Chapter 58: Pay for Your Stupidity

The birthmark man’s face changed, his brows knitted tightly, and a flash of cold light suddenly appeared in his eyes. His voice turned icy and resolute: “Jiang Mingyu, what do you mean by that?”

Jiang Mingyu felt a momentary unease at the birthmark man’s sudden grim hostility, but he quickly regained his composure and replied calmly: “What do you think?”

The birthmark man sneered, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

He adopted a cunning, calculating posture and spoke slowly, in a warning tone: “I don’t believe you’d really dare kill my brother and me?” His lips curled upward, as if mocking Jiang Mingyu’s weakness and incompetence.

“I’ve seen plenty of scenes with big knives and axes. Don’t try to scare us with that—it won’t work.”

The birthmark man continued, his tone brimming with arrogance and contempt.

Jiang Mingyu frowned, wondering if the man truly had some hidden strength to rely on.

“Let me tell you straight, my brother and I are well-known figures in the Yasmo Regional Military Commissioner’s office.” The birthmark man said proudly.

Jiang Mingyu thought the man’s capacity for empty boasting was excessive.

“Not only does Prince Qi trust us, but so do many high-ranking officials—they’re all our friends.” The birthmark man went on boasting.

“You’ve heard of the Nine Gates Commander, right? He’s my older brother. And there are plenty of other little brothers—I won’t even list them.”

“Put simply, if you offend us, you won’t live to see tomorrow. Understand, Jiang Official?”

The birthmark man deliberately stretched out the last three words, his tone laden with warning, making Jiang Mingyu’s heart tighten.

The stutterer tied aside joined in: “Y-yes, my b-brother’s r-right…”

“I-if you offend us, you won’t g-get… a g-good d-death.”

Standing nearby, Tukesulu bit his lip, frowning hard to suppress his laughter. He silently cursed these two as genuine frauds—no one could match their skill at bluffing.

After hearing their boasts, Jiang Mingyu’s expression remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly and a faint cold smile touched his lips.

He stayed silent, already having devised over a dozen ways to deal with these two.

Jiang Mingyu deliberately widened his eyes, feigning shock, as if he’d just heard some earth-shattering news.

He sized them up from head to toe, clicked his tongue, and said: “Good. Very good. I never would’ve guessed you two were such high-ranking figures. Truly, one cannot judge a man by appearance.”

His tone dripped with deliberate flattery.

The birthmark man, pleased by the praise, grinned broadly: “Of course, just look at us, my brother and I—”

Mid-sentence, he suddenly grew alert, his face darkening: “You bastard—you’re mocking us in circles!”

Jiang Mingyu realized the man had seen through his sarcasm—he wasn’t as foolish as he appeared.

The birthmark man gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with fury, fists clenched so tightly his veins bulged.

He glared at Jiang Mingyu with murderous intent, as if ready to devour him alive.

“You blind dog, get us out right now!” he suddenly roared, his voice thunderous, making Jiang Mingyu’s eardrums ache.

Jiang Mingyu remained unmoved, glancing at the birthmark man with cool detachment—he knew the man was desperately hiding his inner terror.

“Let us go, and we’ll plead for you before Prince Qi,” the birthmark man threatened again. “Otherwise, you’re dead.”

Jiang Mingyu raised an eyebrow, studying him—he saw fear in his face, and knew this was all bluster.

The stutterer added: “Y-yes, don’t l-let us go, and you’ll j-just wait t-to d-die.”

The birthmark man continued taunting: “Don’t think being an imperial envoy makes us afraid of you—you’re nothing.”

“This is Yasmo Regional Military Commissioner’s territory. Calling you an official is already an honor.”

“You dog from the capital—you’re not even fit to carry my boots!” the birthmark man sneered further.

Jiang Mingyu didn’t take offense—he read the man’s nervous uncertainty, realizing the man feared his true identity being exposed.

“You just said it right—we were sent here to deal with you. So what?”

“We ended up in your hands because that old bastard tricked us. Otherwise, you’d be dead eight times over.”

“Let us go, and we promise—not only will we not harm you this time, we’ll even plead for you.”

Jiang Mingyu’s eyes held mockery: “And if we don’t?”

The birthmark man sneered: “If we don’t return on time, Prince Qi, who trusts us so deeply, will come himself to punish you.”

“At that point, not just you, Jiang Mingyu—all of you will be torn to pieces.”

“I’ve said all I needed to. You, Jiang Mingyu, are smart enough—decide for yourself.”

The stutterer echoed: “Y-you… think… think… think clearly.”

Jiang Mingyu let out a soft snort, his eyes full of mockery. He studied the two men, seeing through their deception.

“To describe Prince Qi’s two dogs as such noble figures—what an impressive tongue you have,” Jiang Mingyu said with sarcasm.

The birthmark man’s face flushed red; he clenched his fists tightly.

Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes and nodded thoughtfully: “If Prince Qi trusts you so much, why send you to die?”

