Chapter 135: Taking Action

Luo Xingtao was incensed to see me attacking their sect’s guardian beast. He shouted at me, "Pi Yangxi, you have some nerve! How dare you strike the guardian beast of the Pai Sect? Do you intend to make an enemy of us?"

Hearing him accuse me of deliberately antagonizing the Pai Sect made my blood boil. I had only been in Duhe City for half a month, minding my own business, yet this man in black had hunted me down repeatedly. For him to turn around and claim I was the one provoking the sect was nothing short of absurd.

Feeling even more irritated, I picked up a stool and, right before his eyes, brought it down hard on the head of the fish-faced humanoid beast four or five times. The creature groaned in agony, blurting out, "Damn it, Luo Xingtao, you little brat! Keep your mouth shut! Are you trying to get me killed? I must have been out of my mind to listen to you and sneak out behind the Great Head’s back!"

"Pi Yangxi, you're courting death!" Seeing that I disregarded his words, the man in black trembled with rage, pointing a finger at me. "Release our sect's beast now, and we will call it even. The Pai Sect will stop coming after you."

From the exchange between the monster and Luo Xingtao, I realized the creature had been brought out in secret; their Great Head likely knew nothing of this. Furthermore, this monster clearly held a high status within the Duhe City branch of the Pai Sect. No wonder Luo Xingtao was so desperate; if anything were to happen to this creature, he would have no way to answer for it upon his return.

The Pai Sect would stop coming after me?

I had only been in Duhe City for a few days, yet the sect had already tried to end my life. Given Luo Xingtao’s antisocial nature, I knew that even if Liu Zhongguo and the others left, he would certainly try to kill me eventually. The question of whether they would "trouble" me was moot.

I decided to go all the way. I took a chain-sickle from Liu Zhongguo and brandished it in front of the fish-faced beast. The creature’s water-logged face twisted in terror as it gurgled, "Hero, spare me! Every debt has a creditor—it was the Junior Head who ordered me to kill you! Take it up with him, not me!"

A beast is a beast, after all. Even with a human body, its intellect remained that of a fish monster. Seeing me prepare to strike, it scrambled to shift the blame onto Luo Xingtao.

Hearing the monster try to distance itself, Luo Xingtao’s expression turned grim. However, since the creature was their sect’s guardian, he couldn't say much. He could only glare at me and threaten, "Pi Yangxi, if you dare kill our sect’s beast today, today will also be your death anniversary."

Another "death anniversary." Why did that sound so familiar?

I recalled that half a month ago, on a cargo ship on the Longtou Canal, Luo Xingtao had said the exact same thing to me. I remembered him saying that my wedding day would be my funeral, after which he leaped into the Yellow River. At the time, I was impressed by his swimming skills. Now it made sense—he was from the Pai Sect, who lived off the Yellow River; of course, their people were excellent swimmers.

"Heh, this is the second time I've heard you say that. Have you ever heard a certain saying?" I stood beside the fish-faced creature, swinging the chain-sickle. The weapon whistled through the air, sending the monster scuttling backward in fear, terrified that a slight miscalculation would cost it its head.

"What saying?" Luo Xingtao’s cold, venomous eyes remained locked on the spinning blade, ready to strike the moment my aim wavered.

"It’s that barking dogs don't bite." I smiled at Luo Xingtao, wearing an expression as if I were teasing a stray dog.

"You're the dog!" Seeing my mocking expression and understanding my intent, Luo Xingtao erupted in rage. He whipped his wide sleeve toward me, and I saw two tiny, dark shapes fly out with blinding speed. Had I not grown up by the water and honed a pair of sharp, keen eyes, I would never have seen them coming.