Volume 1 Chapter 17 Hunting in the Mountains

“Arrest people? Do you think I need to?” Liu Feng sneered coldly, noting that most of the gamblers had already left.

At this moment, those still scrambling for the silver were desperate men. If they died, it was only fitting.

As the guards charged one after another, Liu Feng threw the person in his hand aside, then spun around and lifted a wooden table, smashing it down on the group of guards.

At the same time, he dashed toward Big Head with lightning speed.

Liu Feng had planned ahead before coming here.

Although Zhang Yuanwai’s estate was guarded by many thugs, most were there just to fill numbers and lacked real martial skill.

The truly formidable ones, Scar and Third Master, had already been killed by him.

The only real threat to him in the gambling den now was Big Head.

Big Head was cold and ruthless.

Seeing the knife aimed at him, Big Head didn’t dodge; instead, he grabbed someone nearby to block the blade, while his own fist was already coiled to strike.

At the moment Liu Feng cut toward him, Big Head’s fist swung out.

Liu Feng hurriedly killed the person blocking the knife and felt a strong gust at his abdomen; only then did he realize Big Head’s punch had arrived.

He barely sidestepped this deadly blow.

Then came a kick.

Big Head was no ordinary opponent. As Liu Feng’s foot came at him, he retreated just in time to dissipate most of the force.

Big Head prepared to counterattack, but just as he raised his fist, a sharp sound was heard—the long knife had pierced through his abdomen.

“Who... who exactly are you...” Big Head gasped, too slow to react to Liu Feng's speed.

With his last breath, he swung a fist at Liu Feng, but his chest was met with the relentless sound of steel blades piercing flesh one after another.

Big Head was thoroughly stabbed to the core.

His eyes grew vacant, and his body swayed involuntarily.

As he collapsed, he kept asking, “You... who exactly are you...”

“You shouldn’t have troubled me,” Liu Feng said coldly.

He kicked Big Head aside, ending him completely.

Big Head died with regret; due to Liu Feng’s masked face, he never knew who had killed him.

After killing Big Head, Liu Feng turned to face the remaining guards.

His icy gaze resembled a demon emerging from hell.

“Ah...”

“So terrifying...”

“It's a demon, a demon...”

At that moment, all the thugs broke out in cold sweat, each one looking at Liu Feng as if they had descended into hell itself.

“Ah...”

“Don’t kill me...”

Screams echoed one after another until soon, the entire Zhang Yuanwai estate fell silent.

Liu Feng stepped out of the estate’s main gate.

At that moment, a lowly thug dragged his heavily injured body, desperately running outside.

In the pitch-black darkness, a figure as dark as the night silently gripped a crossbow.

Snapping sound...

An arrow flew out.

The figure struggling forward in the dark collapsed with a thud.

Before long, a sudden fire engulfed the luxurious Zhang Yuanwai residence, consuming everyone inside in smoke and ashes.

At dawn, in a small grove outside the county town.

A bullock cart slowly made its way toward Siwa Village.

On the way back, Liu Feng drove the cart swiftly, soon returning to the village.

At this moment, everyone in Siwa Village was busy at work.

Wang Changsheng was directing his family’s laborers in the fields, accompanied by his cousin Wang Changshuan.

Wang Changshuan’s parents had died early; now living with his cousin, he wasn’t wealthy but had enough to eat and wear.

This fellow was also a troublemaker.

Rumors in the village claimed that after Wang Changsheng’s decline, he had an affair with his sister-in-law, for which Lady Wang had suffered many lashes from Wang Changsheng.

“Why are you all just standing there? Get to work!” Wang Changsheng stomped anxiously.

“Come on...”

“Are you all deaf?”

“If you work well, I’ll make sure you eat white rice porridge and steamed corn buns.”

“When Wang Changsheng speaks, he means it...”

He stamped his feet in frustration, his voice nearly hoarse, but it was all in vain.

After asking around, Liu Feng learned that the vegetables Wang Changsheng had planted were meant to be supplied to the city’s major taverns before winter.

Now, with autumn nearly over, the crops were growing poorly, so the laborers were pushed hard to fertilize and weed every day.

Liu Feng had no time to care about this; he hurried home and prepared all kinds of hunting gear.

Today, he didn’t plan to go to the mountains but intended to carefully organize all his hunting tools at home.

The day passed quickly with hard work.

At night, after being attended by the two sisters and using up all his reserves, he finally fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

At the hour of Yin, Liu Feng quietly got up.

Bare-chested, he practiced martial arts in the courtyard, sweat trickling down his lean back, glistening faintly under the dim moonlight.

Two hours later.

Liu Feng exhaled deeply, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward the dawn breaking over the distant hills, a faint smile curling his lips.

Though not yet fully recovered to his former peak, he was much stronger than the day before.

“Darling.”

Mu Wanqing rubbed her eyes, standing at the door with a warm towel in her hands.

“Wipe your sweat.”

Liu Feng took the towel but suddenly pulled her into his arms, making the young lady cry out in surprise.

“Ah, you’re all sweaty...”

“Disgusted with your husband?” Liu Feng teased, nuzzling her neck, leaving damp traces.

Mu Wanqing blushed and punched him lightly.

“You rascal. Breakfast is ready—hurry up and eat.”

Liu Feng finished the porridge in a few gulps.

He stood, slinging his steel spear on his back and gathering his bow and arrows.

“Ladies, I’ll leave Aunt Huang San to accompany you.”

If that Li Ergou came again, it wouldn’t be safe for the two sisters to stay home alone. He wasn’t at ease.

“We know,” the sisters helped arrange the cloth pouches at his waist, fingers trembling slightly.

“Husband, you must be careful. The tiger problem is so serious now, I’m worried...”

Liu Feng pinched their little noses.

“Don’t worry. A mere tiger hasn’t even caught my eye yet.”

With that, he turned and strode away.

Unnoticed by him, behind the old locust tree, Li Ergou was watching his back with a cold glare.

“Boss, looks like it wasn’t this kid who killed Zhang Yuanwai’s family,” one underling said.

Another rubbed his hands and sneered, “In my opinion, just burn down his lousy shack with a single fire!”

“Whether it was him or not, Boss, you need to take back your turf. Luckily, Boss found a few hundred taels of silver in the ruins—Boss is rich now.”

The underling spoke with excessive flattery.

Smack!

Li Ergou slapped him on the head, cursing, “Idiot! How many times have I told you, you can’t talk about these things openly!”

“We’re not that kind of people. Why do things openly? Burn down that shabby straw hut—I’d rather not dirty my hands.”

“Besides, what if we hurt the two delicate beauties? I’m not willing to lose them.”

He narrowed his slitted eyes, revealing a venomous smile.

“Follow me. When we get somewhere no one’s around, dig a pit, cover them with some earth...”

The mist in the forest had yet to dissipate.

Liu Feng’s footsteps crushed the fallen leaves beneath his shoes.

Not far behind came the sound of footsteps—disorganized, chaotic.

No need to look back—he knew his pursuer was definitely Li Ergou.

Probably unable to restrain himself, this guy planned to strike directly, kill him, then take his two wives.

A cold smile curved Liu Feng’s lips.

“Heh, since you’re coming to me, let’s have some fun!”

“I thought you’d behave after dealing with Zhang Yuanwai, but I didn’t expect—this is your own death sentence.”

His figure flashed like lightning, shooting forward dozens of feet, running deep into the forest.

“Damn! He’s been spotted!”

“Chase!”

One of the underlings hesitated, tilting his head and muttering, “Liu Feng? That’s not a bad name.”