Chapter 74: Downgrade Penalty
Hearing the objections of the three women, Gu Feng immediately felt a headache coming on. Feng Bilian also looked at Gu Feng with a mocking expression.
Seeing the mocking gaze and feeling the loss of affection points, Gu Feng suddenly realized how fickle Feng Bilian was. Someone like her was unsafe to keep close. With that in mind, Gu Feng made a decision.
He stepped closer to Feng Bilian, intending to embrace her once more and seize the opportunity to kill her.
Feng Bilian’s expression shifted, and she took two steps back, putting distance between them. With a tone of displeasure, she said, “What do you take me for—a prostitute? You think you can just hug and kiss me whenever you want?”
“Ding! Gu Yan is dissatisfied with you.”
“Ding! Xue Wen is complaining about you.”
“Ding! Xue Ziyan feels hatred toward you.”
The system’s triple reminder startled Gu Feng. He realized he had to act.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Feng said to Feng Bilian, “Fine, I promise you. I’ll belong only to you. Let’s leave now, just the two of us. Don’t go back to the Feng family—we’ll wander the world together, living our own lives.”
As he spoke, Gu Feng moved closer, reaching out toward Feng Bilian.
To everyone present, it looked as if Gu Feng was about to take her hand and leave together.
Witnessing this, Gu Yan, Xue Wen, and Xue Ziyan all trembled, tears of sorrow streaming down their faces.
Feng Bilian did not avoid Gu Feng this time. She pondered his words and considered what would happen to the Feng family if she left with him. Realizing her absence would have little effect on her family, she smiled and reached out her hand to Gu Feng.
Gu Feng seized her hand and pulled her into his arms.
Feng Bilian let out a sharp scream, “Ah!”
Yet she did not struggle, falling directly into his embrace and even holding him tightly, gazing triumphantly at the three women as if to brag: You may be young and beautiful, but in the end, you still lost to me, an older woman.
Holding her, Gu Feng deliberately let his hand roam to her shapely curves, intending to lower her guard.
Feng Bilian let out a soft, enchanting gasp.
Sensing the moment was right, Gu Feng produced the dagger he had just exchanged for and drove it mercilessly into her heart.
A crisp sound pierced the silence of the parlor, unbearably harsh.
Her heart struck, Feng Bilian spat blood, grievously wounded, her life draining rapidly away.
Gu Feng steadied her, then let her go without concern for whether she could stand, turning away to face the tear-stained Gu Yan and the other two.
Feng Bilian stared at Gu Feng in shock and disbelief, eyes full of hatred, regret, and unwillingness. She couldn’t accept that she’d been so thoroughly played by a youth.
Her strength gone, she fell forward, eyes fixed on Gu Feng, collapsing with a crash. Eyes wide open, her fingers still twitching, she could not rest in peace.
After a long moment…
“Ding! You have killed your devoted lover and broken the bridge of love. Penalty: Level reduced by three. ‘Mad for Love’ set confiscated.”
The system’s punishment left Gu Feng stunned.
Losing three levels, his strength instantly dropped by 1,500. But even worse, the ‘Mad for Love’ set—which he hadn’t even tried on or checked the attributes of—was gone before he could use it.
Gu Feng stood there, hollow and dispirited. After all his efforts, he thought he’d gained something, but in the end, he’d lost three levels.
The tears of Gu Yan and the other two dried on their faces. Seeing Gu Feng so dejected, they felt a pang of guilt, thinking it was their own pressure that had driven him to kill Feng Bilian.
“Ah!” Feng Yulong screamed, staring at Gu Feng in terror as he retreated quickly, only stopping when he reached the ranks of his family.
Both spiritualists who had accompanied him to propose marriage were dead, and Feng Bilian was his second aunt.
Feng Yulong feared Gu Feng but not the Xue family. He shouted at them, “My second aunt died in your house! The Third Elder as well! The Xue family is finished—prepare to face the wrath of the Feng family!” Then, turning to Gu Feng, he roared, “And you, you have to die. All of you have to die!”
