Chapter Fifty-Nine: Seizing the Credit
“Let’s go take a look.” Qin Feiyang whispered, and together with the Wolf King, stealthily crept forward.
“I never expected it—Qin Feiyang actually hiding in Black Bear Mountain.”
“I’d heard he was difficult to deal with, but I didn’t believe it. Turns out he really is.”
“Hmph, you think too highly of him. If he hadn’t been lurking in the shadows shooting arrows, I would’ve finished him off long ago!”
“That’s right. Someone like him isn’t even worthy of being our opponent!”
A hundred or so young men and women sat in the woods, tending their wounds and discussing. Some spoke in grave tones, others with utmost disdain.
Man and wolf concealed themselves in a dense thicket, quietly listening.
“Little Qin, they dare underestimate you. Why don’t we just solve all of them right here?” The Wolf King chuckled slyly.
Qin Feiyang replied, “There’s no need to waste time here. Let’s leave quickly.”
“So that means I’ll have to return to the old fortress?” The Wolf King showed reluctance. The fortress was undoubtedly safe, but so stifling—short stays were fine, but prolonged ones felt like imprisonment.
Qin Feiyang considered for a moment. “Why don’t you stay in Black Bear Mountain for now?”
As a fierce beast, even if a beast tide erupted, it shouldn’t be much trouble for the Wolf King.
“Great, great!” The Wolf King nodded repeatedly, delighted. That was exactly what it wanted.
“Say, if we report Qin Feiyang’s whereabouts in Black Bear Mountain to the City Lord and the Master of the Pill Hall, would that count as a great merit?”
“Of course!”
“Right, why didn’t I think of that? Come on, let’s go report immediately.”
“All six of us should go.”
“Fine. Everyone else stays here—don’t wander off.”
“……”
This conversation suddenly rang out.
Qin Feiyang frowned and looked up, seeing the six youths who had escaped his earlier attack instructing their companions before quickly vanishing into the dark woods.
“White-eyed Wolf, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay in Black Bear Mountain.” Qin Feiyang withdrew his gaze, regretfully looking at the Wolf King.
“Why?” the Wolf King asked, puzzled.
“Once they deliver the news, the major powers of Black Bear City will personally enter the mountain. If you’re seen, you might not survive.” Qin Feiyang explained.
“Damn those bastards! Someday, I’ll destroy them all!” The Wolf King flew into a rage.
Qin Feiyang shook his head, amused. “Don’t worry. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll let you out for some air.”
“That’s all I can hope for.” The Wolf King nodded, helpless.
“If there’s merit to be gained, it will be mine, not yours.” After sending the Wolf King into the fortress, Qin Feiyang gave a cold smile, disappearing silently into the night, heading toward the mountain cave.
Ling Yunfei sat alone inside, head bowed, brows furrowed, lost in thought.
Upon entering, Qin Feiyang said, “Come with me, quickly!”
“Where to?” Ling Yunfei asked, confused. “And where have you been all this time?”
“I’ll explain later. Hurry up!” Qin Feiyang turned and ran out.
Ling Yunfei hastily followed, but seeing Qin Feiyang heading toward the edge of Black Bear Mountain, his brows knit in suspicion.
They ran for a while. Qin Feiyang suddenly stopped—Ling Yunfei was moving too slowly. At this rate, they’d never reach Black Bear City before the six youths.
Without a word, Qin Feiyang grabbed Ling Yunfei’s arm and unleashed his Cloud Smoke Step, racing like the wind through the forest.
“Jiang Haotian, what on earth are you doing? And where did all that blood on you come from?” Ling Yunfei couldn’t help but ask.
“I’ll explain once we’re back in Black Bear City.” Qin Feiyang didn’t elaborate, focusing on the journey.
As for the fierce beasts encountered along the way, they avoided them when possible, making good time.
Unbeknownst to them, dawn began to break, the sun rising slowly in the east. Qin Feiyang, with Ling Yunfei in tow, finally emerged from Black Bear Mountain.
“Look—isn’t that Jiang Haotian?”
“Yes, that’s him!”
“I thought he went into Black Bear Mountain. Why is he back?”
“And the one with him—that’s the useless one from the Ling Clan, what’s his name?”
“Ling Yunfei.”
“Yes, that’s right. Why is he with Jiang Haotian?”
Outside the city.
Many had already dispersed, but the guards of Black Bear City, the four major powers, and the clan leaders remained.
Seeing Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei approach, the guards whispered among themselves, while Luo Xiong and the others looked puzzled.
At the foot of the platform, Qin Feiyang strode directly onto it, ignoring the guards entirely.
But Ling Yunfei’s expression was dark as water—the guards’ murmurs made him deeply uncomfortable.
Luo Xiong rose, glancing at the two, frowning. “Jiang Haotian, Ling Yunfei, why are you back? Did you give up halfway?”
Qin Feiyang was about to speak.
But at that moment, the Ling Clan leader abruptly stood up, fixing Ling Yunfei with a cold glare. “If you gave up halfway, you’re unworthy of being my clan’s descendant. Ling Yunfei, I order you—return to Black Bear Mountain immediately, or prepare to be cast out from the clan!”
Ling Yunfei froze, fists clenching tightly.
