Commander Wang had fought for a long time without gaining the upper hand. His temper grew agitated, and he exposed a flaw, leaving a gap faintly open before his chest.
"Now!"
A sharp gleam erupted from Lin Feng's eyes.
He forcibly endured another palm strike to the shoulder, then hacked out with the saber in his right hand, compelling Commander Wang to twist aside and evade.
At the same time, his long-charged left palm shot out like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair. His five fingers were pitch-black, Killing Intent condensed to the extreme. At an inconceivable angle, they pierced through the true qi Commander Wang had hurriedly raised in defense!
"Pfft!"
His palm was like a red-hot brand plunged into grease. It easily pierced through the official robes, flesh, and ribs, precisely gripping that violently pounding heart!
Commander Wang's movements froze. He lowered his head and stared at the palm embedded in his chest, his face filled with shock and bewilderment.
"You..."
Lin Feng's face remained expressionless as his five fingers suddenly clenched!
"Gahhh—!"
Commander Wang's body convulsed violently. His eyes bulged, and blood spilled from his mouth and nose.
He stared fixedly at Lin Feng, as if he wanted to burn this subordinate who had dared to defy his superior into the depths of his soul. In the end, all the light in his eyes rapidly faded.
Lin Feng pulled out his palm, bringing with it a handful of searing heart's blood.
Commander Wang's corpse collapsed limply to the ground.
Commander Wang has been slain. Obtained 15 Slaughter Points. Current Slaughter Points: 15
Lin Feng panted, disregarding the searing pain in his shoulder and the emptiness inside his body.
It worked! Fifteen Slaughter Points were in hand!
The intoxicating pleasure of this rapid increase in strength made him drunk with delight.
"My lord!"
Only then did the Imperial Brocade Guards under his command dare approach. Their gazes at Lin Feng were filled with awe.
An Eighth Rank killing a Seventh Rank Battalion Commander in reverse—such battle prowess was unheard of!
Lin Feng swept his gaze over them and ordered coldly, "Search the estate! Leave nothing behind in the Zhao Family—not even a blade of grass! Seal and inspect all documents and letters!"
"Yes!"
The Imperial Brocade Guards surged into the Zhao Family's inner residence like tigers and wolves.
Soon, cries, shouted reprimands, and the sounds of rummaging through chests and cabinets rang out.
Before long, a Banner Commander hurried over, presenting a bloodstained account book and several secret letters with both hands. His voice carried tightly suppressed excitement.
"My lord! We found these items in a hidden compartment in Zhao Tianhao's study! They involve... they involve dealings between the Wang Family and the Northern Barbarians, as well as... evidence of treason!"
Lin Feng took them and flipped through them rapidly.
The account book recorded the flow of gold, silver, weapons, and armor. The secret letters bore the Wang Family's clan emblem in their signatures, and their contents pointed directly to collusion with the Northern Barbarians, with the intent of aiding them from within! The evidence was conclusive!
A cold curve lifted the corner of his mouth.
The Wang Family was a prominent clan in the capital, its influence deeply rooted and intricately entwined. The Wang Family in Black Rock City was merely one tiny branch of it.
However, with irrefutable evidence in hand, if he could submit it to the Northern Garrison Command, then even the Wang Family of the capital would be subjected to a bloodbath by the imperial family!
"Clean everything up and return at once! We're going back to the Northern Garrison Command!" Lin Feng ordered, anticipation surging in his heart.
Toppling the Wang Family would surely be a heaven-shaking achievement! It would also earn him a massive number of Slaughter Points!
The group escorted the confiscated wealth and evidence as they swiftly departed the Zhao Family and set out along the official road back to the Northern Garrison Command.
Riding on horseback, Lin Feng silently regulated his breathing while calculating how to use the 15 Slaughter Points he had just obtained.
Should he upgrade "Sky-Rending Star-Shattering Saber," or seek out an even more powerful martial art?
As they traveled through a relatively secluded stretch of forest road, a sudden change erupted!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!"
A dense rain of arrows shot explosively from both sides of the forest like venomous snakes!
"Enemy attack! Protect the lord!"
