actually bore us.”

“If you try to run halfway through, that might be interesting.”

He looked at Chu Huaixu with amused intent, as if watching a plaything in his palm.

Chu Huaixu met his gaze and slowly lowered his raised hands.

“What is your relationship to Liu Chengqi?” he asked directly.

Liu Chenggong laughed: “You’ve got guts!”

He looked the fox‑faced youth over from head to toe, snorted, and said, “Well, fair enough. Without some dog-like guts, you wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Chengqi.”

This deputy captain of the Medicine‑Mountain Law Enforcement Squad was fearless anyway, and besides, this wasn’t a secret in the outer sect. He said, “Liu Chengqi is my cousin.”

“Oh, by the way, you must be new here, right? Forgot to tell you—his father is one of the nine great stewards of the outer sect.”

……

……

A breeze swept by, lifting a few strands of Chu Huaixu’s ink‑black hair.

Liu Chenggong and the others had expected to see him cower, but instead he looked calm and composed.

“I understand,” Chu Huaixu said lightly.

This made the deputy captain quite displeased.

He began to doubt whether this guy knew anything about social norms.

The nine great stewards were the highest authority in the outer sect.

You knocked the only son of one of them to the ground—do you have any idea how serious the consequences could be?

“What exactly do you understand?” Liu Chenggong’s face darkened.

Chu Huaixu smiled and said, “I understand why, despite his love of grabbing and striking, many senior brothers still recommended cultivating under him.”

“A steward’s son, and the deputy captain’s cousin—no wonder.”

Liu Chenggong simply smiled in response and said nothing else.

To him, it was entirely normal for people to flatter him and curry favor with that esteemed steward uncle.

It was like if he opened a restaurant on Medicine‑Mountain, business would be booming.

But would people really come just for the taste?

Not necessarily.

At that moment, Liu Chenggong looked around and asked, “That junior sister named Han Shuangjiang—she not back with you?”

“No, she didn’t return with me,” Chu Huaixu said.

“That sister... I suppose she must be beautiful?” Liu Chenggong’s face showed a knowing smirk.

“Yes, she’s breathtakingly lovely,” Chu Huaixu replied.

“Is her relationship with you... special?” Liu Chenggong asked again.

“Hmm... one could say it’s somewhat special,” he said.

“No wonder, my cousin is just into that type,” Liu Chenggong raised a hand and lightly patted Chu Huaixu’s shoulder—comforting or jabbing, it was unclear: “Can’t help it, brother.”

“He’s got the style of Wei Wu yet the heart of Cao the traitor,” Chu Huaixu muttered something they couldn’t understand.

That Liu Chengqi—looking all respectable—turns out he likes stealing others’ affections, huh!

No wonder he couldn’t help but try to get handsy in front of me.

Chu Huaixu wasn’t surprised at all that the steward’s son was teaching mere mortals martial arts.

He knew a little about rich second‑generation types.

On Earth, there were those who drove luxury cars and moonlighted as rideshare drivers, only taking female passengers.

When skiing became popular, some privileged kids became ski instructors.

Were they doing it for the money?

They were after fun, the thrill of conquest.

They looked down on the crude tactics in dramas where someone just barges in and jerks men or women around.

They preferred to use their charm, their skills and methods—those tried‑and‑true routines—to seduce them until the other person came forward willingly.

These people, by nature, couldn’t lack women.

Ordinary folks were awed by high prices, calling them “gold‑plated or diamond‑inlaid escorts,” but for those guys, it was small change—and boring unless there was a bit of spice.

They craved the psychological sense of accomplishment!

They needed those “achievements” to brag about their charm to others!

Some people depended on hard everyday work to support their families, but for them it was a matter of whim—they did it if they wanted, didn’t if they didn’t.

While practicing that strange name‑unforgettable “Heaven‑Earth Boundless Bagua Palm,” Chu Huaixu watched Liu Chengqi’s fine clothes, sensed that demeanor and vibe, and had already formed a vague suspicion.

“I just didn’t expect this Liu Chengqi to play so wild—misunderstanding the situation with me and that little steward’s housekeeper, trying to both make ten taels of silver off me and treat me like a dog.”

“He didn’t even regard me as a person at heart,” Chu Huaixu thought with amusement.

But he knew clearly in his heart that this Liu Chengqi had definitely been successful, more than once! He might even have pimped people...

Interestingly, the Liu Chenggong before him didn’t seem to regard Chu Huaixu as human either.

He patted Chu Huaixu’s shoulder again and said out loud, “Since Chengqi’s Spirit Embryo was damaged, he’s been in a bad mood and has to find some flair in life—Junior Brother Chu, please understand.”

Liu Chenggong was really too bored—he figured that someone daring enough to badly hurt his cousin could easily be provoked, giving him some entertainment.

