Chapter 1460: Lets Pull Off A Heist

While all the star systems were struggling against the Dark Demons, Yi Feng in the Linglong Pavilion had also experienced several near-death encounters in his dreams, each as perilous as the last.

After the battle at Duanhun Cliff, Yi Feng had become the public enemy of Nanli Kingdom, with a kill order issued by the Snow Moon Holy Land. Forced to flee, he and a young man in black embarked on a journey of survival, cutting a bloody path through the martial world with their swords.

Though the journey was arduous, it deepened their friendship. From mere drinking buddies, they had become sworn brothers who shared life and death. Compared to the days when they were burdened by worldly fame, this life of reckoning and vengeance felt far more satisfying.

As for the bonds of sect and the favors of the martial world, these so-called worldly sentiments had long been cast aside by Yi Feng. He had seen through the superficiality of human relationships and lived with greater clarity, his Dao heart growing ever more resolute.

Through constant battles and escapes, his cultivation soared!

"Ten steps to kill one man, a thousand miles without leaving a trace. Wandering the world with a sword, drunk and laughing at the mortal world."

Breaking through countless encirclements, leaving behind countless fallen foes, Yi Feng and the young man in black lived a life of adventure, filled with both hardship and freedom.

Years later, they finally managed to shake off their pursuers temporarily. Traveling westward, they entered the borders of the Blazing Fire Kingdom, where they could finally rest and enjoy a few peaceful days.

One evening, the sky was painted with a brilliant sunset, the dying sun blood-red.

The two crossed the border and stopped at a small inn at the foot of Yandang Mountain to rest and drink.

This was a bustling trade route between two kingdoms, a place where all sorts of people gathered, making it a chaotic mix. Even with their swords, it was no surprise that they were recognized as cultivators.

As soon as they sat down at a small table outside the inn, a waiter eagerly approached.

"Gentlemen, are you here for a meal or lodging?"

The young man in black hesitated, glancing awkwardly at the wine jars inside the inn.

It was clear they were penniless.

Seeing this, Yi Feng chuckled and began rummaging through his robes, responding generously.

"Ten pounds of peach blossom wine, and a fat..."

Halfway through his sentence, his heart sank, and he quickly changed his words.

"Just ten pounds of peach blossom wine!"

After fumbling in his robes for a while, he managed to produce only a small piece of silver and a few copper coins.

The waiter, however, remained calm, as if this was a common occurrence. He quickly took the money and left with a smile.

The ease with which the waiter took the money made Yi Feng's chest ache, feeling as though his heart was bleeding. It wasn't that he was stingy, but after years of wandering, their savings were depleted, and life had become difficult.

Seeing the tired look on the young man in black's face, Yi Feng felt even more guilty. The two sat in awkward silence, neither speaking a word.

Until a large jar of peach blossom wine was brought to their table.

The young man in black seemed to come alive, eagerly pouring wine and clinking cups with Yi Feng!

After a bowl of wine, warmth spread through their bodies, and they gradually began to talk, discussing their future plans.

Yi Feng sighed helplessly, refilling the young man's cup.

"Ah..."

"If this continues, we'll be drinking the northwest wind. I'm sorry, brother, for dragging you along on this endless escape, never giving you a moment of peace. I, Yi Feng, will repay this debt someday."

The young man laughed, his eyes filled with nonchalance.

"Hey!"

"I've long been used to this wandering life. This little hardship is nothing!"

They clinked cups and drank deeply, the wine already half gone.

The young man's expression gradually turned somber, and he looked at Yi Feng with a mix of frustration and disappointment.

"Brother."

"I'm not blaming you, but you're too kind-hearted! We've had so many chances to pull off a heist along the way, but you always insist on not stealing or robbing. Isn't that just being stubborn?"

"I'm not saying we should bully common folk, but occasionally raiding a bandit den would be doing the people a favor. What's wrong with that?"

"If we keep going like this, I'll never be able to repay the debt I owe you, let alone achieve our goal of revenge."

Hearing this, Yi Feng couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Even while on the run, this guy was still thinking about making extra money. He was truly born to stir up trouble.

But upon further reflection, it was indeed time to address their current predicament and plan for the future. A gentleman must seek revenge, and that damned Holy Land had to be destroyed!

He nodded slightly, agreeing for now.

"You make a good point."

"Next time, if we come across bandits, we'll pull off a heist!"

Hearing the promise of "next time," the young man sighed in resignation.

He decided not to press the issue further, silently contemplating whether to take on some mercenary work during their recent downtime.

