Chapter 238: Unstoppable Bleeding, Profound-Breaking Arrow

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Unstoppable Bleeding, Profound-Breaking Arrow

’Broken the laws of Hua Xu?’

Of course, Chu Fan wasn’t very familiar with the laws of the Hua Xu Empire. On his journey into the Central Domain, he had indeed killed a number of people, but they were all cultivators.

’And they were the ones who had picked a fight with him first. Even if the laws of the Hua Xu Empire made it illegal for cultivators to kill other cultivators, killing an enemy in self-defense shouldn’t be a crime anywhere, right?’

’Clearly, these soldiers are just using this as a pretext.’

"Don’t tell me the laws of Hua Xu state that when you’re attacked by villains, you aren’t even allowed to fight back?" Chu Fan retorted.

The middle-aged general said coldly, "I am merely acting on orders. If you take issue with this, you can argue your case at the government office."

"Acting on orders? Why don’t you tell me whose orders you’re acting on?"

In his heart, Chu Fan suspected this was the work of the Zhu Family and the Wei Family. After all, this was Jinzhou, where the Zhu Family was influential. Furthermore, Jinzhou was a key military location for the Hua Xu Empire; the three hundred thousand soldiers of the Garrison Army that protected the Capital City were stationed here.

It would be perfectly normal for the Zhu Family to have connections with the generals here.

"Why should I have to tell you whose orders I’m following? If you surrender now, you can spare yourself some pain. But if you continue to resist, these Profound-Breaking Arrows don’t have eyes."

’Profound-Breaking Arrows?’

’No wonder the Court of the Hua Xu Empire can control the entire Central Domain, even with the Martial Dao flourishing as it is!’

’So they possess such a deadly weapon.’

But how could he possibly surrender? If he did, forget the White Fox—he would probably lose his own life here.

’Should I use the Inner Lion Seal Divine Techniques?’

’Never mind that the entire street is packed with soldiers. My Inner Lion Seal Divine Techniques require a cooldown period after use. There’s no way I could kill every soldier here in time.’

’If I actually killed these soldiers, that’s when the real trouble would start.’

’Killing cultivators and killing soldiers are two completely different things.’

’I can still justify killing cultivators, but killing these soldiers is the same as offending the Court of Hua Xu and the Royal Family.’

Just then, he remembered the silver token Crown Prince Long Jingyao had given him.

"I wonder," Chu Fan asked, "is the official who gave you your orders of a higher rank than the Crown Prince?"

"His Highness is the Crown Prince of the Empire. Throughout the entire Hua Xu Empire, second only to Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince holds the most authority. Are you trying to say you know our Crown Prince?"

"I have indeed met His Highness the Crown Prince before," Chu Fan said.

The middle-aged general burst out laughing.

"The Crown Prince is benevolent and has toured the realm on His Majesty’s behalf several times. Plenty of people have seen His Highness. Does that mean anyone who’s met him can break the law? What a joke."

Chu Fan smiled and shook his head. He took out the token and said, "I’m not sure if this little thing His Highness the Crown Prince gave me is of any use. I wonder, which carries more weight? This token, or the word of the person who gave you your orders?"

The middle-aged general froze the moment he saw the silver token Chu Fan produced.

"Surely you’re not going to claim this token is a fake, are you, General?"

The middle-aged general immediately leaped off his Wind Chasing Beast, trotted forward a few steps, and carefully examined the silver token clutched in Chu Fan’s hand.

"To see this token is to see the Crown Prince in person! This subordinate general kowtows to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"General, are you still going to arrest me?" Chu Fan asked in a cold voice.

"This subordinate general wouldn’t dare!"

"In that case, shouldn’t you tell me who gave you that order?" Chu Fan asked.

The middle-aged general remained kneeling on the ground, and Chu Fan had no intention of telling him to rise.

After all, the arrow was still embedded in his shoulder. Even though he had pressed his acupoints, he couldn’t stop the incessant bleeding.

"It... It was Prince Huai."

"Prince Huai?"

Chu Fan was quite surprised. He had assumed it was the young mistress of the Zhu Family; he never expected it to be Prince Huai.

