Clap, clap!
Blood Shadow clapped his hands and looked at Li Feng with a smile. “Brilliant, truly brilliant. Li Feng lives up to his reputation. You killed a Postnatal Realm ninth-level ancient martial artist so effortlessly.”
“I did not expect you to still be able to smile, Blood Shadow. It is as if the dead man was not one of your subordinates.” A trace of surprise flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. No matter what, that black-clothed man had been Blood Shadow’s subordinate. Not only had Blood Shadow refrained from intervening when he killed him, but now he was actually smiling. What was going on? Could Blood Shadow truly not care about sacrificing a Postnatal Realm ninth-level ancient martial artist?
That was impossible.
Blood Shadow had followed Chen Junyi for so many years. Even though he was half-step Innate Realm, he could not possibly be indifferent to the death of a Postnatal Realm ninth-level expert. After all, even around Chen Junyi, the number of such experts would not be large.
Was there another reason?
“For him to die by your hand, Li Feng, is his honour.” Blood Shadow said indifferently.
“His honour?” Doubt flickered in Li Feng’s eyes, but he grew even more wary as he watched Blood Shadow.
“Exactly.” A sharp glint passed through Blood Shadow’s eyes. This black-clothed man had concealed his true strength from him and had tried to kill Li Feng without his permission, clearly showing no respect for him. Blood Shadow could not wait for such a person to die sooner.
Otherwise, he would not have refrained from attacking Li Feng during the earlier fight.
Blood Shadow believed this black-clothed man was another piece placed by Chen Junyi to monitor him. Having served Chen Junyi for so many years, how could he not understand his master? Although Chen Junyi was his lord, understanding was one thing. Blood Shadow had no desire to be watched by someone else while carrying out his tasks.
Moreover, Li Feng was now right in front of him. He had no intention of sharing the credit for capturing Li Feng with anyone else.
“Well said. His death by my hand is his honour. In a moment, when you die by my hand, that will be your honour too.” Li Feng said.
“No, no. He is he, and I am I. Besides, once I kill you, it will be as if I have avenged him.” Blood Shadow smiled as he spoke.
“It seems all the people I have killed today were gifts from you, Blood Shadow. Are you using my hand to eliminate your rivals? If so, why did you not say so earlier? I would have obliged no matter what.” While speaking, Li Feng secretly regulated his breathing.
Killing the black-clothed man earlier had consumed a considerable amount of his true qi. He desperately wanted to keep talking with Blood Shadow to buy time to recover.
Moreover, Li Feng was curious. Why had Blood Shadow watched the man die at his hands without lifting a finger? Could it really be to eliminate a rival, as he claimed?
That was not impossible. Blood Shadow was one of Chen Junyi’s people, and Chen Junyi was the leader of the Hongmen in China. There were likely many factions around Chen Junyi. It was entirely possible that Blood Shadow wanted to borrow his blade to remove dissidents.
If so, it was good news for him. Otherwise, if Blood Shadow had joined the fight earlier, he would not have had the strength to face two opponents at once.
“Blood Shadow, I must admire you, Li Feng. From the Binhe Road incident last time to everything happening tonight, you have sent several hundred people for me to kill. Are you conducting a major purge within China’s Hongmen? Otherwise, why would you send so many for me to slaughter? Should I congratulate you? Soon, you, Blood Shadow, will become the overall helmsman of China’s Hongmen?” Li Feng said with a smile.
“What a glib tongue you have, Li Feng. Unfortunately, no matter what you say today, it will make no difference.” Blood Shadow said coldly.
“Is that so?” Li Feng smiled and continued, “Blood Shadow, I must remind you of something. Your purge may proceed without issue, but you should be careful. Beware the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”
“What do you mean?” Blood Shadow asked coldly.
“What, do you not know, Blood Shadow? Situ Qiang has already arrived in Tianhai City.” Li Feng said with a smile.
“Situ Qiang?” Blood Shadow’s pupils contracted. Having been at Chen Junyi’s side for years, he knew the Situ family inside out. Situ Qiang was the young master of the Situ family. He had come to Tianhai City? What for?
“So you did not know. I thought you did. Situ Qiang arrived in Tianhai City at the same time as you. Oh, and the Situ family’s person in charge in Tianhai City is Situ Lei, is it not? He is currently with Situ Qiang.” Li Feng smiled as he spoke.
Blood Shadow’s expression changed. It was not surprising that Li Feng knew about Situ Qiang. A simple investigation into the Hongmen would reveal the Situ family and that Situ Qiang was their young master. But Situ Lei was different. Although he was indeed the Situ family’s representative in Tianhai City, very few people within the entire Hongmen knew this. Even if Li Feng investigated, he might not uncover it. The only possibility was that Li Feng had met Situ Qiang and Situ Lei in person.
