Chapter 129: The Spirit-Bursting Player
On the notice board beside the city gate of Wanfang City, Gu Feng saw a portrait of himself. Beneath it were the charges—wanted for arrest, criminal classification: rapist—and the reward for his capture: one hundred thousand gold coins.
Long Xue’er covered her mouth and giggled. “Who did you rape?”
Gu Dongliu added, “Big Brother, even if you can’t control yourself, you can’t just rape anyone you please. Like our Sister Xue’er—”
Before he could finish, Long Xue’er turned and glared at him darkly. Gu Dongliu gave an awkward grin and immediately fell silent.
Hanhan asked innocently, “Master, what is a rapist?”
At that moment, someone else was reading the notice. After looking it over, an old man shook his head and muttered, “Young people these days. Of all the things he could have done, he chose to become a rapist. If that fellow ever falls into my hands, I’ll break all three of his legs.”
When he turned around, he saw Gu Feng standing there beneath his black robes.
Gu Feng smiled faintly at him. The old man stumbled backward several paces, his face filled with terror. For a moment, he could not react. Then, finally recovering, he shouted, “The rapist is here!”
In an instant, countless eyes turned toward them.
Gu Feng simply removed the hood of his black robe, smiled at everyone, and even waved.
A multitude of people wondered in confusion: Wasn’t he a rapist? Why wasn’t he afraid?
Gu Feng cleared his throat and said, “The rapist is my elder brother. He’s three years older than me. Although we look very much alike, I’m still so young—do I look like a rapist to you? I only heard that my brother had gotten into trouble in the city, so I came to take a look.”
The old man drew a deep breath. “I knew it! Who would commit a crime and then have the nerve to walk around openly? Still, you and your brother look far too alike. You’d better go home and hide, or someone might mistake you for him. Then you’ll be the one in trouble.”
No matter how Gu Feng tried to fool him, the city guards at the gate still changed color and hurried off to report the matter.
Amid the pointing fingers and whispering voices, Gu Feng led the other four into the city. He turned to them and said, “Following me may be dangerous. Find an inn, have a meal, and get some proper rest.”
Long Xue’er looked at him in confusion. “What about you?”
“I’m going to pay someone a visit.”
Long Xue’er rolled her eyes. That fellow was clearly going to kill someone again.
Thus, the four of them parted ways with Gu Feng.
At that moment, the guard who had gone to deliver the report arrived at the Du family residence, where the members of the family were already arguing on the verge of a fight. He informed the Han family head, “The young man from the portrait has entered the city.”
The Han family head trembled. He glanced at his family’s ancestor, then turned toward the other two families and said, “Stop arguing. The young man who delivered the coffins to you has entered the city.”
“What? He’s in the city?”
Everyone who had experienced that incident was horrified. That young man was far too strange; killing Spirit Venerables had seemed no more difficult to him than playing a game.
The Mo family ancestor asked, “Where is he?”
The guard froze. “I came straight here to deliver the report. I don’t know where he went.”
The Mo family ancestor snorted angrily and said to the other two families, “Bring your experts. Let’s go meet him. I want to see just what a young man is capable of.”
However, everyone who had encountered the boy had described him as mysterious and terrifying. The Mo family ancestor was not truly fearless, so he would never have gone alone. That was why he had called on everyone to accompany him.
All three families had lost members to Gu Feng. Naturally, they had to avenge them, and they had no reason not to go.
Gu Feng walked alone through the streets, looking left and right. More and more people recognized him, but none of them knew his true strength, and no one dared to attack him rashly.
A small number of people followed behind, waiting for the right opportunity. After all, one hundred thousand gold coins was no small sum to ordinary people. If they found an opening and managed to capture Gu Feng, they would receive the reward. Who would not be tempted?
Xuan Lingyu was the youngest daughter of Xuan Wude, the head of the Xuan family in Mocheng. Gifted and intelligent from childhood, she had already reached the first level of Grand Spirit Master despite her young age.
This time, she had secretly slipped out with her maid, Feng Juan, and come to Wanfang City. Her plan was to pass through the city and travel onward to Great Qin to seek adventure. She had always been curious about that supposedly backward land and wanted to see it for herself.
Standing beside the notice board and staring at Gu Feng’s portrait, Xuan Lingyu said indignantly, “He’s so young, yet he actually committed such a vile act. He must be a thoroughly despicable person. If I ever run into him, I’ll—”
Gu Feng happened to be passing by and heard her talking about him. He glanced over and saw a pretty young girl. Taking an interest, he continued for her, “What will you do if you run into him?”
Xuan Lingyu had not expected anyone to answer her. She froze, then displeasedly turned toward the speaker, determined to see who dared interrupt her.
The moment she looked over—
Xuan Lingyu let out a sharp cry. “Ah!”
Then she roared, “Rapist! You actually dared to show yourself! Surrender immediately!”
The young girl had no combat experience whatsoever. She clenched her fist and charged straight at Gu Feng.
Gu Feng remained perfectly still. When she drew close, he caught her fist and gave it a gentle pull.
It looked as though Xuan Lingyu had thrown herself into his arms.
Gu Feng gazed at the flustered girl with a broad smile. “What are you doing? Aren’t I a rapist? And yet you’re throwing yourself into my arms. Have you taken a fancy to me?”
“Ah!”
Xuan Lingyu struggled desperately. Gu Feng released her and watched with amusement as she retreated.
Xuan Lingyu drew her weapon, a long sword, and pointed it at him. “Rapist, how dare you molest me! Go to hell!”
She raised her sword and hacked at Gu Feng.
At that moment, people from the Du, Han, and Mo families arrived.
Gu Feng ignored Xuan Lingyu’s attack and turned to look at the three families.
There were nearly twenty Spirit Venerables, along with more than thirty peak Grand Spirit Masters. They had assembled such a force merely to deal with him. They certainly thought highly of him.
In truth, the formation had already shocked the citizens of Wanfang City. No one knew what had happened to provoke the three great families into moving together.
Clang!
Xuan Lingyu did not care whether Gu Feng would defend himself. Her sword struck him hard in the neck.
At the ringing sound of metal, she froze in disbelief, forgetting even to withdraw her blade.
The members of the Du, Mo, and Han families had arrived just in time to witness the scene, and astonishment flashed through their eyes.
Xuan Lingyu’s cultivation was obvious at a glance. A first-level Grand Spirit Master was already quite formidable. Yet when someone of her strength struck Gu Feng’s neck with a sword, it had produced nothing more than a metallic clang.
Gu Feng rolled his neck, then turned and smiled at Xuan Lingyu. “Remember this: you owe me your life.”
With that, he seized her sword. Under Xuan Lingyu’s terrified gaze, he snapped it with a forceful twist.
Crack!
The sword broke in two.
Xuan Lingyu’s delicate body trembled as she stared at Gu Feng in shock. She could not understand how a boy even younger than herself could possess such terrifying strength.
After this brief display, Gu Feng turned toward the three families and said, “I did not come here to deliver coffins this time. You three families have ruled Great Qin for so many years and helped yourselves to quite a bit of my property, haven’t you? I don’t want anything else. Each family will give me ten million spirit stones. No objections, I assume?
“If anyone objects, I’ll deliver a coffin to that family.”