The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 427 The Four Great Retainers: I don't understand! I don't understand!
Perhaps Xu Xingchen's words shocked the four of them so much that they were unable to react for a moment.

After a long while, Deng Baichuan glanced at Xu Xingchen, who was no longer paying attention to them, with a complicated expression. He took a deep breath, endured the pain in his waist, ribs, and internal organs, and walked to Bao Butong's side.

Squat down and press several acupoints on his chest with your fingers to release the pressure points.

With a surge of energy in his chest, Bao Butong immediately sprang to his feet, glaring angrily and shocked at the young man who had mistaken them for lowly thugs in the martial arts world. He then walked over to the unconscious Gongye Qian and carefully carried him on his back.

The four men looked grim and left the area quickly without uttering a word.

This battle was swift and decisive, starting suddenly, ending just as quickly, and ending with a silent retreat.

Like a bizarre drama, it left the onlookers in the martial arts world completely baffled.

Moreover, Xu Xingchen's last few words only reached the ears of Deng Baichuan and the other three, and did not travel any further; otherwise, those outside the martial arts world would have been even more bewildered and incredulous.

The group of people kneeling there, worshipping the Jade Fairy, never once glanced at the battlefield on this side.

Their eyes were completely drawn to the Jade Fairy, captivated and mesmerized.
Bao Butong, carrying Gongye Qian on his back, along with Deng Baichuan and Feng Bo'e, walked in silence to a dock by the lake a few miles away.

The dock was extremely rudimentary, with a boat moored nearby.

Several servants dressed in gray cloth were cleaning the deck of the ship, working up a sweat.

Someone looked up and saw the four men who had arrived at the dock. He quickly stood up and shouted, "Gentlemen, you're back! Quick! Please board the ship! Ah, Second Master, what's wrong?"

The man couldn't help but gasp when he saw Gongye Qian being carried on Bao Butong's back.

Then, his gaze swept over the other three, and he noticed that all four of them had some injuries, and they looked quite serious. He was startled and thought to himself, "Four gentlemen, did you encounter a powerful enemy outside and get injured?"

He dared not ask this question aloud; given his status, it was best not to know many things.

The other servants who were busy with their work all stood up and bowed to Deng Baichuan and the other three. When they saw the injuries on the four men, they also showed surprise and worry.

Deng Baichuan and his two companions jumped onto the deck with grim expressions, waved their hands, and said, "Set sail immediately and take us back to Yanziwu!"

After saying that, he turned around and led the other three into the cabin.

The servants dared not say anything, and they all picked up their tools, some using poles and others paddling, and together they steered the boat away from the dock.

Inside the ship's cabin.
Bao Butong carefully placed Gongye Qian on the deck, reaching out to check Gongye Qian's injuries while turning to Feng Bo'e with a frown and asking, "Fourth brother, how much force did you use when you attacked him?"

With one arm hanging limply at his side, Feng Bo'e endured the throbbing pain in his shoulder, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at Gongye Qian on the ground. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Don't worry, Third Brother; when I attacked, I used a little too much force in my leg, just wanting to break that guy's knee to prevent him from escaping; my hand wasn't much, I just wanted to knock him unconscious."

"Sigh, I never expected that all my attacks would land on my second brother."

Deng Baichuan sighed and comforted him, "Fourth brother, you don't need to blame yourself; my attack also landed on you; luckily, I only wanted to injure and subdue him at the time; if I had used my full strength, fourth brother, your arm would have been completely ruined!"

At this time, Bao Butong had finished examining Gongye Qian's injuries and knew that what the fourth brother said was right. His second brother was not in mortal danger, but only had a broken kneecap. Even if there were good medicines for sprains and bruises in the manor, he would probably need to recover for a long time.

Click!

Straighten Gongye Qian's right leg bone and return the kneecap to its original position.

Gongye Qian, who was in a coma, frowned slightly, and a look of pain flashed across his face.

Bao Butong straightened up, sat down to the side, looked up at his two brothers, and asked in a deep voice, "The martial arts used by that master of the Free and Unfettered Sect, is it really that... Qiankun Great Shift Divine Skill?"

Deng Baichuan coughed twice, and felt a sweet, metallic taste of blood in his breath, knowing that he had been badly beaten by the second brother.

A look of solemnity and disbelief flashed across his face, and he said in a somewhat unsteady tone, "I don't know either. The Murong family's 'Star Shifting Technique' would never be passed on to outsiders; and Master could not possibly have an illegitimate child outside; I somewhat disbelieve that person's words."

Bao Butong sneered, "In this world, although there are many similar martial arts, the Young Master's Dou Zhuan Xing Yi Divine Skill is a unique martial art, extremely rare and unparalleled."

"How could a divine skill comparable to the Star Shifting Divine Art suddenly appear?"

"In my opinion, that person probably stole the young master's family's secret techniques from somewhere and then came to Suzhou to cause trouble for him."

Feng Bo'e looked up at Deng Baichuan: "Brother, didn't you say that recently, several renowned martial arts masters have been killed by their respective signature techniques? People in the martial arts world are suspecting that Young Master was behind it?"

