Martial Arts Overlord

"Hu Yitian..."

Luo Feng looked at the young woman in colorful clothes and paused, surprised.

He hadn't expected that the girl he'd casually saved would be the young lady of the Hu Family, one of the six major clans.

I've saved both siblings now. It seems I truly have some fate with the Hu Family, Luo Feng mused.

The youth in black, still resentful, snorted coldly, "All that talk, and you still let the Black Scale Leopard escape."

No one paid him any mind, and the youth, finding himself ignored, had no choice but to fall silent.

However, his gaze on Luo Feng turned even colder, his mind clearly hatching some scheme.

The young woman in colorful clothes looked at Luo Feng and smiled. "I am Hu Caiyun, a student from the Floating Snow School. This is Yang Tao, and this is Yang Wen. They are brothers and also students from the Floating Snow School."

Hu Caiyun pointed to the two saber-wielding youths, introducing them one by one. Then, she glanced at the youth in black and said indifferently, "This is Liu Feihong."

Luo Feng nodded. Looking at Hu Caiyun and the two brothers, he cupped his fists and said with a smile, "Luo Feng, from the Purple Sun School. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"Luo Feng!"

Hu Caiyun started, her beautiful eyes fixed on Luo Feng as she confirmed, "Are you really Luo Feng from the Purple Sun School?"

Luo Feng rubbed his nose. "There's no need for me to lie to you."

Suddenly, Hu Caiyun grabbed Luo Feng's hands, her voice trembling with excitement. "My brother has mentioned you! Thank you for saving my brother, thank you!"

As she spoke, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes. She wiped them away while gazing at Luo Feng with a dazed, happy smile, too overcome with emotion to speak coherently.

Two months ago, Hu Yitian had left the academy for a mission and then vanished without a trace. Hu Yitian doted on Hu Caiyun the most, so it was impossible for him to not send any word. Hu Caiyun had guessed Hu Yitian must have run into trouble and had been frantic with worry. Then, a month ago, Hu Yitian suddenly returned to the family, severely injured. Hu Caiyun had been shocked and terrified when she learned that Hu Yitian, attempting to annihilate the Sky Wolf Camp alone, had fallen into a trap and narrowly escaped death, saved only by Luo Feng. Her heart filled with gratitude, and she had longed to meet Luo Feng ever since.

Luo Feng looked at Hu Caiyun, reminded of his own eldest brother who had always taken care of him. He reached out and gently tapped her small nose, chuckling, "Stop crying, or you'll turn into a little painted cat."

Hu Caiyun's fair face flushed red, but she didn't let go of his hands. For some reason, being near Luo Feng made her feel very comfortable.

So it was him who saved Young Master Hu Yitian of the Hu Family, Yang Wen, the saber-wielding youth, thought, looking at Luo Feng and slowly exhaling.

"What's going on?" Yang Tao asked.

Yang Wen smiled. "Big brother, you've been in seclusion cultivating recently, so it's no wonder you haven't heard. Some time ago, 'Chaotic Snow Blade' Hu Yitian took on a mission and was gone for a month with no news."

"Just when the entire academy and the six major families were beside themselves with worry, Hu Yitian suddenly returned, though he was gravely injured. Rumor has it he fell into a villain's trap and nearly died out there, only surviving because someone rescued him."

"I see." Yang Tao nodded. "Luo Feng not only saved Hu Yitian but also rescued Junior Sister Caiyun this time. These are immense favors. Even if he wanted to marry Junior Sister Caiyun, I imagine the Hu Family Head would consent."

The two spoke in hushed tones, but Liu Feihong, standing nearby, heard every word clearly.

Marry Caiyun? Wishful thinking! He's offended me, Liu Feihong! Sooner or later, I'll utterly ruin him! Liu Feihong watched Hu Caiyun and Luo Feng conversing affectionately, his heart consumed by a raging jealousy. His fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds.

Learning that Luo Feng was her brother's savior, Hu Caiyun became as cheerful as a magpie, chattering, "Luo Feng, my brother has always wanted to meet you. He said you're his only rival in Saber Techniques! You must meet him this time. He'll be overjoyed to see you!"

"I'm afraid not this time." Luo Feng frowned and shook his head. Hu Caiyun was so enthusiastic, and he didn't want to rebuff her kindness, but he was concerned about Bing Ruolan and the others and simply didn't have the time right now.

Seeing Luo Feng refuse, Hu Caiyun's brows knitted together. "Why?"

"I've arranged to meet someone in Wind Howl City," Luo Feng stated directly.

CHUCKLE... Hu Caiyun laughed delightedly at his words. "That's even better! My brother is also in Wind Howl City, and we're just about to head back there."

Hearing this, Luo Feng was taken aback; he hadn't expected such a coincidence. He smiled. "Alright, then let's set off immediately."

In the forest, five figures sped towards the outskirts of Ghost Howl Forest.

Wind Howl City was located over a thousand miles southwest of Ghost Howl Forest, making it the closest city. To reach Wind Howl City from Ghost Howl Forest, they not only had to traverse the forest itself but also cross two large rivers and a vast plain. None of these places were safe. The two rivers teemed with Demon Beasts. The plain was even more dangerous; aside from Demon Beasts, there were countless highwaymen and mounted bandits who specialized in ambushing lone Martial Artists.

On the plains southwest of Ghost Howl Forest, the sky was a clear, washed blue. The air, thick with the fragrance of fresh grass, was refreshing and invigorating. Across the vast plains, five figures sprinted through waist-high tough grass, kicking up wisps of green.