’That Princess Huaining is as persistent as a ghost!’

"When I see His Highness the Crown Prince, I’ll be sure to discuss this matter with him at length," Chu Fan said coolly.

"Mr.... Mr. Chu," the general stammered, "this subordinate general was deceived by Prince Huai’s slanderous lies! I was mistaken in believing you were a scourge upon the world using an Evil Technique, which is why I brought my men to apprehend you. Had I known you had truly met His Highness the Crown Prince... even if you gave me ten times the courage, I would never dare to offend you, Mr. Chu! Please, I beg you, do not mention this to the Crown Prince. This subordinate general is at your disposal."

An ancestral decree of the Hua Xu Empire’s Royal Family forbade any Vassal King from having any contact with the Garrison Army.

To say nothing of a Garrison Army general mobilizing troops without authorization on the mere word of a Vassal King.

Furthermore, the Profound-Breaking Arrow was one of the Empire’s ultimate weapons for maintaining control over the realm; it was not to be used lightly.

If Chu Fan reported this to the Crown Prince, the general’s career would be over. In fact, he would likely be beheaded for his crimes.

"What exactly were Prince Huai’s orders?"

"Mr. Chu, Prince Huai didn’t exactly order me. He just mentioned the matter and asked if this subordinate general could help him with a favor."

"That’s not important. I’m asking what he instructed you to do. Was it to kill me, then snatch the White Fox and hand it over to him? What did he promise you?"

"Your insight is sharp, Mr. Chu. That is correct. Prince Huai promised this subordinate general that after the deed was done, I would be entitled to ten percent of the profits from all of Prince Huai’s Mansion’s businesses."

"Hmph!" Chu Fan snorted.

However, Chu Fan knew he would have to find another opportunity to get his revenge on Prince Huai for this arrow. He didn’t dare push the general too hard.

’If he gets desperate and decides to kill me to silence me, he could just deny ever having seen the token.’

’What could I do then?’

Chu Fan understood the principle of not taking unnecessary risks.

Until he found a way to counter the Profound-Breaking Arrows, it was best not to provoke these soldiers.

"I won’t mention this matter to His Highness the Crown Prince," Chu Fan said, waving his hand. "As for you, General, I’d advise you to watch your step. Don’t let yourself be used as someone’s blade, only to invite your own death without even realizing it."

"This subordinate general thanks you, Mr. Chu."

After rising to his feet, the general waved his hand and departed with his soldiers.

Watching the soldiers retreat in an orderly fashion, Chu Fan couldn’t help but feel a stir of emotion.

Once everyone was gone, Chu Fan struck his shoulder, jarring the sharp arrow loose.

Blood immediately gushed from the wound on his shoulder, refusing to stop.

He had no Antiseptic Medicine on him. With his superior physical constitution, even wounds from swords and blades usually healed quickly—a rate other cultivators could not hope to match.

He ran back into the inn and searched around until he found a bottle of Antiseptic Medicine, which he sprinkled on the wound.

The intense pain made the corner of his mouth twitch.

But the medicine had no effect whatsoever. The blood continued to flow, and the pain even intensified.

Just then, Wei Mian rushed into the inn and took a medicine vial from within his robes.

He explained, "Wounds from a Profound-Breaking Arrow can’t be treated with ordinary Antiseptic Medicine. Brother Chu, if you trust me, use this."

Chu Fan took the vial, immediately uncorked it, and sprinkled the powder onto his wound.

A cool, numbing sensation spread through the area, and the bleeding instantly stopped.

"What on earth are these Profound-Breaking Arrows made of?" Chu Fan asked.

Wei Mian shook his head. "The Profound-Breaking Arrow was the ultimate weapon the Royal Family used to conquer the realm. As for what it’s made of, no one knows besides members of the Royal Family. However, I’ve heard that when the arrowheads are forged, they are quenched in the blood of high-tier Demon Beasts. Because of this, a wound from a Profound-Breaking Arrow will never heal without the proper antidote. The victim simply bleeds to death."

"And this antidote?"

"This antidote also comes from the Royal Family’s apothecaries. No one but the Royal Family can produce it."