Volume Two: Travels in the State of Qi Chapter Seventy-One: The Visit of the Li Family

The one who entered was Yun Xiaotian’s adopted son, Yun Feng. Upon entering, he bypassed Zhang Heng and Yun Yanrou, first gazing at Yun Xiaotian, who lay on the bed, his skin dark purple, his breath feeble. With concern, he asked, “Father, are you feeling any better?”

Zhang Heng smiled. Had this fellow changed his ways? He didn’t come to confront him, nor did he pay heed to Yun Yanrou?

Yun Xiaotian coughed twice, then answered weakly, “I fear my body cannot hold out much longer. In the future, the Yun family can only rely on you.”

Yun Yanrou, anxious, cried out, “Father, you will surely recover!”

Seeing this, Yun Feng looked at Yun Yanrou, bowed respectfully, and declared with resolve, “Father, rest assured. Guarding the Yun family and protecting Yanrou is my duty. Please focus on your recovery.”

Witnessing this scene, Zhang Heng struggled to contain his laughter. Actors, all of them—actors through and through.

Watching this family’s performance, Zhang Heng had no desire to participate and decided to leave.

Just as Zhang Heng was about to step out, Yun Feng rose and faced him, shouting, “Stop!”

“Yun Feng, what do you mean by this?” Yun Yanrou immediately protested, displeased. She had already become Zhang Heng’s little admirer.

Yun Feng ignored Yun Yanrou and continued to address Yun Xiaotian. “Father, you must not let this man leave. The incident with the Li family’s goods being robbed is most likely connected to him,” Yun Feng said angrily.

Yun Xiaotian coughed twice, then struggled to sit up and inquired weakly, “What happened?”

“Father, our route has always been concealed. How did the Whale Sand Gang learn of it? Everything was fine until we met this man. It was because he followed us that our whereabouts were exposed, leading to the Li family’s cargo being hijacked by the Whale Sand Gang.”

Yun Feng stared fixedly at Zhang Heng, as if afraid he might suddenly flee.

Zhang Heng mused. Boring—here we go again.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiaotian asked Yun Yanrou sternly, “Yan’er, is this true?”

Yun Yanrou hurried to explain, “Father, it’s not like that. I can vouch for Young Master Zhang. He absolutely did not leak any information.”

“That’s enough. I’ll make my own judgment,” Yun Xiaotian said angrily, coughing again. “You all may leave now. I’m tired and need to rest.”

“Father—”

Yun Feng tried to speak further but was cut off by Yun Xiaotian. “What, I’m not dead yet, and you won’t listen to me?”

Seeing Yun Xiaotian’s anger, Yun Feng said, “I wouldn’t dare,” shooting Zhang Heng a vicious look before leaving.

Zhang Heng also said, “Uncle Yun, I’ll take my leave as well.”

Yun Xiaotian nodded with a smile, then turned to Yun Yanrou with a bitter expression. “Yan’er, aren’t you going to escort Zhang Heng back to rest?”

Zhang Heng replied, “Uncle Yun, your health is frail. Miss Yun should stay and care for you. I’ll go on my own.” Without waiting for a response, he quickly left.

Escort me? What’s the point? The Yun family is facing imminent disaster, shouldn’t you be thinking of a way to deal with it?

Zhang Heng wandered slowly through the Yun manor, not heading toward his guest room, but aimlessly strolling.

When he reached an empty spot, he turned and lazily called out, “You’ve been following me for so long—aren’t you tired? If you’ve something to say, hurry up. Otherwise, I’m heading back.”

From behind a tree emerged Yun Feng, who had supposedly left earlier.

Yun Feng walked toward Zhang Heng, speaking coldly as he approached. “You’re quite fearless, knowing I’m behind you. Yet you’re not afraid.”

Zhang Heng spread his hands, resigned. “I don’t have many virtues—just an exceptionally bold heart.”

“Do you know? Those who don’t know their place die quickly.” Yun Feng stopped three steps from Zhang Heng, speaking to himself.

