The Murder Weapon Carried at the Feet

“Hey, that little one actually came in.”

“This is going to be a good show. Everyone, quiet down and just enjoy the spectacle.”

“Understood, understood.”

Wugou cast a glance at the handful of disciples huddled in a corner, whispering amongst themselves.

He rolled his eyes in exasperation, thinking, ‘These idlers from the Second Hall have far too much time on their hands. They’d better not be weeping when they fail to establish their foundations eight years from now.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wugou strode directly towards Lu Jinhan.

Yang Feng lifted his head, exchanging a knowing glance with Li Mingzhen, and both men wore a smile of profound meaning.

Yang Feng leaned his face perilously close to Lu Jinhan’s.

They were so alarmingly close that Lu Jinhan could distinctly feel Yang Feng’s breath, growing increasingly ragged, against the fine down on his own cheeks.

A wave of nausea washed over Lu Jinhan. ‘Is this pervert actually getting excited?’ he thought with disgust.

“Tell me, Junior Brother Lu, where should I strike first? Should I smash that handsome face into a ‘pig’s head’ just like yours, or perhaps hang the boy upside down and make his little backside ‘bloom’?” Yang Feng chuckled, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Lu Jinhan shot a glance at Wugou, who was steadily approaching. ‘Idiot!’ he cursed inwardly. Where had his usual quick wit vanished?

Elder Zhu had explicitly told him not to be late yesterday, yet he had ignored the warning. If they had both entered the Second Hall together from the start, perhaps they could have navigated this danger. Alas, it was far too late for such regrets now.

“Hmph, don’t get ahead of yourself. If that boy truly has powerful connections, I doubt you’ll emerge unscathed!” Lu Jinhan spat, seething with resentment.

“Oh, oh, oh, don’t try to intimidate me with that boy’s supposed backing. But since you speak with such conviction, I’ll humour you and assume he does have connections.” Yang Feng maintained his irritating smile.

“However, I’m not afraid to tell you, in the past six months, I’ve beaten no fewer than twenty or thirty ‘junior brothers.’ After so many encounters, guess what I’ve learned?”

“Hmph!”

Lu Jinhan turned his head away, disdaining to listen to the perverse man’s sordid anecdotes.

Ignoring Lu Jinhan’s dismissive attitude, Yang Feng continued, “I won’t lay a hand on that boy’s face. Take a look: everything below his neck, within the crook of his arms, and above his knees is carefully concealed from view.”

“I also avoid the more fleshy areas; striking there offers no satisfaction. With my Eagle Claw technique, I’ll specifically target that little one’s bones.

Look here: beneath his shoulder, at the collarbone, I’ll pinch it to create a fracture, rendering him unable to exert any strength for six months. Then observe his calves; there are two soft cartilages on the inner side. I’ll pluck them a few times, and he won’t be able to bend his legs to sit for months. And as for his lumbar vertebrae, I’ll subtly displace them, ensuring he never grows any taller.”

Upon hearing Yang Feng’s horrifying words, delivered with a chilling familiarity, Lu Jinhan broke out in a cold sweat. This was no mere lesson; Yang Feng’s intent was clearly to cripple Wugou.

Moreover, every area he described would result in hidden injuries. If an eight-year-old child like Wugou were truly to fall victim today, even with his astonishing talent, he would undoubtedly suffer severe lingering issues, even if he eventually cultivated a Golden Core!

This scoundrel was utterly shameless!

Lu Jinhan lowered his gaze, his eyes darting frantically within their sockets, his expression fraught with internal struggle.

Lu Jinhan was currently held captive by Yang Feng, who stood beside him. The words Yang Feng had just uttered were not solely aimed at Wugou; they carried a chilling implication for Lu Jinhan as well.

“Hmph~”

Yang Feng chuckled, lightly blowing on the back of Lu Jinhan’s ear. He teased, “Oh dear, what ever shall I do~ Should I yell for that boy to run away~ Heh heh, Junior Brother Lu, is that what you’re—thinking~”

As he spoke, Yang Feng deliberately extended his right index finger, mimicking a woman from a pleasure house, and provocatively traced it up and down Lu Jinhan’s chest.

“Bastard!” Lu Jinhan’s entire body trembled with fury. Yet, he was helpless, unable to summon even a wisp of true qi. He was nothing more than ‘fish on a chopping block,’ utterly at Yang Feng’s mercy.

“Wow~ I never imagined the Qi Refining Hall’s customs were so… liberal. In broad daylight, under the clear sky, this Senior Brother is openly engaging in such ‘cut sleeve’ behaviour. It’s truly… truly…”

Wugou rested his chin in his hand, his brow furrowed slightly, as if searching for the right words.

‘This idiot… he actually came over,’ Lu Jinhan thought, his gaze fixed on Wugou’s eyes. He frantically blinked a series of warnings, but Wugou’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling, oblivious.

“Truly what?” Yang Feng rose to his feet, lightly shaking his sleeves, feigning indifference to Wugou’s words.

“Ah, I’ve remembered! Senior Brother, please come closer. There are too many prying ears here; I’ll only tell you.” Wugou placed his right index finger to his lips, blinking several times, his expression one of utter innocence.

“Oh~ Senior Brother is very eager to hear~” Yang Feng purred, then slowly walked in front of Wugou and crouched down.

As Yang Feng moved away, Lu Jinhan prepared to speak, but a sudden, immense force slammed into his back.

“Hmph…” Lu Jinhan hunched over, a muffled groan escaping his lips. His throat tasted sweet, and a thin trickle of blood soon spilled from the corner of his mouth.

He twisted his head to see Li Mingzhen standing there!

