90: Chapter 90 The Feast at Hongmen: Whose Was It?

"Bang!" The moment the lid flew off, a head with eyes wide open in death was suddenly exposed to the air!

It was none other than the Second Squad Captain he had sent to assassinate him, Captain Nan Rufeng!

"Boom—!!!" Steward Wang Taian felt a loud "buzz" in his brain, and a violent, extreme Qi Refining Stage 3 pressure instantly erupted from his body like a volcano.

"Crack!" The hard bluestone floor was shattered into countless cracks by the terrifying pressure. The Menial Laborer kneeling on the ground was sent flying, smashing into the wall, vomiting blood, and fainting on the spot.

Steward Wang Taian stood up abruptly, his fleshy face twisting violently from extreme rage.

He stared fixedly at the head in the box, his eyeballs almost popping out, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

"Captain Nan Rufeng... is dead?! His head was cut off and sent back?!"

A tremendous sense of humiliation and anger instantly overwhelmed his reason.

This was the Second Squad Captain of the Management Hall, his most capable confidant!

He had actually been beheaded by a newly appointed Servant District guard captain, who even presented the head as a gift on his desk.

This was a naked slap in the face; it was rubbing the dignity of a steward into the dirt.

"You death-seeking wretch!!"

Steward Wang Taian let out a beast-like roar and shattered the priceless rosewood desk in front of him with a single palm strike.

"I will go there myself today, skin that little beast surnamed Qin alive, pull out his tendons, and grind his bones to dust!"

In his rage, Steward Wang Taian's true essence surged, and, seething with Killing Intent, he prepared to rush out of the study.

"Master, please calm down."

At this critical moment, a charming yet grave voice came from the inner chamber.

Yang Liu walked out wearing a thin silk nightgown, exuding charm, and grabbed Steward Wang Taian's arm.

She glanced at Captain Nan Rufeng's head on the floor, a trace of shock flashing imperceptibly deep within her beautiful eyes.

Although she knew Qin Feng was powerful, she never expected the other party to be so arrogant as to send a head as a provocation.

But being clever, she quickly knew what to do. She immediately masked the turmoil in her heart and held onto Steward Wang Taian, who was on the verge of losing control, saying: "Master, this matter is not that simple. You must not act impulsively!"

"Not simple?!" Steward Wang Taian laughed in extreme anger, shook off Yang Liu's hand, and said coldly: "He has killed someone right on my doorstep; what is not simple about that? I am a dignified Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator; crushing him is easier than crushing an ant!"

"It is not that simple, think about it..." Yang Liu hurriedly stepped forward again, her tone full of anxiety and analysis 'for his sake', saying: "Master, think carefully. Qin Feng is merely a Mortal Martial Realm guard captain; why would he dare to provoke you, a high-and-mighty steward, so blatantly?"

"Captain Nan Rufeng was a Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator skilled in assassination, yet not only did he fail, but he was beheaded without even a chance to escape. What does this mean? It means Qin Feng's strength is hidden extremely deep, or perhaps..."

Yang Liu lowered her voice, a sinister light flickering in her eyes, "There is a big shot behind him, instigating him to provoke you on purpose."

"This..." Hearing this calm analysis, Steward Wang Taian's brain, previously clouded by anger, suddenly cooled down as if doused with a basin of cold water.

Although he was arrogant, he was not stupid. Yes, how could a rookie have the guts and strength to kill Captain Zhang Yan and Captain Nan Rufeng in succession?

Could it be that some rival deliberately arranged for this kid to come to the 666 District to stir up trouble, just to lure him into making a mistake so they could find leverage?

"Continue," Steward Wang Taian said, his brows furrowed and his expression uncertain.

Watching Steward Wang Taian successfully misled into suspicion, Yang Liu sneered inwardly. She put on a thoughtful expression and continued:

"This matter must be a trap. If you, Master, rush to the Ninth Squad in a fit of rage to kill him, wouldn't you be falling right into the enemy's trap if there is an ambush?"

"Hiss..." Steward Wang Taian gasped, feeling that Yang Liu's words made a lot of sense. His gaze toward Yang Liu softened a little, and he immediately asked: "Madam, you make sense. Then tell me, how should we handle this now?"

A subtle, sinister arc curled the corner of Yang Liu's mouth as she proposed: "Let's not move against him openly. Master, you can host a grand banquet at the Management Hall, claiming that Captain Nan Rufeng died accidentally while on a mission and that you want to reorganize the teams. Set up a 'Feast at Hongmen'!"

"Use your status as a steward to summon Qin Feng to discuss matters legitimately. On our turf, as long as he dares to come, we can test his true strength."

Yang Liu leaned close to Steward Wang Taian's ear, her breath fragrant, but her voice was like a poisonous snake flicking its tongue: "Not only that, to ensure a foolproof strike, I will lace the food and wine that night with a colorless, odorless, and deadly poison—'qi-dissolving powder'!"

"Once this poison is swallowed, even a Qi Refinement Stage cultivator will lose all their true essence within half an hour and become weak all over. We will take the antidote beforehand to ensure nothing goes wrong."

"As long as he drinks the poisoned wine, no matter how massive his background is or what strength he has hidden, in front of us, he will only be a dead dog waiting to be slaughtered! At that time, whether to kill or slice him, won't it be just a word from you, Master?"

Hearing such a vicious plan, Steward Wang Taian's eyes suddenly lit up.

Hosting a banquet on his own turf was legitimate, and with the added poisoning, the other party wouldn't be able to escape even if he had three heads and six arms.

After all, Qin Feng's actions were too unscrupulous; he had to be dealt with carefully—even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit!

"Good plan, Madam, you are truly my virtuous helpmate!" Steward Wang Taian couldn't help but pinch Yang Liu's slender waist. The gloom on his face was swept away, replaced by a cruel, grim smile: "We will do as you say. Go and make arrangements immediately. Three days from now, at the Management Hall, I will invite this Qin Feng to have a good drink!"

"Yes, Master, I will go do it immediately."

Yang Liu bowed obediently and turned to leave the study. The moment she stepped out of the room, a chilling, icy smile appeared on her charming face.

... Two hours later. Ninth Squad compound, in the room.

Qin Feng leaned comfortably against the headboard, his toned upper body covered in fine beads of sweat, radiating a wild aura.

Zhao Linger pressed her face tightly against Qin Feng's solid chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat and feeling an unprecedented sense of security.

"Sir..." Zhao Linger lifted her head. Her originally clear eyes were now filled with infatuation and submission toward the man in front of her. She called out in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzzing.

"Don't call me Sir anymore; it sounds distant." Qin Feng lowered his head, kissed her smooth forehead gently, and instructed in a low voice: "Linger, from now on, you are an official guard of my Ninth Squad. Anyone who dares to look down on you is going against me, Qin."

A simple sentence, yet it was like an imperial decree, directly pronouncing the change in her destiny.

Zhao Linger's eyes turned red; a huge sense of surprise and emotion instantly welled up in her heart.

She had finally done it. Not only had she become a guard, but she had also become the woman by the side of this god-like, powerful man.

"Really? Thank you, Sir... Thank you, Master..." Zhao Linger was so excited she didn't even know how to address him. She could only use the last bit of her strength to hug Qin Feng tightly again, offering all her tenderness.

Just at the moment Zhao Linger was excited and grateful, the System's notification sound arrived in Qin Feng's mind as expected.

[Ding! The target's request for help has been satisfied. Mission successful!] [Congratulations to the host, you have received a mission reward: one Gift Pack.] [Does the host wish to open the Gift Pack immediately?]