Chapter 129: The Power of the Hidden Dragon Prodigy!

Someone has come forward to confess!

There are still those willing to take the gamble.

And with the first, came a second, a third…

Chen Mu personally wrote out the content, moderately reduced their offenses, then had the relieved parties sign, seal, and press their fingerprints.

According to Chen Mu's records, the worst punishment was a few dozen military lashes and a fine—no need to even remove their official robes.

That was enough.

Total immunity was impossible; keeping the Crimson Fire robe was victory.

Reciprocity.

After confessing their own crimes, these men jointly denounced a pair of brothers.

Du Jiansheng, Du Jianxi!

…

…

The midday sun was blinding; the streets of Tai'an Prefecture teemed with people, noisy and bustling.

Chen Mu's figure appeared like a ghost, silently blocking the path of two hurried figures trying to vanish into the crowd.

These two were Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi, brothers who had heard the rumors and tried to flee Tai'an Prefecture before Chen Mu could react.

According to the reports, Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi were staunch loyalists of Pei Renguang.

Chen Mu had been monitoring them from afar.

He had intended to wait until they slipped up before acting—but they had rushed ahead, attempting to escape.

That would not do!

…

Du Jiansheng, at Fifth Stage Innate and the elder brother, saw Chen Mu and his face twisted in shock, then quickly smoothed into a smile as he bowed, "Chen my lord, what a coincidence—what are you…?"

"Not a coincidence."

Chen Mu's tone was calm, yet carried undeniable authority: "I came here specifically for you two. The Pei Renguang case still has unresolved points—you must return to the Zhenwu Bureau to assist with the investigation."

Hearing this, Du Jiansheng's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged. He dodged, "Chen my lord, you jest. My brother and I had nothing to do with Pei's affair—we know nothing. It's currently lunch break; we have urgent personal matters to attend to. Could you kindly grant us a favor? We'll report back to the bureau later."

"Zhenwu Bureau regulations demand immediate cooperation during investigations. Personal matters are to be set aside." Chen Mu's gaze burned into Du Jiansheng, making his skin crawl.

Beside him, Du Jianxi, more impulsive and at Fourth Stage Innate, saw Chen Mu's refusal and his eyes flashed with fury. He drew his waist sword in one swift motion and shouted, "Chen Mu! You're just a newly arrived Inspector—do you really think you're a Judge? Get out of our way!"

Before he finished speaking, he struck first!

His sword trembled, transforming into dozens of icy stars aimed at Chen Mu's vital points—his moves were ruthless, clearly meant to maim.

"Utterly foolish."

Chen Mu snorted coldly, unmoved by the sudden attack.

"Zing!"

A clear, ringing blade-song rang out as his Zhan Sha Dao suddenly unsheathed.

The blade's motion was heavy, radiating a solemn aura of slaying demons and purging evil.

But Chen Mu did not strike directly with the blade's edge—he channeled the Five Elements Transmute Spirit Scripture, instantly transforming his vast, pure Duan Tianhe true qi into scorching, ferocious heat!

"Go!"

Chen Mu growled low, and blazing crimson flames erupted from the Zhan Sha Dao.

The flames condensed without dissipating, forming a searing blade of fire that met Du Jianxi's swordlight head-on.

This was not real fire—it was the highly condensed manifestation of transformed Duan Tianhe true qi.

"What?!"

Du Jianxi's face paled in shock; he flickered sideways, trying to evade.

But the instant his sword met the flame blade, a searing, tyrannical force surged up the blade, slamming into him.

Boom!

The flame blade clashed with the swordlight, releasing a muffled explosion.

Du Jianxi felt searing pain in his Hukou—his sword nearly flew from his grip. The burning qi pierced his body, scorching his meridians with agony. He screamed, spat blood, and flew backward, crashing hard to the ground, unable to rise—clearly grievously wounded by the fire force.

"Brother!"

Du Jiansheng's eyes bulged with rage—he never imagined Chen Mu's strength was so overwhelming, crushing his Fourth Stage Innate brother in a single blow.

Knowing today could not end peacefully, he roared, unleashing his full Fifth Stage Innate power. Both palms slammed forward, sharp palm-winds roaring toward Chen Mu, desperate to carve a path to survival!

"Good!"

Chen Mu's eyes turned icy as he slashed again with the Zhan Sha Dao.

The flame blade reappeared.

This time, it was denser, more immense—a roaring dragon of fire.

Du Jiansheng's palm force melted like snow before the scorching flame blade; the furious dao qi slammed into his protective true qi.

Bang—

A muffled detonation.

Du Jiansheng's protective qi shattered instantly. A crisp cracking sound echoed from his ribs—he vomited blood, reeled backward, his chest charred black as if scorched by real flame, his aura plummeting.

Swoosh!

Before Du Jiansheng could regain his footing, Chen Mu blurred forward, chasing him, the Zhan Sha Dao screaming through the air as it came down in a swift, brutal slash.

Shhh~ Shhh~ Shhh~!

Blade glinted blindingly; dao qi raged wildly.

The glow of the Reverse Fate Dao remained tightly confined around Du Jiansheng, never spilling outward to harm the surroundings.

Du Jiansheng was slow by one step, slow at every step.

The peak-perfected Reverse Fate Blade—even without unleashing its Spirit Edge—wasn't something he could face head-on; he could only resist in disarray.

"Boom~ boom~!"

The two figures flickered, closing in to clash, trading speed for speed.

At a certain moment…

"Ugh~!"

A great gout of clotted blood suddenly sprayed out. Du Jiansheng broke away from the fight, coughing blood from his mouth, and crashed hard to the ground, rolling three times. A tiny blood hole below his lower abdomen seeped fresh blood.

"My dantian, my dantian… ah~!"

Du Jiansheng's face was pale, his body trembling, the aura around him chaotic and rapidly declining.

It was plainly his dantian shattered, his true Qi no longer under control.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh~

Four blasts of force pierced the air, streaking straight toward the stunned Du Jiansheng, shattering both his hands and both his legs.

At this point, the battle was over.

The entire exchange was swift as lightning and flint—from Du Jianxi drawing his blade for a sneak attack to the two brothers both falling grievously wounded—was only a mere half a minute.

The pedestrians on the street had long since been scared off, hiding far away, watching this side in terror.

Chen Mu's face was expressionless as he sheathed his blade.

The Executioner Blade was spotless, unstained by blood.

Hoo~

Hoo!

The Dragon-Catching Hand was deployed, snatching from afar.

Chen Mu held one in each hand, like two dead dogs, and under the reverent gazes of the crowd on the street, carried Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi back toward the direction of the Town Martial Bureau.

……

"Thump thump~"

The moment he stepped through the Town Martial Bureau's main gate, he dropped Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi.

Chen Mu spoke calmly and ordered, "Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi are Pei Renguang's accomplices. They tried to flee and were caught. Throw them into the cells first."

"…Yes, my lord!"

Two Town Martial Bureau guards bowed and accepted the order, dragging Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi off to be locked in a cell.

In his heart he was shouting in shock.

Mother of—

So this is the strength of a Hidden Dragon prodigy?

Du Jiansheng and Du Jianxi—one at Fourth Stage Innate, one at Fifth Stage Innate—faced Chen Mu and were utterly unable to fight back, defeated so miserably so fast!