Chapter Sixty-Eight: Raising Havoc in the Ling Family

Qin Feiyang walked out slowly, a gentle smile on his lips. “Get up. A real man stands tall in the world—there’s no need to kneel so readily.”

“Alright,” Ling Yunfei replied, rising to his feet, his face full of gratitude.

He knew in his heart that Qin Feiyang’s willingness to help him was born out of sympathy, and perhaps also an appreciation of his talent. But none of that mattered to him. As long as he could reverse his fate and take his revenge, he was willing to be the sword in another’s hand.

Qin Feiyang sized Ling Yunfei up. “Is the liquor out of your system yet?”

A cold light flashed in Ling Yunfei’s eyes. “The moment they stormed the tavern to seize the martial manuals, my drunkenness vanished.”

“Remember, I don’t like drunkards. Drinking can ruin things. I’m not saying you can’t have a drink, but keep it in moderation.”

“I understand. I’m not much of a drinker anyway,” Ling Yunfei nodded.

“That’s good. Now, let’s talk about you. The most urgent problem is to rescue your mother first. Otherwise, no matter how many elixirs or martial techniques I give you, it’s meaningless. Unless you become a War King and gain overwhelming strength, but neither of us can achieve that in a short time.”

“I know all this,” Ling Yunfei said with a sigh. “But the two elders guarding my mother are both Martial Lords. Rescuing her from under their noses is harder than climbing to the heavens.”

“Is your mother strong?” Qin Feiyang frowned.

“My mother doesn’t know martial arts. She’s just an ordinary woman,” Ling Yunfei replied, a flicker of pain in his eyes.

“How odd. Why would two clan elders need to personally guard a common woman?” Qin Feiyang mused, feeling increasingly that something about this matter was off.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Feiyang’s eyes glinted. “Wait here for me—don’t wander off.”

With that, he turned and disappeared swiftly.

Ling Yunfei withdrew his gaze, looking up at the waning moon in the sky. A faint smile crept onto his face.

“Mother, though this man is about my age, his temperament and methods are far beyond mine. More importantly, I have a strong feeling that he is no ordinary person. Following him, perhaps I really can leave Black Bear City and carve out a world of my own. Mother, this is the first real decision I’ve made in my life—you wouldn’t object, would you?”

He stood there like a solitary traveler in the night, speaking softly to himself.

Roughly a hundred breaths later, Qin Feiyang reappeared. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Take me to the Ling family.”

Ling Yunfei was startled. “Why are we going to the Ling family?”

“To turn the tables,” Qin Feiyang replied coldly.

Ling Yunfei’s eyes trembled. He couldn’t help but worry.

The Ling family manor was alive with song and dance, filled with laughter and joy. For the Ling family, tonight was a night of celebration. Not only was Ling Sheng about to enter the Martial Hall, but they had also obtained a superior martial technique.

But Qin Feiyang’s purpose was to destroy all this, to let them rejoice in vain.

At the gates, two servants stood ramrod straight, spirits high. But when they saw Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei approaching, their expressions changed instantly.

“Ling Yunfei, why are you with Jiang Haotian?”

“Why are you bringing him to the Ling family?”

“I—” Ling Yunfei began, but Qin Feiyang cut him off, “If you want to do something, do it decisively. Don’t waste words with them.”

“You hold them off—I’ll report to the master!” Seeing the fierce look in Qin Feiyang’s eyes, the servant on the left turned and ran into the manor at top speed.

“Jiang Haotian, stop right there! This is the Ling family—you can’t run wild here!” The remaining servant blocked the doorway, gripping his sword hilt, eyeing Qin Feiyang warily.

“Today, I really do intend to run wild in the Ling family!” Qin Feiyang strode forward like a tiger, his aura so fierce the servant kept retreating, sweat beading on his brow.

“Out of my way!” Qin Feiyang bellowed.

The servant’s courage broke. His legs went weak and he collapsed onto the ground.

Ling Yunfei stared in disbelief. However diminished, the Ling family was still one of the three great houses of Black Bear City, with several Martial Lords among their ranks. For a four-star martial artist, this was a dragon’s lair, a tiger’s den. Yet this man broke in without fear! Was this courage, or recklessness? Could he really still be just a youth?

“His talent is decent, but his temperament is still unsteady—he needs more tempering,” Qin Feiyang muttered, shaking his head at Ling Yunfei’s reaction, unaware that he himself was even younger.

“Lead the way,” he said, grabbing Ling Yunfei by the arm.

Ling Yunfei snapped to attention. “The corridor on the right.”

Qin Feiyang employed the Misty Steps, racing down the corridor and quickly overtaking the servant.

Inside the main hall, laughter rang out.

“How invigorating it is to celebrate a joyous occasion!”

“When Sheng enters the Martial Hall, he’ll have a chance to join the War King’s Hall in the future. As long as the Jiang family doesn’t interfere, our Ling family will be the most powerful in Black Bear City!”

