Five minutes later, Li Feng returned to the meeting room once more. At this point, the room contained only Nangong Xin.
Seeing Li Feng enter, Nangong Xin stood up nervously.
The Murong family had paid a heavy price for Murong Kang, but what about her? She had come to Tianhai City completely alone this time. Moreover, given the current state of the Nangong family, they had nothing left.
Previously, Nangong Xin had thought she could use Ge Ying as leverage, but now she knew that card would not be very effective. Especially after hearing the condition Li Feng had demanded from the Murong family, she realised that if she tried to continue using Ge Ying, success aside, Li Feng and the others might suspect ulterior motives. That would be more loss than gain.
After all, Li Feng was so powerful, and she still had not figured out his exact relationship with Ge Ying. If she mishandled it, there might truly be no salvation.
But how could she make Li Feng let her go?
“Nangong Xin.” Li Feng approached her, looked at her, and said with a cheerful smile, “You may leave now.”
“Leave?” Nangong Xin was stunned, a look of disbelief flashing in her eyes. Was Li Feng really letting her go?
Why would Li Feng do this? What was his purpose?
Nangong Xin did not believe it was out of kindness. In her view, Li Feng had some ulterior motive. But what exactly was it?
“Yes, you may leave,” Li Feng said with a smile, his gaze sharpening.
“You are not planning to kill me, are you?” Nangong Xin asked uncertainly. She could not believe Li Feng would let her off so easily. The only possibility was that he intended to kill her after she left, so no one would suspect her death was at his hands. Moreover, with Li Feng’s strength, killing her would be effortless. Even if he did not act personally, sending just one of the Blood Killing Twin Eagles would be beyond her ability to resist.
“Kill you? Why would I kill you?” Li Feng shook his head.
“Then what is your purpose? You cannot really intend to let me go,” Nangong Xin asked.
“Why not? Nangong Xin, it seems we have no grudge between us, but…” A smile curved at the corner of Li Feng’s mouth.
“But what…” Nangong Xin asked quickly.
“But I want to make a deal with you,” Li Feng said gravely, his gaze sharpening.
“A deal?” Nangong Xin was surprised.
“Exactly, a deal,” Li Feng nodded.
“What kind of deal do you want to make?” Nangong Xin asked gravely.
“Nangong Xin, the situation of your Nangong family is not good right now. I can help you revive it, but in return, the Nangong family must become my vassal family. This is the deal I want to propose,” Li Feng said gravely.
After his conversation with Ge Feng, Li Feng had decided to ally with Nangong Xin. No, it should no longer be called an alliance. With so many enemies targeting the Nangong family, they no longer qualified for an equal alliance. He needed them to become his vassal family.
The reason was that he valued the Nangong family’s foundation. He believed that with it, his own forces would advance rapidly.
Of course, there was also whatever the Nangong family’s enemies wanted but could not obtain. He was very curious about what it was, but he believed that once the Nangong family became his vassals, he would have plenty of ways to get it.
As for potentially offending those enemies, as Ge Feng had mentioned, Li Feng did not care. Wealth and honour come from risk. As long as he became strong enough, there was no need to worry or fear.
“Li Feng, do you think this is possible? Are you not daydreaming?” Nangong Xin’s expression turned cold. Making the Nangong family a vassal to Li Feng? Impossible. Even if the Nangong family were destroyed, they would never become vassals to anyone else.
“Nangong Xin, nothing is impossible in this world,” Li Feng said with a smile, one so eerie that it made Nangong Xin’s heart pound with fear.
“Nangong Xin, do you not want to revive the Nangong family? If it were strong enough, would Murong Kang have dared to use you today? Now that his kidnapping of Ge Ying has failed, he probably hates you to the bone.”
Li Feng glanced at Nangong Xin’s ashen face and continued, “In my deal with Mu Rongyi today, with him present, Murong Kang will not retaliate against me in the short term. But you are different. He believes you betrayed him. Given his vengeful nature, he will not let you go.”
Nangong Xin’s face grew grim. She knew Li Feng spoke the truth. Especially when Murong Kang had shifted all blame onto her earlier, she had known this would be the outcome, though she had been unwilling to admit it.
“So, cooperating with me, or more precisely, having the Nangong family become my vassal family, is your only hope, and the Nangong family’s only hope,” Li Feng said with a smile.
