Chapter 98: The Fallen Noble
Yunyang Town was the closest town to Cloud Sea Sect, home to over a thousand households.
In this town, there lived a fallen noble family named Duan. According to legend, they were once members of the imperial clan, but because an ancestor had offended the emperor, they were expelled from the royal family and exiled to this remote town, gradually declining.
Of course, the townspeople didn't really believe this rumor. Members of the imperial clan were royal relatives; how could they end up living out their days in a small town like this?
This Duan family noble resided in an ancient courtyard on the north side of the town. At this moment, several very spacious carriages were parked in front of the courtyard, as if they were preparing for a long journey.
"Sister, we're setting off."
A boy of about fourteen walked up to a beautiful young woman and called out.
The beautiful young woman's eyes were slightly red, as if she had just been crying. Her gaze was fixed on the distance, in the direction of Cloud Sea Sect, and a deep sorrow flickered in her eyes.
She had never dreamed that during the few days she had left the sect, Cloud Sea Sect would suffer a catastrophic disaster. In a single day, the entire sect was wiped out. Everyone was dead. All of them...
"Mm."
The beautiful young girl heard the boy's call, forced a smile, and nodded slightly. "Young Master, please get in the carriage. We'll depart now."
"Sister, don't think too much. Once we reach the imperial capital, I'll have the prince brother introduce you to a talented young man."
The beautiful young woman shook her head and squeezed out a smile.
"Young Master, everyone is waiting. Let's hurry."
"Alright." The boy nodded and walked toward the group of guards.
"Jingyun, you and the Young Master sit inside. Leave the outside to us."
A young guard said cheerfully, looking at Jingyun with a hint of affection. As she grew older, Jingyun became more and more beautiful. All the young guards of the Duan family had their eyes on her.
"That's right, Jingyun. You rest. The old man Wang and I will handle things outside." Another young man also stepped forward, smiling.
"Sister, they're right. Let's sit inside." The Duan boy pulled Jingyun into the spacious carriage canopy. Although Jingyun was just a maidservant raised by the family since childhood, she was like a sister to him.
Jingyun didn't refuse and stepped into the white curtain of the carriage.
At the same time, Lin Feng and Meng Qing had also arrived at Yunyang Town.
"Don't tell me there isn't even a carriage to be found in this town." Feeling the desolation of the town, Lin Feng couldn't help but smile bitterly. His destination was the imperial capital of Snow Moon Kingdom, which was far away. Walking there was obviously not realistic.
It was all because Lin Feng had been in too much of a hurry when coming down the mountain that he had forgotten to bring two horses.
"Is that a carriage over there?"
Meng Qing pointed in a distant direction and said lightly. Lin Feng looked up and followed her gaze, his eyes freezing. Several carriages were heading straight toward him.
"What a coincidence."
Smiling slightly, Lin Feng quickly stepped forward and stopped the carriages.
"Who are you? Move aside!" A young man saw Lin Feng blocking the carriages and shouted angrily.
"Friend, you're only using one carriage, and there are two left over. Could you lend me one? I'll reward you handsomely."
Lin Feng smiled at the young man, speaking politely.
Inside the carriage curtain, Jingyun heard this familiar voice and trembled slightly. Then, through the transparent curtain, she saw Lin Feng's figure, and a joyful smile appeared in her eyes.
"Sorry, we'll need these carriages later. We can't lend them to you."
The coachman, Old Man Wang, who was holding the reins, looked at Lin Feng and replied.
"That's right. Scram! Who cares about your generous reward?" The black-clothed young man shouted coldly, causing Lin Feng to frown slightly. If they didn't want to lend it, they could just say no. There was no need to be so rude.
"Lin Feng."
A surprised voice came from the curtain. Jingyun stepped out, her smile exceptionally bright. He was alive! Cloud Sea Sect had been wiped out, yet Lin Feng was still alive!
"Jingyun!"
Lin Feng's gaze also froze as he looked at the graceful figure stepping out. A bright, sunny smile bloomed in his eyes.
"Jingyun, who is he?"
At this moment, the black-clothed man rode his horse in front of Lin Feng, looking down at him from the saddle with arrogance and coldness.
"Lin Feng, you're really alive! What happened to the sect?" Jingyun seemed unable to believe it. She quickly walked to Lin Feng's side, completely ignoring the black-clothed man, which made his eyes even colder.
Lin Feng found Jingyun's words a bit strange and looked at her. "You don't know?"
"I don't know. During those few days of the second round of the sect competition, the Young Master was notified to go to the imperial capital, so I had to accompany him and came down the mountain. But when I returned to the sect a few days later to say goodbye, it was... it was..." Jingyun's eyes were bloodshot, and she couldn't continue. That scene had become her nightmare, impossible to shake off.
"I see." Lin Feng felt fortunate for Jingyun. Luckily, she had been away on business; otherwise...
"Jingyun, who is he?"
