Chapter 1336: The Wrath of Thunder (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"But...but..."

This was the first time Lin Feng had realized he could stutter like this.

The shock of this event was beyond her tolerance. She knew the royal family was complicated, but subconsciously she couldn't believe such a thing could happen. She wanted to refute something, but the words caught in her throat and she swallowed them back.

Gongxi Chou asked, "But what is it?"

Lin Feng's thousand words were condensed into a single sigh.

"...That prince is too young, it's really... I mean, this kind of thing shouldn't happen to a child of this age." Lin Feng's words were a luxury for people in chaotic times. If there were rules about what should be done at what age, what about the children who died in the war? Even Lin Feng himself, if he hadn't been lucky, would have died young.

Gong Xichou said, "Children don't kill people."

Martial arts masters rarely escape bloodshed.

Zhai Le couldn't possibly only teach his daughter how to be a benevolent ruler.

Lin Feng's silence did not stop Gong Xichou: "Moreover, Lin Xiaoma doesn't know much about martial artists. From comprehending the Qi of heaven and earth to condensing martial courage, the body will enter a period of rapid growth in the following years. Three to five years is equivalent to more than ten years for an ordinary person. Not only will the body mature, but the mind will also approach that of an adult, until it is close to the prime of life before stopping and maintaining that state for a long time."

Lin Feng naturally knew this; it was common sense.

Perception and reality are different.

and--

"...That being said, in my experience with young martial artists, the difference in their mental maturity and age is not that great."

"You mean that kid Tu Xianrong?"

"……Um."

Not to mention the early years of his cultivation, even now, in her eyes, Tu Rong isn't very mature and likes to do childish things.

His teacher had a lot of worries about him.

Gong Xiqiu commented scathingly: "He's just plain stupid."

Lin Feng: "..."

Gong Xiqiu suddenly changed the subject, mentioning something else: "Hasn't Lin Xiaoma noticed the big difference between humans and animals? A woman's child, born after ten months of pregnancy, is weak and powerless. Not to mention running away from predators, it takes months for the child to even crawl. Animals are different. For example, a horse calf can stand and run soon after birth, and it also has the ability to escape from predators."

"Martial arts warriors exist to improve their survival."

"Martial energy will accelerate the maturation of the body."

"From an infant lying in swaddling clothes, they grow rapidly into young adults who can run, jump, and hunt, and are capable of fighting against their natural enemies."

The age calculation method for ordinary people is not applicable to martial arts practitioners.

Lin Feng couldn't help but turn his gaze to the unconscious girl in red, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. It wasn't just because of this Crown Princess of Qu Kingdom, but because it made him think of others. Even this pampered prodigy, raised with Zhai Le's doting affections, faced such bewilderment beyond her years; he couldn't imagine what other children her age might be experiencing.

Gong Xiqiu saw through the undercurrent beneath her calm exterior at a glance.

It wasn't that he suddenly had a keen eye, but rather that these young women under Mama's command all shared a common flaw: some of their thoughts were too easy to guess. He said, "You think she's a deer that's been hunted? No, she's a tigress who learned to hunt deer by following a male tiger."

Gong Xichou just said that.

No one can touch her.

Conversely, she can manipulate others.

Carnivores will always be carnivores; the instinct to hunt is ingrained in their bones. Lin Feng believed that the young, naive girl, surrounded by wolves, suffered greatly but dared not utter a word. In reality, she held the power of life and death over the wolves.

However, whether this hunting stemmed from her instinct to hunt or from the prey deliberately extending its vital points to lure her into hunting and plundering, remains unknown. Regardless, he would scorn Zhai Le as a good-for-nothing who couldn't even raise a daughter.

Lin Feng: "..."

Her feelings became even more complicated.

Gong Xichou's next words exploded in her ears like a thunderclap: "If you can avoid it, then you should..."

Lin Feng's lips twitched uncontrollably, as if he had a vague feeling of ants crawling over him: "This shouldn't be... right?"

Gong Xiqiu pulled out the last warm, soft rice cake: "It's not that she's targeting you, and she's not a frivolous person. It's just that the less trouble you have, the better. Once you accidentally step into someone else's stinking quagmire, it's hard to get out..."

He's telling Lin Feng to keep the secret to himself.

The crown prince is different from others.

Whether as a ruler or a father, if Zhai Le were to find out, he would likely wipe out the entire Crown Princess's residence in a bloodbath, and wouldn't let it go unpunished. If this turmoil were to implicate Lin Feng, the situation would be truly difficult to resolve.

As an outsider, he couldn't judge the princess's attitude, whether it was her own choice or whether she was being manipulated by someone with ulterior motives.

She had no right to interfere, neither publicly nor privately.

