Chapter 89: Uproar

Kublai Khan was ordered by the Mongol Empress Dowager and the Great Khan to manage the Han regions south of the desert that had been seized from China.

This Jingzhao Pacification Commissioner, Lian Xixian, had served Kublai Khan since he was nineteen. Because he loved Confucian classics and never let a book leave his hands, he was known as "Lian Mencius."

In the study.

Lian Xixian was reading. Even when busy with official duties, reading every night was his habit.

He looked to be about thirty, dressed in a blue robe, with a pair of deep, piercing eyes and an air of righteousness between his brows.

Suddenly, two knocks sounded at the door. He said softly: "Come in."

An old man dressed as a family servant walked in, closed the door behind him, and bowed: "Master, since someone was able to sneak into the mansion and leave a blade and a note, they must be an expert. This cannot be guarded against."

Lian Xixian put down the book in his hand and said unhurriedly: "Xiang Chong, assassinating an official involves the nine generations of one's family. The Quanzhen Sect is known as the leader of the martial arts world, and they are so close, yet they don't dare to step into this government office, do they?

It is only because killing an official is rebellion, different from vendettas in the martial arts world. If one person commits a crime, it will implicate hundreds of people. Those so-called martial arts heroes, even if they are not afraid of death themselves, who doesn't care about the lives of their relatives and friends? Furthermore, I have guards, I have you, and even more so, several masters from the Esoteric Sect, as well as that Master Yin. What is there to fear?

Besides, if I were to be scared into hiding by a note, how could I assist the Fourth Prince in taking the Great Song's territory to the south? You may go."

"Very well."

Xiang Chong was not surprised by this; asking was what he was supposed to do. He bowed and retreated, closing the door.

"Who is it!"

Suddenly, he heard Xiang Chong's sharp shout. With a "crack," the window shattered, and Lian Xixian saw a red shadow fly in from the broken window.

He stood up immediately, his movements so fast that he didn't seem like a scholar at all. With a "clang," he reached back to take his sword from the wall, but before the long sword could be fully unsheathed, a flash of blood appeared.

With a "clang," Lian Xixian's right arm was still raised, but the hand on his wrist was gone. Blood sprayed from the severed wrist, and his right hand, along with the sword, fell to the ground together.

Since Feng Yi had practiced the "Yijin Duangu Zhang" from the Nine Yin Manual, his internal energy had improved, and his lightness skill could be said to be traceless. In the dark night, he was still wearing night-traveling clothes.

To the patrolling soldiers and the servants coming and going in the government office, he was simply invisible. Comparatively, there were many rooms here, and knowing where the official was working was seemingly more difficult than sneaking in.

But once he knew, as soon as he entered the room, a wave of the Blood Blade severed Lian Xixian's arm.

Lian Xixian was terrified, about to open his mouth: "Stop..."

Amidst Xiang Chong's loud shout, he also leaped in from the window, the blade light flashing as he slashed at Feng Yi.

He had been a man of the underworld in his early years, and his "Five Tigers Door-Breaking Saber" was exceptionally powerful. Because he had suffered a setback, he happened to meet Lian Xixian, who saved him.

Xiang Chong was grateful for his kindness and had since become his right-hand man.

He hadn't expected the intruder's martial arts to be so formidable. The sixteen guards at the door had been killed in the blink of an eye.

The opponent had charged straight into the room. Even though he knew the opponent was highly skilled, he hadn't expected that in an instant, his savior would have his wrist severed. He was truly furious, and this slash was fierce and swift.

Feng Yi's Blood Blade shook with a "woo," and shadows of blood filled the air, turning into a large mass. Xiang Chong had rushed too fast, but seeing the blood-red filling his vision, he hurriedly stopped.

Ding, a flash of light, and the blade in his hand broke in the middle.

Xiang Chong was startled and leaped away. At the same time, Feng Yi's left palm flashed out and struck Lian Xixian's chest with a "pop."

This palm strike was incomparably powerful. The opponent felt as if hit by a heavy hammer, his chest and rib bones shattered, and he crashed directly into the wall behind him with a "boom," shaking the roof tiles.

