Chapter Six: The Interrogation

Inside the room, Ye Feng appeared like a phantom, unnoticed by Ye Xiu, who was currently lounging comfortably on the bed, humming a tune after having just indulged himself.

"Feeling quite at ease, aren't you?" Without warning, Ye Feng accelerated, rushing in front of Ye Xiu. One hand swiftly covered Ye Xiu's mouth, while the other, holding a dagger, plunged it ruthlessly into Ye Xiu's abdomen.

As an assassin, he knew the human anatomy well—certain places could be pierced without being fatal.

Muffled groans escaped Ye Xiu as a wave of excruciating pain crashed over him. Veins bulged on his forehead, and beads of sweat popped out rapidly. In that instant, he was utterly bewildered.

He stopped wondering how Ye Feng, usually so dull and simple, could suddenly transform like this, and ceased thinking about how to resist. The wolfish gleam in Ye Feng’s eyes and his merciless actions convinced him completely: if he dared to make any move, this cousin—both familiar and now strangely foreign—would kill him without hesitation.

"I ask, you answer. Not a word of nonsense. Do you understand?" The deep, hellish voice echoed in Ye Xiu's ears.

His nostrils flared with heavy, terrified breaths as he nodded frantically.

Seeing Ye Xiu's terrified expression, Ye Feng gave a chilling smile. "Good. First question: I want to know, who has been plotting against me again and again?"

"I... I don’t—" Before he could finish, Ye Feng covered his mouth once more. The dagger, still embedded, was twisted deeper into his gut.

Blood dripped down the dagger in thick drops. Ye Feng licked his lips and spoke again, "Next time, I'll twist the blade. Imagine your intestines wrapping around it, churning inside you!"

Ye Xiu broke down completely, body wracked with pain, trembling violently at Ye Feng’s demonic demeanor.

Soon, a foul stench reached Ye Feng's nose.

His face remained cold, eyes sharp as ever, though inwardly he cursed: "Damn it, what a coward! If I don’t act fierce, how will he ever fear me?"

In truth, Ye Feng had his own troubles. He’d long been known for appearing simpleminded. Even if he held a blade to Ye Xiu's throat, the latter wouldn’t fear him unless he went to extremes.

Such is the inertia of human thought—people grow accustomed to another’s weakness. If suddenly confronted with unexpected strength, mere threats won’t work unless one experiences a lesson so unforgettable it leaves a lasting mark.

"Same question. Tell me what you know," Ye Feng slowly released his hold on Ye Xiu’s mouth.

Head bowed in terror, Ye Xiu looked at the floor—blood mingled with urine, spreading in a wet patch. He sobbed, voice trembling, "I really... really don’t know... I just... just heard brother say... you... you were thrown into the Falling Wild Goose Mountain range... You wouldn’t survive. Never thought... you'd come back. I... I was just curious, so I... went to the other residence... to take a look... I really just went to look..."

It took Ye Xiu ages to finish his tearful explanation. Ye Feng regarded him coldly, mind racing.

When Ye Feng stayed silent, Ye Xiu broke down again, crying, "I really don’t know... Please, please, for the sake of our kinship... don’t kill me!"

Ye Feng was utterly exasperated—he decided not to dwell on it and asked, "Second question: How is my residence about to become your brother’s?"

Ye Feng wanted to finish his interrogation quickly and leave, for the pungent smell in the room was making him nauseous.

"It’s my brother, Ye Li—he begged Grandpa, had Grandpa drive you out and give him your residence. It has nothing to do with me... really nothing to do with me." This time, Ye Xiu answered swiftly, pushing all blame onto Ye Li.

At this moment, his mind was solely focused on survival, forgetting how he once wept and begged his brother to petition the Elder for that very residence.

In the spacious room, Ye Feng gazed coldly at the wailing Ye Xiu, then smiled faintly. "I actually hate killing..."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of hope appeared in Ye Xiu’s eyes, but before he could rejoice, Ye Feng’s voice turned icy. "But keeping you alive is just trouble for me."

Crack—

Ye Feng’s hand tightened suddenly. Ye Xiu’s head twisted unnaturally to one side.

Casting an indifferent glance at the dying corpse, Ye Feng slowly withdrew the dagger, sighed softly, and murmured, "Seems I won’t need to act further—within a few days, the Great Elder will come looking for trouble."

He shook his head lightly, then withdrew from the room, his figure melding swiftly into the pitch-black night, vanishing from sight.

"Tsk, tsk. I didn’t expect this from you... What a pity you weren’t born among the Demon Wolves. Your composure and bloodlust far surpass those wolf cubs..." The teasing voice of the Dragon Flood Demon King rang out again from the Chaos Space.

With a silent, bitter smile, Ye Feng replied in a low voice, "No choice! I’ve played the fool for so long—if I don’t use such extreme methods, that brat would never tell the truth!"

Under the dark night sky, Ye Feng moved like a phantom, swiftly returning to his own residence.

After a quick wash and change from his night attire, Ye Feng sat quietly at the bedside, lost in thought.

"Senior, do you know what kind of being could silently send me thousands of miles away without anyone noticing?" After pondering for a long time to no avail, Ye Feng could only ask the Dragon Flood Demon King.

After a while, the lazy voice echoed from the Chaos Space, "Approaching you is easy, but to tear space and send you thousands of miles away, only an eighth-rank demon beast could manage... Oh, I forgot, this is the human world—at least a Heaven Sovereign level cultivator."

Ye Feng was stunned. "Heaven Sovereign level? That’s legendary! There isn’t a single one in all of Heaven-Shrouding City."

In the human world, cultivators are ranked from weakest to strongest: Spirit Summoner, Spirit Communicator, Postnatal Spirit Master, Innate Spirit Master, Spirit King, Spirit Emperor, Spirit Sovereign, Heaven Sovereign, and Free Wanderer.

In all of Heaven-Shrouding City, the strongest are merely the heads of the three great families—at most at the Innate level, still far from Heaven Sovereign.

"Perhaps there’s another possibility—a teleportation talisman! With your previous cultivation, a Postnatal-level cultivator could approach you unnoticed, tear open a teleportation talisman, and throw you into a spatial rift..." the Dragon Flood Demon King spoke again.

"Is that thing... common?" Ye Feng asked, brow tightly furrowed.

"It’s valuable, but any family head in Heaven-Shrouding City could get one. Even elders, if they’re willing to pay dearly, can obtain a teleportation talisman without much trouble."