Chapter 456: The Transaction with the Heimu Family

Watching Cheng Feng continue to advance,

the black-clad man's original arrogance and contempt were instantly shattered.

"Don't, don't hit me! I am an Elder of the Heimu Family, Heimu Fangrong. I only came over this time to take a look."

Cheng Feng turned a deaf ear and continued to advance: "The Heimu Family? The Heimu Family are the leaders of Heimu Prefecture; how could they associate with the underworld?

Speak, who exactly sent you?"

Heimu Fangrong felt a surge of irritation as he watched Cheng Feng feign ignorance.

For an underworld gang to rise, it must rely on either overwhelming martial power or the backing of a powerful force.

Who among the older generation didn't know the reason the Jiangshui Gang was able to rise?

It was only this outsider before him who was being so aggressive.

"However, my Blood Qi is slightly smoother now. I'm off." A sharp glint flashed in Heimu Fangrong's eyes.

"Wind-Riding Instant."

Cheng Feng only saw the figure lying on the ground flash; Heimu Fangrong was actually drifting toward the outside of the courtyard like a ghost, his form as light as a leaf caught in the wind, yet his speed was shockingly fast, covering several zhang in the blink of an eye.

"Want to run? It's not that easy!" Cheng Feng let out a cold snort.

He stomped his feet violently on the ground, and the bluestone slabs shattered instantly. Borrowing this reaction force,

he chased after Heimu Fangrong like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Cheng Feng's figure was like lightning, carving out afterimages in the night. Every step he took left a large crater in the ground, and he was rapidly closing the distance to Heimu Fangrong.

Heimu Fangrong felt the oppressive presence clinging to him like a shadow from behind and inwardly cried out that it was bad.

He had not expected Cheng Feng's speed to be so fast, so he dared not hold anything back and exerted his full strength in "Wind-Riding Instant," attempting to widen the distance from Cheng Feng.

However, Cheng Feng was like a piece of sticky taffy that could not be shaken off, clinging tightly behind Heimu Fangrong.

Just as the distance between the two was no more than a zhang, Cheng Feng suddenly let out a loud shout, his right fist wrapped in a fierce gale as he slammed it toward Heimu Fangrong's back.

This punch was heavy and powerful; the air was compressed to the point of emitting a sharp whistling sound. If it connected, Heimu Fangrong would be dead or at least severely injured.

Heimu Fangrong felt the terrifying fist wind behind him and was horrified. He had no time to think, throwing his body forward abruptly.

However, the powerful impact still caused Heimu Fangrong to stagger forward a few steps, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The special state of "Wind-Riding Instant" was also broken.

"Hmph, you have some skill, but that's as far as it goes!" Cheng Feng sneered and pressed the attack again.

His figure flickered, launching attacks on Heimu Fangrong from every angle; fist shadows fell like raindrops, leaving Heimu Fangrong exhausted from defending.

Of course, Cheng Feng was certainly not using his full strength.

He just happened to find a Martial Artist of the Organ Refining Realm to use as a punching bag for practice.

A Martial Artist at the Organ Refining Late Stage was not easy to find.

Killing one casually might incite a collective attack.

But now, dressed in black and acting timid, Cheng Feng could easily claim he was a disguise of the Red Lotus Sect.

Heimu Fangrong was inwardly lamenting. He had originally only wanted to come and check on the situation of the Jiangshui Gang, help out, and see if he could fish for some benefits, but he hadn't expected to provoke a fiend like Cheng Feng.

Now he was being beaten back step by step, and even escaping had become extremely difficult.

"No, if this continues, I'll surely die here!" Heimu Fangrong thought to himself.

"Damn it, I'll risk it."

He directly swallowed a medicinal pill hidden in his wristband.

Heimu Fangrong's aura was forcibly elevated, his swirling Blood Qi appearing as if it had been ignited, and he instantly lunged toward the gate.

Seeing that Heimu Fangrong was about to run out of the courtyard, a cold glint flashed in Cheng Feng's eyes: "Want to escape? Not a chance!"

He exerted force with his feet again, and his whole body chased after Heimu Fangrong like a cannonball. Just as Heimu Fangrong was about to step out of the courtyard gate, Cheng Feng arrived.

He grabbed Heimu Fangrong by the back of his collar and gave a forceful swing; Heimu Fangrong was flung back like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Speak, who exactly sent you? Don't try to fob me off with those excuses again!" Cheng Feng stood before Heimu Fangrong, looking down at him with eyes full of majesty and killing intent.

"You, you actually hid your strength??"

Heimu Fangrong lay on the ground, gasping for air. He knew he was doomed today.

He gritted his teeth and said: "It... it was the Patriarch of the Heimu Family who sent me. He wanted to know the situation of the Jiangshui Gang and see how much weight those who could oppose the Jiangshui Gang really had..."

