CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: TEACHING A MAD DOG A LESSON

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

"Little Brother, in your opinion, who has a better chance of becoming the foremost family, our Luo Family or the Li Family?" Luo Xiao asked as they walked forward.

"Certainly us," Luo Feng didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Luo Xiao seemed taken aback by Luo Feng’s vigor. After a moment of surprise, he shook his head and laughed wryly. "Little Brother, it’s only been two years, but you seem like a completely different person."

Luo Feng’s brow twitched slightly. Thankfully, Luo Xiao didn’t pursue the matter further, saying, "However, while you may think that way, not everyone else does. Throughout Panlong City, probably no faction believes we can defeat the Li Family. That even includes people within our own family."

"People within our own family?" Luo Feng’s brow furrowed, sensing a hint of foreboding.

Luo Xiao nodded, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes.

"That Zheng Hongzhi was originally a manager from one of our family’s collateral branches with a different surname. Ever since City Lord Han Yulong died, he has been colluding with others from these collateral branches to pressure Father for a greater share of the profits!"

"I suspect their intentions don’t solely lie in the family’s interests," Luo Feng said solemnly.

Luo Xiao looked at Luo Feng in surprise. Luo Feng had never cared about family affairs before, yet now he understood the situation so thoroughly.

Gazing at Luo Feng with appreciation, Luo Xiao nodded. "Exactly. Zheng Hongzhi and his cohorts have only one goal: to decentralize power and sideline Father!"

"Decentralize power!" Luo Feng’s brow twitched again. If things progressed in that direction, his father’s position as Family Head would become merely nominal.

"Hmph! That Zheng Hongzhi was nothing more than a lowly servant in our family back then. It was Father who recognized his talents and gave him the status he has today. Who would have thought he’d repay kindness with such ingratitude, even threatening to break away from the family to coerce Father!"

"How can Father be intimidated by them?" Luo Feng found it strange. They’re just from collateral branches with different surnames; they shouldn’t be able to cause such a stir.

"They control our family’s most critical transportation routes. If we lose them, our situation will become very dire," Luo Xiao sighed.

So, that was it. Luo Feng nodded.

The Luo Family’s primary business was mining. Without transportation channels, it would undoubtedly spell disaster.

"Can’t Father cooperate with the Feng Family?" Luo Feng asked after a moment’s thought.

In terms of strength, the Feng Family ranked last among the four great families, but their financial power was second to none. The Feng Family’s business operations were extensive. With their help, even if they lost Zheng Hongzhi and his group, the transportation channels wouldn’t be an issue.

Most importantly, Luo Feng remembered that the Luo Family and the Feng Family used to be on good terms. He and Feng Lingyue had often played together as children, though those events were so long ago that his memory had grown somewhat hazy.

"The Feng Family..."

Luo Xiao chuckled bitterly. "Little Brother, surely you know Feng Yutang, the Feng Family Head? He won’t do anything unless there’s a benefit in it for him. Back when your engagement to Feng Lingyue was being arranged, he stopped visiting our Luo Family entirely after your aptitude test results came out..."

"If the Li Family becomes the foremost family, our Luo Family will definitely be suppressed. Feng Yutang is as shrewd as a mouse; why would he choose to get involved in these muddy waters at such a critical juncture?"

Luo Feng frowned. "So, what does Father plan to do?"

Luo Xiao sighed. "Father has already summoned all the collateral branches for a family meeting to decide. If there’s truly no other option, we might have to decentralize power."

"When is the family meeting?"

"Tomorrow at noon."

Luo Feng nodded and said no more, but his eyes flickered continuously as if he were deep in thought.

"Oh, right. Big Brother, this is for you."

Luo Feng slapped his forehead, then retrieved the two secret manuals he had obtained from Su Laohu and handed them to Luo Xiao.

"Flying on Grass, Crescent Claw Technique! These are both top-grade Yellow-rank Martial Arts!"

Luo Xiao took the secret manuals and gasped. A fleeting look of longing flickered in his eyes before he handed them back to Luo Feng, stating solemnly, "Little Brother, privately imparting academy martial arts is an extremely serious offense, one that could even result in having one’s cultivation crippled. You should keep these secret manuals."

"Big Brother, what are you thinking?"

Luo Feng was exasperated. Pointing at the two secret manuals, he said, "I obtained these by killing a formidable martial expert from the Jianghu on my way back. You can learn them without worry."

"Really?"

Luo Xiao’s eyes lit up with excitement.

