Chapter 44: Effortless
"I really didn't plan on killing you at first."
"But you never should have gone after the people close to me."
Slowly crouching down, Lin Feng stared coldly at Wang Kai. With a flick of his hand, a Golden Needle materialized in his palm.
"I have a connection to the Wang Family's ancestor. Out of respect for him, I can give you a quick death."
"No, don't!"
Wang Kai was scared out of his wits, shaking his head frantically.
But Lin Feng paid him no mind. He struck a vital point with the needle, then turned and walked away.
Lin Feng carried Su Yanxue into the darkness. Behind them, Wang Kai lay on the ground, clutching his neck, his gaze growing vacant.
'He couldn't accept this, but what could he do?'
"Were you frightened?"
Lin Feng looked gently at Su Yanxue in his arms. Her face was deathly pale. What had just happened was clearly a nightmare for her.
"I'm fine."
Su Yanxue shook her head. She hadn't fully recovered yet; her entire body felt on the verge of collapse.
"Good. Come on. Let's go kill the enemy who did this to us."
Shielding Su Yanxue, Lin Feng headed toward the distant, abandoned buildings.
He knew her condition wasn't good and that the best thing would be to find her a comfortable room to rest.
But he chose to head straight for their destination, unwilling to waste another second.
Su Yanxue nodded obediently, not refusing. She knew that if she were left alone, she might once again become a pawn for someone else to use.
She didn't want to be a burden on Lin Feng, unable to help and only needing his protection.
THUMP. THUMP.
Lin Feng's footsteps made a dull thudding sound on the dry leaves, yet in the silent night, it was particularly jarring.
As Lin Feng and Su Yanxue drew closer, the faint smell of blood in the air grew stronger.
It was the blood of the injured Elder Li. Lin Feng's brow furrowed when he smelled it.
He hadn't expected Elder Li to last this long. Anyone else would have already drawn their last breath, but Elder Li was still clinging to life, even on the verge of death.
Lin Feng hadn't planned on dealing with Elder Li. In his eyes, the man was a mere ant, not worth the effort. But to prevent him from going after his loved ones again, he had to eliminate this future threat.
He simply strode forward, his expression indifferent.
Inside the dim factory, Elder Li was slumped against a wall. A section of his chest was caved in, and his right arm hung uselessly at his side—a gruesome sight.
His cloudy old eyes were half-closed, and trickles of dark red blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He looked as if he could collapse at any second.
COUGH, COUGH.
Suddenly, Elder Li coughed violently, spitting out a large wad of black, clotted blood.
"You're already like this. Why not just die? Must you drag it out?"
A low, ghostly voice suddenly echoed through the space.
Elder Li's eyes snapped open, his pupils contracting sharply.
He saw a young, handsome face looking down on him.
"You... How did you find me?"
Elder Li's eyes widened in terror, his head ringing. He couldn't understand how Lin Feng had managed to find him.
'He'd already abandoned his last shred of dignity as an Ancient Martial Artist!'
'But in the end, was death still inescapable?!'
"Y-You brat! I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless!"
As an Ancient Martial Artist, Elder Li's senses were exceptionally sharp. He could smell the thick scent of blood on Lin Feng and guessed he must have gone through a fierce battle to track him here.
Besides, his status was special. If he were actually killed, the Wang Family wouldn't let the matter rest.
After all, the Wang Family was one of the most powerful and influential families in Xinan City.
"I gave you a chance. It's a shame you were so determined to die."
Lin Feng sighed. The moment he saw Su Yanxue's pale face and sheer terror, he had resolved to kill.
"I..."
Elder Li's eyes bulged as he tried to struggle to his feet, but he had lost too much blood. His body was weak and powerless. He barely managed to prop himself up before collapsing again.
"Let me tell you, brat! I am an Outer Disciple of the Qingfeng Sect! You... If you kill me, you won't be able to handle the consequences!"
"You'll be hunted not only by the Wang Family, but by my Qingfeng Sect as well! You'll be a dead man for sure!"
He yelled out his threats, trying desperately to intimidate Lin Feng with the name of the Qingfeng Sect.
Unfortunately for him, Lin Feng found the threat laughable.
Qingfeng Sect?
'Just a bunch of trash. Not enough to make me afraid.'
Still, he knew Elder Li had a point. The Qingfeng Sect was not an easy enemy to make; they were a force in the Ancient Martial Realm, after all.
"I won't be able to sleep peacefully until you're dead."
Lin Feng said coolly.
Elder Li's pupils froze.
Lin Feng's voice was calm and drawn-out, like a curse seeping into his very soul, making him tremble with uncontrollable fear.
"No... I-I beg you... don't kill me..."
He worked his dry throat, begging Lin Feng to spare him.
'He didn't want to die!'
Lin Feng shook his head. "Too late."
The next moment, he lifted his right leg and stomped down hard on Elder Li's knee. With a sharp CRACK, the old man's kneecap shattered. His entire right leg buckled and twisted at a bizarre angle, completely ruined.
"AAARGH!"
A bloodcurdling scream tore from Elder Li's throat as his body convulsed in pain.
"Remember not to do evil in your next life."
Lin Feng patted Elder Li on the shoulder and tossed him aside.
Elder Li lay paralyzed on the ground, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. He wished he could tear Lin Feng limb from limb, but he was helpless, able to do nothing but endure the agony and wait for death.
"Let's go. It's over."
Lin Feng shot Elder Li one last cold glance, then took Su Yanxue's hand and led her away.
Su Yanxue's body was still trembling uncontrollably, her lovely face an even paler shade of white. She gritted her teeth and said,
"I'm sorry. I've caused you so much trouble."
"You're my wife. How could you be any trouble? Besides, he brought this on himself."
Lin Feng smiled faintly, holding Su Yanxue's delicate hand as they walked out of the village.
His back was straight and tall, giving Su Yanxue an immense sense of security. Her delicate frame trembled slightly.
She had grown up in a single-parent home, and with her father always busy with work, she had lived a lonely life, always feeling a deep-seated lack of security.
But at this moment, the sight of Lin Feng's back was as warm as the sun, making Su Yanxue feel as if she had finally found where she belonged, someone she could rely on.
"I like this feeling. This way, I won't have to be afraid of being abandoned."
Su Yanxue murmured to herself, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a dazzling light, as bright as the stars.