Chapter 98: Chapter 94: Survival Is What Matters Most

The angle at which Mad Dog knelt was extremely delicate, allowing him to spring behind the already dilapidated statue. There was a hole there, an escape route.

Whoosh!

A sword qi sliced through the air, emitting a buzzing sound.

Mad Dog had just leapt into the air when one of his legs was neatly severed, and half his body plummeted from the air.

"Ah..." He let out a hysterical scream, rolling on the ground, his continuous howls chilling to the bone.

Lu Chengfeng’s face bore a smile, "Weren’t you two proclaiming brotherly love just now? Why have you started to slaughter each other?"

Three Eyes, holding his knife, walked towards Mad Dog step by step, "Among our five brothers, Mad Dog is usually the quietest, but I know he has the most ambition."

"Besides me, he has the highest martial arts, the most meticulous mind, and he wholeheartedly wants to cozy up to Youdu to rise above."

"Though I wanted to survive, I didn’t believe the lord could withstand Youdu. Mad Dog surely thought the same, so we tacitly awaited a future opportunity."

"But I didn’t expect..."

He glanced tenderly at his wife, "I didn’t expect Jiu Niang to become pregnant, so I had no choice but to follow the lord down this dark path. I can’t take risks with my wife and child."

"Mad Dog must understand this too, which is why he became wary of me."

Lu Chengfeng was genuinely amazed; these two brothers, seemingly deeply affectionate, had so many hidden complexities underneath. Without saying a word, they had reached numerous tacit understandings, which had to be admired.

"Stop!" Lu Chengfeng suddenly interjected, causing Three Eyes to freeze, his voice somewhat hoarse as he said, "My lord."

Lu Chengfeng ignored him and spoke to Mad Dog, "Now that you’ve lost a leg, even if you reach Youdu, no one will look up to you, right?"

"If you honestly work for me, keeping a close watch on that husband and wife, I’ll spare your life."

"How about it?"

Mad Dog clenched his teeth tightly, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, and growled, "Okay."

Lu Chengfeng laughed heartily, "In that case, we’re on the same boat from now on. Celestial Dog, won’t you stop your brother’s bleeding and treat his wounds?"

"Remember, if anything happens to Mad Dog, I’ll take your child’s life first. If you make any moves, it’s both lives gone."

Speaking, he flashed to Hunting Dog’s side, grabbed her waist, and utilizing his lightweight technique, whipped up a gust of wind in the ruined temple, quickly heading into the distance.

Only the sound of his hearty laughter lingered in the air.

"Do your work well, and I’ll take care of your wife for you."

Once Lu Chengfeng’s figure disappeared completely, Three Eyes suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face revealing a pained expression, "Jiu Niang..."

His heart was filled with immense grief but also a sense of powerlessness. Facing someone far superior in power, what if he could spot weaknesses in the opponent?

The opponent could crush him as easily as an ant.

Depending on killing a brother to stay alive, relying on a wife to survive, he felt he had become utterly cowardly.

Looking back at Mad Dog, there was no trace of resentment on his face.

"Big Brother, surviving is the most important thing."

Mad Dog stated, biting his words deliberately.

"Yes, survive!" Three Eyes hunched over, took out antiseptic medicine from his sleeve pouch, which they carried for emergencies.

Squatting down, he pressed some vital points on Mad Dog and began to treat his bleeding wounds.

...

Lu Chengfeng hurried towards the mountain stronghold with Hunting Dog, Dou Sanniang. He could actually see certain tacit agreements between Three Eyes and Mad Dog, but he didn’t mind.

All he needed was someone to collect intelligence and information for now, to hunt the prodigies on the Wind and Cloud List, without staying long at the Three Immortals Mountain.

Once tasks were completed, these people would be of no use.

Upon returning to the stronghold, he handed Dou Sanniang to some trusted subordinates to ensure strict monitoring and arranged for a few women in the fort to take care of her.

After confirming no oversights, he returned to his own room.

Lu Chengfeng sent everyone away, sitting cross-legged alone.

"There are only seven days until Wanqing’s marriage; I must rush to Central Capital now."

