CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: PLUCKING A FLOWER FOR A BEAUTY

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

CRASH!

As Li Tianyang leaped down from the carriage, nearly ten Li Family guards instantly unsheathed their swords, staring fiercely at Luo Feng.

"Stand down! Today, I will personally teach this ignorant whelp a lesson!"

Li Tianyang swung his arm, and the guards immediately scattered, forming a semicircle and enclosing Luo Feng and Li Tianyang in the center.

Li Tianyang approached Luo Feng step by step but didn’t immediately make a move.

SNAP!

Cracking his knuckles, Li Tianyang stared at Luo Feng, a vicious smile on his face. "Luo Feng, last time at the Coming Dragon Inn, you were lucky and escaped. This time you won’t be so fortunate! Unless you kneel and beg for mercy today, I will not let you off!"

"Kneel and beg for mercy?"

Luo Feng’s eyes flashed. Looking at Li Tianyang, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. A sinister smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he sneered, "Li Tianyang, since you have a death wish, I will accommodate you. Let’s see who ends up kneeling and begging for mercy!"

Luo Feng was confident that even without revealing his true strength, he could deal with Li Tianyang.

"Is this truly the Luo Family’s Second Young Master, Luo Feng? He dares to provoke Li Tianyang..."

"Looking at his cultivation, he’s already in the mid-stage of the Iron Bone Realm. He has indeed grown a lot in recent years. But isn’t it too reckless to challenge Li Tianyang now? Li Tianyang is in the late-stage of the Iron Bone Realm!"

"It seems his confidence has inflated due to his cultivation progress in the past two years. I hope he doesn’t stir up any trouble..."

The Feng Family servants standing nearby were deeply shocked by Luo Feng’s domineering display.

Li Tianyang looked at Luo Feng. Meeting Luo Feng’s grim gaze, an inexplicable tremor ran through his heart, and a cold chill enveloped his body!

What kind of gaze was that! Dominating, arrogant, as sharp as a blade, as if it would tear to shreds anything that dared to provoke him!

Under Luo Feng’s gaze, Li Tianyang felt as though he had plummeted into an ice cellar. A chilling cold seeped into his body through his pores, causing his steps to falter. It felt as if taking one more step would mean he would die without a burial place!

What’s with this guy’s gaze...

Li Tianyang was terrified. A sense of fear spread wildly within him, and cold sweat drenched him.

Luo Feng noticed Li Tianyang’s reaction. He raised his eyebrows and laughed, "Li Tianyang, weren’t you going to teach me a lesson? Why did you suddenly stop? Are you scared?"

The others nearby were also quite puzzled. They could feel the unusual atmosphere between Luo Feng and Li Tianyang.

His thoughts exposed, Li Tianyang flushed with anger. Gathering his courage, he roared and aimed a fist at Luo Feng.

Ridiculous! I’m actually scared of this trash! This kid is just bluffing! I can beat him with one punch!

Li Tianyang quickly regained his composure. His fists like a tiger’s pounce, he unleashed his full strength in a wide, sweeping blow aimed at Luo Feng’s face.

"Tsk tsk, Li Tianyang, is that all the strength you have? Did you skip breakfast today? Or did you use up all your energy on women?"

Luo Feng shook his head. With a swift movement, he easily deflected Li Tianyang’s punch as if brushing a fallen leaf from his shoulder.

How dare he mock me!

Hearing Luo Feng’s taunt, Li Tianyang’s face turned beet red, and he glared at Luo Feng with bloodshot eyes.

"Luo Feng, you will pay for what you’ve said! Vajra Fist!"

BUZZ!

Li Tianyang’s silk robes suddenly bulged. The muscles in his arms quivered slightly as a fierce aura emanated from him.

Luo Feng narrowed his eyes, his expression turning slightly serious as he snorted coldly, "Courting death!"

A dangerous tension, like a gathering storm, brewed between the two, leaving the onlookers utterly silent, stunned by the terrifying pressure.

