Chapter 412: Heart Fire

(PS: Let me explain the killing of Wen Ke; ultimately, it boils down to a matter of stance. The protagonist must seek revenge, and Wen Ke would inevitably stand on Xu Jing's side; furthermore, she was one of the accomplices. The protagonist could not forgive her on behalf of Hao Yi and Shangguan Xiao; this is an irreconcilable conflict. In this life, one cannot have it both ways; one must make a choice.)

People cannot always do the right thing. The protagonist is also human and needs to vent the pain of losing loved ones and the rage in his heart.

The reason I designed the character of Wen Ke is that I didn't want the villains in this book to be one-dimensional. Sometimes, villains aren't necessarily wrong—for example, Feng Feng Sanniang, whom I wrote about before, or Wen Ke now. There will be other diverse characters in the future.

The story is already written; let everyone critique it.)

In the early hours of May 26, an explosive piece of news spread from Qingli Prefecture:

The special train sent by the provincial capital to pick up the investigation team was attacked on its return journey, and the people on board suffered heavy casualties!

In addition to the investigation team officials and a group of guards, there were two professors and fifteen special-grade lecturers from the former Wu'an University on the train; in the end, only eight special-grade lecturers escaped.

All eleven officials of the investigation team were killed!

Among them, six were imperial court officials!

Since the founding of the Great Lan Dynasty, there has been more than one tragedy involving the killing of officials, but the simultaneous killing of multiple imperial court officials basically only happens during large-scale rebellions or invasions by enemy nations.

Even those famous great fiends in the pugilistic world would not wantonly attack imperial court officials, because it is simply not worth it.

There is little benefit, and it only brings trouble.

Therefore, after the news spread, it immediately caused a shock throughout Feng Province!

Because the attack occurred within the territory of Qingli Prefecture, Qingli Prefecture immediately established a special task force, with the General Administration of Stopping Conflict, the General Administration of Rectifying Law, and the General Administration of Supervision all participating.

Subsequently, the Garrison Commander of Qingli Prefecture made a phone call to Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru.

"Hoo!"

Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru put down the phone and let out a heavy breath.

Although the Garrison Commander of Qingli Prefecture didn't say anything explicitly when he called him, the meaning behind his words was clear:

You, Datong Prefecture, have a large estate and want to go against the provincial capital; that is your business, but don't make us in Qingli Prefecture the scapegoats!

Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru naturally used kind words and made a series of promises, temporarily pacifying the other party.

Datong Prefecture has the Martial University; he indeed has the capital to wrestle with the provincial capital, and he can afford not to give much face to that Inspector.

But if he is to continue "battling" with Lu Lu Wenzheng, Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru must unite all forces that can be united; for example, the other two prefectures in Feng Province are important targets to win over.

As it turned out, before he could even start winning them over, that Blood-Faced Ghost had already offended them on his behalf.

He didn't know whether to thank the other party for not killing anyone within Datong Prefecture and leaving the mess directly to him, or to be angry at the other party for acting so impulsively.

Rubbing his brow, Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru called his secretary into the office with some exhaustion:

"Go contact Li Fei; I want to meet with him."

"Yes."

"Wait!"

He suddenly called the secretary back, "Never mind, no need."

"My lord?"

The secretary looked at him in confusion.

"Go double the bounty for the wanted notice on the Blood-Faced Ghost, issue the warrant throughout all of Datong Prefecture, and additionally establish a special task force specifically responsible for the Blood-Faced Ghost case."

Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru ordered.

After the incident at the execution ground, the Blood-Faced Ghost had been publicly wanted.

After all, since he had appeared in public, it was impossible for Datong Prefecture not to have any reaction.

According to the descriptions of the surviving guards, the perpetrator of this interception of the provincial capital's special train was also that same Blood-Faced Ghost.

Therefore, Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru chose to increase the bounty for the Blood-Faced Ghost, intensify the manhunt, and establish a special task force.

This attitude was not for the provincial capital to see, but for the imperial court.

In any case, killing multiple imperial court officials at once is too heinous; Datong Prefecture cannot show the slightest bit of shielding in this matter, lest they be seized upon by the provincial capital.

Of course, the one who killed them was the Blood-Faced Ghost, and it naturally has nothing to do with any Green-Faced Ghost.

Given the current relationship between the provincial capital and Datong Prefecture, it would not be so easy for the provincial capital to send people to Datong Prefecture to investigate again.

Senior Bian Senior Bian Jingru had originally wanted to have a face-to-face talk with Li Fei, asking Li Fei to pass on a message for him, telling that Green-Faced Ghost to restrain himself a bit and not to act wantonly again, otherwise even he wouldn't be able to cover for him.

But he had a second thought.

