Ambush

The dark clouds covered the moonlight, and no stars were visible.

The night wind swept through the quiet streets and alleys of Pingcheng, blowing down the last few withered leaves from under the eaves.

Chen Feng tightened his clothes and trousers, and while no one was around, he leaped up, flipped in the air, and flew over the high wall, landing easily in the Lin Mansion's courtyard.

The Lin Mansion had many servants, and there were guards patrolling even in the middle of the night. Chen Feng carefully concealed his figure, trying not to make any noise.

He also moved his position from time to time.

Sometimes he hid quietly behind the rockery, and sometimes he crouched on the high wall, but no one discovered him.

After a series of reconnaissance, Chen Feng had a good understanding of the Lin Family's layout.

It was a large mansion with two courtyards.

Lin Chong'an and Madam Zhang slept in the main room of the inner courtyard.

The East and West Wing Rooms were empty, presumably belonging to Lin Yan and Lin Jingshu. As for the maids and old women, they lived in the side rooms on either side of the main room.

Chen Feng also took a specific look around, wanting to see where that Bone Forging Realm guard lived.

He finally found that the person lived in the outer courtyard.

Living with the steward.

Chen Feng couldn't help but rejoice. The farther away, the better, which made it easier for him to act.

He didn't want to cause too much of a disturbance.

After fully understanding the layout, Chen Feng silently passed through the Hanging Flower Gate and entered the inner courtyard, crouching behind a pillar under the main room's corridor.

His dark cloth clothes blended with the night, and even his breathing was suppressed to the lowest level.

The window paper in front of him showed a dim, weak lamplight, and faint sounds could be heard.

The people inside had not yet slept.

They seemed to be talking about something.

Chen Feng held his breath and slowly approached, his fingertips lightly touching the cold window frame.

Inside, the hushed voices leaked through the gaps in the wooden window, faint and weak.

But in front of Chen Feng, who was in the Bone Forging Realm, every word was clear, drilling into his eardrums.

"...I don't know how Jing Shu is doing following along to the Provincial Capital, and I don't know how Shu Xian's exam went."

Madam Zhang's voice carried a hint of anticipation.

In her eyes, Li Shuxian was already her family's golden son-in-law. If he were to place high in the imperial examinations, he would be an even more prized catch.

"Soon. Once the results are posted in the ninth month, they should be back," Lin Chong'an said in a low voice.

"That's still nearly a month away..."

Listening to the conversation between the two inside the room, Chen Feng muttered to himself that time really flew by.

In the blink of an eye, autumn was almost upon them.

"..."

For some reason, the movement inside the room suddenly ceased, and the two fell into silence.

Just as Chen Feng was about to walk away from the window, Madam Zhang's voice, gritted through her teeth, drifted out.

"Master, I sent people to Dragon Walk Martial Arts School to inquire. That little beast is still alive..."

Chen Feng's eyes narrowed.

He heard Madam Zhang continue:

"That Black Tiger Gang and Xie Fei are nothing but trash. They couldn't even handle such a small task."

Her voice carried a hint of urgency.

"If that little beast is allowed to gain any momentum, he will definitely come knocking on our door. We must crush him while he's still weak!"

Hearing her call him a beast with every other word made Chen Feng's blood boil.

"...Rest assured, I have already entrusted Steward Li to help us with this matter. He knows many people and will surely have a way."

Lin Chong'an's steady voice replied.

"Steward Li?"

"The one from the Li Family. He changed his surname to Li some time ago."

"Why involve the Li Family? We keep troubling them; I'm afraid they might develop a negative impression of Jingshu."

Madam Zhang was worried that her daughter might be affected.

"How else could I have gotten Steward Li to help? Only Steward Li knows about this matter within the Li Family."

"Besides, Steward Li is only willing to help because of Jingshu."

Chen Feng, standing by the window, listened intently.

Fearing missing any details.

"Then you'll have to give him plenty of gifts, and maybe he'll take good care of our Jingshu..."

"I know."

Then came intermittent curses, all directed at Chen Feng, such as "Why is my son dead, but he's still alive and well."

Chen Feng sneered inwardly.

Even if you two die, I'll still be alive and well.

I'll send you down to reunite shortly.

Just then, a rustling sound came from inside the house, seemingly the sound of someone getting up to change clothes.

"Where are you going?" Madam Zhang asked.

"To the latrine..."

Heavy footsteps approached.

Hearing the footsteps getting closer, Chen Feng quickly retreated into the shadows.

He waited quietly.

Soon, the door creaked open.

Lin Chong'an's slightly plump figure appeared in Chen Feng's sight.

However, he didn't notice Chen Feng.

He quickly crossed the Courtyard and headed towards the separate outhouse outside.

Chen Feng immediately followed, tailing Lin Chong'an, gradually getting closer...

Closer...

Even closer...

When the distance was less than a foot, Chen Feng decisively stepped forward, his right hand forming a claw and reaching for Lin Chong'an's neck.

With a slight exertion of force from his fingers.

The man's head tilted, and he breathed his last.

After Lin Chong'an died, the urine in his bladder was suddenly unrestrained, flowing out together and soaking his lower body.

Chen Feng quickly let go.

The corpse hit the floor with a thud, a puddle of yellowish urine spreading across the ground.

In front of Chen Feng, a Martial Artist in the Bone Forging Realm, Lin Chong'an had not even had the chance to scream.

He did not bother disposing of Lin Chong'an's body, simply tossing down a note with the word "Leave" written on it.

He intended to frame it as a gang feud.

In recent days, the various factions in the Inner City of Pingcheng had been aggressively expanding their territories and seizing markets, leading many smaller factions to harbor grievances.

They had resisted one after another.

However, the consequences were intimidation, threats, and even intruders slipping into their homes to leave warning notes.

The Lin Family was no exception.

The only Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist in their household had been hired precisely for this reason.

But because they had the backing of the Li Family, they hadn't been overly concerned, simply hiring an old man with declining Qi Blood because he was cheap.

Chen Feng decided to take advantage of this situation.

"Now then..."

Chen Feng strode toward the Main Room.

"Creak..."

Chen Feng pushed open the wooden door.

Candlelight flickered inside the Main Room, with several lamp stands placed on either side of the room, casting a warm, golden glow over the interior.

A long screen separated the two, making it impossible for either to see the other's figure.

Chen Feng first extinguished the candles on the lamp stands, and the room was instantly plunged into darkness.

"Are you going to sleep, Master? Why did you put out the lights?"

Madam Zhang's puzzled voice rang out.

However, the only response she received was a long silence.

Even in such a dark environment, Chen Feng could clearly see the layout of the room.

He stepped around the screen.

He stood before the bed.

"Master?..."

Madam Zhang had not yet reacted when Chen Feng's hand gripped her throat, pulling her straight up from the bed.

He exerted force with his hand.

Her neck snapped.

In a daze, the system's voice rang out—

[Assassination...]

[Experience +1000]

Chen Feng paid it little mind. After killing her, he quickly left the scene.

Taking advantage of the night, he hid in the shadows, evaded the patrolling guards, and quietly vaulted over the high wall, landing steadily on the ground outside, just as he had when he entered.

This trip had been highly rewarding.

Not only had he eliminated two threats, but he also learned that the Li Family steward would be sending people to target him.

"Li Family..."

With Li Shuxian there.

Chen Feng would have to face the Li Family sooner or later.

When that time came, it wouldn't be like the Lin Family, where a large mansion held only one old fellow in the Bone Forging Realm with half a foot already in the grave.

His thoughts raced.

He was considering how to deal with the behemoth that was the Li Family.