Go See Your Brother

Qin Feng really could not hold back any longer.

He had recently, by sheer luck, obtained the qualifications for true instruction, and his relationship with Young Master of the Academy Liang Zhan had been fairly good.

After learning that Chen Sanshi had enlisted, he begged Liang Zhan to step in and use his connections, to see if he could get Chen Sanshi kicked out of the Military Camp so they could make a move against him.

But later, Chen Sanshi had been taken under Wang Zhi's command.

So Qin Feng once again asked Liang Zhan to host a banquet for this Hundred Household Commander.

Fatty Wang truly lived up to his far-reaching reputation as a lecherous, greedy man. Whenever invited, he came, practically appearing at the slightest summons.

They had thought things would go smoothly, but this one invitation turned into three consecutive days of entertaining.

During the day, they served him fine wine and meat at Eight Treasures Tower; at night, beautiful women kept him company at Chunman Tower.

In three days, more than twenty taels of Silver Flakes had been thrown away for nothing.

Naturally, Qin Feng did not dare spend so extravagantly.

Liang Zhan had paid all the money for him.

But this could not go on forever.

They had to get things out in the open.

So Qin Feng simply laid his cards on the table.

The instant Chen Sanshi's name was mentioned, the private room fell silent.

Wang Zhi did not answer immediately. He slowly smacked his lips over a sip of wine, then pushed aside the women on either side and rose to his feet.

Step by step, he walked up to Qin Feng. The corners of his mouth were clearly curled up, yet there was not the slightest hint of a smile in his expression. "The one surnamed Chen, huh~ I think I do have someone like that under my command.

"Tell me, what grudge is there between you two?"

Just seconds ago, Commander Wang had looked like a decadent bureaucrat steeped in luxury. Yet now, Qin Feng felt enormous pressure bearing down on him.

He instinctively rose to answer. "Sir, my elder brother has gone missing. I suspect..."

"Suspect?"

Wang Zhi widened his right eye and nearly pressed his face against Qin Feng's. "In other words, you have no evidence?"

"N-No."

Qin Feng admitted it.

But looking across the dozen or so villages, large and small, around the area, the only person his brother had offended who possessed the ability to do such a thing was Chen Sanshi.

Commander Wang's expression abruptly changed. He turned toward the young master and burst into laughter. "Young Master Liang, look at how good your disciple is at joking. His brother went missing, and he just casually pins it on someone else. Isn't that absurd?"

"Commander Wang, I am not talking nonsense. He..."

Qin Feng stopped halfway through his words.

What could he say?

That his elder brother had tried to seize another man's wife first?

He cast Liang Zhan a pleading look.

The latter ignored him and followed Fatty Wang's words. "Commander Wang is right. In truth, I also wonder whether this might be some misunderstanding?"

"Young Master..."

Qin Feng still wanted to argue, but Liang Zhan silenced him with a look.

"Commander Wang."

Liang Zhan continued, "Let this matter end here. Let us continue drinking, and have two more top courtesans called over later."

"No need."

Fatty Wang waved a hand. "Haven't I been searching for the barbarians with your academy these past few days? We have already narrowed down the general area. We will probably find them tonight, so I need to head over as well.

"Otherwise, Thousand Household Commander Xiang will make things difficult for me again. We can continue another day.

"As for your brother, I figure there is an eighty-percent chance the barbarians did it too."

He stretched out his thick palm and patted Qin Feng twice on the shoulder. "Once I catch those barbarians, I guarantee I will force your brother's whereabouts out of them."

Those two slaps nearly made Qin Feng cough up blood.

Before he could react, Wang Zhi grabbed his saber and pushed the door open to leave.

"Young Master."

Qin Feng ignored the pain in his shoulder. "What does Commander Wang mean by this?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

The smile vanished from Liang Zhan's face. "He is clearly telling us not to touch that brat. Damn it! Fatty Wang is a notoriously crafty devil throughout the region. Since when has he ever been willing to protect someone?"

Qin Feng asked, "Young Master, then what should I do?"

