Chapter 89: Engagement
The Short Blade cut through the air and collided with the incoming iron claw, creating a crisp clang of metal on metal.
After the first strike, Lin Feng suddenly accelerated, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast stabs at Li Er.
Each stab came from a vicious and cunning angle, completely cutting off Li Er's movements and leaving him no room to retaliate.
But Li Er was a master at the Peak of Internal Energy, after all. Faced with Lin Feng's cunning assault, he remained composed, calmly searching for an opening as he steadily retreated.
"Kid, your attacks aren't weak, but they're not nearly enough to handle me."
"And to think you even have a weapon like this. Looks like I'm in for an unexpected prize."
Li Er grinned, his eyes fixated on Lin Feng's Short Blade, glinting with greed. He never imagined that on top of reaching the Innate realm, Lin Feng would also possess such a treasure.
'If I take this weapon from him today and use it against my enemies, wouldn't I be unstoppable?'
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What? You think you can just take it from me?"
Hearing this, Li Er roared with laughter, his arrogance on full display.
"So what if I'm robbing you? Who do you think you are to compete with me? That's hilarious!"
"I'll give you two options. Hand it over obediently, and I might consider making your death a quick one. Otherwise, you're about to find out what a real nightmare feels like!"
"Are you sure?"
Lin Feng asked calmly.
"Hmph. You think I'm bluffing? Hurry up and hand it over. You have no other choice!"
Li Er stared coldly at Lin Feng, as if he were already looking at a corpse.
Lin Feng gave him a deep look and slowly spoke.
"My other option is... to kill you!"
A slight smile touched Lin Feng's lips, a glint in his eyes, and he abruptly lunged toward Li Er.
SWOOSH!
In the next moment, Lin Feng brandished the Yellow-Grade Short Blade, his movements becoming as unpredictable as a phantom.
WHOOSH!
Lin Feng's figure vanished like an illusion. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Li Er and viciously swung the Short Blade.
This time, Li Er finally sensed the imminent danger. His expression changed drastically as he instantly twisted away, dodging to the side.
SCHLICK!
Blood sprayed as a gruesome gash opened on his right shoulder, a shocking, bloody sight.
By then, Lin Feng had already appeared before Li Er, bringing the Yellow-Grade Short Blade down on him.
SWISH!
The blade's gleam flashed, chilling to the bone.
Li Er dodged sideways again, evading the flash of the blade. He glanced down at his bleeding wound, his expression as dark as a thundercloud.
If he hadn't reacted in time, that strike would have severed his arm completely.
'How is this guy so strong?'
'This is bad,' Li Er cursed inwardly. He had thought that dealing with a mere Basic-Level Innate like Lin Feng would be a piece of cake. He never expected to be put on the back foot, let alone almost be defeated by him.
At that moment, the corners of Lin Feng's mouth curled slightly, and his eyes held a trace of amusement.
'This moron. Did he really think he could beat me just with a speed advantage? How naive.'
Lin Feng's specialty, after all, was close-quarters combat. Although Li Er's initial contempt had allowed Lin Feng to suppress him, preventing the older fighter from using his greatest advantages, that by no means suggested Lin Feng's own close-combat skills were anything but deadly.
"Hmph!"
Lin Feng snorted, his body blurring into motion once more as he charged at Li Er. His Short Blade moved in an impenetrable whirlwind, forcing Li Er into a corner with no openings to exploit.
TING!
The two fought in a fierce melee. Lin Feng's white robes were already stained red—traces left by previous enemies—but a faint smile remained on his face.
Li Er's heart grew heavy. Lin Feng showed no sign of faltering; on the contrary, he seemed to fight with increasing vigor.
Lin Feng's techniques grew more varied. The Short Blade in his hand moved like a living creature, weaving and darting, making his attacks impossible to predict.
Li Er's speed had clearly dropped, while Lin Feng was like a gust of wind. It was impossible to track Lin Feng's movements; Li Er couldn't even hear him breathe, as if he wasn't there at all.
However, this stalemate didn't last long. Li Er gradually felt a piercing chill from behind, a terrifying sense of danger that made his hair stand on end.
Without a second thought, Li Er twisted his body to evade Lin Feng's deadly Short Blade. But Lin Feng was faster. The instant Li Er dodged, Lin Feng's left leg shot up, and his knee slammed viciously into Li Er's abdomen.
BAM!
With a dull thud, Li Er was sent flying by the knee strike. He landed hard on the ground, his handsome face flushing bright red as he struggled to catch the breath that had been knocked from his lungs.
Li Er clutched his stomach as he staggered to his feet. He stared at Lin Feng in utter shock. Lin Feng's strength was far beyond his imagination; he couldn't believe he'd been beaten this badly.
'He had originally thought the gap between his strength and Lin Feng's was massive. Logically, the fight should have been completely one-sided. Crushing Lin Feng should have been a certainty.'
'But now the tables had turned completely. Lin Feng had the upper hand, a fact he found utterly baffling.'
'He never in a million years would have thought a good-for-nothing like Lin Feng could be this formidable—strong enough to actually injure him. It was unbelievable. How was this possible?'
"Kid, you actually have some skill after all."
Li Er stared at Lin Feng, gritting his teeth. His gaze was glacial as he said, "Looks like you were hiding your true strength. Let's see how many more of my moves you can take!"
FWOOSH~
The moment he finished speaking, Li Er stomped the ground, launching himself into the air. He then dove down violently, smashing a fist straight toward Lin Feng's face.
The punch was immensely powerful, and it whistled through the air.
Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged. He pushed off the ground, launching himself upward and slashing out with his Yellow-Grade Short Blade.
"Hah! You think I wouldn't be ready for that move?"
Facing Lin Feng's attack, Li Er sneered, stomped on the ground, and his body instantly leaped away.
Lin Feng's slash hit nothing but air, and he fell rapidly. His movements didn't stop, however. As he landed, he rolled nimbly to dodge a sneak attack—a claw strike from Li Er—and swiped back with his sharp blade, aiming straight for his opponent's ribs.
Li Er retreated hastily, avoiding the fatal blow by a hair's breadth.
"Trying to run?"
Throwing caution to the wind, Lin Feng unleashed a ferocious and domineering series of attacks. In an instant, the air was filled with afterimages of his Short Blade.
Li Er's expression grew grim. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so formidable. It wasn't just his strength; his speed and explosive power far surpassed that of an ordinary person.