The clan leader barked, “Go!”
“Yes.” Ling Yunfei nodded, stepping down, his eyes reddened with endless grievance and disappointment.
“Wait,” Qin Feiyang suddenly called.
Ling Yunfei turned, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, but mostly helplessness. He continued toward Black Bear Mountain.
“Do you intend to spend your whole life living under someone else’s roof, barely scraping by?” Qin Feiyang spoke without turning.
Ling Yunfei’s gaze trembled, stopping involuntarily.
The clan leader’s eyes flashed coldly. “Jiang Haotian, this is a family matter. What gives you the right to interfere?”
Qin Feiyang laughed softly. “Family matters, yes, the younger generation shouldn’t meddle. But Ling Yunfei is my friend. Is it wrong to show concern for a friend? Does Ling Yunfei need your permission to make friends?”
“Friend!” Ling Yunfei’s body shook.
Those words were foreign to him—friendship was something he’d never known.
Even the clan leader was surprised. How could this useless one be friends with Jiang Haotian? Now he needed to reconsider.
After pondering, he looked at Qin Feiyang and said tactfully, “Jiang Haotian, you possess extraordinary talent, favored by Master Luo, even praised by Master Pei. Ling Yunfei is merely mediocre, probably not fortunate enough to be your friend.”
“Mediocre?” Qin Feiyang’s lips curled in a faint smile. “Clan Leader Ling, I don’t know why you suppress Ling Yunfei, but I can tell you confidently—you’ll regret it one day.”
The clan leader gripped his hands, anger clear in his eyes.
Seeing this, Luo Xiong frowned. “Jiang Haotian, Clan Leader Ling is an elder. You shouldn’t be so rude.”
The Treasure Pavilion master chimed in, “Yes, the young should act accordingly. How can you behave like this?”
“My apologies—I spoke out of turn.” Qin Feiyang quickly admitted fault, bowing respectfully. “I’m sorry, Clan Leader Ling. Please forgive my lack of propriety.”
“It’s nothing.” The clan leader waved it off and sat down, his face sour.
The other clan leaders exchanged glances—clearly, both the Pill Hall Master and Treasure Pavilion Master highly valued Jiang Haotian.
Luo Xiong said, “Jiang Haotian, tell us—why have you returned so suddenly?”
Everyone present looked at him, intrigued.
Qin Feiyang explained, “Honored elders, Ling Yunfei and I discovered Qin Feiyang and the Wolf in Black Bear Mountain, so we rushed back to report.”
“What?”
“Qin Feiyang!”
“Is this true?”
All rose, fixing their eyes on Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei.
Ling Yunfei, for his part, looked bewildered at Qin Feiyang.
“It’s absolutely true.” Qin Feiyang nodded.
The clan leader glanced at Qin Feiyang, then at Ling Yunfei. “Tell me—is it true?”
Ling Yunfei hesitated, then nodded. “It’s true.”
The City Lord was overjoyed. “You’ve performed a great service! I’ll reward you with a superior martial art!”
He promptly took a bamboo slip from his storage pouch and had a guard deliver it to Qin Feiyang—a man of swift action.
“Thank you, City Lord.” Qin Feiyang expressed gratitude, appearing pleased, though inwardly scornful. A superior martial art? What a beggar’s reward.
Ling Yunfei’s eyes, however, shone with excitement. He’d dreamed of possessing a martial art, but never managed it—now, finally, he had one, and a superior one at that. His elation was beyond words.
At the same time, the clan leader’s eyes flashed with interest.
Meanwhile, the Mu Clan leader, Jiang Clan leader, and other minor clans looked on with envy.
Just then, the six young men and women from earlier emerged from Black Bear Mountain, their faces lit with anticipation—only to darken instantly upon hearing that Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei had claimed the merit first.
Still, the City Lord, seeing their effort in returning with the news, rewarded each with a thousand gold coins.
But a thousand coins paled in comparison to a superior martial art. The six were disgruntled, yet with the major powers present, dared not protest.
Nearby, the major powers gathered to discuss.
The Pill Hall Master frowned. “Why would that man and wolf rescue the Black Bear King’s cub? Could they know the Black Bear King?”
“Regardless, I must go to Black Bear Mountain myself.” Luo Xiong replied coldly.
The thought of all his painstakingly cultivated herbs being plundered by that accursed pair filled him with rage.
He had no idea the true culprit was right beside him, secretly laughing.
The City Lord declared, “The royal family has issued a death order—Qin Feiyang must be captured, no matter what. I’ll personally enter Black Bear Mountain. Who else will join?”
In the end, aside from the Treasure Pavilion Master and Pill Hall Master, all prepared to enter Black Bear Mountain—an opportunity to curry favor with the Pill Hall and royal family.
Half an hour later, the City Lord gathered dozens of guards.
The Pill Hall and the clans assembled numerous strong warriors, including the black-robed elder who guarded the herb fields and the battle king from the Lin Clan of Yan City.
As they set out, the six youths volunteered to guide the way. With guides, the City Lord and the others gladly accepted.
Thus, led by the six, a mighty force entered Black Bear Mountain.
As for Qin Feiyang, he acted as if none of it concerned him.
Ling Yunfei wanted to go, but Qin Feiyang held him back.