Qin Feng could no longer hold himself back.
He had recently obtained the qualification of True Inheritor and was on reasonably good terms with the Young Master, Liang Zhan.
After learning that Chen Sansi had joined the army, he implored Liang Zhan to pull some strings and see if it was possible to kick him out of the barracks to deal with him easily.
But later, Chen Sansi was taken under the wing of Wang Zhi.
Therefore, Qin Feng entrusted Liang Zhan to invite the Hundred Households officer to a banquet.
Fatty Wang, who was indeed infamous for his greed and lechery, would come whenever he was called, almost without fail.
Everything was expected to go smoothly, but this invitation turned into three days of continuous entertainment.
In the daytime, lavish meals and fine wine were served at Eight Treasures Building, and beauties from Spring Pavilion kept them company at night.
Over these three days, more than twenty taels of silver vanished for nothing.
Naturally, Qin Feng couldn't afford such extravagance.
The money was all provided by Liang Zhan.
But this couldn't go on either.
It was time to make things clear.
So, Qin Feng simply laid it all out.
The moment Chen Sansi's name was mentioned, the private room fell eerily silent.
Wang Zhi did not rush to reply but languidly savored his wine before pushing aside the women and standing up.
He moved toward Qin Feng step by step, with a clear smirk on his lips, but no trace of warmth to be felt, "Ah, the Chen fellow~ I do seem to have such a person under me.
"Come now, what's the grudge between you two?"
An instant ago, Hundred Households Wang had seemed like another dissolute bureaucrat, but at this moment, he exerted a tremendous pressure on Qin Feng.
Subconsciously standing up to answer, he said, "Sir, my elder brother has gone missing, and I suspect..."
"You suspect?"
Wang Zhi glared with his right eye, almost getting in Qin Feng's face, "That means you have no evidence, right?"
"No... I don't,"
Qin Feng admitted.
But among the many villages around, the only person with the capability to hurt his brother was Chen Sansi.
Hundred Households Wang suddenly changed his expression and started laughing at the gentleman, "Mr. Liang, look at your disciple, what a joker. His brother disappears, and he blames someone without proof—isn't this just making a fuss?"
"Hundred Households Wang, I'm not making this up, he..."
Qin Feng started to speak but then stopped mid-sentence.
What could he say?
That his brother wanted to abduct someone else's wife first?
He cast a pleading look at Liang Zhan.
The latter ignored him, going along with Fatty Wang's words, "Hundred Households Wang has a point, I actually think it might be a misunderstanding as well?"
"Young Master..."
Qin Feng wanted to object but was silenced by a gesture from Liang Zhan.
"Hundred Households Wang."
Liang Zhan continued, "Let's leave the matter here, and continue drinking. Later, we'll call for a couple more top girls."
"No need,"
Fatty Wang waved his hand, "These past few days I've been working with your Martial Arts Hall to search for the barbarians, we've already narrowed down the area, and I reckon we'll find them tonight, so I need to go as well.
"Otherwise, Households Commander Xiang may give me a hard time again, let's continue another day.
"As for your brother's matter, I reckon it was probably those barbarians' doing."
He outstretched his stout palm and patted Qin Feng's shoulder twice, "Once I've caught the barbarians, I promise to force the truth about your brother's whereabouts from them."
After the two pats, Qin Feng almost spat out blood.
Before he could react, Wang Zhi grabbed his sword and pushed open the door to leave.
"Young Master."
Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Qin Feng said, "What does Hundred Households Wang mean by this?"
"What else could he mean?"
The smile on Liang Zhan's face faded, "He's clearly telling us not to touch that kid; what the devil! Fatty Wang is well-known far and wide for his cunning, why would he suddenly take someone under his protection?"
Qin Feng asked, "Young Master, what should I do?"
Liang Zhan opened his folding fan and gently waved it, his voice laced with helplessness, "Don't think of this fat man as merely a Sixth Rank officer; he has no small backing.
"He hails from the Eight Camps, and rumors say, he used to be able to speak directly to Supervisor Sun. Even though he's been relegated to the Households department, he probably still knows a few high-ranking officials.
"Even I have to treat him politely.
"It's better not to provoke if avoidable.
"So, let's drop this matter here."
"Stop?"
Qin Feng's brows furrowed as his voice uncontrollably rose, "Young Master!"
"If I tell you to stop, you stop. Don't you understand?"
Liang Zhan slammed his folding fan down onto the table with a "snap," scolding without warning, "Hasn't this young master already spent dozens of taels of silver on your behalf, isn't that generous and righteous enough?"
"..."
Qin Feng lowered his head, not daring to speak again, but his fists tightened in the shadows.
"Hehe~"
Liang Zhan then turned and soothingly laughed, "Alright, Qin Feng, I know you and your brother were close, but isn't Wang Zhi there to protect us? We're untouchable, right?
"As the saying goes, 'A gentleman can wait ten years to take revenge.'
"After the assassin's incident last time, you were taken as a direct disciple by my father. Just cultivate diligently, and won't you be able to take your revenge later?"
Qin Feng remained silent.
"Come on, sit down and join us."
Liang Zhan looked out at the night sky, "After the hour of You today, the city will be under martial law. Households Commander Xiang personally plans to capture that barbarian, so you'd better not go out."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Master, but with such a great vendetta unavenged, I dare not indulge myself."
Qin Feng understood that no matter what he said, the other party would no longer help, so he took his leave.
As the hour of You approached, the sky gradually darkened.
All the way, his thoughts were anything but calm.
Could it really end like this?
Or should he do as Liang Zhan suggested, diligently practice martial arts, and seek revenge later?
Absolutely not.
Fatty Wang's protection of Chen Sansi showed that the boy's talent was probably extraordinary.
If he delayed, where would his advantage come from?
Most importantly, how could he cultivate in peace with his revenge unfulfilled?
Since they were three, they had lost their parents.
It was his elder brother, Qin Xiong, who raised him, selling pancakes to make a living, and later, when life got too tough, they had no choice but to engage in usury and human trafficking.
But his brother was a good man!
Now, his brother had disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead.
The only thing left was the golden lock his brother had given him when he was ten years old.
Wait.
Where was the golden lock?!
Qin Feng reached for his neck only to find that the amulet he always wore close to his body had disappeared. How could it...
Wang Zhi!
He suddenly remembered Hundred Households Wang patting his shoulder a few times.
This was too insulting!
"Chen Sansi!"
Qin Feng was consumed by rage.
If nobody would help him, he would take his revenge by himself!
With his mastery of Blood Refining, killing a novice who had just started learning martial arts should be a piece of cake.
As for what would happen after, he could only bet that there wouldn't be consequences.
Qin Feng made up his mind.
He hurried to pass through the inspection before the city gate closed, leaving the county seat and heading straight for his home in Yanbian Village.
The empty house no longer rang with the voice of his brother, laughing and playing drinking games, fueling the fire in his heart.
Qin Feng searched through his belongings, pulled out a set of black clothes to wear, and covered his face with a black cloth.
He sat down on a chair, cradling the Treasure Sword with both hands as he closed his eyes and concentrated.
He was just waiting for the dead of night to slip out and kill.
"Caw caw——"
Midnight.
The night crows cawed.
Qin Feng opened his bloodshot eyes.
Just as he was about to take up his sword and leave the house, suddenly a ghostly voice came from outside.
"Qin Feng."
"Your brother sent me to take you to him!"