Betrayal

Xingyu Tower was an inn. Du Ge and the others lived in the backyard, a distance from the inn. However, the commotion they caused was so great that the alarmed guests feared being implicated and fled into the streets overnight.

Gang fights were common in the martial arts world, but too many people fleeing would always attract attention from those who were observant.

Speed was crucial.

Therefore, Feng Shiyi and his group didn't rest for long. After treating their wounds and changing into night-attack clothing, they called Du Ge and the other two to head towards the Iron Palm Sect's stronghold.

Feng Yunjie's injuries weren't severe, but with Wang San around, his combat effectiveness was greatly reduced, making him a burden. Thus, Feng Shiyi sent him back to the Feng Family to report the situation.

Du Ge and Wang San also changed into night-attack clothing.

The Feng Family was not a large entity, but it was a genuine martial arts family. Xingyu Tower, as their base, naturally had weapons, but no divine weapons. Du Ge chose two relatively high-quality Fine Steel Longswords, and replenished his quiver of throwing knives.

Wang San chose a Willow Leaf Knife. For novices who didn't know martial arts, a saber was obviously more practical than a sword. The reason Du Ge chose a sword was that stabbing was easier and faster than slashing.

Feng Shiyi and his two disciples didn't talk much along the way. Their faces were stern, giving off a heroic aura akin to the lament of "The wind howls, and the Yi River is cold."

Du Ge and Wang San, who had even planned for their retreat, felt like they were going on vacation.

Especially Du Ge. Having watched many scenes of heroes fighting at night in movies and TV shows, he was already cheering inwardly at the opportunity to participate personally.

The Iron Palm Sect's stronghold was a manor outside Luyang City, not far from the pier. It was situated by the mountains and water, allowing for escape via water when facing strong enemies, and retreat into the mountains at the back. It was an excellent location with auspicious feng shui.

Beneath a plaque inscribed with the three powerful characters for "Iron Palm Sect," the vermilion gate was wide open. Five or six guards, armed with sabers, stood outside, muttering idle chatter. Occasionally, one would yawn, their attitude quite perfunctory.

This was normal.

Luyang City was the Iron Palm Sect's territory. They were the ones who bullied others, not the other way around. Under normal circumstances, who would be foolish enough to attack them? Moreover, the martial arts world had been quiet for over a decade.

If a master came seeking revenge, they would use their agility to scale walls and roofs; no one would enter through the main gate. In the end, these guards were just for show.

Normally, even the main gate would be closed, but the Dark Dragon Hall had left it open for them today as they were out on a mission. However, these guards wouldn't have imagined that tonight, some people who didn't follow the usual path would arrive.

"Seventh Master, are we going to storm the main gate?" The night was cool, but Feng Shiyi was sweating. He looked at Du Ge, his eyes showing a hint of exasperation that shouldn't be present at his age.

When Du Ge suggested entering through the main gate, he suddenly felt like an idiot for believing Feng Qi's foolish plan would succeed. Why had he impulsively agreed to sneak attack the Iron Palm Sect with him?

Five people?

Three of them injured, and they were going to attack head-on.

Even a five-year-old child wouldn't come up with such an idea!

"What else?" Du Ge looked at Feng Shiyi as if he were the idiot. "You didn't tell me the Iron Palm Sect's walls were over four meters high either!"

"I..." Feng Shiyi was speechless. He couldn't really blame Feng Qi. He was a Celestial Demon, new to this world, and didn't know what the Iron Palm Sect looked like?

But he had been stunned at the time and couldn't think of everything so thoroughly.

Wang San's lips twitched, struggling to suppress his laughter.

"Your Qinggong isn't good enough either. Carrying someone, you can't even jump four meters," Du Ge said disdainfully, looking at Feng Shiyi. He secretly resolved to practice his Internal Energy and find a good Qinggong technique. Throughout history, great heroes leaped and soared; they didn't need to climb ladders to scale walls!

"Seventh Master, if it's really not possible, let's return to the Feng Family and make a new plan!" Feng Shiyi said, looking at the restless Du Ge, "With just the five of us, a frontal assault is no different from suicide."

"For the Feng Family, what is death? We've come this far, we have to try. What if it works!" Du Ge took a deep breath, drawing his longsword with one hand and pulling out three throwing knives with the other. "San'er, lure them..."

"Seventh Master, don't." Feng Shiyi hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"My dearest brothers, are you waiting for someone? Aren't you cold? Everyone else is sleeping, but you have to be on duty here. My heart aches for you..." Wang San, seeing no future with the Feng Family, had already prepared to surrender. His mournful voice quickly echoed in the night.

The guards on duty immediately panicked. They drew their sabers, looking left and right for the source of the voice, their faces pale.

"Who?"

"Who's playing tricks there?"

"Come out."

"It's me!" Wang San let out a cackling laugh and slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees. Dressed in black, his hair disheveled, his face smeared with bloodstains, he held a blood-stained saber, his expression vacant. "Little darlings, let's play a game. I'll chase, you run. If I catch you, big brother will love you dearly..."

Wang San walked forward step by step.

The guards retreated step by step.

As Wang San spoke more and more, their fear finally overcame their last shred of courage.

"Ghost!"

"Ghost!"

With a few piercing screams, they dropped their sabers and fled in utter panic.

The moment they turned to run, Du Ge, holding his longsword, shot out like a startled rabbit.

He was like a black lightning bolt in the night, reaching the backs of the guards in the blink of an eye and cleanly taking their lives.

Seeing Du Ge and Wang San actually charge out to attack the main gate, Feng Shiyi's mind went blank for a moment. Then, he closed his eyes in despair. "It's over."

"Second Master, what do we do?" one of the direct disciples asked, bewildered.

"Let's go. The Feng Family's disaster shouldn't be borne by two outsiders." Feng Shiyi gave a bitter smile, gripping his saber, and was about to follow. But after taking two steps, he realized the two disciples behind him hadn't moved. He frowned, "What are you doing?"

"We don't want to die." One of them hesitated for a moment and mumbled, "Second Master, Feng Qi is a madman. His injuries heal quickly, but we can't. For the Feng Family, assassinating Qiu Yuanlang was one thing, but charging in so brazenly like this is just throwing our lives away!"

"Let's retreat, Second Master. Dying like this is meaningless," another said. "Haven't you realized yet? All the Feng Family's troubles are caused by the Celestial Demon. If we continue to entangle ourselves with them, more disasters will only pile up. Abandon them, rush back to the Feng Family now, and we can still escape..."

"..." Feng Shiyi looked at Du Ge, who was charging ahead, and then at the two men behind him, his eyes filled with struggle. "If we back out now, everything we've done so far will be in vain. Feng Qi's speed is getting faster and faster, proving he's grown a lot. Plus, we have Wang San now."

"Second Master, don't be foolish. Think about the Third Young Master. Even if they are powerful... and look at Wang San. Does the Feng Family really want to get mixed up with someone like that?" One of them pointed ahead, his eyes filled with terror. "They are demons! Cut your losses, Second Master, you can't keep making mistakes. If this continues, the Feng Family will be doomed."

Feng Shiyi turned back and saw a scene that sent shivers down his spine.

Wang San had just severed the hand of a guard killed by Feng Qi. He held it in his hand, wiping away the bloodstains, and said, "Good boy, don't be afraid. You got your hands dirty, let me wipe them for you. We'll hold hands after I clean them..."

Feng Shiyi's pupils contracted sharply.

At that moment, he finally woke up.

Casting one last glance at Du Ge, Feng Shiyi called to his two disciples, "Let's go."