68: Chapter 68 How can I, your wife, be at ease?

After eating lunch, Qin Feng did not linger in the courtyard; he put on his saber and headed straight for the Management Hall, the core of the Intermediate Laborer District.

If he wanted to kill Zhang Zhongjiu legitimately, he had to go through the proper channels of the Management Hall.

Otherwise, inciting an all-out skirmish between two districts without cause was something he could not answer for to his superiors, even as the captain of the Ninth Squad.

The Management Hall was heavily guarded. Qin Feng displayed his captain's black iron token and proceeded without obstruction all the way to the back courtyard of the main hall where Steward Wang Taian worked.

Just as he reached the door of a secluded side room, Qin Feng's footsteps suddenly paused.

With the terrifying hearing granted by his Mortal Stage 8 cultivation and the Heavenly Tyrant Body, he immediately caught the sounds drifting from inside the room, "Steward Wang... we still have serious matters to discuss later..."

A woman's voice, seductive to the bone and laced with a hint of wantonness, drifted out through the crack in the door.

"Hehehe... Whatever I say is serious business is serious business. I haven't seen you for a few days, and your strength as the captain of the Fifth Squad has improved." Immediately following was Steward Wang Taian's greasy, lecherous laughter.

Qin Feng stood outside the door, his brows slightly raised. Captain of the Fifth Squad, Captain Zhang Yan?

He had heard of this name. Among the eleven guard squads of the Management Hall, the Fifth Squad was one of only two led by a woman.

Previously, he had wondered how a woman could gain a foothold in the man-eating Guard Hall. Now it seemed she had long since latched onto Steward Wang Taian's fat thigh.

"The Servant District really is rotten to the core." Qin Feng sneered inwardly, but he had no intention of backing down.

After all, since he was here, he would make the best of it. Having lived two lives, he understood better than anyone that the way of survival lay in eight words: the weak are prey to the strong, survival of the fittest!

"Bang!" With this thought, he raised his hand and knocked heavily on the door panel three times without any hesitation.

"Who is knocking outside?!" The sounds in the room stopped abruptly, immediately followed by Steward Wang Taian's furious roar, "Are you tired of living?! Get lost!!!"

"Steward, your subordinate, the new captain of the Ninth Squad, Qin Feng, has an urgent matter to report to you!" Qin Feng stood outside the door, his voice loud and clear, showing absolutely no awareness of having interrupted his superior's good time.

A rustling sound came from inside the room, accompanied by Captain Zhang Yan's low complaints.

"Clatter!" The door was abruptly pulled open from the inside.

Steward Wang Taian stood at the doorway, disheveled, his fat face filled with rage at having his mood ruined. He cursed while spraying spit:

"Are you fucking brain-dead?! Can't you see this steward is 'discussing matters' with Captain Zhang Yan?! Get the fuck out of here!"

Through the half-open door, Qin Feng caught a glimpse of Captain Zhang Yan sitting on the bed, scrambling to tie her jacket. Although the woman was quite pretty, she was currently glaring outside with an expression of arrogance and anger.

"Steward, this matter concerns the face of the Ninth Squad, so I must report it immediately." Qin Feng ignored Steward Wang Taian's fury, standing straight, speaking without arrogance or servility.

"Get out, get out, get out! Whatever bullshit matter you have, go find the Madam. I don't have time for you right now! If you dare say another word, this steward will skin you alive!"

Steward Wang Taian waved his hand frantically, and with a "bang," he slammed the door shut right in front of Qin Feng's nose.

Looking at the tightly closed door, a flash of chilling murderous intent crossed Qin Feng's eyes. 'When the heavens are wild, it rains; when people are wild, disaster strikes. Do not bully a youth for being poor!' Muttering this to himself, Qin Feng turned and walked away with a carefree air.

Behind the Management Hall, there was a quiet, clear stream. This was the place Yang Liu liked to rest and spend time alone, and ordinary Menial Laborers and guards were strictly forbidden from approaching.

Qin Feng utilized the Clear Wind Shadow technique, avoiding a few sentries on the perimeter, and arrived at the streamside silently. What met his eyes was this:

On a flat bluestone, Yang Liu was leaning lazily on a soft couch. Today, she was wearing a thin, plain white dress with ink-wash patterns, the hem of which was lifted high, revealing two snow-white thighs that made one's eyes dizzy.

A pair of crystal-clear jade feet were soaking in the clear, cool stream water, gently kicking up splashes.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling her body, setting off that amorous, world-toppling face, making her look like a spirit or a demon of the mountains.

"Since you've come, stop hiding behind the tree like a coward." Yang Liu didn't even turn her head, her red lips parting slightly, her lazy voice carrying a hint of casual teasing, "This Madam's place isn't somewhere just anyone can enter so casually."

Qin Feng slowly walked out from behind an ancient tree that would take several people to embrace, walked to a spot three steps away from Yang Liu, and respectfully cupped his fists in salute. "Subordinate Qin Feng greets the Madam."

