Lin Feng turned a deaf ear to Wang Xiong and the others' mockery as he flipped his wrist.
A neatly folded outfit appeared in his hand. It had been sewn from dark-black brocade, while sinister tiger-head patterns were embroidered in dark-gold thread along the cuffs and lapels.
The outfit still carried a faint demonic aura and the stench of blood. It was the Black Wind Fortress's master's signature attire.
"Cao Meng wasn't a human martial artist. He was a fully cultivated Black Tiger Demon." Lin Feng's voice was calm, yet his words landed like a boulder crashing to the ground. "This head is the proof. As for this master's outfit, it's what remained after his human form shattered when he revealed his true form."
"Ridiculous!" Wang Xiong shot to his feet, his beard and hair bristling. "You ignorant brat, spouting utter nonsense!
Cao Meng had lorded over Black Wind Fortress for years. Though he was a bandit, he was still a martial artist. How could he be a demon?
You take some random beast's head and a tattered set of clothes, then expect to pass it off as a great achievement in suppressing bandits, deceive the Lord Garrison Commander, and make fools of us? This is outrageous!"
Li Wanshan added darkly, "Deputy Commander Lin, your lie isn't nearly watertight enough.
Who doesn't know that Black Wind Fortress's Cao Meng wielded a fierce and powerful palm technique? It was unmistakably a human martial art.
A demon? Hmph. I think you failed your mission and, unable to give an account, came up with this pathetic excuse to fob us off!"
Nalan Qing shook his head as well, his tone carrying a hint of "regret."
"Young Lin, if you truly weren't strong enough, you only needed to be honest. Why invent such an outrageous lie and needlessly sully your own reputation?"
The heads of the Three Great Families stood shoulder to shoulder. Their angry curses and jeers surged toward Lin Feng like a tide, filling the hall with an atmosphere of contempt and distrust.
They were all certain that Lin Feng was lying, waiting only for him to be exposed and humiliated.
Facing the condemnation of a thousand fingers, Lin Feng's expression remained as still as an ancient well. He merely turned his gaze toward Shen Mo in the seat of honor and spoke in a clear voice.
"Lord Garrison Commander, please judge this fairly. A demon's head cannot be faked; traces of demonic aura and its original essence still remain within it.
I respectfully request that Lord Garrison Commander inspect it personally and determine whether it is genuine."
"What a joke!" Wang Xiong sneered. "What kind of status does Lord Garrison Commander have? Why would he waste his attention on your absurd claim?"
"Exactly. Is a filthy beast's head worthy of soiling His Lordship's hands?" Li Wanshan chimed in.
Nalan Qing said nothing more, but the contempt in his eyes spoke for itself.
Seated above them, Shen Mo's deep gaze swept back and forth between the tiger's head on the floor and Lin Feng's face. After a moment, he slowly said, "Bring it up."
His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
Wang Xiong and the others' jeers came to an abrupt halt. Their expressions shifted, but they no longer dared to object.
Lin Feng stepped forward as instructed and placed the Black Tiger's head on the desk before Shen Mo.
Shen Mo extended a finger. A wisp of pure true essence emerged from its tip and wound around the hideous tiger's head like a spirit snake.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind, carefully sensing every trace of aura, the bloodline essence, and the unique demonic power imprint remaining within the head.
For a time, the hall was so quiet that only the sound of breathing remained.
Wang Xiong, Li Wanshan, and Nalan Qing stared intently at Shen Mo's expression. Though they were convinced that Lin Feng had fabricated everything,
seeing how solemnly Shen Mo conducted the inspection still made them uneasy. Yet that unease was soon crushed beneath even more mockery, and they waited only for the result before launching another attack.
After a moment, Shen Mo withdrew his true essence and opened his eyes. A flash of brilliance flickered through them and vanished.
His gaze swept over everyone below before finally settling on Lin Feng. In a steady, clear voice, he announced:
"After my inspection, this head indeed belongs to a Black Tiger Demon. The demonic power essence and bloodline aura remaining within it completely match the records in the case files and the hidden characteristics previously known about Black Wind Fortress's master, Cao Meng.
Lin Feng's words are true. He did successfully suppress and kill the bandit leader of Black Wind Fortress—the Black Tiger Demon, Cao Meng."
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
Wang Xiong, Li Wanshan, and Nalan Qing all cried out in shock almost simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief.
Wang Xiong even strode forward abruptly, his eyes bulging like copper bells. "Lord Shen! You... you couldn't have made a mistake, could you?
How could Cao Meng truly have been a demon? Lin Feng... how could he possibly have killed..."
All their doubts and mockery were shattered in an instant before Shen Mo's authoritative appraisal.
Looking at the tiger's head still dripping blood on the floor, then at Lin Feng's calm face, the three men felt stormy waves churn in their hearts.
This brat actually did it? With the strength of a newly advanced Seventh Rank, he killed a Black Tiger Demon comparable to a Sixth Rank Perfection? What an astonishing battle record!
After the shock came intense apprehension and unwillingness.
If this earth-shaking merit were confirmed, Lin Feng's position in the Northern Garrison Command would become unshakable, posing a grave threat to the interests of the Three Great Families!
Before they could fully recover from their shock, Lin Feng spoke again. His voice remained calm, but his resolve allowed no argument.
"Now that the bandit leader has been slain and his identity confirmed, I shall, in accordance with the regulations, report my achievements to Lord Garrison Commander and request commendations for all the brothers who took part in suppressing the bandits."
His words were like a drop of cold water falling into boiling oil.
Wang Xiong reacted instantly. His face turned livid as he shouted urgently.
"No! Lord Shen, there are still doubts about this matter! Even if this head truly belongs to Cao Meng, Black Wind Fortress had many bandits, and the situation inside remains unclear. Could there still be survivors?
Did Lin Feng abandon his post? Did he act rashly in pursuit of merit? All of this requires a thorough investigation! How can you request commendations so hastily?"
Li Wanshan immediately joined in. "Brother Wang is absolutely right! Suppressing bandits is a matter of enormous importance. How can the entire achievement be counted just because one head was taken?
What if some oversight allows Black Wind Fortress to rise from the ashes? Who will bear responsibility then?"
Nalan Qing's eyes flickered as he said solemnly, "Lord Shen, Deputy Commander Lin is still young. His eagerness to establish merit is understandable. But merits and faults, rewards and punishments, must be assessed with caution.
Why not set aside the matter of commendations for now? Once Black Wind Fortress's remnants have been completely purged and every detail investigated, it will not be too late to discuss the merits."
The heads of the Three Great Families knew that Lin Feng had achieved tremendous merit. Consumed by jealousy and resentment, they no longer cared about saving face and began speaking one after another—questioning, delaying, and broadening the scope of the investigation.
They had only one goal: to prevent Lin Feng from receiving his commendation immediately and stop him from so smoothly taking this heaven-shaking achievement into his hands!
The atmosphere in the hall instantly became charged, with swords drawn and bows bent.
Shen Mo's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the resolute Lin Feng below and the three family heads clearly harboring ulterior motives. He had yet to state his position.
Lin Feng faced the obstruction of the heads of the Three Great Families, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a blade...
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