Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

The newcomer's name was Ling Feng; he was Lin Qingyun's cousin from the Ling Family of the Provincial City.

At this moment, Ling Feng's gaze was ice-cold as he stared at Zhao Dong on the ground in the distance, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

When he turned to look at Lin Qingyun, Ling Feng's expression softened slightly, and he finally sighed. "Qingyun, you're being so foolish! You've been stalling your return from the East Sea all for this kid? I thought he must be incredibly capable, but it turns out he's just a piece of trash!"

Upon hearing this, veins bulged on the forehead of Zhao Dong on the ground as he clenched his teeth.

He was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, strong enough to contend with masters at the seventh or eighth level, yet he had been almost severely injured by a single palm strike from Ling Feng. It was a clear testament to the terrifying power of Ling Feng's realm.

Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Zhao Dong wiped the stain from the corner of his mouth and glared coldly at Ling Feng. Although he was no match for Ling Feng, it didn't mean he would simply allow himself to be humiliated.

Mustering his strength, Zhao Dong pushed himself to his feet. He coughed a few times, and despite his weakness, he gritted his teeth and said coldly, "So you think you can bully people just because your realm is a little stronger? I'm trash because my realm is lower than yours, so in the eyes of those with higher realms than you, aren't you trash too?"

As soon as he said this, a cold glint flashed in Ling Feng's eyes, and his anger ignited instantly!

"How dare you! You're courting death!" Ling Feng growled, balling his fist and throwing a ferocious punch.

The fist tore through the air with a piercing howl. Ling Feng's speed was bizarrely fast, and his fist carried a terrifying pressure!

Zhao Dong gritted his teeth, channeling all his Spiritual Energy into his right fist and smashing it toward Ling Feng!

"Dragon-breaking Fist!" Zhao Dong roared, and the faint sound of a dragon's roar echoed in the void.

This Dragon-breaking Fist was a Cultivation Technique he had obtained from the Dragon Blood Stone, one that even Yun Keqing of the Yun Family regarded with the utmost importance. This alone showed that the Dragon-breaking Fist was truly formidable.

BOOM!

The surrounding trees shook violently, and a fierce wind kicked up. The very ground between the two of them cracked and shattered from the sheer force! Dust flew everywhere as the terrifying impact boomed like muffled thunder.

Zhao Dong spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The bones in his hand and arm were completely shattered. His entire body flew backward like a kite with a cut string, smashing heavily onto the ground.

Ling Feng narrowed his eyes and withdrew his fist, a cold light flashing within them as he huffed, "A piece of trash, daring to trade blows with me. Truly overestimating your own strength!"

As he spoke, the corner of Ling Feng's mouth twitched. His own fist had turned white and was faintly aching.

On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, he was utterly shocked! Zhao Dong's strength seems so low... my intuition places him around the early Master Realm. But a single punch from him actually made me feel pain? This is inconceivable. I should have been able to send him flying effortlessly. After all, my realm completely crushes his. Plus, coming from a family in the Provincial City, I've had excellent resources and have been nurtured by all sorts of medicines since I was a child. And yet, now my hand...

Ling Feng's eyebrows suddenly shot up. My hand... it's actually broken?

He gritted his teeth against the pain as monstrous waves of shock crashed through his mind. How is this possible? I can deal with a fifth-level Master effortlessly, yet I broke my hand trading punches with Zhao Dong?

Just then, Zhao Dong twitched a few times on the ground before turning onto his side, blood spilling from his mouth. With a mouthful of blood, he gave Ling Feng a cold smile. "If you've got the guts, kill me. Otherwise... in my eyes, you're trash too."

"You... How dare you!" Ling Feng roared furiously, his eyes brimming with deadly intent, ready to take Zhao Dong's life.

Just as he was about to rush forward, Lin Qingyun ran over like a madwoman, planting herself in front of Zhao Dong to face Ling Feng. Tears welled in Lin Qingyun's eyes, her face pale and helpless. She bit her lip, letting the tears fall as she pleaded, "Cousin... I beg you... please don't hurt Zhao Dong, okay?"

Ling Feng berated her out of exasperation. "Qingyun! I'm doing this for your own good! You can't let this piece of trash hold you back! Your uncle has spoken, and he ordered me to bring you back! You... you can't be so deluded!"