Just as the storm was on the brink of breaking out, a clear cry suddenly came from within the main gate.

"Stop!"

No sooner had the voice sounded than a white figure flashed and appeared between Luo Feng and Li Tianyang.

"Miss!"

Seeing Feng Lingyue, the Feng Family servants all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Although it was regrettable to miss such a fascinating duel, both Luo Feng and Li Tianyang hailed from the Four Great Families. If anything happened here, the Feng Family would find it difficult to account for it.

"What’s going on?"

Feng Lingyue’s willow-like brows furrowed deeply as her gaze fell upon Luo Feng and Li Tianyang.

Knowing the duel could not continue, Luo Feng retracted his aura. He pointed at Li Tianyang and chuckled, "Xiao Yue, Li Tianyang here, relying on his numbers, insisted on fighting me. I had no choice but to indulge him a little..."

Hearing Luo Feng address her so affectionately, Feng Lingyue blushed. She quickly averted her gaze and, looking at Li Tianyang, frowned and said, "Li Tianyang, this is the Feng Family, not your Li Family. You had best conduct yourself."

Li Tianyang hadn’t expected Luo Feng to preempt him with an explanation. Furious, he pointed at the three severely injured Li Family guards and said, "Lingyue, don’t listen to Luo Feng’s nonsense. Clearly, it was Luo Feng who attacked my family’s guards without any provocation!"

Feng Lingyue knew Li Tianyang’s character well and naturally didn’t believe his accusations. Not wishing to dwell on the matter, she asked calmly, "Why are you here?"

At this, Li Tianyang’s spirits lifted. He turned and shouted to his men, "Why are you standing idle? Quickly, bring the gifts down from the carriage!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

The Li Family guards, startled back to their senses, immediately moved towards the carriage.

Li Tianyang rubbed his hands together, turned back to Feng Lingyue, and said with a leering smile, "Lingyue, I’ve come this time to ask your father for your hand in marriage. Our families..."

"Someone, see our guests out!"

Feng Lingyue didn’t spare Li Tianyang a second glance. She turned, walked over to Luo Feng, and gave him a look. "Luo Feng, come with me."

This girl... still the same as ever.

Luo Feng glanced at the rapidly paling Li Tianyang, touched his nose, and followed Feng Lingyue into the Feng Mansion.

"Damn it!"

Watching Luo Feng’s departing figure, Li Tianyang cursed and squeezed his fist tightly, the veins on his hand throbbing.

Just then, a Feng Family servant hurried over. Suppressing a chuckle, he said, "Young Master Li, our master requests your presence..."

...

Luo Feng followed Feng Lingyue into the Feng Mansion. After walking for some time, they arrived before an exquisite little courtyard known as Moon Yard.

"Moon Yard... It’s been five years since I last came here..."

Luo Feng gazed at the familiar surroundings, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.

Feng Lingyue paused, then wordlessly led Luo Feng into the courtyard.

The courtyard was simply yet elegantly arranged. At its far end stood a pavilion. Beside the pavilion was a flowerbed, and on the other side, a pond with emerald green lotus leaves.

Feng Lingyue walked to a pear tree in the flowerbed, nearly five meters tall. She looked up at its blossoms, like a shower of snow, her gaze profound. "Luo Feng, do you remember this pear tree?"

Luo Feng shook his head. In his memory, there was no such pear tree in Moon Yard.

Gazing at the pear tree, Feng Lingyue said, her voice tinged with reminiscence, "We planted this together, five years ago."

"Ah, that little sapling has grown so big!" Luo Feng stared at the pear tree before him, astonished.

Five years ago, when he had come to the Feng Family to play with Feng Lingyue, they had, on a whim, transplanted a pear sapling from the roadside into Moon Yard.

But back then, the pear sapling was only about as tall as a finger...

"After all, five years have passed."

Feng Lingyue smiled serenely and led Luo Feng to a stone table. She then had the maid, Ling Que, serve tea.

