"What?" the masked man and Yan Rou exclaimed in perfect, simultaneous disbelief
Around them, the hired thugs groaned on the ground. None of them seemed hurt at first glance, but their faces twisted in pain.
Some held their stomachs. Others curled up on the ground, arms over their heads, struggling for breath.
It was a strange, almost unbelievable sight.
A moment ago, these men had moved with confidence. Now, they lay in a heap on the ground, defeated so quickly it was hard to process what had just happened.
Yan Rou's thoughts spun in confusion. She could hardly believe any of this. Lei Feng—the man she'd assumed was just a shameless troublemaker—still held her easily with one arm. He hadn't even put her down while he beat a dozen trained men without breaking a sweat.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she remembered the strange moment when he had called out his move—"Ordinary Technique. Rapid Kicks"—as if it was nothing special at all.
Ordinary? If this was his idea of ordinary, what would he do if he got serious?
For the first time since Uncle Zhang collapsed, a spark of hope touched her. It was faint, but real. Maybe this man was not the fool she thought he was. Maybe he was far more reliable, and they could escape this situation.
Across from her, the masked man trembled with fury. His hands clenched into fists at his side.
"Useless trash!" the masked man roared.
His voice cut through the clearing, raging with fury. He glared at his men sprawled on the ground, then turned that same burning look on Lei Feng. Even behind the silk mask, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.
"I don't know what you just did," he said, struggling to keep his anger in check. "But it ends now. I'll deal with you personally."
He stepped forward, and the pressure in the clearing changed instantly.
Dust rose from the ground, and loose stones skittered away. An invisible aura leaked from his body.
He was done wasting time on this commoner.
But Lei Feng didn't react. He stood there, arms loose, face calm and almost bored, as if nothing happening here mattered to him.
"Finally," Lei Feng said with a long sigh. "I was wondering when the bigger fly would take action."
"You'll regret standing in front of me!" The masked man spat.
Suddenly, he shot forward. One instant he was several steps away; the next, he was right in front of Lei Feng. His hand shaped into a claw, aiming for Lei Feng's neck. "Shadow Claw!" he yelled. Black energy whipped behind his strike, cutting the air with a hiss.
Lei Feng just tilted his head a little. The attack missed him by an inch, the force blowing past and fading into nothing.
"Too slow," Lei Feng said flatly. He still held Yan Rou in his arms. "And your aim is terrible."
The insult hurt more than missing. Snarling, the masked man attacked with everything he had. Punches, kicks, and claw strikes, each one strong enough to smash stone. But none of them landed.
Lei Feng dodged each attack with small, easy movements—sometimes leaning, sometimes stepping aside, always just enough. Every strike missed, and he still kept Yan Rou tucked safely in his arm, as if she weighed nothing at all.
The barrage went on until the masked man was out of breath. He swung one last time and missed, then jumped back, gasping for air. Sweat soaked the edge of his mask.
He stared at Lei Feng, unable to believe what he was seeing. No ordinary person could dodge like that, especially while holding someone else.
His mind raced. There was only one answer. Lei Feng wasn't what he appeared to be.
"Is he... a hidden expert? How did Yan Rou find someone like this?" the masked man thought, cursing to himself.
His demeanor changed instantly.
"Friend," he said, his voice now smooth and devoid of its earlier anger. "There has been a misunderstanding. A man of your skill should not be a traveling companion for a family like the Yans. They cannot give you what you deserve."
Lei Feng raised an eyebrow, finally showing a hint of interest.
"Oh? And what is it that I deserve? Can you give it to me?
Seeing that he had his attention, the masked man continued. "My master is one of the most powerful men in the Azure Dragon city. Serve him, and you will have unimaginable riches. You will have power, status, anything you desire."
Lei Feng yawned, not bothering to hide his boredom. "Anything else," he said.
The masked man kept going. He'd noticed how Lei Feng looked at Yan Rou.
"What about women?" he said, dropping his voice. "You could have a harem—dozens of the most beautiful women in the city. All yours, if you want them."
Lei Feng's expression changed at that. He smiled and stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Dozens of beautiful women, you say?"
Seeing the change, the masked man pushed harder. "Exactly! Just hand over the girl and pledge yourself to my master, and you'll never lack for company again."
Yan Rou, who had been watching this exchange with a renewed sense of hope, felt her heart plummet into an icy abyss. She saw the tempted look on Lei Feng's face, and her newfound security was shattered.
He was just like all other men, easily swayed by lust.
"You shameless lecher!" Yan Rou snapped, voice tight with anger and a shock she didn't know how to name, "How can you even think about other women? Am I not your potential wife?!"
As soon as she said it, Yan Rou realized what she'd blurted out. Her face flushed red, and she clamped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were shut with shock and embarrassment.
Lei Feng glanced down and grinned, truly pleased. Before Yan Rou could react, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
He turned back to the masked man, his smile gone. "Alright," he said coldly. "Go get the girls. Bring them here first, and I'll take a look."
"Lei Feng!!" Yan Rou cried out in horror.
The masked man's eyes lit up. "An excellent choice! First, let me take Yan.."
"And if you do," Lei Feng continued calmly, his voice dropping to an icy whisper, "I will let you leave after I castrate you."
The masked man froze. "What did you say?"
"I have a simple rule," Lei Feng explained calmly. "Anyone who has designs on my potential wife, or any of my future wives, must die. However, if they truly repent, I can be merciful. I will let them go after making them an eunuch. You seem to want to live, so I am giving you a chance."
"So, I can let you go as an eunuch, if you get me the girls you mentioned."
The masked man's lips trembled. "Let me go... as an eunuch?" he whispered, barely believing it himself.
He'd once been a mid-tier Foundation Realm expert—someone people feared and respected. Guards stepped aside for him, elders nodded in respect, and lesser cultivators never dared to meet his eyes.
Wherever he went, his name carried a lot of weight.
Until now.
Yet here, in this clearing, he was being spoken to like a man on his execution. Worse, he was being offered mercy only at the cost of his pride as a man.
His hands shook in fury, and his mouth twisted under the mask. Rage built inside him until he couldn't hold it in any longer.
"YOU INSOLENT FOOL, YOU WILL DIE!" he screamed.
In an instant, the masked man poured every last bit of his Qi into his palm. His aura flared to its absolute peak. The ground beneath him cracked as he gathered his power for one final, devastating attack.
"TAKE THIS - THOUSAND DESTRUCTION PALM!"