Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Someone from the State Office_1
Qin Feiyang set the beautiful woman down.
The two of them approached the man dressed in black, a slight smile on their faces.
The man in black, withstanding the intense pain, asked in a gloomy tone, "Why is this happening?"
"Sorry, Shen Qiang is dead," Qin Feiyang replied with a nonchalant smile.
"Dead?" The man in black was stunned, questioning with surprise, "Then who are you?"
"I don’t have time to chat." Qin Feiyang turned to the beautiful woman and said, "Elder, take him back first."
"Elder!"
The man in black was horrified. He finally understood; this was a trap. However, the one who laid this trap was too clever, putting on a play for his benefit.
The beautiful woman grabbed the man in black by his clothes, hoisted him up as though he were a small chick, and turned to head back to the Martial King Palace.
WHOOSH!
However, just as she turned around, a sudden change occurred!
A black arrow, like a venomous snake baring its fangs, shot through the air like lightning, piercing the back of the man in black’s head and exiting through his forehead!
Blood splattered across the sky!
The man in black died instantly!
"Who?"
The beautiful woman froze for a moment, then let out a furious shout. She grabbed Qin Feiyang, soared into the sky, and scanned her surroundings, her body seething with rage.
Qin Feiyang’s expression was equally grim. All that meticulous planning, and it still failed at the final step. It was infuriating!
The surrounding void was empty.
The two of them scanned the city below but found no one suspicious.
Qin Feiyang said regretfully, "Elder, there are too many hiding places down there. I’m afraid we won’t be able to find them."
The beautiful woman landed on the street with Qin Feiyang.
Qin Feiyang immediately crouched down and started searching the body of the man in black.
The beautiful woman also found the arrow. After examining it for a moment, she said seriously, "To dare shoot this arrow right under my nose, and to do so silently, the archer’s strength must be at least equal to mine."
She turned to Qin Feiyang and asked, "Did you find anything?"
Qin Feiyang took out a Qiankun Bag and a Blood Edict Order. Then, he carefully examined the Qiankun Bag and shook his head at the beautiful woman. "No clues. There’s no Image Crystal Stone either. It seems this person was just a minor character."
"Let’s go to that tavern and see if Lin Chang is still there," the beautiful woman said. She grabbed Qin Feiyang, transformed into a beam of light, and quickly headed towards the tavern.
The tavern was closed, but that certainly wouldn’t stop the beautiful woman.
The two forced their way in directly, but they couldn’t find Lin Chang.
「Back at the Martial King Palace.」
The beautiful woman commanded all the Stewards and Elders to pursue Lin Chang throughout the city!
「At Quiet Heart Lake.」
Qin Feiyang entered the pavilion. When Fatty and Lu Hong saw his dispirited face, their hearts sank.
Lu Hong asked, "Did it fail?"
"No." Qin Feiyang shook his head, sat down on a chair, rubbed his aching forehead, and sighed. "The plan was very successful, but that man in black was assassinated."
The two looked at each other, disbelief filling their eyes.
Qin Feiyang crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, his head lowered and his eyebrows tightly knitted. It couldn’t have been Yan Nanshan, the beautiful woman, or Elder Wan. Jiang Zhengyi and Chief Li couldn’t have done it either. If it were any of them, Shen Qiang and Lin Chang would have known that Yiyi had already left for Star Moon City. That leaves only the Elixir King Palace, the Royal Family, and the Lin Family Patriarch! All three powers hold deep grievances against him. Who could it be?
Lu Hong obediently brewed a pot of fragrant tea to refresh Qin Feiyang and soothe his fatigue.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an intimidating aura descended upon the Martial King Palace.
Qin Feiyang and the others swiftly got up, their eyes filled with suspicion. Following that, the three of them ran out of the pavilion, stood by the lakeside, and looked up into the sky.
Immediately, their gazes trembled!
In the hazy moonlight, a white figure stood arrogantly in the sky. He was like a Heavenly God descended to the mortal world, his overwhelming aura shaking the heavens and the earth!
"So strong!"
"His aura far surpasses the Hall Master’s!"
Fatty and Lu Hong couldn’t help but shiver. It wasn’t that they were cowardly, but the aura exuded by the man made them instinctively tremble!
"Someone from the state office!" Qin Feiyang whispered. Although he couldn’t see the person’s true appearance clearly, with such a powerful aura, it could only be someone from the state office!
"Huh?" Fatty and Lu Hong were startled. The state office—that legendary holy land of martial arts. For small-timers like them, it was a place that practically didn’t exist! It was likely that even the major figures in Yan Province had never been to the state office!
WHOOSH!!!
At that moment, Yan Nanshan, Elder Wan, and the beautiful woman soared into the sky, flying before the man. They bowed and said, "We greet you, Sir."
At the same time, the Yan King, the Lin Family Patriarch, Chief Li, as well as Ma Cheng and two others, also flew into the sky. Their destination was the Martial King Palace!
"Mm," the man responded, then asked, "Where is this Qin Feiyang you mentioned?"
"Please follow me, Sir." Yan Nanshan swooped down towards Quiet Heart Lake.
WHOOSH!!!
The four of them landed beside the lake, in front of Qin Feiyang, Fatty, and Lu Hong.
The beautiful woman waved her hand, and a surge of Battle Intent emerged, coalescing into a palm-sized ball of light that illuminated the surroundings.
Qin Feiyang finally saw the man’s face clearly. He was a middle-aged man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and a black eyepatch over his left eye. He possessed a robust physique and wore a white robe. The man exuded the mighty vigor of one capable of felling mountains and overturning rivers!