‘These two certainly shared a grim understanding…’

Lu Jinhan spat out the clotted blood, his gaze burning as he glared at Li Mingzhen.

Yet, the taciturn man seemed utterly oblivious, not even sparing Lu Jinhan a direct glance.

“Senior Brother, please come even closer. Cultivators are known for their keen senses; one can never be sure some sharp ears won’t overhear us~” Wugou continued, his voice laced with feigned innocence.

Yang Feng offered a faint smile. “Junior Brother speaks wisely indeed.” With that, he deliberately moved his face to within a mere finger’s breadth of Wugou’s.

“Heh heh, Junior Brother, just listen…”

Suddenly.

Yang Feng felt a faint, subtle surge of qi approaching his right cheek.

The corner of Yang Feng’s eye twitched, and in that same instant, a faint, contemptuous smile touched his lips.

Then, his right hand shot up.

He casually, almost lazily, blocked the shoe Wugou slapped at him.

“Only a child would resort to such a thing…” Yang Feng sneered.

“Lu Jinhan! Hit him now!”

Wugou bellowed!

“A-DAH~!!!”

“SMACK!”

The very air within the Qi Refining Hall seemed to freeze in that instant.

“Whoa, I’m not seeing things, am I? What did that kid just do?”

“Damn, I fear this situation won’t end peacefully today. If things spiral out of control, cover me while I fetch Elder Zhu.”

“Understood.”

The two who had been idly anticipating a good show from their corner now wore solemn expressions. The situation had escalated beyond their ability to influence.

Meanwhile, Lu Jinhan, watching from behind, felt his blood surge with excitement. He couldn’t help but grit his teeth and exclaim, “Well struck!”

“Hmph!”

A cold snort was followed by another mouthful of foul blood spilling from Lu Jinhan’s lips.

As Yang Feng’s staunch friend, Li Mingzhen stood firmly by his side.

Lu Jinhan’s cry of approval naturally ignited Li Mingzhen’s displeasure.

Lu Jinhan’s surge of excitement was instantly quelled. The moment he regained his composure, he began to worry for Wugou.

‘Idiot, he gained the upper hand, why isn’t he running!’

Though these thoughts raced through his mind, he knew Wugou had no chance of escape.

They were too close to each other!

“You insolent brat! You dared to strike me with this tattered shoe!?”

Yang Feng touched his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Wugou grinned, “I’m just a child, so naturally, I use a child’s methods~”

As he spoke, he dangled the offending shoe by its laces, swinging it incessantly before Yang Feng’s furious gaze.

“You… you’re truly excellent… Heh heh… excellent!”

Yang Feng twisted his neck, producing a series of sharp cracks. His voice turned utterly frigid, and his already aggressive eyes now seemed to spark with raw fury.

Yang Feng rose to his full height. He curled his thumbs and pinkies inward on both hands, pressing his remaining three fingers tightly together. Within moments, a faint tremor became visible.

This was Yang Feng condensing his true qi.

“To transform fingers into spears… Judging by your practiced movements, you’ve clearly dedicated considerable effort to this skill.”

Wugou remarked after a quick glance.

“Heh heh, little one, I didn’t expect such keen insight from someone so young. Pay close attention, for soon I, your Senior Brother, will use this finger-spear to pierce several holes through the soles of your feet. That way, you’ll never need to wear shoes again.”

Yang Feng’s eyes were tinged with red, his finger strength condensed to its critical point.

“Heh, are all the disciples of the Qi Refining Hall as foolish as you? Instead of diligently studying the superior cultivation methods of the Saint Water Palace, you squander so much effort on such ‘three-legged cat’ techniques. ‘Buying the casket and returning the pearls’ perfectly describes mediocre talents such as yourselves.”

Wugou puffed out his small, slightly distended belly from his recent meal, placing his hands on his hips, and adopted an air of profound arrogance.

Wugou’s words ignited the displeasure of many within the Qi Refining Hall, for indeed, quite a few disciples there had done precisely that.

“That audacious brat, he’s launching a full-scale attack!”

“He’s not wrong, though. Get ready; I might have to rush out the door.”

“Alrighty then~”

The two disciples in the corner of the hall had already risen to their feet. Their position was advantageous, as everyone’s attention was currently fixed on the confrontation between the large and small figures.

“Little ghost, I’ll show you right now what this ‘three-legged cat’ technique truly feels like.”

With that, Yang Feng’s right hand whipped out. What was originally a ‘finger into spear’ technique had been ingeniously adapted by him into a blade.

Wugou glanced at it, his brows furrowing deeper.

‘What is this fellow doing cultivating immortals?’

He had initially thought Yang Feng had merely perfected his ‘finger-spear.’

He hadn’t expected this man to dedicate his comprehension to such a skill.

“Utterly foolish!”

Wugou swiftly bent down.

The Body Tempering Art he had practiced for years unexpectedly came into play at this moment.

Under the effects of the Body Tempering Art, Wugou’s entire skeletal structure became incredibly flexible. As he bent backward, his hands quickly braced against the ground, allowing him to easily evade Yang Feng’s long-prepared strike.

“Well dodged!”

Lu Jinhan’s heart was pounding in his throat. He, too, could have performed such a dodge, yet for some reason, watching Wugou contend with Yang Feng was even more nerve-wracking than experiencing it himself.

“Hmph!”

Li Mingzhen let out a discontented snort, but even he had silently praised Wugou’s nimble dodge.

He couldn’t help but marvel, ‘Is this the calibre of a genius disciple with full innate spiritual roots? Lu Jinhan is one, and now this child, barely reaching my waist, is just as formidable.’

Li Mingzhen involuntarily clenched his fists.

‘Today, I will make sure you so-called genius disciples taste bitterness!’