Chapter 317: Kidnapped

Chapter 317: Taken Captive

"Why do you want to kill me?"

Hearing Xiao Feng's question, Lai Wenxiu shook her head slightly.

"You really don't know?"

Xiao Feng thought for a moment before shaking his head earnestly. "I don't know. Please enlighten me, Hall Master Lai Wenxiu."

"Why bother with all this chatter? Just kill him outright."

Deng Fengbai glanced at Lai Wenxiu.

Lai Wenxiu laughed loudly.

"Even Chief Escort Su, the top dog in the Eastern Wasteland, can't just kill someone without a good reason. Even if it's for Xiao Xiong's sake, we should still let him die with clarity today.

"Let me ask you... what exactly did you tell Xing Lan today?

"Why, after your visit, did Xing Lan immediately head to the Tenth Hall, claiming that Wu Yong's killer was there?

"Before you saw Xing Lan, you also visited Chief Escort Su... What did you tell him?"

Madam Wan's big plan was really rushed.

Seeing Xing Lan go to the Tenth Hall, the situation was almost beyond repair.

With pressure from all sides, Madam Wan couldn't just wait around anymore.

If things really got out of hand, she'd be done for.

So, when Xing Lan rushed to the Tenth Hall and things seemed to blow up, Madam Wan finally decided to make her move.

If they moved fast, even if there were some mistakes in the plan, they wouldn't matter much.

After all, Wan Yutang's problems were real, and he was in this mess because he messed with Su Mo.

The plan had been going as expected until now.

But after Wan Yutang was injured by Su Mo and rescued by the Dark Hall, the overlooked details had to be dealt with.

Before Xing Lan went to the Tenth Hall today, Xiao Feng had shown up to see him.

These two had nothing to do with each other.

Xiao Feng hadn't visited Xing Lan at the Seventh Hall for years, yet he showed up today.

What's more, before visiting Xing Lan, he had also seen Su Mo...

Thinking about it, this was pretty suspicious.

However, it was somewhat reassuring that Xiao Feng probably didn't know much.

It was assumed he hadn't said much to Su Mo; otherwise, the plan would have fallen apart.

Su Mo would have caught on to their game long ago.

If Xiao Feng really had some clues and went to find Su Mo, it was probably to leverage them for negotiation.

Because they were all aware of Xiao Feng's predicament.

In the past, when Xiao Xiong 'disappeared' for years, others might not care, but as his son, Xiao Feng couldn't ignore it.

Seeing the arrival of Eastern Wasteland's Number One, who was wrongly framed as the murderer of Wu Yong.

If he had any traces, naturally he would want to present evidence in front of Su Mo.

After that, Xiao Feng went to find Xing Lan, and Xing Lan's haste to the Tenth Hall could be explained.

With the scheme having progressed this far, the overall situation is effectively settled.

But Xiao Feng is still a lingering threat and cannot be left alone.

During the day, no suitable opportunity was found, but at night, the two Hall Masters joined forces to eliminate him.

However, before carrying out the act, Lai Wenxiu still wanted to know what Xiao Feng had said in front of Su Mo?

"..."

Xiao Feng pressed one hand on the hilt of his sword, his expression grave, obviously deep in thought.

Seeing this, Lai Wenxiu involuntarily furrowed her brow, while Deng Fengbai's gaze wandered over the major acupoints in front of Xiao Feng, ready to strike at any moment and end his life.

After a while, Xiao Feng replied gravely:

"I said nothing."

"..."

Even a ghost wouldn't believe that!

Lai Wenxiu involuntarily furrowed her brow and said in a deep voice: "If you said nothing, why did you go to him?"

Xiao Feng thought carefully and found that none of the things he went to Su Mo for today could be disclosed lightly, so he had to say:

"To drink tea."

Lai Wenxiu nearly laughed out of frustration.

He shook his head lightly, sighing, "Xiao Feng, Xiao Feng... since your father Xiao Xiong was betrayed by Wan Yutang.

"I knew that you would struggle immensely in Wusheng Hall.

"The position of the Second Hall's Hall Master should have been yours, alas, but now?

"Devoid of support, you became the Second Hall's Deputy Hall Master before reaching adulthood.

"What is this called?

"This is called a mismatch of virtue and rank!

