Whispers of the Hidden Game

Qin Feng donned a straw hat and lazily leaned against the side of the cart. With a flick of the whip, the cracking sound echoed as the horses continued their journey at a leisurely pace.

Three old men huddled on their donkeys, swaying with each step as they followed the cart.

Suddenly, the curtain of the cart lifted, revealing a delicate face, as radiant as spring sunlight. She glanced back, sticking out her tongue. "Young Master, why are those people just standing there on the road? Aren't they worried the cart will crash into them?"

Qin Feng chuckled. "They've done something wrong, so I've made them stand in the sun as punishment."

At that moment, another lovely face peered out from the window, her voice crisp and lively. "Young Master, how much farther to Dingzhou city?"

Qin Feng responded, "Not far now, just about thirty miles. We should arrive before the sun sets. Why? Can't wait to see Little Three?"

Both women blushed at the same time and huffed. "What are you saying? How could you, as the older brother, talk like that about our brother Qin?"

Qin Feng smiled and waved them off. "Alright, Yue'er, Piao Piao, go back inside. Since you're so eager, I'll speed up!" He then shouted, "Giddy up!"

With a thunderous roar, the leader of the Star River Sword Saint's whip cracked again, and the two horses, startled, broke into a gallop. The cart swayed violently, throwing everyone inside into a frenzy.

Xiao Xiangyue and Liu Piaopiao shrieked, quickly pulling their heads back into the cart as they pouted. "Young Master, you're teasing us. Watch out, we'll tell Qin Ren to come after you!"

Qin Feng didn't answer but laughed heartily, whipping the horses again. The two steeds, now spurred into a frenzy, galloped even faster.

The three old men, riding donkeys, didn't try to stop them. To everyone's surprise, their donkeys, which seemed slow and weak, suddenly charged ahead, matching the pace of the cart and staying close behind.

As Qin Feng and his entourage moved further away, Ji Wuhua and his twenty-four companions, who had been standing in the sun holding their weapons, suddenly felt a sharp sensation on their necks. Blood began to seep out in perfect unison.

"This... this is not of this world's swordsmanship..." Ji Wuhua muttered in disbelief.

A moment later, a violent burst of blood erupted from their necks, and in an instant, their heads flew into the air, propelled by the force of their blood fountains.

The city of Dingzhou was bustling with activity today.

The reason? The Martial Arts Tournament, set to begin in ten days, would be held at Tianping Manor, only fifteen miles outside the city.

Though the manor covered a vast area, it lacked enough rooms for all the martial artists attending the event. Only those with power and status could secure rooms at Tianping Manor, while the rest—those of lower rank or lesser importance—were sent to Dingzhou to find lodging.

Of course, some high-ranking martial artists, who despised mingling with the crowd, preferred to pay for rooms in Dingzhou's inns rather than attend the festivities at Tianping Manor.

As a result, inns and taverns in Dingzhou were experiencing unprecedented business.

Meanwhile, the local thieves and bandits weren't so at ease. How could they target martial artists? The odds of getting caught were high.

Some young thieves who made the mistake of picking the wrong victim were caught red-handed. Beatings were commonplace, and the unlucky ones found themselves executed on the spot.

As a result, Dingzhou's security was both exemplary and dismal—highly controlled by the martial world, but chaos reigned for those caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The major players, however, had a different view of the city. The major families, like the Qin family, had their own interests. Qin Feng, despite his family's relatively smaller influence in the North, still had connections—his maternal uncle, Iron Kong Mountain, ruled the Iron Blood Howl Sky Fortress not far from Dingzhou. Naturally, they also had assets in the city, including farmlands, a jewelry shop, a rice stall, and a tea house.

Qin Feng, being frugal, would never spend his own money on a room at an inn. Fortunately, among the three Qin brothers, only the third—known as the Prodigal Son—was careless with money. Otherwise, the Qin family would be bankrupt by now.

Upon arriving in Dingzhou, Qin Feng headed straight to the Iron family's mansion, where he used both the Qin family and Iron family seals to establish his identity. He and his entourage were promptly settled in the luxurious mansion.

Iron Kong Mountain's residence was a formidable sight. As the largest estate in the North, it stood proudly in Dingzhou's best area, its grandeur dwarfing all surrounding mansions.

While the Prodigal Son, Qin Ren, had no idea the Iron family even owned such a property in Dingzhou, Qin Feng found it convenient to stay at the mansion instead of an inn.

After Qin Feng arrived, the housekeeper wasted no time in informing Iron Kong Mountain's fortress, knowing that the situation would require a response.

Within a day, Iron Kong Mountain's children—Iron Jian and Iron Xuanxuan—were dispatched to Dingzhou. Iron Jian, at twenty-four, was a robust and imposing figure, known for his "Iron Hand" techniques, inherited from his father, though his reputation was less famous than the Qin brothers.

Iron Xuanxuan, only eighteen, was a straightforward, fearless woman, fiercely talented in martial arts. Although she was unable to practice the "Iron Hand," she mastered finger techniques and acupoint strikes from a renowned master. She could strike acupoints from a distance of one yard with her finger winds.

Their mission was clear: their father had sent them after receiving Qin Feng's letter, which hinted that the youngest Qin brother, Qin Ren, might be in Dingzhou.

This news sent ripples through the martial world, with many more players rushing to the city for their own purposes.

In Dingzhou, a seemingly unimportant shop, the Xingyuan Silk Store, served as a front for those in the shadows. The owner, known only as "Master Yu," was a secretive figure who often spent most of his time away from the store. His true identity was shrouded in mystery, and even the store's manager, a man in his sixties, could only refer to him as "Master Yu" when necessary.

One evening, as Master Yu sipped iced plum tea in the back garden, the manager rushed in with a report. Panting and blood trickling from his nose, the manager gave a deep bow. "Master, a young woman is outside with one of your signet rings. She seeks your presence."

Master Yu raised an eyebrow. "What does she want?"

The manager replied, "She carries a jade ring with an eagle feather engraved on its inner surface."

Master Yu's expression darkened. "Lo'er? How did she find me here?"

He studied the manager, noticing the sweat on his brow and the blood trickling from his nose. "You've had a hard time, haven't you? What happened?"

The manager, flustered, stammered, "Master, she... she's too much of a temptation. I... I couldn't resist a peek at her face under her veil..."

Master Yu burst into laughter. "Fool! You think you can just tease a woman born with the power to charm? Only those with iron hearts, like sages, can resist her allure. Let her in. She's come for something important!"