Chapter 643: Night Illumination

"Hm?"

Li Fei was slightly startled when he heard the other party's words.

Although he no longer cared much about his identity as the Ghost-Faced Ghost being known, he had not expected to be exposed so quickly.

In the lake pavilion, the leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang saw Li Fei's silence and became even more certain of his conjecture.

He smiled confidently: "If the Marquis is unwilling to show his true face, then I shall continue to address you as the Ghost King."

As the words fell, Li Fei felt a sudden, intense fluctuation of sorcery in the surroundings.

The next second, a massive magic array was triggered, shrouding the entire lake along with a range of over ten meters along the shore.

With a brief perception, Li Fei understood what this magic array was for.

It was a very common "Illusion Array," used to conceal the scene within the array.

Viewed from outside the array, everything about the lake appeared normal; the leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang was still enjoying the scenery alone in the lake pavilion, and no sounds from within the array could escape.

"You are quite confident."

Li Fei remained calm and composed.

Having guessed his true identity, the other party had not fled immediately but instead activated a magic array to conceal themselves; it seemed the other party did not fear him, the third-ranked on the General Wind and Cloud Ranking.

The leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang's smile remained unchanged: "Since I know the name of the Ghost King, and I named the gang 'Ghost-Slaying,' I naturally have something to rely on."

"Oh."

Li Fei's tone turned indifferent as he took a step forward.

The leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang's expression turned solemn; sensing the killing intent on Li Fei, he hurriedly said:

"Ghost King, wait!"

"Naming it the Ghost-Slaying Gang was merely to attract the Ghost King's attention. If there has been any offense, I ask the Ghost King to forgive me."

Having said this, the leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang cupped his hands and bowed to Li Fei.

This actually surprised Li Fei somewhat; he paused his attack, wanting to see what medicine this person was selling in his gourd:

"Now you have my attention."

The leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang lowered his hands and looked at Li Fei on the opposite bank:

"We took notice of the Ghost King not because of your strength, but because of those things you did in Xingcheng."

"Oh?"

"The Ghost King hates evil as much as he hates a personal enemy, and killing those corrupt officials was truly gratifying to the people!"

"."

"This dynasty has long since rotted. Officials are corrupt and indulge in pleasure, treating the people like fish and meat. Local power-holders fight for profit, monopolizing resources and desperately squeezing those at the bottom... I believe the Ghost King saw all of this back when you were in Xingcheng."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Since the Ghost King took action to kill officials, it shows that you also harbor anger and wish to change the current status quo. With your own strength, you can temporarily change the officialdom of Xingcheng, but you cannot change Datong Prefecture, you cannot change Feng Province, and you cannot change the entire Great Lan Dynasty."

"."

"You need like-minded partners! This is the original intention behind us seeking you out."

"Is the way you get people to join by first establishing an opposing force?"

"It is only because the Ghost King's whereabouts are unpredictable, and we were unable to find you, that we resorted to this desperate measure to attract your attention."

"Heh."

Li Fei chuckled softly.

If they truly wanted to contact him, there were many ways; establishing a Ghost-Slaying Gang to stand in opposition likely carried more of a message of flexing their muscles.

Although the leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang opposite him spoke very politely and kept a low posture, Li Fei could still see a hint of arrogance in his demeanor.

This was a very prideful person.

"What is the name of your organization?"

Li Fei asked.

"If the Ghost King is willing to join, I will naturally tell you truthfully. However, I can tell the Ghost King my name first; you may call me 'Ye Zhao'."

The leader of the Ghost-Slaying Gang stated his name.

"Ye Zhao... what are the conditions for joining you?"

"Is the Ghost King willing to join?"

"Let me understand it first."

"Our organization's vision is to change this world, to have fewer corrupt officials and power-holders who treat the people like fish and meat!"

"Rebellion?"

"It's not quite that yet; we are just doing some of the things the Ghost King has done before."

"But my people are going to completely ban opium in Datong Prefecture, yet your Ghost-Slaying Gang demands the sale of opium."

"It is just an excuse. If we don't fly that banner, how can we gather those who oppose the Ghost King? As long as the Ghost King is willing to join, you and I can join forces and immediately eliminate all these enemies!"

"But I heard that in the process of establishing your Ghost-Slaying Gang, you were also treating the people like fish and meat."

Li Fei said calmly.

Before coming, he had learned about the Ghost-Slaying Gang in detail from Zhao Yi.

For the other party to rise in just a few months and create such a massive stir, many of their methods were not exactly honorable.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhao was startled, then smiled:

"It is merely an expedient measure. After all, we have too few hands; to accomplish things, we have to use those martial artists, and naturally, it is hard to make them strictly disciplined and commit no offenses. Once we completely unify the martial arts world of Datong Prefecture in the future, we can slowly rectify it."