“Li Feng, do you not think you are being extremely arrogant? Making our Nangong family your vassals? Is that possible? Do you have the capability?” Nangong Xin asked coldly.
“Why not? My strength has already reached peak acquired ninth level. By the end of the year, I can break through to the innate realm. Within ten years, I have the chance to reach the earth martial realm. This is my capability. For a family like yours to attach itself to an absolute genius like me should be considered your fortune, because in the future, families like yours might beg to join me, and I may not even accept,” Li Feng said with a smile.
Breaking through to the earth martial realm within ten years was Li Feng’s goal, though he believed it would not even take that long.
“Murong Kang is already very arrogant, but I never expected you, Li Feng, to be even more so,” Nangong Xin sneered, though inwardly she felt a chill.
Earlier, when Murong Wei had spoken to Mu Rongyi, her martial arts had not been sealed like Murong Kang’s, so she had heard clearly. She knew Li Feng indeed possessed peak acquired ninth-level strength. Thus, breaking through to the innate realm by year’s end was not impossible.
Moreover, like Mu Rongyi and the others, she thought that for Li Feng to have such strength, there must be an absolute supreme expert training him behind the scenes. After all, she had never heard of such a young peak acquired ninth-level ancient martial artist.
Nangong Xin knew the Nangong family’s current plight: struggling to survive, facing immense difficulties. If supported by a supreme expert, they might overcome their troubles. But Li Feng’s condition troubled her: he wanted the Nangong family to become his vassals.
She naturally understood what vassal status meant. But was it worth becoming Li Feng’s vassals just to gain support from the supreme expert behind him?
“Arrogant? That is because I have the capital to be arrogant. Murong Kang is merely a spoiled young master relying on his family, but I, Li Feng, am different. Even without the Li family behind me, I could rebuild one,” Li Feng said confidently.
Nangong Xin shuddered.
She knew Li Feng spoke the truth. Compared to Murong Kang, Li Feng indeed had the capital. Not only did he have the Li family, but his own strength was formidable. From the intelligence she had, in terms of wealth, he had Fengyuan Group; in terms of martial force, not only was his personal strength exceptional, but he also had the Black Eagle Team. Clearly, Li Feng’s personal power was immense.
So what he said was not impossible.
“If the Nangong family wants to revive, it must pay a price. Otherwise, you will never have the chance. I am giving you an opportunity now. It depends on whether you can seize it. If you cannot, then reviving the Nangong family will likely remain a distant hope,” Li Feng said gravely.
“Nangong Xin, I can give you a few days to consider. If you have not decided by the King of Fighters Championship, then the next time the Nangong family comes begging, I will not agree,” Li Feng said.
“Very well.” Nangong Xin left Tianya Pavilion, her heart filled with inner conflict.
After Nangong Xin departed, Zhong Shuhui came to Li Feng’s side and asked puzzledly, “Young Master, why do you value the Nangong family so much? Would the Ge family not be better?”
Li Feng shook his head and said, “The Ge family is different from the Nangong family. At most, the Ge family could become my ally, but they would never become my vassal family.”
“But did Ge Feng not say the Nangong family has already declined? Moreover, they have so many enemies. What benefit is there for you in doing this, Young Master?” Zhong Shuhui had been present during Li Feng’s conversation with Ge Feng, so she had heard Ge Feng’s assessment of the Nangong family clearly.
“That is exactly why I value them: because they have declined. Otherwise, a powerful Nangong family would never become my vassals. As for their enemies?” At this point, disdain flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. “I already have enough enemies; a few more make no difference. Moreover, I actually see this as my opportunity.”
“Opportunity?” Zhong Shuhui was stunned and looked at Li Feng in confusion, not understanding what opportunity he meant.
Li Feng smiled without answering. Making the Nangong family his vassals was a decision he had carefully considered. Although it involved various troubles, in his view, the benefits outweighed the risks.
“The matter with Murong Kang is resolved. Next, we should focus fully on dealing with Blood Shadow. However, we cannot slacken surveillance on other forces, especially people like Li Wu and Qin Feng. They might stir up trouble during this period. And the Emperor Pavilion: it has been a while since we saw any of their schemes, but we absolutely cannot ignore their existence, because I have a feeling they are plotting something major,” Li Feng said gravely.
“Young Master, rest assured. I have arranged personnel in all areas. Although we may not uncover their plots, I can still detect any movements they make.”
Li Feng nodded, but for some reason, he felt an ominous premonition.
