Chapter 103: Shameless Old Man
"What a pity. A genius like you shouldn't have died so young," the bandit leader said, looking at Lin Feng and shaking his head slightly.
Given Lin Feng's age, even if he possessed sword momentum, he couldn't be too powerful. As for them, their hands were stained with blood, and the moment they released their killing intent, it could shake a person's resolve.
If one person couldn't do it, then they'd all attack together. Lin Feng was as good as dead.
"Don't worry. I won't die."
Lin Feng said confidently. He had been worried earlier that the bandit leader might possess strength beyond the Third Layer of Spirit Martial Realm, but after sensing the man's aura, he actually felt relieved. Third Layer of Spirit Martial Realm.
When Lin Feng was still at the Second Layer of Spirit Martial Realm, he had dared to oppose Duan Han, who was at the Fourth Layer, and had held his own without falling behind. Now that his strength had grown, why would he care about these people?
"You're quite confident, but I'll show you just how pale your confidence really is."
The bandit leader remained calm. He raised his long blade into the air, and instantly, all the bandits lifted their weapons, releasing a fierce and surging wave of killing intent.
Standing in the midst of the bandits, Lin Feng felt as if he were on a battlefield littered with bones. Even his heart trembled slightly. These disguised bandit soldiers were far stronger than the previous group.
"Kill!"
The bandits roared in unison. Their horses thundered forward, kicking up rolling clouds of dust. Facing Lin Feng's powerful sword momentum, they showed no fear at all. There was only killing intent.
Long blades flashed, and a bone-chilling wind blew. A blade's killing aura pressed down toward Lin Feng.
"Since you've come, then all of you die."
Lin Feng showed no sign of panic. He even closed his eyes, releasing his Heavenly Radiance Martial Soul. That gray world took shape in his mind.
Every gallop of the horses, every swing of the blades, was so clear.
On the soft sword in his hand, gray energy coiled around it. A deathly aura began to spread.
"Chop!" The crowd reached Lin Feng almost simultaneously, their long blades flashing as they slashed toward him.
Lin Feng's body leaped slightly. Sword momentum surged upward. The flow of death reversed.
"Sword of Death."
Lin Feng murmured to himself, and his body finally moved. The long sword traced a perfect arc through the air. With Lin Feng at the center, a gray sword aura carrying deathly energy slashed outward, domineering and invincible.
Long blades snapped. The bodies of those charging at Lin Feng were all sent flying, without exception. On each of them was a deathly sword wound.
Horses neighed wildly, their hooves stampeding in chaos. The bandit leader stared blankly at the scene before him, his heart trembling with shock. His entire body began to shake.
Too shocking!
All his subordinates were flying through the air, then crashing heavily to the ground, without a trace of life left. One sword strike. Total annihilation.
The bandit leader's resolute heart wavered at this moment. He felt only a fear of death coiling around him.
"Your turn."
A voice came, and the bandit leader saw Lin Feng step forward. His closed eyes finally opened. The bandit leader felt a chill rush toward him.
What cold and merciless eyes they were!
Earlier, the young man Lin Feng had clear, pure eyes. Though angered by cruelty, they carried a hint of world-weariness beyond his years. But now, Lin Feng's gaze was icy, emotionless, deep and unfathomable. Those pupils were like an endless abyss, threatening to drag anyone in.
At this moment, he no longer dared to think of killing Lin Feng. Only the fear of death remained.
The iron steed beneath him neighed. The bandit leader, without a second thought, turned his horse around and tried to flee. That sword of death was not something he could withstand.
"Leaving?"
Lin Feng let out a cold laugh. He took a step forward, Floating Light Passing Shadow, and his body shot forward a hundred meters in an instant.
A sword light carrying deathly energy flashed. The sword aura shot out, directly striking the bandit leader, taking his life.
If he had fought, he might have lasted a few moves. But he didn't even dare to fight, so he could only be killed with a single sword strike.
Withdrawing his martial soul, Lin Feng's pupils returned to normal. He turned his body slightly and walked toward Duan Feng and the others.
"Brother Lin Feng."
Duan Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at Lin Feng with a hint of gratitude and respect. Too strong. If he had Lin Feng's strength, he wouldn't have faced danger so many times.
At this moment, Uncle Wang also spoke, smiling at Lin Feng. "Young hero Lin Feng, I may have offended you before. Please don't take it to heart."
Lin Feng's eyes shifted, landing on Uncle Wang. His gaze was cold.
"How much longer are you going to keep pretending?" Lin Feng spat out a voice, and Uncle Wang's expression froze.
Duan Feng and Jingyun were also stunned, not understanding what Lin Feng meant.
"Young hero Lin Feng, what do you mean by that?"
Uncle Wang's voice was slightly uneven as he stared intently at Lin Feng.
"Those two groups of bandits were actually soldiers, weren't they?"
"Yes, they must have been soldiers."
Duan Feng nodded. "But what does that have to do with Uncle Wang?"
"Duan Feng, do you remember what Uncle Wang said about the whispered conversation between me and that bandit leader earlier?"
"I remember," Duan Feng nodded.
"Uncle Wang's strength shouldn't be that great, right? How could he observe more carefully than all of you, catching such a small detail?"
"I've been a steward in the Duan family for decades, loyal and devoted. This time, I'm responsible for the young master's safety. Of course, I need to observe every detail carefully. Young hero Lin Feng, I know you have a grudge against this old man, but there's no need to slander me like this."
