Chapter 100: The Kill (3)

Faced with the blade inches from his face, Third Master Chen, who had lived for more than half a century, made the wisest choice.

"What is this about?" he asked, feigning confusion as if he had no idea what was happening.

"Just a moment ago, a group of men tried to kill me, claiming they were acting under your orders," Qin Zhen said, cutting straight to the point, his eyes locked onto Third Master Chen’s face. "I wonder what Third Master Chen has to say about that?"

"I have no connection to those bandits! This must be slander!" Third Master Chen patted his chest and declared. "I, Third Master Chen, have always conducted myself with integrity; I would never hire someone to commit murder! It must be those thieves, desperate and cornered, biting at anyone they can! Furthermore, I have no grudge or conflict with young brother Qin, so why would I stoop to such a despicable act?"

The butler standing nearby chimed in, "Exactly! Young brother Qin, how can you believe the words of bandits?"

"When did I ever say the thieves who attacked me were bandits?" A cold sneer appeared on Qin Zhen’s face.

Seeing the two men’s expressions change abruptly, he let a dangerous light flicker in his eyes. "It seems the Chen family is very well-informed indeed!"

"There must be a misunderstanding! Look, my Chen family still holds some sway in Jinhai City. I will certainly get to the bottom of this and provide you with an explanation that satisfies you, how about that?" Third Master Chen was indeed an old veteran of the underworld. Even though he wished he could slaughter Qin Zhen right then and there to eliminate the threat, he managed to maintain a façade of benevolence and kindness to stabilize the situation.

In his heart, he vowed that if he could just survive this ordeal, he would make Qin Zhen pay.

"Not good enough," Qin Zhen said flatly. "One of my brothers took dozens of cuts for me and is currently hovering between life and death. I need an explanation right now."

As he spoke, Chen Shu had already finished binding all the Chen family servants from outside and dragging them in. These house slaves, who usually spent their days bullying others, were now kneeling on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Third Master Chen did not know what Qin Zhen intended to do, but Chen Shu’s next action answered his question.

Chen Shu wore a cruel smile as he picked up a repeating crossbow and pressed it against the back of a servant’s head. He pulled the trigger.

A wooden bolt pierced through the skull, the tip protruding through the forehead, lodged firmly in the head. The gruesome sight left everyone present stunned; no one had expected Qin Zhen to dare kill in public.

"There are over twenty people here. One dies every breath. If Third Master Chen cannot give me a satisfactory answer before they are all dead, I guarantee you will not leave the Boyang Pavilion alive."

When he said this, Qin Zhen did not sound like a sixteen-year-old boy, but like a cold-blooded, ruthless killer. His lawless indifference chilled Third Master Chen to the bone.

Just as Third Master Chen began to threaten him, the sound of the crossbow trigger pulling repeatedly echoed through the room. One by one, figures toppled to the ground, twitching as they died.

Such a horrific scene caused even the long-wicked Third Master Chen to panic! The thin, tall butler beside him collapsed to the floor, shivering uncontrollably.

"Qin Zhen! Do you know what kind of crime it is to kill in public?! Are you not afraid of being beheaded?" Third Master Chen growled through gritted teeth, regretting that he hadn't brought more men to the Boyang Pavilion today.

Qin Zhen did not answer him, but instead asked Chen Shu, "How many are left?"

"Eleven!" Chen Shu gave a vicious smile and casually executed another servant.

"This truly has nothing to do with me!" Hearing the sound of the crossbow, which sounded like a death knell, Third Master Chen finally buckled. His life was far too precious to be thrown away here, dying at the hands of a commoner.

"Qin Zhen, I know you are angry, but you must direct your anger at the right person, right? You can't just lash out at an innocent person! You are still young and have a long road ahead. I see you are a young hero and a man of great potential. How about we stop this today? If you have any trouble in the future, just come to me. My Chen family will definitely do everything in our power to help you..."

Third Master Chen’s nonsense gradually faded beneath the sound of the crossbow. Chen Shu had already raised the weapon and stood before him.

"It was him!" Third Master Chen steeled his heart and immediately shoved all the blame onto the butler. "It was this thief! He colluded with outsiders to harm young brother Qin! You brave men might not know, but this man is treacherous, cunning, narrow-minded, and utterly wretched! He had previously been using the bandits from Mao’er Mountain to stir up trouble in my estate! I am but a simple law-abiding citizen, and for fear of disaster, I had no choice but to compromise!"

Hearing Third Master Chen so vilely throwing mud on his head, the butler was filled with disbelief and rage. Beyond the rage, however, was a deep sense of despair.

Qin Zhen smiled. He looked at the butler and asked, "Is that so?"

The butler opened his mouth but could say nothing. He lowered his head and whispered, "Yes..."

The katana swung up, then down. The butler’s head fell to the floor. Scalding blood splattered all over Third Master Chen.

Third Master Chen was scared senseless, but he still suppressed the terror in his heart and squeezed out a fawning smile, trying to appease Qin Zhen. "Young brother Qin, are you satisfied now?"

His answer was the cold edge of Qin Zhen’s blade.

A low voice descended from above. A man in white appeared from nowhere, catching Qin Zhen’s strike between two fingers.

"If one can forgive, one should forgive. Why must you push things to such an extreme, young brother?"

"Master Liu, save me!" Seeing the newcomer, Third Master Chen acted as if he had found a savior, scrambling to hide behind the man in white. At this moment, he no longer possessed his usual overbearing arrogance; he was filled only with the terror of a man whose nerves had been shattered by the sight of blood.

"Who are you?" Qin Zhen’s vigilance spiked; he hadn't even seen where this man had come from.

The man in white said calmly, "Liu Zun, steward of Boyang Pavilion."

The appearance of Liu Zun caused the village guard team to immediately take up positions, their repeating crossbows fully drawn and ready to fire. Chen Shu stepped in front of Qin Zhen and warned in a low voice, "Zhen’er, this man is no simple fellow. I fear he is a master!"

A martial arts master? In this world, experts were everywhere; the martial arts scene was brilliant, hidden and full of talent. Some experts could leap over walls and shatter boulders. It was rumored that some peerless grandmasters could even break an army of ten thousand with a single sword! Qin Zhen had only heard Chen Shu talk about such things, but he hadn't expected to see one today.

Qin Zhen cast an unexpected glance at Liu Zun, but he showed no fear despite the man’s status as a master. Instead, he retorted, "Since Third Master Chen would stir up three parts of trouble even when he is in the wrong, why should I be forgiving when I am in the right? Master Liu, if this man had killed your brother, would you spare his life?"

"Master Liu! Don't listen to this brat’s nonsense! I didn't kill his brother at all!" Third Master Chen explained in a panic.

"You certainly have a sharp tongue, boy!" Liu Zun raised an eyebrow and swept a glance at Third Master Chen, who was cowering like a stray dog. He already understood the situation. Third Master Chen’s notoriety was known to everyone in Jinhai City. If he hadn't pushed someone to the brink, would they be risking their lives to fight him?

However, this was, after all, the Boyang Pavilion.

"Boss Chen is, after all, a guest of my Boyang Pavilion. If he dies here, how can I open for business in the future?"

"Does Master Liu mean that as long as Third Master Chen leaves the Boyang Pavilion, you will not interfere?" Qin Zhen pressed on, step by step.

At this, Liu Zun frowned and said in a deep voice, "I have already said, Boss Chen is an honored guest of my Boyang Pavilion."