Chapter 029: Truly Dead This Time
In a word, it was simply too much of a coincidence!
In the afternoon, Duan Feihong was to challenge Chen Xiaodao.
By noon, Chen Xiaodao and the entire Xiaodao Society had been wiped out.
At first glance, the two events seemed unrelated. But upon closer thought, the coincidences piled up.
The greatest point of suspicion was that no one knew when Chen Xiaodao died. Or rather, anyone who knew was dead, as the entire Xiaodao Society had been annihilated.
At this moment, who most desperately wanted the Xiaodao Society gone?
Duan Feihong and the Wei siblings!
Although on the surface, Duan Feihong could have killed Chen Xiaodao in the ring, the other members of Xiaodao Society were also eyeing the Wei family’s assets. Even if Chen Xiaodao died, the society would continue to target the Wei siblings. Rather than remain passive, it would be better to solve the problem once and for all by eradicating the entire Xiaodao Society!
Duan Feihong’s public challenge to Chen Xiaodao served as a smokescreen for the operation. No one would suspect the Wei siblings of pulling such a “diversionary tactic.” As long as there was no evidence, the Bureau of Martial Affairs would be powerless.
Meanwhile, the Wei Martial Arts Hall established its dominance. From now on, anyone who dared covet the Wei family’s assets would know the Xiaodao Society’s fate awaited them.
Indeed, regardless of whether the Wei family was involved, they emerged as the greatest beneficiaries of the Xiaodao Society’s extermination!
By the logic that the greatest beneficiary is the culprit, suspicion inevitably fell on Wei Jiajia.
It wasn’t just Qi Zhaocheng who would test the waters—Su Jingxing himself was speculating on his way over.
Wei Jiaping couldn’t think so deeply, but Wei Jiajia had already considered these possibilities.
She was on the verge of madness!
At this moment, Wei Jiajia felt as if her head would split in two. Su Jingxing’s direct questioning and Qi Zhaocheng’s reactions left her so anxious and tangled that she almost wanted to leap from a building to end it all.
If she truly had orchestrated the Xiaodao Society’s extermination, she could have accepted the outcome. The problem was—she hadn’t!
She had no idea that the Xiaodao Society would be wiped out so swiftly! Chen Xiaodao was a seventh-rank martial artist, flanked by two eighth-rank guardians and nine ninth-rank kings, with over a hundred members in total.
With so many people killed, how could not a single sound escape?
Over a hundred people, not just swine. Even if a hundred pigs were slaughtered, it couldn’t be done in total silence!
Yet the assailant had managed just that.
Could someone like her, a young woman, possibly command such a deed?
Silence.
Wei Jiajia remained silent throughout the journey.
As usual, Su Jingxing said nothing.
With no one responding, Wei Jiaping sensibly kept quiet as well.
[Corpse discovered. Would you like to retrieve it?]
“Yes.”
[Corpse discovered. Would you like to retrieve it?]
“Yes.”
...
Following Qi Zhaocheng into the small building, a flurry of prompts quickly appeared. Su Jingxing walked, extracting cards as he went.
Corpses...
Corpses everywhere.
Starting from the grand hall on the first floor, the place was littered with bodies and blood. The corpses were incomplete—scattered remains, severed limbs, and entrails strewn across the floor.
The thick stench of blood filled the air. Wei Jiaping couldn’t help but collapse to the ground, retching uncontrollably at the sight.
Wei Jiajia vomited as well.
But she quickly composed herself, forcing down her discomfort, and followed Qi Zhaocheng up to the third floor—to see Chen Xiaodao’s corpse.
Dead or alive, she needed to see him with her own eyes, even if she bore the weight of grave suspicion.
For Su Jingxing, it was simpler. Chen Xiaodao was a seventh-rank martial artist; what kind of reward could be extracted from his corpse? He found himself anticipating the outcome.
...
They ascended to the third floor.
As Su Jingxing and Wei Jiajia followed Qi Zhaocheng into a spacious office, they saw Wu Shouhan crouched beside a body. Standing nearby were Huang Boyi and several others, including the long-bearded elder.
Judging by the face, it was indeed Chen Xiaodao!