"Um, Xiao Yue..."

Luo Feng’s mind, however, was preoccupied with the Clan Assembly at noon. He was in no mood for tea and was wondering how to bring up the subject with Feng Lingyue.

The two were indeed childhood playmates, their past relationship like that of children who would share a single candied haw.

But after five years of separation, Luo Feng wasn’t sure how much of that bond remained.

Besides, the matter he needed to discuss was far from trivial.

Feng Lingyue’s face flushed a delicate pink. She feigned annoyance, "I’m not that little girl anymore. Don’t call me that."

Feng Lingyue was already exceptionally beautiful, a renowned belle in Panlong City and a rare sight even among the Four Great Academies. Otherwise, Li Tianyang wouldn’t be so keen on proposing to the Feng Family. Now, with this charmingly petulant expression, she possessed an added allure that momentarily stunned Luo Feng.

"Then what should I call you?"

Seeing Luo Feng’s expression, Feng Lingyue chuckled. "Alright, seeing as you haven’t forgotten me, you can keep calling me that."

"You came this time because of the Clan Assembly, right?"

"How did you know?" Luo Feng was surprised.

Feng Lingyue idly toyed with a teacup, her slender fingers like spring onions. "The Four Great Families of Panlong City are currently at a critical juncture. Of course, I’m aware of something so significant."

"Furthermore, I also know that the Li Family is the instigator behind all this!"

"The Li Family!"

Luo Feng paused, then nodded. "So that’s how it is. I was wondering how a few collateral branches dared to threaten Father. It turns out they’d already found themselves a powerful backer!"

Lifting his head, Luo Feng looked at Feng Lingyue earnestly. "Xiao Yue, I want to ask you to propose an alliance with our Luo Family to your father."

Feng Yutang, the Feng Family Head, was an influential merchant, but he doted on Feng Lingyue immensely.

Luo Feng believed that as long as Feng Lingyue spoke up, Feng Yutang would surely agree to cooperate with the Luo Family.

"I knew it."

Feng Lingyue pursed her red lips. "What benefits would our Feng Family gain from this? Everyone knows the Li Family is poised to become the foremost family, and their Family Head will become the City Lord. The Li and Luo Families have always been rivals. Cooperating with you now is too risky. Even if I were to speak up, I’m afraid Father..."

"No!"

Luo Feng suddenly slapped the table, his gaze fixed on Feng Lingyue. "The family that will become the foremost is our Luo Family!"

Feng Lingyue was startled. She looked at Luo Feng, somewhat vexed. "Even if you claim so..."

"You don’t believe me?"

Luo Feng had anticipated this. Seeing that Ling Que was not nearby, he stood up and pointed to the pear tree over ten meters away. "Xiao Yue, do you like those pear blossoms?"

Feng Lingyue was baffled but nodded nonetheless. "I do."

SWISH!

The words had barely left her lips when a gentle breeze swept by, and Luo Feng’s figure had already appeared beside the pear tree.

"So fast!"

Feng Lingyue gasped, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment.

Back at the Coming Dragon Inn, she had thought the speed Luo Feng displayed when evading Li Tianyang was his limit. Clearly, it was not.

His current speed was a full thirty percent faster than before!

Just then, something even more astonishing occurred.

Luo Feng was in mid-air when he took a step, as if on an invisible platform, and his body suddenly shot off in another direction!

That’s...!

Feng Lingyue suddenly stood up, her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Luo Feng.

That’s Void Step! He can actually use Void Step...

After four successive Void Steps, Luo Feng returned to the stone table. He held a vibrantly blooming pear blossom, which he gently tucked into Feng Lingyue’s hair, smiling as he said, "This flower suits you..."

Feng Lingyue blushed, her mind still reeling from the shock. It took her a moment to catch her breath.

Looking at Luo Feng, and then at the pear blossom sprig she now held, Feng Lingyue felt, for the first time, that the young man before her was incredibly mysterious.