Chapter 57 You Play the Bunny

“Damn it! Who’s that bastard shouting nonsense at the door? Are you out of your mind? I am Chen Xuan, a dignified ninth-rank official of the imperial court—who dares yell recklessly? Who dares to act rashly?”

Even before Chen Xuan appeared, his curses already echoed from behind the door.

At the gate stood over a dozen men dressed in black clothes and shoes, faces cold and expressionless, arms crossed. Their temples bulged slightly with steady breathing—each a formidable expert.

Among them was a towering man, nearly six feet three, clad in sturdy attire, gripping a drumstick tightly while repeatedly striking a grievance drum, the booming sound deafening and resonant.

That shout just now had come from him.

Beside this burly man stood another figure, elegant in white robes and boots, handsome-faced, wearing a jade crown, holding a white paper fan. His breathing was faint and intermittent, clearly a master of internal energy.

“Damn it, you’re still beating? Go on and pound yourself into a pulp! You’re shaking my ears deaf!” Chen Xuan roared roughly, drawing his official blade and slashing toward the burly man.

The tall man’s eyes turned cold. Suddenly, he spun around, infusing the drumstick with fierce internal energy, sweeping it violently toward Chen Xuan’s body with a terrifying force, showing no mercy.

Chen Xuan’s heart jolted. With a sudden surge of strength equivalent to 1,620 pounds, he met the blow head-on.

Bang!

A muffled sound erupted, gale-force wind scattering all around.

The thick drumstick was sliced in two by his blade; the front shattered instantly under the impact.

The burly man grunted, staggering backward in pain. His palm throbbed fiercely, numbness spreading, and the grip of the drumstick slipped from his hand, leaving his palm bloodied.

The white-robed youth beside him narrowed his eyes, two cold rays flashing forth.

Chen Xuan cursed, “You bastard! Assaulting an imperial official is tantamount to treason. Come with me to the magistrate’s office!”

He stomped his foot, curling his fingers sharply to grab the burly man.

The burly man’s palm ached and trembled, still reeling from the previous force, and he retreated hastily.

The white-robed youth flashed forward, intercepting the burly man, his pale hand darting lightning-fast to seize Chen Xuan’s fingers.

Bang!

A dull sound—both sets of fingers locked tightly together.

“Sir, it was merely a misunderstanding. I apologize on his behalf. The Ninth Lord invites you to an event; please accompany us,” the white-robed youth said calmly.

His palm was icy and alabaster, as if carved from ancient ice.

Chen Xuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Shadow Wind Claw!

South Heavenly King?

Somehow, that name flashed through his mind.

He suddenly gripped harder, intent on crushing the youth’s hand bones, but after several attempts, there was no reaction. The youth’s palm was as cold and solid as refined iron.

Chen Xuan was secretly amazed.

The South Heavenly King truly had his unique prowess.

For Chen Xuan, with a physical strength equivalent to 1,620 pounds—comparable to a master with forty years of internal energy—to fail in crushing the youth’s palm indicated that his opponent’s internal energy was no less than forty years’ cultivation.

Unknown to him, the white-robed youth’s other hand was clenched tightly behind his back, his nails piercing his palm.

The pain was excruciating.

Though outwardly composed, only he knew the torment within.

He felt that if Chen Xuan continued to squeeze, his palm bones would shatter.

Yet, withdrawing his hand would mean conceding weakness—and the captain would surely seize the chance to strike. The consequences would be far worse.

So he endured the agony in silence.

The South Heavenly King’s heart seethed with anger and astonishment.

Damn it! This imperial captain was terrifying beyond measure. What kind of monster was he?

Chen Xuan inwardly muttered, hesitating to deploy his secret energy technique immediately. He was uncertain if he could restrain everyone present. If some escaped, the remaining experts would be on alert, and his surprise tactic would be lost.

Thus, he planned to keep the technique in reserve as a last resort.

“Captain Wu, it’s all a misunderstanding. Our Ninth Lord invites you to a feast to welcome and honor you,” the South Heavenly King forced a smile, although his palm throbbed unbearably, nearly driving him mad.

Bastard!

Why is he still squeezing? Why won’t he let go?

Damn it all.

“Damn you! Young man, your hands are so tender. How about having a few drinks with me tonight? I like your style. Why not play the rabbit for me this evening?” Chen Xuan grinned oddly, still gripping the hand and raising the youth’s chin with his other hand.

The South Heavenly King shuddered, terror filling his heart.

What kind of beast was this?

Interested in men!

“Sir, you jest. Let’s just attend the feast first, attend the feast…” the South Heavenly King forced a laugh.

His right hand no longer felt like his own, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

He longed to sever that hand entirely.

Even that would be better than this torment.

“Why bother with a feast? Come on, let’s go to a room and have some fun. You be the bunny, and I’ll show you the goldfish,” Chen Xuan pulled him toward the depths of the magistrate’s office.

The South Heavenly King’s fear mounted.

No! I don’t want to be the bunny.

I don’t want to see goldfish.

In desperation and pain, he dropped his fan, activated his left hand, and struck with the Shadow Wind Claw again.

Chen Xuan’s eyes flashed. Dropping his official blade, he swiftly countered with his left hand.

Bang!

Their palms locked firmly again, cold and unyielding, equally sinister.

Chen Xuan grinned strangely, still squeezing hard.

I don’t believe I can’t break you. Even if your right hand is tough, your left might not be.

But after a while, he had to admit defeat.

Damn, it really is strong.

Can’t break it!

Still, unwilling to relent, he continued to squeeze silently.

The South Heavenly King’s pain was so intense it felt like he might vomit blood.

Unable to bear it any longer, he roared, “What are you all waiting for? Seize him!”

Originally planning to treat Chen Xuan politely and lure him to the residence before making a move, he now had no choice. If this continued, his palm would shatter.

The burly man and the black-clad experts reacted swiftly and lunged at Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan’s eyes darkened. With a kick to the South Heavenly King’s chest, he sent him flying backward, crashing into the distance.

Then he grabbed his official blade and charged into the crowd.

“Damn you! I am an imperial official! Anyone who dares strike me is guilty of treason!” he shouted.

His speed was astonishing. His longsword swept with deadly precision, blood splattering, as he unleashed a basic sword technique—an absolute massacre!

Screams echoed as black-clad figures fell one after another.

The South Heavenly King’s face turned pale, horrified. After being kicked away, he dared not linger and fled swiftly into a distant alley.

The black-clad men were soon cut down cleanly by Chen Xuan.

Only the burly man, a powerful warrior, managed to resist longer; his palm strikes whistled fiercely, releasing sharp energy waves. But Chen Xuan caught his wrist and severed it with a single blow.

A sickening sound—the arm was severed cleanly.

“Ah!” the burly man screamed in agony and was knocked unconscious by a strike to the forehead with the back of the blade.

Inside the magistrate’s office, a group responsible for cleaning froze in terror, faces drained of color.

Was this the South Heavenly King’s elite enforcer?

“Iron Fist” Meng Fan?

And the one who fled just now—the South Heavenly King himself?

“Damn it! Who blinded their eyes to stir trouble in the magistrate’s office? Someone—arrest them!” Chen Xuan bellowed.

The cleaning staff trembled, none daring to respond, heads bowed as they continued their work.

Who would dare answer? To do so was to offend Lord Wang—the powerful lord of the South Heavenly Mansion.