Chapter 255: Chapter 255: A Close Call
The Golden Needle was invisible, its speed so fast its trajectory was impossible to follow. Feng Jinchuan had also concealed its aura, making it nearly impossible to detect under normal circumstances.
He was counting on a surprise attack; once the Golden Needle was upon him, Feng Youming would have no choice but to use a Spell to defend himself.
All he had to do was wait for the outcome.
In the blink of an eye, the Golden Needle closed in without a sound. Song Wanning was still exchanging blows at high speed with the Peng Clan Leader when her Divine Soul suddenly sensed something amiss. Her eyelid twitched.
’Another hidden weapon!’
’That Feng Jinchuan just won’t give up!’
She frowned, and without a second thought, she changed her stance. Shifting her fist into an open palm, she slapped it viciously toward the Peng Clan Leader’s face.
SLAP—
The Peng Clan Leader took the full force of the slap, the impact so hard he saw stars.
He hadn’t expected Feng Youming to suddenly change his tactics. His outstretched fist couldn’t be pulled back in time, and it slammed hard into "his" chest.
THUD—
Song Wanning used the force of the blow to launch herself backward, narrowly dodging the incoming Golden Needle.
The Golden Needle pierced the hem of her robes, tearing away a small piece of fabric.
Song Wanning landed hard, rolling once across the ground before scrambling back to her feet.
The Peng Clan Leader was now clutching his face, glaring at her with righteous fury. "Feng Youming!!!"
"You don’t hit someone in the face! What was the meaning of that?"
’When had he, the great Patriarch of the Peng Family, ever been slapped across the face?’
’Feng Youming was simply lawless and utterly outrageous!’
Hearing the commotion, the others stopped fighting and turned to look. Upon seeing the Peng Clan Leader clutching his face, everyone from the Feng Family broke into triumphant smiles.
Elder Wulan even came forward and clapped Song Wanning on the shoulder. "Youming, well done! I’ve wanted to slap him for ages!"
"You’re incredible!!"
He gave Song Wanning a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with admiration and awe.
The corner of Song Wanning’s mouth twitched. She wasn’t the real Feng Youming, so she wasn’t afraid of the Peng Clan Leader coming after her for this.
"So what if I slapped him? Didn’t you just try to ambush me with a hidden weapon?"
She pointed to the torn hem of her robe, her face dripping with sarcasm. "If you can’t beat me, just admit defeat. What’s the point of using such filthy, underhanded, despicable tricks?"
"You’re a truly shameless, despicable bastard!!!"
Song Wanning spat the words through gritted teeth, her curse aimed indirectly at another.
Hearing this, Feng Jinchuan’s expression faltered, and a flicker of inexplicable anger rose within him.
’Feng Youming and his foul mouth... truly infuriating.’
"What hidden weapon? What nonsense are you spouting?"
The Peng Clan Leader looked utterly bewildered. He had been in the heat of battle; when had he ever used a hidden weapon?
"Don’t you dare frame me!!"
"Look! If you didn’t do it, then who did?"
Song Wanning pointed at her hem, looking like she wanted to shove her foot in the Peng Clan Leader’s face so he could get a better look.
The Peng Clan Leader looked closer and frowned. "I didn’t do that. I fight fair and square; I would never use such a dirty trick! Don’t you dare slander me!"
His face was a mask of indignation; he felt Feng Youming was insulting his very character.
Song Wanning just snorted coldly. "Hmph. Even if it wasn’t you, it must have been one of the Peng Family. Or are you suggesting someone from my own Feng Family did it?"
Her words were pointed, and she was growing frustrated. ’I’ve tried my best to imitate him, so why is Feng Jinchuan still so suspicious?’
’What did I do wrong?’
’If this keeps up, how will I ever get the method for awakening the dragon vein?’
"You—Feng Youming, don’t spout nonsense! Why would we ever try to ambush you?"
"That’s right. We were all busy fighting. Who had time to target you?"
"Don’t just throw accusations around!!"
The Peng Family elders wouldn’t stand for it either. If word of this got out, it would be a disgrace to their family.
Seeing that another argument was about to erupt, a vein throbbed on Feng Jinchuan’s temple, and he grew impatient.
’Feng Youming... was that intentional, or not...?’
Just as he was about to probe further, a Communication Jade Scroll in his Storage Ring suddenly lit up.
’A message from the Array Master!’
Feng Jinchuan’s heart sank. When he raised his eyes again, they were filled with an icy chill.
"Peng Clan Leader, let’s not waste any more words. Just give us the compensation!"
"Once the compensation is paid, this matter with the Peng Family is over. After that, it’s a private matter between us and Peng Yu!"
He was preoccupied with the matter of the seal; the compensation no longer seemed so important.
’As for Feng Youming, there will be plenty of time to test him later.’
Hearing this, the Peng Clan Leader’s face twitched. He was deeply unhappy, but he knew there was no other choice.
’We’ve fought, we’ve argued. A little compensation will put this to rest.’
"Alright..."
He negotiated with Feng Jinchuan for a while longer. This time, Feng Jinchuan didn’t make any exorbitant demands. After securing as much compensation as he could, he led his people away from the Peng Family’s estate.
The group had arrived full of aggression, only to leave in a rush. The Peng Family members were furious but could only swallow their anger.
’This time, can Peng Yu escape... Even they couldn’t guarantee it.’
’Of all the mistakes she could have made, Peng Yu should never have killed Feng Liuguang...’
By breaking the rules of the Secluded Land, she had left them with no grounds to protect her.
The Peng Clan Leader let out a long sigh. In the end, he couldn’t bear it and sent a message to Peng Yu.
He warned her that the Feng Family was hunting for her everywhere and that she must be extremely careful. If she could find a place to lie low for a while, there might still be a chance for things to turn around.
Having done all he could, the Peng Clan Leader was out of ideas. He turned and headed back to the assembly hall.
Someone asked curiously, "Clan Leader, why do you think Feng Jinchuan was suddenly willing to relax his terms? Just a moment ago, he was making outrageous demands!"
"Exactly! Feng Jinchuan’s attitude changed in a flash. It looked like he received some kind of message!"
"The Feng Family seems a bit secretive lately. I haven’t seen Afu in a long time!"
"Afu? The Feng Family’s genius Array Master? I heard he found some extraordinary ancient tome and went into seclusion to study it!"
"Really? But several of their Array Masters haven’t been seen for a long time..."
"Maybe they all want to study that tome?"
With deeply furrowed brows, the Peng Family elders gathered together, their voices low as they discussed the matter.
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in the Peng Clan Leader’s eyes. He, too, had felt that something was off about Feng Jinchuan, who had seemed incredibly busy for the past few years.
’But the Secluded Land is only so big. How could there be that much to do?’
’Now that everyone else sensed something was wrong, it proved I wasn’t just imagining things.’
A flicker of suspicion crossed his face. ’It seems I’ll have to do a thorough investigation into what secrets the Feng Family is hiding...’
...
Feng Jinchuan departed in a great hurry, leaving behind only a single command: "Put all our efforts into apprehending Peng Yu. If she can’t be taken alive, kill her on sight."
His hasty departure left the elders deeply concerned.
"Sigh... It seems they’ve run into a problem with breaking the seal. It’s been so long, how have they not made any headway?"
"It should be soon. The Clan Leader said the seal has already started to loosen. We’ve waited for centuries, what’s a little more time?"
"Hahaha, that’s true!"
