The towering, sword-like peak collapsed, filling the valley entirely. Hu, too, suffered a severe blow; the vegetation withered, turning the ground to barren earth, and even the cave where Little Tiger had grown up had long since crumbled.

Little Tiger, having grown up in that cave, naturally looked devastated and emotionally volatile upon seeing its collapse.

Chen Feng understood Little Tiger’s feelings and offered some comfort. Though Little Tiger often seemed carefree, he was actually a profoundly sentimental individual (tiger). It was in that stone cave that he once let out a roar.

“Yes!” The knights, hearing the order to smash the gate, were about to strike when a rumbling sound echoed. The gate swung open on its own. The interior was filled with people—adults and children alike—but every single one of them held an expression of grim resolve.

“Have you made up your minds? My dear Chief Qigu?” The Knight Commander’s hawk-owl eyes fixed on the person standing deepest inside.

“Hmph, a pack of bandits from the Loki Empire! If you have the guts, kill us all!” Qigu stood his ground, unmoving. He appeared even older than he had four years prior, yet his eyes held a sharper light.

“Kill you? Where would I find the funds if I killed you? But I must admit you are quite perceptive, having moved all your assets into hiding. Still, it’s useless. Dragon Mountain Town is entirely surrounded by our army; did you really think you had a chance to survive?” the Knight Commander sneered.

“If you dare kill us, Clan Chief Brother will surely kill you all!” A little girl, no more than ** years old, shouted, her small fists clenched and her eyes wide with rage.

“Oh? The Clan Chief? Haha, you mean that Chen Feng'ente you speak of! He’s probably long dead by now! Are you still counting on him to return to save you and take revenge for you? Haha, how amusing!” the Knight Commander scoffed.

“Brother Chen Feng won’t die! He’s incredibly strong! He chased away those bad guys last time!” the little girl insisted firmly.

Four years ago, she was only four or five, just old enough to remember things clearly, which is why Chen Feng’s rescue left such a deep impression on her. Combined with the teachings within her family, Chen Feng had become an invincible figure in her young mind.

“Haha… Comparing the regular army of our Loki Empire to a bunch of horse bandits is hilarious!” The Knight Commander finished laughing, flicked his long spear, instantly whipping up a blur of motion. The spear tip, trailing swirling energy, shot toward the little girl.

With a swift hook and turn, the little girl was caught in his grasp.

“What kind of skill is that, targeting a little girl?” Qigu roared, his face ashen.

“I will not only deal with the little girl; your entire clan will be finished!” the Knight Commander sneered, gripping the girl by her collar, staring her down: “Little one, tell me what I need to know, Clan Chief Qigu, and I won’t kill you?”

“I… I’m not afraid,” the little girl admitted, a flicker of panic crossing her face, before regaining an unprecedented resolve: “If you dare kill me, Brother Chen Feng will smash you into meat paste!”

“You seriously still expect that fellow who vanished four or five years ago to come back for revenge?” the Knight Commander scoffed. “If I recall correctly, Clan Chief Qigu kicked him out the main gate! Even though he helped you through a crisis afterward, he never actually agreed to rejoin the clan!”

Hearing this, Qigu knew the enemy had thoroughly investigated his clan's history; this was hardly a secret, known by more than half the people in Dragon Mountain Town.

Elder Yuqing glanced at Qigu, sighing inwardly. They hadn't truly expected Chen Feng to come to their rescue. Back then, his refusal had been absolute. It was understandable; the clan had been too harsh on him. Surviving one crisis had been a miracle; this time, it seemed impossible.

He had been missing for over four years. Clan Chief Qigu had abdicated, publicly announcing Chen Feng as the Clan Chief, precisely to draw him back, but… there hadn't been a single word.

“Alas! When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact? The Finlay Empire is about to fall; as a member of the Empire, how could our clan remain unscathed?” Elder Yuqing lamented inwardly, recalling the tireless support the Imperial Family and Crown Prince Austin had given the clan four years ago. That aid had elevated the Kaynt family to become the Empire’s largest commercial power. But great wealth naturally attracts envy and attack.

