Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Second Younger Brother, between our family and Li Family, which do you think has a higher chance of becoming the number one family?”
Luo Xiao asked while pacing forward.
“Of course it’s us.” Luo Feng did not hesitate at all.
Luo Xiao was clearly stunned by Luo Feng’s aura, he shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Second Younger Brother, after not meeting for two years, you seem to have changed into a completely different person.”
Luo Feng frowned for a second, but fortunately, Luo Xiao did not dwell on this matter. Luo Xiao continued, “But the others might not think the same, I’m afraid that nobody in Panlong City thinks that we can triumph over Li Family, not even those from our family.”
“Those from our family?” Luo Feng furrowed his brows as he had a hunch about something.
Luo Xiao nodded with a sinister look.
“Zheng Hongzhi is a part of our family’s collateral branch, but ever since Mayor Han Yulong died, he joined hands with the others from the collateral branch to press Father for a bigger share of the profit!”
“I don’t think that they’re after our family’s profit,” Luo Feng commented.
Luo Xiao looked at Luo Feng strangely because he was surprised that Luo Feng who never bothered about family matters was able to see things so thoroughly.
He nodded. “That’s right, Zheng Hongzhi and the others are doing this for only one reason. They’re demanding for a separation of powers, and to make Father a figurehead!”
“Separation of powers!” Luo Feng was concerned. If that were to happen, his father’s status as the patriarch would only be an empty title.
“Hmph! Zheng Hongzhi used to be just a little worker in our family, he only got to where he is today because Father recognized his ability. I can’t believe that he’s repaying Father’s kindness with ingratitude, he even threatened to leave our family!”
“How can Father be threatened?” Luo Feng found it strange as Zheng Hongzhi and the others were only part of their family’s collateral branch, so it should not be an issue.
“They’re holding the most important transportation channel for our family. Without them, we’ll be in a difficult state.” Luo Xiao sighed.
‘I see.’
Luo Feng nodded.
Since Luo Family’s main industry was the mining industry, it would be a disaster if they lost their transportation channel.
“Can Father work with Feng Family?” Luo Feng asked.
While Feng Family was ranked last in terms of strength, they were the wealthiest among the four great families.
Should Luo Family gain help from Feng Family that had a wide business range, transportation channels would not be an issue even if they were to lose Zheng Hongzhi and the others.
Most importantly, Luo Feng recalled that Luo Family and Feng Family always maintained a good relationship. He remembered playing with Feng Lingyue when they were little, but it was a vague memory since that was a long time ago.
“Feng Family…”
Luo Xiao replied with a bitter smile, “Second Younger Brother, don’t you know Feng Yutang, Feng Family’s patriarch? He won’t be willing to help if he won’t benefit from it. Back then, there was a marriage arrangement between you and Feng Lingyue, but Feng Yutang stopped visiting Luo Family once he found out about the assessment result regarding your talent…
“If Li Family becomes the number one family, Luo Family will surely be suppressed. Feng Yutang is a wise man, do you think he’ll get himself involved in trouble?”
Luo Feng was concerned. “What does Father plan to do then?”
Luo Xiao sighed. “Father has gathered all members from our family’s collateral branch to have a family meeting, he’ll decide after. If things are really not going to work out, there’ll be a separation of powers.”
“When is the family meeting?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
Luo Feng nodded, then began pondering.
“Oh, right. Big Brother, this is for you.”
He suddenly slapped his forehead, then retrieved two manuals he acquired from Su Laohu.
“Flying on Grass, Crescent Moon Claw Technique! These are Yellow Rank Upper Class martial arts!”
Luo Xiao gasped after he received the manuals. A look of reluctance was seen on his face for a second before he returned them to Luo Feng.
He mentioned in a serious tone, “Second Younger Brother, it’s a serious offense to pass martial arts from your institution to outsiders, your martial arts might be crippled! You should take them back.”
“Big Brother, what are you thinking?”
