Moments after the voice faded, a figure appeared in Ling Feng's world.
He was a man dressed in purple, with an unruly hairstyle, a cold, stern face, and scarlet eyes...
"Holy shit! It's really Assassin Wu Liuqi! In the flesh!"
Looking at the purple-robed man before him, Ling Feng shouted in delighted surprise.
"..."
Wu Liuqi's mouth twitched. What do you mean, in the flesh? Have I ever died?
However, the Wu Liuqi created by Ling Feng held only one conviction: absolute obedience to Ling Feng. Thus, he had no inclination to resist him.
"Now that's a mythical-grade treasure box! The Creation God Pen is freaking awesome!"
Clutching the Creation God Pen, Ling Feng beamed and showered it with praise.
"Who cares about the three great families? With this Creation God Pen, I can wipe them out whenever I want. I can swagger sideways through Wutan City now!"
For a moment, Ling Feng's boldness soared into the clouds. He no longer gave the so-called three great families of Wutan City a second thought.
After all, Ling Feng could mass-produce Da Dou Shi. With that ability, he could indeed dominate Wutan City.
But the thought of Xiao Xun'er and Yao Chen brought Ling Feng back to his senses. Reining in his swelling ego, he silently warned himself, I can't get too arrogant. Wutan City still has Xiao Xun'er and that undying old bastard Yao Chen. I need to keep my head down and build my strength. Lying low is the true path!
As a peace-loving nobody from Earth, Ling Feng wholeheartedly embraced the tradition of lying low. He especially admired Old Demon Han, universally acknowledged in webnovel circles as the pinnacle of that path.
When facing the strong, quietly take a step back and build your strength in the shadows. When dealing with the weak, hold nothing back-crush them mercilessly and confiscate every last heavenly treasure.
Pluck feathers from passing geese and strip the hides from passing beasts-Ling Feng was a corpse looter, too.
"Check Wu Liuqi's attributes."
Just then, Ling Feng noticed Wu Liuqi standing silently nearby. On a sudden whim, he wanted to see exactly how strong Wu Liuqi was, so he asked the system.
[Ding!] [Certainly, host...]
Moments after the system's voice faded, Ling Feng saw an attribute panel appear before Wu Liuqi.
Copied character: Wu Liuqi Strength: One-Star Great Dou Master Skills: Qi-Controlled Scissors, Shape-Shifting Gaiba Egg, Extreme-Speed Little Flying Chicken, Thousand Blades Return to One... Weapons: Thousand Blades Demon Sword, Seven-Section Scissors ...
"Only a One-Star Great Dou Master?"
Looking at Wu Liuqi's attributes, Ling Feng pondered. The system said copied characters depend on my level. I'm only a One-Star Dou Zhe, and copied characters can be two major ranks above me. That makes him a One-Star Great Dou Master.
With that realization, Ling Feng knew where he stood.
"A One-Star Great Dou Master is a top-tier fighter in Wutan City, but still isn't enough to face the heads of the three great families. Still, if quality isn't enough, I'll make up for it with quantity! If one won't do, then ten, or a hundred! Let's see Xiao Zhan and the others withstand a whole mob of Da Dou Shi beating them down!"
As though imagining that glorious scene, Ling Feng's lips suddenly curved into a wicked smile. Then the Creation God Pen in his hand began to dance.
On a street in Wutan City.
"Have you heard? Members of the Xiao Clan's direct line vanished yesterday for no reason. Three of them, too."
"How do you know?"
"The Xiao Clan has already offered a reward. They announced that anyone who provides a lead will be handsomely rewarded."
"Really?!"
"Of course. The notices are plastered all over the city now. Still, I'd say those Xiao Clan members probably met a nasty end."
Ling Feng had only just left home when he heard passersby discussing the Xiao Clan as he walked down the street.
Looks like what happened to Xiao Ke has already caught the Xiao Clan's attention... But so what? Yesterday, I might have run. Now, though... heh heh...
