Qianhu

Lin Feng's eyes remained cold, without a trace of panic.

Years of accumulated experience from countless battles let him instantly assess the situation.

He couldn't win by force. He could only outwit them—break through the encirclement first!

He suddenly jerked his left arm, which was wrapped in the Chain Dart. He wasn't trying to break free, but used the force to lunge forward. At the same time, his right hand swept his saber backward, forcing back the bandit wielding the short spear.

The move caught them off guard, and the bandit holding the Chain Dart stumbled as Lin Feng dragged him along.

In that instant, Lin Feng abandoned his saber!

His right hand shot out like lightning. His five fingers were pitch-black, Killing Intent coalescing around them as the Evil Tiger Heart-Plucking Palm struck straight for the Chain Dart-wielding bandit's heart!

"Pfft!"

The bandit had never imagined that Lin Feng would dare launch such a fierce counterattack while bound. His protective true qi was as flimsy as paper, and his chest was pierced straight through!

Slaughtered a bandit, obtained 5 Slaughter Points

Lin Feng did not pause. He violently swung his left arm, actually flinging the corpse at an enemy charging in from the side and temporarily blocking his path.

At the same time, he ducked and rolled, avoiding the leader's descending blade, and snatched up a saber that had fallen to the ground.

When he rose again, he was already close to the bandit wielding the short spear.

The short spear was best used at mid-range. Once the bandit was caught in close quarters, its power was greatly reduced, and he hurriedly retreated.

How could Lin Feng let him have his way?

The blade flashed like a bolt of silk, launching a fierce close-range assault, every move risking his life.

After only three exchanges, he found an opening. His saber swept across, cutting straight through the man's throat!

Slaughtered a bandit, obtained 5 Slaughter Points

In the blink of an eye, two capable subordinates had been killed!

The bandit leader was shocked and enraged. "You little brat! Die!"

He unleashed his full strength. His blade fell like a raging storm, intent on tearing Lin Feng's body to pieces.

Having killed two men in succession, Lin Feng's momentum was at its peak. Though blood flowed incessantly from the wound at his waist, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.

He stopped meeting force with force, instead relying on nimble footwork to circle his opponent and steadily wear down the leader's strength.

The leader's prolonged assault failed to break through Lin Feng's defense. His temper grew increasingly agitated. Then he used a Mountain-Splitting Strike with too much force, exposing his chest once more!

"Now!" A sharp glint burst from Lin Feng's eyes. He stopped dodging and turned sideways, hardening his shoulder against the edge of the incoming blade in exchange for a chance to get close!

His long-gathered left palm struck out again—faster and from an even more treacherous angle. It pierced through the protective qi and drove straight into the man's heart!

"Urgh!" The bandit leader's body stiffened. He lowered his head in disbelief, staring at the palm embedded in his chest. "You..."

Lin Feng's expression remained blank as his five fingers clenched with force!

The bandit leader's heart exploded!

The light in his eyes instantly dimmed, and his corpse collapsed limply to the ground.

Slaughtered the bandit leader, obtained 20 Slaughter Points

Current Slaughter Points: 45

The battle ended. Leaning on his saber, Lin Feng gasped heavily, drenched in blood, his injuries throbbing with pain.

But he immediately forced down his discomfort and walked to the leader's corpse, bending over to search it.

Besides some silver, he also found a thin booklet. Its cover bore no writing, and it felt slightly heavy in his hand.

He had no time to examine it closely and stuffed it directly into his robes.

His gaze swept toward the last two bandits, who were scared witless. Seeing their leader die miserably, they turned and tried to flee.

Lin Feng kicked at the ground. A pebble shot out and struck one man's knee, sending him sprawling to the ground.

His figure flashed, and he had already caught up with the other man. He smashed the back of his neck with the back of his saber, knocking him unconscious.

Then he turned back, planted his foot on the fallen bandit's chest, and pressed his bloodstained saber against the man's throat.

"Speak! Who sent you?" His voice was cold, carrying a murderous intent that allowed no argument.

The bandit's face was deathly pale, and his trousers were soaked through. He stammered, "Spare... spare me... It... it was Master Zhou... He... he paid us..."

"Master Zhou? Which Master Zhou?"

