Chapter 155: What Brings You Here?
He knew the person who had pulled him back from the brink of death was this young man before him, who looked even younger than himself.
"How are you feeling? Are you in any pain right now?"
Lin Feng asked, looking at him.
"My body feels fine. Thank you for saving me, Mr. Lin. If I may ask, what brings you here today?"
A faint smile was on Li Yuan's face, but the confusion in his words was unmistakable.
"I came here today to ask you about the Heart-devouring Powder."
Lin Feng spoke calmly, making no attempt to beat around the bush. He had no choice. The effects of the Heart-devouring Powder were terrifying, and it was a rare, potent poison. Just because he had dispelled it with ease didn't mean it wasn't dangerous.
If it were anyone else, they likely wouldn't have survived, no matter how many lives they threw at it. After all, even in the hidden world, the Heart-devouring Powder was a poison whose very name struck fear into people's hearts.
Li Yuan was taken aback for a moment but quickly composed himself. Elder Li had already told him of Lin Feng's purpose, but he hadn't expected him to be so direct.
"It's like this, Mr. Lin."
Leaning back against the bed, Li Yuan ignored the weakness in his body and began to speak slowly.
"About half a month ago, two friends and I stumbled upon some news. A Spiritual Medicine called the Red Flame Fruit had appeared on Wo Hu Mountain. It was said that eating it could strengthen one's physique, so the three of us decided to risk it."
Half an hour passed without them noticing as Li Yuan recounted his story, and Lin Feng pieced everything together.
The gist of it was that Li Yuan received some unsubstantiated news, gathered his friends to explore Wo Hu Mountain, and after a series of perilous events, they did indeed see the so-called Red Flame Fruit.
But a problem occurred when they tried to pick it.
A poisonous mist of Heart-devouring Powder appeared from nowhere. Fortunately, he was quick-witted and didn't inhale much, allowing him to hold on until he reached home. As for his two companions, they had died long before, on the way back.
"Wo Hu Mountain?"
After listening, Lin Feng's brow furrowed slightly. There were several major mountain ranges in the south of Huaxia, stretching for thousands of kilometers, but Wo Hu Mountain had only gained prominence in recent years.
Deep within Wo Hu Mountain lived numerous ferocious beasts, making it a tough nut to crack. Over time, Wo Hu Mountain had earned the moniker "Beast Mountain."
Not only that, but Wo Hu Mountain's fearsome reputation was well-known throughout the extreme sports community, as anyone who ventured into it rarely came out alive.
"Yes. You may not know this, Mr. Lin, but Wo Hu Mountain is not to be trifled with."
Li Yuan said with a chuckle, seeing Lin Feng's puzzled expression.
"Oh?"
Lin Feng asked, his interest piqued.
"Wo Hu Mountain has rolling, continuous ridges. And that's not even mentioning the Heart-devouring Powder that came from who-knows-where."
"There are also miasmas lingering in the area, which ordinary people can't enter at all. Even with the three of us working together, we could barely protect ourselves. And the Red Flame Fruit was located halfway up the mountain, so the danger was immense."
Li Yuan shook his head, his expression turning grave. The three of them had trained at their martial arts hall for many years, but they still held a great deal of fear for Wo Hu Mountain.
Lin Feng had a sudden realization. No wonder Li Yuan's expression had been so grim when he mentioned Wo Hu Mountain. So it was such a treacherous and deadly place.
Lin Feng, however, wasn't concerned. Wo Hu Mountain was indeed perilous, but he wasn't the least bit afraid. After all, he had already stepped into the realm of a Martial Venerable. Coupled with his uncanny Body Technique, he believed a trip to Wo Hu Mountain would be no major ordeal.
"Mr. Lin, my injuries still require your care," Li Yuan said, a little embarrassed.
He hadn't expected Mr. Lin's medical skills to be so superb, but unfortunately, his own life was still in the man's hands.
"No problem."
Lin Feng nodded, gave Li Yuan a few more instructions, and then turned to leave.
......
Meanwhile, in the Wu Family estate in Beihai City, the atmosphere was stretched to its breaking point. The Wu Family Patriarch sat in the main seat, his eyes closed, silently sipping his tea. The hall was packed with a dark mass of Wu Family elders, but none dared to make a sound.
The Wu Family Patriarch, Wu Hai, and several core elders were all gathered in the main hall. Their faces were grim. This time, they had been utterly disgraced.
After taking a sip of hot tea, Wu Hai slowly opened his eyes, looked at the crowd, and said in a heavy voice, "Elders, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
After the Wu Family Patriarch's voice faded, the hall fell into a dead silence. The elders exchanged glances, but no one was willing to speak first.
After a long while, an elder finally stepped forward, bracing himself, and spoke to Wu Hai.
"Patriarch, the young master's death was no accident. There must be a traitor within our Wu Family. Otherwise, with the guards the young master took with him, how could a mere secular Martial Artist from a small city possibly harm him?"
His words were forceful and resonant, causing all the elders to nod in agreement. The matter was indeed suspicious, and with the evidence laid bare, denying it would likely lead nowhere.
"Since you all understand, then speak. What should be done?"
Wu Hai said after a moment of contemplation. He didn't want to wrongly accuse anyone, but the incident had already occurred.
Just then, a woman in her fifties stood up. She was dressed plainly, but her spirit was vigorous and her gaze was sharp.
"Patriarch, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Whoever dared to betray the Wu Family must be severely punished without exception. I suggest we immediately dispatch the Shadow Guards to track down the mastermind. That is the only way to resolve this matter securely."
She was Wu Hai's wife, Wu Yuping. Although she disliked such deceptive struggles, she was willing to go all out for the sake of the Wu Family.
As soon as her voice fell, another elder retorted.
"Absolutely not. The matter hasn't been fully investigated yet. If we act rashly and harm an innocent, the loss would outweigh the gain."
"Hmph, you're wrong. We can't delay any longer. I believe that regardless of whether this was an accident, we must provide an explanation to the outside world. We cannot let that person remain at large."
At this moment, a burly man snorted coldly and spoke to Wu Hai.
His name was Zhao Tieniu. Although he had a different surname, his personal strength was formidable. Despite his straightforward and fiery temperament, he was wholeheartedly dedicated to the Wu Family and held considerable prestige among them. His words garnered the support of many elders.
"I also agree with Elder Zhao's point of view. This person dared to brutally murder the young master, which has crossed the Wu Family's bottom line. He must be brought to justice."
"That's right! This person must be captured. We cannot allow him to act so atrociously without consequence!"