"Luo Feng, your Qinggong cultivation is truly incredible! I've seen my brother use Qinggong, and he's not nearly as skilled as you," Hu Caiyun said, keeping pace with Luo Feng, her face full of admiration.

Nearby, the Yang brothers, Yang Tao and Yang Wen, heard her words and nodded in profound agreement.

A day had passed since the five of them met. Throughout that day, aside from dealing with a few Demon Beasts that appeared suddenly, they had been constantly on the move. Hu Caiyun and the others had to stop several times to rest and recover their Yuan Qi due to insufficiency.

However, they had never seen Luo Feng show any sign of exhaustion. An entire day had passed, and Luo Feng hadn't even taken a single medicinal pill! He still appeared to be completely at ease.

He's as strong as a monster!

Both Yang Tao and Yang Wen were considered top experts in the Floating Snow School, but after spending just one day with Luo Feng, their confidence had taken a severe blow.

Luo Feng looked at Hu Caiyun and smiled. "Not at all. My Yuan Qi is just a bit more abundant."

He possessed eighteen Meridian Wheels, so his Yuan Qi was naturally far more abundant than an ordinary person's. Furthermore, having received the Yuan Qi seed planted by Cang Nanyue, the quality of his Yuan Qi had risen by several levels. Currently, Luo Feng was confident he could challenge twenty peak seventh-tier Essence Storage Realm masters without being defeated. He even had the strength to contend with an eighth-tier Hell Realm expert! However, achieving victory would still be very difficult.

Just as Hu Caiyun was about to ask more, Luo Feng suddenly stopped and put a finger to his lips. "Hoofbeats!"

This plain was rampant with bandits. Hearing his words, the group immediately tensed and scanned their surroundings vigilantly.

As far as they could see, the plain stretched endlessly to the horizon, where it met the sky. There was no sign of movement.

"Hmph! There aren't even any horses. Where would hoofbeats come from?" Liu Feihong scoffed.

Luo Feng didn't bother to explain, his gaze fixed on the northwest.

Liu Feihong was growing impatient. Just as he was about to make another sarcastic remark, his brow suddenly twitched, and he looked ahead.

Unseen before, a large spread of black dots had appeared on the horizon, surging towards them like breaking waves.

"There really are people..." Liu Feihong stared, dumbfounded, at the approaching mass of figures. He swallowed hard and shot a nervous, fearful glance at Luo Feng.

They were at least several thousand meters away from these mounted bandits, yet he could hear them from such a distance! How did he do that? Liu Feihong's expression darkened as he secretly pondered.

CLIP-CLOP CLIP-CLOP CLIP-CLOP... The chaotic tattoo of hooves grew more urgent and distinct, and the group could soon make out the attire and appearance of the riders.

"To think we'd run into a band of mounted bandits! Luo Feng, what should we do?" Yang Wen, the calmest of the group, asked as the bandits drew nearer.

Unconsciously, the others had already begun to look to Luo Feng as their leader.

Luo Feng's brow twitched. "When I say attack, you kill!" he said in a grim tone. "They outnumber us. Dragging this out will be to our disadvantage. We must end this quickly!"

They all nodded and formed an arc.

The galloping horses were incredibly fast, reaching them in the space of a few breaths.

There were over two hundred mounted bandits. Many were sixth-tier God Bravery Realm experts, and more than a dozen whose Yuan Qi fluctuated intensely, their eyes glinting with a restrained sharpness, were clearly seventh-tier Essence Storage Realm masters!

The one leading them, a square-faced giant of a man, was particularly imposing. His vital energy was vast and mighty, like a great river, and the Yuan Qi around his body circulated on its own. Luo Feng saw at a glance that this man's cultivation was at the early eighth-tier of the Hell Realm.

THUD!

The mounted bandits reined in their horses thirty meters before the group. Pairs of eyes, like those of hungry wolves, fixed on them, and the air crackled with tension.

The square-faced giant, evidently the leader, swept a sharp gaze over Luo Feng's small group and bellowed, "Leave the woman and your valuables! The men can scram!"

Feeling the malicious stares of the surrounding bandits, Hu Caiyun's fair face paled slightly, and she instinctively took two steps closer to Luo Feng. Though her experience in the rtiad was shallow, she had heard of the miserable fate that awaited women who fell into the hands of such bandits.

Luo Feng patted Hu Caiyun's tender shoulder, stepped forward to face the square-faced giant, and said in a clear voice, "The road is open to all; let each go their own way. We mean no offense and wish none from you. Please, let us pass."

A strange silence suddenly descended. Everyone was stunned by Luo Feng's audacity.

Hu Caiyun watched the dignified back of the youth standing before her, her gaze flickered slightly, and her tense expression gradually calmed.

HAHAHAHA...

After a moment of silence, a great burst of laughter erupted across the plain.

"Boss, this kid actually dares to negotiate with you!"

"He dares to speak to the boss like that? He's got some nerve! I haven't seen anyone like that in a long time."

"That's because anyone who spoke like that before... is already dead."

The surrounding mounted bandits looked down on Luo Feng from their horses, mocking him openly.

The bandit leader waved a hand, and the noise instantly died down.

Urging his horse forward a step, his eyes filled with killing intent, the bandit leader said in a deep voice, "Kid, your courage is admirable. But in the rtiad, strength is what speaks. I don't want to say it a second time. Leave the woman and your valuables! Scram!"

"It seems we can't reach an agreement then." Luo Feng sighed, his expression calm as he shook his head. His fingers lightly clasped the hilt of his saber, his gaze steady and sharp. He let out a curt shout:

"Kill!"