Chapter 271 Persuading with Reason
His appearance surprised Lu Zhou slightly. He seemed to be born and dressed like a eunuch.
Li Yunzhao was in no hurry to enter the room. Instead, he paused deliberately. After another minor eunuch that seemed to be in his forties caught up with him, Li Yunzhao entered the room.
Qin Jun hastily said, “This is the Old Mister about whom I mentioned...”
When Li Yunzhao looked up with his hands behind his back, their eyes met.
He had spent his days living well within the palace’s borders. Even though he was well-informed, he had never seen the Evil Sky Pavilion’s master in person before. At this first meeting, he felt suppressed by Lu Zhou’s invisible aura.
He knew that he was facing someone incredible. This was not an aura that originated from cultivation base alone. It was an aura that someone of a higher status radiated.
The three-foot ice was not formed overnight. Li Yunzhao had only felt such pressure from the Emperor. “Are you Li Yunzhao?” Lu Zhou addressed him by name right away.
Before Li Yunzhao came, Qin Jun had told him about him, so he knew who this person was. Therefore, he was not angered.
“I am.” Lu Zhou kept his gaze straight as he summoned, “Zhao Yue.”
Zhao Yue stepped forward from the side and said, “Yes, Master.”
She knew what her master meant. She turned to face Li Yunzhao and said, “The person who found me near Bluesun Mountain is this man.”
When Li Yunzhao saw Zhao Yue, he frowned slightly and said, “You?”
Ignoring him, Zhao Yue returned to her spot and kept quiet.
Lu Zhou said drily, “Speak.” Li Yunzhao smiled as he cupped his fists and said, “I might’ve com ill-prepared... I was invited by the Prince of Qi for a small gathering and heard that the Old Mister from the Evil Sky Pavilion intends to get to know me, yet there seems to be something bothering you, Old Mister.”
Qin Jun hastily explained, “I had to make that excuse up. Please, forgive me, Old Mister.”
Lu Zhou waved his hand, not minding at all.
So long as Li Yunzhao was here, he would not ask about anything else. Lu Zhou said, “You should know what I mean. I won’t repeat my question twice.”
The aura and atmosphere in the living room were slightly strange now. Li Yunzhao glanced at Qin Jun. “I know about the Evil Sky Pavilion, and I know about its nine disciples. I didn’t expect you to personally come to the Divine Capital, Old Mister... If there’s anything you want to know, ask away. I shall tell you everything and anything that you want to know.”
Li Yunzhao’s voice was sharp and thin, making anyone who heard him have goosebumps. Lu Zhou nodded with a pleased expression and said, “Is Zhao Yue from the palace?”
“She is.”
“Did you leave the Dark Yin Palm’s cold poison in her body?”
“I did.”
“Your reason being?” Li Yunzhao paused. His answer did not come as forthrightly as before. This question seemed to have touched upon some important matter...
“Old Mister, about the reason, I can’t speak of it...and I won’t...” Li Yunzhao replied.
When Lu Zhou raised his right hand, there was a flash of radiance in the dimly lit room.
There seemed to be a blue vortex in his palm.
Li Yunzhao’s eyes widened and he took three steps back. “Old Mister!”
“Pavilion Master!”
Lu Zhou pushed his palm forward.
The vortex shot out toward Li Yunzhao.
Boom!
A purple bolt of lightning smashed through the ceiling and converged with the vortex.
It hit Li Yunzhao!
When the powerful impact directly penetrated the Dark Yin energy seal which he prided himself in, he reeled and crashed into the courtyard.
A round opening appeared above their heads.
Nobody seemed to have seen how Lu Zhou made the attack. This peerless elite from the palace did not even have the chance to show off his skills like an elite before he was sent flying from a single blow.
It was a single technique!
The little eunuch who followed him turned to look with wide eyes.
Li Yunzhao crashed to the ground! Blood trickled down the sides of his lips. He panted heavily while his eyes were filled with disbelief.
As he pressed his chest with one hand, he pushed himself off the ground with the other.
The entire living room and courtyard were as silent as a graveyard. Because the commotion had been extremely loud, the guards of the Prince of Qi Mansion hurried over.
“Get lost!” Qin Jun barked.
The guards quickly turned around and left the courtyard. Who would dare butt in when the Evil Sky Pavilion was the one making a move?
Li Yunzhao coughed and somehow managed to stand. He appeared calm but was overwhelmed with fear in his heart.
The Divine Capital was full of elites.
Even so, Li Yunzhao had thought that nobody could defeat him with a single move.
“I’ve learned my lesson.” Li Yunzhao cupped his fists. After being attacked, he was willing to accept it.
Qin Jun remembered his question yesterday. In hindsight, it seemed to be an overly stupid question. The prominent person by the Empress Dowager’s side could not even withstand a single blow!
Lu Zhou appeared calm. This Thunderblast was a minor lesson to him.
“Speak.” His expression remained calm.
Li Yunzhao shook his head helplessly and said, “I heard that the Evil Sky Pavilion Master’s methods are shocking and I’ve always wanted to have a chance to spar with you, Pavilion Master. Even if I lose, I’ll accept the outcome willingly. As for this Thunderblast, it’s my loss...”
He paused before continuing, “When Princess Yun Zhao was in labor, there was a red moon. It was a bad omen, and I was tasked to get rid of the embodiment of ill portent.”
This statement contained loads of information.
Zhao Yue shuddered. Her face went ghastly pale as she asked, “Princess Yun Zhao is my mother?”
“That’s right.”
A single rock gave rise to a thousand waves.
Qing Jun, the butler Hong Fu, the minor eunuch, and Little Yuan’er were beside themselves with shock.
Li Yunzhao straightened his robes, knelt to the ground, and said, “Although you weren’t officially bestowed the title or claimed by your own family, I should still pay you homage. No matter what, I shall...kowtow!”
This kowtow practically confirmed Zhao Yue’s identity.
It should be known that the person kowtowing was the prominent figure by the current Empress Dowager’s side, Li Yunzhao.
Without waiting for a reply from Zhao Yue, Li Yunzhao had already gotten up. “Princess Yun Zhao has always led a tough life. I couldn’t bear to end the life of her offspring just like that, hence I didn’t follow through and merely left the Dark Yin Palm,” said Li Yunzhao. As Lu Zhou stood up slowly, everyone’s attention was on him now.
Lu Zhou walked forward with his hands behind his back. He walked up to the door of the room and said, “The Crimson Moon? Who told you to kill her?”
“Well...” Li Yunzhao hesitated once more.
“Are you not going to speak?” Lu Zhou said.
“Why do you have to put me in such a tight spot, Old Mister?”
“Zhao Yue is my disciple. Are you saying that I shouldn’t be looking out for my own disciple?” Lu Zhou said. Zhao Yue’s heart was stirred.
“It’s not that I’m not willing to tell you, but the imperial concubine who meant to do Princess Yun Zhao harm has passed away. All I want is for this matter to be settled and for everyone to move on,” said Li Yunzhao.
“I persuade with reason. The reason is now clear. Alas, you won’t listen!” Lu Zhou stroked his beard and stepped forward.
Li Yunzhao frowned. Once bitten, twice shy.
The blow from the Thunderblast left a lingering fear in his heart. “I was careless and was hit by the Thunderblast just now...Do you think that I’d have no tricks up my sleeves after living inside the palace for so many years? I know about the Evil Sky Pavilion’s strength...You leave me no choice but to retaliate.”
His body burned with vigorous Primal Qi which naturally condensed into energy.