After much effort, Li Quan had finally spoken, yet at this pivotal moment, Li Quan died. Li Feng could scarcely accept it.
“How could he die so inexplicably?”
Li Feng stepped forward to examine him.
“This is…”
On Li Quan’s chest, Li Feng found a small insect: “This is a gu worm?”
“Why would Li Quan have a gu worm?” Li Feng furrowed his brow; he was no stranger to such sorcery. In his previous life, he had known several Miaojiang folk skilled in witchcraft, their arts impossible to guard against.
“Is this a heart gu?” Li Feng’s face darkened; the heart gu was the most malevolent of witchcrafts, designed to prevent betrayal by controlling a person utterly.
Li Quan had spoken freely of the Emperor’s Pavilion, yet the heart gu activated upon mentioning the Li family. Could the Li family have implanted it? Since when did the Li family have ties to Miaojiang?
What did Li Quan know?
Li Feng’s face filled with confusion; in his view, Li Quan was but a minor figure. How much could he know of Li family matters? Had not his prior self been indifferent to family affairs, knowing little, he would have no need to question Li Quan.
Yet now Li Quan had died so bizarrely, forcing Li Feng to suspect deeper secrets on his person.
“It seems I thought this all too simply.” Li Feng’s expression grew grave, though he lacked proficiency in such sorcery and could only harbour his doubts.
Glancing faintly at Li Quan, Li Feng turned and left the prison chamber.
By now, the Black Eagle Squadron members on the training ground had selected their martial techniques and begun practising, some fists, others palms or legs. Watching them, Li Feng nodded in satisfaction; this upward drive was precisely what he sought.
“However…”
Li Feng surveyed the training ground, his brow creasing; though vast as three football pitches, it would prove insufficient for the Black Eagle Squadron’s future cultivation.
“It seems I must seize a chance to buy the adjacent land.”
Li Feng knew full well the destructive power of martial techniques; he had no wish for his painstakingly built training base to be ruined thus. The ideal spot for such practice was deep woods, yet none lay near Tianhai City. With Tian Lang and the others’ limited strength, they could only proceed methodically at the base.
“Dark Tiger.” Li Feng summoned him.
“Peak Young Master.” Dark Tiger had chosen a fist method and was drenched in sweat; hearing Li Feng call, he hurried over.
“I have a task for you.” Li Feng recalled yesterday’s encounter in Tianhai City and felt Dark Tiger should investigate.
Having instructed Dark Tiger, Li Feng departed the training base, driving to the Horizon Pavilion.
After annihilating the Black Stone Gang, Li Feng claimed their assets, but took only the Horizon Pavilion and Crane Spirit Garden besides.
Crane Spirit Garden would be his future home; the current villa seemed too small for robust defences. Yet it required renovation, taking months to meet his standards.
The Horizon Pavilion would house his security firm’s banner, serving as his foothold in Tianhai City. Though vast, the Black Eagle Squadron alone sufficed not for security; thus, these days Tian Lang recruited retired soldiers as guards, while assigning several squadron members daily for duty.
Formerly a blend of bar and underground arena, Li Feng planned to remake the Horizon Pavilion into a leisure entertainment centre, a key venture for the security firm.
At present, the Horizon Pavilion was closed for remodelling.
This time, Li Feng met Song Zhiyuan at the Horizon Pavilion not for any special aim, merely to avoid the Emperor’s Pavilion.
Upon arriving, Li Feng saw Song Zhiyuan awaiting in the hall, flanked by two bodyguards; none of last time’s Zong Yanshan and others remained.
“Young Master Song.” Li Feng smiled as he approached; this was his third meeting with Song Zhiyuan this month. The prior two had seen them at daggers drawn, Song gaining no advantage, so now Li Feng viewed him without initial aversion.
“Li Feng.” Song Zhiyuan’s expression chilled; if possible, he truly wished not to see Li Feng.
“So Young Master Song would rather not meet me; in that case, you may leave at once. The Horizon Pavilion welcomes you not.” Li Feng said indifferently.
“Hmph.” Song Zhiyuan merely snorted softly.
“Young Master Song, this way, please; I have prepared a fine private room for you.” Li Feng grew ever more certain: Song Zhiyuan must harbour some vital matter, else he would not swallow such insults now.
Entering the readied private room, Song Zhiyuan waved his two bodyguards away upon seating.