First of all, Li Fei might not be able to restrain the Green-Faced Ghost; after all, that is a powerhouse at the peak of the Dao Foundation realm, and one who is daring enough to defy the heavens!

Secondly, he did not intend to have too much contact with such a daring and uncontrollable person.

Otherwise, he might be implicated by the other party in the future!

It is better to just do their own things.

He only needs to win over Li Fei, this peerless genius.

On the evening of May 26, Li Fei quietly returned to Datong Prefecture city.

After killing Wen Ke, the remaining former special-grade lecturers of the Martial University in the carriage all chose to flee.

Although his speed was faster than theirs, he was unable to kill them all, and in the end, half of them escaped.

Afterward, he went to another nearby place with tracks, waited for a train returning to Datong Prefecture that he had anticipated beforehand, and hitched a ride.

In this operation, his goal was to kill the investigation team officials who had deliberately set up the frame-up against Shangguan Xiao, as well as those accomplices of Xu Jing.

Of course, it was also to vent the rage in his heart.

To take revenge, to weaken the strength of Xu Jing and the provincial capital, and to prepare for future retaliation.

This is Li Fei's current goal.

As for breaking directly into the provincial capital to start a massacre and killing Xu Jing along with the mastermind behind the scenes.

Li Fei really wants to, but he is also very clear that he cannot do it for the time being.

Just for Xu Jing alone, even if the other party only used the Water Control divine ability against him, he could knock out more than 40 of his Blood Souls in one go!

If the number of Blood Souls in his "Blood Spring" is less than 300, Xu Jing would only need less than twenty "basic attacks" to kill him.

And that is only using the Water Control divine ability; if other means were added, it would be even easier for Xu Jing to kill him.

To get revenge, he still needs to slowly accumulate strength.

Currently, he has only just entered the Dao Foundation realm; perhaps only after incorporating a few more implants will he have the power to take revenge!

From the moment he transmigrated into this world, Li Fei has been desperate to gain power.

He once told Hao Yi that he only strives for the present.

Now, this urgency is like a ball of fire, burning his soul every single moment!

Must become stronger, become even stronger!

Carrying this mood, Li Fei returned to the Martial University and went back to his dormitory.

Li Sister Tianyu was waiting for him in the room.

"You're back, are you alright?"

Li Sister Tianyu looked at Li Fei with complex eyes.

Regarding Li Fei's true identity, she actually already had some guesses; after all, she had already impersonated Li Fei once before.

Last time she impersonated Li Fei, a Blood-Faced Ghost appeared at the execution ground.

This time she impersonated Li Fei, a major case occurred in Qingli Prefecture, and the culprit was still the Blood-Faced Ghost.

It's just that Li Fei didn't say it directly, so Li Sister Tianyu didn't ask further.

She trusts Li Fei; that is enough.

"Sister, I'm fine."

Li Fei smiled.

Afterward, while helping Li Sister Tianyu restore her original appearance, he listened to her recount what she saw and heard at the Zhang residence yesterday:

"Those two exotic beasts produced a total of three Level 5 protective suits and three Level 4 protective suits."

After speaking, Li Sister Tianyu handed the protective suits she brought out from the Zhang residence yesterday to Li Fei.

Li Fei took out a Level 5 protective suit made from the scales of a Demon Horned Tiger beast and handed it to Li Sister Tianyu:

"Sister, take this and wear it on your body in your daily life just in case."

With Hao Yi and Shangguan Xiao gone, he cherished the only family affection he had left in this world even more, and he did not want any accidents to happen to Li Sister Tianyu and the others.

Li Sister Tianyu was not coy and very straightforwardly accepted this Level 5 protective suit worth a thousand gold:

"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

With this piece of equipment, she would be able to take on some more difficult credit missions.

"You haven't been here for these two days, are you alright?"

Li Fei asked.

Last time she impersonated Li Fei, Li Sister Tianyu only disappeared for half a day.

This time, she disappeared for nearly two days.

Li Sister Tianyu smiled: "I'm fine. I am currently at a critical moment in comprehending my state of mind, and I often go into seclusion in the dormitory; it's normal to disappear for a few days."

She is not like Li Fei, this peerless genius who has so many people paying attention to him.

"Good."

Li Fei nodded, and then shared some insights on the "Heart of Slaughter" with Li Sister Tianyu.

What Li Sister Tianyu has cultivated is the Geng Metal Gang Qi; to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Transformation, she also needs to comprehend the Heart of Slaughter.

A few dozen minutes later, just like last time, Li Sister Tianyu put on a black robe, covering her whole body within it. Li Fei saw her off as she left the dormitory, ensuring along the way that no one was following or peeking.

Afterward, Li Fei returned to the dormitory, placed the Ghost Slaying Blade on his knees, and quietly sensed the mark that Hao Yi had left on the blade.