Cheng Feng sneered: "How much weight? Now, have you seen it?"

Heimu Fangrong nodded with a bitter smile, his eyes full of despair and unwillingness: "I have seen it... Your Excellency's strength far exceeds my expectations; I was blind."

Cheng Feng squatted down, staring at Heimu Fangrong with eyes like torches: "That Patriarch of the Heimu Family, besides having you test my strength, did he have any other objectives??"

Heimu Fangrong hesitated for a moment, and seeing this, Cheng Feng's gaze turned cold.

He lightly placed his right hand on his shoulder.

It looked casual, but it made Heimu Fangrong feel a massive pressure descend, as if a thousand-catty burden were pressing down on him.

"Don't... don't do it, I'll talk." Heimu Fangrong said hurriedly, "The Patriarch also wanted to see if, should the Jiangshui Gang be destroyed, he could take the opportunity to expand his sphere of influence in Heimu Prefecture, and even... even cooperate with the new controller of the underworld."

A mocking smile curled the corners of Cheng Feng's mouth: "Cooperate? You mean looking for a dog, right?

In your eyes, Wang Jiangshui's entire life is likely worth nothing.

Otherwise, you wouldn't have watched him die.

Or rather, you were just pushing the boat along with the current.

So that's it; intelligence gathering is so easy, I suspect some of the news was intentionally released by you. Truly a good tactic.

If my strength hadn't been decent, I would have been the one the fisherman profited from tonight."

Heimu Fangrong was inwardly stunned; the Heimu Family's intentions had all been guessed by this person.

His face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't say a single word.

Cheng Feng stood up, stepped on Heimu Fangrong's chest, applied a little pressure, and said coldly: "Keep talking. What other tricks have you played? Don't force me to take action."

Heimu Fangrong only felt as if his chest were being pressed by a giant boulder, and even breathing became difficult. He spoke with difficulty: "We... we also secretly contacted some of the Jiangshui Gang's hostile forces and provided them with intelligence on the Jiangshui Gang's weaknesses, letting them strike at critical moments to weaken the Jiangshui Gang's strength. Everything was just going with the flow."

A flash of realization crossed Cheng Feng's eyes: "As expected, your Heimu Family truly stops at nothing to achieve its goals."

Cheng Feng applied force with his foot, and Heimu Fangrong let out a miserable scream: "Going with the flow? You really know how to shirk responsibility. So, what is the internal situation of the Jiangshui Gang now? Have you planted any people inside?"

Heimu Fangrong felt as if his chest were about to be crushed, and he said in pain: "Yes... yes, we have planted a few people inside, but they are all small characters, only responsible for passing on some messages; they don't have much use."

Cheng Feng sneered: "Small characters? Sometimes small characters can also play a big role. What positions are the people you planted in, and what are their names?"

Heimu Fangrong hesitated for a moment, and Cheng Feng applied force with his foot again. Heimu Fangrong's face turned beet red from the pain, and he hurriedly said: "I'll talk, I'll talk! One is a manager in the Jiangshui Gang's warehouse, named Zhang Zhi; another is in the Jiangshui Gang's outer patrol team, named Li Kun."

Cheng Feng loosened his foot, and Heimu Fangrong, as if granted amnesty, gasped for air in large gulps.

Cheng Feng looked at him with cold eyes: "Your Heimu Family has schemed against my Hong Sect like this; don't think about leaving easily today. However, if you can do one thing for me, I can consider sparing your life."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Heimu Fangrong's eyes: "What thing? As long as I can do it, I will certainly go through fire and water."

Cheng Feng squatted down, leaned close to Heimu Fangrong's ear, and whispered: "Go back and tell your Patriarch that the Jiangshui Gang is already a thing of the past, and my Hong Sect will take full control of the water transport. Tomorrow, we shall meet at Fengbo Pavilion."

Heimu Fangrong nodded repeatedly: "I will certainly do as told, certainly do as told. Then can I go now?"

Cheng Feng stood up and kicked Heimu Fangrong: "Get lost. But remember, if I discover you playing any tricks, I will make you wish you were dead."

Heimu Fangrong, as if granted a pardon, scrambled to his feet and ran toward the outside of the courtyard. Watching Heimu Fangrong's retreating back, Wei Zhuang walked to Cheng Feng's side and said: "You just let him go like this? Aren't you afraid the Heimu Family will be on guard?"

Cheng Feng sneered: "When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, earth covers it. I also want to see what moves the Heimu Family will make next."

Wei Zhuang nodded: "Then how do you intend to handle the matter of the Jiangshui Gang?"

A flash of determination crossed Cheng Feng's eyes: "The Jiangshui Gang is already in the past; next, it depends on whether the Hong Sect can stand firm."

Cheng Feng clenched his palm.

Next, it all depends on the fist.