Yan Nanshan urged, "Qin Feiyang, hurry and pay your respects to Sir Wang Hong from the state office."
So, it really is someone from the state office! A cold glint flashed deep within Qin Feiyang’s eyes. He strode up to Wang Hong, cupped his fists, and said, "Disciple Qin Feiyang pays his respects to you, Sir."
Wang Hong remained silent, scrutinizing Qin Feiyang from head to toe.
WHOOSH!!!
At this moment, the Yan King and the others arrived, bowing. "We pay our respects to you, Sir!"
"Mm." Wang Hong nodded, then waved his hand.
The group tactfully stepped back, their faces filled with utmost respect.
Wang Hong continued to gaze at Qin Feiyang. After a good ten breaths, he finally asked, "Why is your surname Qin?"
"Huh?" Yan Nanshan and the others were taken aback, a hint of confusion creeping into their eyes.
However, Qin Feiyang felt a tremor in his heart. He tried his best to remain calm and asked, feigning puzzlement, "Why do you ask such a question, Sir?"
Wang Hong said, "Qin is the imperial surname of the Great Qin Empire. Your surname is Qin. Could it be that you are related to the Imperial Capital?"
"The Imperial Capital!" Qin Feiyang’s heart trembled. With a bitter smile, he said, "Sir, if I were indeed connected to the Imperial Capital, why would I be here in Yan Province?"
Yan Nanshan smiled and said, "Sir, not every person with the surname Qin is of the imperial lineage. You might be overthinking things."
"That’s right. My parents are commoners and have no association whatsoever with the Imperial Capital," Qin Feiyang said, shaking his head. "I wish I were from the Imperial Capital, but unfortunately, that’s just a dream."
In the Nine States and their eighteen provinces, who knows how many people share the surname Qin. Although Qin is the imperial surname, it doesn’t imply that everyone named Qin has ties to the Imperial Capital. Moreover, before the establishment of the Great Qin Empire, Qin was just an ordinary surname.
Wang Hong scrutinized Qin Feiyang for another moment, then said indifferently, "I was just asking casually. I’ve come to Yan Province this time because I heard from Yan Nanshan that you’ve unlocked the second layer of the Door of Potential. Is this true?"
Qin Feiyang nodded.
"Let me see," Wang Hong’s tone suddenly became excited.
Qin Feiyang pulled open his collar, instantly revealing his black Potential Mark.
"Good, very good!" Wang Hong was ecstatic. "I didn’t expect Yan Province to birth such an extraordinary martial arts genius!"
Yan Nanshan reminded him, "Sir, his alchemic aptitude is also quite remarkable."
"Right, right, I almost forgot," Wang Hong said. "Qin Feiyang, go and prepare. You’re to accompany me to the state office immediately."
"To the state office!" The Yan King and the others trembled. A mere Nine-Star Martial Master being invited to the state office—this was truly unprecedented! Jealousy couldn’t help but surge in their hearts. The state office was a place even they had never visited. If Yan Province was considered the earth, then the state office was heaven! To be able to enter the state office was an ultimate honor.
Yet, Qin Feiyang hesitated.
He definitely had to go to the state office, but now was clearly not the time. His strength was still too weak. Most critically, the master of the state office had once gone to the Imperial Capital to meet the Holy Emperor and had seen him in person. Although six years had passed and his appearance had changed greatly, what if he was recognized? If word got out to certain people in the Imperial Capital that he was still alive and his talent far surpassed what it was before, they would undoubtedly not let him go. Thus, he couldn’t go to the state office now!
With this in mind, Qin Feiyang cupped his fists and said, "Disciple does not wish to go to the state office at this time. Please forgive me, Sir."
The Yan King and the others were flabbergasted. What? He doesn’t want to go? They had lived for so long, yet this was the first time they had seen someone who didn’t want to go to the state office. Was this kid crazy? That was a holy land of martial arts! A place countless people dreamed of going!
Yan Nanshan said sternly, "Qin Feiyang, no matter what reasons you have today, you must go with Sir Wang Hong!"
Qin Feiyang sighed. "Hall Master, filial piety comes first!"
"What do you mean?" Yan Nanshan frowned.
Qin Feiyang said sorrowfully, "Hall Master, to tell you the truth, my father passed away due to illness two years ago. On the day of his death, I swore at his grave that I would not leave Yan Province for five years."
If the current Emperor knew that Qin Feiyang had declared him dead, he would surely fly into a rage and curse him as an unfilial son.
"Is that true?" Yan Nanshan frowned.
"Yes, Disciple never lies," Qin Feiyang nodded, speaking without his face flushing or his heart skipping a beat.
Yan Nanshan looked uncertainly at Wang Hong.
Wang Hong frowned deeply and said, "If you miss this chance today, you’ll have to rely on your own capabilities if you want to go to the state office in the future." He paused, then continued, "I won’t hide the truth from you. The journey to the state office is perilous. Even a War Emperor might not make it out alive."
"Disciple is not afraid!" Qin Feiyang declared resolutely. "Besides, if I can’t even accomplish this much, then Disciple is not qualified to enter the state office!"
"Are you sure?" Wang Hong asked, frowning.
"Disciple is sure!" Qin Feiyang nodded firmly without any hesitation.
"Very well, I shall wait and see." After saying this, Wang Hong turned to Ma Cheng and the others, stating coldly, "Yan Nanshan has told me about the issues between you and Qin Feiyang. I don’t wish to say much, only that you should all watch your conduct."
"Yes!" Ma Cheng and the others bowed in response.
Even an idiot could see that Wang Hong was warning them not to touch this kid again.