Lian Xixian fell from the wall onto the table, blood spraying wildly from his mouth, and he didn't move again.

All this happened in an instant. Xiang Chong saw the opponent masked in black, a pair of sharp eyes flashing with light, holding a curved blade in his hand. Suspicious and uncertain, he shook his broken blade and shouted sharply: "Master Lian is a good official! How could you kill him?"

Feng Yi sneered: "Who told him not to listen to me!

As long as one serves as a Mongol official, they must die!"

Xiang Chong was furious and shouted: "I'll fight you to the death."

He threw the broken blade and then struck with a palm.

Feng Yi snorted coldly, blood light flashing. The broken blade turned into a stream of light and hummed into the roof beam above.

Xiang Chong felt a point of blood shadow attacking him and screamed, wanting to retreat, but it was too late. The light in his eyes vanished instantly, and a red line appeared on his neck, which immediately thickened, forming blood beads that dripped down.

With a "squelch," a column of blood lifted his head, and the head fell to the ground. The sound of spraying blood and the falling head merged together. With a thud, his body lay on the ground.

Feng Yi kicked, and the corpse shattered the door. He flew out, only to see fire lighting up the sky all around. Lian Xixian was Kublai Khan's confidant, and his guards were strict. Hearing the sound, dozens of people holding torches rushed over.

As soon as Feng Yi left the room and was about to fly onto the roof, an object suddenly flew over. A person shouted: "Master, don't panic, I am here!"

Feng Yi glanced sideways. Before he could see who this "late master" was, a sharp flying cymbal from the surroundings had already flown in front of him.

Feng Yi didn't dodge or evade. Seeing the incoming force, he reached out with the Blood Blade, and with a "clang," sparks flew everywhere. With a flick and a parry, the flying cymbal was reflected back, striking directly at the opponent, the force even more fierce.

Only then did Feng Yi see four yellow-robed lamas rushing out, one holding a Zen staff, one holding a single blade, and one empty-handed.

The lama who threw the cymbal saw his copper cymbal flying back, the wind whistling, and didn't dare to catch it!

He hurriedly dodged. The copper cymbal flew past and embedded itself into the chest and abdomen of a guard behind him. The sharpness of the cymbal was better than a blade or sword, and Feng Yi's internal energy was even more shocking, immediately slicing the person in half, and the remaining force didn't diminish, actually flying toward the third person.

At this time, a lama extended his Zen staff and pressed it down with a "clang," his martial arts truly not low.

Feng Yi laughed: "Can't tell, you bald donkeys are all quite agile!" He stretched and said: "It's a pity Grandpa is sleepy and has no time to play with you!"

As he spoke, he turned to leave, but suddenly the empty-handed lama said coldly: "Want to leave? It's not that easy!"

His whole body's bones crackled like popping beans. As he spoke, he leaped out and struck Feng Yi with a palm.

Feng Yi felt a wave of heat rolling toward him. Looking closely, he saw his palm was bright red, like a burning flame, and said: "Esoteric Sect Great Handprint!"

"Exactly!"

Tibetan Buddhism belongs to the Esoteric Sect of Mahayana Buddhism, with many factions, generally divided into: Red Sect—Nyingma; White Sect—Kagyu; Flower Sect—Sakya; and even the later Yellow Sect, Black Sect, etc.

These major sects certainly fought among themselves, but under the Mongol Western Expedition, every sect had to submit to the iron hooves.

Including the current Great Mongol National Teacher, Jinlun Guoshi, who was from the Red Sect Nyingma. For the sake of thousands of followers, not to be trampled, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to join the Mongol camp, be named National Teacher, and be driven by them.

These lamas naturally also defected to the Mongols, but they couldn't compare to Jinlun and could only serve as guards.

Kublai Khan had equipped his confidants with a few to protect their safety.

It was a pity Feng Yi's martial arts were too high, and he had come early to leave a blade and a note.

At first, everyone took it very seriously, but after a few months of peace, they naturally relaxed.