“Elders, tonight we drink without restraint!”

At the round dining table, the Ling family patriarch raised his cup, full of pride and laughter. The elders’ faces glowed with smiles. All were ready to down their wine.

“A timely arrival is better than an early one. Would the elders of the Ling family mind if a junior joined the festivities?”

A mild voice sounded at the door.

“Jiang Haotian!” The entire Ling family sprang up as one, turning to the entrance.

With a clatter of footsteps, Qin Feiyang strode into the hall, smiling broadly.

“What are you doing here?”

“How dare you barge in without announcing yourself! You’re too arrogant!”

“Get out immediately!”

The Ling family’s faces darkened with fury, and the atmosphere grew suddenly tense.

Qin Feiyang grinned. “If I’d let you know I was coming, would I have even gotten through the door? Relax, I’m just a lowly four-star martial artist. I can’t stir up much trouble here.”

Ling Yunfei entered the hall, head lowered, anxiety written all over him.

The Ling family patriarch frowned. “Who let you in? Get out!”

“Master…” The servant rushed in, breathless, pointing at Ling Yunfei. “Master—”

“Calm down—catch your breath and speak slowly,” Qin Feiyang said lightly, glancing around the hall’s decor.

After a deep breath, the servant exclaimed, “Master, elders, Jiang Haotian was brought in by Ling Yunfei!”

“What?”

“Ling Yunfei, what crime do you deserve?”

“You little wretch! Have you grown wings and dare rebel?” The elders erupted in thunderous rage.

The patriarch stormed over and swung a slap at Ling Yunfei.

Qin Feiyang picked up a wine cup, sniffed it, and remarked, “Smells good. You really know how to enjoy yourselves. But Ling Yunfei, are you going to keep silent?”

Ling Yunfei’s body trembled.

Seeing the slap about to land, he suddenly caught the patriarch’s wrist.

The patriarch was stunned—never had he imagined that the boy who once dared not even breathe before him would dare resist.

“Second Uncle—”

“No, Master Ling, I am not your servant, nor am I the Ling family’s lackey. From this day on, do not shout at me again!” Ling Yunfei summoned his courage, meeting the patriarch’s eyes and speaking with unwavering strength.

“Insolence! How dare you speak to your uncle like that—do you know your place?” two elders barked.

“Of course I do! Ask yourselves—have I not always respected you? And you? At your beck and call, scolding and beating me for the slightest thing, unwilling even to give me a low-grade martial technique. In the Ling family, I hold a lower place than the servants. Don’t you find that ridiculous? When have you ever treated me as one of your own? Why should I respect people like you? Tell me—why?”

Ling Yunfei roared.

In that moment, all the years of humiliation and resentment in his heart erupted like a volcano.

The elders glared at him, furious but speechless.

“Because I am the head of the family! You defied the rules, disrespected your elders—now I’ll cripple you!” the patriarch declared coldly, true energy surging from his palm as he struck at Ling Yunfei’s head.

This wasn’t just to cripple him—it was to kill him!

At that instant, Qin Feiyang flicked his finger, sending the wine cup whistling through the air to smash into the back of the patriarch’s head. With a crack, the cup shattered, dousing the patriarch in wine.

It was a blatant humiliation.

All eyes turned to Qin Feiyang. Ling Yunfei seized the chance to hide behind him.

Qin Feiyang smiled sheepishly. “Sorry—my hand slipped.”

“Your hand slipped?” The patriarch’s face twisted with rage. “Wretch! When I kill you and the Dan Hall comes for answers, I’ll tell them my hand slipped too!”

“Well, by that logic, when I kill you, or if I wave my hand and wipe out the Ling family, I can just say my hand slipped as well, can’t I?” A mocking voice sounded from outside.

Elder Feng Cheng and Elder Mo walked in side by side.

Qin Feiyang cupped his hands in greeting. “Greetings, Elders.”

Ling Yunfei bowed as well. Before coming, Qin Feiyang had worried the Ling family might try to harm him, so he’d returned to the Dan Hall to ask for Feng Cheng and Mo’s help. They hadn’t refused and had been lurking in the shadows all along.

With the elders present, the Ling family’s arrogance abated.

The patriarch bowed. “Elders, we are reasonable people. It was Jiang Haotian who was rude first. As head of the family, he splashed wine on me in public—how can I maintain my standing in Black Bear City after this?”

Elder Feng Cheng asked, “He splashed wine on you?”

The patriarch pointed to the back of his head. “This is proof!”

Elder Feng Cheng turned to Qin Feiyang. “Jiang Haotian, tell me—did you?”

Qin Feiyang replied, “Reporting to Elder, I did not.”

“I knew you were being falsely accused,” Elder Feng Cheng said with a cough, then looked coldly at the patriarch. “You fabricate charges and slander a disciple of my Dan Hall, severely damaging our reputation. Tell me, have you grown so bold as to challenge us?”