Chapter Ninety: Shifting the Blame Elsewhere
Inside the castle, after taking a healing pill, Qin Feiyang listened intently to the sounds outside.
Ling Yunfei, meanwhile, looked around in astonishment.
After a moment, he finally came to himself, turned to Qin Feiyang, and asked, “What place is this? How did we get in here?”
His reaction was exactly the same as Qin Feiyang’s first time entering the castle.
A glimmer flashed in Qin Feiyang’s eyes. “All you need to know is that it’s very safe to hide here. Don’t ask about the rest.”
“This fellow is even more mysterious than I imagined.”
Ling Yunfei muttered to himself.
It was simply unbelievable.
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a place existed in this world.
Several hundred breaths later, the thunderous noise outside finally ceased.
Then came the sound of many footsteps, gradually receding.
Ling Yunfei asked, “Have they left?”
Qin Feiyang nodded.
Ling Yunfei asked again, “When do we go out?”
After a moment of thought, Qin Feiyang said in a deep voice, “There are definitely still some serrated crocodiles lurking nearby. It’s best to let our wounds heal completely before we leave.”
“All right.”
Ling Yunfei nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something. “By the way, in another month, the people from the Martial King Hall will come to Black Bear City. By then, I’m afraid we’ll have to part ways.”
His tone was filled with deep reluctance.
Though they had not known each other long, in Ling Yunfei’s heart, Qin Feiyang was the first friend of his life.
So he treasured him dearly.
“The Martial King Hall?”
Qin Feiyang was slightly taken aback, then smiled. “Not necessarily. In a month, the people from the Pill King Hall will also come. At that time, perhaps we can still go to Swallow City together.”
“That’s wonderful, then.”
Ling Yunfei’s face lit up at once.
“Now hurry up and heal,” Qin Feiyang said with a smile. He did not want to waste even a moment. He walked to the iron box, pricked his finger to open it, unfolded the iron-bound book, and continued copying the fourth stroke.
Seeing this, Ling Yunfei was filled with suspicion.
Qin Feiyang glanced at him. “There’s nothing to see. Focus on recovering, and use the Qi Gathering Pills to cultivate while you’re at it.”
“Oh.”
Ling Yunfei answered, but did not leave. He stood to the side, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
“What is it?”
Qin Feiyang asked in confusion.
Ling Yunfei blushed, looking at him somewhat awkwardly. “Do you have any extra Qi Gathering Pills? I left all of mine in the cultivation room of the Martial Hall.”
“Huh?”
Qin Feiyang was stunned.
Ling Yunfei hurriedly explained, “Don’t worry, I’m not short of Qi Gathering Pills right now. When we get back, I’ll return twice as many.”
Qin Feiyang’s mouth twitched. “I’m not worried that you can’t pay me back. I just don’t understand why you’d leave your Qi Gathering Pills in the cultivation room. Shouldn’t the resources for cultivation be carried with you?”
“I’d like to, but the hall master won’t allow it,” Ling Yunfei said helplessly.
“Why?”
Qin Feiyang was even more puzzled.
“The hall master is worried I’ll secretly give them away,” Ling Yunfei said.
Qin Feiyang stared blankly. There was even such a thing in this world?
Ling Yunfei smiled. “Actually, it’s not too bad. Other disciples can only receive at most a few hundred Qi Gathering Pills each month. If that isn’t enough, they have to earn the rest themselves. But I can have as many as I want.”
Hearing this, Qin Feiyang actually began to envy him.
In that case, Ling Yunfei only needed to focus on cultivation; he would not need to worry about resources at all.
Unlike the Pill Hall, where Qin Feiyang still had to find medicinal ingredients himself.
“Take these Qi Gathering Pills and use them.”
He took out a Qiankun bag from his robes and tossed it to Ling Yunfei. Inside were at least twenty to thirty thousand Qi Gathering Pills.
“So many?”
Ling Yunfei caught it and took a look, then stood dumbfounded.
“Relax, they’re a gift to you. No need to repay them.”
Qin Feiyang smiled faintly, then turned back to the iron-bound book and continued copying.
“He’s truly generous,” Ling Yunfei muttered, shaking his head. This man must have an immensely powerful backer behind him.
How could he know that only a few months earlier, Qin Feiyang had still been living in destitution, and that even a dozen gold coins had once been a great fortune to him?
...
As Qin Feiyang had expected, some of the serrated crocodiles returned to the lake and sank to the bottom, while others continued lurking in the forest. On the surface, the area looked utterly calm, showing not the slightest hint of danger.
But once anyone stepped into that region, they would be plunged into a desperate situation with little chance of survival.
Jiang Sen was one of the unlucky ones.
He had been ordered to come and investigate, but when he arrived, aside from the ravaged land, he saw not even a ghost.
By the time he entered the attacking range of the serrated crocodiles, the hidden beasts all sprang out, baring their vicious fangs and lunging at him.
The four king-level serrated crocodiles also appeared at once.
Although he was a one-star Martial Lord, he still had to sacrifice one of his arms to escape that area.
Qin Feiyang likewise heard the disturbances outside.
Though he did not yet know whether they were aimed at him, he at least learned that there were other people in the mountain range.
And that they were not weak.
Time passed in a flash.
The next morning.
Qin Feiyang closed the iron-bound book, turned to Ling Yunfei, and warned him, “After we get out, don’t stop for even a moment. Leave this area as fast as you can!”
“Mhm.”
Ling Yunfei nodded.
