The three figures fell silent, unsure of what to say. This wasn't going according to plan! They were supposed to maintain their lies until they became the truth!
Sighing, Feng Shen muttered, "It seems you've chosen not to answer. That's a shame…" He put on a sad expression.
He truly wanted to play with them longer while they were still standing.
Without a moment's hesitation, Feng Shen forcefully opened his meridians and raised his black fan in a swift motion, slicing through their necks with lethal precision.
"What—!?"
"Huh—!?"
"Shit—!?"
Blood began pouring from the three figures as they collapsed in different directions, clutching their necks in a futile attempt to stem the flow.
Their struggles were pointless; the life was quickly draining from them.
The crowd outside the small tea shop erupted in chaos, some people frantically calling for the guards to come quickly.
"Guards! Guards!"
"Death!"
"The Second Young Master of the Feng family killed!?"
Xiǎo Bāo was on the verge of passing out, her eyes darting back and forth between the crowd and the Second Young Master.
'What is he doing!?' She thought.
Xiǎo Bāo knew that the Second Young Master had just committed murder in broad daylight, in front of everyone. Something that would damage the Feng family's reputation.
She knew he would face no real punishment—just a slap on the wrist—but the common people would not take kindly to it.
However, Xiǎo Bāo was at a loss for words, knowing that any comment or action could lead to her being killed on the spot. His unpredictability made her want to cry.
So, she decided to keep her mouth zipped.
Behind his black fan, Feng Shen's expression twisted into a mad smile as he coughed up some blood, ignoring the spectators.
He struggled to contain his laughter, but it escaped his lips in uncontrolled bursts. "Haha! Ha! Ha!"
Feng Shen began wiping the tears from his eyes. He then looked over at the father and daughter duo, who were in complete disbelief.
"What are you waiting for? Get over here! Have some fun with them!" Feng Shen urged them over with a wave of his free hand.
Chun Hao and Chun Ai exchanged nervous glances, frozen in place.
They knew the young man who had urged them to come over was from the Feng family, and despite their fear, they felt they had no choice but to comply; their worlds were simply too different.
Chun Hao and Chun Ai slowly walked forward, internally praying they wouldn't get in trouble with the guards when they arrived.
Seeing them comply, Feng Shen clapped his hands happily. "Good, good, good! Now beat them!" He pointed toward the three figures, who were clearly already dead.
"Um… Um… Exc-excuse me, Second Young Master. It seems they're already de—…" Chun Hao stammered, his heart racing as he realized how foolish it was to speak up.
Feng Shen's eyes narrowed as he glared. "I'm not asking. I'm ordering." His tone turned icy, leaving no room for disobedience.
He despised it when the weak dared to talk back. You're weak. Why are you even speaking? Just do as I say!
Besides, like everyone heard, these demi-humans were about to take his daughter away and sell her at the slave auction.
Why wouldn't Chun Hao want to beat their corpses and take his anger out?
'Is he special needs?' Feng Shen couldn't help but wonder, baffled by how weak-willed people could be. He was doing a good deed!
Just kidding...
Feng Shen was only aiming to create chaos, but he had something else planned as well.
Chun Hao lowered his head, unable to meet those golden eyes. "I apologize for my rudeness," he replied quietly.
Seeing her father being manhandled, Chun Ai felt a surge of defiance, despite her trembling legs betraying her fear.
She hated seeing her father be bullied!
And so, summoning her courage, Chun Ai stepped in front of her father, arms outstretched in a protective gesture.
"Don't talk to my father like that, you bas—"
SLAP!
Feng Shen backhanded her with force. "Shut up, bitch."
He hated when women dared to speak up against him, viewing them as nothing more than playthings and furnaces.
"Little Ai!" Chun Hao yelled. He grabbed her gently, turning her to check her face, where a large red handprint was already forming on her pale skin.
"Are you alright!?" his voice cracked with worry, his eyes filled with helplessness. He hated how he couldn't do anything.
Chun Hao knew he was too weak. Too pathetic.
"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry, my little girl…"
Chun Hao felt so much shame he couldn't even protect his own daughter from a young master.
Chun Ai was stuck in place, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. The stinging pain on her cheek burned, but what hurt more was the disbelief that someone had actually struck her.
She stared wide-eyed at the Young Master who had done this, her lips trembling as if trying to form words, but nothing came out. Her expression, however, said everything:
"Did you actually just hit me?"
Feng Shen, utterly indifferent to the father and daughter's emotions, glanced over at his personal servant. "Bring me a cleaver." He ordered.
"At once, Second Young Master." Xiǎo Bāo inclined her body slightly forward, bowing her head. Though reluctance tugged at her heart, she dared not refuse.
She made her way to the back of the small tea shop to retrieve what was requested of her.
Before Feng Shen could say another word.
"Get out of the way!"
A group of guards pushed through the crowd, their blue robes adorned with white lines and a crane embroidered on the sleeves.
"What's happening here?" the lead guard yelled, looking into the small tea shop, his eyes then landing on the dead beastmen.
Feng Shen turned toward the guards, a smirk hidden beneath his cowardly façade as he rushed to them. "Guards, hurry! Help me!" he cried, feigning panic.
"Huh…?"
Everyone present, except for the guards, was utterly shocked by this sudden shift in behavior.
Not even five minutes earlier, the Second Young Master had killed three beastmen, laughing maniacally.
The lead guard, aware of the Second Young Master's cowardice, grabbed his shoulders and asked, "are you okay? Calm down! Speak to me!"
Feng Shen looked away as tears formed in his eyes:
"My personal servant… she… she murdered those three innocent demi-humans!"