Ling Feng's lips curled into a cold smirk. He paid the matter no mind whatsoever. In all of Wutan City, only Xiao Xun'er and Yao Chen gave him any cause for concern.
With his abilities, Ling Feng could topple the three great families outright. Even a Dou Ling could be driven back by his human-wave tactics.
A Dou Ling might be able to crush one Da Dou Shi, or even ten or several dozen. But against a hundred Da Dou Shi, even a Dou Ling would come off badly. That was the source of Ling Feng's confidence.
"I'll go to the Jia Lie Family and bring Mother home. I can't let her keep doing backbreaking work."
With newfound confidence, Ling Feng no longer had to go through life with his head bowed. Yet once he gained power, his first thought was of Liu Qingqing, his mother and the person closest to him in this world.
In his previous life, Ling Feng had been an orphan who had never known a father's or mother's love. When he first arrived here, the harsh conditions had nearly broken him, but Liu Qingqing's love and care gradually helped him accept reality.
Over this past month, Ling Feng had also come to understand and experience a mother's love.
Whenever there was something good to eat, Liu Qingqing let Ling Feng eat first. Whenever there was dirty or exhausting work, Liu Qingqing did it first. Whatever hardships arose, Liu Qingqing shouldered them alone... That was a mother's love!
Liu Qingqing's meticulous affection filled Ling Feng with warmth. He never wanted to lose that feeling again.
Gradually, Ling Feng had come to regard Liu Qingqing as his own mother. Thus, once he had the means, his first thought was to let her enjoy a life of comfort and happiness, no longer working for others and doing all their dirty, exhausting chores.
The Jia Lie Residence.
The utility area.
"Sister Qing, didn't your Xiao Feng come to help you today?"
Zhang Xiaoling, another servant of the Jia Lie Family, chatted with Liu Qingqing, who was washing clothes beside her.
The two often worked together, and over time, they had become friends.
"No, I didn't want him to come here." Liu Qingqing smoothed the disheveled bangs on her forehead and smiled.
"Why?" Zhang Xiaoling asked in puzzlement as she scrubbed the laundry.
"My boy's looks stand out too much. I'm afraid he'll stir up trouble if he comes."
"That's true. Your Xiao Feng is so handsome that whenever the maids here see him, they swarm around him like bees catching the scent of flowers. I've seen it several times myself."
"Oh, you're exaggerating."
Liu Qingqing spoke modestly, but a proud smile lit her face. Ling Feng was her own flesh and blood, so naturally she shared in his glory.
Zhang Xiaoling kept talking all the same. "Every word I said is true. Isn't the Jia Lie Family's Young Master Ao always making things difficult for you because he's jealous that he isn't as handsome as your Xiao Feng? He makes you do two people's work every day, and gives you the most exhausting chores, too..."
"What are you doing? Get on with your work! Who said you could chat?"
Before Zhang Xiaoling could finish, a sinister bark suddenly rang out. Both she and Liu Qingqing instantly went pale, fear spreading across their faces as they hurriedly lowered their heads and resumed working.
The newcomer was a young man in lavish clothing.
He was around twenty and quite handsome, though his complexion was somewhat pale. At that moment, he was glaring hostilely at Liu Qingqing and Zhang Xiaoling, his expression dark.
"You two worthless wretches dare gossip about me!"
As his words fell, Jia Lie Ao delivered two kicks in quick succession, his face grim, knocking both women to the ground.
Liu Qingqing and Zhang Xiaoling fell in pain, but neither dared resist. Instead, they knelt and begged for mercy. Jia Lie Ao ignored them entirely. In his eyes, they were nothing but lowly servants he could bully as he pleased.
"Today, I'll teach you two lowly servants what happens when you gossip about me!"
As he spoke, Jia Lie Ao prepared to kick them again. Just then, a furious shout came from outside the courtyard.
"Stop!"