“Are you two really his most capable men? Even your Nine Gates Commander brother is dragged out?” Jiang Mingyu countered.

The birthmark man froze, a flicker of panic crossing his face.

Jiang Mingyu saw his inner wavering—he now knew the man was bluffing.

“Given your boasts, Prince Qi should enshrine you in a temple with burning incense,” Jiang Mingyu continued to mock.

“Sending you out in this freezing weather? It’s like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. I hope you don’t catch cold.” Jiang Mingyu added dry humor.

Seeing his lies unraveling, the birthmark man coughed awkwardly: “We were sent because Prince Qi trusts us. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Enough talk. Let us go now.”

“If you lay a finger on us, you’re declaring war on Prince Qi. Think carefully about the consequences.”

“If you hurt us, not just Prince Qi—every brother in Yasmo will come personally to chop you into pieces.”

Jiang Mingyu slowly wiped his smile away: “You realize you’ve talked too much? Do you think you’re funny?”

“Let me say it again: since you fell into my hands, you’ve lost the chance to see tomorrow’s sun.”

“You claim Prince Qi relies on you? Then I’ll make it my mission to cut you down.”

“I’d like to see how this powerful Prince Qi plans to take my life.”

The two stared at each other, horrified—they realized Jiang Mingyu didn’t fear Prince Qi at all. They finally understood they could no longer maintain their bluff.

“As for your so-called brothers and cronies—come for revenge whenever you like. I welcome you all.”

“If you’re worried they won’t know you died in Linzhang, I’ll send your heads back myself.”

His expression grew colder, his voice devoid of warmth: “That way, when they come for revenge, they won’t mistake the path.”

Upon hearing this, the birthmark man’s pupils shrank sharply, his face turning ashen.

The icy resolve in Jiang Mingyu’s tone confirmed their fate was sealed.

“As you said, enough talk. Tukesulu, send these two dignitaries on their way.”

Tukesulu spoke not a word—he drew his saber instantly: “Gentlemen, ready?”

The cold blade instantly threw the birthmark man into panic: “Jiang Mingyu… n-no… Imperial Envoy, Jiang Official—”

“Let’s talk this over—make him lower his blade. Don’t be hasty. Stay calm.”

The stutterer fared worse—instantly upon the saber’s draw, his pants and shoes were soaked, dripping steadily.

Jiang Mingyu coldly asked: “What’s wrong? You two great men, used to grand scenes, now afraid?”

“I wonder what your brothers and cronies would think if they saw you like this?”

“Don’t worry—you’re dignitaries. I won’t mistreat you.”

“My man here is skilled—he’ll make sure you feel no pain. Go ahead.”

Seeing Tukesulu step closer, the birthmark man panicked—he slammed his head against the wooden post behind him, as if begging.

As he banged his head, he finally dropped the act: “Jiang Official, please—don’t! Those things I said… I made them up!”

“We’re just servants in Prince Qi’s mansion—we’re not some damn big shots.”

“We lied to scare you into letting us go alive.”

“It was Prince Qi who ordered us to harm you—we had no choice.”

“I’ve a ninety-two-year-old mother and a baby brother still nursing—treat us like a fart and let us go.”

“Jiang Official, we’re pitiful people…”

Ninety-two-year-old mother, nursing brother—Tukesulu stumbled backward. What a breeding machine!

Jiang Mingyu’s eyes were filled with ice: “Pitiful people? Pitiful people who’d sell their souls to kill me?”

“To win two scraps of meat from Prince Qi, you’d blindly try to take my life without a second thought.”

“Who do you think you are? You think your connections scare me? Pathetic!” Jiang Mingyu’s voice dripped with mockery and disdain.

The birthmark man’s face turned deathly pale; the stutterer trembled violently, his face etched with terror.

Jiang Mingyu stepped slowly closer, his eyes gleaming with icy light.

“You’re servants in Prince Qi’s mansion—nothing but cowardly dogs. Utterly laughable!” Jiang Mingyu’s voice was cold and merciless.

The birthmark man and the stutterer both stepped back, feeling the killing aura radiating from Jiang Mingyu.

“You think your connections protect you? Let me tell you—I’ll make you suffer every agony!” Jiang Mingyu’s voice was low and resolute.

The birthmark man and the stutterer’s faces grew even paler—they felt the shadow of death closing in.

Jiang Mingyu slowly raised his hand, a cruel smile flickering in his eyes.

“You will pay for your stupidity. Now, prepare to meet your death! Tukesulu—kill.” Jiang Mingyu’s voice brimmed with malice.

The birthmark man and the stutterer trembled, their faces drained of all color—they knew their despair had come, and escape was impossible.

“Imperial Envoy, n—” The words were cut short.

Tukesulu swung his saber without mercy—blade flashed, and two arcs of blood sprayed into the air.

The birthmark man and the stutterer collapsed lifelessly—their lives taken by Tukesulu’s blade.

Tukesulu sheathed his saber, coldly staring at the two corpses—his eyes held no pity, no lingering sentiment.