Luo Feng chuckled as he pointed at the manuals. “Don’t worry, I earned them from killing a strong martial artist of the martial world.”
“Really?”
Luo Xiao was delighted.
He never got to learn powerful martial arts, because he studied at a minor institution in Flowing Cloud Ridge. If he could learn the two Yellow Rank Upper Class martial arts, he could definitely advance to Heroic Boundary in no time!
“I won’t put my life at stake.”
Luo Feng shrugged, then whispered, “Big Brother, you mustn’t let Father and the others know, let’s surprise them during the Hunting Meet in ten days!”
“Of course! It’ll be possible for me to defeat the Li Brothers if I advance to Heroic Boundary, I’d love to see Father’s reaction.”
Luo Xiao licked his lips, then slapped Luo Feng’s shoulder. “Second Younger Brother, thank you.”
The Yellow Rank Upper Class martial art manuals were valuable enough for the four great families to spend freely!
“We’re brothers, don’t mention it.” Luo Feng pouted his lips.
“Haha… That’s true. Second Younger Brother, let’s work hard to bring our family to greater heights!” Luo Xiao stretched his right hand out to Luo Feng.
“Mm.” Luo Feng nodded, then grabbed his hand tightly.
…
The brothers talked and laughed until they arrived at Luo Feng’s courtyard, where they parted.
“Young Master, you’re back!”
A young lady dressed in a purple dress welcomed Luo Feng cheerfully.
“Zi Ling.”
Luo Feng caressed the lady’s soft hair out of habit, then remarked, “You grew older.”
Zi Ling was Luo Feng’s personal servant whom he grew up with. He remembered her as a little girl, but she had already become a beautiful lady with dewy eyes.
When she looked up at Luo Feng, her eyes were teary. She bit her lips as she asked, “Young Master, you haven’t returned for a long time, did I do anything wrong? Do you hate me?”
Luo Feng was startled, he reached his hand out to scratch her nose. “Silly girl, I like you very much, why would I hate you? I haven’t had the time to come home, because I’ve been cultivating for the past two years, don’t overthink.”
“Is that true?”
Zi Ling blushed, then smiled through her tears. “I, I’ll prepare the water for you to bathe.”
Luo Feng shook his head when he watched Zi Ling leave, he then entered his courtyard.
“Our family meeting’s tomorrow. If there’s really going to be a separation of powers, Father will be a nominal family patriarch, I must think of a way,” Luo Feng mumbled to himself.
It was night time.
After dinner, Luo Feng returned to his courtyard to cultivate.
Luo Residence was serene under the watery moonlight.
“Hu, hu, hu…”
A figure shuttled back and forth like a ghost, causing a surge of strong air current in the courtyard.
Luo Feng was cultivating Soaring Dragon Steps.
The cultivation difficulty of Soaring Dragon Steps became evidently slower once Luo Feng arrived at Level Three. Even after advancing to Heroic Boundary for half a month already, he had not progressed to Level Four of Soaring Dragon Steps.
Luo Feng could only work harder to advance as soon as possible.
He finally stopped after two hours and was clearly exhausted.
“I wonder what the Soaring Dragon Steps’ grade is, the cultivation of Heaven-crushing Blade Technique isn’t even as strenuous.”
Luo Feng wiped the sweat on his forehead, then exhaled before he murmured to himself, “But according to my cultivation speed, I should be able to cultivate Soaring Dragon Steps to Level Four in ten days. It’ll allow me to perform Void Step eight times; my speed will increase by eight times too.”
The harder it was to cultivate Soaring Dragon Steps, the more he was looking forward to it.
Being at Level Three of Soaring Dragon Steps, his speed was above those who cultivated normal Yellow Rank Upper Class martial arts. He was eager to find out the might of Soaring Dragon Steps’ fourth level!
“I shall continue my cultivation, I must help Father secure the mayor’s position in ten days!”
