Chapter 321: The General's Footsteps
Outside the imperial city, on the desolate ancient road, three iron steeds galloped like a raging wind.
The figures on the iron steeds all wore bamboo hats and long robes, their heads slightly lowered, their faces hidden in shadow.
Moreover, beneath the bamboo hats of the two on the left and right, there seemed to be bronze masks, concealing their features.
The iron steeds trampled across the wilderness, entered the outer city, and finally stopped outside the Qingxin Wine Tavern.
The crowd at the Qingxin Wine Tavern took their steeds and led the three up to a private booth on the upper floor.
The three remained silent, not uttering a word, and directly sat down at a table, perfectly calm.
"Three guests, what would you like to order?"
A waiter asked them. At that moment, the leader slowly raised his face, revealing a clean visage. But on that clean face, his eyes were filled with depth and vicissitude, as if he had experienced all the world's changes and human warmth and coldness.
"Bring a pot of tea, two jugs of wine, and a few small dishes," the man said softly, his voice very gentle.
"Right away," the waiter replied, then left to fetch the food and drink.
"General, should I go and scout things out?" At this moment, the person beside the middle-aged man spoke, but the middle-aged man slightly shook his head and said quietly, "Wait a moment first."
The man nodded slightly and sat there without speaking again.
But just then, the Qingxin Wine Tavern suddenly became lively. Many people below came upstairs, constantly discussing something, looking extremely excited.
"Young Master Wang, what's got you so excited?" A voice rang out in the tavern, and someone replied, "Haha, I told you not to stay cooped up in the tavern all the time. You missed the grand wedding of Wenren Yan and Duan Yu, didn't you?"
"Duan Yu and Wenren Yan's wedding? The grand spectacle was seen by everyone in the outer city. Even if I went, what could I have seen?" The speaker shook his head and said.
"Seen nothing? Let me tell you, today, everyone who was there was stunned speechless! Let me tell you, we just experienced scenes that were truly thrilling and unforgettable for a lifetime!"
"Thrilling and unforgettable for a lifetime? Young Master Wang, isn't that an exaggeration?"
"Exactly, a wedding at most is grand and spectacular. It'd probably be forgotten in a few days."
"Grand and spectacular? Far from it! Go outside and see for yourself. The entire outer city is probably in an uproar, gone mad. Today was the wedding day of Wenren Yan and Duan Yu, but Wenren Yan and Duan Yu's father, Prince Duan Lie, are both dead—killed by someone."
Wenren Yan and Prince Duan Lie, dead—killed by someone!
Hearing this, everyone's hearts trembled violently, their gazes frozen. A brief silence fell over the tavern, but then it erupted into complete chaos.
"What happened, Young Master Wang? Explain clearly, what exactly happened?"
"Exactly, how could Wenren Yan and Prince Duan Lie die? Who would dare kill them? Who has the ability to kill them?"
Countless questions poured from the crowd, all asking whether the deaths of Wenren Yan and Duan Lie were real or fake. How could they have died? Who had the guts and strength to kill them?
The three at the table with bamboo hats also seemed interested. The two with masks were quite shocked by Wenren Yan's death, while the middle-aged man was more interested in Duan Lie.
But at that moment, Young Master Wang was being coy, keeping his mouth shut with a faint smile on his lips.
"Young Master Wang, today's food and drink are on me," a voice called out. The man called Young Master Wang immediately smiled and said, "Alright, since everyone wants to know so badly, I'll tell you."
"Do you still remember that genius who once burned the city with fire, reversed the tide, killed hundreds of thousands of enemy troops, and rode a thousand miles alone to rescue the princess?"
"Of course, Lin Feng. That name, who could forget it?"
"Heh." Young Master Wang chuckled lightly, then said, "Lin Feng has returned. He has come back to the imperial city."
"Lin Feng, returned." The crowd's eyes narrowed. Lin Feng had disappeared for so long, and now he had finally reappeared!
"Young Master Wang, does Lin Feng's return have anything to do with Wenren Yan and Duan Lie?" someone immediately asked.
