This young master of medical arts was simply too terrifying!
A wave of fanatical light instantly surged in Old Master Li's eyes.
Suppressing the craving and excitement in his heart, he asked with a trembling voice:
"What do you want?"
"Name your price!"
Xiaofeng reached into his robe and pulled out a golden needle.
"I want an answer."
"Seven years ago, who ordered the complete extermination of my Yun Family?" Mentioning this matter, Xiaofeng's voice turned bone-chilling once again!
Old Master Li was silent for a moment, then nodded decisively:
"Fine!"
"Treat me with three needles, and I will tell you!"
Xiaofeng gave Old Master Li a deep look, smiled silently, and took two steps forward to stand right in front of him:
"Deal."
He drove a needle straight into Old Master Li's Shanzhong Acupoint.
Old Master Li instantly drew in a sharp breath of cold air, and his flushed complexion subsided at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Speak." Xiaofeng pinched out a second golden needle, but did not drive it down yet.
"It was a Prince of Shenzhou."
With a gloomy expression, Old Master Li glanced at the second needle in Xiaofeng's hand and gritted his teeth: "The second needle!"
Xiaofeng nodded, drove the second needle into Old Master Li's Dantian, and then asked:
"My Yun Family was just a small family."
"Why did a Prince want to kill us?"
Old Master Li shook his head and said:
"How would I know? When a Prince acts, why would he ever need to explain himself to me?"
"The third needle!"
Reading Old Master Li's expression with his physiognomy arts, Xiaofeng chuckled softly, nodded, and drove down the third needle!
The moment Xiaofeng's third needle landed, Old Master Li took a deep breath, and his tightly furrowed brow finally smoothed out completely.
The dull pain that had been endlessly spreading through his body had actually vanished under Xiaofeng's three needles!
Beaming with smiles, Old Master Li cupped his fists toward Xiaofeng:
"Young friend's wondrous hands bring the dying back to life."
"This old man's eyes have truly been opened today."
Xiaofeng forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes and asked:
"There are quite a few Princes in Shenzhou. Which Prince wants my Yun Family dead?"
Old Master Li gave the close-at-hand Xiaofeng a deep look and said:
"The Prince's name is not something I am permitted to utter."
"I must ask young friend to forgive me!"
Before he even finished speaking, a rapid series of cracking explosions suddenly erupted from within Old Master Li's body!
It was the sound of his meridians shattering inch by inch!
By destroying his own meridians, Old Master Li directly obliterated the life force that Xiaofeng's three needles had just stabilized!
In that exact instant, Old Master Li's Half-Step Great Grandmaster realm erupted in a destructive manner.
He slammed his palm straight toward Xiaofeng's heart!
This single palm strike condensed Old Master Li's lifelong cultivation!
It could be called the pinnacle of his martial arts achievement!Even a genuine Great Grandmaster standing here would have to temporarily avoid its sharp edge!
Old Master Li's voice at this moment was deafening:
"You were right, this old man should have died long ago!"
"Today, with this old man's death, the karma of the Yun Family from seven years ago shall be settled!"
"The Prince will naturally spare the lives of everyone in the Li Family!"
Xiaofeng's expression remained calm and completely unsurprised.
Having mastered Yaochi physiognomy arts, he had long since seen through Old Master Li's determination to die from his demeanor and behavior.
Asking to be treated was merely a tactic to close the distance, temporarily calm the internal chaos, and buy an opportunity to destroy his own meridians and make one final desperate struggle.
However, Xiaofeng had also obtained what he wanted.
So, it was a Prince of Shenzhou lurking behind the scenes...
Xiaofeng let out a cold laugh.
He allowed Old Master Li's close-range palm strike to land squarely on his chest.
Boom!
A muffled explosion burst forth from Xiaofeng's chest.
Beneath their feet, the asphalt ground shattered inch by inch, and gravel mixed with dirt kicked up into mid-air.
Dust and smoke billowed everywhere!
"Old... Old Master..."
Looking at the dust-shrouded area, Li Fengtian muttered in disbelief:
"How could this be?"
"The Old Master was actually forced into such a desperate corner by Xiaofeng?"
The members of the Li Family looked at each other in dismay, too terrified to even breathe.
To deal with this Xiaofeng, the Old Master actually had to destroy his own meridians?
Even if Xiaofeng died, the Li Family would lose the protection of a Half-Step Great Grandmaster like the Old Master, and their status in Haicheng from now on would plummet, becoming no different from any ordinary wealthy family!
"The price is too high!" Li Fengtian beat his chest and stamped his feet in despair.
A moment later, the dust and smoke settled.
When the members of the Li Family saw the scene inside, they all drew in a sharp breath of cold air simultaneously:
"How is this possible???"