"So, you are prudent and guarded, we all understand.

"Trivial affairs, considering you are just a child, we might not really take you seriously."

"But this time... you've crossed the line."

After hearing this, Xiao Feng nodded and asked:

"What are you implying?"

"It means that a year from today will be your death anniversary!"

"Lai, don't waste your breath on him. This kid is feigning ignorance, trying to mess with us. Let's just finish him off quickly.

"If we delay too long and accidentally encounter Chief Escort Su again,

"it will be difficult to explain."

Deng Fengbai was already itching to act. As soon as he finished speaking, he lunged forward, closing the distance to Xiao Feng.

Before he even reached, the force of his palm strike had already arrived.

Looking up, one could see Deng Fengbai's palm strike, incredibly heavy, surging forward with a fierce gust of wind.

This was the Tenth Hall's inherited secret technique, 'Mountain-Pushing Palm'!

The palm force was immensely powerful, capable of moving mountains, far beyond ordinary.

Hearing Deng Fengbai's words, Lai Wenxiu's heart clenched.

The reputation of the First of Donghuang was too overwhelming, and in the brief encounters with Su Mo, his martial arts were truly unfathomable.

Bei Zhangzhi's methods today had already left everyone in awe.

Although Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, and Ling Feimiao hadn't used their full strength, Deng Fengbai, Rong Zhantang, and he were truly intent on killing ruthlessly.

Yet, they never expected that facing him one against three, they would crumble at the first touch.

But even such a martial arts master couldn't withstand a mere flick of Su Mo's finger.

Such a person—who would want to oppose him unless absolutely necessary?

Today, using him to deal with Wan Yutang was like dancing on a razor's edge; the slightest misstep could mean death.

If he were to witness this scene firsthand, it would be truly impossible to explain.

Without further hesitation, as Deng Fengbai had said, they should kill Xiao Feng first.

With a single thought, his fingers moved like lightning as he charged forward.

Xiao Feng, with one hand on his sword hilt, felt the Mountain-Pushing Palm's force enveloping his vital points, not daring to confront it directly. Yet, from the corner of his eye, he spotted Lai Wenxiu's finger force.

The technique this person used was the Eleventh Hall's inherited secret art, 'Unfixed Finger.'

No wind, no fixity, no trace, no gap!

Now, the finger force was held back, secretly locking all of Xiao Feng's escape routes, forcing him to face the Mountain-Pushing Palm head-on.

Seeing this, Xiao Feng let out a soft sigh.

Knowing that at this moment, there was no other way, he stopped overthinking.

With a hum, his single sword left its sheath.

A streak of blade light suddenly sliced through the sky like a curtain.

This strike, with the blade raised high, was a signature move from his self-created Guicang Blade technique. The blade's edge swept upward, razor-sharp, capable of cleaving through a thousand pounds!

Moreover, the blade's sharp energy shot straight toward the Mountain-Pushing Palm.

A resonant hum!!

The palm wind and blade aura clashed fiercely, instantly unleashing a storm of wind.

Deng Fengbai sneered: "A mere grain of rice dares to shine?"

As his internal energy surged, it unleashed a formidable force, making his robe billow noisily behind him.

Suddenly, faint ripping sounds echoed through the air.

In a flash of shock, he realized Xiao Feng's blade energy had sliced through his Mountain-Pushing Palm wind, racing toward his palm.

How could this be?

Instantly, he flicked his sleeves, his palms shifting seventeen times in rapid succession, finally deflecting the blade's edge with a twist.

The blade buzzed as it carved a deep gash into a tree.

After forcing Deng Fengbai back, Xiao Feng glanced up to see the Unfixed Finger closing in. The Unfixed Finger, a technique known for its unpredictability and precision, was already closing in.

By now, it was too late to execute his blade technique.

He practiced the Guicang Blade technique, which emphasized 'return' and 'hide' over speed.

The Unfixed Finger was windless and unpredictable, traceless and seamless, distant at first, but suddenly upon you.

At the crucial moment, Xiao Feng had no choice but to raise a palm to block it.

In an instant, fingertip met palm. Though Xiao Feng's feet stayed rooted, his body was hurled backward, his feet gouging the ground, kicking up clouds of dust as his internal energy scattered, accompanied by a deafening rumble.

