Chapter 33

Looking at the brazier that had rolled to the ground and the revealed *Dizang Sutra*, Zhu Yi felt a wave of despair: "Could this be my fate? Why did you give me hope only to immediately plunge me into despair?"

"No, a gentleman never gives up. I must not lose heart."

Zhu Fatty picked up the golden paper containing the *Dizang Sutra* and looked at Zhu Yi with a mocking expression: "Young Master Yi, what is this?"

Zhu Yi pressed his lips together, his expression now calm: "There was such a thing in the brazier? I didn't notice it before."

Zhu Fatty and the others exchanged glances and burst into laughter: "Since that's the case, we'll take it and hand it over to the Marquis. Let him decide what to do with it."

"However, Young Master Yi, since you discovered this with us, you'll have to come with us to the Marquis for verification." Zhu Fatty squinted his small eyes, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Zhu Yi nodded calmly. Losing the *Dizang Sutra* was indeed disheartening, but his immediate priority was to deal with his father, Marquis Xuanji Zhu Hongwu.

Zhu Hongwu was extremely strict. Even the legitimate heir, let alone an unimportant illegitimate son like Zhu Yi, would be severely punished for the slightest mistake.

If Zhu Hongwu found out that Zhu Yi was secretly practicing Daoist techniques, he might lose half his life.

Outside the door, Lin Feng smiled. It was his turn to act. If Zhu Yi was taken back to the Marquis's residence, he might be confined and never leave again, making it much harder for Lin Feng to take him as a disciple under the Marquis's watchful eye.

"Hmm? No, this is...!"

As Lin Feng was thinking, he suddenly noticed a group of people running out of the forest toward the old temple.

Lin Feng's heart sank: "What are they planning? Could their target be Zhu Yi?"

This group was far more formidable than Zhu Fatty and his companions. They moved swiftly and orderly in the forest, displaying a military-like discipline.

More alarmingly, there were Foundation Establishment cultivators among them!

As he thought, Lin Feng hid himself first. Then he saw the group rush into the side hall where Zhu Yi was.

In the side hall, Zhu Yi and Zhu Fatty and the others were stunned as the group burst in. The moment they entered, their eyes fixed on Zhu Yi.

The leader was a tall man in black with a scar on his cheek. He turned to his two companions, who nodded: "This is the scholar."

Lin Feng outside the hall felt a headache and shouted in his heart: "So, the thing I hate most is unexpected events!"

Although they came suddenly, Zhu Yi managed to remain calm: "You're looking for me? I don't know you. Who are you?"

Zhu Fatty, now reacting, laughed with a sense of schadenfreude: "Young Master Yi, where did you get into trouble? Did you owe someone gambling debts? Haha..."

The black-clad man frowned: "Shut up."

Zhu Fatty's smile froze, his face turning red: "You scoundrel, do you know...?"

Before he could finish, the middle-aged man in black waved his hand, as if shooing away flies: "Kill all the dogs except this scholar."

The black-clad man's tone was extremely calm, but it carried a sense of disgust, as if he were ordering the squashing of flies.

Zhu Fatty's face changed dramatically, and he shouted: "You dare to touch us? We are from the Marquis Xuanji's residence. If you touch me, your entire family will be exterminated!"

The black-clad man smiled bitterly: "Exterminate my entire family? My entire family, including the old and young, were already killed by you dogs."

He touched the scar on his face, his expression turning extremely cold: "Marquis Xuanji... Hmph, Marquis Xuanji. We came here because we know this boy is Zhu Hongwu's son. That old scoundrel's hands are stained with the blood of our people. Today, we'll make him pay some interest!"

He lifted his robe, revealing a six-pointed snowflake pattern.

Lin Feng outside the hall and Zhu Yi inside were both bewildered. Zhu Fatty, upon seeing the snowflake pattern, turned pale and lost his arrogance.

"Snowflake... You are the remnants of the Snowwind Kingdom, you are members of the 'Fierce Wind Society'!" Zhu Fatty swallowed hard, his smile more painful than a cry.

Lin Feng frowned slightly. He didn't know much about the Fierce Wind Society, but he had heard of the Snowwind Kingdom.

The Snowwind Kingdom was a small country in the northern snowfields, bordering the northern frontier of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was conquered and annexed by the Great Zhou during its expansion over a decade ago, led by Marquis Xuanji.

The people of the northern region were fierce and unyielding. Despite the fall of their kingdom, they refused to submit, and various uprisings continued, making it one of the few regions that the Great Zhou failed to stabilize after its conquests.

Now it seemed that this Fierce Wind Society was an organization of the surviving people of the fallen Snowwind Kingdom, dedicated to opposing the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It was unexpected that they had the audacity to infiltrate the heart of the Great Zhou, even targeting Marquis Xuanji.

Zhu Yi clearly understood the situation and said: "I am just an unimportant illegitimate son. If you want to use me as a hostage to threaten my father, it won't work. My father won't make any concessions."

"Killing me won't cause my father much grief. You've come to the wrong target."

The black-clad man grinned: "I know you're not favored by that old scoundrel, or you wouldn't be in our hands today."

He stared at Zhu Yi with a half-smile: "Don't underestimate yourself. You are still useful to us. For example, you grew up in the old scoundrel's residence, so you must be familiar with the layout, the routines, and the guard schedules."

Zhu Yi pressed his lips together and said nothing. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past his ear, and he was startled to find the middle-aged man in black standing right in front of him, face to face.

The black-clad man's face twisted into a cold smile, the long scar on his face twitching. He said, word by word, "You will tell me." Then he turned to look at Zhu Fatty and the others, his gaze like that of a predator looking at prey. He waved his hand: "Act."

At his command, the Fierce Wind Society cultivators moved in, and the intense fluctuations of their magical power swept through the entire temple.

These cultivators were all wanted criminals in the Great Zhou Dynasty, each a ruthless killer with extensive combat experience and excellent teamwork. They cast spells efficiently, not wasting a single bit of magical power, killing their enemies in the most effective way.

Zhu Fatty and the others had never seen such a scene. They were completely helpless, falling like wheat being cut down.

Only Zhu Fatty, at the eighth level of the Qi Condensation stage, had the highest cultivation and the quickest reaction. His large body burst with speed, and he fled the temple like a bolt of lightning.

The black-clad man frowned: "Don't leave any survivors. Our movements must not be exposed." Two Fierce Wind Society cultivators nodded and silently chased after Zhu Fatty.

Lin Feng outside the hall felt a deep sense of frustration. The situation had deviated far from his initial plan.

Fortunately, they didn't intend to kill Zhu Yi immediately, giving him time to plan.

As he thought, Lin Feng came up with a rough plan and hurriedly followed Zhu Fatty.

This fat man was still useful and couldn't die.

(PS: There will be another update at midnight tonight! A new week is about to start, and I want to make a push for the new book rankings. As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier.

I hope all my new and old friends will support me. Clicks, favorites, and especially recommendations are greatly appreciated. Whether it's real-life tickets or recommendation votes, I love them all. If you enjoy reading, please show your support. Thank you all in advance!

Also, a heads-up: there will be three updates on Monday!)