Chapter 762 Coercion
Zhou Qingming immediately sensed that the immense aura of a peak Grandmaster on Zhu Wenwu had vanished.
He quickly realized what Zhu Wenwu had just done – the man had actually crippled his own meridians!
For a martial artist to cripple their own meridians was a fate worse than death, let alone for Zhu Wenwu, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, the peak Grandmaster realm!
It was almost unbelievable that such a figure could so casually destroy his own meridians.
The Zhu family members, upon realizing what had happened, wept uncontrollably.
To outsiders, there was no possibility of faking it, as even Nan Zhu and Chen Yang, among others, wore expressions of genuine shock.
However, everyone who knew the inside story understood that this was all an act.
Chen Yang had already been informed of the Zhu family's strategy by Zhu Wenyu before he arrived.
Zhu Wenwu crippling his own meridians was enough to silence everyone.
Zhu Wenwu's injuries were already severe, and crippling his own meridians was a suicidal act. No one could have known that Zhu Wenwu's meridians were already mostly shattered.
But making everyone believe, in the short term, that Zhu Wenwu was on the verge of death was crucial.
If the Zhu family insisted on pursuing the matter, the Zhu family would adopt a desperate stance, and at this point, Nan Zhu could intervene.
Nan Zhu was not only the God of War relied upon by the Southwest Prefecture but also a martial artist of the Zhu family. The blood ties between them were unbreakable.
Under these circumstances, even if the Zhou family genuinely intended to act, they would have to reconsider.
Nan Zhu could not have acted before because he had no legitimate grounds. After all, the Zhu family had initiated the conflict. But if the Zhu family had shown their necessary stance and the Zhou family still refused to back down, even the Southwest Prefecture would not agree.
Zhou Qingming also realized Zhu Wenwu's intentions. He glared at Zhu Wenwu, gnashing his teeth, unable to utter a single word.
This was a scheme, a transparent ploy!
However, the cost of this scheme was immense; a peak Grandmaster was lost just like that.
"Zhou Qingming, may I have a word in private?" The speaker was Jiang Luo.
There needed to be a mediator, and Jiang Luo was the perfect candidate.
Zhou Qingming nodded, and as he followed Jiang Luo into an adjacent room, he heard Jiang Luo say, "To directly cripple a peak Grandmaster like this is no different from death, and living will only bring more suffering."
"I know this was the Zhu family's fault, but have you considered how it escalated to this point?"
"If your Zhou family's martial artists hadn't been so aggressive at the mine, I don't think the Zhu family would have resorted to direct action. What do you think?"
"How old is Zhou Zeya, that he still wants to marry my niece? Anyone in this situation would find it unacceptable!"
Zhou Qingming was stunned by this. He stared at Jiang Luo blankly for a few seconds before asking, "What did you just say? What did that Zhou Zeya fellow do?"
By the end of his question, every word seemed to be wrenched from between his teeth.
Zhou Qingming had never imagined that Zhou Zeya would do something so reckless.
Regardless of which niece Jiang Luo was referring to, she was certainly much younger.
By doing this, he was essentially forcing the Zhu family to act against him!
Zhou Qingming took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and then said, "I understand. I will report this to the family truthfully."
"As for Zhu Wenwu, he certainly has great courage, to abandon his peak Grandmaster power so readily."
"Honestly, I was looking forward to a chance to spar with him. It seems that opportunity is gone now!"
Zhou Qingming and the other two peak Grandmasters from the Zhou family did not linger at the Zhu residence.
The other two peak Grandmasters from the Zhou family were quite confused by Zhou Qingming's departure.
The Zhu family's only peak Grandmaster was now incapacitated. This was the best time to take down the Zhu family, yet Zhou Qingming left without a word, taking them with him.
"Brother Qingming, should we seek instructions from the Patriarch? Are we just leaving the Southwest like this?"
Hearing the question from behind, Zhou Qingming's face revealed a hint of disdain.
"He's already shattered all his meridians, what's the difference from being dead? If it's already like this, why prolong it? Do you really want to force their hand?"
"Not to mention others, Nan Zhu is known as the God of War. Do you know how strong he is? If you push him too far, do you really think Nan Zhu won't act? He is, after all, a member of the Zhu family and would never abandon them to their fate."
The two Grandmaster enforcers from the Zhou family exchanged glances, a hint of a cold smile in their eyes.
Zhou Qingming was not well-regarded within the Zhou family. His conduct and style had always been such that others disdained to associate with him.
They had been reluctant to accompany him to the Southwest, and after hearing his words, their dissatisfaction only grew.
One of them couldn't help but mock, "There are three of us. What are we afraid of? Could the legendary God of War fight three of us at once? If that's the case, I'd actually be interested in trying!"
Zhou Qingming let out a cold snort and did not reply.
He understood these two men behind him perfectly. They were not originally from the Zhou family.
They were willing to fight for the Zhou family only because they had been supported by the Zhou family for years.
However, even so, it was unlikely they would risk their lives to help the Zhou family.
If a conflict truly erupted, Zhou Qingming doubted he could rely on them for protection.
More importantly, while everyone knew Dong Cang of the Gods of War was powerful, Nan Zhu's strength was perhaps the most underestimated among all the Gods of War.
How had a mere collateral branch of the Zhu family risen to the rank of God of War, step by step?
The position held by Nan Zhu as a God of War was originally intended for secular families.
Dong Cang of the Daoists, Xi Bai of the Confucians, and Bei Xuan of the Buddhists, while powerful, were all supported by others, as Zhou Qingming, who understood the inner workings, knew very well.
But Nan Zhu was different.
Zhou Qingming clearly remembered that he himself had once had the opportunity to become one of them.
The selection of Gods of War was shrouded in mystery. Zhou Qingming only recalled reaching the final round, only to be defeated by Nan Zhu.