“This, this…”
Not far from where Li Feng and the others had fought, a pair of eyes stared at the scene in utter disbelief from within a clump of bushes.
If Li Feng were here, he would instantly recognise this person as the young man who had been following Murong Kang earlier. After leaving with Murong Kang, the youth had found an excuse to return. He had picked up from Li Feng’s tone that he was waiting for someone, so he wanted to come back and see if he could figure out Li Feng’s true identity.
He never expected to witness such a spectacular battle.
Ever since the moment Li Feng defeated both him and Murong Kang in a single move, the youth had known Li Feng was strong, but only after watching Li Feng fight Zhao Xiu and the other two did he realise he had gravely underestimated him. Li Feng’s strength far exceeded anything he could have imagined.
The youth secretly rejoiced that Li Feng had not killed them earlier. Otherwise, they would already be dead.
When he thought of how Murong Kang still planned to take revenge on Li Feng, a cold smirk appeared on the youth’s lips. With Murong Kang’s level of strength, seeking vengeance against Li Feng was nothing less than courting death.
At that moment, the youth resolved to keep as far away from Murong Kang as possible. Someone like Li Feng was not a person he or Murong Kang could afford to offend. He had no intention of bringing disaster upon himself because of Murong Kang.
As the battle before him ended and the youth prepared to slip away, Li Feng’s gaze suddenly turned in his direction. Instantly, a chill ran through the youth’s entire body.
He had been discovered!
Terror gripped the youth’s heart. He did not even dare to move.
Fortunately, Li Feng only glanced at him indifferently before leaving. Only after Li Feng had gone did the youth realise his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
“This man is terrifying.”
Muttering to himself, the youth hurriedly departed. He had no wish to remain there any longer.
Two thousand metres from the seaside, in a certain room, Situ Ming held a pair of binoculars and stared fixedly at the battle on the shore. His binoculars were high-powered and equipped with night-vision capability. The room was located on the top floor of a small high-rise building, giving him a clear view of everything happening by the sea.
At that moment, shock covered Situ Ming’s face. He had known Li Feng was no weakling, but only after watching this fight did he understand how severely he had underestimated him.
“It seems Li Feng is a suitable ally.” A sharp glint flashed across Situ Ming’s eyes. If the Situ family wanted to regain their position in the Hongmen, they needed a powerful ally, or rather, a sharp blade to whittle away the power of the Chen family within the Hongmen.
The reason he had approached Li Feng in the first place was because Li Feng was connected to Chen Haotian’s death and because he was the eldest young master of China’s top-tier Li family. With the Li family backing him, he ought to be able to drain some of the Chen family’s strength. Only when the Chen family was weakened could the Situ family rise again.
What Situ Ming had not expected was Li Feng’s astonishing potential. This forced him to take the young man far more seriously.
For Situ Ming, the greater Li Feng’s potential and strength, the more useful he would be. If he had still been hesitating earlier about whether Li Feng was the right choice, now his mind was made up.
“Young Master, have you truly decided so quickly? Do you not wish to observe him a little longer?” Elder Dong, standing beside Situ Ming, could not help but feel startled at his words.
“I’ve decided. This Li Feng will do nicely.” Situ Ming lowered the binoculars and continued, “I cannot stay in China much longer. Chen Junyi already knows Chen Haotian is dead. He has ordered me to return and report on the cause of death. At the latest, I leave the day after tomorrow. There is no time to choose someone else. Li Feng it is. If he dies at Chen Junyi’s hands, then I simply misjudged him.”
After a brief pause, Situ Ming went on, “Besides, I am not truly forming an alliance with him. I am only using him to wear down Chen Junyi’s power. Once our Situ family pulls Chen Junyi from the leader’s seat, Li Feng may well become our enemy instead. Elder Dong, this time you will not leave China with me. Stay here in Tianhai City and monitor Li Feng’s every move. I want detailed intelligence on everything about him.”
“For someone his age to possess such skill, there must be extraordinary experiences behind him. Even a top-tier family like the Li family could not produce someone this strong. Therefore, I believe there is an extremely secretive power backing Li Feng,” Situ Ming said gravely.
Elder Dong nodded. “The Young Master is right. Li Feng is definitely not someone a top family like the Li family could raise. Moreover, according to the intelligence we have on him, during his time with the Li family he was regarded as a wastrel. His real transformation only occurred in the last few months. There must be a heaven-shaking secret surrounding Li Feng.”
“That is precisely why I need you to investigate, Elder Dong. I want to know every secret Li Feng possesses. Whether he ends up our ally or our enemy in future, this information will benefit us,” Situ Ming said in a low voice.
At the Liu family residence.
“What? You’re saying Zhao Xiu and the others are all dead?” Liu Dongjian’s expression changed drastically upon receiving the report.