Old Master Li lay crumpled on the ground, his face ashen, completely devoid of breath!
Yet Xiaofeng's expression remained calm as he stood right where he was, his posture tall and straight!
He gently brushed the dust from his lapels, turned his gaze to Li Fengtian, and smiled:
"It's your turn."
Li Fengtian froze.
Then, snapping back to reality, he shrieked at the top of his lungs:
"Attack! Attack immediately!"
"This fellow took my family's Old Master's dying blow and is already at the end of his tether!"
"Don't be fooled by his put-on facade!"
Behind a large tree, three Grandmaster-level retainers from the City Lord's Mansion looked at each other, seeing the mingled shock and doubt in one another's eyes.
They had originally thought that coming to assist Haicheng's strongest expert, Old Master Li—a Half-Step Great Grandmaster—in slaughtering a mere junior would be as easy as taking candy from a baby.
Never had they imagined they would witness with their own eyes the death of Old Master Li!
This punk...
Was he truly an eighteen-year-old youth?
As Li Fengtian roared at the top of his lungs, Xiaofeng chuckled, turned his head to glance at the spot where the three men were hiding, and said indifferently:
"Stop hesitating."
"It's just a matter of dying sooner or later."
Among the three retainers, the one with the most seniority flashed a gloomy look in his eyes and sneered:
"This fellow is definitely just putting on a bold front!"
"Old Master Li may have had underlying issues and his combat power severely compromised."
"But that final palm strike possessed terrifying power that directly approached the level of a Great Grandmaster."
"For Xiaofeng to take that blow head-on, it is utterly impossible for him to be completely unhurt!"
"Strike now, and slaying him will be as easy as turning over a hand!"
The three Grandmaster-level retainers instantly flashed out, transforming into three streaks of afterimages as they swarmed Xiaofeng from three different directions!
Xiaofeng let out a light snort:
"Mere fireflies daring to compete with the moon."
As the three Grandmasters closed in for the kill, Xiaofeng finally brought his hands together into a blade-hand and slashed straight down!
This blade-hand looked feather-light, devoid of any visible force channeled within it.
Yet the pupils of all three Grandmasters instantly constricted to the size of needlepoints!
From that single blade-hand, every one of them felt a profound and esoteric killing force!
It was a terrifying presence far exceeding their own realm!
"You..." Before one of the Grandmasters could finish speaking, Xiaofeng's blade-hand had already glided effortlessly across his neck.
Splat!
His head went flying as a fountain of blood sprayed wildly!
The blade-hand didn't stop, immediately sweeping across a second neck.
And then the third!
Splat! Splat!
Three heads flew into the air simultaneously, and three columns of blood shot up behind Xiaofeng, looking exceptionally tragic and beautiful!
Li Fengtian's vision was almost completely dyed red by blood.
With a dazed expression on his face, he could scarcely believe his own eyes...
Xiaofeng...
He killed three Grandmasters with a single slash?!
Just what on earth...
Is his realm???
Amidst his daze, Li Fengtian suddenly saw Xiaofeng pull a needle pouch out from his robe.
The pouch unfolded to reveal rows of golden needles.
"Guess what Chen Jin's fate was?"
Xiaofeng flashed a "benevolent" smile at Li Fengtian.
"You will end up just like him."
"It will take seventy-nine days of agony for you to finally die!"
With that, Xiaofeng's fingertips flicked rapidly, shooting out golden needle after golden needle!
He flicked forty-nine times in succession!
Every single golden needle that pierced into Li Fengtian's acupoints elicited a hysterical scream from his lips.
When all forty-nine needles had landed, Li Fengtian had already collapsed to his knees, his eyes bulging, his skin turning purplish-red as he transformed into a living corpse capable of doing nothing but wailing and weeping.
Indescribable agony crept and spread through his body, unending and eternal!
Every single moment was enough to drive a person completely insane!
And Li Fengtian would endure such torment for a full forty-nine days before finding release!
After tossing Li Fengtian before his parents' memorial tablets, Xiaofeng turned and plunged into the crowd of the Li Family!
Like a tiger descending upon a flock of sheep, he stirred up wave after wave of blood!
A moment later, the courtyard entrance of the Li Family grew completely quiet.
Xiaofeng shook the blood from his hands. Dressed in white, not a single speck of red stained his clothes.
Tall, handsome, and straight of posture, if one ignored the surrounding shuradel-like scene, he truly looked like an immortal from a painting descended into the mortal realm...
At the street corner.
A bodyguard in a black suit pulled his head back, covered in cold sweat, and tremblingly pulled a cell phone from his breast pocket.
"Lord City Lord..."
