Chapter Eleven: Escaping the Trap

Hearing the rush of wind behind him, Ye Feng quickly focused his mind and sidestepped to one side. Turning back, he saw Wu Renfu already charging at him with both whips raised, launching a ferocious attack.

“Old fox, bullying the young and attacking from behind—how shameless can you be!” Murong Yan, fearing Ye Feng would not be a match for Wu Renfu and already wounded herself, could not join the fight. All she could do was ridicule Wu Renfu, hoping to disturb his focus.

Her words made Wu Renfu’s face burn with embarrassment. In truth, when Wu Renfu lashed out, he had cursed Ye Feng in advance, which technically wasn’t a sneak attack. But since he’d attacked from behind, unseen by Ye Feng, it could hardly be considered fair.

Moreover, Murong Yan’s accusation of bullying the young was entirely accurate. If word got out, he would surely be ridiculed. He halted immediately, his face flushed, and argued gruffly, “Nonsense! How is this a sneak attack? With this brat, what skills does he have? Why would I need to resort to that?”

Ye Feng paid him no heed. Brandishing his twin hammers, he shouted, “Old man, come at me! I’m not afraid of you!”

Murong Yan added, “Even if you didn’t mean to sneak attack, you are bullying the young. If this gets out, people will laugh at you.”

Wu Renfu’s face grew even redder, like a steamed crab, but he still argued, “So what? He’s the one courting death—who can he blame but himself!”

Murong Yan burst into a peal of laughter, mocking, “So you do have a thick skin! If you don’t want to be known as a bully, why don’t you let Young Master Ye have three moves? Settle the winner in three strikes?”

This left Wu Renfu with no way out, and for a moment, he hesitated to reply.

“Well, so you’re just that much after all!” Her mockery stoked Wu Renfu’s pride. Besides, he’d already tested Ye Feng’s abilities in their earlier exchange. He agreed at once, “Three moves? Fine! But don’t blame me for being ruthless—three moves are all I need to take his life!”

With that, he raised his whips and struck fiercely at Ye Feng.

“Wait, I’m not finished!” Murong Yan interrupted.

Wu Renfu hastily tried to recall his whips, but his force had been too great; he had to retreat two steps, his face growing even redder.

“Out with it, then! Make it quick—I have to finish this brat and report to His Majesty!” Wu Renfu snapped impatiently, clutching his whips.

“What if you can’t defeat Young Master Ye in three moves?”

“Whatever you say, I’ll do!”

Before she could finish, Wu Renfu attacked again, both whips lashing at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng, seeing the whips coming, quickly evaded. But these whips did not simply retract—they spun around Ye Feng like a pair of windmills, whirring loudly.

“First move!” Murong Yan’s voice rang out. Wu Renfu’s heart wavered. He had thought Ye Feng would be easy to defeat, but the youth’s speed and agility were beyond his expectations.

Ye Feng was naturally gifted in the demon-slaying arts, though his weak constitution had long kept him from advancing. Now, after taking the magical herb to strengthen his body, he had immediately entered the first realm. Had he known the method for the second realm, with his improved physique, he might have skipped the first and entered directly into the art of controlling objects.

Wu Renfu’s whips spun around Ye Feng, striking in all directions with a whooshing sound, but could not touch him. Growing anxious, Wu Renfu released his whips, using his mind to control them—his skill in manipulating objects.

Simultaneously, he thrust both palms fiercely at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng, faced with the lightning-fast whips and palms, heard the wind roaring around him. Enveloped by shadow and force, he grew nervous, dodged even faster, and swung his twin hammers to counter the incoming palms. In a flash, he circled behind Wu Renfu, aiming for his vulnerable spots.

The fight became a blur of phantom images—no one could distinguish friend from foe.

“Second move!” Murong Yan cried.

Wu Renfu’s face fell. He had roamed the martial world for years, never expecting to be bested by a mere novice. Hastily, he formed a mystical gesture, summoned his mind power, and unleashed his spirit art.

“Ten Thousand Stones Formation—attack!” he roared.

A surge of energy lifted every pebble from the ground, hurling them at Ye Feng like arrows.

Cold sweat broke out on Ye Feng’s forehead. He leaped back, swinging his hammers to deflect the flying stones.

“Third move! City Lord Wu, you’ve lost!” Murong Yan called out.

Wu Renfu’s face burned with shame once more, but he stubbornly refused to back down. He summoned his whips and struck at Ye Feng again.

“Old villain, you’re shameless! You can’t admit defeat and now you’re cheating?!” Murong Yan yelled.

Wu Renfu ignored her, launching deadly attacks under the onslaught of the stone formation, whips, and palms.

Ye Feng realized how formidable Wu Renfu was. His confidence faltered, and he dodged, playing a game of cat-and-mouse as Wu Renfu chased him relentlessly, guiding whips and stones with his mind.

“Fourth move! Fifth! Sixth! Old villain, stop! Stop right now!” Murong Yan cried desperately, seeing Ye Feng in peril.