The academy he attended in the Flowing Cloud Region was rather obscure, lacking any powerful martial arts techniques. However, with these two high-grade Yellow-rank martial arts manuals, he was certain he could achieve a breakthrough in the shortest possible time and reach the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm!

"I wouldn’t joke about my own life."

Luo Feng shrugged, then lowered his voice. "Big Brother, let’s not tell Father and the others about this just yet. At the Hunting Competition in ten days, we’ll give them a surprise!"

"Of course! As long as I reach the God Bravery Realm, it won’t be impossible for us to defeat the Li brothers. I can’t wait to see the expressions on Father’s and the others’ faces then."

Luo Xiao excitedly licked his lips and clapped Luo Feng firmly on the shoulder. "Little Brother, thank you."

Two top-grade Yellow-rank martial arts manuals—their value was enough to incite a bloody conflict among the four great families!

"We’re brothers. Why say so much?" Luo Feng pouted.

"Haha... You’re right. Little Brother, let’s work together to bring glory to our family!" Luo Xiao extended his right hand to Luo Feng.

"Mm." Luo Feng nodded, their hands gripping each other firmly.

The two brothers walked on, laughing and chatting, until they reached the small courtyard where Luo Feng lived. They parted ways there, and Luo Feng opened the courtyard gate and went inside.

"Young Master, you’re back!"

A pretty young woman in a purple dress ran up, her face lit with surprise.

"Zi Ling."

Seeing the young woman, Luo Feng habitually reached out and playfully tousled her soft, dark hair. He looked her over and smiled. "You’ve grown up."

Zi Ling was Luo Feng’s personal maid, and they had grown up together. In Luo Feng’s memory, Zi Ling was still a little girl, but she had now blossomed into a beautiful young lady.

Zi Ling lowered her gaze and remained silent. When she looked up again, her eyes were brimming with tears. Biting her lip, she asked, "Young Master, have you been away for so long because Zi Ling did something wrong? Do you dislike Zi Ling now?"

Luo Feng was taken aback. He playfully tapped Zi Ling’s small nose and chuckled. "Silly girl, how could I dislike you? I’m already so fond of you. I’ve just been busy cultivating these past two years and haven’t had time to come home. Don’t let your imagination run wild."

"Really?"

Zi Ling’s face flushed, and she smiled through her tears. "Zi Ling... Zi Ling will go prepare bath water for Young Master."

Watching Zi Ling’s graceful figure recede, Luo Feng smiled and shook his head. He entered the courtyard and set down his luggage.

Tomorrow is the family meeting. If power is truly decentralized, Father’s position as Family Head will become merely nominal. I must figure something out. Luo Feng gazed at the sky, musing aloud to himself.

「That night.」

After dinner, Luo Feng returned to his courtyard to cultivate.

The moonlight, like flowing water, bathed the Luo Mansion in extreme tranquility.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH...

In the courtyard, a figure darted back and forth, moving with almost ghostly speed. The intense airflow generated by his movements whipped up a veritable storm within the small courtyard.

Luo Feng was practicing the Teng Dragon’s Step.

After he reached the third stage of Teng Dragon’s Step, the difficulty of cultivation had noticeably increased, slowing his progress. Although Luo Feng had reached the Sixth Level of the God Bravery Realm over half a month ago, he still hadn’t broken through to the fourth stage of Teng Dragon’s Step.

To achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible, Luo Feng could only train even harder.

Two hours later, Luo Feng finally stopped, looking somewhat fatigued.

I don’t know what grade this Teng Dragon’s Step is, but even practicing the Sky Slayer Saber Technique wasn’t this challenging.

Luo Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead, exhaled, and murmured to himself, But if I continue to cultivate at this speed, I should be able to advance the Teng Dragon’s Step to the fourth stage within ten days. By then, I’ll be able to perform the Void Step eight times, increasing my speed eightfold.

The more difficult the Teng Dragon’s Step was to practice, the more Luo Feng anticipated its power. The speed of the third-stage Teng Dragon’s Step already surpassed that of ordinary high-grade Yellow-rank Martial Arts. If he could cultivate Teng Dragon’s Step to the fourth stage, he couldn’t imagine how powerful it would be!

I must continue to cultivate! In ten days, I will help Father win the position of City Lord!

Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Luo Feng reached out. The Tiger Roar Knife hummed and landed in his palm, its blade shimmering as he began to practice the Sky Slayer Saber Technique.