He was thrust back over ten meters before barely regaining his balance, slamming one foot down to steady himself.

With a thunderous crack, the ground split. Glancing up, Xiao Feng saw Lai Wenxiu suspended in mid-air, her finger aimed downward—both the focal point of their clash and her leverage.

They were now deadlocked.

However, Xiao Feng was far from pleased; in this fight, he had yet to claim a single life.

The strike against Deng Fengbai had pushed him to his limit, yet it hadn't ended the man's life.

In this life-and-death battle, if he couldn't turn the tables, he knew he was doomed.

In a battle of internal energy, he might not truly stand a chance against the Hall Master of the Eleventh Hall.

Though Xiao Feng was typically cautious, in life-and-death battles, his mind raced three times faster than most, and he was already plotting his next move.

What could he do to eliminate this foe?

Hardened by experience, even in this dire situation, Xiao Feng calmly weighed his options.

Meanwhile, Lai Wenxiu was beginning to show subtle signs of anxiety.

The two Hall Masters teamed up to take on a Deputy Hall Master from the Second Hall, who was also a younger generation member, and yet, after all this time, they still hadn't managed to capture him?

If this got out, the reputation of picking on someone weaker would be bad enough.

Picking on someone weaker and still taking forever, this was just plain embarrassing.

Seeing that Xiao Feng's internal energy seemed endless, Lai Wenxiu finally let out a long breath, channeling all his internal energy into a single finger.

Hovering in mid-air, as he channeled his internal energy, his face turned slightly red, and wisps of white smoke scattered from the top of his head, only to be blown away by the fierce wind in an instant, leaving only his hair flying.

It was obvious he was giving it everything he had.

Under the pressure of this surge of internal energy, Xiao Feng's face fell as he struggled with all his might to resist.

At the same time, the single saber in his other hand twisted, ready to be sent out in one fluid motion.

No matter what, he had to break the stalemate in this internal energy battle.

But just then, Deng Fengbai came charging back.

He burst through the air, his robes ripping through the wind, his palms like pushing mountains, carrying the force of a thousand jun.

Seeing this, Xiao Feng knew it was impossible to launch his saber now.

In desperation, he could only leave it to fate and swung his saber.

Nearly all his internal energy was tied up in the battle with Lai Wenxiu, so this saber strike was lacking in both internal energy and precision. At this point, all he could do was his best and leave the rest to fate.

Deng Fengbai, fully aware of his situation, burst into wild laughter:

"You little thief, prepare to die!!!"

He poured all his internal energy into his palms, aiming to kill Xiao Feng right then and there.

As for Xiao Feng's saber strike... what could it possibly do at this point?

It was likely to be blown away by his mountain-pushing palm force before it could even fully strike.

But to everyone's surprise, the moment the saber was unleashed, its edge shone brighter than ever.

The saber's light was dazzling, radiant.

Wherever it went, it left a trail of sharpness!

The fierce saber energy suddenly slashed out, leaving Deng Fengbai stunned, completely in disbelief.

With a powerful push of his palms, his mountain-pushing palm force was incredible.

Yet, against this saber edge, it was as fragile as tofu, easily cut through.

He wanted to try the same trick again, using the intricate techniques of his mountain-pushing palm to deflect the saber's edge.

But this saber edge was completely different from before.

It swept through everything in its path, leaving no room for him to maneuver.

In a flash of sharpness, the saber edge swept across his body, its momentum unceasing, cutting down several large trees before gradually dissipating.

Deng Fengbai, not yet dead, first looked at the calm-faced Xiao Feng.

He lowered his head to look at his chest.

His chest appeared intact, but when he touched it, blood suddenly gushed out.

Seeing this, Deng Fengbai nodded repeatedly and exclaimed:

"This is impossible!"

The words were spoken crisply and decisively, and he fell backward. Before he hit the ground, his body split into two, each part falling in opposite directions.

"Hall Master Deng!!!"

Lai Wenxiu was completely stunned.

While mid-air, locked in a fierce battle with Xiao Feng, she saw more clearly than Deng Fengbai.

Just as Xiao Feng swung his blade, a figure suddenly emerged behind him.

The figure placed a hand on Xiao Feng's back, and in that instant, the blade's strike became extraordinary.

