"Hmph! Yan Jinghong, Yan Jinghong, you really hate me to this extent?"

Ling Feng shook his head.

Given his current cultivation and state of mind, he would have completely forgotten who Yan Jinghong was if Feng Yan had not found him at the Dongling Immortal Pool and informed him about what had happened in the Tianbai Empire.

He never expected Yan Jinghong's hatred toward him to run so deep.

Ling Feng sighed softly.

"Regardless, I should enter the city first and gather some information. I wonder how Elder Yan, Elder Deng, and Miss Yue are doing now."

He dropped from the air and used the Eight Desolations Body Refinement Art to subtly alter his physique. His muscles swelled, and his build grew broader. Changing into a short beast-hide coat, he slung the Bow of Yi over his back.

At first glance he now resembled a hunter from the forest. His appearance differed greatly from his original face.

Even someone familiar with Ling Feng would never recognize him at a glance.

After finishing these preparations, Ling Feng walked toward the city gate with relaxed confidence.

The guards stationed at the gate held a wanted notice and compared it with Ling Feng's face for a moment. One of them waved his hand impatiently.

"Go on! Get inside! You stink of beast hide! All kinds of people try to enter the imperial capital these days!"

Ling Feng shrugged and said nothing.

His current appearance made him at least a head taller and far more robust than the portrait of Ling Feng. He also appeared to be well over thirty years old. No one would associate him with the young Ling Feng.

Once inside the city, the imperial capital no longer resembled the lively and prosperous place it had once been.

The streets contained very few pedestrians. Street vendors and laborers had already lost their livelihoods. Most people hid inside their homes and prayed to avoid disaster.

Soldiers patrolled everywhere in groups. They seized people whenever they encountered them. They had probably realized that Ling Feng was not currently in the city. Their actions served as a convenient excuse to extort money.

Those who could offer bribes were released. Those who could not were dragged away and beaten.

Such behavior was not uncommon anywhere. It became even more frequent during troubled times like these.

"Stop!"

A commotion suddenly erupted ahead.

A squad of soldiers had surrounded a young servant dressed in simple clothes. The soldiers brandished their weapons and shouted aggressively. The terrified youth knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed.

"Honored soldiers, I truly am not Ling Feng. How could I possibly be Ling Feng? Please spare me!"

The soldiers burst into loud laughter.

One man who appeared to be the squad leader stepped forward. A long scar ran across his face. He kicked the young servant to the ground.

"Kid, you claim you are not Ling Feng. Do you have proof?"

The youth struggled to stand up after the kick. His voice trembled.

"I-If I were Ling Feng, w-would I still suffer y-your bullying?"

"You dare accuse us of bullying you? You still claim you are not a traitor?"

The scar faced squad leader raised his hand and prepared to slap the youth to the ground.

A powerful hand suddenly seized his wrist. The grip held him firmly in place. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not move at all.

The squad leader lifted his head in shock.

A man who looked like a hunter stood before him with a simple smile. He spoke in a thick rural accent.

"Brother, this young fellow isn't Ling Feng. I have heard of that Ling Feng before, they say he used to be a general."

"Hmph! Filthy hunter. This does not concern you!"

The squad leader's wrist remained trapped in Ling Feng's grasp. Pain spread across his face. He hurriedly tried to shake free.

Ling Feng smiled calmly and released him.

"I meant no trouble. This young fellow happens to be a distant relative of mine. Let me make it up to you. I have several demonic beast inner cores here. If the honored soldiers do not mind, please take them."

The squad leader's eyes widened slightly.

Demonic beast inner cores were valuable items. The fact that this hunter could obtain them suggested that he possessed some ability. If a fight broke out, the soldiers might not gain the upper hand.

The squad leader glanced at the bulging pouch hanging from Ling Feng's waist. It appeared filled with demonic cores.

He finally nodded.

"Fine. You seem sensible. Brothers, withdraw."

He snatched the pouch of demonic cores from Ling Feng's hand and left with the other soldiers.

After walking a short distance, the squad leader opened the pouch.

Inside he found nothing but stones.

"Damn it. That bastard tricked us."

The squad leader erupted in anger and turned around to look for Ling Feng.

However, Ling Feng had already vanished.

"Damn that hunter! If I see him again I will throw him into prison and have him whipped! This infuriates me!"

He had no idea that the hunter who fooled him was the very person they hunted every day.

The real Ling Feng!

...

Inside a quiet alley, Ling Feng set the young servant down and spoke calmly.

"You should be safe here. Farewell."

"W-Wait!"

The youth looked distressed.

"Hero, please help me to the end. Our young master is gravely ill. I... I went out specifically to bring a physician back for treatment. Those soldiers stopped me along the way. If I cannot bring the doctor home, my young master might not survive. If you accompany me to invite the doctor, the Lin family of the western district will never forget your kindness."

The servant clearly feared encountering those soldiers again if he traveled alone.

"The Lin family of the western district. Do you mean the Lin Family Casino?"

Ling Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at the youth.

"Yes, yes. The Lin Family Casino. However..."

The youth's expression darkened slightly.

"However, the casino no longer exists."

Ling Feng frowned.

"Is the young master you mentioned the little girl Ling'er[1]?"

"Yes, yes. It is Ling'er. Hero, you seem very familiar with our Lin family!"

The youth's face brightened with hope. If this man already knew the Lin family, he would likely agree to help.

"I have known your Lin family for some time. Take me there."

Ling Feng sighed quietly.

He had always felt a special connection with the little girl Ling'er. He once promised that he would visit her often. When he left the Tianbai Empire, many circumstances forced him to depart quickly. He never had the chance to say goodbye to her.

"Hero, we still need to invite a physician."

The youth spoke hesitantly.

"There is no need. I possess some medical knowledge. That should be sufficient."

Ling Feng smiled faintly.

With a divine imperial physician standing here, why would anyone need to invite an ordinary physician? The thought itself was ridiculous!

1. Author's note: The Lin Family Casino belongs to the family of Tianfeng Sword Team's "gambling addict" Lin Mochen. He has two older sisters, Lin Moyao and Lin Moyun. Ling’er is Lin Moyun’s daughter. For more details, see Chapter 432 The Demon-Transforming Pill Formula! to Chapter 436: The Lin Family's Crisis! ☜