Chapter 572: First Volume, Chapter 572: You Win

First Volume, Chapter 572: You Win

Qin Feng cursed her stubbornness but had no choice; he turned away and refocused his gaze on the lute-playing maid.

"Though you are His Highness's maid, you hold no actual title."

"As a mere lowly servant, how dare you block my path? This is blatant insubordination—undisputed!"

"According to the Great Liang Code, a servant who defies his superior may be executed on the spot!"

At these words, the lute-playing maid let out a series of cold laughs.

She refused to believe Qin Feng had the courage to lay a hand on her.

Not only did she refuse to move aside, her gaze toward Qin Feng grew even more contemptuous.

Some people grow so arrogant they won't shed a tear until they see the coffin.

Qin Feng wasted no words; he directly ordered Qin Xiaofu to borrow a knife from a nearby shop.

Seeing Qin Feng truly intended to punish the lute-playing maid, the guests nearby stepped back rapidly, fearing collateral damage.

At that moment, the White Clothes guest, who had been watching from within the courtyard for a long time, suddenly appeared at the Gate.

"Fu Qin, get out of the way immediately!"

The White Clothes guest's tone was harsh, brooking no doubt.

The lute-playing maid stared at the White Clothes guest in disbelief: "Leave? Why?"

"Are you afraid? I'm not!"

"I am a close attendant of His Highness; even if he had a hundred times his courage, he wouldn't dare touch me!"

The lute-playing maid wore a look of supreme arrogance, utterly dismissing Qin Feng.

The White Clothes guest's face turned grim; until now, he had thought the same.

Until, at Qin Feng's residence, he had been forced to kneel and apologize to Qin Feng—and when His Highness learned of it, he said nothing.

Thus it was clear: in this Jingdu, aside from openly disrespecting the imperial family, there was nothing Qin Feng would not dare do.

Just as the White Clothes guest grew deeply anxious, Qin Xiaofu ran over with a kitchen knife.

Qin Feng took the knife and nearly laughed in exasperation.

"You searched all this time and brought back this thing?"

"It's too dull even for slaughtering pigs."

Qin Xiaofu looked wounded: "Master, the Great Liang Code strictly forbids civilians to possess weapons—it's a grave crime."

"Be grateful you've got a kitchen knife at all."

Qin Feng kicked Qin Xiaofu squarely in the buttocks.

"Brat, weren't you completely ignorant of the Great Liang Code? Now how do you suddenly know so much?"

Qin Xiaofu quickly shuffled a few steps aside, grinning foolishly, saying nothing.

Qin Feng had no patience to be angry with this fool; he hefted the knife and turned to face the lute-playing maid.

His face wore a harmless smile, but the kitchen knife in his hand radiated a chilling aura.

"I'll count to three. Kneel, kowtow, and apologize—or I'll execute you on the spot, without mercy."

"One!"

The lute-playing maid still dismissed it as empty threat.

She was about to mock him when the White Clothes guest stopped her.

The White Clothes guest dropped to one knee, bowed to Qin Feng with clasped fists, his tone utterly sincere.

"Lord Qin, Fu Qin has always served beside His Highness and knows nothing of the world—she's naturally willful. Please, Lord, show mercy."

"I will apologize to you on Fu Qin's behalf!"

As he spoke, the White Clothes guest dropped from one knee to both knees.

Without regard for the gathered guests, he slammed three loud kowtows against the ground before Qin Feng.

Seeing this, the lute-playing maid's mouth slowly opened in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The White Clothes guest was His Highness's trusted confidant; in this Jingdu, everyone gave him some leeway.

Yet now, this man had cast aside his pride without hesitation and knelt to kowtow.

The only possible reason for such a loss of dignity:

Qin Feng truly would cut down Fu Qin with one stroke!

Realizing this, the lute-playing maid's mental DefensiveLine began to crack.

Her face lost its earlier arrogance; her eyes now clearly trembled with panic.

Qin Feng ignored the White Clothes guest entirely—after all, grievances had a source, debts had a debtor.

Whoever committed the offense must bear the consequence!

"Two."

As he uttered the second number, Qin Feng slowly raised the kitchen knife.

The lute-playing maid's face paled; especially from Qin Feng's eyes, she sensed not a trace of bluster.

As if, in Qin Feng's eyes, killing a maid meant nothing at all.

Even if that maid was His Highness's favorite servant.

The White Clothes guest panicked, leapt to his feet, and roared at the lute-playing maid.

"You stupid girl, what are you waiting for? Apologize to Lord Qin right now!"

"If you persist, no one can save you!"

The lute-playing maid bit her thin lips, clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Since following His Highness, when had she ever been this terrified?

And at this moment, the qin-playing woman truly felt the approach of death.

But if I kneel and apologize, I will surely bring shame upon His Highness.

Just as the qin-playing woman hesitated, Qin Feng's voice sounded again.

"Three."

When Qin Feng uttered the final character, the White Clothes man's eyes were utterly hopeless.

The cleaver, raised high above Qin Feng's head, suddenly came down!

As it fell, the qin-playing woman's DefensiveLine shattered completely, and she knelt almost instinctively.

"L…Lord Hou, spare my life…"

Silence!

Around the Gate, there was deathly stillness.

The qin-playing woman, eyes shut, trembled violently; her former arrogance and haughtiness had completely crumbled.

Like an ordinary maid, she knelt on the ground, soulless and shaken, all dignity lost.

After a while, the qin-playing woman gathered Courage and slowly opened her eyes—then froze.

Qin Feng had already handed the cleaver to Qin Xiaofu, looking helpless.

"You won."

"I couldn't possibly kill someone in the street—especially a mere servant girl."

"I was just scaring you, heh."

The qin-playing woman's ashen face instantly flushed crimson, overwhelming shame and humiliation surging into her heart.

She felt darkness swirling before her eyes.

That damned Qin Feng was so cunning and cruel!

The qin-playing woman longed to devour Qin Feng alive—but when she rose in furious rage, ready to strike.

She realized Qin Feng had already passed through the Gate, hands behind his back, walking toward the venue.

The qin-playing woman shook with rage.

"I knew it! That damned Qin Feng had no guts to kill me!"

"Hmph! Bluffing!"

Beside her, the White Clothes man sighed deeply, watching Qin Feng's back.

"He's not afraid to kill you—he simply doesn't want to. Or perhaps… he doesn't even care whether you live or die."

"If you hadn't knelt just now, you'd already be bleeding out on the ground…"

If these words had come from anyone else, the qin-playing woman would have dismissed them outright.

But coming from the White Clothes man, it was an entirely different matter.

The qin-playing woman's emotions churned with complexity.

She didn't know whether to be furious or terrified.

"This Qin Feng… his Cultivation Channel is truly impossible to fathom."

"He's clearly a Wastrel, yet wields overwhelming power."

"He seems lazy and careless, but when serious, sends chills down your spine."

"No wonder even His Highness…"

The qin-playing woman did not continue, silently praying that His Highness's plan would proceed smoothly.