Hedonist Prodigy

Chapter 59: Men Die for Wealth, Birds Perish for Food

The fist tore through the air with a sharp whistle, its force terrifying. 

As the gust of wind rushed toward his face, Jiang Feng’s pupils contracted slightly. Back at Liuli Market, he had briefly crossed paths with this young man called “Mr. Shen,” sensing something off about him—a dangerous aura. But he hadn’t expected the man to possess real skill. No wonder he dared to come alone.  

With a swift sidestep, Jiang Feng retreated two paces, evading the frontal assault, while simultaneously throwing a punch of his own.  

Boom!  

A dull impact echoed through the air. Jiang Feng staggered back another two steps, while Mr. Shen’s attack came to an abrupt halt.  

The clash left Jiang Feng’s fist stinging, his gaze turning colder. This Mr. Shen was indeed a formidable opponent. Though Jiang Feng himself had only reached the second layer of Body Refinement, he was on the verge of breaking through to the third. If he were to face Guo Conghu now, he could defeat him effortlessly.  

Yet, this single punch from Mr. Shen had actually made him feel a hint of threat.  

Mr. Shen’s powerful strike had forced Jiang Feng back, but he could see that Jiang Feng remained unharmed. Meanwhile, his own blood and qi churned violently—he had suffered a hidden loss. Though this was merely a probing exchange, surprise flickered in his heart.  

According to Li Yuanjue, Jiang Feng was nothing more than a worthless outcast of the Jiang family, a spoiled rich kid with no real skills. Even if he knew some martial arts, it should’ve been nothing but flashy moves. Yet, Jiang Feng had blocked his punch.  

Mr. Shen’s expression grew more solemn as he spoke slowly, “Jiang Feng, just who are you?”  

“The man who’ll kill you,” Jiang Feng replied simply.  

Mr. Shen sneered. “Taking my life won’t be so easy. Tell me—have you trained in Ancient Martial Arts?”  

“What Ancient Martial Arts?” Jiang Feng scoffed coldly. “If you’re here to kill me, then fight. Spare me the nonsense.”  

“You’re courting death!” Hearing Jiang Feng’s ignorance of Ancient Martial Arts, Mr. Shen relaxed slightly. With a low shout, his figure blurred as he launched two more punches at Jiang Feng.  

Dual fists shot out, attacking from both sides, their wind dense enough to seal off all escape routes. A vicious grin spread across Mr. Shen’s face—he refused to believe Jiang Feng could dodge this time.  

But Jiang Feng didn’t retreat. As Mr. Shen closed in, his hands snapped up, fists clenched. A crisp cracking sound erupted from his knuckles. Without hesitation, he met the assault head-on.  

Four fists collided mid-air with a heavy thud. Mr. Shen felt as though he had struck steel, his bones on the verge of shattering.  

Excruciating pain twisted his expression. He finally realized he had gravely underestimated his opponent. Twisting at the waist, he tried to retreat, but Jiang Feng had already made his move. Just as Mr. Shen shifted, a lightning-fast kick slammed into his ribs.  

Mr. Shen was sent flying like a kite with its string cut. He had attacked swiftly, but his retreat was even faster. By the time he hit the ground, he was severely injured, coughing up a mouthful of blood.  

Struggling to rise, Mr. Shen stared at Jiang Feng in horror. If the first exchange had only been slightly unexpected, the second had been a full-force assault meant to kill. Yet, not only had Jiang Feng withstood it effortlessly—he had instead left Mr. Shen crippled.  

His eyes bulged in panic, voice trembling as he gasped, “An Innate Expert! Damn it, you’re actually an Innate Expert!”  

He never could’ve imagined that a Jiang family reject would be an Innate Expert. Li Yuanjue had clearly deceived him. Had he known Jiang Feng was this strong, he would’ve never sought him out.  

Now, gravely wounded and needing at least a month to recover, he saw no mercy in Jiang Feng’s eyes.  

“Innate Expert?” Jiang Feng paused, hearing the term for the first time. “What do you mean?”  

Mr. Shen forced a bitter smile. “You’ve already reached the Innate stage—you must have extraordinary talent and a powerful sect backing you. Otherwise, how could you be this strong at such a young age? And how could you not know what an Innate Expert is?”  

Seeing Jiang Feng’s confusion, Mr. Shen abruptly shut his mouth. Ancient Martial Arts were a taboo subject in this world, unknown to ordinary people. He had only misspoken in his shock.  

