Pulling Strings

"Control Blade with Qi?"

Lin Feng was startled by his own thought!

According to what he currently knew, the first three stages of a martial artist's cultivation were:

Outer Refinement Realm, Inner Strength Realm, and Essence Refining Realm.

Even upon reaching the Essence Refining Realm, one still could not Control Blade with Qi!

Although the Essence Refining Realm produced an energy similar to inner force, it could only take effect through physical contact or contact with a weapon.

It was absolutely impossible to control a weapon through thin air!

Afterward, Lin Feng tried to sense that feeling again, but unfortunately, it had been as fleeting as an epiphyllum bloom.

No matter what he did now, he could no longer find that feeling!

He could only vaguely sense that he had a special connection with that slaughtering knife!

He did not feel the same way toward other weapons, such as a woodcutter's blade!

After trying several more times, he discovered that both his body and mind grew exhausted very quickly!

"It seems my cultivation is still insufficient! A mere Skin Refining Realm cultivator wanting to Control Blade with Qi?

What wild fancy!"

Lin Feng mocked himself inwardly.

Still, he truly looked forward to the day when he could genuinely wield that power.

Once he mastered it, that strike would surely be earth-shattering!

Having also cultivated the Gale Leg Technique to perfection,

Lin Feng returned to the small courtyard and began moving ceaselessly!

Within the cramped space, he weaved, dodged, and shifted without touching a single thing.

Moreover, he made barely any sound!

His movement technique had clearly reached a terrifying level!

To cultivate a technique to the realm of perfection required not only more than a decade of accumulated effort, but also a flash of enlightenment born from opportunity.

Yet Lin Feng had done it in a single night!

If others learned of it, they would probably be green with envy!

The envy would be real, and so would the deaths!

Entrenched powers would inevitably suppress emerging ones in order to consolidate their own interests and status.

Only after Lin Feng had grown accustomed to his current strength did he stop practicing.

Then he returned to his room to rest.

Zhao Sheng led his men through a night of fierce battle and directly seized A'Le's territory.

With A'Le, the big leader, gone, only a few sub-leaders remained.

Zhao Sheng encountered no worthwhile resistance at all!

In the end, he pillaged the place thoroughly.

Then he lavishly rewarded Lin Yu and promoted him to sub-leader.

He was put in charge of the area where Lin Feng's Household was located.

The next day, once all the neighbors learned that the Great Saber Gang had seized the territory and that Lin Yu was now managing it, they regretted it bitterly!

They regretted being so practical back then, when Lin Feng had failed to enter the county yamen as a constable.

They had immediately rushed to demand their money back!

Those ugly faces had truly been unbearable to look at!

After Lin Feng returned from the Slaughterhouse +2, Zhao Sheng happened to arrive at his home with Lin Yu.

When the neighbors saw Zhao Sheng, a big leader, bringing Lin Yu to visit Lin Feng's home, they regretted it so much their intestines were nearly twisted to pieces!

"What's going on? Why would the Great Saber Gang's big leader come to such a tiny place?"

Leaning on his cane, Uncle Niu watched from afar with Aunt Niu, unable to suppress his confusion.

"And he even brought gifts. Lin Yu is only a newly promoted sub-leader! There's no need for such a grand display, is there?"

"I don't know. It should be because of Lin Feng! Though I have no idea what happened, it must be something extraordinary!

The Lin family has truly made something of themselves. Look at our son—still foolishly muddling along!

Ah! Comparing people only makes one furious!"

Uncle Niu let out a sigh.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't been so petty and rushed to demand the money back, we could at least have gotten some benefit out of this!

Lin Yu might even have collected a little less protection money from us!

Now? Forget about collecting less. We should count ourselves lucky if he doesn't collect more!"

Aunt Zhang, who had claimed several days ago that she was about to run out of food yet was now doing perfectly well, was also filled with regret. She felt gloomy and uneasy.

She looked anxiously toward Lin Feng's door, not knowing what she was thinking.

As for Uncle Wu, he had already died in the jaws of a Demonic Beast during the last attack.

His son, San Shi, had gone to marry into another family.

Lin Feng welcomed Zhao Sheng inside, ignoring the neighbors gathered outside the door.

After what had happened last time, he would never show these people a pleasant face again!

Lin Yu could collect protection money however he saw fit!

Otherwise, these people would surely climb onto his head after being given an inch!

"Brother Lin, today is A Yu's first day managing the territory. I also happened to come visit Auntie and little sister!"

Zhao Sheng greeted Lin Feng.

"Brother Zhao, your visit already does me great honor! You needn't be so courteous, and you even brought so many things!"

Lin Feng said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Zhao Sheng and Lin Yu greeted Mother Lin together.

Mother Lin immediately went to prepare food and dishes.

Lin Yu becoming a sub-leader meant he had made something of himself, and she was delighted!

At least Lin Yu would no longer be bullied at will by others!

She immediately took out all the meat in the house and cooked rice as well.

She intended to celebrate properly, while Lin Man obediently followed her mother into the kitchen to help.

"Brother Zhao, the house is a little small. Please forgive the poor hospitality!"

Lin Feng could only take the tea Lin Yu had brought, boil some water, and brew it for the two of them.

"Ha ha, Brother Lin, you jest!"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Then Zhao Sheng brought up the main matter.

"Brother Lin, this morning I spoke with people from the Lineage. They have agreed to clear the way for you.

Tomorrow, you can go to the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp for the assessment!"

Lin Feng had not expected Zhao Sheng to settle the matter today, just one day after mentioning it!

He had thought Zhao Sheng would merely give it a try.

After all, pulling strings was not something that could be done with just a few words!

Nor was it something that could be settled by giving away a little silver!

One needed a powerful background!

Zhao Sheng spoke of it as lightly as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, but Lin Feng knew that he must have paid a great price!

"Thank you, Brother Zhao! If Brother Zhao ever needs anything from me in the future, I will never refuse anything within my power!"

Lin Feng cupped his hands again and spoke solemnly.

"Ha ha, Brother Lin, you saved my wife and daughter. This little matter is nothing!"

Seeing Lin Feng take it so seriously, Zhao Sheng nodded inwardly in satisfaction.

This time, he had indeed paid no small price.

He had used up the favor owed to him by Second Young Master Zhao of the main branch, Zhao Chengzhe.

But setting aside the fact that Lin Feng had saved his entire family,

if a genius like Lin Feng entered the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp and grew strong in the future, he would become a mighty thigh to cling to!

This move might not be a loss at all. Instead, Zhao Sheng might have struck it rich beyond measure!

Lin Yu was also happy for his elder brother.

Secretly, he resolved to practice martial arts twice as hard and catch up to him.

He wanted to see whether, one day, he too could join the Demon Purging Division!

Before long, Mother Lin finished preparing the food. Everyone sat down and began eating.

"Damn it! That A'Le died before even getting the job done!

If you were going to die, you should at least have finished the job first!"

Yan Song in the county yamen was in a gloomy mood!

"If I had known, I wouldn't have handed over the silver so early! I wasted five taels of silver!

That was two months of wages from the yamen!"

"Now it's too late to find someone else! I can only handle it myself!

He's just a commoner. I can kill him and still make it back in time to enjoy Little Peach Red at the Spring Red Brothel!"