Caught off guard, the Imperial Brocade Guards were instantly shot down by the several!
"Form up! Meet the enemy!" Lin Feng drew his saber and shouted furiously, his heart sinking.
Anyone who dared attack an Imperial Brocade Guard convoy in broad daylight was certainly no good person!
The arrow rain eased slightly. Dozens of figures pounced out of the forest, all dressed in black and masked, each holding a sharp weapon. Their movements were agile, and Killing Intent surged from them.
Without saying a word, they charged directly at the surviving Imperial Brocade Guards.
These vicious bandits were immensely powerful and worked together with perfect coordination, far surpassing ordinary outlaws.
Although the Imperial Brocade Guards under Lin Feng fought desperately, under the enemy's fearless charge, they quickly fell like wheat before a scythe, blood staining the official road.
In merely a few moments, not a single subordinate remained standing around Lin Feng. Every one of them had been slaughtered where they stood!
Lin Feng stood with his saber in hand, his eyes cold as he watched the vicious bandits slowly closing in around him.
The enemy's strength exceeded his imagination. In particular, the burly saber-wielder at their head had a savage aura and was actually no weaker than Commander Wang had been!
The bandit leader tore off his mask, revealing a face marked by a hideous saber scar. He licked the blood from his blade and sneered.
"Tsk, tsk. A Battalion Commander from the Northern Garrison Command? So that's all you are! Killing you will give me something to brag about for three years!"
Anger rose in Lin Feng's heart. Although he had not known these subordinates for long, every one of them had died protecting him.
This grudge had to be repaid!
At that moment, the system's notification appeared once more in his mind, dazzling scarlet:
Slaying the vicious bandit leader will earn 20 Slaughter Points!
Twenty points! Even more than Commander Wang!
Killing intent surged in Lin Feng's eyes. His gaze locked onto the leader as if he were looking at a walking treasure trove.
"Seeking death!"
He attacked first, his body exploding forward.
He executed "Sky-Rending Star-Shattering Saber," slashing out a snow-bright saber qi that cleaved straight toward the enemy's face!
"Good! Come at me!" The bandit leader laughed wildly and swung his saber to meet it.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The clash of metal rang out as densely as rain.
Lin Feng's saber techniques were fierce, and from time to time, his "Evil Tiger Heart-Plucking Palm" struck out with uncanny subtlety, specifically breaking through protective qi.
Though the bandit leader was valiant, under Lin Feng's exquisite and vicious techniques, he was gradually suppressed, and several bloody marks appeared on his body.
"Damn it! This brat's uncanny!" The more the leader fought, the more alarmed he became, his initial contempt turning into solemn caution.
Lin Feng seized an opening, knocked the opponent's saber aside, and his left palm flashed out like lightning, striking straight for the man's throat!
If that palm landed solidly, it would be enough to break his throat and shatter his bones!
Just as he was about to succeed—
"Kill!"
From both sides, two other vicious bandits who had been waiting for the right moment suddenly erupted into action!
One wielded a Chain Dart, which coiled toward Lin Feng's wrist like a venomous snake. The other held a short spear and viciously stabbed toward his lower back!
Their attacks were treacherous, their timing venomous!
Lin Feng had exhausted his old strength before new strength could arise. Attacked from front and rear, he had nowhere to evade!
He forcibly twisted his body, dodging the vital point in his lower back, but the Chain Dart had already wrapped around his left arm. The short spear also viciously slashed across his waist, bringing a streak of blood with it!
"Pfft!"
Lin Feng staggered backward. His left arm was restrained, blood poured from his waist and abdomen, and his breathing instantly became disordered.
The bandit leader had escaped death by a hair. He retreated into the middle of his men, panting heavily, then revealed a cruel smile.
"Bah! I nearly capsized in the gutter! Brat, aren't you so good at fighting? Keep going! Let's see how you'll die today!"
The other vicious bandits slowly closed in. Blood dripped from their blades, and amusement gleamed in their eyes as they watched prey that had fallen into a trap.
Lin Feng held his saber in one hand, his left arm bound and his waist and abdomen throbbing with pain, trapped in the encirclement.
Crisis pressed closer with every step!
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