"Now, suddenly, this person from the Carefree Sect has appeared."

"Do you think that person is the real murderer?"

Deng Baichuan said slowly with a solemn expression, "First, renowned figures in the martial arts world died by their own signature techniques; now, a successor of the Xiaoyao Sect has suddenly appeared."

"And that successor of the Free and Unfettered Sect also possesses martial arts similar to the young master's family's secret techniques."

"That person also brought a jade statue that was exactly the same as Miss Biao's when he came to Suzhou."

"All these events combined point to one thing," "The successor of the Carefree Sect is after Young Master and Miss Biao."

"As the four great retainers of the Murong family, this news cannot be kept from those who are interested, yet he pretends not to recognize us."

"Just as we were about to capture him, he revealed his martial arts skills and then easily let us go."

"This behavior is very much like that person's invitation to the young master and the young lady."

Bao Butong snorted coldly: "Not at all! Not at all! That man injured the four of us; it wasn't a formal invitation, it was a direct provocation against the Murong family."

"He's provoking the Murong family, provoking the young master, and even provoking the young master's family's 'Star Shifting Divine Skill'."

"His series of actions all indicate that he wants to compete with the young master and then take his place!"

"Damn it!" Feng Bo cursed, then said angrily, "After hearing Third Brother's analysis, I finally realized that those people from the Xiaoyao Sect must be trying to use our young master's name to make a name for themselves in the martial arts world; they deserve to die!"

“Those who come are not friendly, and those who are friendly do not come; this is exactly what I am worried about.” Deng Baichuan said with a solemn expression, “It is a pity that the four of us acted hastily and did not use any special techniques; otherwise, we would have been able to find out whether the martial arts used by that person were the Qiankun Great Shift Divine Skill he mentioned or the Young Master’s Dou Zhuan Xing Yi Divine Skill.”

Bao Butong nodded and said, "Brother is right. If we attack him at close range, we won't be able to probe the depth of his martial arts skills. If we use a special technique, he will definitely use a special technique to counterattack. Special techniques are an external manifestation of martial arts techniques. As long as he uses them, we will be able to tell whether his words are true or false."

Feng Bo'e asked, "Big brother, third brother, do you still remember what he said last?"

"They say that their Langhuan Blessed Land, belonging to the Free and Unfettered Sect, has collected martial arts techniques from all the sects and schools in the world."

"Miss Biao's family also has a Jade Cave, which similarly collects martial arts techniques from all over the world."

"Moreover, Miss Biao looks exactly like that jade statue."

"Do you think that Miss Biao and her family's Langhuan Jade Cave are connected to the Langhuan Blessed Land of the Xiaoyao Sect?"

Deng Baichuan said, "We need to ask Miss Biao's mother about this; Miss Biao probably doesn't know anything about it."

Bao Butong said, "Then let's go directly to Mantuo Manor. Young Master is not at Canhe Manor right now. When we get back, we can only send him an urgent message to tell him what happened here. There is no other way we can do it."

Deng Baichuan and Feng Bo'e nodded in agreement.

However, upon seeing Gongye Qian lying on the deck, Deng Baichuan said, "Let's take the second son back to the manor first and have the manor doctor give him a proper treatment."

The boat traveled a distance on the lake and entered a lotus field, then turned into a reed bed.

After winding through the reeds, we soon arrived at the dock at the foot of a small island.

A wide, winding stone staircase leads directly to the grand courtyard above.

You can see layers upon layers of flying eaves, pavilions, terraces, bridges, streams, rockeries, and ponds inside.

Exquisitely decorated and ornately carved.

The feng shui arrangement is just right.

Everywhere you look, there's an elegant and refined atmosphere reminiscent of gardens in southern China!
The servants working on the docks saw the small boat approaching and quickly bowed to Deng Baichuan and his companions as they emerged from the cabin.

When they saw the injuries on Deng Baichuan, Bao Butong, and Feng Bo'e, as well as the unconscious Gongye Qian, they were all filled with surprise and uncertainty.

At Deng Baichuan's command, the servants quickly and carefully lifted Gongye Qian and hurried up the steps into the courtyard above.

Then, someone hurriedly went to find the doctor in the village.
Some people whispered among themselves, wondering what kind of expert the four gentlemen had encountered while on their errands, that they all returned injured.
After sending Gongye Qian back to the village, the boat left the dock and continued rowing along the waterway.

Before long, the ship arrived near another small island.

Before you even get close, you can see camellias of all colors and shapes blooming all over the mountains.

A gentle breeze blows, and the camellias sway gracefully, blooming beautifully.

Deng Baichuan and his two companions boarded the dock and followed the stone steps all the way up to the gate, which was shaded by lush green trees.

when!when!when!
Bao Butong grabbed the brass ring on the courtyard gate, struck it three times forcefully, then released his grip and took two steps back.

After a while.

The courtyard gate creaked open, and a middle-aged woman walked out. She looked up at the three men, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw their injuries.

Then, frowning, he said, "So they are three retainers from the young master's family."

(End of this chapter)