Having been on the run for years, they hadn't had the chance to earn money or enjoy life. He wondered how the girl from the Lihua Palace was doing, whether her dancing had improved...

As the two silently drank and pondered, a commotion suddenly erupted around them!

"Please, Immortal, give us a few more days. Our humble inn really can't afford five hundred taels of silver!"

"Nonsense! You operate within the territory of our Dangjian Sect, so you must pay the monthly fee. If it weren't for our protection, how could mere mortals like you survive in this chaotic borderland?"

"But... our inn barely makes enough to get by. Our whole family depends on this small business. We couldn't possibly afford five hundred taels in a year. Please, Immortal, have mercy!"

"Can't pay? I don't care if you have to sell your children or whatever, but if you can't pay the monthly fee, you can forget about running this inn! Our Dangjian Sect is a major cultivation sect. You know the consequences of defying us!"

"Immortal! Please, have mercy!"

The pleading was filled with sobs, drawing the attention of many onlookers.

Yi Feng and the young man in black also turned to look.

They saw several gray-robed cultivators standing in the small inn, looking down arrogantly at the old innkeeper, who was begging on his knees, unmoved by his pleas.

The scene was heart-wrenching, evoking pity.

Strangely, none of the other patrons dared to speak up, only watching silently, as if afraid of drawing trouble.

Yi Feng noticed the uniform robes of the cultivators and, recalling their earlier words, quickly understood. These young cultivators were from a powerful sect, not to be trifled with by ordinary folk.

As he quietly observed, the young man in black grew restless.

After just a few glances, anger flashed in his eyes.

Fortunately, Yi Feng gave him a subtle look, preventing him from lashing out.

The young man seemed dissatisfied with Yi Feng's restraint, frowning slightly.

Yi Feng didn't explain immediately but instead picked up a cup of wine and turned to the neighboring table to inquire quietly.

"Excuse me, may I ask..."

"What is this Dangjian Sect, and why is everyone so afraid of them? Why do they demand monthly fees from this inn?"

At his question, the people at the neighboring table exchanged uneasy glances.

Only a kind-looking old man leaned in and whispered to Yi Feng.

"Young hero, you must be new here."

"This Dangjian Sect is a major cultivation sect in the borderlands of the Blazing Fire Kingdom, ranked at the seventh tier. They control dozens of miles around Yandang Mountain, acting more like bandits than a proper sect!"

"We common folk dare not provoke these cultivators. We can only pay to avoid disaster and endure to survive."

"Young hero, the martial world is treacherous. It's best not to stir up trouble..."

Hearing the whispered advice, Yi Feng silently thanked the old man with a nod.

As he turned back to put down his cup, the young man in black, unable to contain his anger, glared at him.

"Brother!"

"These scum are nothing but trash. Why are you stopping me?!"

He wasn't wrong.

In this world, sects were ranked by their cultivation levels, from the lowest to the highest: Meridian Opening, Qi Nurturing, Heavenly Gate, Primordial, Divine Mansion, Heavenly Sun, and Origin Infant. These corresponded to the sect tiers, with the tenth tier being the lowest.

As for higher realms, they were beyond the knowledge of ordinary folk.

This Dangjian Sect, being only seventh tier, had its strongest members at the Heavenly Gate level. To Yi Feng and the young man in black, they were indeed trash.

But seeing the young man's barely contained rage, it was clear that a few words wouldn't calm him down.

Yi Feng quietly pulled him aside to the roadside.

"I'm not stopping you, but acting now would be pointless."

"Even if you kill these lackeys, it would only help the inn temporarily. Once we leave, the old innkeeper and his family would face even greater wrath. This kind of help does more harm than good and doesn't solve the root problem."

Hearing this, the young man in black blinked in surprise.

"Solve the root problem..."

"What do you mean?"

Yi Feng smiled and whispered into his ear.

"Didn't you say earlier that we should pull off a heist sometimes? Well, here's our chance. Let's be patient, follow the trail, and then take them all down in one go. How about that?"

Hearing this, the young man in black finally understood, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

"You're so wicked. I love it!"

"I never thought that after just a few years, you've become even more cunning. Your plan is better. Let's do as you say. Later, we'll pull off a heist!"

"This time, we'll make enough to live it up somewhere!"

The two quickly agreed and returned to their table, pretending nothing had happened.

As the gray-robed cultivators arrogantly left the inn, the place filled with sobs. The two lost their appetite for wine and quietly followed the cultivators.

They trailed them up the stone steps, heading straight for the mountainside of Yandang Mountain.