At this point, the steward Old Man Wang, holding the reins, asked.
"Uncle Wang, this is my friend Lin Feng, a disciple of Cloud Sea Sect."
Jingyun pulled Lin Feng and introduced him to Uncle Wang.
"Mm." Uncle Wang nodded slightly at Lin Feng.
"Hmph, the sect was wiped out, yet he's still alive. I wonder how he managed to survive." The black-clothed young man saw Jingyun's warmth toward Lin Feng and felt a chill in his heart. He sneered sarcastically, making Jingyun frown.
"Wan Qingshan, what do you mean?"
Jingyun looked coldly at the black-clothed young man and said angrily.
"Some people know exactly what I mean." Wan Qingshan continued to snort coldly, looking at Lin Feng with disdain.
Jingyun was an outer disciple of Cloud Sea Sect. Since Lin Feng was her acquaintance, he must also be an outer disciple, at most at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Martial Realm. Wan Qingshan, on the other hand, was at the peak of Qi Martial Realm, so he naturally didn't care about Lin Feng.
Moreover, since the entire Cloud Sea Sect had been wiped out and Lin Feng was still alive, he was probably just a coward who had survived by hiding.
Lin Feng shook his head inwardly, too lazy to bother with Wan Qingshan. He didn't deem it worth his time.
"Jingyun, are you heading to the imperial capital?"
"Mm." Jingyun nodded.
"Perfect. I'm going to the imperial capital too. Could you lend me a carriage? We can travel together."
"Really? Then I'll go ask the Young Master. It should be fine." Jingyun was delighted to hear that Lin Feng was also going to the imperial capital.
"Jingyun, that might not be appropriate."
Uncle Wang said indifferently.
"Uncle Wang, Lin Feng is also a disciple of Cloud Sea Sect and quite skilled. Having him accompany us could serve as an extra guard."
"That's right. I can act as your guard." Lin Feng nodded.
"The sect was destroyed by others. How skilled can he be? We don't need him."
Wan Qingshan sneered coldly.
"Jingyun, you should know the purpose of this trip. Having him come along isn't suitable. However, giving him a carriage shouldn't be a problem." Uncle Wang thought for a moment and said. The other two carriages were spares; if nothing unexpected happened, they wouldn't be needed. It would be fine to give one to Lin Feng.
As for letting Lin Feng join them, forget it.
"Uncle Wang, it's fine. Let him come along."
At this moment, the boy also stepped down from the carriage, walked up to Lin Feng, and smiled. "My name is Duan Feng."
"Lin Feng." Lin Feng nodded slightly at the boy and smiled. The boy's name was homophonous with his own.
"Young Master..." Uncle Wang looked at Duan Feng, wanting to say something, but Duan Feng interrupted him. "Uncle Wang, Sister Jingyun and I have nothing to do in the carriage anyway. It's good to have Brother Lin Feng to chat with."
"Young Master, how can this be?" Wan Qingshan heard that Duan Feng wanted Lin Feng and Jingyun to sit in the carriage and immediately became displeased. The other young guards also stepped forward to stop him.
"Young Master, your status is noble. How can you sit with someone of such low standing?"
Another young man with small eyes disagreed.
"What's so noble about my status? Enough, no more arguments. I say it's fine, so it's fine."
Duan Feng said decisively, then looked at Lin Feng. "Brother Lin Feng, get in the carriage."
"Wait, I have a friend with me."
Lin Feng turned around and saw Meng Qing still standing where she was. He called out, "Meng Qing."
Hearing Lin Feng's call, Meng Qing finally lifted her steps and slowly walked over, standing behind Lin Feng.
Seeing Meng Qing's incredibly dreamlike figure, all the young guards were stunned. Even though the light veil covered Meng Qing's face, they could still feel her stunning beauty and were filled with infinite longing for the face beneath the veil.
"What a beautiful girl."
Old Man Wang, who hadn't noticed Meng Qing earlier, now saw her beside him and couldn't help but silently praise her in his heart.
Jingyun was already considered a beauty, but standing before Meng Qing, she seemed somewhat eclipsed. Meng Qing's mere aura was enough to captivate the soul.
Jingyun also noticed Meng Qing now. Seeing her standing quietly behind Lin Feng, a complex expression flickered in Jingyun's beautiful eyes.
"This elder sister is so beautiful. Brother Lin Feng, since she's your friend, come into the carriage and talk together."
Duan Feng said warmly.
"That's right, Lin Feng. Get in the carriage."
Jingyun nodded and also smiled.
"Let's sit in the carriage." Lin Feng said to Meng Qing, then stepped onto the carriage and went behind the curtain.
Wan Qingshan and the other young guards all stared at the beautiful figure, having long forgotten their objections.
"That brat... I'll make sure you pay. Cloud Sea Sect disciple, huh!"
Thinking that Lin Feng had gained the favor of two beauties, a flash of jealousy appeared in Wan Qingshan's eyes.