Chapter Sixty-Seven: Nowhere to Call Home!
“Commander Chen, Commander Gao, Commander Lin, I shall take my leave now,” Qin Feng said, cupping his hands in salute to Chen Donghai, Gao Yunxiao, and Lin Xiaozhong in a deep voice. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
After Qin Feng’s departure, Chen Donghai, Gao Yunxiao, and Lin Xiaozhong each went their separate ways, leaving in haste.
“To seriously injure Qian Yun’gao with a single move—his strength has truly reached the late-stage Warden level.”
“If he was able to kill the Patriarch of Qinghe, it likely wasn’t by resorting to underhanded tricks, but by facing him head-on.”
“A fifteen-year-old late-stage Warden… Qin Feng, you are even more impressive than I imagined.”
“My choice was not wrong; this Qin Feng’s future is limitless.”
Upon receiving news that Qin Feng had gravely injured Qian Yun’gao with a single punch, Zuo Taoming was left deeply shaken, sighing in admiration.
Returning to his room, Qin Feng shut the door tightly. With a flick of his finger, he opened the plus sign in his right eye’s vision, revealing his personal status panel.
Name: Qin Feng
Realm: Early-stage Warden
Strength: 120,000 jin (+1)(+100)(+10,000)
As Qin Feng looked at the changes on his status panel, he pondered briefly before quickly understanding the purpose of the new buttons.
He tapped his finger directly on the +10,000 button.
+10,000
+10,000
+10,000
He pressed it three times. A tearing pain surged through his body; he stopped immediately.
He coughed twice, a trace of blood escaping his lips.
“It seems one hundred and fifty thousand jin of strength is my limit,” Qin Feng thought, nodding in satisfaction at the figure on his panel.
His strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Warden; it was already nearing the level of a Human King.
“Cultivate!” Qin Feng endured the pain that flared inside from time to time. He closed his eyes, circulating the Ninefold Surging Wave Manual, and quickly sank into cultivation.
Bang, bang, bang.
A knock sounded from outside.
“Who is it?” Qin Feng opened his eyes and expelled a breath of turbid air, his tone indifferent.
“I am Zhao Taotu, Elder of the Zhao family, requesting an audience with Warden Qin.”
Standing outside, Zhao Taotu cupped his hands and announced loudly.
He was an Elder of the Zhao family, one of their three Warden-level warriors. His purpose in visiting Qin Feng was to persuade him to resign from the post of Deputy Commander of the Guard.
“Please come in.”
Qin Feng opened the door and spoke calmly.
“To what do I owe the honor, Elder Zhao? If you’ve come regarding the post of Deputy Commander of the Guard, you might as well return,” Qin Feng said, sitting down and regarding Zhao Taotu with an even gaze.
“Warden Qin, please don’t be so hasty to refuse. Here is a banknote worth twenty thousand gold taels, a token of the Zhao family’s congratulations on your achievement of the Warden realm, and of our desire to befriend you. We also hope you might do us this favor—resign from the post of Deputy Commander and let the Zhao family have it.”
Zhao Taotu drew out a banknote for twenty thousand taels, placing it on the table. His gaze was fixed on Qin Feng’s expression as he spoke solemnly.
“Please leave, Elder Zhao,” Qin Feng replied, pushing the banknote back and meeting Zhao Taotu’s gaze without the slightest concession.
“Warden Qin, the Zhao family has three Wardens and countless ties to the court. Is there truly no room for negotiation here?” Zhao Taotu’s patience was wearing thin. As an Elder of the Zhao family, he had lowered himself to speak with Qin Feng, yet the latter was so unyielding.
The Zhao family possessed three Wardens; if they joined forces, even if Qin Feng had the strength to slay a late-stage Warden, he could still be overwhelmed. A cold glint flashed in Zhao Taotu’s eyes as he stared at Qin Feng.
“Please inform the Zhao family that the post of Deputy Commander of the Guard does not belong to them. They should not get any ideas,” Qin Feng said, his gaze deep and his eyes narrowing slightly.
“I hope you won’t regret this, Warden Qin. Farewell.”
Zhao Taotu gave Qin Feng a long, penetrating look, his expression dark and cold before turning to leave.
He did not lash out at Qin Feng in anger. Before coming, he had already learned of Qin Feng’s strength—how he had slain the Patriarch of Qinghe, a late-stage Warden, and forced Qian Yun’gao back with a single punch. Zhao Taotu’s cultivation matched Qian Yun’gao’s; both were mid-stage Wardens, and their strengths were evenly matched. If Qin Feng could send Qian Yun’gao flying with one punch, he could certainly do the same to him.
Alone, he was no match for Qin Feng. Now was not the time to make an enemy of him. Should he provoke Qin Feng into murderous intent, his chances of survival would be slim.
They had investigated Qin Feng thoroughly—he was not a merciful man. While cultivating in Xuanzhou City, he had nearly wiped out all the local powers.
“Back to cultivation,” Qin Feng murmured once Zhao Taotu had left. He closed his eyes again, sinking into practice, circulating his vital energy to clear his meridians.
Qin Feng cultivated until dusk. Emerging from his room to dine, he saw a slightly plump, pale-faced middle-aged man hurry into the inn.
“Master!” The innkeeper and the servants, seeing the man arrive, hurriedly put aside their tasks to greet him.
“Has a guest named Qin Feng been staying here?” Gao Yunqian wasted no time, speaking quickly before the others could respond.
He had been warned sternly by the Chen family to drive Qin Feng out of the inn immediately, or face the consequences. Although he did not know who Qin Feng was, he was no fool—he realized this was a struggle between giants, but Chen family orders were not to be disobeyed.
“Master, that is Qin Feng,” one of the servants replied, glancing in Qin Feng’s direction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am the innkeeper. Due to some matters at home, we must close the inn for several days. I must ask all of you to check out today. Of course, to make amends, I will waive all charges for your previous stays,” Gao Yunqian announced loudly from the second floor, casting a furtive glance at Qin Feng before quickly averting his eyes.
“What’s this?”
“No way!”
“I paid for five days—how can you just tell us to leave like that?”
A commotion broke out among the diners, disgruntled murmurs filling the hall.
Qin Feng chewed his beef slowly, his gaze deep as he studied Gao Yunqian. He was deeply suspicious of the innkeeper’s excuse. Closing the inn due to family matters—something was clearly amiss.
“Please, gentlemen, forgive me. I am willing to cover any losses you may incur,” Gao Yunqian pleaded from the second floor, hands clasped and a forced smile on his face.
When he saw Qin Feng rise and head for his room, apparently to pack up, he finally relaxed.
Gao Yunqian compensated each guest, his heart aching at the loss of so much silver. When he returned Qin Feng’s payment and watched him leave the inn, he exhaled deeply, as though a heavy weight had been lifted.
But Qin Feng did not leave for good. Once all the guests had exited, he strode back toward the inn, his suspicions unresolved and determined to uncover the truth.