Stranger Danger

Chapter 435: I’ll Kill You First And Your Clan Later

Chen Shaoyu was still in the air when Zhuo Henshui took one step forward and appeared beside him like a phantom. Then, she threw another punch.

In the air, there was nothing Chen Shaoyu could possibly do to dodge the attack. He had no choice but to cross his arms in front of his chest.

Crack!

The punch broke his arms and caused a jet of blood to spill through his lips. He then crashed into a nearby hill even faster than before. The hill collapsed, and Chen Shaoyu was buried under it.

“You’ve lost,” Zhuo Henshui remarked indifferently while looking down on her opponent.

“Ptooey!” Chen Shaoyu spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He was lying spread eagle on the ground, and even the slightest movement triggered a terrible pain that encompassed his whole body. He wouldn’t be surprised if someone told him that he had broken bones everywhere.

A savage grin spread across his face, however. “I lost? Do you know who I am, girl? I’m the heir of the Flying Dragon Stronghold, the one they call the Jade-faced Dragon. Who do you think you are to call for my surrender?”

As he spoke, he stared at Zhuo Henshui with cold eyes that resembled a man-devouring viper.

The Flying Dragon Stronghold was a Lulin[1] faction, and at the beginning, they claimed that they were a faction who meted out justice on behalf of the heavens. In reality, they were just brigands and murderers who would do anything to further their self-interests. Later, General Heng Shan of Tian Yong convinced them into submitting to Chu, and they were officially recognized as a sect of Chu.

Joining the empire didn’t change their nature, however. They were still crazy brigands and murderers who would annihilate entire sects and exterminate clans to the nine generations at the slightest provocations. To say that they had a poor reputation would be an understatement.

But of course, they weren’t stupid enough to commit their crimes overtly. Add to the fact that they were backed by General Heng Shan, and the government more or less turned a blind eye to their activities.

Chen Shaoyu was the heir of the Flying Dragon Stronghold, so of course he had plenty of blood on his hands as well. He was used to getting his way all the time, and he had already looked into Zhuo Henshui’s background. Although she hailed from the capital, her clan was small, insignificant, and backed by no one. It was absolutely incomparable to the Flying Dragon Stronghold, which was why he didn’t care about Zhuo Henshui at all.

“If you don’t surrender, then you will die,” Zhuo Henshui declared with cold indifference.

“Die? Hahahaha! You’re certainly welcome to try, girl!” Chen Shaoyu laughed uncontrollably despite his horrible condition. “But are you sure you want to kill me? If you kill me, then your family, relatives and friends will all go to the grave with me. Are you sure you can bear the consequences?”

Zhuo Henshui didn’t say anything. Her face was calm, but a black current was churning behind her eyes.

Chen Shaoyu didn’t notice this, not that he would care even if he did. Taking Zhuo Henshui’s silence as an admission of weakness, he became even more arrogant. “Heh! Have you realized your mistake? It’s already too late though. After all, you’ve caught my attention. When I return home, I’ll make sure to give you and your family my warmest regards.”

“How dare he, an official of Chu, threaten innocent lives in broad daylight! Who does he think he is?”

Chen Shaoyu’s behavior didn’t escape the spectators’ notice, of course. One official was so angry that he shot to his feet.

“I’d heard that Flying Dragon Stronghold blatantly disregards the law and does whatever they please, but I thought it was just an exaggeration. It would seem it was real after all,” another official echoed the sentiment.

“An audacious bastard who cares nothing for the lives of people like him does not deserve to live in this world.” Jing Huang looked extremely displeased as well. “It’s not just him. Everyone in the Flying Dragon Stronghold is just as corrupt and bloodthirsty as he is. The sooner we are rid of their loathsome existence, the better!”

Almost everyone present was wearing looks of displeasure on their face as well.

“Hmph. This is a no-holds-barred tournament where killing your opponent is allowed. Whoever says that Chen Shaoyu cannot attack his opponent psychologically and force them into submission? Also, are you suggesting that we kill someone just because they say they’re going to commit a crime? Who are the audacious bastards who\'re trying to harm an innocent person here?”

It was at this moment a brawny, fearsome-looking man said disdainfully, “Also, you claim that Flying Dragon Stronghold is corrupt and disregards the law, but where is your evidence? If you have none, then stop bitching like a woman and shut your traps!”

