84: Successfully rescued people

Returning to Hundred Flowers Villa with Su Xiaoxiao's promise from Wonderful Sound Workshop, Qin Feng immediately reported the situation to Tower Master Su Yuetang.

Upon hearing that Qin Feng had not only obtained "streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers" but also secured the promise of "appropriate care" from Wonderful Sound Workshop, Su Yuetang was initially shocked, then her face bloomed with uncontrollable joy and admiration. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as they fell upon Qin Feng, carrying unconcealed appreciation and even a faint, lingering trace of flirtatiousness.

"Deacon Qin, you really... bring me such huge surprises every time!" Su Yuetang's voice held a hint of laziness and praise. "In just two days, you've turned the Four Seas Merchant Guild from enemies to friends and secured support from Wonderful Sound Workshop... Such methods make even this elder sister feel inferior despite my years of management. It seems Headquarters sending you here was truly a blessing for my West Lake City Branch."

She took light, graceful steps closer, a rich fragrance swirling around Qin Feng's nose. Her tone carried a slight tease: "I don't even know how to thank you anymore. Why don't you stay in West Lake City long-term? I'll just give my position as Tower Master to you."

Xiao Chun, sitting silently nearby drinking tea, immediately pouted upon seeing Su Yuetang's behavior. Her fingers gripped the teacup so hard her knuckles turned white. She kept her head down, taking tiny sips of water as if she had a grudge against the cup, her entire being radiating a sour aura of "I'm unhappy."

Qin Feng felt the "low pressure" coming from beside him and Su Yuetang's overly enthusiastic gaze. He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Stepping back half a pace, he said seriously, "Tower Master, you overstate things; it was merely my duty. Now is not the time to relax. The priority is to rescue Liu Xiaowan tonight."

Seeing his serious expression, Su Yuetang restrained her teasing and regained the efficiency of a Branch leader. "The personnel are already prepared. They are all experts from the Branch skilled in stealth and coordinated attacks. There are three Grand Martial Masters in total—two at the Middle Stage and one at the Early Stage—all at your disposal."

"Good! At the zi hour tonight, we will gather outside Warehouse No. 7, Section C, at the West City Docks."

...That night, the moon was dark and the wind high. The West City Dock area was deathly silent, save for the sound of waves lapping against the shore and scattered flickers of light in the distance. The abandoned Warehouse No. 7, Section C, loomed like a giant beast crouching in the darkness, exuding an aura of decay and danger.

Qin Feng met with three Hundred Flowers Palace Secret Guards at the agreed-upon location. He had changed into a set of black night-traveling clothes suitable for movement, and his aura was restrained to the absolute limit.

"The three of you will disperse to these three positions around the warehouse's perimeter." Qin Feng quickly drew a simple map on the ground, pointing. "Once you hear any unusual noise inside or I give the signal, immediately create a distraction to draw the attention of any other patrolling guards. This will create an opportunity for me to rescue the hostage. If I successfully rescue her, you will evacuate in groups according to the planned route and meet at the third extraction point."

"Yes, Deacon Qin!" the three Secret Guards acknowledged in low voices. Their figures merged into the darkness like ghosts as they took their positions.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and, like a fallen leaf, silently approached the warehouse. According to the intelligence, he circled to the back and found a ventilation duct partially obscured by tattered canvas. The entrance was narrow, barely enough for one person to pass through, and its hidden location was exactly the weak point mentioned in the reports.

He activated the Breath Concealment Art, and his form seemed to turn into a faint shadow as he slipped inside. The interior of the warehouse was piled with discarded wooden crates and junk, the air thick with the smell of mold and fish. Relying on his superhuman perception and the guidance of the intelligence, he avoided several simple warning mechanisms—such as tripwires and bells—creeping toward the lower levels like a civet cat.

At the entrance to the basement, he heard faint voices and the smell of alcohol. Through the crack in the door, he could see two men dressed in Cao Gang attire drinking around a small table; their auras were at the Early Stage Grand Martial Master level. Behind them was a reinforced iron door; Liu Xiaowan was likely imprisoned inside.

He couldn't alert the enemy. Estimating the distance and angle, Qin Feng quietly condensed two nearly imperceptible wisps of pale golden finger wind at his fingertips.

"Finger Sword Among Flowers — Accupoint Seal!"

"Swish! Swish!"

The two blasts of finger wind seemed to possess lives of their own, tracing eerie arcs through the darkness and striking the Sleeping Acupoints on the back of the two Cao Gang Incense Masters' necks with absolute precision! Their bodies stiffened, and with a trace of confusion still in their eyes, they slumped softly to the ground without even a groan.