“Young Master Song fears not that I might harm you?” Li Feng’s gaze fell on Song Zhiyuan, smiling.
This Song Zhiyuan differed from the other young masters Li Feng knew; robust and martial, roughly at Body Refining third layer, not mighty yet no weakling. For this alone, Li Feng regarded him differently.
“Have you the strength?” Song Zhiyuan sneered disdainfully; last time they had matched in brute force, yet he believed not Li Feng could best him. What was more, as the Song family’s second young master, backed by the Southern Ridge Songs, Li Feng would not dare provoke them.
Li Feng’s gaze lingered on Song Zhiyuan, then he grinned: “No jesting with you, Young Master Song; I favour not circumlocution. What brings you seeking me this time?”
“Li Feng, know you of Tianhai City’s King of Fighters Championship?” Song Zhiyuan said slowly.
“King of Fighters Championship? How, is Young Master Song interested in it?” Li Feng looked puzzled at Song Zhiyuan; as a clan scion, why would he care for such? Had this Song some peculiar hobby?
“Indeed, I intend to enter the King of Fighters Championship.” Song Zhiyuan nodded.
Hearing Song’s intent, Li Feng smiled, saying: “How so? Truly unforeseen that Young Master Song would join the King of Fighters Championship.”
Here, Li Feng paused, continuing: “Yet with your station, Young Master Song, securing entry to the King of Fighters Championship needs no seeking me, surely?”
“Think you I wish to?” Tianhai’s Black Stone Gang had held an underground arena with championship qualification, but now destroyed by Li Feng, he lacked entry. With no recourse, Song Zhiyuan had come to Li Feng.
“Young Master Song, I have ordered the Horizon Pavilion’s arena dismantled; I fear you shall be disappointed.” Li Feng paused, then said faintly.
Of the Black Stone Gang’s remnants, Li Feng kept only what he valued; the rest, not a whit.
“I need only the King of Fighters Championship invitation; with the Black Stone Gang felled by you, surely the invitation lies in your hands?” Song Zhiyuan’s gaze fixed on Li Feng; he required merely that invitation.
“Why then does Young Master Song also enter the King of Fighters Championship?” Li Feng asked. If but an ordinary bout, securing an invitation with Song’s status would be simple; why this elaborate effort?
“A mere hobby.” Song Zhiyuan said.
“A hobby?” Li Feng sneered disdainfully; a hobby to gloss over? He believed it not a jot. This Song was no fool; quite the contrary, sharp as a tack. For a hobby, why such fanfare?
Could the King of Fighters Championship in Song’s mouth hold special meaning? Else why would the Song second young master travel afar to Tianhai City?
“Li Feng, will you give the invitation or not?” Song Zhiyuan asked impatiently; had his manpower sufficed, and Li Feng not just crushed the Black Stone Gang in arrogant triumph, he would have seized the championship invitation from Li Feng by force.
“I shall not.” Li Feng said. Even had he the invitation now, he would not hand it to Song thus; this elaborate quest for it reeked of the uncanny. Until investigated clear, he would not decide lightly.
Fury flashed in Song Zhiyuan’s eyes as he glared at Li Feng, saying gravely: “Li Feng, you hold no interest in the King of Fighters Championship, so why not yield the invitation to me? I am willing to buy it.”
“Oh, and how much would you offer, Young Master Song?” Li Feng asked faintly.
“One million.” Song Zhiyuan said.
Li Feng remained unmoved.
“Ten million.”
Li Feng’s heart stirred, yet he spoke not.
“Fifty million.”
Li Feng’s heart jolted fiercely; he had never dreamed Song Zhiyuan would pay such for a mere King of Fighters Championship invitation, but the greater Song’s zeal, the more amiss it seemed.
“Li Feng, how much will it take for you to sell me the King of Fighters Championship invitation?” Song Zhiyuan asked irritably.
“Young Master Song.”
Li Feng gazed deeply at Song Zhiyuan, saying: “I sell not.”
“Bang!”
Song Zhiyuan slammed his palm on the tea table, glaring coldly at Li Feng: “Li Feng, you toy with me?”
“Nay, nay, nay, Young Master Song; I have suddenly found myself interested in this King of Fighters Championship too, so the invitation, apologies, I shall use myself.” Li Feng smiled faintly.
Song Zhiyuan’s gaze turned icy on Li Feng, and after a long pause, he said with venomous chill: “Very well, Li Feng, very well indeed; one day, you shall regret this.”
