Chapter 41: Departure
Luuu Ye was gone, too.
In Feng City now,
Lu Changfeng truly had no old acquaintances left.
Lu Changfeng released the horse he had commandeered outside the city and entered on foot.
The Wang Family’s actions had shown Lu Changfeng the domineering power and ruthless style befitting a Martial Arts Family that ruled over a region.
Luuu Kui had probably learned how to annihilate the Liu Family from the Wang Family.
He had learned their methods well, but his strength fell far short.
Today, the Liuu Family had followed in the footsteps of the Liu Family. It seemed to be a cycle of fate.
Lu Changfeng realized that in the face of a power like the Wang Family, his own strength was still far too weak.
Let alone the true top-tier factions.
Any trace of complacency he felt from his rapid increase in strength was instantly shattered.
Before he knew it, Lu Changfeng had stepped into the Inner City.
The streets were strangely deserted.
There were far fewer pedestrians.
Hm?
Lu Changfeng stopped in his tracks.
A group of men appeared before him, dressed in the purple Retainer Robes of the Wang Family. Leading them was none other than Liu Li, a Retainer at the Tendon Transformation Realm.
"So you’re the one who leaked the news, let the Liuu Family’s eldest son get away, and made our mission a failure?"
Liu Li spoke with an arrogant and condescending expression.
Lu Changfeng glanced at Liu Anx, who stood behind Liu Li. His eyes darted away, not daring to meet Lu Changfeng’s gaze.
Lu Changfeng shrugged. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"You’re courting death!"
"Get him! Cut off his hands and feet and bring them back to the Patriarch!"
Liu Li ordered.
The five purple-robed Retainers exchanged glances, but none of them dared to make a move. This was Lu Changfeng, after all—a top-tier Saber Master who had comprehended Saber Intent.
None of the five was confident they could withstand a single strike from his saber.
"So you’re afraid of his Saber Intent, but not of my Inner Strength?"
Liu Li feigned a palm strike toward Liu Anx, who was standing beside him.
Liu Anx gritted his teeth. "My apologies, Retainer Lu! Just surrender and come back with us! Otherwise, we’ll be in deep trouble!"
Liu Anx raised his sword and charged at Lu Changfeng.
But Lu Changfeng showed no mercy. Drawing his refined steel saber, he immediately channeled his Saber Intent. A single, swift strike shattered Liu Anx’s longsword and continued, unabated, to slice off his arm.
Liu Anx clutched his bleeding stump in agony, his gaze toward Lu Changfeng now filled with hatred.
"Don’t look at me like that. The moment you chose to attack me, you should have been prepared to be struck back."
That the blade hadn’t struck Liu Anx’s neck was the only mercy Lu Changfeng granted, a nod to the time they had worked together.
Lu Changfeng turned to Liu Li. "Stop coercing others. If you want to fight, do it yourself."
"You..." Though arrogant, Liu Li knew his own limitations.
He was just an ordinary Low-Grade Martial Artist. He hadn’t even managed to fully refine his Inner Strength. His Root Bone was simply too poor, and now that he was getting older, his body was already in decline.
Lu Changfeng’s last strike was more than enough to threaten his life.
Liu Li didn’t dare risk a direct confrontation with Lu Changfeng.
Seeing that he had intimidated everyone, Lu Changfeng turned to walk around them.
’I can’t stay with the Wang Family anymore.’
’I’ll go back, pack my things, and leave Feng City.’
If he were to ask himself whether it was worth it, Lu Changfeng would say yes.
He had done everything in his power to protect those who needed it.
’As long as my conscience is clear, that’s what matters.’
A blade whistled toward him from the side.
It was Liu Li, launching a sneak attack!
"You’re dead!"
Lu Changfeng’s senses were incredibly sharp. He spun around and slashed back!
Their blades clashed, and they seemed evenly matched in terms of raw strength!
Lu Changfeng activated his Falling Leaves Saber Intent. A whirling force erupted, and Liu Li felt a tremendous power surge toward him. Even with his Inner Strength reinforcing his grip, he nearly lost hold of his saber!
SWISH!
