The disciples of the Silver Feather Sect, despite their pride, strained their ears, fearing they might miss a single word. Even Mu Qin Xin, usually aloof and arrogant, found herself listening intently.
But Ling Fan merely smiled and flicked Mu Yi Yi's smooth forehead. "I know his friends," he said.
Mu Yi Yi didn't believe him. "Brother Ling Fan, you really think I'm a three-year-old? You're lying to a ghost! Can you be more honest? If you just knew his friends, why would he be so scared of you, as if he were afraid you'd eat him!"
Ling Fan remained silent, smiling. In a way, he wasn't wrong. After all, he did "know" two friends of Wu Zhi, the Sect Master of the Four Symbols Sect. They had met through conflict. It was just that his two friends had been consumed by Ling Fan's Demonic Eye secret technique. This was precisely why Wu Zhi was so wary of Ling Fan.
Mu Ren Min then said, "Today, our Maple Wood City will host a grand banquet to celebrate until we can't stop! Young Master Ling, our Maple Wood City's current prosperity is all thanks to your support and care. You must come! Our Maple Wood City wants to thank you properly!"
Ling Fan shook his head. "I don't need to attend the banquet."
"However, before the celebration, there are still two people who need to be dealt with, right?"
Ling Fan's gaze drifted indifferently in a certain direction. Mu Liu Ma and Mu Tian Lang, the grandfather and grandson duo, were huddled in the crowd, looking as if they were trying to avoid being noticed, especially by Ling Fan.
Suddenly, they both felt something was amiss. They looked up. Unbeknownst to them, everyone's attention had shifted to them.
Mu Liu Ma's face turned ashen. Mu Tian Lang also felt guilty and dared not meet anyone's gaze.
"Heh heh, aren't we having a celebration banquet? Why is everyone looking at this old man? My old face isn't painted with flowers." Mu Liu Ma chuckled dryly, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Ling Fan didn't say a word. He reached out and grabbed. A fearsome surge of vital energy transformed into a blood-red hand, snatching the grandfather and grandson duo.
Mu Liu Ma's old face turned green with fright. "Ling... Young Master Ling, what are you doing? We, this grandfather and grandson, haven't offended you. If you want to kill us, you should at least give us a reason!"
Mu Tian Lang was completely terrified. "Help! Help! I don't want to die! Uncle, save me! Yi Mei, save me! Qin Xin Sister, save me!"
A contemptuous smile flickered in Ling Fan's eyes. Did he need a reason to kill such insignificant clowns who kept jumping back and forth? If he didn't like them, he'd kill them. What reason was needed? Moreover, the two of them had courted death repeatedly. How dare they claim innocence?
The blood-red hand tightened with a rumble. Immediately, Mu Liu Ma and Mu Tian Lang's bones began to crackle, and their bodies started to twist and deform.
Mu Liu Ma cried out repeatedly. "Young Master Ling, spare us! Ah! Spare us, spare us, spare us!"
"Mu Ren Min, are you dead? Do you really want to see us die to be happy? Has a dog eaten your conscience! I am your uncle! Why aren't you quickly begging for mercy for us!"
Seeing Mu Liu Ma, a peak Heavenly Yuan realm Grandmaster, and Mu Tian Lang being held like chicks by the blood-red hand, Mu Qin Xin and the other Silver Feather Sect disciples grew solemn. From this vital energy hand manifested by Ling Fan, they felt a terrifying power far exceeding that of the Quasi-Giant Spirit realm. Whether this was Ling Fan's full strength was uncertain. They didn't know how much more strength Ling Fan had hidden. But at least from the exposed power, this Ling Fan was indeed not weak!
As they were in doubt, Mu Ren Min, unable to bear it, pleaded for them. "Young Master Ling, although they are detestable, crippling their cultivation would suffice. Can you spare their lives? They are, after all, members of the Mu family."
"They are members of the Mu family, which makes them even more deserving of death. I detest backstabbers the most."
"Puff!"
Ling Fan's palm suddenly tightened. With a squeeze of the blood-red hand, Mu Liu Ma and Mu Tian Lang, in extreme terror and despair, exploded into two clouds of blood mist with a bang, leaving no trace of their bodies.
Everyone's expression turned serious. They were all awed by Ling Fan's decisive and ruthless methods. Despite the young man's ordinary appearance and seemingly harmless demeanor, he was truly ruthless when it came to it. He didn't even blink an eye.
Ling Fan turned and walked towards the City Lord's mansion. A gaze filled with complex emotions fell upon him. The owner of this gaze was Mu Qin Xin. However, Ling Fan didn't even glance at her, walking straight past her.
The usually proud Mu Qin Xin could no longer tolerate Ling Fan's dismissive attitude. She bit her red lips tightly and couldn't help but say, "Ling Fan, who exactly are you? Why is the Sect Master of the Four Symbols Sect so wary of you! What is your identity? You owe me an explanation!"
However, Ling Fan didn't even pause. A faint voice drifted back, "Mu Qin Xin, I told you long ago that you are like a frog in a well, unaware of my capabilities. You want an explanation? You're not worthy!"
As the voice faded, Ling Fan's figure gracefully disappeared through the entrance of the City Lord's mansion, leaving the bewildered Mu Qin Xin standing there dumbfounded. After a long while, a look of intense shame and anger appeared on her face. She bit her red lips until they bled, her fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
"Saintess, this Ling Fan is simply too arrogant and condescending! When have we, the people of the Silver Feather Sect, ever endured such humiliation!!"
"Hmph, although I don't know why the Sect Master of the Four Symbols Sect fears him, I suspect it's not because of his strength. He is much younger than us, at most a Quasi-Giant Spirit realm. Perhaps the Sect Master of the Four Symbols Sect has some leverage over him, or maybe he has some hidden identity that makes the Sect Master of the Four Symbols Sect extremely wary of him." a Silver Feather Sect disciple asserted decisively.
In short, they were unwilling to admit Ling Fan's strength and kept finding other excuses to comfort themselves. Their long-held arrogance and superiority made it impossible for them to accept an unknown junior, younger than them, being superior to them. The Silver Feather Sect disciples chattered amongst themselves.
At this moment, Mu Qin Xin's eyes gradually became resolute. She took a deep breath and then strode forward with her long legs into the mansion. She caught up to Ling Fan in a few steps. From behind, she said, "Ling Fan, ten days from now is the annual Genius Martial Arts Gathering of the Upper Cang Realm – the Moon Gazing Martial Assembly. At that time, the most outstanding Holy Sons and Holy Maidens from all major sects will attend."
"I've returned this time to bring my sister to participate in the Moon Gazing Martial Assembly, hoping to find a suitable sect for her to join and cultivate in. If you are truly as capable and powerful as you claim, do you dare to participate!"