"An expedient measure?"

Li Fei shook his head, "Is that how your organization does things?"

Ye Zhao sensed the disdain in Li Fei's tone; his face sank, and he sneered:

"The Qingyuan Property Management Company you established in Xingcheng, and your Qingmian Villa in Datong Prefecture, are not as clean and white as you think either."

Li Fei certainly knew that an organization could never be completely clean; no matter how good or strict the rules he set were, there would always be people who would find loopholes in their execution.

In terms of results, Li Fei seemed to have no qualification to mock the Ghost-Slaying Gang.

But he always firmly believed one thing:

Holding a good intention and choosing to work in a difficult but correct way from the start is fundamentally different from choosing an expedient measure from the beginning.

The two are essentially different.

"If your organization is full of people like you, then I really have no need to join."

Li Fei looked at Ye Zhao and said this.

He did not intend to debate the topic of "whether wrong means can achieve correct results" with the other party; he simply stated his decision directly.

"People like me?"

Ye Zhao's face sank completely, and there was obvious anger in his tone.

He did indeed think highly of himself and possessed pride, so he could not tolerate being looked down upon by Li Fei:

"In my view, you are only unwilling to make changes because you have been enfeoffed as a Marquis and have become one of the 'meat-eaters.' What, are you reluctant to part with your high-and-mighty title?"

Li Fei did not get angry; instead, he laughed: "Is your organization really sending you to recruit people?"

Ye Zhao's anger grew, and just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly sounded within the array:

"Ghost King, please calm your anger."

This voice was the same one that had been conversing with Ye Zhao in the lake pavilion earlier.

"Oh, so you are the one in charge?"

Li Fei was not surprised that someone else was hiding in the shadows.

When the magic array was triggered just now, that fluctuation of sorcery did not come from Ye Zhao, which meant there was at least one more sorcerer hiding in the dark.

"Ye Zhao was momentarily agitated; please do not take offense, Ghost King."

The sorcerer said.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhao clenched his fists, feeling very displeased.

Compared to Li Fei, he seemed to be the younger one.

"I am Zhu Wu. We are indeed very sincere in wanting to invite the Ghost King to join us, and we also believe that the sincerity in the Ghost King's heart has never changed!"

The sorcerer with the code name Zhu Wu said.

"No need, our paths are different."

Li Fei said indifferently.

He had never thought of being a saint who "establishes a destiny for the people."

His actions in Xingcheng back then were to "follow his heart," for the sake of gratification, and to eliminate the Tiger Blade Gang that stood in his way.

If there happened to be innocent people being bullied right in front of him, Li Fei would not mind lending a hand.

Or if he happened to encounter someone doing evil, he would not mind eliminating them in passing.

But if someone told him that in many places there were thousands upon thousands of people suffering, and countless evil people doing evil deeds...

He found it very difficult to generate the thought of wanting to change all of that.

Li Fei knew very well that he could not become a great person like his Master, Hao Yi.

He was just an ordinary person who wanted to master his own destiny and live his life with joy.

"How can our paths be different? The things the Ghost King did in Xingcheng are exactly what we want to do, and what we are doing."

Zhu Wu said.

"Like the Ghost-Slaying Gang?"

"The Ghost-Slaying Gang is just a means; what kind of results can be achieved is what is most important."

"Then there is no need to talk further."

Li Fei shook his head.

"Ghost King."

"Why are you still wasting your breath on him?!"

Ye Zhao suddenly interrupted Zhu Wu, looking coldly at Li Fei, "Since our Daos are different, from now on, the Ghost-Slaying Gang and the Green-Faced Villa are enemies!"

"Ye Zhao!"

"You were right before; he truly cannot be won over, so what else is there to talk about?"

"."

Zhu Wu was somewhat speechless.

Who was it that just said with such confidence that they could try? Yet now, he was the first to give up.

Ye Zhao's talent and strength were indeed beyond reproach; he was one of the organization's hopes.

But this personality was truly...

"Actually, I am very curious, what gives you such confidence?"

Li Fei stepped forward a few paces, walked to the edge of the lake, and said to Ye Zhao.

Ye Zhao sneered, and an incomparable force surged from within his body.

Hum—

The entire lake pavilion was like tofu being crushed with force, instantly collapsing into powder!

"Come and try, and you will know what I rely on!"

Ye Zhao, dressed in a white robe, had his sleeves fluttering under the agitation of his force.

Zhu Wu, hiding in the shadows, sighed.

Looking at the black-robed figure standing calmly on the shore, he suddenly understood Ye Zhao a little.

