C5 Ruffian Villain

"Of course, I came to kill you," Chen Dutian said with a low chuckle as he advanced two steps and stood before Qin Fan.

The two brocade-clad servants didn't dare obstruct Chen Dutian's way. Recognizing him as the notorious young master of the House of Protector, they shivered with fear.

The long sword was drawn, its blade gleaming like water.

With this stroke, it was as if a mountain had been cleaved in two.

Blood and white brain matter splattered in all directions.

Qin Fan's head, now severed in half, still bore eyes filled with shock, confusion, and a profound sense of fear and regret.

In one swift move, Chen Dutian had bisected Qin Fan's body.

A smile still lingered on Chen Dutian's face.

"Bastard, you..." It was only then that the two guards reacted, their fury mixed with overwhelming fear. With Qin Fan dead, they knew their own lives were forfeit.

Like a phantom, Yuan Liu materialized before the two guards, swiftly snapping their necks with a flick of her hand.

Against Yuan Liu, the two Fifth Heaven Spirit Convergence guards stood no chance, lacking even the power to fight back.

"Young Master," Yuan Liu said, looking at Chen Dutian with a hint of resignation. She hadn't anticipated such a swift and decisive act of killing.

Qin Fan was a minor figure, but as the Antler Marquis, his death would bring about considerable complications.

"Just an irritating fly; I simply swatted it dead," Chen Dutian remarked coolly, his sword poised to strike the sedan next.

"How dare you! Killing the Antler Marquis in broad daylight—you shall pay with your life!"

A thunderous shout echoed from a distance, and a figure approached rapidly, only to be intercepted by Yuan Liu.

"Chen Dutian, you've gone too far, killing the Antler Marquis in the street. Are you plotting a rebellion?" Yan Feng bellowed, his voice devoid of anger, instead laced with excitement.

This was an unexpected boon. Yan Feng had been plotting against the Chen family, but now Chen Dutian had handed him the perfect opportunity by publicly executing the Antler Marquis Qin Fan.

Now, there was no need for any pretense; the Chen family could be eradicated without further ado.

"There is indeed someone plotting a rebellion, but rest assured, it is not me," Chen Dutian stated calmly, extracting a yellow robe from the remnants of the shattered carriage. The robe was resplendent with a five-clawed golden dragon.

A jade seal had also tumbled out alongside it.

"Ah, the Five-Clawed Dragon Robe and the Jade Seal, symbols of imperial authority. The Antler Marquis, Qin Fan, has certainly overstepped his bounds, crafting these items in a bid to usurp power. As the son of the Lord Protector, I, Chen Dutian, hastened here upon hearing the news and executed the would-be usurper Qin Fan in broad daylight. Caught red-handed, I stand as a paragon of loyalty to the Phethia Dynasty," Chen Dutian proclaimed, his voice booming down Sparrow's Lane, ensuring that even those beyond its confines could hear his declaration.

"Damnation!" Yan Feng's face twisted in anger. He had provided Qin Fan with the dragon robe and jade seal, intending to implicate the Chen family in a conspiracy. It was beyond his expectations that Chen Dutian would slay Qin Fan in public, causing the incriminating items to be revealed.

Yan Feng was at a loss as to how the plot had been uncovered.

"Commander Yan Feng, do you hesitate to cease your actions because you are in league with Qin Fan, plotting to join his insurrection and eliminate me, the one who unveiled his treachery?" Chen Dutian taunted.

"Damnation!" Yan Feng swore furiously, yet found himself forced to stand down. Even as an Astral Wandering cultivator, one of the top three commanders of the imperial guards, he was no match for Yuan Liu.

With the conspiracy laid bare, he was powerless to condemn Chen Dutian for treason.

"Useless in success, yet prolific in failure," Yan Feng seethed internally, berating Qin Fan. Were Qin Fan still alive, Yan Feng would undoubtedly take it upon himself to dispatch the fool.

"Rebellion is certainly not my intention, but whether the Antler Marquis harbored such thoughts remains to be seen," Yan Feng stated icily.

At that moment, Sparrow's Lane was bustling with activity, thronged not only with commoners but also with a host of distinguished officials and nobility.

The Phethia Dynasty's royal family was plotting to dispose of the Chen family in a sinister fashion. Such machinations could never be discussed openly; they had to be executed covertly to shape a new reality.

"He's gone to the lengths of forging the dragon robe and the jade seal. Isn't that confirmation enough? Could it be that Commander Yan Feng is truly in cahoots with Qin Fan to stage a rebellion?" Chen Dutian mused with a relaxed air.

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated," Yan Feng stated icily, barely containing his desire to run Chen Dutian through with his sword. But with Yuan Liu standing by and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he was powerless to act on his impulse.

"There's no need for formality, Commander Yan Feng. My father is the Lord Protector, and as his son, it's my duty to execute any traitor plotting against the state. You may return to the Emperor and report at your earliest convenience. Whatever title you bestow upon me, I shall accept without hesitation," Chen Dutian declared, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His booming voice elicited laughter from those around.

Yan Feng seethed with rage, yet he was helpless against Chen Dutian. The infuriating man had purposely raised his voice so that his every word echoed down Sparrow's Lane, leaving no doubt in the minds of the many onlookers about Qin Fan's supposed treason.

"No, wasn't he labeled a wastrel incapable of cultivation due to the absence of a Power Node? How is it possible that he now possesses martial skills, and has even reached the Third Heaven of the Spirit Convergence Stage?" Yan Feng's realization dawned with a dramatic change in his expression. "Such cunning and concealment! He must have been tipped off, or he wouldn't have exposed himself. If Chen Dutian had decided to act, he might have managed to flee, which would have spelled disaster."

A shadow of concern crossed Yan Feng's face as he sensed the situation spiraling out of his control.

"Who would have imagined that after being enlightened in a divine dream, I'd finally be able to practice the Martial Dao? The divine being even warned me of Qin Fan's treachery with the dragon robe and jade seal, instructing me to execute him publicly. And it turned out to be true—I've averted yet another catastrophe for the Phethia Dynasty," Chen Dutian proclaimed, his laughter booming triumphantly.

"Let's head home. I'm craving noodles with three eggs in celebration of quelling the Antler Marquis's rebellion," Chen Dutian beckoned to Yuan Liu. After the deed was done, he made a beeline for home.

"This will certainly cast suspicion on me, but it will also buy me a few precious days. Even if my father doesn't return in time, I should at least be able to advance to the Astral Wandering Stage. Then, with Yuan Liu by my side, protecting my mother, Little Mei, and those dear to me won't be an issue. Once my father returns, we can vanquish all evil spirits," Chen Dutian mused calmly to himself.

Yan Feng watched Chen Dutian's retreating figure with seething anger, powerless to do anything but furiously kick the bisected corpse of Qin Fan. It wasn't long before someone arrived to clean up the aftermath, but the events of the day were bound to become the talk of the entire Capital of Phethia.

"Is the Divine your personal trainer? Chen Dou received the Teachings of the Divine, and now this wastrel has too?" Yan Feng was so enraged he was nearly driven to madness.