Qin Feng moved forward quickly, confirmed that the two were only unconscious, and fished the iron door key from one of them. Opening the door, he found a dark, damp little room. A young girl with slightly disheveled clothes and a haggard yet still visibly delicate face was curled in the corner, tear tracks still on her face—it was indeed Liu Xiaowan.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to rescue you. Your brother, Liu the Fourth, sent me." Qin Feng lowered his voice, trying to make his tone sound as calm as possible.

Liu Xiaowan looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with terror and a glimmer of hope.

"Follow me, and don't make a sound." Qin Feng signaled for her to follow.

Perhaps due to her long imprisonment and physical weakness, or perhaps due to the sudden excitement of being rescued, Liu Xiaowan accidentally bumped into a rusty iron bucket as she stood up.

"Clang!"

The sound of the metal impact wasn't particularly loud, but in the silent night, it rang out with startling clarity!

"Not good!" Qin Feng's expression changed slightly.

Almost the second the sound rang out, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from the upper level of the warehouse, sweeping down like a gale!

"Who goes there?! How dare you run wild on Cao Gang territory!" A roar like a thunderclap sounded as a burly figure pounced down from the upper floor like a large bird. It was a fierce-looking Cao Gang minor leader whose aura had reached the Late-stage Grand Martial Master level! He was clearly the captain responsible for patrolling this area, alerted by the noise.

Qin Feng made a split-second decision, shielding Liu Xiaowan behind him while making an "act according to plan" gesture toward the direction where the three Secret Guards were hidden.

"Hmph, a rat hiding its head and showing its tail! Stay here!" The Cao Gang leader gave a sinister laugh, his fan-like hand carrying a fierce wind as he clawed directly at Qin Feng's head! In his view, a kid whose aura was only at the Mid-stage Grand Martial Master level would be an easy catch.

However, facing this heavy and powerful claw, Qin Feng didn't retreat but advanced! He pressed his fingers together like a sword, activating both the Primordial Unity Qi Art and his Sword Heart within his body. A surge of Pure Yang Righteous Qi and sharp Sword Intent suddenly erupted!

"Finger Sword Among Flowers — Aura Breaker!"

A condensed, solid-looking golden finger Sword Qi, about a foot long, struck first even though it was launched second. Like tearing through cloth, it easily pierced the Protective Aura condensed on the opponent's palm!

"What?!" The Cao Gang leader only felt a piercing pain in his palm as a scorching and sharp burst of energy surged up through the Meridians of his arm, instantly numbing it! His face paled in horror, his eyes filled with disbelief.

How was this possible?! A kid at the Mid-stage Grand Martial Master level had such terrifying finger strength? Not only could he break through his Protective Aura, but the Pure Yang Sword Intent contained within that finger energy made his blood and Qi boil and his internal breath chaotic!

In his shock, his offensive couldn't help but stall.

This was the opportunity Qin Feng wanted! He didn't linger in the fight, grabbing Liu Xiaowan with one hand while his figure retreated rapidly like a ghost. Simultaneously, he flicked several weaker bursts of finger wind from his left fingertips toward the opponent's face and vital points, forcing him to defend.

"Stop him!" the Cao Gang leader roared in shock and anger. Sounds of fighting and shouting already came from outside; clearly, the three Hundred Flowers Palace Secret Guards had begun creating chaos according to the plan, drawing away the other arriving Cao Gang members.

Taking advantage of this brief chaos, Qin Feng led Liu Xiaowan out through the ventilation duct like a swimming fish, disappearing into the thick night in a few leaps. The Late-stage Grand Martial Master leader wanted to pursue, but he was held back by the strange finger energy in his arm and the growing chaos outside, forced to watch helplessly as his target vanished.

Clutching his still numb and stinging arm, he looked at his two unconscious subordinates on the ground, his face so dark it looked like it could drip water.

"Such a strange finger technique... such exquisite calculations... When did such a figure appear in West Lake City?!"

By now, Qin Feng had already met with the supporting Secret Guards at the third extraction point with Liu Xiaowan and quickly returned to Hundred Flowers Villa.

Though the operation had its twists and turns, it was ultimately successful without any real danger, and the target was rescued. One could imagine the waves that would be made when Ghost Hand Liu the Fourth saw his safe and sound sister and learned who had saved her. Meanwhile, the Cao Gang, having lost their hostage, dared not make a public outcry.

They also truly felt the formidable strength and methods of the mysterious man.

After tonight, the undercurrents in West Lake City would become even more turbulent.