Lin Feng gave a vague answer and did not give a definite reply.

"Why could the general see it so clearly at a glance?"

If it were Gong Xichou from ten or twenty years ago, he would probably have answered this question with great pride. But the current Gong Xichou, having spent so much time in the secular world, still has some sense of shame. He didn't answer, but someone else answered for him: "First, one must be a master of aura observation; second, one must have cultivated the 'Boyhood Skill' since childhood. General, don't you agree?"

Many experts meet the first condition.

But the second one is really a bit harsh.

As Luo Sha's unique, fishy-smelling martial aura drew near, Gong Xichou frowned uncomfortably, the lingering rice cake in his mouth also tainted with the fishy smell. He couldn't help but think to himself, any seafood lover who hangs out with Luo Sha doesn't need any side dishes.

Lin Feng: "..."

She knew that Gong Xichou had practiced martial arts since childhood.

But how did Luo Sha know that?

"...Perhaps it's because they're of the same kind?"

Despite Luo Sha's seemingly suave face and his hapless attire after coming ashore—almost constantly adjusting his belt every few steps—he had indeed cultivated a virginity-based martial art. The island was inhabited by his own people, with few newborns and few women of similar age. Luo Sha, focused solely on revenge against Luo Yuan, had no time to consider such matters.

Those who master the skills of childhood training will indeed achieve a higher level than those who practice normally.

Gong Xichou had previously stated that martial energy and courage would cause the body to develop and grow rapidly, but excessive energy and blood could lead to physical discomfort. Cultivating the Boy's Skill requires fighting against the body's original nature, which will strengthen willpower and naturally improve cultivation level.

By not merging with the aura of others, one's own aura remains in an absolutely pure state, allowing one to see strange and unusual things at a higher cultivation level. Aside from these benefits, there are no other advantages…

Gong Xichou retorted, "Who's your kind?"

The fishy smell lingered on Luo Shawu's martial energy.

His undisguised disgust drew an innocent look from Luo Sha, who said aggrievedly, "General, that's going too far. I haven't even complained about the strange, rotten sulfur smell on you, and you're already accusing me first... no, you're like a poisonous snake biting me first..."

Lin Feng: "..."

What fishy smell, what sulfurous stench...

She didn't smell it at all.

Even if there is, it's just a slight smell of sweat left from running around.

There is indeed a barrier between the martial arts expert and the scholar.

Gong Xichou, however, reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail, his muscles tense, and he erupted in anger: "What did you say?"

"...I am simply telling the truth."

The commotion from their argument drew the attention of the girl in red.

She met Luo Sha today, but not Gong Xi Chou.

She had only heard that Lin Feng, as an envoy of Kang Kingdom, was accompanied by two highly skilled guards. Before seeing them in person, she had some idea of ​​what to expect, but upon meeting them, she was only disappointed; they were far from what she had anticipated. If not specifically mentioned, she would have assumed these two were reckless attendants, far removed from those ruthless generals who had survived the battlefield and killed without blinking an eye. They seemed far too lively and frivolous.

Lin Feng: "..."

Gong Xichou's words are somewhat credible.

The age of a martial arts master cannot be measured by the age of an ordinary person. For example, he was older than the Crown Princess's father, but his behavior was more immature than the Crown Princess's. Even Tu Rong was more composed than him.

Before this, no one had ever imagined that Gongxi Chou would break down over something like this: "Hehe... Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness..."

Because of him, Lin Feng noticed that the girl in red was not as at ease as before.

Subconsciously, she noticed the interaction between the girl in red and others, and the more she looked, the more unsettling it seemed. The girl in red, being a martial artist, was more sensitive to gazes. She cast a curious glance her way: "Your Majesty has seemed distracted since earlier, is there something on my face?"

"Yes... it's important business, I don't know how to bring it up."

"Your Majesty suggests that I might be able to help."

"Regarding the fertility of the arable land."

When it came to business, Lin Feng immediately focused, unaffected by external distractions. By the time the matter was settled, the moon was high in the sky. The girl in red would be staying nearby for the next few days; although the location had changed, her daily studies couldn't be neglected. So she asked the female official to stay behind.

Lin Feng carefully observed the female official's appearance by candlelight.

She wasn't exactly a stunning beauty, but she possessed a harmless and gentle appearance that instantly made people lower their guard. If Lin Feng had to find a word to describe her, he could only think of "peace and prosperity." Just looking at that face brought an inexplicable sense of security...

He wore a brocade-patterned seal at his waist, but unlike ordinary scholars, he did not carry a sword, nor did he have any sharp accessories in his hair.

The other party noticed Lin Feng's gaze.

"...Is the Queen curious about the absence of a seal?"

"Um."