No matter what tricks Zhang Heng had, at this distance, Yun Feng was confident he could kill him in an instant.

Zhang Heng answered indifferently, “I don’t know if boldness leads to death. But traitors who sell out their own will die miserable deaths, don’t you think, foster son?” He smiled at Yun Feng.

Yun Feng paused, then sneered. “You’ve just given me another excuse to kill you.”

“You’re welcome to try,” Zhang Heng replied coldly, no longer willing to play along. He didn’t bother with Yun Feng, yet the man kept pushing.

Yun Feng, ruthless as ever, said no more, his face turning grim as his hands became claw-like, lunging at Zhang Heng.

Yun Feng was a cultivator of the eighth stage of the Pure Spirit Realm. At this distance, dealing with someone without cultivation should pose no surprises.

However, Zhang Heng was hardly ordinary. He couldn’t win, but he could certainly outrun.

Activating the Minor Aurora Phantom technique, Zhang Heng retreated at lightning speed.

Yun Feng’s attack was swift, but Zhang Heng’s evasion was swifter. In a flash, Yun Feng found himself where Zhang Heng had stood, but Zhang Heng was already five steps away.

Seeing his signature move miss its target, Yun Feng stopped, only glaring at Zhang Heng from a distance.

“You truly aren’t an ordinary man.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Zhang Heng laughed.

“But I’ll say it again. Those who don’t know their place die quickly.” Yun Feng raised his hand, patting it as he spoke casually.

“And I’ll repeat—traitors die even faster.”

He couldn’t beat him, but he could certainly outdo him in insults.

“No matter who you are or what you want, get as far away as possible. Otherwise, the Yun family will be your grave.” With a cold threat, Yun Feng vanished in a blur.

Zhang Heng chuckled, paying it no mind. Threaten me? Who are you to try?

Back in his room, Zhang Heng gazed at the sky outside, murmuring casually.

The real drama was about to begin.

He then lay on his bed, fast asleep.

Now, Zhang Heng carried many spiritual items. Upgrading was no longer difficult; all he needed was for his cultivation to stabilize a bit more and he could resume his journey of advancement. With guidance from the system in alchemy, accidents were impossible. Therefore, Zhang Heng had no need to practice excessively. As for combat skills—sorry, but if you can run, who’d be foolish enough to fight?

So, sleep it was. After all, sleep was also a way to consolidate cultivation.

Outside the Yun family’s gates, a group approached in grand procession.

The captain of the Yun family guards, seeing this, quickly summoned someone and ordered, “Go report to the master at once—the Li family has arrived.”

The newcomer laughed loudly.

“No need. I’ve come to visit Brother Xiaotian. You don’t need to make such a fuss,” he said, ignoring the reactions of the Yun family guards and leading his people straight through the door.

What a way to play the host.

The Li family was another prominent clan in Shayan City. The two families had competed openly and secretly for years, but their comparable strength meant neither had prevailed. Now, with Yun Xiaotian gravely wounded and bedridden, had the Li family finally run out of patience?

“Bring them to the hall,” Yun Xiaotian weakly instructed the guard outside.

After a while, the Li family patriarch was seated in the Yun family parlor, received by Yun Feng, while Yun Xiaotian himself had yet to appear.

Yun Feng rose, offering a cup of tea as he walked, apologizing, “Master Li, my father is injured, so I was asked to receive you first. If there’s anything lacking in hospitality, I beg your pardon.”

The Li patriarch took the tea, not answering Yun Feng, but laughing loudly, “Brother Xiaotian can’t even get up now. Asking him to meet me here is hardly fair. Why don’t I visit him in his room instead?”

“No need.” At that moment, Yun Xiaotian’s voice rang out.

Yun Xiaotian sat in a chair, carried in by two Yun family servants.

The Li patriarch, seeing this, laughed without restraint. “Ah, Brother Xiaotian, don’t force yourself. Injuries this severe—you’d best lie quietly and rest.”