Chapter Eighty-Four: Courting Death

On the way back to the Hall of Elixir. Feng Cheng patted Qin Feiyang on the head and asked curiously, "How is your brain so sharp?"

"What do you mean?" Qin Feiyang blinked, looking at him in confusion.

"At the time, we all saw that the elders of the Ling family left first, but none of us realized they were planning to flee with Ling Yunfei's mother."

"Yet you not only figured it out, you even sent Fatty to track them. I really want to pry open your skull and see what in the world is inside."

As Feng Cheng spoke, he stared at Qin Feiyang's head, his eyes gleaming.

Qin Feiyang could not help but feel a chill crawl up his scalp and hurriedly took a few steps aside.

Then he forced a dry laugh and said, "I just got lucky."

"Cut the nonsense with this old man," Feng Cheng said, glaring. "Tell me the truth: were Zhao Liu and the other one really killed by you?"

Qin Feiyang said, "I swear to you, Elder Ling was the one who killed them."

That was the truth, so there was no need for guilt.

Feng Cheng frowned. "Then why did that Ling fellow first claim the bodies were buried outside the gate of our Hall of Elixir?"

Qin Feiyang briefly explained what had happened that night.

"Haha..."

"So that's how it was."

"Interesting. Truly interesting."

"You brat, I am finding that I like you more and more. Why not simply become my disciple?"

Feng Cheng chuckled.

"Hm?"

Luo Xiong and Elder Mo both looked at Feng Cheng, their eyes full of contempt.

Someone with ninth-tier spiritual power, and who had even refined a supreme-grade elixir on his very first attempt at alchemy, and you think you are fit to be his master?

Before you speak, could you at least go relieve yourself and look in a mirror? See what sort of man you are?

Shameless.

Though neither of them said it outright, anyone with a clear mind could read it in their eyes.

But Feng Cheng showed no embarrassment at all. He stood there with the calm confidence of an elder sage and said matter-of-factly, "No matter what, I am still the most senior elder in the Hall of Elixir. Teaching this little novice who has only just entered the门 is more than enough for me."

"Fine then. Refine a supreme-grade elixir for me and let me see it."

"If you can't do it, then spare us the nonsense."

"Don't make a fool of yourself here."

Elder Mo mercilessly shot him down.

Feng Cheng instantly flew into a rage.

Just as the two seemed about to start arguing, Luo Xiong's expression darkened and he barked, "Enough, enough! Can't you see there are two disciples here? Quarreling like this, what kind of decorum is that?"

Fatty hurriedly said, "I heard nothing."

Qin Feiyang followed with great seriousness, "I saw nothing either. As for being a disciple, let's forget that. If it could be changed to granddaughter-in-law, I might seriously consider it."

"Granddaughter-in-law?"

Luo Xiong and the other man both froze, their gazes turning amused.

Feng Cheng was also stunned for a moment, then erupted in fury. "You little bastard, making jokes about this old man's granddaughter again? Today I will give you a proper beating!"

"Tch. Judging by your old face, your granddaughter probably isn't all that either. I wouldn't even fancy her!"

After saying that, Qin Feiyang bolted.

"My granddaughter isn't all that?"

Feng Cheng stared, then roared in exasperation, "Brat, stop right there!"

Luo Xiong quickly grabbed him and snapped, "In broad daylight, at your age, and you still act like this? Aren't you ashamed?"

"His shame has long since been thrown away," Elder Mo added with a perfectly timed stab, making Feng Cheng blow his beard and stare, anger surging to its peak.

Seeing things turn bad, Fatty also hurried off.

After catching up to Qin Feiyang, he glanced at him with a peculiar look and asked, "Boss Jiang, have you ever seen Elder Feng's granddaughter?"

"No."

Qin Feiyang shook his head, confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Fatty waved his hands repeatedly, but there was a trace of mockery in his eyes as he secretly chuckled wickedly. "Once you see her in person, you'll understand what it means to be struck dumb by heavenly beauty."

Back at the Hall of Elixir, Qin Feiyang went straight to the Hall of Alchemical Fire and entered the fourth alchemy chamber.

But he did not refine pills.

Instead, he entered the ancient fortress and began copying the fourth stroke of the character for return.

Copying the third stroke had cost eight thousand Spirit Gathering Pills. The fourth stroke, if nothing unexpected happened, should require thirty-two thousand.

Fortunately, he was not short of Spirit Gathering Pills now.

Late at night, a group of black-clad men stormed into the Ling residence.

They were powerful and vicious, like death gods from hell, madly harvesting lives one after another!

Not a single disciple or servant of the Ling family survived.

Throughout the entire slaughter, not even a scream was heard.

In the end, the black-clad group also carried off all of the Ling family's treasures and resources.

In other words, the Ling family now had only a dozen or so elders left, along with Ling Yan.