Panicking, she wanted to retreat, but there was no time.

A surge of internal energy, like a tidal wave, suddenly erupted from Xiao Feng's palm, flowing through his fingertips into his meridians.

The Wuding Finger's force was instantly overwhelmed, and with a powerful impact, Lai Wenxiu was flung backward.

She slammed into a tree.

She tried to channel as much force as possible into the tree behind her, and with a loud crash, the tree shook violently, and the few remaining leaves, sparse from the autumn wind, were blown away.

Still, Lai Wenxiu couldn't fully redirect the internal energy.

She immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and slid down the tree trunk to the ground. She tried to stand, but her meridians were mostly severed, leaving her powerless.

Looking up, she shouted angrily:

"Who? Who is it??"

"Hall Master Lai, you must have a poor memory. We met just this morning, and now you don't recognize me?"

The voice came from behind Xiao Feng, and then a figure emerged. Who else could it be but Su Mo?

"Su... Chief Escort Su..."

When Lai Wenxiu saw Su Mo, her expression froze.

Xiao Feng, finally regaining his senses, quickly sheathed his blade:

"Thank you, Chief Escort Su, for saving me."

Su Mo waved his hand:

"Two against one is unfair.

"If it were a one-on-one fight, I might not have intervened, but with one distracting and the other ambushing, two elders ganging up on a junior, it seems they don't know the meaning of shame."

"...Chief Escort Su, please listen to me."

Lai Wenxiu hurriedly said, "Xiao Feng has long been in collusion with Wan Yutang. Whatever he said to you today, no matter what it is, must not be trusted."

"Please, Chief Escort Su, see through this clearly!"

"..."

Su Mo laughed wryly.

If it were just Xiao Feng's words alone, Su Mo would naturally have to hesitate.

No matter what Xiao Feng's background was, he was still a stranger.

But what Xiao Feng said today was not just his own account.

Ling Hongxia had also mentioned it, and she even saw Xiao Feng last night.

With their stories corroborating each other, Su Mo naturally believed them.

At this point, Lai Wenxiu still intended to use the matter of Wan Yutang to sow doubt about Xiao Feng, truly a desperate move.

He shook his head lightly:

"Palace Master Lai, don't rush to speak. I have a question for you.

"What arrangements does Madam Wan have tonight?"

"..."

Lai Wenxiu was taken aback: "Wh... What do you mean?"

"Hall Master Lai is a smart person, so you naturally understand what Su Mo means.

But never mind. I’ll personally check on Madam Wan’s arrangements later.

For now, Hall Master Lai, you might as well walk side by side with Hall Master Deng on this journey, and you will have company on the road to the underworld."

Upon hearing this, Lai Wenxiu's face turned pale.

He tried to speak, but Su Mo didn’t give him the chance. With a casual palm strike, a void palm strike landed fiercely on his head.

With a loud bang, the strike landed, and silence followed.

At this moment, Yang Xiaoyun stepped out from the shadows. Xiao Feng acknowledged her with a nod.

"Hall Master Xiao, today we made plans to explore the place you mentioned.

Even though this isn’t the agreed spot, would Hall Master Xiao care to join Su Mo on this trip?"

"Of course, I’m in."

Xiao Feng's speech was much faster this time:

"Today’s events are full of mysteries, and I’d bet nine out of ten of Madam Wan’s words are lies... If I don’t go and investigate, I really can’t let it go."

Su Mo immediately nodded: "Then let’s go."

With that, they set off without delay. Wusheng Hall wasn’t far away.

With Xiao Feng leading the way, their journey proceeded without stirring the slightest ripple.

After crossing a wall, the sound of commotion could be heard.

It seemed something had happened again in Wusheng Hall.

Listening carefully, they heard someone shout:

"No trace of the thief has been found here, and the young miss is nowhere to be found."

"Nothing here either... I clearly saw that person come this way, why did they vanish so suddenly?"

"Young Master Li has also been kidnapped, who is this villain?"

"Where is the Lady? Has any order been issued?"

"The Lady, along with Hall Master Wen and Hall Master Rong, has gone to investigate the Dark Hall's location and is not currently at Wusheng Hall.

"Hall Master Li and Hall Master Lin are still searching for the Great Hall Master..."