Chapter 632: with translation of chapter title

The morning thin mist had not yet fully dissipated, the sky just turning light, the eastern horizon showed a pale fish‑belly white. Jiang Feng's figure appeared at the courtyard gate.

His steps were light, stepping on the blue‑brick floor almost soundlessly, but the aura belonging to a Martial Ancestor still faintly permeated the surroundings.

As he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in, he saw Linghu Dongyuan and Linghu Xue sitting in the hall.

Tea was set before them, but neither had drunk much; the tea had cooled, a thin layer of foam floating on the surface.

Linghu Dongyuan paced back and forth with a furrowed brow, while Linghu Xue sat in the chair, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the tea cup.

Seeing Jiang Feng enter, both lifted their heads at once, their expressions like they had seen a savior—surprised, delighted, and tinged with an indescribable anxiety.

Jiang Feng glanced at them, somewhat surprised, and spoke casually.

"Linghu Xing is fine; why are you still staying here?"

Linghu Dongyuan hurried forward, his face bearing a tension and urgency he tried hard to hide but could not conceal.

He sized Jiang Feng up and down, confirming he bore no obvious injury, then let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Jiang… Jiang Xiaoyou, you've finally come back!"

His voice was a little hoarse, as if the words he had held in all night had finally found an outlet.

"Last night, Songshan shook with earth and mountain tremors; the whole city felt the vibration. Our Linghu family's people detected traces of a Martial Ancestor battle within Songshan! Two immensely terrifying forces collided there, darkening sky and earth, and the shock of that law was felt for dozens of miles around!"

He spoke fast and urgent, a fine sweat beading on his forehead.

"Our people dared not approach, but judging from the intensity and spread of the aura, there must be a Martial Ancestor‑level entity fighting there. Moreover, word has it that the entire building collapsed, and the Dongfang family regiment stationed inside suffered heavy casualties!"

He paused, looking at Jiang Feng with some worry, his eyes holding a cautious probe.

"Xiaoyou, last night you… did you go to Songshan?"

Jiang Feng looked at his nervous appearance, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

He didn't beat around the bush, simply nodding.

"It was me. I went out and cleared a Dongfang family outpost."

Linghu Dongyuan's pupils contracted sharply.

He opened his mouth, not yet having digested the news, when Jiang Feng added another sentence.

"Inside I ran into an old man, still capable of fighting—his name is Dongfang Hongshan."

Linghu Dongyuan and Linghu Xue simultaneously sucked in a breath of cold air.

They glanced at each other, each seeing in the other's face a shock bordering on loss of composure.

Dongfang Hongshan!

That was the Dongfang family's Hongshan Lao Ancestor, a Martial Ancestor strongman a hundred years ago who had comprehended the Dual Laws, a figure of note among Martial Ancestors throughout the empire.

Yet in Jiang Feng's words, he was merely 'still capable of fighting'?

Moreover, judging by his appearance, he seemed to have suffered no injury.

After clashing with a Martial Ancestor and still standing here unscathed, just what level has his strength reached?

Linghu Dongyuan swallowed saliva, suppressing the surging emotions, then asked another question.

"Later came word that the Northern Army Town Prefect Dongfang Lin had also arrived in Jiangnan. It's said he brought tens of thousands of Iron Cavalry, encircling the entire region. Xiaoyou… did you see him?"

Jiang Feng still nodded, his expression calm as if stating what he had for breakfast.

"That's right, Dongfang Lin came as well."

This completely unsettled Linghu Dongyuan.

He stood there, opening his mouth several times, wanting to say something but his throat felt blocked.

After a while he drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

His mind was already racing.

Who is Dongfang Lin?

He is the most terrifying family head of the Dongfang clan, commanding the Northern Army's hundreds of thousands of troops; his own strength is said to have entered the Martial Ancestor realm years ago, making him a figure whose very name strikes fear across the empire.

He personally led tens of thousands of Iron Cavalry to encircle Jiang Feng, and yet Jiang Feng returned unharmed?

What does that mean?

It means that after fighting Dongfang Hongshan, Jiang Feng then faced off against Dongfang Lin and his tens of thousands of elite Iron Cavalry, and still managed to withdraw intact.