"To create a major disturbance in Central Capital, with my current strength, is still far from enough."

"The widow left by that half-step Celestial Human realm expert must be conquered soon, giving me room to maneuver."

He pondered silently; whether rescuing Su Wanqing, disrupting the wedding, or hunting the Wind and Cloud List prodigies, making the Celestial Patrol Department and Youdu opposed, all required enough strength.

He had already cultivated the "Profound Crane Thousand Shadows Ghostly Sword Technique" to the twenty-first layer, condensing three "Tongyou Sword Seals," a prodigy at twenty-one years old.

Yet in today’s world situation, he still seemed so weak and helpless.

"Gifts alone aren’t enough; I also need sufficient resources to enhance inner power cultivation and refine essence, qi, and spirit."

"This time, going to Central Capital, time to make a big move!"

"If reaching half-step Celestial Human, this vast world, where could I not venture?"

Lu Chengfeng meticulously sorted through his plans. He has always been a cautious person, considering every detail before making a move.

"First step, marry the eighty-year-old woman."

"Second step, reach an agreement with the Zhao Family, Zhao Tianyou; this will legitimate my actions against the Li Family, avoiding dissatisfaction from the Celestial Patrol Department."

"Third step, challenge Li Chengqian, openly defeating him, thus arousing vigilance and hostility of the Celestial Patrol Department towards Youdu."

"As for the last, find a way to handle the Su Family and Li Family, squeezing enough resources to achieve half-step Celestial Human as quickly as possible."

"And also..."

Lu Chengfeng suddenly recalled something from the memory fragments of Handsome Yama. "The Three Immortals Mountain secretly connects with some bigwigs in Central Capital, collecting beauties from various places to send to the Immortal Tower in Central Capital."

"The Immortal Tower... it’s very deep waters indeed!"

Whenever he thought of those scenes in the memory fragments, he felt a certain oppression. The world has always been so dark; even in the seemingly prosperous Central Capital, beneath it lies bloodshed, cruelty, and darkness that can sometimes drive ordinary people to despair.

The Immortal Tower is backed by bigwigs in Central Capital, using framing, deliberate harm, and deceit, sparing no effort, gathering numerous beauties.

Many businessmen, children of prominent families, and noble sons are coerced into heavy debts, then someone emerges to intimidate their wives and daughters into selling themselves to repay debts, becoming the Immortal Tower’s sex slaves.

What can you do if they insult your wife? Watch and endure!

Countless families have been torn apart for this reason; even in illustrious noble families, when a wife is forced into slavery, they can only suffer in silence, maintaining a façade.

"In the prosperous Central Capital, such filth exists; secretly, there’s male robbery and female prostitution, collusion with bandits, wealth plundering and murder. Is there truly any pure land in this world?"

The more Lu Chengfeng sees, the more he understands the world’s cruelty and coldness; so-called rules and order merely serve to constrain ordinary people for better governance and exploitation.

Just the methods vary among different states and prefectures, like Central State, outwardly establishing the Celestial Patrol Department, patrolling Central State to protect the populace.

Yet they only strike against ordinary people. Once it touches the interests of some noble families, they will downplay serious events, make small matters disappear.

"Crows across the world are just as black. If you don’t want to live in humiliation, if you don’t want those filthy things to happen to you, if you don’t want your wife and daughter to fall into such despair."

"You can only speak with the sword!"

Lu Chengfeng’s Spirit Platform Tongyou Sword Seal vibrated, humming; this dark world incited his urge to eradicate all ugliness in the world.

Yet when he reached out his hands, they too were stained with blood.

"When impoverished, maintain one’s integrity."

He slowly closed his eyes, needing to recharge and prepare thoroughly, as he was setting out first thing in the morning.

This time, heading to the Central Capital, where Celestial Human realm experts resided, was not for amusement. When the situation escalated, it would be like dancing on a blade’s edge.

Lu Chengfeng felt the cool, water-like true qi flowing inside him, gradually calming all his emotions.

Anger! Despair! Oppression!

All of it is useless.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com