Gu Feng whirled around, glaring at Feng Yulong, still aching over his lost levels. He had no intention of letting this experience slip away.
“Die!” he spat coldly, and charged.
Even three levels lower, with 1,500 less strength, Gu Feng’s power still surpassed that of a spiritualist. Dealing with the dozen or so remaining members of the Feng family was effortless.
Each swing of his greatsword felled another Feng clansman.
It was a slaughter, one-sided and complete.
Soon, the screams of panic from the Feng family faded, leaving only their bloody corpses.
The Xue family stared at Gu Feng, feeling as though he was a demon of slaughter.
Recalling his recent interaction with Feng Bilian, they realized it had all been deliberate—Gu Feng’s plan was to kill all the Feng family, and, unable to defeat them head-on, he’d used emotion as his weapon. And it had worked.
Such methods were nothing short of ruthless and heartless.
Gu Feng took a deep breath and approached the stunned Gu Yan, Xue Wen, and Xue Ziyan. “I’m sorry. I promise—other than the three of you, there will never be another woman.”
“Ding! Gu Yan’s affection for you has reached its peak: ‘Heart of Never Betrayal’ acquired (unlocks the ‘Heart’s Resonance’ opportunity; comprehensive resistance increased), 30% experience sharing gained.”
At that moment, both Gu Feng and Gu Yan felt a surge of strength within. Comprehensive resistance was more than just attribute resistance—it included soul and spirit, everything.
“Ding! Xue Wen is now permanently and utterly devoted to you. Love bridge established; 12% experience sharing gained.”
“Ding! Xue Ziyan now fears you; fear level at 40%.”
Watching Gu Feng kill Feng Bilian had cast a shadow in Xue Ziyan’s heart. She and Feng Bilian were much alike. If everything Gu Feng had done to Feng Bilian was just to kill her, then what about herself?
Gu Feng looked at Xue Ziyan, feeling troubled. He understood why she was afraid and stepped toward her, wanting to comfort her.
Seeing him approach, Xue Ziyan shook her head violently and turned to run.
Gu Feng watched her fleeing figure but did not give chase. Seeing her fear value drop slightly, he realized she needed time to calm down.
Xue Wen and Gu Yan walked to Gu Feng, each taking one side of his embrace, hugging him tightly. Both suddenly felt a surge of anxiety, afraid that should a better woman appear, Gu Feng would abandon them.
Gu Feng held them close as well.
The Xue family watched the three, not daring to interrupt.
After a long time, the three finally separated.
Gu Feng looked toward the patiently waiting members of the Xue family and said to the pensive Xue Wuwei, “I’ll take care of the Feng family. The Xue family has nothing to worry about.”
With that, Gu Feng produced three fine, lower-tier spiritual swords and handed them to Xue Wuwei. “This visit was mainly to accompany Xue Wen home. Consider these my greeting gifts.”
The sight of the three spiritual swords left the Xue family in shock; upon hearing they were gifts, excitement spread among them, even Xue Wuwei himself.
At that moment, a Xue family guard hurriedly entered the parlor.
He was aghast at the corpses littering the floor. Glancing at Gu Feng and his sister, then at the three spiritual swords in Gu Feng’s hands, he was stunned anew. Only after a long moment did he reluctantly look away and turn to Xue Wuwei, seeking permission to speak.
Xue Wuwei waved his hand, signaling the guard to speak.
The guard then reported, “Patriarch, an old man from White Spirit City who claims to be the Second Elder of the City Lord’s Mansion has arrived with the City Lord’s second son to propose marriage to our family. At that moment, Yan Yi—Xue Ziyan—came running out of the house in such a panic that she collided with the Second Elder. The Second Elder was immediately taken with her and demanded she become his concubine. When she refused and tried to leave, he grabbed her and took her away... That’s when I came to report.”