“What’s this?” Wei Jiajia asked, puzzled.
“Chen Xiaodao isn’t dead yet,” Qi Zhaocheng said coolly, his sharp eyes fixed intently on Wei Jiajia and Su Jingxing.
“What?” Wei Jiajia cried out in shock. “He’s not dead?”
Su Jingxing raised an eyebrow, pretending not to notice Qi Zhaocheng’s scrutiny. With the human-skin mask on his face, he couldn’t change his expression even if he wanted to, so he simply remained impassive and silent.
Both reactions were carefully noted by Qi Zhaocheng. He set Wei Jiajia aside and focused his gaze deeply on Su Jingxing.
“Fortunately, this fellow was wearing a ‘Black Iron Garment,’” Wu Shouhan said from the floor. “Thanks to that treasured armor, Chen Xiaodao blocked most of the force from the palm strike. Even so, what remained still broke most of his bones and shattered many of his organs, causing severe internal injuries.
“Anyone else would have died, but Chen Xiaodao’s internal arts are unique—his internal energy enveloped his heart, preserving his last breath.
“Before that breath left him, he lost consciousness and appeared to be dead.”
“When will he wake up?” Huang Boyi couldn’t help but ask.
“No idea,” Wu Shouhan shook his head. “I only know a little first aid. Whether and when Chen Xiaodao wakes will depend on a true medical expert.”
If he didn’t want to know who did it, Wu Shouhan wouldn’t have bothered to check Chen Xiaodao at all.
“I’ve already made the call. Someone will be here soon,” Qi Zhaocheng said gravely.
“Let’s hope they arrive quickly,” Huang Boyi said anxiously. “If Chen Xiaodao can’t hold on and dies...”
“Duan Feihong!”
Suddenly, Chen Xiaodao, lying on the floor, roared in fury. His eyes snapped open as he bellowed, “Duan Feihong, I want you dead! I want you dead!!”
With that furious cry, Chen Xiaodao, his breastbone mostly shattered, actually stood up.
His bloodshot eyes swept over everyone in the room. The instant he spotted Su Jingxing, he roared in rage.
“Duan Feihong! I want you dead!!!”
Whoosh—
A bloody wind exploded through the room. Chen Xiaodao’s hands curled into claws, sharp as scythes, and he lunged at Su Jingxing with shocking speed.
Swish!
Su Jingxing retreated to dodge.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Chen Xiaodao’s claws, swift and fierce as a tiger’s, slashed at Su Jingxing in a frenzy. Not only was he fast, his strength was terrifying.
Rip—rip—rip!
Each time his claws struck the wall, they left deep gouges.
With space limited in the office, Su Jingxing was quickly cornered.
Danger!
With no escape and his life at risk if he didn’t fight back, Su Jingxing’s mind blared with alarm as Chen Xiaodao lunged again, claws aimed at his throat and heart. He stopped holding back, stepped forward, and launched the Seven Steps Fist.
Bang!
“No!”
The muffled sound of impact and a cry of alarm rang out together.
In the next moment, Chen Xiaodao’s hands snapped, his chest collapsed completely, and his whole body flew backward, crashing into the far wall with a thunderous bang.
He slid limply down the wall and lay still on the floor.
“Well, there’s no need to wait now. He’s really dead,” Wu Shouhan said, spreading his hands. Still, he eyed Su Jingxing with a peculiar look.
Qi Zhaocheng, Huang Boyi, Wei Jiajia, and the others all stared at Su Jingxing, each with their own expression.
Everything had happened too quickly.
From Chen Xiaodao’s sudden awakening and violent assault on Su Jingxing, to being killed by a single punch—barely three seconds had passed.
It happened so fast that Qi Zhaocheng and Huang Boyi hadn’t even had time to intervene.
If Chen Xiaodao hadn’t cried out upon waking, his death would have been unremarkable. But he had woken, shouted “Duan Feihong” repeatedly, and attacked Su Jingxing with a vengeance.
His demeanor and actions made it clear he was seeking revenge—for Duan Feihong’s previous attack, and for the destruction of the Xiaodao Society.
Therefore...
Was Su Jingxing the real killer!?
...
(Please vote for recommendations)