「One night passed.」

The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Luo Feng woke Zi Ling.

"Zi Ling, I have to go out. If Father asks about me, just tell him I stepped out on an errand."

Seeing Luo Feng neatly dressed but without his knife, Zi Ling frowned. "Young Master, where are you going?"

"It’s a secret."

Luo Feng smiled mysteriously, left the courtyard, and instead of using the main gate, hopped over the wall.

After leaving the Luo Mansion, Luo Feng headed east through Panlong City. The Feng Family, one of the four great families, was located in the eastern part of the city.

After a night of consideration, Luo Feng felt that the only ones who could currently help his father out of this predicament were the Feng Family.

An hour later, Luo Feng arrived at the gates of the Feng Mansion.

The Feng Mansion’s courtyard walls were tall and imposing. Though not as magnificent as the Luo Mansion, they exuded an aura of splendor, fully reflecting the family’s deep-rooted heritage.

"Who goes there?!"

As soon as Luo Feng approached, the guards at the main gate immediately drew their swords and glared at him.

Luo Feng sighed. So much has changed in the two years I’ve been away; even these guards don’t recognize me anymore.

"I am..."

Just as Luo Feng was about to explain, a sudden flurry of urgent hoofbeats echoed from the nearby street.

CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP...

A group of horsemen, escorting a lavish carriage, galloped towards Luo Feng’s position at astonishing speed.

"Get out of the way!"

The guard leading the procession spotted Luo Feng and arrogantly yelled, showing no intention of slowing down.

People from the Li Family... Luo Feng’s eyebrows rose; he had already noticed the Li Family crest on the carriage.

Despite the furiously charging horses, Luo Feng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, as immobile as a mountain, seemingly oblivious to the murderous-looking cavalry bearing down on him.

The Li Family guard was clearly enraged by Luo Feng’s dismissive attitude. As a guard of the Li Family, which ranked second among the four great families, he was accustomed to being met with respect and deference wherever he went in Panlong City. Accustomed to being haughty and arrogant, he naturally didn’t take a mere youth like Luo Feng seriously.

"Kid, you’re asking for death!"

Seeing Luo Feng stand his ground, the guard sneered coldly, suddenly spurred his horse, and charged towards Luo Feng at an even more ferocious speed, a malicious grin playing on his lips.

"Young man, watch out! Get out of the way, quick!" the nearby Feng Family guards shouted in alarm.

The force of a horse galloping at full speed could easily reach several thousand pounds. Getting hit would undoubtedly mean being crushed to pieces.

However, Luo Feng remained unmoved, merely watching coldly as the Li Family guard charged towards him on horseback.

Just when everyone thought Luo Feng would be sent flying by the charging horse, an incredible scene unfolded.

The young man merely flicked a fist. With a loud BOOM, the galloping horse and its rider were sent flying. Even the two guards trailing behind were knocked into the air by the impact!

"Halt!"

The remaining Li Family guards, their expressions changing drastically, quickly reined in the carriage.

Looking at the three Li Family guards who had been sent flying, everyone couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. Those three Li Family guards, along with their mounts, had been blasted back over ten meters by that single punch! Man and horse alike had crashed to the ground, carving out large pits, all of them too grievously injured to rise!

"So fragile, yet you still dare to parade around town..." Luo Feng dusted off his hands, an air of nonchalance about him. His cold gaze, however, sent shivers down the spines of those watching.

"What happened?"

A cold voice barked from inside the carriage. The curtain was then lifted from within, and Li Tianyang stepped out.

Surveying the scene, Li Tianyang’s expression darkened as his gaze fell upon Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, you dare injure my men?"

"Luo Feng? Huh, could he be the Luo Family’s Second Young Master?"

"Yes, though he’s changed a lot, it’s definitely him. When did he become so formidable?"

"This isn’t the time for that! Young Master Luo and Young Master Li have been like fire and water since childhood. Who knows what kind of trouble this will stir up? Quickly, go inform the Family Head and the Young Miss!"

Several Feng Family guards, realizing the situation could escalate, hurried into the mansion to report.

Luo Feng hadn’t expected to run into Li Tianyang here either. He paused for a moment, then waved his hand and chuckled, "Li Tianyang, your dogs were biting indiscriminately, so I helped you teach them a lesson. Rest assured, I’m always generous; I won’t ask for any reward."

"What did you say?! Luo Feng, you’re courting death!"

Li Tianyang felt as if his lungs were about to explode with rage. He roared and leaped down from the carriage.