Chapter Eighteen: Mercy, Eunuch!

When did Zhao Bao actually become the godson of Li Dafu?

It made no sense at all!

Zhao Bao was nothing more than a ninth-rank martial artist; what merit or talent did he possess to catch the eye of Li Dafu?

Yet, the fact remained.

Li Dafu smiled faintly and gently patted Zhao Bao's head, as if stroking a dog:

“Zhao Bao, rest assured.”

“Today, with your godfather here, no one can lay a finger on you.”

“And moreover...”

Li Dafu’s tone shifted, carrying a chilling menace:

“Whatever you want to do here, I will stand behind you.”

Ma Shenggui and the group of petty eunuchs overheard this and turned pale, trembling uncontrollably.

They were insignificant.

In the presence of a figure like Li Dafu, their lives were utterly trivial.

Even if Li Dafu decided to slaughter everyone present today, no one would bat an eye.

“Please spare us, your grace! Mercy, please!” Ma Shenggui and the others kowtowed desperately.

But Li Dafu didn’t glance their way, his smile ambiguous as he fixed his gaze on Zhao Bao.

Clearly, he was leaving the decision to Zhao Bao.

Though deeply unwilling, Ma Shenggui and the petty eunuchs redirected their pleas toward Zhao Bao, bowing repeatedly:

“Zhao Bao, it was our fault before, please say a good word to Lord Li and spare our miserable lives!”

“Master Zhao, our ancestor, we’re nothing, please have mercy!”

“Zhao Bao, we bullied you out of necessity. We beg you, don’t kill us!”

The cries for mercy rose in a continuous chorus.

Zhao Bao could not help but take a deep breath.

This was the feeling of power.

The ability to command life and death.

With a mere thought, he could shred those who had tormented him into pieces!

This feeling... was intoxicating.

For the first time in his life, Zhao Bao savored such exquisite delight.

He was nearly lost in it, almost unable to resist the urge to have his godfather annihilate those beasts.

But after a brief reverie, Zhao Bao swiftly steadied himself.

The humiliations he had endured over the years had taught him many lessons.

Respectfully, he replied:

“If I were to use my godfather’s hand to kill these men, wouldn’t that make me seem utterly useless? Worse, it would tarnish my godfather’s good name.”

“I wish to become someone useful to my godfather, to repay his kindness.”

“Please spare them for now. My vengeance will come when I have the strength.”

Li Dafu nodded in satisfaction.

He spoke meaningfully:

“Endurance now leads to greatness later.”

“You seem like a promising seedling; whether you grow into a fine tree depends on destiny.”

“Come, I will take you to register at the Zongwu Mansion.”

With that, Li Dafu waved his hand and turned, leading a group of eunuchs from the Zongwu Mansion away.

Zhao Bao cast one last glance at the place where he had been so mercilessly humiliated and at Ma Shenggui and those who had tormented him.

He saw the profound fear shining in their eyes.

Zhao Bao knew that from this day onward, these men would live in constant dread, their nerves fraying with every passing moment.

This torment was only the beginning.

When he finally climbed to the top, that would be their end!

With no lingering attachment, Zhao Bao turned and quickly followed Li Dafu.

Thanks to Li Dafu’s presence, Zhao Bao’s entry into the Zongwu Mansion went smoothly.

Later, Li Dafu summoned Zhao Bao into a room and explained some matters concerning the Zongwu Mansion.

Entry into the mansion did not guarantee a meteoric rise.

On the contrary, even greater trials awaited.

The main tasks within the Zongwu Mansion were to improve martial skills and undergo rigorous training.

Improvement depended on one’s diligence and talent.

Training aimed to cultivate perseverance, endurance, and obedience.

Often, such training was brutal, with deaths a common occurrence.

Especially the grand examination after one year—if still a ninth-rank martial artist, survival was unlikely upon leaving the arena.

Zhao Bao listened attentively and gradually comprehended the mansion’s harsh reality.

At the end, Li Dafu sighed:

“At our peak, we had 180 godsons; 110 of them entered this Zongwu Mansion alone.”

“But only 70 emerged alive and capable.”

“Forty died in training, internal duels, or the grand examination.”

“Don’t think that being my godson grants you special treatment here. I am no nepotist or someone who abuses public power for private gain.”

“To forge iron, one must be strong oneself; trash does not deserve to be my godson. Do you understand, Zhao Bao?”

Zhao Bao hastily responded, though inside he was stunned.

He never imagined the death toll here was so high.

Yet he quickly steadied his heart.

For today, he had already endured so much.

He would fight all the way down this path!

Seeing Zhao Bao unshaken, Li Dafu nodded slightly.

Then, with a sharp wave of his hand:

“Whoosh!”

A gust of wind swept through the room; doors and windows slammed shut.

The light dimmed instantly.

Even the coals in the brazier seemed to shrink back in fear.

Li Dafu fixed his gaze on Zhao Bao and suddenly asked:

“Besides you, has anyone else seen my ‘Bone-Melting Palm’?”

It was because Zhao Bao had presented Li Dafu with this treasured manual, the secret technique of the Bone-Melting Palm, that he had won Li Dafu’s favor and been accepted as his godson.

Hearing the question, Zhao Bao’s heart tightened.

He did not know whether to lie to Li Dafu.

But he vaguely sensed this matter might harm Liang Jin.

So he answered earnestly:

“This is my family’s ancestral manual; now all my kin have passed away.”

“There is no third person in the world who knows of it.”

Li Dafu stared at Zhao Bao for a while but saw no deception.

He tapped lightly on the table and said:

“It seems you haven’t lied to me. Though I have studied all the martial arts under heaven, this Bone-Melting Palm is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“It is truly a rare treasure, a supreme treasure among the mysterious secret manuals!”

“What’s most precious is how well it harmonizes with my internal energy.”

“Also, rare is your filial piety. Let me give you one more piece of advice.”

At this point, Li Dafu’s tone darkened.

His eyes turned cold and sharp as he looked at Zhao Bao:

“No one in the palace is sincere; I am known as a kind man, otherwise, you wouldn’t have survived till now.”

Zhao Bao was startled and immediately knelt:

“Godfather, I don’t understand!”

Li Dafu explained coldly:

“All martial artists wish their techniques to be unique.”

“If others see your secret manual, they learn the true nature of your moves and even find your weaknesses.”

“So you were lucky to offer your treasure to me. Had you given it to any other eunuch in the palace, you would have lost your life and been silenced long ago!”