Ambush

"If the Young Master tells you to speak, then speak. Don't talk big."

At this moment, Xiang Geng, who had been silent for a long time, barked a reprimand.

Master Black gave a fawning laugh. "Master Xiang is right to teach me a lesson." Immediately, his expression turned somewhat pensive.

After thinking for a moment, he continued, "That woman Su Wantang is no good. When she came to the city half a year ago, she sought me out, asking me to help introduce her to the Young Master of the Lin Family.

"That Young Master of the Lin Family is so benevolent and righteous; how could I possibly lead him into a trap?"

Master Black tugged at the reins with one hand and let out a scoff.

Lin Che, half a year ago?

As soon as these words were spoken, Feng Xiu's brows furrowed, then relaxed.

The Lin Family was also one of the families that possessed a River Law Seal. In other words, Su Wantang's original target was not Shou Zhuo, but Lin Che.

Did the Feng Clan take a hit for the Lin Family?

Feng Xiu began to ponder in his mind, and immediately after, he heard Master Black continue.

"I felt that woman was up to no good at the time. I remember asking her, if she wanted to hook a fat sheep, there were plenty in the city. Even if she wanted to climb into the bed of a wealthy family, she didn't have to target Young Master Lin specifically, did she?"

Master Black paused, his voice rising and falling with dramatic flair, instantly drawing Feng Xiu in.

"Young Master Feng, guess how she replied?" Master Black answered his own question, adding, "That woman said her husband was locked up in the grand prison, and she wanted the Lin Family to use their influence to get him out."

Feng Xiu's expression turned stern.

"Is that really what she said?"

Master Black felt a chill run down his spine under Feng Xiu's gaze, not understanding why Feng Xiu had such a strong reaction.

"That's right. Damn, she scared me. I ignored her, but I heard she later sought out Old Liu. Young Master Feng, why did you suddenly ask about this?"

Reading people was Master Black's specialty for survival; he was clear-headed when it came to gauging a client's psychology.

Even though Feng Xiu was trying his best to conceal it, he still saw a momentary loss of focus in Feng Xiu's pupils.

Master Black kept a smile on his face, but his heart couldn't help but shudder.

After a quick calculation, he instantly suppressed the intelligence he had regarding Su Wantang in his mind.

Feng Xiu let out a long breath, his expression becoming grave.

Countless chaotic thoughts surged in; the result he found from the chain of evidence was exactly as he had anticipated.

There really was something in the Tang Reservoir.

Moreover, Su Wantang was still its betrothed wife.

You're already married, so why are you still out here seducing decent men? You shameless woman!

"Master Black, have you ever seen her husband?" Feng Xiu asked in a deep voice.

"How would I have seen..."

Just as Master Black was about to speak, his horse suddenly let out a long neigh and reared its front hooves, nearly throwing him off.

"Ouch!" Master Black scrambled to steady himself. "What's gotten into this beast?"

Feng Xiu pulled on the reins, his gaze sharpening.

On the small path ahead, five people had appeared out of nowhere.

The one in the lead was the very same burly man who had caused trouble in the Wild Market earlier.

Behind him stood four lean men, all holding blades, their eyes filled with malice.

Master Black's face turned pale instantly.

"Yo-Young Master Feng."

The burly man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Oh, what a coincidence."

He looked at Feng Xiu, then at Master Black, and said with a strange, mocking tone, "Young Master, don't misunderstand. I'm not here for you; I'm just here to settle the score with this grandson."

Master Black swallowed hard and muttered, "Di-didn't you already take the money just now?"

"Taking the money is one thing, but I can't swallow this anger." The man chuckled. "Besides, you're so rich, it wouldn't hurt to cough up a little more, would it?"

Greed flickered in the man's eyes, and his gaze lingered on Feng Xiu for a moment.

Feng Xiu smiled at the corner of his mouth. "Are you here for him, or are you here for me?"

The man grinned. "Both. How about that?"

Hearing this, Feng Xiu turned his head to look at Xiang Geng.

Xiang Geng understood instantly. "Eldest Young Master, I will hold the line."