"Of course it does. You don't know yet, do you? Lin Feng and Wenren Yan were both disciples of the Cloud Sea Sect. But when Duan Tianlang destroyed the Cloud Sea Sect, Wenren Yan chose to betray them, while Lin Feng stood proud and unyielding, preferring death to surrender. He fought his way out and survived. The position of Sect Leader of the Cloud Sea Sect was passed to him. So Lin Feng hated the Celestial Wolf King, killed his son, and this time, at Wenren Yan's wedding, he stepped into the prince's mansion and personally executed the traitor Wenren Yan. When Duan Lie tried to avenge Wenren Yan, Lin Feng killed him too."
Young Master Wang described it vividly, making the crowd yearn for the scene. They seemed to see the Celestial Wolf King besieging the Cloud Sea Sect, Lin Feng charging out alone with his sword, a hero drawing his blade, staining the world with blood.
They also seemed to see Lin Feng in the prince's mansion, supremely arrogant, slaying the traitor with heroic passion.
Their hearts grew restless. Lin Feng had actually killed Wenren Yan and Duan Lie on the day of their wedding. He was still as wild as before.
What a pity, what a pity they hadn't gone, hadn't witnessed this earth-shattering event with their own eyes.
Young Master Wang was very satisfied with the crowd's reaction. But just then, several figures appeared before him. A pair of cold, bloodthirsty eyes stared into his, the person exuding an extremely dense aura of killing intent.
"How long ago did this happen?"
The newcomer asked coldly, making Young Master Wang's heart tremble. "Just a short while ago. The news is already spreading through the outer city. It will probably spread throughout the entire outer city soon. I swear I haven't told a single lie."
The figure flickered and instantly returned to his seat, looking at the middle-aged man with the bamboo hat. "General, it just happened."
"Let's go." The middle-aged man stood up, drained the tea in his cup, and then stepped out of the Qingxin Wine Tavern, heading toward Duan Lie's prince's mansion. But by the time they reached the mansion, the crowd had already dispersed. As the man had said, the news of Lin Feng's return to the imperial city and his killing of Wenren Yan and Duan Lie had spread throughout the outer city and was steadily seeping into the inner city.
Duan Lie was a prince of the Snow Moon Kingdom. The death of a prince was no small matter; it was enough to cause serious upheaval among the Snow Moon Kingdom's high ranks.
This storm would likely not pass easily. Lin Feng couldn't kill Duan Lie and then just walk away peacefully as if nothing had happened. Those who held grudges against Lin Feng would not allow it.
For example, Yu Tianxing and Yue Tianchen. After leaving the prince's mansion, they began to make moves and secretly send messages, preparing to act against Lin Feng.
Lin Feng's talent was too terrifying. He absolutely could not be allowed to live.
Lin Feng did not consider these consequences. He was only doing what he had to do. If the traitor Wenren Yan did not die, Lin Feng's conscience would not be at ease.
Killing Wenren Yan, he had no regrets. If Duan Lie wanted to avenge Wenren Yan and kill Lin Feng, Lin Feng naturally would not be polite; he would kill Duan Lie.
Everything was done openly and honorably, without regret.
Heavenly One Academy. Lin Feng once again set foot in this familiar place.
By now, Lin Feng was somewhat of a celebrity. He had even brutally tormented the fourth-ranked disciple of Heavenly One Academy, Dugu Shang, forcing him to kneel, slapping him, and severely abusing him.
It was said that Dugu Xiao, in Yangzhou City, had also had an arm severed by Lin Feng.
Coupled with other earth-shattering deeds Lin Feng had done, it could be said that everyone at Heavenly One Academy had seen Lin Feng's portrait. Many even regarded Lin Feng as the pride of the academy, even though Lin Feng had never admitted to being a disciple of Heavenly One Academy; he had only cultivated there.
"It's Lin Feng."
"Look, Lin Feng. He's back, back at our Heavenly One Academy."
Within Heavenly One Academy, many people called out. They had seen Lin Feng, this figure who had long shaken the Snow Moon Kingdom, studying in the same academy as them.