Chapter 70: Ye Qingxuan's Rescue
The newcomers were none other than Xu Yafei, with Han Chuxue and Han Qingtian following behind her.
Seeing Sun Feichen clutching Zhao Dong's throat, Xu Yafei's expression changed drastically. She stepped forward and said coldly, "Let go of Zhao Dong! I am Xu Yafei."
Sun Feichen's expression shifted slightly as he looked at the group. He was, of course, aware that Xu Yafei was one of Hong Wu's people. For her to come to Zhao Dong's aid... could this be Hong Wu's intention? After all, Hong Wu was the Underground Emperor of the East Sea. As the Commander of the Binding Dragon Department, Sun Feichen had to show him some respect.
Han Qingtian also stepped forward. "Commander Sun, I must ask you to give this old man some face and release my young friend, Zhao Dong."
Sun Feichen's expression flickered uncertainly. "Patriarch Han, as far as I know, you and this Zhao Dong have no connection. Why have you come?"
Han Qingtian gave a dry chuckle. "Commander Sun, you may not be aware, but my young friend Zhao Dong and I have become quite close. We are friends despite our age difference. Please, Commander Sun, grant me this favor. The Han Family will be sure to reward you generously."
Han Chuxue remained silent, merely biting her lip as she watched Zhao Dong with a cold and detached gaze.
Earlier, Xu Yafei had suddenly visited their home, informed Han Qingtian of the situation, and requested his assistance. Han Qingtian was shocked to hear that Zhao Dong wasn't dead, but he had also hesitated. After all, Zhao Dong had thoroughly and fatally offended the Wei and Xiao Families. After a brief moment of indecision, Han Qingtian finally decided to come and see for himself.
Initially, Han Chuxue harbored only intense disgust for Zhao Dong. But today, upon hearing that he had managed to kill Wei Wu and survive, a strong sense of curiosity bubbled within her, prompting her to come and observe. However, whether Zhao Dong lived or died was of no concern to her. She felt that not seeking revenge against Zhao Dong for defiling her was already generous enough.
Sun Feichen looked coldly at Xu Yafei and the others. "As the Commander of the Binding Dragon Department, it is not your place to question my decisions," he said, his voice chillingly grim. "Furthermore, you dare to trespass without my permission? This is obstruction of justice. I would be well within my rights to arrest you all!"
The faces of Xu Yafei and Han Qingtian changed at once. Is Sun Feichen really determined to kill Zhao Dong?
Xu Yafei stepped forward. "Commander Sun, our intrusion was inconsiderate and we have offended you. However, I beg you to reconsider. Zhao Dong is a friend to both myself and Patriarch Han. Please, spare his life!"
Han Qingtian also spoke in a solemn voice. "Commander Sun, the Han Family is one of the Four Great Families of the East Sea. If you spare Zhao Dong's life today, my family will owe you a favor. Should you ever need anything in the future, the Han Family will offer its full support."
Unable to speak with his throat in a vice grip, Zhao Dong nevertheless felt a flicker of warmth in his heart at the sight of Xu Yafei and Han Qingtian. He had originally thought Xu Yafei wouldn't come, yet here she was. It seems I hold some significance in her heart after all. Han Qingtian's arrival was also unexpected.
A heavy silence fell, the air growing thick and stagnant.
Sun Feichen's face was dark, his mind racing. The Han family is one of the Four Great Families, after all, with extensive connections in the East Sea. I indeed have to show them respect, and Xu Yafei as well. If Xu Yafei is representing Hong Wu, then clashing with her means tearing all ties with him, and the consequences would be more than I could bear. But if Zhao Dong doesn't die, my mission from the Wei and Xiao families will be a failure. Still, to grievously offend the Han Family and Xu Yafei, who are right here before me, for the sake of the distant Wei and Xiao families... it just doesn't seem worth it.
For a moment, Sun Feichen was conflicted. Moreover, Zhao Dong's talent for cultivation is terrifying. I've already made an enemy of him. If I don't kill him now, I'll be leaving a major threat behind, but if I do kill him...
"Commander Sun, I implore you to let Zhao Dong go," Xu Yafei said, her tone seemingly pleading but carrying an underlying threat. "I believe he did nothing wrong; it was Wei Wu who tried to kill him first. If you insist on putting Zhao Dong to death, then I will have no choice but to report this up the chain of command, all the way to the Provincial Binding Dragon Department. As it happens, I have a few friends in the Provincial City..."
Sun Feichen's eyelids twitched. If this gets reported, I'll likely pay a price. I might even get demoted...
Thinking this, Sun Feichen made a decision. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "Fine. Today, on account of you two, I can spare Zhao Dong's life..."
Xu Yafei and Han Qingtian were overjoyed. "Thank you, Commander Sun!"
"Don't thank me so quickly. I haven't finished," Sun Feichen said. "I can spare his life, but I must shatter his Dantian and cripple his cultivation!"
Xu Yafei's pupils shrank, her face turning deathly pale. "Commander Sun, how is that any different from killing him?"