The black suit bodyguard reported with a crying sob in his voice:
"They're dead... they're all dead..."
Haicheng City Lord's excited voice rang out from the phone:
"Is Xiaofeng dead?"
"Splendid!"
"Bring his corpse back to me!And Zhou Ling, bring that little girl back to me as well!"
"Hahahahaha..."
"Right beside Xiaofeng's corpse, I'm going to defile Zhou Ling's body!"
"This is going to be so thrilling!"
The bodyguard's hand shook as he wept even louder:"Not... not like that..."
"It’s the Li Family... Old Master Li is dead, the Patriarch is dead... everyone... they’re all dead!"
"And the three grandmasters from the estate... they’re all dead too!!!"
The voice of the City Lord of Haicheng was abruptly strangled in his throat, emitting a strange, wheezing sound. After a long moment, he finally managed to ask:
"Then what about Yun Feng???"
The bodyguard in the black suit wiped away his tears and sobbed:
"He... he is in front of his parents' spirit tablets..."
"Burning incense and kowtowing..."
"..." The City Lord of Haicheng fell into a long and heavy silence.
As the two sides remained speechless on either end of the line, a hand suddenly reached over and snatched the phone from the bodyguard.
Yun Feng sneered at the City Lord of Haicheng through the phone:
"I am tired today."
"Tomorrow, I will come to your City Lord's Mansion to kill you."
"Wait for me."
*Snap!*
With a crisp sound, Yun Feng crushed the phone into pieces.
The bodyguard, seeing the god of death standing right before him, trembled, his eyes rolling back into his head. Terrified to the point of suffering a heart attack, he convulsed on the spot and died.
Yun Feng picked up his parents' spirit tablets, took Zhou Ling’s soft, boneless hand in his, and headed back to Zhou Ling’s Villa.
...
City Lord’s Mansion. In the study.
The City Lord of Haicheng trembling lifted a cup of tea. He gulped down half of it without even tasting it. The rest spilled over his mouth and onto his trousers, soaking them with a patch of yellow stain.
"Even a Half-Step Great Grandmaster was killed by Yun Feng..." the City Lord of Haicheng muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "What do I do now? What else can I even do..."
After a full half-hour, the City Lord of Haicheng finally managed to calm down, a flash of malice crossing his eyes.
"It’s death either way. I’ll shift all the blame onto the Li Family and then go seek help from the Prince... That might be my only chance at survival!"
Thinking this, the City Lord of Haicheng gritted his teeth, took out his phone, and dialed a number saved as "Prince."
...
Inside the villa.
Yun Feng placed his parents' spirit tablets down, collapsed onto the soft sofa, and let out a long sigh.
Zhou Ling, carrying an incense burner, walked slowly to Yun Feng's side.
Yun Feng sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up as he asked:
"What kind of incense is this? It smells wonderful. There’s a... a scent of blue waves to it."
Zhou Ling smiled beautifully and nodded. "I blended this a few days ago. I wanted to capture the freshness of the ocean. It’s good that you understand my work, Xiaofeng; others rarely pick up on the three subtle notes within it. Why don't you give it a name?"
Yun Feng thought for a moment and said:
"When I smell this, I can close my eyes and picture the magnificent scene where the sea meets the sky. How about 'Tianhai'? The Tianhai Scent."
Zhou Ling smiled and nodded. "A wonderful name. I like it. 'Tianhai Scent' it is."
As she spoke, Zhou Ling kicked off her shoes and trousers and, without any hesitation, straddled Yun Feng's waist. She said softly:
"You've been through so many battles, Xiaofeng; you must be exhausted. Let your Senior Sister rub your shoulders."
Her soft hands gripped Yun Feng's shoulders, her slender, jade-like fingers kneading gently to soothe his frayed nerves. Feeling the soft, firm pressure against his waist and imagining the beautiful form of his Sixth Senior Sister sitting against his back, Yun Feng’s eyes widened, his heart beginning to race.
"Senior Sister... a little higher..."
"Yes... that's it..."
"It feels so good... don't stop..."
On the second floor, a door opened quietly. Zhou Ling's parents peeked out, straining to listen to the sounds in the living room below.
"...Senior Sister, you're so kind..."
"Your hands are so soft..."
Zhou Ling's parents exchanged glances, nodded, and quietly closed the door again.
Zhou Ling, while continuing to rub his shoulders, asked softly:
"Why not finish your revenge today? Old Master Li was already the strongest combatant in Haicheng, and he was no match for you. The City Lord can't do anything to you. Dragging this out until tomorrow only invites variables. Why did you deliberately call that City Lord anyway?"