After exhaling impure air out of his body, Luo Feng retrieved his Tiger Essence Saber. Flashes of blade lights could be seen as he cultivated Heaven-crushing Blade Technique.
…
As soon as the sky dawned the next day, Luo Feng woke Zi Ling up.
“Zi Ling, I’m heading out now. If Father and the others ask for me, tell them that I have something I need to take care of.”
Zi Ling frowned when she saw Luo Feng dressed neatly without carrying his saber. “Young Master, where are you going to?”
“It’s a secret.”
Luo Feng smiled mysteriously, then left his courtyard by going over the wall.
He headed toward the east of Panlong City where Feng Family was located.
After spending the night thinking, he concluded that Feng Family was his father’s only hope.
He arrived at Feng Residence half an hour later.
Feng Residence was surrounded by tall walls. While it did not look as magnanimous as Luo Residence, it was luxuriously decorated, which portrayed Feng Family’s background.
“Who are you!”
The guards at the front gate pulled their sword out and glared at Luo Feng the moment he approached the residence.
Luo Feng sighed. ‘So much has changed in two years that even their old servants don’t recognize me anymore.’
“I am…”
Just as he was about to explain, clatters of hoofs could be heard coming from the streets.
“Da, da, da…”
Cavalries who were escorting a grand carriage galloped in his direction at the speed of light.
“Move!”
The guard who was in the lead yelled at Luo Feng arrogantly without the intention to slow down at all.
“They’re from Li Family…”
Luo Feng raised his brows when he noticed Li Family’s family crest on the carriage.
He stood with his hands behind his back and ignored the cavalries that were speeding toward him.
The guard from Li Family was enraged by Luo Feng’s disregard. Being a guard in Li Family that was ranked second among the four great families, he was used to having an arrogant and bossy attitude as everyone in Panlong City respected him. As such, he treated Luo Feng lightly.
“Fella, you brought this upon yourself!”
Seeing as Luo Feng was not going to move, the guard smirked hideously. He kicked his horse in its abdomen to speed it up.
“Young brother, it’s dangerous, move!” Feng Family’s servant who was worried quickly shouted.
The force of the sprinting horse was probably thousands of pounds, by which one would be crushed into pieces if one was hit.
Despite that, Luo Feng was unmoved, he stared at the guard from Li Family.
Subsequently, an unbelievable scene occurred when everyone thought that Luo Feng was going to be hit by the horse.
The teen was seen swinging his fist effortlessly, then a loud neigh was heard as the horse and the guard were sent flying away. Not only that, but two other guards were also hit into the air.
“Quick, stop!”
The remaining Li Family guards immediately stopped the carriage when they realized that things were going bad.
The three Li Family guards who were hit looked at each other and gasped.
They along with their horses were sent flying over ten meters away by one punch! The three horses and the three guards landed so heavily that big holes were formed on the ground, and they were severely injured!
“How dare you swagger through the streets when you can’t even withstand such a simple hit…”
Luo Feng clapped his hands indifferently.
“What’s wrong?”
All of a sudden, someone yelled from the carriage. When the curtain was opened from the inside, Li Tianyang was seen walking out.
His face darkened when he looked around him. “Luo Feng, how dare you injure my men?”
“Luo Feng? Hey, is he Luo Family’s second young master?”
“Mm. Although there’s a huge change, that’s him. When did he become so powerful?”
“Now isn’t the time for this, Luo Family’s young master and Li Family’s young master are like water and fire, this is going to be a disaster. Quick, notify the Patriarch and the Lady!”
A few Feng Family servants quickly went into Feng Residence to deliver the message.
Luo Feng was stunned for a while as he did not expect to meet Li Tianyang. He then waved his hand at him. “Li Tianyang, your family’s dog was behaving poorly, I helped you teach it a lesson. Don’t worry, I’m a generous person, I won’t ask for any reward.”
“What are you talking about! Luo Feng, you’re courting death!”
Li Tianyang roared angrily, then jumped down from his carriage.