Chapter 263: The Panic of He Zhongjie!

Ling Feng effortlessly retrieved the demonic core from the Iron-armored Demon Bull with a single stroke and casually tossed it to Yang Jun. Glancing at the sky, he noticed dusk settling in.

Accepting the demonic core, Yang Jun checked the other fourth-tier ones in his pocket. Excitedly, he exclaimed, "Ling Feng, I've got five fourth-tier demonic cores now!"

Feng Mo grinned too, saying, "Me too, Brother Feng."

"Good," Ling Feng nodded. "We'll rest here tonight. Tomorrow morning, you two will return to the yellow-tier student activity area."

"Got it."

Yang Jun and Feng Mo, being smart individuals, understood that Ling Feng intended to venture into deeper and more perilous territory.

Considering their capabilities, they worried that in that particular area, they would likely only be a burden to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng surveyed the surroundings and selected a large boulder as support. He felled a nearby tree and positioned it snugly against the rock, creating a makeshift campsite. It would serve as a temporary camp for the night.

In no time, they had a fire going. Feng Mo retrieved the fresh demonic beast meat they had gathered earlier and began roasting it over the flames.

After a satisfying meal, the three took turns keeping watch knowing that a sleepless night awaited them.

"

Snores...

"

Ling Feng, the second person to keep watch, heard thunderous snoring emanating from the tent. He then picked up a stick to poke at the campfire, preventing it from extinguishing.

In the nocturnal forest, danger lurked around every corner which demanded constant vigilance.

"

Hmm?

"

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Suddenly, Ling Feng heard movement from the west, and a curve formed at the corner of his mouth. "It seems like it wasn't a coincidence after all. They've been trailing us all along and now they're ready to make their move?"

Earlier, through his Boundless Vision, Ling Feng had spotted two shadowy figures trailing them from a distance of about seven to eight hundred zhangs away. It was clear they had been tailing the trio the entire way.

And who else could these two clandestine individuals be but the He brothers?

...

Seven to eight zhangs away.

He Zhongjie maintained a calm demeanor as he surveyed the headless demonic beast lying on the ground while taking a deep breath.

Throughout their journey, they had encountered over a dozen similar corpses, each dispatched with precision. Apart from the clean sword cuts to their heads, there were no other visible wounds.

It appeared as though they had all been slain with a single decisive strike.

This phenomenon was undeniably terrifying!

Extremely terrifying.

It signified Ling Feng's ability to swiftly dispatch fourth-tier low-level demonic beasts with a single blow.

Though these demonic beasts were only akin to martial artists in the early stages of the Transformation Realm, the effortless and precise manner in which they were insta-killed...

He Zhongjie couldn't shake off the sense of danger creeping over him.

While he was confident in his ability to dispatch these beasts, the casual manner in which each one was dispatched with a single clean and decisive strike...

It made him realize one thing: regardless of Ling Feng's strength, his mastery of the sword surpassed his own.

"What the matter, big brother?" He Zhonglei asked, noticing He Zhongjie's troubled expression, which also unsettled him.

"What's the matter, you ask?" He Zhongjie smiled bitterly. "That kid's strength... it's probably even more formidable than we thought."

"Just because he's taken down a few fourth-tier demonic beasts?" He Zhonglei countered dismissively. "Big brother, you're a sky-tier student. Dealing with fourth-tier demonic beasts should be a piece of cake for you."

"No, it's not that simple," He Zhongjie disagreed, shaking his head. "You might not have noticed, but there's a strange aura lingering around the wounds on those beasts. If I'm right, it's sword will."

"Sword... sword will?" He Zhonglei's pupils contracted suddenly. "Is that even possible? Him, possessing sword will?"

"In any case, let's exercise caution," He Zhongjie narrowed his eyes, his tone serious. "We shouldn't act hastily. It's better to proceed with care."

He Zhongjie took a deep breath, refraining from impulsive actions upon realizing the potential threat posed by Ling Feng's insta-kill sword will.

"Let's depart from here," he urged, gripping He Zhonglei's arm. "Our sworn brother, Lei Lingyun, is nearby. With two days remaining, we can meet up with Lei and confront Ling Feng together. It's the safest course of action."

With that, He Zhongjie wasted no time, swiftly turning to leave. He no longer dared to trail behind Ling Feng.

...

"

Hmph,

consider yourselves lucky to escape!"

Ling Feng sneered, brushing off the fading presence of He Zhongjie and his brother as insignificant.

Just a pair of jokers.

"Brother Feng!"

Inside the tent, Feng Mo rubbed his eyes and lazily stretched. "It's my turn to take over the watch duty."

"It's alright, you can go ahead and rest," Ling Feng said, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "I'm not sleepy at all."

"

Erm...

"

Feng Mo got up anyway and sat down next to Ling Feng. He smiled and said, "Then let's chat for a while."

"I'll pass," Ling Feng shook his head and smiled. "If Master Feng wants to discuss some imperial romantic history with me, then I'd rather not."

Feng Mo chuckled, but there was a hint of melancholy in his laughter that wasn't usually there.

He always had the vibe of being carefree, lazy, and even a bit sleazy and vulgar, therefore his sudden seriousness threw Ling Feng off guard.

"If there's something on your mind, don't hesitate to speak up."

As a physician, Ling Feng was naturally skilled at reading people's expressions.

"Indeed, nothing escapes Brother Feng's keen eyes," Feng Mo said with a faint smile before asking out of the blue, "What do you think about the name Mo Feng?"

"Mo Feng?" Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at Feng Mo. "Is that your name by any chance?"

"Perhaps..." Feng Mo chuckled lightly. "I don't like this name, nor do I like this surname. Unfortunately, I've borne this surname since birth, carrying with it some... quite detestable things."

Ling Feng observed Feng Mo quietly and refrained from uttering a word.

This individual seems to have a story to tell.

Mo Feng? The Mo family?

Ling Feng wasn't aware of any nobility with the surname Mo in the empire, but from Feng Mo's words, he could deduce that his identity was undoubtedly extraordinary.

Feng Mo played with the campfire using a slender twig, and muttered to himself, "It's better to stick with Feng Mo. No need to make any choices or vie for anything. Haha, Feng Mo it is! Easygoing and carefree!"

"One always paves their own path, don't they?" Ling Feng pursed his lips and fixed his eyes on Feng Mo.

Despite his rather sleazy demeanor, Feng Mo seems surprisingly mysterious.

"Sorry, Brother Feng. I still can't tell you everything."

Feng Mo glanced at Ling Feng, struggling to speak several times before eventually clenching his fists and falling silent.

"Everyone has their own secrets," Ling Feng remarked, his hands resting behind his head as he reclined on the ground. "But what matters is that we are friends."

"Indeed, friends! The best of friends!"

Feng Mo affirmed, reclining with his arms folded under his head, a small twig held between his teeth. "May our friendship endure, Brother Feng."

"As long as you don't change, I won't!" Ling Feng turned to Feng Mo, extending his right hand.

Clap!

The palms of the two youths clasped together.

"As long as you remain true, so shall I!"

Under the starry sky, this was the pact between two young men!

Author's note: (PS: Just a note, Feng Mo's background is quite remarkable.)