If the Green-Faced Ghost King was truly Li Fei, then Li Fei was an peerless prodigy younger and more accomplished than Ye Zhao.

Therefore, the proud and arrogant Ye Zhao could never endure being looked down upon by Li Fei!

"Fine."

Li Fei stepped forward, his force propelling his body to skim across the water surface, charging toward Ye Zhao in the center of the lake.

Watching Li Fei charge over, Ye Zhao revealed an excited expression.

He had been 'lonely' for a long time.

Without seeing him make any move, the water surface suddenly exploded, and a 'peak' rose up.

The originally soft water flow became incomparably sharp at this moment, and a 'mountain peak' erupted from beneath Li Fei's feet!

The sharp water flow was like countless blades, enveloping Li Fei within them.

The next second, the water flow was broken open by a streak of dark golden blade light.

Li Fei, entirely encased in the Primordial Star Armor, held his blade and broke through the 'mountain peak'.

"You really are Li Fei!"

Ye Zhao recognized the Primordial Vajra Force.

His opponent had changed from the tenth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking to the third, yet he became even more excited.

He took the initiative to meet Li Fei, pointing a finger out.

Streams of water flew out from the lake surface, surging toward Li Fei from all directions.

The previous water flow was an incomparably sharp divine weapon, but now it was an incomparably tough rope.

The force Ye Zhao had cultivated was somewhat similar in nature to Li Fei's Primordial Vajra Force, also possessing two characteristics: one extremely hard and sharp, the other extremely soft and resilient.

Facing the water flow surging from all directions, Li Fei held his blade and slashed horizontally; the dark golden blade light turned into a full moon, cutting these water flows apart from the middle.

But the severed water flows did not dissipate; instead, they continued to surge toward Li Fei, covering the Primordial Star Armor on his body.

The characteristic of Star-Shifting was activated, but these water flows neutralized the rebounding force during their rapid movement, firmly binding Li Fei!

Ye Zhao took the opportunity to fly over, striking a heavy palm onto Li Fei's chest; the immense force carried an incomparable sharpness, piercing into his protective force.

Bang—

With an explosive sound, the wild wind kicked up waves.

Li Fei retreated rapidly, the Primordial Star Armor on his body covered in cracks!

"Third on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking, is that very impressive?"

Ye Zhao looked at the retreating Li Fei and said loudly.

His talent was extremely high, and after being discovered by the organization, he had been cultivated in secret.

But for the sake of secrecy, he had to remain anonymous and could not expose his true strength.

Watching those peerless prodigies at the Martial Arts Tournament and those world-renowned experts on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking, Ye Zhao had long been itching to act.

If the organization hadn't forbidden him from exposing himself, he could also have been ranked on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking!

He had taken the initiative to come to Datong Prefecture to win over the Green-Faced Ghost King and establish a Ghost-Slaying Gang, all with the intention of wanting to suppress the other party.

Tenth on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking, that's all.

Now that he knew Li Fei was the Green-Faced Ghost King, he was even more delighted.

"You can be ranked third only because I haven't made a move!"

This was the fact he wanted to tell Li Fei.

The Primordial Star Armor on Li Fei's body shattered, but he himself was not injured, only still bound by the streams of water.

The next second, a jade-green Vajra Dharma Image flashed and vanished.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

The water flows were like snapping steel cables, breaking one by one, and then completely dissipating.

Li Fei stopped his retreating body, his feet standing on the surface of the lake.

His body began to expand, tearing through the black robe he was wearing and revealing the dark green protective suit underneath.

Boom!!!

The water surface beneath Li Fei's feet suddenly sank into a large pit, as if a giant boulder had crashed onto a large net.

He disappeared from where he stood.

Ye Zhao confidently raised his right palm, holding it vertically before his chest, and a translucent water shield enveloped him.

Boom—

Another loud noise, and Ye Zhao was smashed into the water by an immense force, driven into the silt at the bottom of the lake!

His expression changed; while activating more supernatural abilities, he circulated his force.

The next second, the lake water above his head was slashed open.

A streak of brilliant golden light flashed; Li Fei's body was parallel to the lake surface, holding his blade with both hands and slashing downward, the lake water surging wildly to both sides.

One blade to split the lake!

Ye Zhao only had time to condense a circular 'water mirror' above his head before the blade edge struck this flowing mirror.

The mirror surface sank downward while simultaneously expanding outward, growing from a diameter of ten meters to cover the entire lake.

Dao Force—【Flowing Wave Water Mirror】!

The 'water mirror' transmitted the impact force it received to the lake, letting the ten thousand tons of lake water bear the impact for him.

But the next second, the entire lake began to boil...

(End of chapter)