"Why aren't you showing off your power in the Ninth Squad? Why have you run over to me?" Yang Liu slowly turned her head and asked.

"Madam, I have come here because of Captain Luo Kun's matter." Qin Feng went straight to the point without any beating around the bush.

"Captain Luo Kun was, after all, a captain of our Management Hall. To be besieged by Zhang Zhongjiu of District 665 and die in such an unclear manner... If we ignore it, I fear it will chill the hearts of the brothers under our command."

"Oh?" Yang Liu arched her beautiful eyebrows slightly, looking at Qin Feng with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

She gently pulled her snow-white feet out of the stream water. There was a dry towel prepared nearby, but she didn't use it. Instead, she deliberately dangled her wet feet in mid-air, letting the water droplets fall.

"Chill the hearts of the brothers? Such high-sounding words might work on fools, but why put on this act of loyalty in front of me?" Yang Liu scoffed, her tone filled with undisguised insight.

"You are a newcomer who just took office, and you are in urgent need of a major event to establish your prestige and win over hearts. Furthermore, the beautiful widow left behind by Captain Luo Kun must have reached an agreement with you last night, right?"

Having his intentions exposed to his face, Qin Feng felt not the slightest bit of embarrassment. Playing dumb in front of a smart person was the stupidest behavior.

"The Madam has the Wisdom Eye. My little schemes truly cannot be hidden from you." "I have just taken over the Ninth Squad and am ignorant of many things. Lin Yuxi is well-versed in these matters, so I must win her over."

Qin Feng lowered his head slightly, his tone calm and candid, and added, "But regardless of what my selfish motives are, the fact that Zhang Zhongjiu is shitting on the head of our 666 Management Hall and snatched our Golden-Eyed White Tiger is an indisputable fact."

"Then what do you think should be done?" Yang Liu asked with great interest.

Qin Feng suddenly raised his head, a shocking, arrogant Battle Intent erupting from his deep black eyes! "I propose that I, representing the Ninth Squad, issue a Life-and-Death Challenge to Zhang Zhongjiu!"

The words were spoken with resounding force, like the clashing of metal and stone, echoing in the quiet valley.

"A Life-and-Death Challenge?" Yang Liu's expression finally changed. Her originally lazy posture straightened slightly, and her eyes held a hint of gravity.

In the Servant District, if one wanted to avoid triggering an all-out melee during a conflict between two Management Halls, the most direct and compliant way to resolve it was for both sides to send a representative to fight to the death on the Life-and-Death Arena.

The winner lives, the loser dies, all grudges are wiped clean, and even the snatched resources must be spat out with interest.

"Zhang Zhongjiu is a bona fide Mortal Stage 9 Peak, and he has remained at that Realm for five years. His combat experience is extremely seasoned."

"You have only just achieved a Breakthrough to Stage 8. Being able to kill Zhao Chong while jumping a level is already your limit. Against Zhang Zhongjiu..." She paused deliberately, her tone becoming extremely serious, "Qin Feng, are you confident?"

Facing Yang Liu's questioning, Qin Feng did not give a lengthy explanation, nor did he offer impassioned assurances. He simply raised his chin slightly, a domineering, arrogant sneer curling at the corner of his mouth, and spat out one word: "Yes."

Simple, direct, revealing an absolute confidence that disregarded life and death.

Looking at the resolute profile of the man in front of her, as if carved by a knife and axe, and the confidence in his eyes that made one's heart tremble, Yang Liu's beautiful eyes flickered with brilliance. She had to admit that there was a fatal attraction about him that no woman could resist.

"Good." Yang Liu nodded with satisfaction, a fox-like, world-toppling smile blooming on her lips again, "Since you have such guts, I will handle this matter for you. I will send someone to District 665 to issue the challenge letter. Let's set it for three days from now, and settle it on the Life-and-Death Arena!"

"Many thanks to the Madam for your assistance!" Qin Feng cupped his hands and bowed deeply. However, just as he was about to straighten up.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me." Her eyes shimmered, and her voice suddenly became extremely soft and sweet, even carrying a hint of undisguised provocation, "Qin Feng, you are a smart person. You should know that verbal thanks are useless here with me."

Qin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said, "Please enlighten me, Madam."

"Tonight, at the hour of the Rat. Go to the back courtyard of the trading room, I will wait for you there." Yang Liu did not explain further, simply issuing the command.

"Subordinate obeys." Qin Feng nodded, and after cupping his hands in salute once more, he turned and strode away from the streamside.

Under the sunlight, Yang Liu leaned on the soft couch, watching the gradually receding, straight-as-a-pine figure. The smile on her lips gradually faded, replaced by an extreme calmness and playfulness of someone in control of everything.

"Your growth is simply too fast, so fast that even I feel a bit heart-palpitating. A fierce tiger with growing wings—if I don't tame it completely while I can still put a chain on it..."

"How, then, can I, the Madam, rest easy?"