If Clan Chief Qigu hadn’t been prudent enough to transfer many assets underground beforehand, they would surely have been stripped bare and robbed clean by now.

“Xiao Wen, don’t be nervous. Brother Chen Feng will definitely avenge you!” Qigu said to the little girl, though even as he spoke, he lacked confidence himself.

“I’m not nervous!” The girl’s eyes shone with unwavering conviction.

“Heh heh, it seems there truly are people who are (foolishly reasonable). A fifth-tier Battle Master four years ago—what can he do even if he returned now? Do you think the power of one individual can stand against an army?” the Knight Commander mocked. Before he finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his finger; the girl named Xiao Wen had somehow managed to bite down hard.

“You’re courting death!” The knight roared, flinging his finger and sending the little girl crashing violently toward the ground. He had infused the throw with his battle energy; even if she possessed some cultivation, being thrown like that would kill her!

Moreover, after flinging the girl, the knight simultaneously shot his spear, aimed directly at her back.

With a sharp movement, Qigu lunged forward, sweeping the girl into an embrace, but he failed to dodge the spear. It pierced his shoulder.

Phut! Blood sprayed, the weapon passing clean through his shoulder.

“Chief…” Elder Yuqing tried to rush forward but was blocked by the surrounding knights.

“If you don’t speak, you will all die!” The Knight Commander pulled the spear out, glaring coldly at Clan Chief Qigu. “No one can oppose our entire legion—not even the Finlay Empire!”

Qigu staggered back two steps, setting the little girl gently on the ground, exhaling slowly as blood gushed from his shoulder. “I know. Confronting you is like an egg striking a stone! But our Kaynt family has already faced ruin once; we have nothing left to fear. As long as one branch survives, I will ensure those assets are reserved for them!”

As Qigu finished speaking, a smile touched his usually stern face. Thinking of the contingency he had set in motion, he felt that even if he died now, it didn't matter.

“Chen Feng, the restoration of the clan rests with you now. You must know…” Qigu sighed inwardly.

“You refuse the toast only to drink the penalty! Relying on someone exiled from the clan whose fate is unknown to control your assets—that’s pure fantasy! Hmph, today I will slaughter all of you, and then I’ll find that Chen Feng fellow and kill him! I refuse to believe I won’t get what I want!” the Knight Commander roared, the rotational force on his spear tip far greater than before. A beam of battle energy light shot out from the tip as the spear whistled toward Qigu.

Bang!

Just as Qigu braced for the inevitable, closing his eyes to await death, the spear suddenly exploded with a muffled peng and fell to the ground in pieces.

“And you think you’re capable of killing me?” A chilling voice drifted out. A young man stood before the gate, having appeared from nowhere.

“Chen Feng…” Qigu’s eyes lit up, as did those of the others.

“Brother Chen Feng…” The little girl also broke into a smile.

The entire Kaynt family erupted in excitement upon Chen Feng’s appearance, trembling with relief, for they knew they were saved!

The family’s faith in Chen Feng stemmed not only from his previous rescue but, more importantly, from the Finlay Empire’s attitude toward the clan! His Majesty Austin had visited the clan several times personally seeking Chen Feng; if even the Emperor held such regard, how could the family doubt him?

“You are Chen Feng?” the Knight Commander said. “I thought you would be some kind of three-headed, six-armed monster; turns out you’re just a little fellow!”

Hearing this, Chen Feng snapped his head around, took a single stride forward, and was instantly in front of the man. He raised his hand and slapped the Knight Commander across the face!

The Knight Commander tumbled straight off his horse, landing heavily on the ground, his entire face skewed to one side.

“I don’t like people speaking before I do!” the youth’s arrogant voice drifted into the knight’s ringing ears.

ps: I really did drink yesterday; sweat. Depressed, my head still hurts… Must quickly finish writing a chapter to offer up. Also, many people have misunderstood that young man in white; hehe, do I, Lao Ya, really look like someone who enjoys torturing the protagonist? (Everyone quickly nods, leaving Lao Ya just sweating…) A fight will ensue soon; don't worry, the protagonist won't be tormented! (To be continued. For the rest of the story, please log in to m for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)