But he was somewhat puzzled. Wasn't this person at the Martial Palace? How did he receive the news so quickly?
Staring intently at Qin Feiyang, Cao Lang said in a deep voice, "My father wouldn't possibly tell you these things. Did you torment him before his death?"
Qin Feiyang was perplexed. "Torment?" he repeated, shaking his head. "I burned down the Black Demon Fort, and I also killed the others. But your father's death had nothing to do with me. This object can prove it."
With that said, he took out the Jade Pendant.
Cao Lang's eyes widened in surprise. "How is it in your possession?"
Qin Feiyang tossed the Jade Pendant over, saying, "Your father gave it to me before his death to pass on to you."
Cao Lang caught it, lowered his head, gazing unblinkingly at the Jade Pendant, a pang of sorrow in his eyes. After a moment, he put away the Jade Pendant, looked up at Qin Feiyang, and said, "This Jade Pendant has been passed down in my family. Although it's not a treasure, it has great significance to me. My father wouldn't have easily given it away. Him giving it to you indicates that his death truly has nothing to do with you."
Qin Feiyang breathed a sigh of relief.
Cao Lang bowed, pleading, "You must know how my father died. Please, you have to tell me."
Qin Feiyang replied, "He was ambushed and killed by an old man in black."
Cao Lang frowned. "An old man in black?"
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he exclaimed, "Was this man a martial master?"
Qin Feiyang nodded.
Cao Lang shook violently, his face deathly pale. "How could it be him?"
Qin Feiyang asked, "You know him?"
"Of course I do."
"He's Xiang Wu, a one-star martial master."
"Three years ago, he joined the Black Demon Fort, and my father always considered him his closest friend."
"But who would have thought he would harm my father!"
"It was also him who had Ma Hongmei's disciple, Bao Chuan, go to the Martial Palace and tell me that you killed my father!"
Cao Lang clenched his fists, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
A murderous intent also flickered in Qin Feiyang's eyes. Xiang Wu, Ma Hongmei... they both deserve to die!
Suddenly, Cao Lang said, "Qin Feiyang, what do you say we team up to kill Xiang Wu?"
Qin Feiyang laughed. "That's exactly my intention."
Their thoughts aligned perfectly.
Qin Feiyang ran back to tell Uncle Yuan, then sped off with Cao Lang toward Iron Bull Town. On their way, the two also discussed their plan.
「A short while later.」
The duo emerged from the forest, standing on a large boulder overlooking Iron Bull Town, shrouded in the dark of night, their eyes gleaming with an intense cold light.
Cao Lang asked, "We'll act according to the plan. By the way, do you have a weapon?"
Qin Feiyang laughed. "I had a dagger before, but I somehow lost it."
Cao Lang thought for a moment, retrieved a pitch-black dagger from his Qiankun Bag, and handed it to Qin Feiyang, saying, "This dagger is made of top-quality black iron, capable of breaching the defense of a two-star martial master. Use it to ambush Xiang Wu later."
Qin Feiyang nodded and took it in his hand.
Cao Lang turned and ran toward the town without looking back.
Was that Jade Pendant really just a family heirloom? Watching the figure gradually disappearing into the darkness, Qin Feiyang's gaze flickered uncertainly. If Xiang Wu told Cao Lang about me burning down Black Demon Fort, he must have also told him about me acquiring its treasures. But from start to finish, Cao Lang hasn't mentioned the treasure at all. This is obviously unreasonable!
Looks like I need to hold something back.
Qin Feiyang scanned his surroundings, then turned and ran into the forest behind him. Soon, he found a wild hog and dispatched it cleanly and swiftly. But it wasn't for eating.
He needed the wild hog's blood!
SHING!
Gripping the dagger, he stripped a piece of hide from the hog. Then he quickly used that piece of hide to make a makeshift blood bag and placed it close against his chest.
With everything prepared, Qin Feiyang returned to the large boulder, hid his Qiankun Bag under a small tree, then concealed himself in a patch of wild grass, quietly waiting for Cao Lang to lure Xiang Wu over.
Time ticked by. About an hour passed.
A flurry of hurried footsteps approached from afar, eventually stopping near the large boulder.
Qin Feiyang gently pushed apart the grass in front of his eyes and saw Cao Lang and Xiang Wu standing about three meters away.
But I can't launch a surprise attack now. Cao Lang has his back to me, and Xiang Wu is facing him. If I show myself, I'll walk right into Xiang Wu's line of sight. So, I have to wait for the right moment.
Xiang Wu asked, "Lang Er, you called me out here. What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Hush!" Cao Lang made a hushing gesture, warily scanning the surroundings. He then walked behind Xiang Wu, pretending to check for any activity.