But Wu Renfu was beyond reason. He thought, This boy has mastered the demon-slaying art in just a year—give him a few more, and I’ll be no match. If I don’t kill him today, he’ll return for revenge. Better to end him now and avoid future trouble.

Intent on killing Ye Feng, he pressed the attack.

Seeing her words had no effect, Murong Yan, fearing for Ye Feng, drew her sword and joined the fight. She continued to scold, “Old villain, have you no shame? Bullying Young Master Ye—what will people say if word gets out?”

Wu Renfu now played the scoundrel in earnest, replying pompously, “What bullying? And what three-move agreement? I’m arresting you both on official duty—how could I show favoritism?”

In his heart, he thought, Damn these two brats—they nearly got the better of me. If I don’t silence them here, and with my own men as witnesses, who will spread rumors?

He summoned more mind power, causing the stones around them to rise, sealing off any escape.

Murong Yan knew the danger they faced and dared not be careless. She unleashed her object-control skill, casting her green sword at Wu Renfu, while launching a ferocious palm strike.

The green sword shot forth like lightning, aiming for Wu Renfu’s throat. But Wu Renfu, as nimble as a shadow, dodged aside. Before he could turn, Murong Yan’s palm was upon him.

“Well done!” Wu Renfu did not retreat but met her strike head-on.

A thunderous boom echoed as their palms collided, shaking the very ground and rattling the surrounding stone formation. The watching soldiers could not keep their eyes open and retreated further.

Murong Yan was knocked back three steps, her left arm numb and burning as if scorched.

Wu Renfu seized the moment, advancing with a sweep of his right palm toward Murong Yan’s chest.

He had barely launched his strike when Ye Feng’s twin hammers crashed into his extended arm.

Forced to withdraw, Wu Renfu gave up his advantage, simultaneously sending his whips after Ye Feng’s back with his mind.

Thus, the three were locked in a fierce, evenly matched struggle. Only they themselves knew that Murong Yan and Ye Feng’s mind power was still shallow; a drawn-out fight would not end in their favor.

“Young Master Ye, you should go! I’ll hold him here!” Murong Yan cried, stepping forward to block Wu Renfu and urging Ye Feng to retreat.

“Miss Murong, let me hold him off. You must escape—you’re the orphan of General Murong, with old scores to settle and people depending on you to resist the demon army,” Ye Feng said, wiping sweat from his brow. Instead of retreating, he rushed forward to shield her.

“Haha! None of you will escape today—best surrender quietly!” Wu Renfu laughed, seeing their desperate state.

He secretly gathered his mind power, levitating even more stones to form a powerful array, ready to crush them.

“Fool! Do you think you can withstand this old villain? Have you forgotten my sword-flying art? If you escape, I’ll have my chance to flee as well!” Murong Yan’s scolding snapped Ye Feng back to his senses.

Ye Feng feinted with a hammer and, channeling his mind, retreated more than ten meters. “Take care, Miss. I’ll withdraw for now,” he said.

As he tried to retreat further, a howling wind arose—the stone array came alive, thousands of stones raining down on him.

Ye Feng swung his hammers furiously, shattering countless stones, but didn’t notice one flying at his back, striking his left shoulder.

With a crack, Ye Feng felt a forceful push on his shoulder—not painful, just like a mosquito’s bite. Using that momentum, he swung his hammers even faster, smashing aside stones until he burst from the array.

Wu Renfu saw Ye Feng take a heavy hit with no sign of injury, then break through his stone formation, and nearly dropped his jaw in disbelief. By the time he tried to intercept, Murong Yan had entangled him.

Ye Feng charged into the ranks of soldiers like a tiger among sheep, leaving them wailing in terror. Furious, Wu Renfu could only vent his anger on Murong Yan, assailing her with both palms and whips.

Murong Yan’s right arm was already injured, and after fighting for so long, she was exhausted. Seeing Ye Feng escape, her purpose fulfilled, her movements slowed.

Wu Renfu, seeing her falter, pressed his advantage, increasing the speed of his attacks.

Suddenly—a loud clang as a whip and sword collided in midair, sparking brilliantly. The green sword, unable to withstand the force, flew off into the distance, and Murong Yan staggered back, barely keeping her footing.

Wu Renfu, triumphant, pressed forward like a flash of lightning, palm aimed at Murong Yan’s chest. At the critical moment, a sudden wind sounded behind him. Wu Renfu shrank his neck, ducking instinctively, but too slowly—a hard object grazed his scalp, tearing away a chunk of flesh. He howled in pain.

With a clatter, his concentration broke, and both whips fell to the ground.

Wu Renfu turned to see Ye Feng! He couldn’t fathom how Ye Feng, after breaking out, had doubled back to attack him from behind.

Ye Feng said nothing, but dashed to Murong Yan’s side, supported her, picked up her green sword, and charged once more into the soldiers.

His movements were seamless—no one had expected it.

The soldiers, terrified by Ye Feng, panicked at the sight of the pair charging at them again. “Brothers, that young master is back—run for your lives!” they cried, scattering in all directions.

In that instant, Ye Feng and Murong Yan broke through the encirclement and vanished without a trace.