Chapter 81: Five Foes (Please Vote for Recommendations)

Jiang Feng walked through the streets of Taicang City, his earlier fear now entirely gone, replaced by deep contemplation.

When Wen Liangji had introduced him to the Demons, he had mentioned one crucial detail: the power of perception increased with the strength of one’s luminous energy. The stronger one’s abilities, the greater the range and sensitivity of their perception.

Currently, Jiang Feng could sense within a radius of thirty feet, which was quite good for someone at the Dawn Stage. However, compared to masters like Hua Su and Wen Liangji, he still had a long way to go. Once he became stronger, even if a high-level Demon hid their demonic aura, he would be able to detect them at close range.

Wen Liangji had made this point casually, but it set Jiang Feng’s mind at ease. Earlier, Wen Liangji, concerned for his health, had probed his physical condition with luminous energy and found nothing unusual. This meant there was no demonic aura within him. In other words, that trace of golden bloodline did not belong to the Demons.

This realization brought Jiang Feng relief, both for his own safety and for his sense of identity.

Yet the fact remained that demon lairs were appearing more frequently, and growing ever closer to bustling cities. This troubled Jiang Feng deeply. He looked up, surveying his surroundings.

Taicang City was the largest metropolis in Yushui Province, situated on the Changchuan River. Its location made it a thriving hub of commerce and activity. If Demons were to appear in such a city, the casualties would be unimaginable.

If only there were a way to detect demon lairs in advance...

Having encountered humanity’s great enemy for the first time, Jiang Feng’s mind was filled with thoughts, and he became less attentive to what was happening around him.

But his so-called inattention was only relative; soon, he noticed that several people had begun tailing him. They kept a steady distance, neither too near nor too far, and had been following him for quite some time.

Who were these people?

It was his first day in Taicang City, and he had gone straight to the Mustard Seed Pavilion without meeting anyone else. No, he had met someone—Jiang Huaiming.

Could these people have been sent by Jiang Huaiming? What was his intention?

After realizing he was being followed, Jiang Feng began varying his pace and changing his route. Before long, he determined that there were five pursuers, all martial practitioners above the Dawn Stage.

Of them, the strongest had five apertures fully linked, the weakest two. Their movements were slick and confident, betraying their familiarity with the city—they seemed like local ruffians.

As Jiang Feng altered his direction and pace, the followers noticed. One sidled up to the tallest man among them and murmured, “Boss Hu, he’s onto us.”

The big man snorted, “You don’t say? Of course I can tell! The kid’s sharp. But this is my—Qin Hu’s—turf in Taicang. As long as he doesn’t run to the Mustard Seed Pavilion, what’s there to be afraid of?”

He was right; the further Jiang Feng walked, the farther he got from the Pavilion. Clearly, he had no intention of seeking its help. Even if he tried, he wouldn’t succeed—Qin Hu’s gang knew the area inside out, and could show him what “righteous path” meant in a matter of moments.

Gradually, Jiang Feng left the southern martial commerce district, heading into more deserted areas.

Qin Hu’s eyes flashed. In a low voice, he ordered, “You two, circle ahead. The rest, follow me. We’ll corner him on Second Changchuan Street.”

Soon, Jiang Feng reached the riverbank. The place was tranquil, with a neat stone path leading forward. On one side, stone railings bordered the river; on the other, willows hung gracefully, houses hidden behind their trailing branches, all silent and still.

Here, the Changchuan River narrowed, the current quickened, and the splashing water added a faint commotion to the peaceful scene.

In the distance, a large boat with a red roof drifted slowly downstream—a pleasure barge, clearly.

Jiang Feng halted, watching the boat for a moment, then spoke without looking back: “Since you’re here, why not come out?”

Qin Hu and his men emerged, blocking Jiang Feng’s escape in front and behind.

Qin Hu sneered, “Pretty bold, kid. What, did you call for backup?”

His words dripped with mockery. They had followed Jiang Feng from the start; he hadn’t even noticed them at first, and never once left their sight. Where would he have found a chance to call for help?

Jiang Feng raised his brows. “Whether I have backup, you should know best. As locals of Taicang, this is my first day here—how could I have offended you?”

Five against one. Jiang Feng was just a youth new to his powers, now surrounded by their own men in this secluded spot. Seeing the situation, Qin Hu felt victory was at hand. He grinned viciously, “Sorry, kid. You haven’t offended us—someone wants you dead!”

Jiang Feng blinked in surprise, repeating, “Wants me dead?”