Sun Feichen smirked sinisterly. "This is my bottom line. If you cannot accept it, then I will simply kill him."
"Old dog, you're dead set on helping Xiao Hongtian, aren't you?" Zhao Dong snarled, his eyes crimson. "If I survive this day, I swear I will have you drawn and quartered!"
"Rest assured, Zhao Dong. You'll never get to lay a hand on me," Sun Feichen sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Because today, I *will* cripple you!" Turning to Xu Yafei and Han Qingtian, he said ominously, "Killed or crippled. You choose."
Han Qingtian's voice was full of helplessness. "Commander Sun, is there truly no room for discussion?"
"None!"
Looking at Zhao Dong, her face ashen and her eyes filled with deep sorrow, Xu Yafei trembled as she spoke. "Commander Sun... then please, spare his life."
"Very well," Sun Feichen said with a dark smile. "Then I shall cripple his meridians, shatter his Dantian, and destroy his cultivation!"
He formed a palm strike, channeling Spiritual Energy into his hand, and began to savagely strike different parts of Zhao Dong's body.
Instantly, mists of blood erupted from Zhao Dong. His arms, his thighs—one meridian after another shattered under Sun Feichen's brutal blows. Battered and broken, Zhao Dong was on the verge of death, his body trembling uncontrollably. His eyes were wide with fury, the corners splitting and streaming blood.
A stabbing pain shot through Xu Yafei's heart as she watched, her eyes welling with tears. I want to help, but I'm utterly powerless!
Han Qingtian's face was grim. He sighed. With Zhao Dong crippled, he's no different from a dead man now.
Han Chuxue bit her lip. Although she loathed Zhao Dong, she couldn't bear to watch such a brutal scene and turned her face away.
In a neighboring room, a woman in white entered. She was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, exuding an air of nobility. Within that nobility was an extreme coldness, and her phoenix-like eyes held a natural, innate pride.
Several staff members of the Binding Dragon Department were reporting to her with the utmost reverence. An outsider would have been astonished, for these same staff members had never shown such fawning respect, not even to their own Commander, Sun Feichen.
This was because the woman in white was a member of the Huaxia Dragon Group. Her status was exceptionally noble, far loftier than even their Governor-General. Besides the Binding Dragon Department, the government's public-facing institution for managing cultivators, China had another, more secret organization. This organization was the Huaxia Dragon Group. Its mission was to guard the lands of China, eliminate demons and evils, and secretly maintain order within the Cultivation World.
The Huaxia Dragon Group had only twelve members, corresponding to the twelve animals of the zodiac, collectively known as the Zodiac Guardian Gods. The woman in white was one of them.
After finishing his report, a Binding Dragon Department staffer smiled obsequiously at the woman. "Miss Ye, the above concludes the recent work report for the Binding Dragon Department."
Ye Qingxuan nodded lightly. "I've heard that casualties in the East Sea's Cultivation World have indeed decreased recently. That is an improvement over the past. It's clear you've been working diligently."
Hearing Ye Qingxuan's words, the men collectively sighed in relief, their faces breaking into relaxed smiles.
Just then, Ye Qingxuan's ears caught a sound from the next room. She frowned slightly. "What is that shouting next door?"
The staff members exchanged glances before one stepped forward to explain, "Miss Ye, a vicious incident occurred in East Sea City yesterday. A cultivator murdered someone in public at a banquet, causing a terrible disturbance. Commander Sun is currently handling the matter."
"Is that so?" Ye Qingxuan's interest was piqued. "Take me to see."
The man hesitated. "Miss Ye, it's... there's nothing pleasant to see. Please, have a seat. I'll get you a glass of water. We can have Commander Sun come to you shortly."
"I said, take me to see. Did you not hear me?" Ye Qingxuan said coldly.
The men felt as if they had been plunged into an icy cavern. A single sentence from her sent a bone-deep chill through them, like needles stabbing their backs.
The man nodded hastily. "Yes! I heard you! Please, Miss Ye, follow me!"
Nearby, Zhao Dong was practically a man drenched in his own blood. Eighty percent of his meridians were destroyed. His clothes were tattered, his body covered in gruesome wounds where mangled flesh and shattered bone were exposed.
Spitting out a mouthful of bloody foam, his eyes remained open. Though barely clinging to life, his face was a mask of ferocious defiance. "Old dog... if you have any guts... just kill me."
Sun Feichen grunted coldly. "Killing you would be letting you off too easy. I want you to live your entire life in agony! Now, I will destroy your Dantian!"
As he spoke, Sun Feichen channeled Spiritual Energy into his palm, preparing to strike Zhao Dong's Dantian. A single strike from this palm, and not even the gods could save him.
But just as his hand was about to fall, the door was pushed open, and Ye Qingxuan walked in.
Sun Feichen spun around, startled. He immediately bowed, his voice a mixture of reverence and fawning. "Miss Ye! What brings you here?"
Ye Qingxuan addressed him coolly, "I came to see how Commander Sun deals with a murderer."
With that, her gaze slowly shifted to Zhao Dong.