A flash of light from the blade vanished. Liu Li looked down at his abdomen, where a long gash had appeared, revealing the glistening mess of his intestines.
"You..." Liu Li stared blankly at Lu Changfeng, all the arrogance wiped clean from his face.
"Annoying."
Lu Changfeng swung his saber, and Liu Li’s head went flying.
In the distance, a squad of constables passed by. Seeing the Wang Family Retainer Robes on Lu Changfeng’s group, they actually started to disperse the onlookers for them.
The City Lord himself was a member of the Wang Family, so the City Guards naturally knew what to do.
Even further away, spies from Feng City’s other second-rate families were watching the spectacle unfold.
Lu Changfeng’s gaze swept over the five remaining Retainers. They all trembled in fear, none daring to meet his eyes.
To kill a Tendon Transformation Retainer in just two moves—Lu Changfeng’s strength had already surpassed their wildest imagination.
’Is this what a top-tier Saber Master with Saber Intent is capable of?’ The unbelievable scene of someone fighting and defeating an opponent from a higher realm was playing out right before their eyes, leaving them utterly terrified.
Lu Changfeng turned and left.
「Outside the Wang Manor.」
Lu Changfeng saw Wang Yue waiting anxiously.
Evidently, someone had already reported what happened on the streets of the Inner City to the Wang Family.
"Lu Ren, take me with you!" Wang Yue cried, running toward Lu Changfeng.
Lu Changfeng used a Body Technique to sidestep her lightly. "Don’t be foolish. With your talent, you’ll become the head of the Wang Family sooner or later."
"Then stay and help me run the Wang Family," Wang Yue said bluntly.
"You’re thinking too much, Sixth Miss," Lu Changfeng said after a brief pause, turning as if to enter the Wang Manor.
More than twenty purple-robed Retainers filed out, interspersed with several Wang Family Elders. Wang Shou strode out from among them.
"In all these years, you’re the first Retainer who has dared to so thoroughly trample on the Wang Family’s dignity," Wang Shou said, his gaze fixed on Lu Changfeng, deep and unreadable.
Lu Changfeng shrugged. "Liu Li made the first move. I killed him in self-defense."
"And what about the matter with the Liuu Family?" Wang Shou asked.
"I really don’t know anything about that. I just went outside the city to clear my head," Lu Changfeng said with an innocent shrug.
’Everyone knew he did it, but Lu Changfeng couldn’t possibly admit it in public. If he did, the Wang Family’s humiliation would be absolute. Even with *that person* present, he might not be able to leave the Wang Family safely.’
Wang Shou desperately wanted to kill the young man who had betrayed the Wang Family.
But he couldn’t be sure of the relationship between Lu Changfeng and *that person*.
Just then, two figures emerged from the Wang Manor.
It was a carefree-looking Zhao Xingtian, followed by Hei Niu, who was carrying their luggage.
"Patriarch Wang, we’ve enjoyed our long stay at your esteemed residence, but we’ve had our fun. It’s time for us to go," Zhao Xingtian said as he walked past Wang Shou, patting him on the shoulder.
Wang Shou forced a smile. "Leaving so soon? Young Sect Leader, why not stay a few more days?"
"I’d love to stay a few more days, but alas, it seems some people can’t wait to leave," Zhao Xingtian said, glancing at Lu Changfeng with a sly smile.
Wang Shou let out a slow breath. "In that case, we welcome the Young Sect Leader to visit the Wang Manor again in the future."
"I will," Zhao Xingtian said with a serious nod. He started walking, then paused beside Lu Changfeng and asked in mock surprise, "What are you standing there stunned for? Let’s go."
Lu Changfeng looked up and gave Wang Shou a cupped-fist salute.
’For the past year or so with the Wang Family, his life as a Retainer had been stable. It had been a decent partnership.’
’If it weren’t for the business with Liuu Ye, he would have stayed with the Wang Family for a long time.’
’He would have stayed until he reached Tendon Transformation, or became even stronger—like one of those old monsters from the novels of his past life who would lie low for centuries before finally making a move.’
’But now, he had to find somewhere else.’
Lu Changfeng turned to leave. He hesitated for a fraction of a second as he passed Wang Yue, but only for a fraction of a second.