Regret

"Then I'll have no choice but to report today's matter to the Demon Purging Division exactly as it happened!"

Lin Feng naturally knew that a thousand taels was not much to the Xu Family.

It was still within their means.

But he could not demand any more, or Xu Qiang might pay a visit to his home tonight!

Making him cut off a piece of flesh now was still far from breaking his bones and tearing his tendons.

That way, the other side would not do anything too excessive.

Seeing Lin Feng's expression—clearly displeased, yet unable to do anything about him—

Xu Qiang ground his teeth in fury.

Xu Xiong, meanwhile, had suffered grave injuries and urgently needed treatment. They could not delay any longer.

So Xu Qiang rummaged through his robes, took out a banknote, and handed it to Lin Feng.

Then he had his men carry Xu Xiong away!

He swallowed this loss.

Yan Song had not shown up for roll call this morning, and Xu Qiang had found that very strange!

Combined with the fact that A'Le and his group had all been wiped out, he deduced that Yan Song should have acted personally.

Yet the man had vanished. He could not be found either at Spring Red Brothel or at home.

So Xu Qiang brought two men to the Shantytown to investigate.

Only to arrive just in time to see Lin Feng injure his nephew!

"I never expected this brat to hide his light and conceal his strength, yet still pass the Demon Purging Division's assessment!

There must be someone backing him!

But the enmity has already been forged. Even if I stop now, if he grows stronger, would he still spare the Xu Family?

Impossible!

A'Le and his men died under suspicious circumstances too!

Without a hall master making a move, Zhao Sheng had attended the Zhao Family's grand ancestral rite that day!

Lin Yu is still Zhao Sheng's trusted confidant.

It seems this matter cannot be separated from Lin Feng!

In that case, let the Green Snake Gang test this Lin Feng!

If that fails, I'll find another chance to have Lin Feng assassinated!

But not now. We just fought him, and if he dies a few days later,

Even a fool would suspect me!"

Before long, Xu Qiang had Xu Xiong carried back to the Xu Family for treatment.

For now, let that be.

"Brother Lin, you joined the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp?"

The Zhu Family, having witnessed everything just now, was utterly stunned!

They had never imagined that Lin Feng was not only highly skilled, but had also entered the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp!

That was the place most desired by ambitious young people throughout the county!

It represented true status, potential, and a bright, boundless future!

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Aunt Zhu's face was full of reproach!

Had she known earlier that Lin Feng had entered the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp, how could she have let Zhu Cui'er discuss marriage with that damned Xu Xiong!

Though he had money, he was only a cripple!

He looked like a pig!

And Lin Feng? He was incomparably handsome and had always treated their Cui'er wonderfully!

Most importantly, he belonged to the Demon Purging Division!

Lin Feng could not be bothered to respond. These people were shrewd as foxes, far too good at calculating.

They would never let themselves suffer, and their skins were thicker than a city wall.

At that moment, Mother Lin and Lin Man rushed out and supported Lin Feng.

They anxiously felt him over, and upon seeing blood at the corner of his mouth, hurriedly tried to take him to the medical hall.

"Butcher Zhu, what are you still doing here with your family? If you're leaving, then leave quickly! Our family does not welcome you!"

Mother Lin saw these ungrateful petty people swarming over again like flies that had spotted meat.

She was utterly vexed!

"Sister-in-law, after all these years together, how can you speak to people like that?"

Aunt Zhu said with a smile. Mother Lin had indeed never spoken such harsh words to anyone before; she had always been gentle and mild.

Butcher Zhu also smiled ingratiatingly, trying to worm his way closer to them.

Like Zhu Cui'er, after enjoying a few good days, he had cast aside even his self-respect!

He had become shameless beyond measure.

"Can you even still be called people?"

Mother Lin pulled Lin Feng away, about to leave.

"Mother, I'm fine. I just need to circulate my cultivation and recover. You and Little Sister should go back first!"

Lin Feng smiled at his mother and younger sister.

Zhu Cui'er had not spoken just now. She had been thinking the entire time.

How could she win Lin Feng back?

How could she make Lin Feng accept her again?

Seeing Lin Feng finally reveal a smile,

She immediately made her move!

"Brother Lin, it was all my fault! I caused all of this!"

As she spoke, Zhu Cui'er's tears fell.

"Actually, I only agreed to Xu Xiong because he forced me. He threatened me with you—if I did not follow him, he would beat you to death!

It was all my fault. Not only could I not help you, I even brought you trouble!

It is only right if you do not want me anymore!

I have no one to blame but myself!"

Zhu Cui'er burst into tears, so sorrowful that listeners would grieve and hearers would weep.

With just a few words, she painted herself as a tragic, respectable girl forced by a tyrant, sacrificing herself for her beloved.

And she even asked for nothing in return, as though Lin Feng would somehow owe her if he did not want her!

At that moment, the neighboring residents stepped forward again.

Seeing Zhu Cui'er crying her eyes out, they all began persuading Lin Feng.

"Brother Lin, Cui'er is a good girl. You grew up together since childhood. That is fate!"

"Exactly! So she actually went this far for you! That Xu Xiong was simply too outrageous!"

"That's right, our Cui'er only pretended to agree to Xu Xiong for your sake!"

"We were all forced! Brother Lin, you must understand us!"

These people opened their mouths and spoke whatever came to mind, launching a round of moral coercion at Lin Feng.

"Heh."

Lin Feng sneered. He had long since seen through the true faces of the Zhu Family and these neighbors!

He sneered.

If you had no morality, then others could not use morality to bind you!

"Fine. Since that is what you want, then I won't want you!"

"And all of you, if you dare say another word, I'll send every last one of you into the Demon Purging Division!"

Lin Feng roared, instantly silencing everyone!

Speaking another word to these people would be a waste of life!

"Take those silver ingots Xu Xiong threw down and bring them back. I said before that if you were getting married, you should tell me.

I would give you a wedding gift!

Consider these ingots my gift to the Zhu Family.

I do not care for them anyway.

When you get married, there will be no need to tell me!"

Lin Feng pointed at the silver ingots on the ground and spoke to the Zhu Family.

Then he turned around and walked straight into his own home!

They would be moving to the Outer City in the next couple of days anyway, and after that, he would never again have to hear these neighbors' idle gossip.

Nor would he have to see these ugly faces again.

As the door slammed shut, Butcher Zhu and his wife stood dumbfounded.

They had thought their daughter's move was brilliant, but they had not expected Lin Feng not to care about face at all.

Nor was he afraid of other people's gossip.

When they thought of Lin Feng's bright future, it made them feel as sick as if they had swallowed shit.

And when Zhu Cui'er saw the complete lack of emotion in Lin Feng's eyes, she dropped to the ground with a thump.

She burst into tears.

This time, they were tears of genuine regret and heartbreak.

Unlike before, she was no longer putting on an act.

Thinking of the choice she had made back then, she regretted it beyond measure!

She had rejected such a perfect husband—someone so good to her, so handsome, so skilled in martial arts, and even a member of the Demon Purging Division.

Yet she had chosen Xu Xiong, who was ugly, crippled, and loved visiting Spring Red Brothel!

She was simply an idiot!

She had originally thought that if she softened her words a little, she might still be able to return to Lin Feng's side. But now, it seemed impossible!

"What are you crying for? If it weren't for you, you damned girl, how could we have let such a golden son-in-law slip away!

And you still have the nerve to cry!"

Aunt Zhu grew angrier the more she looked at her daughter, and began cursing Zhu Cui'er!