Who would’ve thought, the fox‑faced young man in front of him grinned widely, and said:

“Consider it covered.”

…

Outside the bamboo hut, Liu Chenggong no longer bothered to waste words with Chu Huaixu.

His expression darkened, and he ordered his two subordinates, “You two, go bring that Junior Sister Han back!”

“Yes,” responded the two seemingly nameless men.

“Then let’s go, Junior Brother Chu,” Liu Chenggong said, his gaze dark.

“Please lead the way, Senior Brother Liu,” Chu Huaixu made a courteous gesture.

He was exactly the type who liked to speak politely first, then say irreverent things—or even do irreverent things.

When he injured Liu Chengqi, he was also calling him “Senior Brother Liu” the whole time.

Before becoming a play companion, he had dated twice, one of which was an affair with his college advisor. During intense moments, he would also call her “teacher,” and sometimes even made the teacher cry—tears flowing from all three eyes.

In short, full marks for manners!

But Liu Chenggong’s face grew even darker. With a cold snort, he slapped a 【Swift Movement Talisman】 onto himself and said, “My cousin’s probably grown impatient waiting. We need to hurry.”

As he spoke, he grabbed Chu Huaixu, then lightly tapped his foot and leapt onto a tree branch, quickly weaving through the ancient trees.

Before long, he brought Chu Huaixu back to the Law Enforcement Hall of Medicine Mountain and locked him into the dungeon.

Just as he said, Liu Chengqi truly couldn’t wait and had been waiting in the dungeon long beforehand.

Chu Huaixu guessed he must have taken some kind of spiritual medicine, since all his injuries had healed.

Having a steward for a father—it was to be expected.

What surprised him slightly was that there was also an older man with half-white hair in the dungeon.

As soon as Liu Chenggong saw him, he respectfully said, “Uncle.”

The old man immediately raised his hand and said, “How many times have I told you—use official titles outside.”

“Yes, Steward,” Liu Chenggong suddenly became exceptionally obedient.

The half-white-haired old man nodded slightly and glanced at Chu Huaixu. “You are Chu Huaixu?”

“Yes. Disciple greets Steward Liu,” Chu Huaixu raised his hand in salute, still adhering to virtue, full of courtesy—and stalling for time.

“I heard from Chengqi that you're only at Second Aperture, just stepped into the Qi-Opening Stage, and yet you were able to injure him using the ‘Heaven-Earth Infinite Bagua Palm’ he taught you?”

Chu Huaixu immediately looked up, eyes bright. “Exactly! Has the Steward taken a liking to my talent?”

As he joked and bantered, he also quietly remembered in his mind: So that was the name—‘Heaven-Earth Infinite Bagua Palm.’

Upon hearing that, Steward Liu’s old face first showed a brief look of surprise, then immediately darkened.

Honestly, when all three of these guys with the surname Liu scowled, they looked exactly the same!

The old man snorted coldly, flicked his finger, and a shallow wound appeared on Chu Huaixu’s arm, blood seeping out.

Chu Huaixu looked down, stunned, at his arm.

He didn’t care about the small wound—he just wondered if the little housekeeper could mend torn clothes.

Steward Liu curled his fingers, and a drop of blood flew into his palm.

“Hm? A Lower-grade Spirit Embryo?” he scanned it with his spiritual sense.

This type of Spirit Embryo he hadn’t seen before either, but its spiritual aura was weak, clearly of low grade.

The old man had come personally because he wanted to assess this young man’s talent after hearing his son’s account.

Though he held terrifying power in the outer sect, he was still aware that if this youth were a heaven-blessed genius, then he needed to be cautious.

But this measly lower-grade Spirit Embryo—compared to my son’s Fiery Spirit Embryo—is like heaven and earth!

“You think you're worthy of me valuing your talent?” the old man looked at Chu Huaixu with cold indifference.

With that, he turned to leave, saying to his son and nephew, “Do with him as you please.”

Just an enrolled disciple, and with a lower-grade Spirit Embryo at that—if he dies, he dies. Just make up a reason.

“Steward! Please wait!” Chu Huaixu suddenly shouted.

The old man turned back, frowning.

“I know the outer sect rules by heart. May I ask—was it not Senior Brother Liu who struck first? I only acted in self-defense. What rule exactly did I break?” Chu Huaixu’s face was full of righteousness, and his voice rang loud and clear.

The old man, who had fathered a child late in life, looked at this young man who seemingly hadn’t been beaten down by the world, and said with full spirit, “It doesn’t matter who struck first—you injured my son, so you broke the rule! You broke my, Liu Tianfeng’s, rule!”

This thunderous roar carried hidden spiritual energy. Chu Huaixu’s mind shook, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him, his vision darkened, and he nearly lost balance—his face turned pale in an instant.

From not far away, a steady voice finally echoed.

“Steward Liu, what grand authority you wield!”

……