"It... it was the Imperial Brocade Guard's Battalion Commander Zhou... Master Zhou Gang..."

Zhou Gang?!

Lin Feng's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart convulsed.

Zhou Gang?

The Zhou Gang who had offered him much guidance and care when he first joined the Imperial Brocade Guard—the man he privately called "Uncle Zhou"?

How could it be him?

"Lies!" Lin Feng increased the pressure of his foot, and the bandit let out a miserable cry. "Battalion Commander Zhou is my colleague. Why would he kill me?"

"I... I wouldn't dare lie... Master Zhou said... said you were too prominent and didn't understand the rules... You were blocking his path... You had... you had to be eliminated..." The bandit was streaming with tears and snot. "Spare me! I've told you everything I know..."

Stormy waves churned in Lin Feng's heart. His gaze sharpened, and he no longer hesitated.

A flash of saber light ended the life of the bandit beneath his foot.

He then walked over to the unconscious bandit and finished him with another slash.

Slaughtered a bandit, obtained 5 Slaughter Points

Slaughtered a bandit, obtained 5 Slaughter Points

Current Slaughter Points: 55

Expressionless, he wiped the blade and quickly disposed of any traces that might expose the system before finding his mount.

He swung onto the horse and, enduring the pain throughout his body, galloped toward the Northern Garrison Command.

Zhou Gang... That name circled repeatedly through his mind.

When he returned to the Northern Garrison Command, Lin Feng ignored his injuries and directly requested an audience with his immediate superior, Sun Dehai.

Inside the duty room, Sun Dehai sat behind the desk like an imposing general. After hearing Lin Feng's report about the Zhao Family and examining the bloodstained account book and secret letter, his expression grew increasingly grim.

"Bang!" He slammed his palm onto the desk and shouted furiously, "Lin Feng! You are incredibly bold!

"Without evidence, you killed a Battalion Commander and wiped out the Zhao Family!

"And now you dare fabricate evidence like this, falsely accuse the Wang Family of colluding with the Northern Barbarians and plotting rebellion?

"Do you know that the Wang Family is a pillar of the imperial court? How dare you slander them!"

Lin Feng raised his head, his gaze calm. "Lord Qianhu, the evidence is conclusive. How could it be fabricated?"

"Conclusive? Based on these few scraps of paper?" A hint of savagery flashed across Sun Dehai's face. He suddenly snatched up the account book and secret letter and tore them to shreds in a few swift motions, sending scraps of paper raining down over Lin Feng!

"I say they're fabricated, so they're fabricated! You've been blinded by the prospect of merit—gone mad dreaming of achievements! Men! Strip Lin Feng of his position as Battalion Commander and throw him into the Imperial Prison. Await further orders!"

Two jailers, fierce as wolves and tigers, answered the call and rushed inside to seize him.

Lin Feng looked at the scraps scattered across the floor, and his eyes turned utterly cold.

He straightened and faced Sun Dehai without the slightest fear. "Qianhu Sun, what you tore up was only a copy."

Sun Dehai froze.

Lin Feng continued, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet perfectly clear. "The real evidence that will bring down the Wang Family naturally consists of more than this. Do you think I would place all my trump cards in plain sight?"

He abruptly removed the official hat from his head and slammed it onto the desk before Sun Dehai, producing a dull thud.

"You can keep this hat for me for now. In a moment, you'll kneel and beg me to put it back on."

Sun Dehai was stunned at first. Then, as if he had heard the most laughable joke in the world, he burst into thunderous mockery.

"Hahahaha! Beg you? Put it back on? Lin Feng, have you lost your mind?

"You? You still have a backup plan? Hahaha! Go dream in the Imperial Prison! I want to see how long you can keep that hard mouth of yours!"

Lin Feng said nothing more. He gave Sun Dehai a long, deep look, his gaze icy enough to pierce bone and carrying a trace of heart-stirring mockery.

He turned and willingly walked toward the two jailers at the door.

Sun Dehai's laughter abruptly stopped after Lin Feng turned away. He stared at Lin Feng's straight back, then glanced at the official hat on the desk and the scraps littering the floor, his brows drawing tightly together.

That thread of unease rose again in his heart, growing even stronger.

Could this brat really have another trump card?