In reality, he was switching positions to create a perfect opportunity for Qin Feiyang to ambush Xiang Wu.
As expected, Xiang Wu also turned, watching Cao Lang suspiciously.
And just like that, Xiang Wu now had his back to Qin Feiyang!
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Cao Lang no longer kept up the pretense. He faced Xiang Wu directly and chuckled, "Uncle Xiang, I've already killed Qin Feiyang."
Xiang Wu was surprised. "So soon?"
Cao Lang nodded.
Xiang Wu quickly asked, "What about the Qiankun Bag? It contains our fort's savings from many years; we absolutely cannot lose it."
Cao Lang laughed. "The Qiankun Bag is right here with me; I won't lose it."
Xiang Wu smiled, a cold gleam flashing deep within his eyes. "That's a relief. Let me see it. I want to check if the amount is correct."
Cao Lang agreed cheerfully. "Okay." He retrieved a Qiankun Bag from his robes and handed it over with a beaming smile.
No matter how talented he is, he's an idiot. He won't live long. As soon as I get the Qiankun Bag, I'll send him down to reunite with his father. Xiang Wu sneered inwardly and reached for the Qiankun Bag.
WHIZ!
At that moment, Qin Feiyang suddenly pushed off with his foot, shooting out of the wild grass like a lightning bolt. The dagger in his hand glinted coldly as he viciously plunged it into Xiang Wu's back!
AAARGH!
Xiang Wu let out a miserable scream.
The smile on Cao Lang's face instantly vanished, replaced by murderous intent! His left hand shot out, True Qi erupting! With full force, he slammed a palm into Xiang Wu's chest!
Xiang Wu was utterly dumbfounded, ambushed before he could even register who attacked him, and then brutally struck by Cao Lang. What was happening?
Qin Feiyang pulled out the dagger and landed another kick.
THUD! Xiang Wu crashed face-first to the ground, sprawling like a dog eating dirt.
Qin Feiyang walked up to Cao Lang's side and said to Xiang Wu with a faint smile, "Old Bastard, you didn't expect this, did you? You were destined to die by my hand."
Xiang Wu sputtered, a mixture of shock and indignation in his voice, "How can it be you?"
"Cao Lang, didn't you say you already killed Qin Feiyang?"
"Why is he still alive?"
"And why did you attack me so viciously?"
Cao Lang retrieved the Qiankun Bag, his gaze murderous as he stared at Xiang Wu. "Because you deserve to die!"
The moment his words fell, a murderous glint flashed in Cao Lang's eyes. He suddenly struck Qin Feiyang's chest with a palm. True Qi surged, sending Qin Feiyang flying into a patch of grass. Simultaneously, the black dagger slipped from Qin Feiyang's hand, striking a large nearby rock and sending out a shower of sparks.
His chest was spurting fresh blood! In an instant, his whole body seemed to be bathed in blood, the reek of it assaulting his nostrils.
Qin Feiyang screamed in agony, "AAAH!" He struggled to push himself halfway up, glaring angrily at Cao Lang. "Why?"
Cao Lang laughed coldly. "Even though you didn't kill my father with your own hands, he wouldn't have died if you hadn't gone and burned down the Black Demon Fort! When it comes down to it, this is all your fault. So, just like Xiang Wu, you deserve to die!"
Resentment filled Qin Feiyang's eyes. "You... you're ruthless!" With that, he collapsed, his breath and heartbeat rapidly fading.
Looking at Qin Feiyang lying in a pool of blood, Xiang Wu jolted and quickly said, "Lang Er, don't believe Qin Feiyang's nonsense! He's trying to sow discord between us, to make us kill each other..."
Cao Lang, his fury overwhelming, roared, "Qin Feiyang's words are more believable than yours! You dared to plot against my father? Go to hell!" With that, he stomped, brutally crushing Xiang Wu's head.
The scene was incredibly bloody!
Cao Lang smiled cruelly. "Death itself isn't enough for you to repay this blood debt..."
"You can both stay here. Wait for the nearby wild beasts to smell the blood and come tear you apart, piece by piece..."
"Until, in the end, not even your bones will remain!"
He pulled off Xiang Wu's Qiankun Bag, then walked over to Qin Feiyang.
Cao Lang muttered to himself, "Huh? Where's his Qiankun Bag? I clearly saw one tied to his waist on the way here. It must have dropped somewhere. Forget it. I doubt he had anything valuable anyway. I'd better hurry to the Black Demon Fort. The treasure my father left me mustn't fall into anyone else's hands." He picked up the black dagger and quickly disappeared into the woods.
A dozen breaths or so passed.
Qin Feiyang suddenly opened his eyes.
Two startling, icy lights shone from them!