Yun Feng smiled. "I want him to notify that unknown Prince. Only then can I lure the snake out of its hole. Otherwise, if we kill too quickly, that Prince might sense the danger and go into hiding."
Zhou Ling finally understood his intention. After a while, she sighed:
"Xiaofeng, you’ve made such fast progress. You’ve left us sisters far behind. I’ve been practicing diligently, and I’m still only at the Eighth-Stage."
Yun Feng turned around, held Zhou Ling's soft hands, and smiled:
"Senior Sister, don't belittle yourself. The Yaochi Sect follows the true path of cultivation; these worldly matters in Haicheng cannot be mentioned in the same breath. My nine Senior Sisters practice the orthodox Yaochi techniques, passing down the 'Three Bodies and Six Essences.' Early cultivation emphasizes gradual progress and building a solid foundation; it is not the same path as those martial artists who only know how to temper their muscles and bones. On the day you break through, you will find a whole new world."
These were Yun Feng's own insights. His nine masters never said much about cultivation; they simply taught the way.
Zhou Ling pondered for a moment and nodded slightly:
"You're right, Xiaofeng. The Yaochi orthodox methods are indeed different from these worldly martial artists. My Sixth Vein cultivation, apart from meditation and breathing exercises, involves only the art of fragrance blending. I’ve never focused on boxing or kicking, yet I can hold my own against an Eighth-Stage martial artist. Since coming down the mountain, I haven't seen any other martial artists like me besides my own sisters..."
Yun Feng smiled and winked at Zhou Ling:
"When I have some time, I’ll teach you two interesting scent blends. Once you master them, you’ll definitely see progress."
Zhou Ling was instantly delighted, nodding repeatedly:
"Okay! I’ll remember that! You must teach me!"
As she spoke, Zhou Ling suddenly noticed that as Yun Feng turned around, their posture had become quite peculiar without her realizing it.
Zhou Ling was straddling Yun Feng. Their fingers were interlaced. As their eyes met, the ambiguous atmosphere grew even more intense amidst the Tianhai Scent.
Realizing this, Zhou Ling’s face turned bright red, and she struggled to pull her hand away. Yun Feng chuckled, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and whispered:
"Senior Sister, I’m sleepy... Let’s go to bed early today."
Zhou Ling’s face was flushed red, and she stammered:
"It's... it's only four in the afternoon..."
Yun Feng gave a wicked laugh:
"We can talk about what’s on our minds while we’re in bed, Senior Sister~"
Zhou Ling hesitated for a long while before finally nodding in concession:
"Then... I'll go take a shower..."
Yun Feng watched Zhou Ling walk into the bathroom and turned his attention to the Tianhai Scent she had just created.
"Blue Spirit Grass, Sea Pearl, Heavenly Incense Wood powder... Sixth Senior Sister really is talented in the art of perfumery..."
Just as he was nodding to himself, the bathroom door cracked open. Zhou Ling’s shy voice drifted out:
"Xia... Xiaofeng... I forgot my bath towel... Could you... could you please get it for me?"
Yun Feng looked at the pair of bashful, beautiful eyes peeking through the steam of the bathroom. His mischievous spirit—and perhaps more—was stirred.
He opened the wardrobe, took out a clean white towel, and handed it toward Zhou Ling, who was hiding behind the door.
Zhou Ling whispered a thank you, and a pale-as-lotus arm reached out. But just as her fingertips grasped the towel, Yun Feng pulled it back.
Zhou Ling gave a small gasp of surprise, and Yun Feng tugged, causing her to fall out from behind the door.
Yun Feng opened his arms and caught her in a soft, fragrant embrace. Zhou Ling's face turned beet red, and she pouted:
"Xiaofeng, what are you doing?"
Yun Feng felt her damp body in his arms and chuckled:
"I just remembered, I haven't showered yet either. Can I shower with you, Senior Sister?"
Zhou Ling shook her head repeatedly, refusing point-blank:
"No! You know how to shower yourself; can't you just do it later?"
Yun Feng laughed again:
"I’m just afraid you won't know how to wash properly. Besides..."
As he spoke, Yun Feng carried Zhou Ling and squeezed into the bathroom. He sniffed the air and exclaimed in admiration:
"Sixth Senior Sister’s bathwater smells even better!"
He reached into the bathtub, scooped up a palmful of water, and sniffed it. Yun Feng was entranced:
"It’s milk-scented bathwater today! How wonderful!"
...
In front of Zhou Ling's villa, a taxi pulled up. A young, vibrant girl stepped out.
The girl walked up to the door, took out a key, opened it with practiced ease, and laughed to herself:
"Fragrant little Ling-er, I'm back from my business trip! Watch me catch you off guard!"
The girl changed her shoes and headed up to the second floor of the villa.