Who would have expected Feng Yi to come today? Now that he had succeeded in one strike, if he were allowed to escape, how could he answer to Kublai Khan? That lama could use his bare hands, and his palm power was naturally extraordinary. Feng Yi's competitive spirit arose, thinking: "Let's see if your Esoteric Sect Great Handprint is powerful, or if my Central Plains divine art is better!"

Feng Yi struck out with his left fist.

With a "boom," both were hard-on-hard, force against force; the weaker one would be injured.

The lama retreated four or five steps, feeling blood rushing to his mouth. With a "pop," it spurted out, his body swaying unsteadily, and he was supported by his fellow disciples before he stopped.

Feng Yi, however, remained motionless, laughing: "Esoteric Sect Great Handprint, nothing more than that!"

Amidst the mockery, he saw him not taking a step, his legs not bending, his body already floating up, flying onto the roof.

But before he could step on the roof, he felt a strong wind sweeping over. Feng Yi glanced sideways and saw a golden whip flashing past him, shaking straight, and then coiling toward his lower leg like a spirit snake. The incoming force was heavy and majestic, his martial arts absolutely not below Li Mochou's. Feng Yi hadn't expected that even a prefect-level official could have such experts protecting him.

He heard a person laugh: "With such extraordinary skills, I'll join in the fun too."

At the same time, with "whoosh" sounds, three long arrows flew through the air.

Feng Yi was in mid-air, knowing the opponent wanted to force him off the roof. He waved his left hand lightly, brushing the incoming arrows away, and flicked his blade to parry the whip.

With a "hum," the opponent's whip didn't break. Feng Yi felt a chill in his heart. Borrowing the force of the opponent's long whip, he twisted his waist and turned in mid-air, like a python turning over, and landed on the roof. At the same time, he reached out with his left hand, grabbed the tip of the whip, and shouted: "Let go!"

At this time, three arrows arrived again. Feng Yi circled the Blood Blade, brushing all the feathered arrows away.

The person using the whip felt a strange force surging along the long whip. Immediately, his arm went numb, his chest felt hot, and he retreated three steps, the whip in his hand also being snatched away by Feng Yi.

Feng Yi shook the long whip and draped it diagonally over his left forearm. He saw that this soft whip was inlaid with pearls and gems. Such a luxurious and noble weapon was likely the only one of its kind in the martial arts world.

Everyone was shocked by his skill of snatching the whip with bare hands, watching in a daze, actually forgetting to shoot arrows again.

Moreover, the Master Yin who used the whip had a flushed face, looking at the opponent with extreme tension. He swallowed his saliva and said: "Truly excellent skills! I didn't expect such an expert to hide his head and cover his face, snatching people's property—truly chilling!"

Feng Yi looked down. The speaker was a foreigner with a high nose, deep eyes, and curly yellow beard, but he was wearing Han clothes, with bright pearls hanging from his neck and jade bracelets on his wrists, covered in jewels, plus the whip.

Feng Yi's mind moved, and he said softly: "Using a whip, are you Yin Kexi?"

The foreigner was already shocked by his extraordinary martial arts, having suffered a setback in one move and losing his weapon. Hearing him call out this name, he was even more surprised, his face losing its color, but he lifted his face and smiled: "I am indeed Yin Kexi. Who are you?"

Although he was smiling, he was shivering to the bone.

He was a great merchant from Persia, with three generations of his family selling jewelry in Bianliang, Chang'an, Taiyuan, etc., and he had taken a Chinese name called Yin Kexi.

Lian Xixian had received Feng Yi's blade and note, and just happened to know he intended to defect to Kublai Khan, so he kept him in the mansion, intending to introduce him.

Yin Kexi heard the sound and rushed over. Originally, with his status as a top-tier expert, he disdained bullying the few with the many, but Feng Yi's arrogance was too much, so he stepped in to block him.

He hadn't expected that not only would he fail to attack, but he would lose his livelihood, suffering heavy losses. Because his whip was twisted with gold and silver threads inside, and inlaid with pearls and gems outside, it couldn't be broken by ordinary sharp weapons, and it was worth a fortune!