But one thing was certain—Jiang Feng had to be an Innate Expert. Otherwise, his internal energy wouldn’t be so overwhelming.  

“Tell me everything you know,” Jiang Feng said coldly. “Maybe I’ll consider sparing you.”  

“I—I’ve already said all I know!” Mr. Shen’s eyes darted nervously.  

His knowledge of these secrets came only from elders of the Qihuang Sect, and even then, it was limited. Ancient Martial Arts had strict hierarchies—without reaching certain levels, one wouldn’t gain access to deeper knowledge.  

His earlier slip had been due to sheer shock. As a direct disciple of the Qihuang Sect, he hadn’t even stepped into the Innate threshold. Yet Jiang Feng, a mere scion of a wealthy family, was already an Innate Expert? It was absurd. Even within the Qihuang Sect, only a handful of his peers had reached that stage—two, to his knowledge, both prodigies. Despite years of relentless training, he himself had never come close.  

Jiang Feng studied him deeply. If Mr. Shen refused to talk, so be it. Terms like “Postnatal” and “Innate” were likely just ranks in Ancient Martial Arts.  

As a pure cultivator, Jiang Feng had no interest in such things. Calmly, he said, “Now, you can die.”  

“You’d dare kill me?!” Mr. Shen shrieked.  

Jiang Feng smirked coldly. This man had come for his life—he wouldn’t let him leave alive. And since he claimed to be an Ancient Martial Artist, sparing him would only invite greater trouble.  

“You think you can?!” Mr. Shen roared, suddenly flinging a barrage of silver needles at Jiang Feng.  

The needles shot through the air like a deadly rain. With a casual wave, Jiang Feng stirred the wind, swatting them all aside. “You dare use needles against me? You’re digging your own grave.”  

A single silver needle flicked from his fingers, embedding itself in Mr. Shen’s forehead.  

A sharp sting, like a bee’s sting, pierced his skull. Then, agony exploded in his head as if it were about to split apart. His eyes bulged further as he clawed at his forehead, desperate to pull the needle out.  

“Jiang Feng! Do you even know who I am?!” he screamed madly. “I’m a disciple of the Qihuang Sect! You’ll regret this!”  

“Qihuang Sect?” Jiang Feng murmured, frowning. “Given the name… so you healed Li Yuanjue’s leg.”  

“Yes! It was me!” Mr. Shen clung to his last hope. “You do know of the Qihuang Sect! Release me now, unless you want to bring ruin upon the Jiang family! Do you understand the consequences?!”  

“Consequences?” Jiang Feng chuckled indifferently. “Even at death’s door, you still threaten. Save your words for the afterlife.”  

The moment he finished speaking, blood began seeping from Mr. Shen’s eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. With a few final, guttural rasps, his body stiffened before slumping lifelessly to the ground.  

Jiang Feng stepped forward, plucking the needle from the corpse’s forehead. After wiping it clean, he coiled it back into a ring around his finger.  

His cold gaze lingered on the body. Mr. Shen had come for him, likely over their encounter at Liuli Market. A man who sought to kill for wealth deserved no mercy.  

Yet, this confrontation left Jiang Feng with a newfound sense of danger. The mention of the “Qihuang Sect” was troubling. Though he knew nothing of it, if Mr. Shen could heal Li Yuanjue’s leg so easily, the sect’s medical prowess was no joke.  

Given Mr. Shen’s level—not yet Innate—he likely wasn’t a core member. Killing him was justified, but mishandling the aftermath could bring disaster. If the Qihuang Sect was truly as formidable as claimed, even the Jiang family might suffer.  

Jiang Feng didn’t regret killing Mr. Shen—the man had sought his life, sealing his own fate. But the implications demanded caution.  

Moreover, he had already crippled Li Yuanjue. Though he’d been discreet, the Li family’s resources could eventually trace it back to him. Ji Yan’s existence wasn’t a secret either. If the Lis retaliated violently, the situation would spiral out of control.  

Jiang Feng wasn’t one to underestimate his enemies. Mr. Shen had proven dangerous enough—if the Li family had other experts, the stakes would rise exponentially.  

A pang of regret flickered in his chest. Perhaps he hadn’t adapted well to urban life, or he’d underestimated this world. The emergence of Ancient Martial Artists meant he’d only glimpsed the hidden depths beneath the surface.