Without question, the next day this incident caused a tremendous uproar.

Everyone was guessing who could be so vicious as to wipe out the Ling family overnight.

After hearing the news, the city lord was naturally thunderously enraged and immediately ordered a thorough investigation.

The first person they thought of was Qin Feiyang.

After all, throughout Black Bear City, Qin Feiyang had the deepest grudge with the Ling family.

But very soon, Luo Xiong stepped forward to clear Qin Feiyang's name.

Then everyone began suspecting Ling Yunfei.

The Hall of Martial Arts master also immediately stood up to clear Ling Yunfei's name.

If it was neither Qin Feiyang nor Ling Yunfei, then who could it be?

No one could think of a third possibility.

As time passed, the matter did not fade; instead, it continued to ferment and grow increasingly intense.

Yet the culprit still failed to surface.

At the same time, the smaller families also began to fish in troubled waters, hoping to rise to prominence and become the third great family.

But how could the Mu family and the Jiang family let them succeed?

They suppressed them with full force.

The situation in Black Bear City grew more chaotic by the day.

Hidden currents swirled beneath the surface.

Open and secret struggles went on without cease.

Every day, people vanished for no reason.

On this day, Cheng Yi, Ji Jin, Lu Hong, and Ling Yan were finally released from the pig cages.

After a month of soaking in filth, all four reeked unbearably.

Anyone who encountered them held their noses and took a wide detour.

The four of them clasped their hands tightly, heads lowered, carrying a heart full of resentment as they silently returned to their lodgings.

They washed again and again, scrubbing and scrubbing, until the stench on their bodies was completely gone before they dared show themselves in public.

Sooner than anyone else, Ling Yan learned that the Ling family had been bloodily purged, and the fire of fury in his heart immediately ignited.

As for Cheng Yi and the other two, upon learning that their alchemy chamber had been taken over, they were likewise incensed beyond measure.

They silently swore in their hearts that they would repay it a hundredfold and wash away this humiliation!

That very day, a rumor spread among the disciples of the Hall of Elixir.

"Have you heard? Jiang Haotian has a marriage engagement with Elder Feng's granddaughter."

"He's just someone with connections, not real ability."

"Exactly. He got access to the fourth alchemy chamber only because Elder Feng gave him special treatment."

"I thought he had some great skill, but it turns out he's just a pretty face living off a woman."

"Guys like that are disgusting."

"And so on."

In no time, discussion spread throughout the Hall of Elixir.

The rumor soon reached Feng Cheng's ears, and he immediately flew into a rage.

Without delay, he headed straight for the Hall of Alchemical Fire.

"Jiang Haotian, get your ass out here!"

He stood outside the fourth alchemy chamber and shouted in fury.

"Hm?"

Qin Feiyang frowned.

What was Feng Cheng coming to see him for?

He had already copied half of the fourth stroke.

Originally he had intended to copy it all in one go, but now it seemed he could only stop here for the moment.

After closing the iron-bound book, he moved his thoughts and appeared in the alchemy chamber.

At that very moment, Feng Cheng lost patience and directly blasted open the stone door with a palm strike, storming in with a face full of anger.

Seeing this, Qin Feiyang asked with feigned puzzlement, "Elder Feng, who made you this angry?"

Feng Cheng wore a dark expression. "You still have the nerve to ask? Tell me, what is going on with the rumors outside?"

"Rumors?"

Qin Feiyang frowned.

He had spent the entire month in the fortress; how could he know anything about rumors?

Feng Cheng snapped, "Everyone is talking now about you having a marriage engagement with my granddaughter. Can you dare say that this has nothing to do with you?"

"A marriage engagement?"

Qin Feiyang froze, somewhat baffled.

Then suddenly, he remembered.

At the tavern last time, he seemed indeed to have mentioned this matter to Cheng Yi.

He had simply not expected Cheng Yi to make such a big thing out of it.

"Elder Feng, listen to my explanation."

Qin Feiyang let out a bitter laugh and closed the stone door. Then he recounted the whole affair in great detail.

After hearing him out, Elder Feng frowned and said, "Even so, you should not have talked nonsense!"

Qin Feiyang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, it was my fault. I apologize to you, and I apologize to your granddaughter."

"What good is an apology if it works? Why do we need law and order then?"

"My granddaughter is still an innocent young maiden. Do you know how much damage your words have caused her?"

"Brat, you must give me a satisfactory answer as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, you will be in for it."

With a fierce glare, Feng Cheng flicked his sleeve and left in a huff.

Qin Feiyang was extremely irritated, killing intent surging in his eyes as he muttered, "Cheng Yi, you asked for death yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

PS: Many thanks to the Alliance Leader Awen for another reward of ten thousand book coins. Thanks also to classmate Ma Yongpeng for another reward of five thousand book coins. This old dream bows in gratitude.