Chapter 108: No Honor Among Thugs! Spare Me

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: No Honor Among Thugs! Spare Me

The Star-Picking Sect’s Martial Arts Arena was filled with tables.

Guests sat around the tables, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. They feasted heartily on fine wine and meat until their faces were flushed from the drink.

"This old man has few abilities, but for you all to come and celebrate my sixtieth birthday is to do me a great honor. To all you heroes, please eat and drink your fill at my Star-Picking Sect, and enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"

Dressed in festive, splendid robes, the Star-Picking Elder stood on the steps outside the main hall, raising his wine cup with a smile as he spoke.

The Star-Picking Sect might be small, but with his wide network of connections among the heroes of the Jianghu, who in the surrounding area wouldn’t show him some respect?

"Sect Leader, it’s bad! Something’s happened, Sect Leader!" Just then, two disciples from the Star-Picking Sect, their faces pale and with trickles of blood at the corners of their mouths, came stumbling over.

Seeing this, the guests stopped eating and began to murmur amongst themselves.

"What is this nonsense! I’m doing just fine!" Hearing such ill-omened words on his auspicious day, the Star-Picking Elder’s expression darkened. Only then did he ask, "What happened to you two?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, the Jing’an Guard from Tongzhou City are fighting their way up the mountain!" one of the disciples shouted, clutching his chest.

The guests present burst into an uproar.

"The Jing’an Guard actually came knocking."

"They have no decency. No matter what, today is a joyous occasion. Did they have to come looking for trouble?"

"These hounds of the Court are truly arrogant! They don’t give a damn about all of us Jianghu heroes!"

The Star-Picking Elder, his face dark, glanced around. "Everyone, please, continue eating and drinking! This old man will go and meet them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he strode outside.

"I’ll go with you," Chen Qizhi said immediately.

"Yes, let’s all go together. Coming to cause trouble on such a happy day, the Jing’an Guard is going too far."

"Let’s go. We’ll all go take a look."

All the guests rose to their feet and followed, some wanting to cheer him on, others simply going to watch the show.

But with several hundred people following him in a great procession, his confidence surged. He couldn’t help but stand a little straighter, his stride gaining a powerful, imposing air.

The crowd had just walked out of the Star-Picking Sect’s main gate when they came face-to-face with Pei Shaoqing and his men, who were coming up from the foot of the mountain. Both sides came to a halt, about ten meters apart.

"WHOA!" Pei Shaoqing yanked the reins. General Hei stopped short, rearing up on its hind legs and letting out a loud neigh before its forelegs crashed back down, planting it firmly in place.

The others also reined in their horses. After stopping, the dozens of high-quality military steeds paced restlessly, their hooves striking the ground with a crisp, rhythmic sound.

The Star-Picking Elder took a step forward. In a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing, he cupped his fist in his other hand in a salute toward Pei Shaoqing and said, "Greetings, Baron of Pingyang. This old man is the master of this place. My friends in the Jianghu do me the honor of calling me the Star-Picking Elder. Today is my sixtieth birthday. If the Baron of Pingyang has come to offer well wishes, you will be treated as a guest of honor. If you are here to cause trouble, then please forgive my discourtesy."

"Me, offer you birthday wishes?" Aboard his horse, Pei Shaoqing removed his mask, leaned forward, and looked down on the Star-Picking Elder with contempt. "What official rank do you hold? Are you even worthy?"

"This old man holds no official rank, but I have some standing in the Jianghu," the Star-Picking Elder said proudly.

So many people were standing behind him.

’I’ve got this,’ he thought.

Pei Shaoqing sneered, sitting up straight and lazily urging his horse forward. He rode in a slow circle, holding the reins as he spoke. "I am here to arrest someone. Hand over Chen Qizhi, and I will leave immediately. If anyone is found to be harboring him, they will be considered an accomplice and treated as such."

"Baron of Pingyang, I am Chen Qizhi." Chen Qizhi had no choice but to step forward. With a look of complete candor, he said, "I am already aware of the matter. For such a villain who defies all morality to have emerged from my ranks is a disgrace to the Beggar Gang, and I am shamed by it as well. However, this affair has nothing to do with me."

"Whether it has anything to do with you isn’t for you to decide." Pei Shaoqing beckoned with his hand. "Return Captain Chen’s sect brothers to him."

Suddenly, 37 severed heads were thrown out, landing on the ground with a series of wet thuds. Blood splattered everywhere.

Even for Jianghu veterans accustomed to slaughter, the sight of these bloody, severed heads was still deeply unsettling.

