Chapter 302: Retreat
The force of the impact sent them both staggering back several steps.
But a smirk played on the young woman's lips.
After that single strike, the young woman pressed forward again. Her dagger, glinting with a cold light, shot straight for Lin Feng's heart.
Lin Feng's eyes widened at the sight. Without a second thought, he retreated.
Even so, the back of the dagger still grazed his shoulder, leaving a shallow cut.
"Too close!"
A hint of relief flickered in Lin Feng's eyes. 'If I'd been even a fraction of a second slower just now,' he thought, 'that dagger might have pierced my heart!'
The young woman, for her part, was surprised by Lin Feng's reaction.
She was a master of the art of assassination. Her family's creed demanded that every mission be completed, so they were trained in the ways of the assassin from birth.
Having grown up crawling and clawing her way through the darkness, she had long since developed a cautious nature. She knew better than to attack before an enemy showed any sign of weakness, as it could easily lead to a fatal mistake.
That was why she hadn't attacked immediately upon seeing Lin Feng, instead choosing to stand her ground and observe.
But she never expected Lin Feng to execute the perfect dodge in that split second. It was unbelievable!
'How is this possible?'
She possessed the combat prowess of an Innate master—at the Peak of Late Stage Innate, no less! Logically, even if Lin Feng's power was profound, he shouldn't have been able to predict her attack so quickly.
But the facts were right in front of her, leaving no room for disbelief. Her wariness deepened.
SWOOSH!
The young woman relentlessly attacked Lin Feng with her dagger. Seeing her strikes grow fiercer, Lin Feng swung his short sword continuously, parrying the dense flurry of blades.
Suddenly, Lin Feng's pupils constricted. The young woman was right in front of him. A fragrant scent wafted over as her devastatingly beautiful face came within inches of his own.
BANG!
Their fists and palms collided. A powerful surge of Inner Strength blasted Lin Feng backward as if he'd been struck by lightning. He staggered back more than a dozen steps before finally regaining his balance.
The young woman, meanwhile, skidded back three to five meters.
Her beautiful eyes fixed on the young man kneeling on one knee before her, her expression turning grave. The exchange had already shown that she was no match for Lin Feng.
Lin Feng slowly rose, wiping away a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked at the young woman and said in a low voice, "You're strong, but in the end, you're just an assassin."
"In a direct confrontation, you're not my opponent."
Lin Feng knew he couldn't afford a prolonged fight. If this dragged on until reinforcements from the other families arrived, his situation would become dire.
"Hmph. Don't think I'm actually afraid of you. If you want a fight, let's fight!"
Hearing this, the young woman gave a cold laugh. She stomped her foot, and her figure shot forward, rocketing toward Lin Feng.
Seeing this, Lin Feng met her charge, and the two became entangled in a fierce struggle.
CLANG!
For a moment, the two crisscrossed the courtyard, blades flashing. The chilling sound of fine steel crashing against steel rang out again and again.
"Hah!"
The young woman let out a sharp cry. Her body halted for an instant, then she began to spin like a top. The short dagger in her hand weaved around Lin Feng like a frenzied dragon, making it impossible to defend against.
ZING!
Lin Feng's short sword met the young woman's short dagger. The two weapons parted, and the fighters charged each other once more, crashing together violently.
RIP!
Lin Feng retreated several steps in a hurry. The web of his hand throbbed with pain, and crimson blood dripped from between his fingers.
The previous clashes may have looked simple, but they were incredibly perilous. With every exchange, the young woman's dagger would appear at an awkward angle, aimed at one of Lin Feng's vital points, putting him at a significant disadvantage.
PFFT!
Just then, a metallic taste filled Lin Feng's throat, and he couldn't stop himself from spitting out a large mouthful of blood.
He looked up, his face pale, and stared at the young woman. Her sneak attack just now was like a gazelle hanging by its horns—completely traceless!
Even with his keen senses, he hadn't managed to track her bizarre Body Technique. It was simply unthinkable!
The young woman was also startled by Lin Feng's movements. His Body Technique was so ghostly and unpredictable she couldn't get a read on him. But this only stoked her competitive spirit.
'My own father called me a once-in-a-century prodigy, the makings of a top assassin,' she thought. 'How could I possibly lose in my own specialty, Body Technique, to some kid whose realm is lower than mine!'
SHING!
The young woman's figure flickered, and another afterimage flashed before Lin Feng's eyes before she vanished again.
WHOOSH!
At that moment, Lin Feng felt an icy touch on his neck.
The young woman's dagger had slid past Lin Feng's skin and lightly embedded itself in the ancient tree next to his neck.
Lin Feng's heart went cold. 'If she'd been half a beat slower with that strike,' he thought, 'I'd already be dead!'
"Heh, you've got some skill, I'll give you that. But it's not nearly enough!"
Lin Feng's gaze grew frigid. His short sword suddenly erupted with a brilliant, cold light. Then, to the young woman's astonishment, the sword slashed toward her neck!
CLANG!
The young woman reacted in time, blocking sharply with her dagger and deflecting Lin Feng's short sword.
SWISH!
His attack having failed, Lin Feng's right leg trembled. He stomped his foot on the ground and shot toward the young woman like a cannonball.
This time, Lin Feng's weapon became a blur of afterimages that enveloped the young woman.
The young woman's pretty face grew solemn. She could feel the power in Lin Feng's move. She twisted to the side, blocking his weapon with her dagger.
At the same time, seizing the opportunity, a second dagger broke past the blockade of his short sword and shot straight for his throat!
How could Lin Feng's reflexes be anything but sharp? When the Short Blade was less than half an inch from his throat, he jerked his head to the side, dodging the young woman's strike.
Immediately after, he dropped low, bent his right knee, and kicked out with his left leg, viciously striking the young woman's soft, slender waist.
"Ugh..."
The young woman grunted as she was sent flying backward.
THUD!
The young woman slammed hard onto the ground. She gritted her teeth and struggled to her feet, but just as she was about to attack, Lin Feng's figure was already closing in.
BAM!
Lin Feng's powerful form seemed to materialize out of thin air, crashing violently into the young woman and knocking her back down to the ground.
Just as the young woman was about to get up, Lin Feng's large hand clamped around her throat, and his sharp Short Blade was pressed against her chest.