Chapter 260: Another Year's Annual Meeting
The crowd watched Nalan Xiong as he severed his own meridians.
Suicide. The dignified City Lord of Yangzhou City was about to take his own life before Lin Feng to atone for his sins.
Not long ago, he and his prospective son-in-law Dugu Xiao had summoned Lin Feng to come and beg for forgiveness.
"Father!" Nalan Feng watched as Nalan Xiong's meridians snapped one after another, producing cracking sounds. Her face turned deathly pale, filled with despair.
"Lin Feng, I will follow your will and take my own life. However, the people of the City Lord's Mansion are innocent, and so is my daughter. I hope you can spare them."
Nalan Xiong spat out these words, then let out a furious roar. His body emitted explosive cracking sounds, and his gaze grew vacant as he slowly collapsed backward.
The overlord of Yangzhou City, Nalan Xiong, took his own life simply because of a single sentence from Lin Feng. Such was the deterrence of a powerful force. Lin Feng wanted him dead, and he dared not refuse. If he refused, he feared Lin Feng would slaughter the entire City Lord's Mansion in a fit of rage.
The Lin Feng who had arrived at the City Lord's Mansion today was far too sharp, like an unsheathed sword that no one could stop. Whoever stood in his way seemed destined to die.
Nalan Xiong had no choice but to die.
Refusing meant death; agreeing also meant death. So in the end, he agreed, choosing suicide in the hope of sparing the others.
"The people of the City Lord's Mansion hold no enmity with me. I can spare them. But Nalan Feng—how can I forgive her?"
Looking at Nalan Xiong's corpse, Lin Feng spoke calmly. Because of a minor conflict in a tavern, Nalan Feng had sent people to assassinate him in the dead of night, nearly costing him his life. Although he had used her as a hostage to save himself last time, he had not harmed her then, considering that debt settled. Now, this woman remained unrepentant and arrogant, thinking that by clinging to Dugu Xiao, she could do as she pleased. Lin Feng was not pleased.
In the year and more since arriving in this world, Lin Feng's so-called kindness, weakness, and indecisiveness had long been honed away. Now, he was iron-blooded and domineering. Whatever he thought, he did—even if it meant killing.
Everything was for the sake of his own heart.
The crowd's hearts trembled. Lin Feng still did not intend to let Nalan Feng off.
Holding her father's corpse, Nalan Feng's eyes were bloodshot as she stared at Lin Feng. Because of him, Dugu Xiao had his arm severed, and her father was dead. Her hatred for Lin Feng was overwhelming.
"Don't look at me like that. Back then, because of a trivial conflict, you wanted to kill me. Did you ever think of that? Now, I'm giving you a chance. Cripple your own cultivation, and I won't touch a hair on your head."
Lin Feng's eyes showed no great fluctuation. Even though Nalan Feng's gaze was filled with hatred, he knew he had a clear conscience. If the roles were reversed, Nalan Feng and her father would have been far more ruthless toward him.
Since this woman was always so proud, thinking herself above others, then let her cripple her cultivation and live as an ordinary person from now on.
"Hurry up. I don't have time to stare into your eyes." Lin Feng looked at Nalan Feng, who was glaring at him, and said coldly. Back then, when she was so arrogant and wanted his life, had she never imagined a day like this?
Even mountains and rivers can change; do not bully a youth for being poor!
"Fine, fine..." Nalan Feng's face turned pale. Her arm suddenly slammed into her own dantian, producing a dull thud. Yuan Qi leaked out, and her face grew even paler, her aura weakening.
The proud daughter of Yangzhou City was now a cripple, all because she had offended Lin Feng, because she had once wanted to kill him.
Seeing Nalan Feng cripple her own cultivation, Lin Feng put the mask back on his face. The divine steed slowly turned around, and his calm voice rang out.
"Po Jun, you and your men stay here and reorganize the City Lord's Mansion. From now on, this place will be used for military garrison. The rest of you, follow me."
With that, Lin Feng rode away on his horse, utterly carefree.
The rumbling of hooves sounded again as the Crimson Blood Iron Cavalry trampled out of the City Lord's Mansion. In just a few moments, they vanished from the crowd's sight.
But the onlookers' gazes remained fixed on the disappearing cavalry, their minds still haunted by lingering shadows.
Lin Feng had left with his people? Where were they going?