So what had Li Feng met them for?
Blood Shadow did not need to think hard to guess. In the Hongmen, the opposition between the Situ family and Chen Junyi was no secret. If Li Feng had met Situ Qiang and Situ Lei, it was likely to join forces against him.
At this thought, Blood Shadow grew tense. He believed he had the confidence to deal with Li Feng, but he feared the experts from the Li family behind Li Feng. In his view, a genius like Li Feng must have Li family experts protecting him.
But now, hearing about Situ Qiang and Situ Lei, he worried that Situ family experts might secretly assist Li Feng.
There is a saying: the person who understands you best is your enemy.
The Situ family was the great enemy of Chen Junyi and the Chen family. They undoubtedly held detailed information not only on Chen Junyi but also on those around him, including Blood Shadow himself.
If the Situ family wanted to join Li Feng in killing him, they would certainly send an assassin capable of doing so. Based on his previous strength estimates, that person would at least be half-step Innate Realm.
Realising this, Blood Shadow became even more vigilant. If the Situ family sent a half-step Innate expert, combined with the Li family experts behind Li Feng, dealing with Li Feng today would become extremely troublesome.
Damn it. How could this happen?
Blood Shadow’s expression darkened, his mind in turmoil.
Li Feng had no idea how much Blood Shadow had thought in that instant. Seeing the change in Blood Shadow’s face, he said, “Blood Shadow, surely you know that Situ Qiang is right outside Tianfu Building at this very moment.”
“A mere brat. What can he do?” Blood Shadow gave a cold laugh, though his heart tightened. If Situ Qiang was outside now, it confirmed his suspicions.
“Moreover, do you think one Situ Qiang can save you today?” Despite some unease, Blood Shadow maintained a disdainful expression before Li Feng.
“Situ Qiang may be incapable, but what about Situ Lei? What about the rest of the Situ family?” Li Feng said with a cold laugh. “After Chen Haotian died, Situ Ming personally sought me out. He said that as soon as Chen Junyi sent someone, he would inform me immediately. Blood Shadow, I knew you were coming long before you even arrived in Tianhai City.”
Situ Ming!
Killing intent flashed in Blood Shadow’s eyes. When Chen Haotian came to Tianhai City, Situ Ming had been at his side, essentially his bodyguard. Yet after Chen Haotian’s death, Situ Ming had not sought revenge against Li Feng but instead cooperated with him. Even an idiot could understand what that meant.
However…
Blood Shadow gave a cold laugh. “Li Feng, even if Situ family experts are at your side today, they cannot save you. Around Tianfu Building, I have laid an inescapable net. Even if you were an Innate Realm expert, you would not escape today.”
“An inescapable net?” Li Feng laughed coldly and said disdainfully, “Blood Shadow, you think stationing a few people creates an inescapable net? You truly do not know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth. It is just Cai Die, Zhu Yuanyang, and their ilk.”
“You actually know?” Blood Shadow’s pupils contracted. Li Feng knowing about Zhu Yuanyang was not surprising, but Cai Die was different. She was a Blood Sand assassin he had secretly recruited. Even among his closest confidants, few knew of her.
How had Li Feng found out?
“What is so strange about that, Blood Shadow? Tianhai City is my, Li Feng’s, territory. Nothing in Tianhai City can be hidden from me.” Li Feng boasted without restraint. From the start of their conversation until now, he had recovered another ten per cent of his true qi. He needed to keep pressing. If possible, he hoped to return to peak condition.
“Blood Shadow, do you know who Cai Die is with right now? I bet you do not.” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
“Surely you are not suggesting Cai Die is with one of your subordinates?” Blood Shadow laughed coldly, his tone mocking.
“Of course not. No matter what, Cai Die is from Blood Sand. Her mission is to kill me, Li Feng. How could she be with my subordinates?” Li Feng shook his head.
“At least you have some self-awareness.” Blood Shadow laughed coldly.
“It seems you do not want to know who Cai Die is with now. Still, I will tell you. At this moment, Cai Die is with Situ Qiang.” Li Feng said.
“Impossible.” Blood Shadow’s expression changed dramatically. Cai Die was someone he had arranged in secret. If she was with Situ Qiang, the implications were clear to him.
“Nothing is impossible in this world.” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
“That remains to be seen.” Blood Shadow clearly did not fully believe Li Feng’s words. He stared coldly at him and said, “Li Feng, you have spoken so much. Are you not simply trying to buy time?”
“Buy time? Do you think I, Li Feng, need to do that? I merely want you to die knowing exactly why.” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