Chen Qizhi’s brow twitched. Suppressing his rage, he said, "They were criminals who deserved to die for their evil deeds. Thank you, Baron of Pingyang, for eliminating such scum from my Beggar Gang. If you insist on taking me back for investigation, could you perhaps wait until after the birthday banquet? I don’t wish to ruin my old friend’s joyous occasion."

"Brother Chen, what are you saying? We of the Jianghu dare to act and dare to take responsibility. If you say you didn’t do it, then you didn’t do it. But once you enter the Jing’an Guard’s prison, it won’t be up to you anymore." The Star-Picking Elder looked at Pei Shaoqing and said in a hostile tone, "I must ask the Baron of Pingyang to show some respect."

"What right do you have to ask for my respect?" Pei Shaoqing’s question was sharp and forceful.

The Star-Picking Elder’s face turned ashen. He turned and pointed at the guests behind him. "Fine! The Baron of Pingyang may not give me face, but you must at least give face to so many of our Jianghu brethren. If you push us too far, we are not spineless cowards! I advise you to think thrice."

"Are you threatening me?" Pei Shaoqing’s eyes narrowed as he sneered. He scanned the crowd and said, "There’s an old saying: ’He who understands the times is a wise man.’ I advise *you* to think thrice. To resist the Jing’an Guard’s enforcement of the law is to resist the Court itself. It is tantamount to treason. Can your sects withstand being plowed over by an army? You have fifteen minutes. Get the hell out of my sight."

As he finished speaking, he raised a hand.

Accompanied by the sound of rapid footsteps, more than thirty Jing’an Guards dismounted, rushed to the front, and knelt on one knee. They raised their Breaking Gang Crossbows, the sound of the arrows being nocked clearly audible.

The guests who had come to offer birthday wishes looked at each other in dismay.

"Senior Star-Picker, this junior was only sent to offer birthday wishes on behalf of my elders. I dare not bring disaster upon my sect. Since my respects have been paid, this junior will take his leave." A young man stepped out, saluted the Star-Picking Elder, then saluted Pei Shaoqing before hurrying down the mountain.

"Senior, I also came on behalf of my sect."

"Me too... Senior Star-Picker, farewell."

With the first person leading the way, those who had come to offer congratulations on behalf of their sects and families left one after another.

The number of guests dwindled at a visible rate.

Seeing that so many had left and that the momentum was lost, those who had previously been clamoring to back up the Star-Picking Elder now silently mingled with the departing crowd and slipped away.

Not siding with Pei Shaoqing was the last line they were willing to hold.

"You... you all..." The Star-Picking Elder’s face was ashen as he watched the scene unfold. He pointed a trembling finger at an old friend and said, "Old Liu, you’re leaving too?"

"It’s not that I’m afraid of the Jing’an Guard, I simply do not wish to associate with the likes of the Beggar Gang. Farewell." Old Liu said this sanctimoniously, then flicked his sleeves and strode away with his head held high.

It was like a line of dominoes; the more people who left, the more followed, until finally everyone was gone, leaving only the Star-Picking Elder and Chen Qizhi.

The Star-Picking Elder was a bit dazed. He didn’t understand how such an advantageous situation had turned into this.

’They’re all just a bunch of gutless, spineless cowards!’

’Even with overwhelming numbers, they were scared off by a single threat from Pei Shaoqing. If they’re that afraid of death, what are they even doing in the Jianghu? They should just go home and farm! A bunch of cowards!’

’It’s precisely because there are so many of these weaklings who blindly back down before the Court that the Court has become so aggressive.’

Chen Qizhi’s temples throbbed, and he looked at the Star-Picking Elder with an uneasy expression. "Brother Zhao, you see..."

"Baron of Pingyang, please forgive me! It’s my birthday, and I had a few too many drinks with my guests just now. My head isn’t clear, and I misspoke. My apologies, my apologies." The Star-Picking Elder, who just moments ago wanted to be the big brother leading the charge against the Jing’an Guard, instantly changed his tune, adopting a fawning expression and repeatedly admitting his mistake.

Pei Shaoqing’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

Chen Qizhi was dumbfounded. "Brother Zhao, you..."

"Silence!" the Star-Picking Elder roared, then declared self-righteously, "Out of respect for our past friendship, this old man invited you as a guest. I never imagined you would commit such an utterly wicked deed! I was nearly deceived by you into fighting the Jing’an Guard! The shamelessness of it! As of today, I, this old man, sever all ties with you! We have nothing to do with each other!"

