Chapter Nine: Threat!
"Hey, kid, stop right there!"
As Qin Feng stepped out of the blacksmith's shop, preparing to head back, five men came barreling toward him from ahead. One of them shouted at him.
"Hand over the white orchid fruit and the white spirit ginseng you bought at Treasure Herb House!"
Chen Yunhu, seeing Qin Feng’s unfamiliar face, realized he wasn’t any of the prominent young talents he knew. Without hesitation, he barked his order.
Liu Hu and Wang Bao, recognizing that Chen Yunhu and Lei Lie meant trouble, quickly stepped in front of Qin Feng to shield him.
“Do I know you?” Qin Feng, hearing Chen Yunhu’s arrogant words, felt a surge of anger and replied coldly.
“You and I don’t know each other!” Chen Yunhu, not understanding why Qin Feng reacted this way, replied with haughty indifference.
“If you don’t know me, what right do you have to demand my white orchid fruit and white spirit ginseng?”
Qin Feng snorted, his tone full of disdain.
“Insolence! Do you know who stands before you?”
“This is Chen Yunhu, the young master of the Axe Gang. Being asked to hand over the white spirit fruit and white spirit ginseng is your good fortune!”
One of Chen Yunhu’s henchmen declared loudly.
“Get lost.”
Qin Feng spat out the word with contempt.
The attitude of Chen Yunhu and his gang deeply disgusted him—their arrogance and sense of entitlement were unbearable.
“Watch your mouth, kid. Though murder is forbidden in Xuanzhou City, I have a thousand ways to make you disappear without a trace.”
Chen Yunhu stepped up to Qin Feng, his eyes narrowing, a cold gleam flickering in their depths as he spoke icily.
“I seem to smell something familiar—the scent of blood.”
Lei Lie licked his lips, a fierce glint in his eyes, his voice frigid.
“Prepare to die.”
Qin Feng’s heart trembled. This world was indeed cruel; human lives were worthless. Yet he felt not a trace of fear.
If anyone wants to kill me, I’ll kill them first.
“Let’s go!”
Qin Feng pushed past Chen Yunhu and Lei Lie, striding forward with large steps.
“Uncle Lie, I’ll need you to pay him a visit tonight.”
Chen Yunhu watched Qin Feng’s retreating figure with a frosty gaze, speaking to Lei Lie.
“Young master, perhaps we should first find out about his background before making a move?”
Lei Lie felt that Qin Feng’s earlier composure was unnaturally calm, and it gave him a sense of unease.
“Fine.”
Chen Yunhu pondered for a moment and agreed.
He wasn’t a fool; Lei Lie’s words immediately made him realize the cause for caution.
“Go find out what you can about this man’s background.”
Lei Lie instructed his men scattered around.
...
“Young master, I doubt that man will let this go so easily.”
“And his identity could be problematic—should we inform Master Chen?”
After they had walked some distance, Wang Fu spoke to Qin Feng in a low voice.
“No need.”
“Even if we did, it would be useless.”
“Uncle Chen is only at the Anjin level, while the Black Tiger Gang boasts warriors at the Huajin level.”
Qin Feng shook his head.
“Then what should we do, young master?”
Wang Fu’s face showed concern.
“We’ll meet the enemy as they come, block the water as it flows. Besides, these three rare medicinal herbs—if I refine them, together with my iron mace…”
“Even if a Huajin-level expert is powerful and possesses inner energy, I may still be able to withstand him.”
“Come, let’s go home.”
Qin Feng spoke in a low voice.
“Yes, young master!”
Wang Fu’s heart trembled. The young master claimed he could match a Huajin-level expert—could it be true?
“Young master, you don’t know how terrifying Huajin-level experts are. When I followed the old master, I heard him say that Huajin-level experts can produce inner energy, their bodies emit the roar of tigers and leopards, their arms possess the strength of nine hundred catties, and in combat they are ferociously brutal.”
“But don’t worry, young master. I’ll protect you with my life!”
Liu Hu clenched his fists, his eyes wide and resolute as he declared.
The young master had always been frail, and before had suffered serious injuries due to Liu Hu’s inadequate protection, leaving lingering wounds. He had grieved over this for a long time; this time, he would let no harm come to Qin Feng.
“Yes! Young master, I’ll protect you with my life too!”
Wang Bao declared loudly.
He held awe, reverence, and even fear for the might of Huajin-level experts, but if anyone dared threaten Qin Feng’s life, he would abandon all fear and fight to the death.
“Haha!”
“Who protects whom remains to be seen.”
“Do you know who those two corpses we dealt with earlier were?”
Wang Fu, having gained some understanding of Qin Feng’s strength, felt his nervousness ease, and spoke with a smile.
Furthermore, since the young master had revealed his abilities in front of Liu Hu and Wang Bao, Wang Fu felt they deserved to know.
“Father, didn’t you say they were just two petty thieves? Who else could they be?” Wang Bao replied carelessly.
“Exactly, who else could they be but some minor thugs?”
Liu Hu scoffed.
“In fact, those two were indeed formidable figures: Hua Qi and Lu Yun, both at the Anjin level—on par with the head of the household and Master Chen.”
Wang Fu, seeing the dismissive looks on Liu Hu and Wang Bao’s faces, smiled inwardly and spoke in a grave tone.
“What?”
“What?”
Liu Hu and Wang Bao suddenly stopped in their tracks, their eyes bulging in shock.
“Surprised?”
“So when the young master says he can match a Huajin-level expert, it’s almost certainly true. He really can go toe-to-toe with them.”
Wang Fu said with a smile.
“I’ve never seen a Huajin-level expert, nor witnessed one in action,” Qin Feng said quietly. “But if they are as you describe them, perhaps I can give them a fight.”
“So strong, young master!”
Liu Hu and Wang Bao were left deeply shaken, following Qin Feng home in a daze.
“Enough of that—snap out of it. Once I’ve refined these three rare herbs, I’ll have something good for you both.”
When they reached the entrance, Qin Feng saw that Liu Hu and Wang Bao were still in a stupor. He couldn’t help but smile and spoke lightly.
“Show your gratitude to the young master.”
Wang Fu rejoiced inwardly. Since the young master could match a Huajin-level expert, whatever reward he promised must be a rare treasure. Seeing Liu Hu and Wang Bao still dumbstruck, he gave each of them a hard slap on the arm and barked the order.
“Thank you, young master!”
“Thank you so much, young master!”
Liu Hu and Wang Bao’s faces lit up with joy, and they cupped their fists, bowing slightly to Qin Feng in excitement.
“Let’s go.”
Qin Feng strode into the courtyard.
“My strength is still too weak. I must grow stronger as soon as possible. If I had the fearsome reputation of a Huajin-level expert, who would dare act so arrogantly before me?”
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
...
As Qin Feng, Wang Fu, Wang Bao, and Liu Hu entered the courtyard, more than twenty figures swiftly appeared from all sides, surrounding them. Two burly men shut the door behind them.