Yin Kexi couldn't snatch it back. At this time, his chest was still feeling stuffy. At that time, Feng Yi was still in mid-air, splitting his strength to block the arrows. If he had been on solid ground, fighting fairly, he was afraid that in one move, let alone losing his weapon, he might have been injured by the opponent.

He didn't even dare to think about such shocking martial arts.

Even the older generation figures in the current martial arts world, the "Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, Southern Emperor, Northern Beggar," were probably at most like this, right? But could these people do such despicable things?

Suddenly hearing the commotion from all sides, Feng Yi looked at the formation in front of him. He really wanted to kill a lot, but his goal had been achieved, and Hong Lingbo was waiting for him. If he delayed too long, the soldiers would block the road, and it would be difficult to escape.

Weighing the pros and cons, Feng Yi sneered: "Yin Kexi, this time the weapon is exchanged for your life. I hope you have better luck next time!"

With a leap, he vanished like smoke and clouds, like a lonely swan, and in a moment, he swept out more than ten zhang, grabbed Hong Lingbo, and flew away. Yin Kexi and several lamas leaped onto the roof, only to see him grabbing a person, looking like a woman's figure, shaped like a black-feathered night owl, flashing and disappearing, floating into the vast night.

Yin Kexi was very proud of himself, not expecting that he would be defeated by someone whose name he didn't even know today, and couldn't help but say: "You do things in the dark; is your name also not fit to be seen?"

Only hearing Feng Yi's voice like gold and jade, he said loudly: "Tell the Mongol Great Khan and Kublai Khan that when I send him and his brothers and sons to hell, I will surely not let him be a confused ghost!"

This long laugh, like an old dragon's chant, was heard by half the city.

Everyone was silent for a long time. A lama suddenly said: "Master Yin, how can we answer to the Prince? Please give us some guidance."

Yin Kexi revealed a bitter smile and said: "Just tell the truth, what is there to answer for?

Someone like this playing at assassination is impossible to guard against! How can it be blamed on human effort?"

The lama who had exchanged a palm with Feng Yi had his thick brows locked and said coldly: "Master Yin, this person is so powerful, breaking my Great Handprint divine art with one palm. You often walk in the Central Plains; do you have no guess at all??"

Yin Kexi's face turned black, and he said nothing, floating off the roof, thinking: "That thing of yours is worthy of being called the Great Handprint divine art? My weapon is worth ten thousand gold!"

Feng Yi took Hong Lingbo along the houses, heading straight for the South Gate, gave the whip to Hong Lingbo, and said: "Here, for you to play with!"

Hong Lingbo had never seen such a luxurious weapon and was overjoyed.

Feng Yi had long since scouted this route. The two soon arrived at the city gate. The city wall was not high, and Feng Yi's lightness skill was high. When the two went up and down the city wall, the city guards only felt a black shadow flash, and then there was no one.

The two soon left Chang'an City, found the inferior horses they had left outside the city in advance, took off their night-traveling clothes, and ran south together.

In the current world, if you rode a good horse, it would be snatched away by Mongol soldiers, so Feng Yi and the others either rode mules or inferior horses.

Hong Lingbo galloped on her horse, shouting repeatedly. It wasn't the first time she and Li Mochou had killed people, but galloping side by side with such an extraordinary man as Feng Yi, she felt both happy and gratified in her heart.

After all, figures like the Mongol Great Khan and Kublai Khan were top-tier figures of the current world, but in Feng Yi's eyes, they were just little toys that could be killed at will! Hong Lingbo asked: "Brother Feng, you want to kill Kublai Khan; wouldn't telling him in advance make him take precautions?"

Feng Yi smiled slightly: "Do you think he wouldn't have precautions if I didn't remind him?"

"Then you are?" Hong Lingbo was very puzzled.

Feng Yi said: "I just want him to know that there is someone like me thinking about killing him, but in reality, I won't go!"

"Not go?" Hong Lingbo was even more puzzled.