After speaking, he grabbed a corner of his robe, tore it off, and threw it fiercely to the ground before turning and entering the gate without a backward glance.

The disciples of the Star-Picking Sect quickly shut the main gate.

CLANG!

Where a dense crowd had stood, only the solitary figure of Chen Qizhi remained. How desolate a sight it was.

’Dammit, not a single one of these Jianghu lowlifes has any loyalty!’

Chen Qizhi cursed bitterly in his heart.

He looked at the oppressive ranks of the Jing’an Guard opposite him.

His face was deathly pale. He pursed his lips and cupped his fists. "Please forgive me, Baron of Pingyang. I swear that from now on, no one from the Beggar Gang will ever set foot in Tongzhou City again. I am also willing to offer a great sum as compensation. I beg you to spare my life."

As soon as he finished speaking, he dropped to his knees with a THUD and kowtowed forcefully, instantly splitting his forehead open and drawing blood.

"I can be a magnanimous man, but sometimes, I can also be a petty one." Pei Shaoqing drew the Mo Tan Sword from his waist and spurred his horse, charging toward Chen Qizhi.

"Fine, fine, fine! I’ll fight you to the death!" Faced with this situation, Chen Qizhi obviously wasn’t going to just wait to be killed.

He leaped up abruptly, grabbed the Coiling Dragon Staff he used as a weapon, and swung it at Pei Shaoqing’s descending sword.

CLANG!

With a sharp crack, sparks flew.

The Coiling Dragon Staff was sliced in two.

Horror filled Chen Qizhi’s eyes. He hurled the broken half of the staff at Pei Shaoqing, then turned and fled into the distance.

"Villain, halt!"

Liu Yuheng leaped from her horse. With a flick of her wrist, her scabbard shot out. Still in mid-air, she pushed off the scabbard to propel herself forward again, her body streaking through the air. She landed with a roll in front of Chen Qizhi and kicked him fiercely in the chest.

"Argh! PTHOO!"

Chen Qizhi coughed up blood and was sent flying backward.

Before he could even hit the ground, a specially made net was cast out by the Jing’an Guard. Its body was interwoven with special metal wires and covered in blades. When Chen Qizhi was enveloped by it, he struggled instinctively, and was instantly sliced by a thousand cuts.

"AHHHH!"

He let out a bloodcurdling scream and crashed back to the ground.

Two iron hooks flew out, piercing his collarbones with perfect accuracy. With a hard tug, the hooks set, and he was dragged back before Pei Shaoqing.

The pain was so excruciating he screamed nonstop throughout the process.

"Trying to run? Did you think you could get away?"

Pei Shaoqing said, looking down from his horse.

"My lord, spare me! My lord, spare my life! I am willing to serve you, my lord. The Beggar Gang has eyes and ears everywhere; we can help you! I beg you, my lord, give me a chance."

Covered in blood, Chen Qizhi wailed and begged for mercy.

"Spare your life? Alright," Pei Shaoqing said.

Chen Qizhi was stunned, thinking he must have misheard. Then, he was overjoyed. The sheer elation of surviving his ordeal made him momentarily forget the pain as he thanked him profusely.

"Thank you for your mercy, my lord! Thank you for giving me this chance! You are my greatest benefactor!"

Pei Shaoqing’s eyes were icy. "Men. Cripple his Dantian, cut out his tongue, blind his eyes, deafen his ears, and break both his legs. Stop the bleeding and bandage his wounds. Then, throw him into Tongzhou City. I want him to truly be a beggar for once."

With that, he yanked his reins and rode away.

"HYAH!"

Hearing this, Chen Qizhi froze as if struck by lightning.

Wouldn’t that be a fate worse than death?

"No! No! My lord, you can’t do this!"

"Pei Shaoqing! You’ll die a terrible death! You might as well just kill me! Kill me! KILL ME, YOU BASTARD!"

Chen Zhongyi strode forward, ripped the net off Chen Qizhi’s body, and stomped down, shattering the bones in both of his shins.

Then he had two men hold him down, pinch his cheeks to force his mouth open, pull out his tongue, and slice it off with a knife.

Finally, they gouged out his eyes and punctured his eardrums.

Chen Qizhi could no longer even scream.

Blood continuously poured from his mouth as he made muffled, incoherent sounds. His clothes were soaked through with blood.

"Bandage him up. Make sure he doesn’t bleed to death," Chen Zhongyi ordered his subordinates as he sheathed his knife. He gave Chen Qizhi another kick and sneered, "Don’t you forget the mercy our lord has shown you by sparing your life."