In truth, their injuries had already healed the night before.
But against serrated crocodiles, which were skilled at concealment and ambush, breaking through at night was clearly unrealistic.
So the two of them had chosen to break out in daylight.
Today, too, was overcast.
Qin Feiyang took several deep breaths. Though he was mentally prepared, he still could not suppress the tension in his heart.
After a few breaths, he exhaled long and hard, grabbed Ling Yunfei, and appeared outside in an instant.
Whoosh!
Without the slightest pause, the two of them immediately launched into motion, using the Mist Smoke Step and the Returning Origin Step to dash toward Black Bear City.
Roar!
A series of deafening roars burst out at once.
The four king-level serrated crocodiles appeared once more, this time to the left and right of Qin Feiyang and the others.
Ahead of them were only some ordinary serrated crocodiles blocking the way.
Even so, they could not afford the slightest carelessness.
The king-level serrated crocodiles were far faster than them; with even the smallest delay, they would be caught!
Clang!
Qin Feiyang drew out Azure Snow.
Ling Yunfei unleashed the Heart-Sealing Killing Fist, every strike lethal.
The two of them seemed to become humanoid raging dragons, working in seamless coordination as they frantically carved out a bloody path.
But this wanton slaughter thoroughly enraged the four king-level serrated crocodiles. Carrying astonishing murderous fury, they led several hundred crocodiles in relentless pursuit.
Wherever they passed, mountains shattered and the earth cracked, leaving devastation in their wake.
Even from several hundred meters away, the ground could be felt trembling.
“Why is there suddenly an earthquake?”
“Could it be a beast tide?”
The people of the Jiang and Mu families were still searching the vicinity for Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei.
Hearing the commotion, they were all shocked and uncertain.
“Come, let’s go take a look!”
The great elder of the Jiang family waved his hand, and more than twenty people immediately rushed over.
“It’s serrated crocodiles!”
The moment Jiang Sen saw the crocodile horde, his face went deathly pale.
“Why would the serrated crocodiles pour out in full force?”
Everyone was stunned.
“Look, aren’t those Jiang Haotian and Ling Yunfei?”
Someone suddenly shouted.
The others hurriedly looked, and indeed saw Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei at the very front of the crocodile horde.
“It really is them!”
“So the crocodile riot yesterday was definitely because of them too?”
“Incredible. They actually dared go provoke this pack of savage beasts!”
“What do we do now?”
“Nothing. We just watch. Sooner or later, they’ll be torn apart by the crocodiles.”
“...”
More than twenty people stood shoulder to shoulder on a small hillside, arms folded, faces full of schadenfreude.
While fleeing, Ling Yunfei suddenly noticed them. His pupils shrank violently, and he said in a grave voice, “Why are they here?”
Qin Feiyang followed his gaze and immediately frowned.
Could the people who appeared yesterday have been them?
His eyes flickered as he said in a low voice, “Come on, over there!”
“Okay.”
Ling Yunfei nodded.
The two abruptly changed direction and ran toward the people of the Jiang and Mu families.
“Esteemed seniors, quickly, quickly, act according to plan and wipe them all out!”
Qin Feiyang shouted anxiously as he ran.
“What plan?”
“How come I don’t know about it?”
Ling Yunfei was stunned, looking at Qin Feiyang in confusion.
The people of the Jiang and Mu families were equally baffled.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry and act, or Ling Yunfei and I will lose our lives!”
“Could it be that you plan to stand by and watch us die?”
“Don’t forget, you were the ones who told Ling Yunfei and me to lure them here. You can’t do this!”
“At worst, after killing them and selling them, I won’t take a single coin. I only ask that you save me.”
Qin Feiyang kept shouting.
The people of the Jiang and Mu families only grew more confused.
Was this little beast’s mind broken?
However, they did not notice that the four king-level serrated crocodiles had already locked onto them, murder blazing in their enormous eyes.
“Esteemed seniors, please lend us a hand!”
Though Ling Yunfei did not know what was going on, he still cooperated perfectly, begging the twenty-odd people for help with sincere tone and expression.
“Help?”
The people of the Jiang and Mu families all sneered.
Jiang Sen, however, was terrified to the core and urged, “Great Elder, those four king-level serrated crocodiles are unimaginably powerful. Let’s go!”
The Jiang family’s great elder did not give the order. Instead, he turned to the Mu family’s great elder.
The Mu family’s great elder said, “There is no need for futile sacrifice.”
“Then let’s retreat!”
The Jiang family’s great elder waved his hand, and the more than twenty people turned at once and leaped into the forest without looking back.
The moment they turned, Qin Feiyang grabbed Ling Yunfei and entered the castle.
But the four king-level serrated crocodiles did not stop their pursuit. Leading their swarm of underlings, they roared in savage fury and chased after the people of the Jiang and Mu families.
“Hm?”
“Where did Jiang Haotian and Ling Yunfei go?”
The Mu family’s great elder glanced back and was instantly filled with shock.
Were they not just there? How had they suddenly vanished into thin air?
The others looked back as well, equally stunned.
“No, wait!”
“They disappeared, so shouldn’t the crocodile horde have stopped too? Why are they still charging this way?”
“Bad news, the horde is coming for us!”
“I understand now. What Jiang Haotian said just now was to mislead those four king-level serrated crocodiles. They must think that we and Jiang Haotian are in the same camp!”
“That little beast is truly devious!”
“Retreat!”
The more than twenty people were furious as they turned and fled at once.