It wasn't as if he hadn't understood Feng Xiu's look; these few highwaymen were perfect for Feng Xiu to use to hone his combat skills.

Feng Xiu nodded. That made things easier. He swung off his horse.

Seeing him walk over alone, the five men were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Young master, what are you doing? Taking on the five of us all by yourself?"

Feng Xiu did not answer, continuing his steady advance while shaking out his arms, his eyes sharp and piercing.

"Exactly!"

As the words left his lips, Feng Xiu stomped hard against the ground, his entire body launching forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

The man's expression shifted violently, and in his haste, he swung his blade down.

Feng Xiu did not dodge at all, meeting the edge of the blade head-on with his right hand!

Clang!

His five fingers hooked like talons, and the blade, forged from refined steel, was instantly shattered.

As the blade fractured, the man's eyes widened; before he could even react, Feng Xiu's left hand had already clamped onto his wrist.

Using the jagged blade fragment in his right hand, Feng Xiu slashed fiercely across the man's throat.

The man clutched his neck with both hands as blood gushed through his fingers, his mouth emitting ragged, wheezing gasps, his eyes filled with sheer panic.

Feng Xiu stepped back smoothly to avoid the spraying blood, then pivoted and raised his leg.

He kicked the man squarely in the chest, unleashing the terrifying power born from the realm of Five Energies Unified.

The sound of cracking bone was clearly audible.

The man flew backward five or six meters, hitting the ground with no hope of survival.

Feng Xiu's movements were so swift that he had dispatched his opponent in the blink of an eye, causing the expressions of the remaining four to change instantly.

"Damn it, he's tough! All together now!"

A flicker of ferocity flashed in their eyes as they lunged at him simultaneously, their broadswords gleaming with cold light.

Instead of fleeing immediately, they actually want to kill me?

Feng Xiu's brutal strike had been intended to establish dominance, and though he had taken a human life, he felt no internal conflict.

Those of a different race are bound to have different hearts; the fish-man and Fish Mother were not human.

He could kill them with a clear conscience, but these were men.

What he hadn't expected was the sheer "morale" of this group.

Martial artists treat the law like child's play; once they harbor violence, the urge to kill follows. I was overthinking it.

Feng Xiu's gaze turned solemn, his understanding of the pugilistic world deepening by another layer.

Immediately, he shifted his footwork and charged straight toward the four men.

At this moment, the four held blades while Feng Xiu was unarmed, making him appear to be the weaker party.

But in reality, it was quite the opposite; with the augmentation of the Vajra Finger Blade, his iron hands were no less lethal than any weapon.

Clang!

Feng Xiu repeated his previous tactic, grabbing a heavy cleaver mid-swing with one hand.

The man realized Feng Xiu's intent and surged forward instead of retreating, his blade striking sparks against Feng Xiu's palm.

A sudden lightness emanated from the blade; the leader abandoned his weapon entirely, stepped forward, and slammed into Feng Xiu with an Iron Mountain Lean.

Feng Xiu dodged, and when the leader's strike failed, he shifted his stance, throwing a punch that whistled through the air with a savage grin.

"Die, brat!"

Feng Xiu's pupils constricted as a sudden, lethal sense of danger flared in his heart.

Mid-punch, the man transformed his strike into a palm thrust, firing a Funeral Nail hidden beneath his sleeve directly at Feng Xiu's face.

Just as Feng Xiu moved to dodge, the other three saw their opening, their wild, sweeping blade strikes tearing through the air and forcing him back into position.

Rip!

At the critical moment, Feng Xiu slammed his body into the leader, his right hand darting out to snatch the hidden weapon from the air and driving it deep into the man's heart.

Simultaneously, he narrowly evaded the three incoming blades, the steel slicing through his brocade robe and leaving a severed sleeve fluttering to the ground.

On the other side.

Master Black's eyes bulged, his mouth hanging open as he rubbed his eyes in utter disbelief.

Was this really the same pampered young master who only knew how to listen to his lectures?

He was actually killing people now!?