Qin Hu burst out laughing. “No wonder you’re so calm—you don’t even realize your predicament! Think a beating is all you’re in for? Sorry, today you’ll be leaving your life behind.”

Jiang Feng’s mind raced, piecing it all together. This was Jiang Huaiming’s doing—that much was clear.

Jiang Huaiming had seen him receive Wen Liangji’s attention at the Pavilion, assumed he had found some powerful patron, and feared he would bear a grudge against the Jiang family and cause trouble in the future. So, he decided to eliminate him preemptively!

Unable to do it himself, and knowing Li Ming would not act on his behalf, he had found five strong local thugs—a reasonable, if unscrupulous, plan.

Having sorted out Jiang Huaiming’s motives, Jiang Feng patted his forehead and laughed. “Who would’ve thought the Jiang family had such decisive heirs—worthy of a future clan leader!” Suddenly, his gaze grew sharp as lightning. “However, expecting me to leave my life here? That won’t be so easy!”

Even as his words hung in the air, Jiang Feng was already moving.

He swept his palm forward, charging at the two men blocking his path. Accustomed to street brawls, their reactions were quick; with a roar, they attacked from left and right, trying to pin him in place.

Jiang Feng pressed his palm down, summoning a blast of energy beneath his feet. Using its force, he vaulted over their heads, landing behind them.

Qin Hu’s expression changed. “Damn, he’s trying to run!”

But Jiang Feng had no intention of fleeing. He spun around, sending two bursts of energy into the backs of the charging men. Already rushing forward, they were sent careening uncontrollably toward their three companions.

Qin Hu sprang forward, deftly extending both hands to catch and steady his men. “Hold your ground!” he barked.

His movements, though light, instantly neutralized their momentum. Then, like a great roc spreading its wings, he leapt toward Jiang Feng.

But Jiang Feng merely sidestepped, not fleeing as Qin Hu had expected, and instead charged at the remaining four.

Qin Hu hesitated, then grinned savagely. “Courting death! Brothers, get him!”

The four needed no further prompting, immediately closing in and surrounding Jiang Feng once more.

The five of them were used to working as a team, their cooperation seamless. Five against one—none would hinder the others, and their attacks adjusted constantly in concert.

Yet for all their coordination, none could so much as graze Jiang Feng.

He darted in and out, left and right, weaving among them like a butterfly among flowers—light and elusive.

Now and then, he would push or prod one of them. He rarely struck, but every move was perfectly timed—disrupting their coordination and often redirecting their attacks toward one another.

The willow branches swayed wildly from the force of the blows, leaves flying, stone pavement trembling with each clash.

Against five, Jiang Feng moved with ease and composure, showing not a hint of defeat.

To him, the scene had transformed. Using his Luminous Vision, the five men became blazing silhouettes, surging and clashing as they tried to overwhelm him.

The energy within their bodies flowed visibly now—once unclear, now as clear as day. These were the currents of their inner force, the foundation of all martial technique. Before a strike, the energy moved first.

By observing these patterns, Jiang Feng could predict their next moves.

And it was not just their energy he tracked—the Celestial Cube was rapidly calculating in the background. Each kick or punch they threw was immediately analyzed, massive amounts of data processed. For the Cube, this was child’s play; it could instantly predict their next moves and offer the optimal counter—not just for one opponent, but for all five at once.

From a certain perspective, though he faced five, for Jiang Feng it was little different from facing a single opponent.

Moreover, fearing they might hurt each other, the five never attacked with full force—ironically, making them weaker as a group than they would be alone.

The longer the fight went on, the more at ease Jiang Feng became. At first, he focused on evading their blows; gradually, he found more and more opportunities to counterattack. Rarely did he rely on brute force; instead, he manipulated their movements, causing them to strike at each other.

He discovered that, with the Celestial Cube and Luminous Vision working together, his ability to handle groups exceeded his prowess in single combat.

Meanwhile, the red-roofed pleasure barge floated ever closer.

Up close, it was a two-storied vessel, exquisitely carved and painted. On its prow was an emblem: a tree, simply drawn, with nine branches and seven leaves—bold and vigorous in its strokes.

This symbol was famous among martial artists—the nine branches and seven leaves represented the highest rank, and the full form of the Heart-Clarifying Tree, the very emblem of the Heart-Clarifying Society.

On the upper deck, two elderly men played a game of chess, another watching intently. Several maids moved gracefully about, serving tea and fanning the guests.

Suddenly, one maid glanced up by chance, catching sight of the skirmish on the shore.

She stood, narrowed her eyes to watch for a moment, then laughed softly, “Gentlemen, look—this young man is rather interesting!”