Liang Zhan opened his folding fan and gently waved it, his tone helpless. "Do not be fooled by the fact that this fatty is merely a Sixth Rank Hundred Household Commander. His background is anything but simple.

"He came out of the Eight Great Camps, and there are rumors that he once could speak directly with Governor Sun. Even after being sent down to the Thousand Household Office, he surely knows a few high-ranking officials.

"Even I have to treat him politely.

"If we can avoid provoking him, we had better avoid it.

"So, let this matter end here."

"End here?"

Qin Feng's brows twisted together, and his voice involuntarily rose. "Young Master!"

"I said end it, so end it! Do you not understand?"

With a snap, Liang Zhan smashed his folding fan onto the table and suddenly shouted, "This young master has spent dozens of taels of silver on you. Have I not already done everything humanly possible for you?"

"..."

Qin Feng lowered his head and did not dare speak again, though his fists silently clenched.

"Hehe~"

Liang Zhan then smiled again and consoled him. "All right, Qin Feng. I know you and your brother were close, but with Wang Zhi protecting him, what can we do?

"As the saying goes, 'A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.'

"After that business with the assassin, my father even accepted you as a direct disciple. As long as you cultivate well, will you still fear being unable to take revenge in the future?"

Qin Feng remained silent.

"All right, sit down and have some fun with us."

Liang Zhan looked at the night outside the window. "After the hour of the Rooster today, the entire city will be under martial law. Thousand Household Commander Xiang will personally act, intending to capture that barbarian in one stroke. Do not go wandering around outside."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Master, but with my great vengeance unavenged, Qin dares not indulge himself."

Qin Feng understood that no matter what else he said, the other party would not help him again. So he took his leave.

As the hour of the Rooster approached, the sky gradually darkened.

Along the way, his heart could not calm.

Was he really going to let it end like this?

Or should he follow Liang Zhan's advice, practice martial arts in peace, and take revenge later?

Absolutely not.

That Hundred Household Commander surnamed Wang was protecting Chen Sanshi so fiercely, which meant that brat's talent was likely extraordinary.

If he delayed, where would his advantage come from?

Most importantly, if this hatred went unavenged, how could he possibly cultivate with a tranquil heart?

They had lost their parents when he was three.

His elder brother, Qin Xiong, had relied on selling flatbread to raise him into adulthood. Later, life had grown too difficult, and he had no choice but to take up usury and human trafficking.

But his elder brother was a good man!

A good man to you, perhaps, but not to others.

Now, there was neither sign of his brother alive nor sight of him dead.

The only thing left behind was the golden lock his brother had given him when he was ten.

Wait.

Where was the golden lock?!

Qin Feng reached beneath his collar and was shocked to discover that the Longevity Lock around his neck was gone. He had clearly worn it close to his body all this time. How could it...

Wang Zhi!

He suddenly remembered Commander Wang patting his shoulder several times.

This was going too far!

"Chen Sanshi!"

Qin Feng was beside himself with rage.

If nobody would help him, then he would take revenge himself!

At Blood Refinement Mastery, killing a novice who had only just begun practicing martial arts should have been effortless.

As for what would happen afterward, he could only gamble that nothing would go wrong.

Qin Feng made up his mind.

Before the city gates closed, he passed the inspection and left the County Town, heading straight for his home in Yanbian Village.

The house stood empty. There was no longer any sound of his elder brother drinking and playing finger-guessing games with others, making his heart blaze with fury all the more.

Qin Feng rummaged through chests and cabinets, found a set of black clothes, and put them on. Then he covered his face with black cloth.

He sat down on a chair, cradling his treasured sword in both hands as he closed his eyes and focused his mind.

He waited only for the dead of night, when he could go out and kill.

"Caw, caw—"

It was midnight.

Night crows cried.

Qin Feng opened his bloodshot eyes.

Just as he was about to take up his sword and leave, a faint, ghostly voice suddenly drifted in from outside.

"Qin Feng."

"Your brother sent me to take you to see him!"