"Slander you?" Lin Feng sneered. "I don't have that kind of scheming mind."
"That bandit leader told me that this matter had nothing to do with me and that I should leave. I think both groups of bandits were targeting Duan Feng. None of you would disagree, would you?"
"Of course," Uncle Wang nodded. "Everyone knows that."
"Then I find it strange. I killed all the first group of bandits, leaving no survivors. How did the second group know that Duan Feng was still alive? Instead, they came straight here."
Lin Feng's words made the others pause. Indeed, the second group of bandits had clearly come prepared, knowing that Duan Feng hadn't died.
"Since they knew, it means someone tipped them off. There's a traitor. What do you all think?"
Lin Feng sneered. He wanted to see how Uncle Wang would try to argue.
"Perhaps it's as you say, someone tipped them off. But young hero, don't forget, you were walking ahead of us, and then the bandits came. If we're talking about tipping off, heh heh..."
Uncle Wang stopped there, smiling without finishing, but everyone understood his implication.
"Is that funny?"
Seeing the smile on Uncle Wang's face, Lin Feng said indifferently. Duan Feng and Jingyun also looked at Uncle Wang strangely, causing the smile on his face to freeze.
"Anyone with a brain wouldn't say something like that." Lin Feng's eyes were filled with deep mockery. "Two groups of bandits were clearly from the same faction. If I were in league with them, I would naturally know my own strength. If you insist that I killed the first group to silence them, then what about the second group? Do you think they were all fools? Or do you think you're that clever?"
Uncle Wang's face stiffened. His words indeed made no sense at all. Even if Lin Feng wanted to gain Duan Feng's favor, would the other side be stupid enough to send two groups to be slaughtered by him?
"Even if it wasn't you, so what?"
"So what?" Lin Feng sneered again. "You're not going to say that Duan Feng himself sent people to kill him, are you?"
"And Jingyun, she's been in the carriage with Duan Feng the whole time. I don't think she had a chance to send a message. As for the others, you've seen it yourself. They're all dead. Only you, Uncle Wang, are still alive and well. And you've been unusually calm the whole time, because you already knew all of this."
Duan Feng and Jingyun were stunned by Lin Feng's words. They both looked at Lin Feng.
"Brother Lin Feng, Uncle Wang has been in the Duan family for many years. He watched me grow up. He wouldn't harm me. Maybe it's just a coincidence," Duan Feng said, still unwilling to believe it. Uncle Wang had served his grandfather and had been with them ever since.
"Duan Feng, what do you think of Uncle Wang's character?" Lin Feng suddenly asked.
"Gentle and kind," Duan Feng replied.
"Gentle and kind? Duan Feng, let me ask you this. After I met you, Uncle Wang didn't strongly oppose us traveling together. But after I killed those bandits, his attitude changed drastically. He wanted to drive me away, even going so far as to fabricate absurd reasons to slander me. Don't you find that strange?"
Lin Feng's calm question made Duan Feng's expression freeze. Indeed, it was very unusual. Uncle Wang had never been like this before.
"Just based on your suspicions, you're slandering an old man who has served the Duan family for decades. If the young master believes your words, I would willingly die. After all, young hero Lin Feng could kill me with ease. If it's that simple, why waste so many words?"
Uncle Wang said coldly, closing his eyes as if ready to die, putting Duan Feng in a difficult position.
"What a cunning old man." Lin Feng stared at Uncle Wang, momentarily speechless. He was using this tactic to gain sympathy.
"Young hero Lin Feng, why haven't you acted? My old life is worthless anyway. Just kill me. You're strong, and no one would dare say you were wrong to do so."
Uncle Wang pressed aggressively, making Lin Feng's eyes narrow. Listening to Uncle Wang, it sounded as if Lin Feng was slandering him and using his strength to force him.
"Brother Lin Feng, this..."
Duan Feng grew more and more troubled. He respected Lin Feng greatly—strong, talented, and he had already saved him twice. As for Uncle Wang, he had taken care of him since childhood, like family, like an elder.
"I have no evidence. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. Whether he's a traitor or not has nothing to do with me. I'm just warning you. As for Jingyun, are you coming with me, or are you staying here?"
Lin Feng didn't want to argue. He had only met Duan Feng today. Although he thought Duan Feng was a decent person, if Duan Feng didn't trust him, Lin Feng wasn't about to grovel. Besides, he had always considered Jingyun a friend, so he naturally didn't want to abandon her.
"Young hero Lin Feng, I have always respected you, but today you have gone too far. Not only do you slander this old man, but you also try to take Jingyun away. This is too much."
Uncle Wang even started shouting again, speaking coldly, as if he were the one being slandered and had suffered a great injustice.
"Shut up." Lin Feng shouted coldly, his gaze sweeping over Uncle Wang, making the old man pause.
"Fine, fine... Lin Feng, you're really bullying people with your power," Uncle Wang said angrily.
"Are you done?" At this moment, a faint voice sounded, startling Lin Feng and the others. The speaker was actually Meng Qing, who had been silent all along.
Meng Qing looked at Uncle Wang, a look of disgust in her eyes. "I thought you would leave on your own, but you, old man, are so shameless. You clearly did the bad deed, yet you act so righteous, slandering Lin Feng."