Chapter 334: Half a Disciple

After Qin Feng finished speaking, Chen Wuji clearly felt Xu Zengyi's whole body tense up.

He was in the state of a fierce beast facing a strong opponent.

Chen Wuji watched silently, but also kept himself ready to strike at any moment.

If he had to choose between Qin Feng and Xu Zengyi, he would unhesitatingly pick the latter.

Even if that person were the county magistrate.

He himself had some doubts about Qin Feng's identity and what he had done since coming to Yunan.

If those two were to clash, it would only deepen his suspicions.

Xu Zengyi's voice carried a hint of coldness as he lightly laughed: "I didn't expect that after all these years, someone still remembers me."

Qin Feng seemed not to notice Xu Zengyi's change, casually poured himself another bowl of wine, and said to Xu Zengyi: "Sir Xu, why not try this wine? I brought it when I took office, and I've been reluctant to drink it."

"When I first learned I was to be posted to Yunan, I was extremely resistant. At that time I didn't know I was sent here as a sacrifice, and I still naively resisted this land, thinking this barbaric place of exile would have neither my beloved fine wine nor unforgettable beauties."

"Later I realized I was wrong—this place is outrageously beautiful: lovely scenery, fine wine, and unforgettable beauties. But there is also a lot of dross that ruins everything, making it awful."

Xu Zengyi lowered his head to look at the wine bowl in his hand, took a light sip, savored it, then said: "It's indeed not much of a fine wine, but I really don't know what you, Magistrate Qin, mean by saying all this to me."

Qin Feng laughed loudly twice: "Actually, that Western King is a bastard!"

Xu Zengyi nodded: "I think the same—externally tough, internally soft, isn't he?"

"Or perhaps Sir Xu has grasped the essence: 'not, indeed not, not is not a person'!" Qin Feng laughed heartily, then suddenly sighed lightly: "It's just a pity, Sir Xu—though heroes abound like carp crossing the river, those who catch my eye are few, countable on one hand."

"Thank you, but you overpraise me; it's not really a pity."

Qin Feng suddenly turned serious: "Sir Xu, don't be so wary of me; I merely admire you, which is why I know so much about you. Those standing here today are all pitiful folk—there aren't that many conspiracies, and I couldn't possibly send Sir Xu to the execution ground again."

Xu Zengyi said nothing, just calmly looked at Qin Feng.

Chen Wuji temporarily didn't believe those words, let alone Xu Zengyi.

"Sir Xu, you don't believe me? If you don't, then don't—just don't kill me." Qin Feng adopted an indifferent pose, paused, then suddenly jumped up: "Hey, wait, I should still explain this, shouldn't I? If I don't, Sir Xu might feel uneasy inside."

"Actually, it's not that I don't want to say; it's just that speaking of this seems presumptuous—I am, in fact, half a disciple of Sir Xu."

Xu Zengyi looked noticeably bewildered.

Chen Wuji also felt a bit dazed by this—how did we suddenly get onto disciples?

"My swordsmanship and military tactics are derived from studying Sir Xu's ancient art of war, so I've integrated them—this counts as half a disciple, right? Though I've never met him, I understand my teacher completely." Qin Feng said.

"If I don't explain, I could gloss over this matter openly. Now it's fine—I still need to pick an auspicious day to offer the initiation tea. Sir Xu may or may not accept me as his disciple; if he refuses, I'd be rather embarrassed."

Chen Wuji: ……

He had a dirty word he wanted to say.

Xu Zengyi also looked dazed, his eyes somewhat vacant as he stared at Qin Feng: "You've merged my art of war into your swordsmanship—how did you do that?"

"Well..." Qin Feng gave a light cough.

"It can be understood but not expressed in words; another day, Sir Xu, let's share seven or eight jars of wine, we'll talk deeply and practice a couple of moves—then I should be able to explain it."

Xu Zengyi opened his mouth.

He probably also wanted to curse.

"Really, I'm not refusing to say; this matter is just... mysterious!" Qin Feng suddenly leapt onto the city wall.

He stretched out his hand and pointed forcefully outward, then suddenly leapt down: "For example... swift as wind, fast as lightning, striking unexpectedly, the small soldier swallows the general!"

His voice drifted on the wind.

Chen Wuji and Xu Zengyi hurriedly lay on the city wall to look outward.

They saw that, unknown when, a troop of soldiers had hidden secretly at the foot of the wall, wearing grass camouflage; if you didn't look closely, you couldn't spot them.

A white-clad Qin Feng borrowed force twice on the wall, like a nimble wild goose drifting down lightly among those enemy troops, then his sword flashed like a dragon leaving its sheath, one thrust piercing the throat.

"Sir Xu, this is 'the small soldier swallows the general'!"

Qin Feng drew his sword, shouted loudly, his body like a startled swan gliding among those enemy troops.

The moonlight was pure, the white-clad figure's steps were airy, and blossoms of blood flowers continuously burst open at his sides.

"Do you believe what he says?" Xu Zengyi asked softly.

Chen Wuji's expression was somewhat dazed: "I... now I almost believe it."

"Me too."

"But this guy is a bit crazy."

"What does 'crazy' mean?"

"Mad!"

"Makes sense!"

"Sir, are you planning to take this disciple?"

"I'm a bit confused; perhaps I really need to share seven or eight jars of wine with him."

Chen Wuji: ……

"Anyway, he probably won't bear any ill will toward Sir Xu; otherwise we should first talk about that troop outside—we seem to have met a rival!" Chen Wuji said.

"The other side is so well prepared—either the news leaked, or the Cao family has a tunnel leading outside the city; they're going to counterattack. Tonight the whole city is under lockdown; besides these two, there's no other possibility."

Xu Zengyi frowned: "The news wouldn't leak that fast, but as for the commandant's suggestion of a tunnel, although possible, it's still somewhat unrealistic."

"Sir Xu, local tyrants love nothing more than digging three rabbit holes. Those local strongmen who were exiled here and gradually built up their estates should be even more lacking in security." Chen Wuji said.

"Let Magistrate Qin conduct a brief interrogation; even a little clue will make the reason easy to guess."

Xu Zengyi nodded.

Chen Wuji lay on the city wall, raised his voice and shouted: "Qin Magistrate, leave a living one, interrogate him!"

Qin Feng had already cut down the last person, then sliced open that person's neck with his sword.

Hearing Chen Wuji's shout, he hastily withdrew his hand, pressed firmly on that person's neck, and said: "It's fine, just a nick—I'll ask you a few questions, then let you go after I'm done, how about that?"

The soldier, his body bound with weeds and dressed like a scarecrow, had already been frightened stupid by Qin Feng's godlike killing method descending from heaven, his face turned pale and he nodded.

"If you obey, I'll spare your life—I'm the county magistrate, really, I'm not lying to you!" Qin Feng laughed.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly turned his head and shouted toward the top of the city wall: "What am I asking?"