“Sophistry, Yu Yuanshan. Everyone knows how the Flying Dragon Stronghold is.” Jing Huang declared in a righteous voice. “Not only that, we all know that you’re their lord’s son-in-law. You’re a nest of rats and snakes colluding with each other!”

“Shut your filthy mouth, Jing Huang!” Yu Yuanshan looked like he might spit fire out of his eyes. “You think you’re immune just because you’re the Aide of the Regional Inspection Office? Just try pissing me off! I promise your office won’t live to see another day!”

“Control yourself, Commandant Yu!”

“Did you just say you would destroy the Administrator’s Office? Have you lost your mind, Commandant Yu?”

“I smell a rebel in our midst. Not even General Hengshan would dare to openly threaten a fellow imperial, and you’re just a puny commandant! Who do you think you are?”

The civil officials belonging to the Regional Inspection Office immediately retorted with baleful glares.

“So what if I’m threatening you? Do you think you scare me? You so-called scholars know nothing except pinning bullshit on those you consider barbaric and illiterate. Someone needs to remind you that the world doesn’t revolve around you!”

Some of Yu Yuanshan’s took that as a cue and rose to their feet. Some even rolled up their sleeves and began walking in Jing Huang’s direction. “Pooh! I never liked these fuckers. You think you can walk all over us? Today’s the day we remind them ‘trouble comes from a loose tongue’ means, brothers!”

“Ooh, is this an extra fight?! I sure hope it is!” Gao Ningan’s eyes lit up with clear anticipation.

Ye Qing knew it wouldn’t happen, however. Jing Huang was the Aide of the Regional Inspection Office of Tian Yong. He was a civil official.

Yu Yuanshan was the Commandant of the Hengshan Army serving under General Hengshan. He was a military officer.

Tian Yong was a resourceful place located in the hinterland of Chu. That was why it was overflowing with all sorts of factions. It was also where the central headquarters of Purity Sword, one of the Five Profound Sects, was based. To say the faction relations here were complex would be a massive understatement.

This was why the imperial court specifically assigned a general and army to Tian Yong. Ostensibly, they were supposed to assist the local Regional Inspection Office in handling violent affairs such as banditry. In reality, their job was to assist the Intelligence Department in dealing with jianghu matters. The Regional Inspection Office held no power over them at all.

Tian Yong was governed by three great powers: the Regional Inspection Office, the Pacification Bureau, and the Intelligence Department. The Intelligence Department was a depostic department possessing the power to take arbitrary actions without consulting the imperial court, and the Hengshan Army was the military force to suppress or annihilate rebels or dissidents. Sometimes, a civil official would be implicated as well. Naturally, this pissed off the civil officials and drove them into taking retaliatory measures. One thing led to another, and the two factions came to hate each other’s guts.

Of course, the faction the Regional Inspection Office really hated was the Intelligence Department, but the Intelligence Department represented the face of the emperor. They could hardly slap the emperor in the face, could they? So, they vented their anger and frustrations on the Hengshan Army instead.

It was cats versus dogs every time the two factions ran into each other. They would argue and even fight over the smallest matter.

If this was any other occasion, Hong Jianglong would be all too happy to let them beat the shit out of each other. However, the Pacification Bureau was the host of this year’s Hidden Dragon Meet. If this argument devolved into a full on brawl, then the Pacification Bureau’s reputation would suffer.

“Enough!”

As expected, Hong Jianglong rose to his feet and interrupted the quarrel with a booming roar. “This is the Flying Dragon Mount, not a market! I don’t care if you bash each other’s heads in, but if you disrupt the Hidden Dragon Meet, then the consequences will be severe!”

Both sides fell silent, but they were still glaring at each other.

“Lord Hong is right. The Hidden Dragon Meet must proceed smoothly. Please restrain yourselves, my lords,” Fang Muyun added.

Even Lei Xiaodan stepped in to mediate things. “Yes, yes, what they said. You’re all imperial officials, aren’t you? Don’t you think it’s embarrassing arguing in front of a bunch of juniors? Sit down, please.”

Fang Muyun might not be an imperial official, but he was a scholar with an impressive reputation. As they were scholars themselves, Jing Huang and the others couldn’t ignore his words.