“Yes. Zhao Xiu, head of the Zhao family; Qu Senpu of the Qu family; and Zhang Shengping of the Zhang family, all dead,” replied Liu Dong, the Liu family’s intelligence chief standing before Liu Dongjian. He had been ordered by Liu Dongjian to observe whether Zhao Xiu and the others truly managed to kill Li Feng. He had been nearby and witnessed the entire battle with his own eyes. Even now, several hours later, fear still lingered in his eyes. The shock of that fight had been overwhelming.
“This… how is this possible? Zhao Xiu, Zhang Shengping, Qu Senpu, all three were peak Ninth-Layer Acquired experts! Even together, they couldn’t kill Li Feng? How? Did the Innate realm expert at Li Feng’s side arrive in time? That can’t be, that Innate expert has been under our surveillance the whole time!”
Horror filled Liu Dongjian’s eyes. If only Zhao Xiu had died at Li Feng’s hands, he could still accept it. But this time, to eliminate Li Feng, the four great families had invested heavily. Zhao Xiu, Qu Senpu, and Zhang Shengping were among Tianhai City’s top experts. How could Li Feng, without an Innate expert by his side, possibly kill them?
“I want to know exactly what happened. Tell me everything, word for word,” Liu Dongjian demanded, staring at Liu Dong.
“Yes.” Liu Dong nodded and recounted everything he had seen without omission.
“Li Feng’s skill is actually this terrifying? He can defeat Zhao Xiu?” Liu Dongjian’s pupils contracted, shock flashing across his eyes. A young man the same age as his own sons had actually slain Zhao Xiu. He knew full well how strong Zhao Xiu was, yet Li Feng possessed such power at this age. It was difficult to accept.
Among the Ninth-Layer Acquired experts of the four great families, apart from Zhao Xiu, which one was not over sixty? Li Feng was so young. Did that not mean he might break through to the Innate realm before thirty?
The moment that thought appeared, fear rose in Liu Dongjian’s heart.
Although his two sons had not died directly at Li Feng’s hands, in Liu Dongjian’s mind Li Feng was his enemy. Moreover, the Innate expert beside Li Feng had killed a Ninth-Layer Acquired ancient martial artist from their Liu family. In Liu Dongjian’s view, that debt belonged to Li Feng. The stronger Li Feng became, the slimmer his own hopes of revenge.
“You may leave.” Liu Dongjian waved Liu Dong away.
“Yes.”
Once Liu Dong had gone, Liu Dongjian rose and left the hall, heading toward a rockery in the rear garden of the villa.
He pressed his hand into a groove on the rockery.
Click!
The entire rockery shifted one chi to the side, revealing a passage.
Liu Dongjian glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then stepped inside. Once he entered, the rockery returned to its original position.
Luminous pearls embedded in the walls of the passage emitted a faint glow, illuminating the entire tunnel.
Less than five minutes later, Liu Dongjian reached an underground chamber. The room was divided in two by iron bars. On the other side of the bars, a person’s four limbs were bound by four chains as thick as an arm.
“Heh heh, what brings you here?” The chained man had dishevelled hair that obscured his face. He wore tattered grey robes that had clearly been worn for many years. Hearing footsteps, he began to cackle.
“I came to see you,” Liu Dongjian replied, a trace of struggle flickering in his eyes as he looked at the prisoner.
“Heh heh, to see me? Since when were you so kind? Aren’t you afraid your master will find out I’m still alive?” the grey-robed man sneered.
“No point in saying such useless things.” Liu Dongjian stared fixedly at him. “I came this time to ask whether the deal you mentioned last time still stands.”
“Deal? Heh heh, so Liu Dongjian really wants to make a deal with me after all. Heh heh.” The grey-robed man laughed maniacally. “What’s wrong? Last time you rejected me without hesitation. Why the sudden interest now? Hmph, even if you’re willing, I’m not.”
“What did you say?” Liu Dongjian’s expression shifted. He had still been hesitant about dealing with this man, yet now that he was willing, the prisoner refused.
“Did I not speak clearly? I’m in a bad mood today. Come back another day,” the grey-robed man said coldly.
“You’re courting death.” Killing intent flashed through Liu Dongjian’s eyes.
“Courting death? My life has long been in your hands. Kill me if you want,” the grey-robed man replied icily.
“You…”
Liu Dongjian took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger. “Fine. Name your terms.”
“I want out of this lightless dungeon. Otherwise, no deal,” the grey-robed man said.
“Impossible.” Liu Dongjian rejected him outright and turned to leave. He had taken an enormous risk coming here to negotiate because he needed to deal with Li Feng. He had never expected the man to demand freedom. That was a condition he would never accept.
“I can offer a different condition, but you must do one thing for me,” the grey-robed man’s voice suddenly rang out behind Liu Dongjian just as he was about to depart.
