Chapter 118: Pull Your Tongues Out

The bound captive’s harsh scream echoed off the stone walls of the training hall, the iron chains rattling violently against the support pillar as he strained forward. His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw set in a furious, defiant snarl as he glared at Song Heng.

"You arrogant little dog!" the captive spat, fresh blood oozing from a split lip. "You talk about beheading us like we’re cattle! Do you have any idea who we belong to?! We are operatives of the Iron Fang Gang! If you kill us, our brethren will burn this entire estate to ashes and slaughter every last servant inside!"

Song Heng’s expression did not soften in the slightest. His brow furrowed deeper, a dark, murderous aura flaring around his body as his hand gripped the pommel of his sabre. He took a heavy step toward the thrashing prisoner, his boots clicking sharply against the cold floor.

"A dog barking loudest before its head rolls," Song Heng said, his voice dropping into a dangerously low tone to the point that he seemed capable of indeed killing the prisoners right there and then. "Threatening our people from the bottom of a hole while bound in iron chains... you think the name of your little underground gang scares anyone standing in this room?"

Song Heng was a mortal with no cultivat and yet at the moment, it felt like he was. There was suddenly pressure pressing against the room.

"Song Heng," Lu Feng said calmly, raising two fingers to halt the guard’s approach.

Ye Chenxue also smiled from where she stood and placed her hand on his shoulder and suddenly, the furious Song Heng felt cold wash over him.

"Ugh..." he shivered slightly.

The heavy pressure in the room eased slightly. Song Heng immediately checked his momentum, stepping back and lowering his head in deference, though his burning gaze never left the captives.

Lu Feng stepped past his guards, walking slowly until he stood mere feet from the screaming man. His dark eyes were as still as a deep pond, entirely unbothered by the captive’s desperate outbursts.

"You speak of burning my estate," Lu Feng said softly, his voice carrying an icy, subtle weight that made the captive’s angry shouts die down in his throat. "Yet, you have spent days tied to these stone pillars, fed just enough water to keep your lungs working. Your leader has not come for you. Your brethren have not breached my gates to rescue you. In fact, I don’t think it was your group sent a stalker to follow me through the market district today—and even he dared not set foot near my walls."

The two bound prisoners stiffened, their pale faces turning even more sallow as Lu Feng casually revealed his knowledge of their shadow tail.

"You are nothing more than abandoned pawns," Lu Feng continued, tilting his head slightly. "So tell me... why should I hesitate to grant my guard’s request?"

The shouting captive swallowed hard, his bravado evaporating into thin air under Lu Feng’s sharp, unreadable stare. He opened his mouth to hurl another insult, but the cold silence of the room—and the indifferent, predatory gaze of Ye Chenxue leaning against the doorframe—pressed down on him like a mountain.

Ye Chenxue pushed off the doorframe, her light steps echoing softly as she strolled over to stand beside Lu Feng. She looked down at the two men with absolute disdain, her fingers casually playing with the faint, cold chill of her spiritual energy.

"They have outlived their usefulness, Lu Feng," Ye Chenxue said nonchalantly, her voice devoid of any warmth. "Their mouths yield no real secrets, and their presence here only wastes room we could give to better purposes. If your guards wish to test the sharpness of their blades, let them."

Bai Bao stepped forward as well, his initial shock having completely transitioned into a cold, stern resolve. He drew his short blade half an inch from its sheath with a crisp *ching*. "Young Master, give the order. Song Heng and I will clear out this trash immediately so you do not have to dirty your hands."

The two captives shrank back against the stone pillars as far as their heavy iron restraints would allow. The realization that their deaths were being discussed so casually—as if deciding whether to sweep dust from a floor—finally shattered the last remnants of their arrogance.

Lu Feng remained silent for a long moment, looking between the terrified prisoners and his fiercely loyal guards. A faint, calculating smile slowly appeared on his lips.

"No," Lu Feng decided smoothly, waving his hand to dismiss the immediate execution. "Death is far too simple an escape for those who enter my home with ill intent. For now, leave them chained. Let them sit in the dark and ponder how long their precious gang will leave them to rot."

He turned on his heel, looking at Song Heng and Bai Bao with clear approval. "Song Heng, Bai Bao, maintain your guard rotation. Double the perimeter checks as you promised, and coordinate directly with Han Lin if you notice anything out of the ordinary."

"Understood, Young Master!" both guards shouted in unison, bowing deeply.

"Come, Chenxue," Lu Feng said lightly, walking toward the hall’s entrance. "Let us head to the main pavilion. I have a few things to discuss with you regarding my trip to the commercial district."

Ye Chenxue gave the bound men one last, contemptuous glance before turning to follow him out into the bright afternoon sunlight, leaving Song Heng and Bai Bao to stand vigil over the silent, trembling captives.

Song Heng and Bai Bao remained standing inside the quiet training hall for a brief moment after the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind Lu Feng and Ye Chenxue. The cool room was entirely silent save for the ragged, frightened breathing of the two bound captives.

Song Heng adjusted his grip on his sabre hilt, throwing one final, warning glance at the trembling operatives tied to the pillars. "Keep your mouths shut," he growled in a low, gravelly tone. "If I hear so much as a whisper coming from this room while our master is resting, I will personally come back in here and pull your tongues out."