Chapter 30: Betrayal

The scene snapped into focus for Lin Feng: Lu Cheng had betrayed him.

These surrounding men were undoubtedly from the He family. Lured by their bounty, Lu Cheng had revealed that Lin Feng killed He Yuan and led them here to ambush him… Recalling their encounter at the city gate that morning, Lu Cheng must have seen him then but pretended not to notice, then rushed straight to inform the He family.

Realization ignited a blaze of fury within Lin Feng. His gaze fixed on Lu Cheng, sharp as honed steel and radiating pure killing intent. A traitor. Deserves death.

"..."

Lu Cheng flinched under that knifelike stare, an inexplicable fear seizing him, causing him to stumble backward involuntarily.

Then, sensing movement behind him, Lu Cheng turned. Seeing the stern-faced middle-aged man leading two others, his courage seemed to return. A flicker of viciousness crossed his eyes as he bowed obsequiously. "Elder He… this is Lin Feng. The murderer of your esteemed son!"

The imposing man in purple robes, radiating cold authority, was He Wenyan—Patriarch of the Azure Cloud City's He family, and He Yuan's father. Flanking him were two men of similar age, also key members of the He family's second generation. The five men encircling Lin Feng, a mix of middle-aged and younger cultivators, included two more He family members and three hired retainers.

He Wenyan's eyes swept over Lin Feng as if he were already a corpse. His voice was glacial. "So… you killed my son. And you dared remain in Azure Cloud City? Hmph. Audacity, I suppose."

Hatred for his son's killer consumed He Wenyan. Until this morning, he'd received no news of He Yuan's death, suspecting his son had simply fallen prey to demon beasts within the Seven Peaks Forest. He'd nearly given up the bounty hunt for an unknown 'killer'. Then, Lu Cheng arrived with his tale. The pent-up rage and grief erupted instantly. He Wenyan had mobilized most of the family's core strength, leading them out of the city to set this ambush.

They'd waited all day. Doubts about the informant's truthfulness had begun to gnaw at He Wenyan when the so-called 'murderer' finally appeared.

Seeing Lin Feng's youth—younger than He Yuan—and sensing his power hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment, He Wenyan felt a pang of doubt. Could this boy really have killed Yuan?

But Lin Feng's silence, his intense focus on scanning the encircling foes, his posture suggesting desperate thoughts of escape… it all erased He Wenyan's lingering skepticism. This was the killer.

"It was him who killed your son! I saw it with my own eyes!" Lu Cheng's voice cut in, a mix of cowering fear and fawning eagerness. "Elder He, I've brought you the murderer. You can execute him now for your son's vengeance. About the bounty…"

"Hmm?"

He Wenyan's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. A chilling, unnatural smile touched his lips. He turned slowly towards Lu Cheng, his face expressionless. "Did I hear you correctly… that you witnessed this man kill my son?"

"Yes! With my own eyes! I swear it! I—" Lu Cheng started, thinking He Wenyan doubted him, but then his face drained of color as realization dawned. Terror seized him. "E-elder He… it wasn't me… I didn't lay a hand on your son!! I helped you find the killer! You promised me ten thousand spirit stones!"

"Heh. My word binds me." Unexpectedly, He Wenyan chuckled lightly. He produced a bulging spirit stone pouch and held it out. "Ten thousand stones. Here."

"Uh…" Lu Cheng stared, momentarily stunned by the sudden shift. Then, avaricious joy flooded his features. He snatched the pouch, frantically checking its contents. The sheer, unprecedented wealth within struck him like a physical blow, inducing euphoria. He bowed repeatedly, gratitude pouring out. "Th-thank you, Elder He! Thank you!!"

"No need for thanks. You earned it." He Wenyan 'smiled'. Then, abruptly, his eyes flashed with murderous intent. His voice dropped to an icy whisper. "Now… you can go apologize to my son personally…"

"What?!" Lu Cheng, still drowning in the ecstasy of riches, gaped in confusion. Before comprehension could fully register, he saw He Wenyan's face twist into pure savagery. A fist filled his vision, hurtling towards him at blinding speed…

"CRACK!!!"

No chance to dodge. No time to react. He Wenyan's fist connected with Lu Cheng's skull. It burst apart like an overripe melon.

He Wenyan shook the gore from his hand and deftly retrieved the spirit stone pouch from Lu Cheng's collapsing body before it hit the ground. His voice was a venomous hiss. "You watched my son die… yet you lived? Worthless."

He spun back towards Lin Feng, his expression radiating pure, concentrated malice. "And you… you will suffer far worse."

"..."

Lin Feng watched Lu Cheng's gruesome end with a grim sense of justice served – no pity stirred within him. Had He Wenyan not acted, he certainly would have. Saves me the trouble. But the traitor's death changed nothing. The danger remained absolute.

His gaze swept the perimeter in a flash. Every escape route was sealed by the eight figures encircling him. Fighting his way out seemed impossible. Noticing the unnatural stillness of the surrounding woods, Lin Feng cursed his own carelessness. No other cultivators… they must have cleared the area hours ago, waiting. Anyone wandering close now would just keep walking. 'Heroic intervention' was rare in the cultivation world; facing these numbers, it would be suicide.

Eight enemies. At least four late-stage Qi Refinement. Four Foundation Establishment… and not just early-stage! Lin Feng's fists clenched, his face an impassive mask while his mind raced. None of the attackers masked their power. Drawing on his recent brutal experience with the fire-tailed scorpion, he roughly gauged their strength. Two Foundation Establishment early-stage… one mid-stage… and He Wenyan….

He Wenyan's aura felt terrifyingly familiar – as potent, if not more so, than the Tier 2, seventh-rank fire-tailed scorpion that nearly ended him earlier. Late-stage Foundation Establishment. Definitely beyond seventh layer. Facing He Wenyan alone would be a desperate gamble. Against him and his cohorts? Madness.

Only Lin Feng's arsenal of powerful artifacts kept him analysing rather than collapsing. An ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator would be paralyzed by despair.

My advantage… they don't know about the Spirit Light Gold Talisman and the flying sword… or do they? Lu Cheng might have told them about the Talisman. Which means… the flying sword is my only true ace left. A sliver of hope ignited. Not impossible. A surprise sword strike… kill two, maybe three instantly… break the circle… dash for the Seven Peaks Forest… maybe… just maybe…

Knowing hesitation meant death, Lin Feng formulated his plan in a flash. His Qi surged through his meridians at maximum speed. His right foot slid back half a step, settling into an explosive combat stance. Every sense focused on the encircling predators.

"Hmph! Reckless fool!" He Wenyan sneered at Lin Feng's defiant posture. "Take him!!"

'Take him', not 'Kill him'. He Wenyan craved more than mere death for his son's murderer. He wanted agony. Suffering. A living hell.

"SWOOSH-SWOOSH-SWOOSH—!"

At He Wenyan's command, the five cultivators to Lin Feng's left, right, and rear lunged forward as one, blades flashing and spells gathering. Only He Wenyan and the two men flanking him remained still, confident observers as the net closed.