Feng Yi looked at the vast night sky and said: "Even the brightest star needs the stars beside it to set it off.

There are too many people in the Mongol Golden Family, and there are many strong ones, absolutely not just Kublai Khan or Mongke! But no matter how capable they are, they have to rely on their subordinates.

Just take the current situation where the Mongols have destroyed the Jin and want to launch a war to destroy the Song. It's not as simple as attacking cities and seizing land; they have to recruit soldiers, train soldiers, forge weapons, and store grain in advance.

And these don't rely on great figures like Kublai Khan, Mongke, or the Great Khan, but rather on the officials at the prefecture and county level to execute them.

I will only kill these people, killing them until everyone is in danger. Whoever dares to be an official will die! If war preparations cannot be completed, how can they launch a war?"

Hong Lingbo said: "But if you do this, the Mongols can also imitate it. Since Kublai Khan is so powerful and worth you scaring him, he will surely think of countermeasures. He can also kill our officials."

Feng Yi sighed: "No way, I'm a person who fears death.

Figures like Kublai Khan have tight guards, so assassination is not necessarily successful. If it succeeds, I might not be able to escape, or I might be killed directly.

Killing these officials is different. I don't believe that top-tier experts can serve as guards for prefecture and county-level officials.

Secondly, killing Kublai Khan might not necessarily reverse the current situation, so I'll just set a bad precedent!"

"Bad precedent?" Hong Lingbo didn't understand again.

Feng Yi said softly: "That is for the Mongols to retaliate and send people to kill the imperial court's officials.

Anyway, I'm not working for the Zhao Song dynasty, but hoping that my Han people won't be plunged into the ocean of war.

If a hundred of these officials die, ninety-nine of them will absolutely not be wronged. As for that one, I'm sorry.

As long as everyone who is an official is in danger, both countries will be in chaos.

I'll kill all the way, and finally, I'll sprinkle poison in the water sources on the grassland, hehe..."

"Ah?" Hong Lingbo was shocked: "Sprinkle poison in the water sources?"

She never expected Feng Yi to have such a ruthless heart.

Feng Yi knew her thoughts and asked: "Have you seen the Mongols attacking a city?"

Hong Lingbo shook her head: "No!"

Feng Yi said coldly: "Since Genghis Khan, when the Mongol army attacks a city, they always drive the enemy's people first, making the defending soldiers unable to bear it. Their hands soften, but the Mongol soldiers follow immediately.

This method can slaughter the enemy's people and shake the enemy soldiers' morale; it can be said to be killing two birds with one stone.

They flock to such cruel and poisonous actions because they can achieve miraculous results. I don't know how many countries' generals have been unable to solve this problem.

Why? Because the Mongols are ruthless and poisonous enough, and we are not!

Looking at thousands of years of history, the total number of city massacres is not as many as the Mongols have done since their rise.

Because in the eyes of the Mongols, in war, as long as you can win, you can use any means. There are no rules, no restrictions, and no need to talk about any morality!

Then why can't I, Feng Yi, imitate this?"

Feng Yi had another thought in his heart: "Such a frantic ethnic group shouldn't exist! So he wants to poison the water sources directly, and no one should have it easy!"

For this reason, Feng Yi took Hong Lingbo and pushed south from Shaanxi, passing through prefectures and counties, never missing a single one.

His procedure was to enter the city and stay, inquire about the location of the government office, and study the retreat route well.

When the moon was dark and the wind was high, he would let Hong Lingbo leave the city in advance to wait outside, and he would assassinate alone.

It was precisely because of his caution that it took a full two months to kill from Chang'an to the border of Shaanxi and Henan.

But north and south of the Yangtze River, east and west of the two rivers, as long as someone was slightly involved in the martial arts world, there was no one who didn't know that a top-tier expert had appeared in the martial arts world, snatched a peerless beauty, and had a divine weapon and a priceless treasure, but specialized in killing Mongol officials.

Regardless of whether he was a Han, a Mongol, a Semu, or a Khitan, as long as they were Mongol officials, none were left alive.