The style of monograms is not fixed; they come in all shapes and patterns, and the knobs are also varied, but the overall structure is uniform. For example, the Lin Feng monogram is the most common style, which is conventional, with an overall peach pink color and a knob shaped like a sheaf of wheat.

The female official's signature was not stamped.

The overall curve is full, like a mooncake that has been bitten.

She said, "I was born with a disability."

Lin Feng said apologetically, "I didn't mean to mention the Queen's sad story."

“There’s nothing to be sad about, in fact… it’s a blessing in disguise.” Her smile was gentle and faint. Despite being a lady-in-waiting in the Left Spring Palace of the Crown Princess’s residence, she did the work of a maid without complaint, neatly folding the outer robe that the girl in red had taken off for martial arts practice. Watching the figure practicing martial arts as usual, her gaze was focused. “…So… will the Lady tell the Lord?”

Lin Feng remained calm: "What betrayal?"

The female official shook her head: "Nothing much."

From that moment until he met Zhai Le the next day, Lin Feng kept thinking about one question—why hadn't Zhai Le noticed?

Zhai Le also has a straightforward temper.

Upon hearing Lin Feng mention using the nation's fortune to gain weight, he not only didn't refuse, but also thoughtfully remarked, "I see, no wonder... Not only using the nation's fortune to influence the timing of events, but also gaining weight... Such a grand scheme truly shows the scale and power of a large enterprise..."

He also wished that the nation's fortune would be so abundant that it would never run out.

Despite being short of money, I still agreed to the request.

"My son's unannounced visit, has it caused any trouble for the Queen?" After readily approving the fate of the nation, Zhai Le thought about how his daughter had been left with Lin Feng for a day, and wondered if his little darling had caused him any trouble.

Having shed his identity as the ruler of Qu Kingdom, Zhai Le is now only known as a father, so Lin Feng naturally had to say the nice things to him.

Praising her made him happier than praising Zhai Le himself.

He kept saying, "My son is naughty and doesn't deserve such praise," but his eyes practically screamed, "My son is just so outstanding and lovable." Seeing this, Lin Feng felt even more uneasy...

Zhai Le really enjoys sharing his parenting experiences with others.

She also enjoys sharing funny stories about her daughter with others.

Such things as "the child's first words were 'Dad'", "he could walk like the wind before he was even a year old, and he would jump onto his legs as soon as he finished court", "he was clingy and would cry if he didn't see him for a day, which forced him to take the child to court for a long time", "the child didn't need any supervision in his studies and cultivation"... and finally lamented that his friend was still alone.

If Shen Tang also had children, he could share his parenting tips with his friends for free, saving them years of trial and error.

"...Our lord's great cause is not yet accomplished..."

As he was talking, Lin Feng suddenly got stuck.

The Lord's great cause is to unify the world, which naturally includes bringing down this person before him. Saying this to her face is somewhat impolite. Zhai Le didn't seem to mind: "Then she's in trouble."

They might never experience the joys of family life in their entire lives.

"Why is Gong Xichou with you today?"

The topic about Zhai Le suddenly changed without warning.

He used to be accompanied by that unfamiliar face, but Gong Xichou had vanished without a trace. He wanted to spar with him and get revenge for what happened back then, but he couldn't catch him. What day is it today: "Hibernation is over?"

Gong Xiqiu scoffed dismissively. The official in charge of etiquette reprimanded him for his lack of proper manners when meeting the emperor, but Zhai Le raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Alas, there's no need for such formalities. Our friendship doesn't require so many formalities."

"Since you're on such good terms, it's not very ethical for you to secretly plant axemen. Why not send someone out to meet you?"

Zhai Le was surprised by Gong Xi Chou's rudeness.

They're like snakes, always ready to climb any pole.

The guards are secretly responsible for the personal safety of the ruler, which is a perfectly normal arrangement. In his words, they are executioners?

Zhai Le was not provoked, and Lin Feng sighed and smoothed things over.

The king was extremely busy with state affairs, leaving little time for Lin Feng to meet. Having achieved his goal, Lin Feng wisely took his leave. Gong Xi Chou maintained his arrogant demeanor, only slightly twitching his nose as he exited the palace gates.

"...It really is that smell."

"The people who ambushed you that day?"

"Um."

Although the smell was faint, he was certain that the earthy smell he had just caught belonged to the enemy he had fought before, and that the enemy must have stayed here for a while: "How much longer until we're done?"

It's time to plan a way to make a clean getaway.

“At the current pace, it will take another month or ten days.” Lin Feng paused for a moment. “At that time, we will expose the matter and give the King of Zhai something to do, so as to keep his attention away from us.”

Even the strongest hurricanes won't reach them.

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