It means Jiang Feng's strength has reached a level Linghu Dongyuan cannot estimate, and that even if the Dongfang family poured out all its forces, they would not dare truly break with this young man.

We must let the family know about this!

Jiang Feng, you must become part of the Linghu family.

Linghu Dongyuan furtively glanced at Linghu Xue seated in the chair; the thought in his heart surged stronger and stronger. If Jiang Feng were willing, marrying Linghu Xue would not be impossible.

Linghu Xue is the most beautiful maiden of the Linghu family's generation, her cultivation talent extremely high; though still young, she has already reached the Heavenly Human Realm. Matching a Martial Ancestor is somewhat a stretch, but if Jiang Feng is willing, the bond between the Linghu family and him would be irrevocably sealed.

A Martial Ancestor son‑in‑law, and one who could give the Dongfang family a headache at that—this would mean as much to the Linghu family as gaining an outer‑domain micro world.

Of course, he didn't say this. Saying it now would be too abrupt, and would make the Linghu family look like they were taking advantage of the situation.

He was merely calculating in his mind, waiting for things to settle, then looking for a suitable opportunity to sound out Jiang Feng's attitude indirectly.

Linghu Dongyuan gathered those thoughts, then clasped his hands before Jiang Feng in a solemn salute.

"Xiaoyou, after this, my Linghu family still owes you a favor. No matter when, if you ask, we will certainly do our utmost."

Jiang Feng looked at him, fell silent for a few breaths, then spoke lightly.

"Then from now on, don't trouble the Linghu family over Xue Yan."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the enthusiasm on Linghu Dongyuan's face froze.

He stood there, rubbing his hands, an embarrassed look on his face, moving his lips several times before squeezing out a sentence.

"Xiaoyou… this matter… Old brother cannot decide."

Jiang Feng looked at him without speaking, waiting for his continuation.

Linghu Dongyuan let out a long sigh.

Su Xueyan bears the family's future on her shoulders. This was decided jointly by several elders; even Old brother cannot change it. Please forgive me, young friend.

Jiang Feng gave a faint sneer, neither responding nor pursuing the matter further.

Linghu Dongyuan's expression grew even more embarrassed; standing There, caught between advancing and retreating, he stopped rubbing his hands, unsure what to say to ease the atmosphere.

Linghu Xue, standing nearby, glanced at Jiang Feng then at Linghu Dongyuan, her eyes shifted, and suddenly spoke to break the deadlock.

Hey! Your younger brother Ma Jian's condition in the hospital isn't good—do you want to go see him?

Jiang Feng's brows immediately furrowed, his gaze falling on Linghu Xue.

What happened to Ma Jian?

【68 falling on Linghu Xue.

Seeing he finally reacted, Linghu Xue hurriedly said.

After being injured, he has been staying in our Linghu Family's hospital, but the injury is too severe, and after dragging on for a while, his condition has been fluctuating lately; the Doctor says he may not last much longer. We've been keeping him alive with the best medicine, but…

Before she could finish, Jiang Feng's figure had already dissipated.

Without any warning, without any fluctuation, he vanished from the spot in an instant.

Not even the air had time to ripple; it was as if he had never stood there.

Linghu Xue's words got stuck in her throat mid-sentence; she stared at the empty living room, dazed for a while, before snapping back and shouting.

I haven't even told you where yet! Why is this person in such a hurry!

Linghu Dongyuan stood beside her and spoke softly.

He is a Martial Sovereign. With a sweep of his divine sense, the entirety of Jiangcheng lies within his perception; a mere hospital—where could anything be hidden from him?

Linghu Xue opened her mouth, swallowed back the words she hadn't finished shouting, her expression a mix of anger and helplessness.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of a ward several li away, Jiang Feng's figure slowly appeared.

He stood before that white door, glancing inside through the window on the door. On the bed lay a thin figure, tubes and lines inserted all over his body, a quilt pulled up to his chest, revealing a pale, gaunt face.

That face was so emaciated it was almost unrecognizable, yet Jiang Feng recognized him at a glance.

It was Ma Jian.

Jiang Feng reached out, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.