"The Lin Clan! It must be the Lin Clan!"
The same thought arose in many hearts. Back then, it was the Lin Clan that had expelled Lin Feng from the family. Now, Lin Feng had returned in strength as the Crimson Blood Commander, enfeoffed in Yangzhou City. He had first come to the City Lord's Mansion, severed Dugu Xiao's arm, killed City Lord Nalan Xiong, and crippled Nalan Feng's cultivation. Though Lin Feng had never personally acted, everything was decided by him.
Now, Lin Feng had decided the fate of the City Lord's Mansion's people and controlled the destiny of everyone in Yangzhou City. How could he not go to the Lin Clan—the clan that had cast him out?
At this moment, the Lin Clan was not as lively as the Nalan household, with its grand banquets, but it was still bustling.
On New Year's Eve, the Lin Clan's annual meeting proceeded as usual.
Around the Lin Clan's battle platform, some of the clan's elders watched the sparring matches among the younger generation, their faces beaming with smiles.
The younger disciples of the Lin Clan were each more outstanding than the last, with excellent talent. It was a flourishing scene, and the Lin Clan elders seemed to see the clan's rise.
"Clan Leader, Lin Qian is truly the most talented young genius in our Lin Clan's history. Not only does she possess the Ice and Fire Dual Source Martial Soul, but she is also so young, already at the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Martial Realm. She's almost catching up to us elders. It won't be long before she surpasses this old man. Truly a cause for celebration."
On the viewing platform, an elder sat beside Lin Ba Dao, his voice full of flattery. But Lin Ba Dao's face was wreathed in smiles.
When Lin Qian was praised, he, as her father, naturally felt honored and proud. Praising Lin Qian was like praising him.
"Yes, Lin Qian is exceptionally gifted. No one can last a single move against her. She is a once-in-a-century talent, a true genius beyond compare."
"Back then, Lin Hai was called the Lin Clan's genius, but compared to Lin Qian, he's far inferior. And that Lin Feng, a waste expelled from the clan—who knows if he's even dead or alive."
Many spoke in flattery, praising Lin Qian as if she were unmatched in heaven and earth, blatantly lying. Back then, Lin Feng had shown his brilliance at the Yangzhou City tournament. Everyone knew Lin Qian was no match for Lin Feng. The youth expelled by the Lin Clan had talent that could rival Lin Qian's.
But no one would make such a comparison. Lin Qian had the Ice and Fire Dual Source Martial Soul and was a disciple of the Snow Moon Holy Academy. How could Lin Feng be compared to Lin Qian? Even if Lin Feng had luckily defeated Lin Qian back then, he must have fallen far behind by now, unknown in some corner.
Lin Ba Dao was beaming, his smile blooming like a flower. He laughed and said, "Where? The younger generation of our Lin Clan all train diligently. They're all quite good."
"That's all thanks to the Clan Leader's guidance. It's nothing like the days of Lin Hai. Lin Hai held our Lin Clan back, and the son he raised was unfilial and rebellious."
"Heh heh!"
Lin Ba Dao smiled faintly and said, "How can Lin Feng and Lin Hai be compared to Lin Qian and me? They are unworthy."
"Yes, they are unworthy." Someone immediately chimed in.
What they did not know was that outside the Lin Clan's mansion, a figure stood at the entrance. His gaze was clear, his expression calm.
"Lin Mansion!"
Looking up, the two large characters were clearly visible. Gazing at this familiar sight, even Lin Feng's calm heart stirred slightly.
This place had once been his home too.
"Today is the Lin Clan's annual meeting, isn't it?"
Lin Feng murmured to himself, letting out a long breath. Then, stepping forward, he entered this long-unvisited place.
"Stop."
The guards at the Lin Clan's mansion saw Lin Feng and blocked him, saying coldly, "Who are you?"
Glancing at the two unfamiliar guards, Lin Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. "My name is Lin Feng."
"Lin Feng?"
A hint of confusion appeared in their eyes. They had been at the Lin Clan for half a year, but they had never heard the name Lin Feng.
Was there a Lin Feng in the Lin Clan?
"Never heard of him." The two exchanged glances, blocking the way and refusing to let Lin Feng in.
"You will soon know."
Lin Feng smiled. Then, the two felt a light breeze brush past them, and their eyes went wide. Lin Feng had vanished in that brief instant, stepping into the mansion like a gust of wind.
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