People from the Hongmen have arrived!
Li Feng’s entire body jolted, a sharp glint bursting from his eyes.
Ever since he was framed, he had been preparing for Chen Junyi’s retaliation. He knew the Hongmen would send someone in the next few days, yet when he actually learned that Chen Junyi had dispatched men, he still let out a quiet sigh.
He had originally thought that someone like Chen Junyi, upon hearing of Chen Haotian’s death, would first send people to investigate. If they could clearly determine the cause of Chen Haotian’s death, perhaps the matter would have nothing to do with him.
But now that the Hongmen had come, it meant Chen Junyi was certain he was the killer.
At this moment, Li Feng finally understood: Zhu Yuanyang’s framing plot had succeeded completely.
“What exactly did Situ Ming’s people say?” Li Feng asked in a low voice.
According to their agreement with Situ Ming, any news about Chen Junyi would be passed on immediately. However, Li Feng knew Situ Ming would never call personally about something like this. The caller had to be one of Situ Ming’s trusted subordinates.
“Situ Ming’s man said that the person Chen Junyi sent this time is most likely his trusted aide, Blood Shadow,” Zhong Shuhui replied.
“Blood Shadow?” Li Feng’s brows shot up.
“Yes, but the information Situ Ming passed on contains no concrete details about Blood Shadow. There is nothing on his martial skill or personality,” Zhong Shuhui nodded as she spoke.
Li Feng’s expression turned icy. The Situ family had been part of the Hongmen for so many years; it was impossible for them to have zero intelligence on Blood Shadow. He felt certain Situ Ming was deliberately withholding something.
After all, no one understood an enemy better than another enemy. With the Chen and Situ clans at each other’s throats inside the Hongmen, the Situ family must have investigated every expert under the Chen clan over the years. For Situ Ming to send no detailed intelligence on Blood Shadow now could only mean he had ulterior motives.
Still, Li Feng had no way to force the Situ family. Their relationship was merely a temporary alliance; he could not demand anything from Situ Ming.
But if all he knew about the incoming Blood Shadow was the name, then whether Situ Ming provided information or not made no difference.
“Did Situ Ming’s people say anything else?” Li Feng asked gravely.
“They said the Situ family has prepared a gift for the young master,” Zhong Shuhui answered.
“A gift?” Li Feng gave a cold laugh. He had no interest in whatever gift the Situ family offered. After a moment’s thought, he said in a deep voice, “Regarding this Hongmen Blood Shadow matter, we will investigate it ourselves from now on. Tell Eagle Eye to pay close attention to anything related. When the enemy comes, we meet them head-on. As long as it is not an Innate realm expert, I can handle it personally.”
Zhong Shuhui nodded.
“Zhong Shuhui, you have been to the Ancient Martial Artists Association. Do you know anything about the Black Wind Bandits?” Li Feng asked.
“Did the young master run into the Black Wind Bandits?” Zhong Shuhui looked at him in surprise. “The Black Wind Bandits are notorious among ancient martial artists. They specialise in robbing resources and are a thorn in every martial artist’s side. How did you encounter them?”
“I went to the Ancient Martial Artists Association today.” Li Feng briefly recounted what had happened outside the association.
“The young master wants to rob the robbers?” Zhong Shuhui instantly guessed his intention before he even explained.
“Exactly.” Li Feng nodded. He was drooling over the resources the Black Wind Bandits had stolen. Had he not encountered them today, he would never have entertained the idea, but now the thought grew stronger by the minute.
“Young master, the Black Wind Bandits are not easy to deal with,” Zhong Shuhui shook her head. She felt Li Feng was being a little fanciful. The Hongmen problem was not yet resolved, and now he wanted to take on the Black Wind Bandits too. Could he not stay quiet for a while?
“How so?” Li Feng raised an eyebrow.
“Young master, if the Black Wind Bandits were that easy to handle, would they have survived all these years?” Zhong Shuhui rolled her eyes.
Li Feng paused, then understood.
Indeed. Robbing people was clearly something the Black Wind Bandits had done for years. He was hardly the only one who had ever thought of turning the tables on them, yet the band still existed unharmed. Why?
Because no one had the strength to destroy them.
“Young master, there is an Innate realm expert among the Black Wind Bandits,” Zhong Shuhui said. She only knew rumours, but the existence of an Innate realm expert within the band was confirmed.
“An Innate realm expert?” Li Feng’s expression shifted. He wanted the Black Wind Bandits’ resources, but if they truly had an Innate realm expert, they were probably beyond him for now.
“That’s right.”
“But their second-in-command is only fifth-layer Postnatal,” Li Feng said, thinking of the captive he had brought back.
