Chapter 131: Killing to Silence

Lao Si's iron rod came with a howling wind, smashing fiercely at Pei Dongyong's head.

Pei Dongyong sidestepped, barely dodging this deadly blow.

The rod grazed his ear, flying past and kicking up a strong gust; Pei Dongyong could even feel the hairs beside his ear blown upright.

"Too close!"

Pei Dongyong thought to himself.

Lao Si's first strike missed, and immediately another rod swept horizontally toward him.

Pei Dongyong dared not meet it head-on, quickly leaping back to dodge the strike.

Lao Er's sickle also flew in at that moment, its blade flashing cold light in the sun, straight for Pei Dongyong's neck.

Pei Dongyong, quick-eyed and quick-handed, reached out with his left hand, grabbed the sickle's wooden handle, and yanked it away, seizing Lao Er's sickle.

"Courting death!"

Lao Er saw his weapon taken, roared, drew a dagger from his waist, and stabbed at Pei Dongyong.

Pei Dongyong snorted coldly, tossed the sickle aside, drew his waist sword with a backhand, and grappled with Lao Er.

Lao Si saw Pei Dongyong entangled with Lao Er, raised his iron rod again, and smashed it at Pei Dongyong's head.

"Go die!"

Lao Si roared, exerting all his strength, and slammed the iron rod down fiercely.

At this critical moment, Pei Dongyong suddenly performed an astonishing move.

He actually bent over, folding his body into an unimaginable angle, dodging Lao Si's iron rod.

The rod whistled past over Pei Dongyong's head, struck the ground, and emitted a dull thud.

Lao Si and Lao Er both froze; they had never seen such a bizarre body technique.

"What kind of martial art is this?"

Lao Si asked in astonishment.

Pei Dongyong slowly rose to his feet, a cold smile curling his lips.

"This is called the Iron Plank Bridge."

Lao Si and Lao Er exchanged a glance, both eyes filled with shock.

"Today, you will witness the power of the Iron Plank Bridge!"

Before Pei Dongyong's words finished, his form flashed and he instantly appeared before Lao Si.

Lao Si had not yet reacted when Pei Dongyong's fist slammed hard into his chest.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, Lao Si's body flew straight backward, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood.

Seeing this, Lao Er rushed forward to help Lao Si up.

"Lao Si, are you alright?"

Lao Si clutched his chest and shook his head painfully.

"I'm fine."

Pei Dongyong sneered:

"You two, none of you will escape today!"

Having said that, Pei Dongyong attacked Lao Si and Lao Er again.

Although Lao Si and Lao Er were seriously injured, they still stubbornly resisted.

The three exchanged blows, blades flashing, and for a moment the outcome was undecided.

Lao Si's iron rod swung again, bringing a foul wind, straight for Pei Dongyong's face.

Pei Dongyong did not dodge or evade; instead, with the speed of thunder before one can cover his ears, he sidestepped.

At the same time, a vicious elbow strike smashed hard into Lao Si's ribs.

With a crisp "crack," Lao Si's ribs broke on the spot; he cried out in agony, and his iron rod flew from his hand.

Lao Er saw this, his heart filled with great alarm; it seemed today would not end well.

He feinted a move, then turned to flee.

How could Pei Dongyong let him have his wish?

He snorted coldly: "Want to run? Too late!"

Having said that, his form flashed and he instantly appeared behind Lao Er, kicking his buttocks hard.

Lao Er face-planted, hitting the ground hard and unable to get up for a while.

Lao Si clutched his broken ribs, cold sweat pouring from the pain; he struggled to rise but found himself unable to move.

Pei Dongyong stepped closer, his eyes flashing with icy killing intent.

"You… what do you intend to do?"

Lao Si asked in terror.

Pei Dongyong said nothing, merely slowly raising the knife in his hand.

"Don't…"

Lao Si's voice trembled, feeling his doom had arrived.

Pei Dongyong hesitated not at all; as his hand rose and the blade fell, blood spurted forth.

Lao Er personally witnessed Lao Si's gruesome death, his soul fleeing in terror.

He scrambled and crawled trying to escape, only to find the courtyard gate already surrounded by yamen runners holding gleaming iron nets, staring at him covetously.

"Don't move!"

An iron net fell from the sky, tightly enveloping Lao Er; he struggled desperately, but to no avail.

Several yamen runners stepped forward, bound him tightly, and escorted him away.

The yamen runners were about to drag the limp Lao Er out of the courtyard when suddenly a black shadow shot through the air!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh" several sharp whistles, the crossbow bolt struck Lao Er's body precisely.

He didn't even have time to let out a scream before he twitched a few times and fell completely silent.

Fresh blood spattered onto the bluestone floor, a shocking sight.

The yamen runners stood frozen in fright, only after a moment reacting and looking around in panic.

Pei Dongyong's face darkened as he leapt toward the direction the bolt came from, moving so fast only a blurred afterimage remained.

Jiang Xiaomu crouched down and carefully examined the crossbow bolt.

The shaft was pitch black, the tip razor‑sharp, flashing a cold, eerie light.

The fletching bore a strange symbol—a twisted scorpion.

"Five Absolutes Sect..."

Jiang Xiaomu muttered softly.

To avoid exposing his whereabouts, the leader didn't hesitate to kill his own subordinate.

This Five Absolutes Sect leader was even more ruthless and vicious than he had imagined.

Moments later, Pei Dongyong returned empty‑handed, his face so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

"We couldn't catch him; his lightness skill is superb—he vanished in the blink of an eye."

"No need to chase."

Jiang Xiaomu stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes.

"It was the Five Absolutes Sect leader who did it."

Pei Dongyong stared, stunned.

"How do you know?"

Jiang Xiaomu pointed to the symbol on the bolt.

"This is the emblem of the Five Absolutes Sect."

Pei Dongyong walked over to take a closer look, his face growing even grimmer.

"That damned bastard actually dared to kill and silence someone right under my nose!"

Jiang Xiaomu sighed.

"He's always cautious; to avoid exposing himself, he'll do anything."

"What should we do now?"

Pei Dongyong looked at Jiang Xiaomu, his eyes questioning.

Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment.

"First clean up here, then we'll discuss it back at the yamen."

The yamen runners scrambled to carry Lao Er's corpse away and washed away the bloodstains on the ground.

A thick smell of blood lingered in the courtyard, refusing to dissipate.

"Sir, Old Four of the Five Absolutes Sect has been slain, but..."

Pei Dongyong cupped his fists toward Li Wenqing to report, his tone grave.

Li Wenqing set down the document in his hands, his brows furrowed as he said:

"But what?"

"The Five Absolutes Sect leader appeared and killed Lao Er to silence him."

Jiang Xiaomu added, informing Li Wenqing of the bolt's details.

Li Wenqing's face grew ever darker as he tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, producing a muffled sound.

"That Five Absolutes Sect leader is audacious beyond belief—daring to kill and silence someone right under the officials' noses!"

"Sir, the Five Absolutes Sect leader acts with such cruelty—what should our next step be?"