Lin Qingyun wiped away her tears, her eyes red. "I will decide my own affairs, cousin. You and I are the same age; you know the hardships I face... Besides, I'm begging you, please let Zhao Dong go. He has nothing to do with this."

Ling Feng looked at Zhao Dong coldly and finally gritted his teeth. "Qingyun, step aside. I must get rid of this kid tonight, or else you'll never give up on him!"

As he spoke, killing intent surged through Ling Feng. He flickered forward like a phantom, instantly appearing before Zhao Dong and seizing his neck, ready to crush it.

In that instant, Zhao Dong felt death approaching.

To be at the brink of death... what a profound sense of irony. I didn't die at the hands of Hong Wu, nor at the hands of Xiao Hongtian, only to be killed by one of Lin Qingyun's own relatives. How laughable! Truly laughable!

Just as Ling Feng's grip was about to crush his throat, Lin Qingyun's heartbroken yet icy voice rang out, "Ling Feng, I swear that if you kill Zhao Dong, I will take my own life right here in front of you!"

A small dagger had somehow appeared in Lin Qingyun's hand, pressed directly against her own throat. The blade had already pierced her skin, and a trickle of blood began to seep out.

Ling Feng was stunned. The hand he was using to crush Zhao Dong's neck froze mid-motion. Zhao Dong could barely breathe, his throat clamped as if in a vice.

Looking at Lin Qingyun, Ling Feng's voice trembled. "Qingyun, for a piece of trash... is it worth it?"

With tears in her eyes, Lin Qingyun replied coldly, "I'm telling you, Ling Feng! He is not trash! He is my man! He... he was once willing to give his life for me! Ling Feng, for the sake of our family, let Zhao Dong go."

"Qingyun, why are you so stubborn!" Ling Feng could no longer hold back his roar.

"Because you're the one who's stubborn! Ling Feng, you're a madman!" Lin Qingyun screamed back hysterically, their shouts echoing through the night.

Ling Feng's mouth hung open, his body trembling slightly. He glanced at Zhao Dong, an indescribable emotion flashing through his eyes. Finally, his grip relaxed, and Zhao Dong's body slowly slumped to the ground.

Lin Qingyun powerlessly dropped the dagger. Her body seemed drained of all strength, as if she were soulless, and she just stood there gazing at Zhao Dong from a distance.

"Zhao Dong..." Lin Qingyun's lips trembled as she softly called his name, not knowing why she felt compelled to say it at that moment.

But... she really did want to call out his name. Just then, in that brief moment, she had nearly lost the man standing before her. In that instant, Lin Qingyun had felt fear. Her heart ached with a sharp pain, as if it were being sliced by a knife. She didn't know why she felt that way... but the feeling was unmistakably there. It wasn't that she was afraid of feeling guilty if he died. In that moment, she truly, from the bottom of her heart, couldn't bear... couldn't bear to lose the man before her.

With tears glistening, Lin Qingyun continued to meet Zhao Dong's gaze.

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Dong's pale face; though wan, it was still familiar. He struggled to his feet and walked toward Lin Qingyun, step by step. When he reached her, he looked at the woman before him, said nothing more, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

A gust of wind blew past, and the surroundings became hauntingly quiet.

After an unknown length of time, Ling Feng let out a soft sigh. "How much longer are you two going to be like this?"

Zhao Dong was taken aback and released Lin Qingyun. She looked at Ling Feng, her expression complex.

After a moment of silence, Ling Feng said, "Your cousin is here, and you won't even invite me inside to sit down?"

Lin Qingyun gave a wry smile, glanced at Ling Feng, then walked to the villa's door, opened it, and turned on the light. "Cousin, please come in."

Ling Feng glanced at Zhao Dong and walked into the villa.

Zhao Dong's expression was complex as he turned to leave. Just as he was about to step away, Lin Qingyun, standing under the light of the doorway, said softly, "You come in as well."

Zhao Dong paused, a bitter smile on his face. "I... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"You are my man."

With those words, Lin Qingyun walked into the villa.

Zhao Dong's body jolted at her words. He touched his nose, then followed her inside.

In the villa's living room, Lin Qingyun made tea for the two men. The room was quiet. The three of them sat around the table under the bright lights as the wind whistled outside.

Finally, Ling Feng looked at Zhao Dong, his expression complex. "Are your feelings for Qingyun genuine?"