Lei Xiaodan was Yu Yuanshan’s boss. One word from the man was all it took to shut him up and return him to his seat.

After everyone had settled down, Hong Jianglong swept his gaze imperiously across the crowd and declared icily, “Hmph! This is my first and final warning, but the next time someone disrupts the Hidden Dragon Meet, I will teach them a lesson. Understand?”

“Aw man. I was hoping to see some action,” Gao Ningan said with a regretful shrug after Hong Jianglong quelled the argument.

“Watch the matches,” Luo Zhan said with a cold glance that caused Gao Ningan to flinch. The guy was quite afraid of Luo Zhan for some reason.

On the platform, Chen Shaoyu stared at Zhuo Henshui for a moment before breaking into a lustful grin. “Now that I got a good look at you, you don’t look half bad. It just so happens that I lack a bed warmer right now. If your service is satisfactory, I promise to forgive your family. What do you say?”

Zhuo Henshui wasn’t the prettiest woman in the world, but she was tall, strong and attractive. Her cold nature only added to her charm. Chen Shaoyu couldn’t help a surge of lust when he imagined her writhing under him in pleasure.

Despite Chen Shaoyu’s behavior, he wasn’t bad-looking himself. His teeth were perfectly white, his lips were a pair of healthy red, and he had a pair of peach blossom eyes. On the surface at least, he looked like the perfect gentleman. It was why he was called the Jade-faced Dragon in the jianghu.

“Heavens above! What a scumbag!” Gao Ningan spat when he heard this. “People like him don’t deserve to live in this world.”

Ye Qing was hiding a hint of killing intent behind his frown as well.

“You’re the heir of the Flying Dragon Stronghold of Pan Long[2]?” Zhuo Henshui asked.

“Yeah? Why are you asking? Are you so eager to deepen our bond that you’re asking about my family already?” Chen Shaoyu chuckled at his tasteless joke.

Zhuo Henshui remained expressionless. “And your father is the ‘Divine Sky Dragon’ Chen Wuchou?”

“Yep? Are you scared?” Chen Shaoyu grinned evilly. “Don’t worry. If you obey me, then nothing bad will happen to you.”

“I got the right person then.” Zhuo Henshui nodded before saying seriously, “After I kill you, I’m going to kill your father. Then, I’m going to wipe out the Flying Dragon Stronghold.”

“Excuse me?” Chen Shaoyu’s smile faltered for a second. “Did you just say you want to kill me, my dad, and the Flying Dragon Stronghold?”

“You heard me right,” Zhuo Henshui said calmly. “You want to kill my family, so I’m going to kill yours.”

“You think you can kill my family? You? Haha! Hahahaha!” Chen Shaoyu laughed uncontrollably like he just heard the funniest joke in the world. However, his laughter abruptly ceased when the ground shook, and Zhuo Henshui appeared in front of him. She then grabbed his face.

“W-What are you doing?” Zhuo Henshui’s grip tightened, and for the first time, Chen Shaoyu realized that Zhuo Henshui might not be joking. She might actually kill him.

“I’m killing you,” Zhuo Henshui said indifferently before increasing her strength. There was a disturbing crunching noise, and Chen Shaoyu’s head exploded like an overripe apple. Not done yet, she brought her foot down and crushed both body and mind.

“I never tell a lie.”

“She… actually did it?” Gao Ningan’s eyes widened like saucers when he saw this. Everyone else couldn’t believe that Zhuo Henshui actually killed Chen Shaoyu as well. The large majority of people on the peak strongly believed that the world was better off without Chen Shaoyu, but none of them would dare to put their thoughts into action, at least not in public. The Flying Dragon Stronghold was hardly a weak faction after all.

This was doubly true for the current lord of the Flying Dragon Stronghold, the “Divine Sky Dragon” Chen Wuchou. He was a Half-Step Grandmaster who was as petty, narrow-minded and vengeful as he was strong. Once, he had annihilated a person’s family, relatives and friends to the last just because they called him cruel and black-hearted behind his back.

As if that wasn’t enough, Chen Shaoyu was Chen Wuchou’s only son, and he had high hopes for him. If he learned that Zhou Henshui had killed his son, he was going to fly off the handle one hundred percent.