“Young master, who says the second-in-command has to be the strongest? Why can’t the leader be Innate realm?” Zhong Shuhui rolled her eyes again. Sometimes she felt Li Feng thought too simply.
Li Feng paused again, then realised she was right. The second-in-command being fifth-layer Postnatal did not preclude the leader from being Innate realm.
“Whether or not the Black Wind Bandits truly have an Innate realm expert, I am determined to take them down,” Li Feng declared. He would not abandon his plan just because of a possible Innate realm expert.
“Young master…” Zhong Shuhui felt he was overreaching. Innate realm experts were true masters. How could they possibly deal with one?
“I have another purpose in targeting the Black Wind Bandits.”
Li Feng paused, then continued, “More importantly, I have my eye on the location of their lair. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. It is time we prepared some bolt-holes of our own.”
Li Feng had a feeling that even stronger enemies awaited him in the future. The moment Old Wang revealed the location of their headquarters, an idea had formed.
Of course, there was another important reason: he wanted to temper the Black Hawk team. A combat unit could only reach its full potential through constant real battle. He intended to use the Black Wind Bandits for that purpose.
The Black Hawk team had only just begun cultivating true qi and were still very weak. They were far from ready to fight the ancient martial artists of the Black Wind Bandits. But Li Feng was not in a hurry. He had no intention of wiping out the bandits right now; he was only making preparations.
Right now his priorities were dealing with Chen Junyi’s revenge and the upcoming Fist King Championship. Destroying the Black Wind Bandits would have to wait until after he obtained the Nine Dragons Jade.
With another period of training, the Black Hawk team would grow stronger. Then he could use the Black Wind Bandits to test their combat strength.
Even if the bandits did have an Innate realm expert, such experts were untouchable to most people, but to Li Feng they were not invincible. He currently possessed ninth-layer Postnatal combat power. After obtaining the Nine Dragons Jade, he might well be able to contend with Innate realm experts.
As long as the Black Wind Bandits’ Innate expert was not mid-stage or late-stage Innate, he would not give up his plan.
Li Feng explained his thoughts to Zhong Shuhui. She nodded. She had been worried he would charge off to attack the bandits immediately. They already had enough trouble, especially with the Hongmen retaliation looming; even Eagle Eye had no spare manpower for investigation.
Hearing that Li Feng planned to wait a month reassured her. No one could predict what would happen in a month. She had witnessed Li Feng’s transformation over the past period. In another month, he might already be an Innate realm expert himself.
Meanwhile, inside a presidential suite, a young man spoke to a subordinate standing before him. “Have you arranged everything I instructed?”
“Young master, everything is prepared,” the middle-aged man in front of him replied quickly.
“Excellent. This time, everything is ready. We only need to light the fuse, and Fengyuan Group’s Intelligent One will be ours.” A smug smile appeared on the youth’s face.
“Young master, my investigations show that many people tried to seize Intelligent One from Fengyuan Group before us, but all failed. Should we perhaps wait a little longer?” the middle-aged man asked cautiously.
“Wait? Wait for what? Intelligent One’s sales are growing hotter by the day. Are we supposed to wait until Fengyuan Group dominates the entire market before we act?” the youth snorted coldly, clearly displeased.
“But young master, the ones who moved against Fengyuan Group before were top-tier families of Hua Xia. Even they failed. I’m afraid we…” the middle-aged man said worriedly.
“Hmph, Hua Xia people have always been weak and incompetent. They cannot be compared to us at all.” The youth sneered, giving a contemptuous snort.
“But young master, this is Hua Xia after all. It is not a place where we can do as we please. If the authorities discover we are operating in Tianhai City, it could spell disaster for us,” the middle-aged man persisted.
“Enough. Have you stayed in Hua Xia so long that even your backbone has softened?” the youth snapped angrily. “Besides, we have prepared for so long to take Fengyuan Group. If we do not act now, all our previous efforts will have been wasted.”
“Young master.” Seeing the youth’s determination, the middle-aged man thought for a moment and said, “If young master truly wishes to move against Fengyuan Group, we could join forces with others…”
Before he could finish, the youth cut him off, his tone turning icy. “What? Do you think I cannot take Fengyuan Group alone?”
“This subordinate would not dare,” the middle-aged man lowered his head quickly.
“Good that you don’t dare.” The youth snorted coldly. “Go and make the final preparations now. Tomorrow, I will pay Fengyuan Group a personal visit.”
“Yes, sir.” The middle-aged man left at once.
A cold glint flashed in the youth’s eyes. “Starting tomorrow, Fengyuan Group will be mine. Anyone who tries to stop me can go to hell.”