Under heaven, the topics of martial arts heroes were almost all based on this matter.

But Feng Yi had no name in the martial arts world, and no one knew who did it. Some said it was Li Mochou, because Feng Yi occasionally threw a handful of poison needles.

People with keen insight found that this was similar to the toxicity of the "Ice Soul Silver Needle."

That day, the two arrived at Longju Stronghold, which was a transportation hub between Shaanxi and Henan, with prosperous markets. Feng Yi's Blood Blade was wrapped around his waist, and Hong Lingbo's long sword and whip were hidden under the saddle. The two dismounted and walked.

Hong Lingbo went up to grab someone to ask where the government office was. Feng Yi hurriedly reached out to grab her and said in a low voice: "Be cautious, keep a low profile."

Hong Lingbo had always been proud and arrogant. In these days, as Feng Yi's wishes had come true, she had become a bit carried away.

But although she knew in her heart that Feng Yi was right, she still teased: "You really are afraid of death!"

Feng Yi laughed: "That's right! You only have one life!"

Hong Lingbo knew that Feng Yi said he was afraid of death, but what he was doing was a major event that would implicate nine generations. She immediately snorted.

Suddenly hearing a scream, it sounded like a woman, and a commotion came from afar. The two looked at each other and led their horses over.

Only to see in the middle of the street, a fat Mongol wearing luxurious clothes was grabbing the arm of a beautiful woman, gnawing on her face, while several servants in green clothes laughed loudly.

The woman's appearance was delicate, and her attire was simple. She looked like a person from an ordinary family. At this time, her face was flushed, and her face was full of tears and snot, which inevitably greatly reduced her charm.

The young woman was both shocked and shy. Suffering because she was alone, she couldn't afford to provoke them and couldn't escape. She was so anxious that she was about to cry: "Sir, please let me go!"

Only hearing a servant say: "Do you know who this master is? He is the General's son. Being looked upon by him is a blessing you've cultivated for several lifetimes."

The fat son laughed, opened his pig mouth, and gnawed.

Hong Lingbo cursed in a low voice: "What a lecherous thief, it saves me the trouble of looking for you!"

As she spoke, she turned to draw her sword, but was pressed down by Feng Yi. Only hearing an "ouch," the fat son clutched his buttocks and jumped. Looking down, he saw a small copper coin on the ground.

He slapped the several servants in green clothes to the ground, one by one, muttering Mongol words in his mouth.

One of the servants cursed: "Who is it, daring to tease the General's son!"

Feng Yi heard the sound of hidden weapons and saw a girl in a green shirt, with a graceful demeanor, standing on the tea house looking down.

Their eyes met, and he saw the girl's face was indescribably strange and ugly, the muscles on her face not moving at all, as if she were a dead person.

Several people shouted a few times, only to see heads moving, not knowing who had done it. Disturbed by this mysterious person, the young woman took the opportunity to escape.

The fat man was hit by the copper coin, his buttocks aching, and seeing the beautiful woman was gone, he walked away cursing.

Hong Lingbo also saw the green-shirted person's appearance and couldn't help but feel terrified, but her pretty face hardened, and she scolded: "Why throw copper coins? Why not throw a hidden weapon and take his dog life directly!"

Feng Yi pondered for a while and said: "Let him live for two more days."

The two led their horses and walked slowly. Just as they were about to check into an inn, a farm child ran in front of the horse and shouted: "Young Master Feng, I have something for you." As he spoke, he handed over a letter.

Feng Yi took it, squeezed it with his hand, and felt it was just a piece of paper inside. He tore open the envelope, pulled out a piece of yellow paper, and saw it written: "There is a trap in Longju Stronghold, absolutely do not go!" The yellow paper was rough, but the handwriting was quite elegant.

Hong Lingbo gave an "eh" sound, suspicious and uncertain: "Who is this child? How does he know your surname is Feng, and how does he know you are going to Longju Stronghold?"

Feng Yi's mind flashed, and he smiled slightly: "That means we are being followed without knowing it!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 90 =====