Within the mark was the entire essence of the "Heaven and Earth Single Blade"; while Li Fei was sensing it, he was also pouring his own heart's power into it.

Then he used his hand to grasp the blade, actively using the edge to cut his own skin, letting the blood flow out.

The fresh blood was quickly absorbed by the blade, all of it flowing into that mark.

This mark requires the absorption of Li Fei's mental intent, vital blood, and fire-attribute power; once filled, Li Fei can use the Ghost-Slaying Blade in his hand to replicate Hao Yi's "Heaven and Earth Single Blade"!

Li Fei does not possess fire-attribute power, but he can use fire-attribute materials as a substitute.

He had previously exchanged academic credits at the mission hall for a box of Primal Blaze Stones; he picked up one stone and began to rub it against the Ghost-Slaying Blade.

The fist-sized Primal Blaze Stone was ground smaller and smaller.

During the friction process, the mark on the blade continuously absorbed the fire-attribute spiritual energy from inside the Primal Blaze Stone.

These fire-attribute spiritual energies, combined with Li Fei's mental intent and vital blood, would eventually be condensed within this mark into the Dao power of the "Heaven and Earth Single Blade"!

Li Fei spent this entire night in cultivation.

On the same night, Xu Jing learned of the encounter of Wen Ke and the others from the mouth of Lu Lu Wenzheng.

The news had reached the provincial capital early in the day, but because Xu Jing was in seclusion preparing for his upcoming breakthrough, Lu Lu Wenzheng had not come to disturb him.

It was not until the evening, when Xu Jing finished his cultivation and took the initiative to ask whether Wen Ke and the others had arrived at the provincial capital, that Lu Lu Wenzheng came to his private courtyard again and told him about this matter in person.

"Oh."

After hearing this, Xu Jing blinked his eyes and gave a faint "oh."

Seeing this, Lu Lu Wenzheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Wen Ke and the others were all talents prepared for the new university of the future.

With them gone, Lu Lu Wenzheng felt very pained and regretful.

But with the foundation of the "Canglin Lu Clan," this batch of Dao Foundation realm powerhouses and Qi-Transformation realm martial artists could still be replaced.

What was truly important was Xu Jing.

As long as Xu Jing could successfully break through and become a Grandmaster.

Then the new university would certainly be able to "settle" in the provincial capital!

Lu Lu Wenzheng was very worried that the death of Wen Ke and the others would affect Xu Jing's state of mind, which was why he had personally made the trip to tell Xu Jing this news.

Now, looking at Xu Jing's reaction, the other party did not seem to care that much about the deaths of Wen Ke and the others.

Come to think of it, would such a "homicidal maniac" who had been famous for decades really care about the life or death of a mere dozen people?

"Mr. Xu, please do not take it to heart; I will replace the missing personnel as soon as possible. Furthermore, I have already reported to the imperial court, and I will definitely bring this Blood-Faced Ghost to justice and give Mr. Xu an explanation!"

Lu Lu Wenzheng said.

"Mm."

Xu Jing gave a blank "mm," "Lord Lu, please return; I am going to continue my seclusion."

Lu Lu Wenzheng's expression remained unchanged as he nodded: "Very well, then I shall not disturb Mr. Xu any further."

After Lu Lu Wenzheng left, Xu Jing sat in the room for a while, then rose and walked out of the room, coming to the pavilion in the middle of the lake within the private courtyard.

The moonlight made the surface of the lake shimmer, and a crescent moon appeared in the water.

Xu Jing stood in the lake pavilion, his hands behind his back, quietly watching the moon in the lake.

He recalled some things.

He remembered the night he saved Wen Ke.

To him, that action was indeed just something done in passing.

He simply felt that Wen Ke's encounter was somewhat similar to some of his own past experiences, so just like saving a stray kitten or puppy on the side of the road, he saved Wen Ke.

He felt that Wen Ke had some talent and wanted to add one more interesting person to this world, so he took her as a student and taught her how to kill.

And she had indeed learned very well.

Over these years, she had been like a docile little kitten, always staying quietly by his side.

Any task he asked her to do, she would do it very well.

Thus, he had gradually become accustomed to having such a "little kitten" following him.

When he suddenly heard the news of Wen Ke's death tonight, his emotions were calm.

"If there is a chance in the future, I will avenge you in passing."

Xu Jing thought to himself.

It was not a big deal.

That was how he viewed it.

This night, Xu Jing stood in the lake pavilion until dawn.

When the servants in the private courtyard came to the lakeside, they were all stunned:

The vast expanse of lake water had actually dried up completely overnight, and dead fish and shrimp could be seen everywhere in the mud at the bottom of the lake.

It was as if some inexplicable force had evaporated the entire lake!

The servants subconsciously looked up at the lake pavilion.

It was already empty.

There is another chapter at dawn.

(End of chapter)