"Enough!"
Ling Feng's figure descended from the sky, landing on the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Kid, who do you think you are? Talking to us like that."
"Exactly, I suggest we dismember him first, then burn him."
"Heh heh, I agree."
The group of Yashiro Comission members whispered loudly among themselves, looking smug as if Ling Feng and the other were already trapped.
"Ling Feng, quickly..."
Kamisato Ayaka hadn't expected Ling Feng to suddenly appear and was about to urge him to escape, but Ling Feng interrupted her.
"No need to worry, you rest for a while. Leave the rest to me."
Ling Feng's words seemed to possess some magic, and Kamisato Ayaka found herself inexplicably wanting to believe him.
Ling Feng glanced at the wandering samurai surrounding them.
"Your ideas are good, I'll use them. Also... don't underestimate others, especially, Liyue people!"
A cold glint flashed in Ling Feng's eyes, and he drew his sword from its sheath with a whoosh.
"Wind Blade!"
Instantly, dozens of wind blades surged out, precisely slicing through the bone joints of the attackers' arms.
The powerful cutting force severed the arms of the wandering samurai in an instant.
The Maguu Kenki and Nobushi, though they reacted and tried to block or dodge with their swords, found their blades cut in half by the wind blades. Deep gashes were carved into their arms, and blood began to flow slowly.
By the time the Yashiro Comission members realized what had happened, their arms were already severed, and they wailed, unable to staunch the bleeding. Blood gushed out like fountains.
"How can this be! Ah! My arm!"
"My hand, my hand!"
Seeing the scattered blood of the Yashiro Comission members, Ling Feng frowned.
"Your dirty blood is not worthy of watering this forest!"
A ball of flame materialized in Ling Feng's left hand, and he hurled it towards the Yashiro Comission members.
"Ah!"
Flames erupted, accompanied by screams. None of the Maguu Kenki who tried to escape when they saw the situation could evade the fiery retribution. They were instantly burned to ashes.
As the last of the wandering samurai fell, the flames dimmed and extinguished. The Forest of Guardian returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing that the situation was resolved, Ling Feng walked to Kamisato Ayaka's side and knelt down to examine the sword wound on her leg.
Kamisato Ayaka was greatly astonished, never expecting Ling Feng to be so powerful.
"Miss Kamisato, are you alright?"
"Just call me Ayaka. It's just a cut on my leg, I'm fine."
Kamisato Ayaka gave a gentle smile.
"My next request might be a bit presumptuous, but may I touch your leg? I have a way to heal your wound."
"Okay."
Kamisato Ayaka nodded slightly in agreement.
Seeing this, Ling Feng reached out and cupped Kamisato Ayaka's slender calf, placing his right hand over her wound and channeling his internal energy to heal it.
"Mmm..."
Kamisato Ayaka suddenly let out a soft moan, which startled Ling Feng and made his face flush.
'What the heck is with that misleading sound?'
Ling Feng pretended not to hear, enduring the embarrassment, and quickly continued to heal Kamisato Ayaka's wound.
A moment later.
"All done, healed."
Kamisato Ayaka looked down at her right leg and found that the cut had been healed. Not only that, but there was no trace of the wound left, as if she had never been injured.
Ling Feng helped Kamisato Ayaka to her feet. She tested walking, feeling no pain whatsoever; she was completely healed.
"Thank you, Ling Feng. I didn't expect you to be so strong."
"If you're going to travel, you have to learn some self-defense, right?"
Ling Feng said with a smile.
"Ayaka, I'll take you back first, and then I'll leave."
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"Uh, it's a bit awkward. I came in such a hurry that I didn't book a room, so I'll have to sleep outdoors tonight."
Ling Feng scratched his head with a smile.
If Bennett were here, their current situation would have been quite similar.
"Then, why don't you rest at my place for the night? We have plenty of guest rooms."
Kamisato Ayaka invited warmly.
"This... it's not really appropriate, this late at night."
"It's alright, I'll talk to my brother and Thoma."
"This... then I'll... I'll gratefully accept."
...
Some time later.
Kamisato Ayaka, the young lady of the Kamisato clan, suddenly brought a strange man home late at night, causing a stir throughout the Kamisato Estate.
Especially Kamisato Ayato. He had just lain down when he heard the news and, like a startled cat, burst out of his room.
He didn't care that Kamisato Ayaka had snuck out late at night. With the Shogunate's intelligence network, he already knew that Kamisato Ayaka sometimes slipped out in the middle of the night. As a brother, he understood the pressure his sister was under and allowed her some time to herself; he had no objections to that.
However... what was with bringing a man home? And this late at night!
Thus, in the dead of night, the entire Kamisato Estate was brightly lit.
In the main hall, Kamisato Ayato was scrutinizing the stranger beside his sister. As for Thoma? He had been sent out to gather information.
Ling Feng stood by Kamisato Ayaka's side, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, with only a few words in his mind:
'This is so awkward!'
As Kamisato Ayato scrutinized Ling Feng, Ling Feng was also scrutinizing Kamisato Ayato.
(Ling Feng)
He has the air of a CEO and a Vision.
Not surprisingly, he should be a five-star character.
But, isn't he a bit too handsome?!
(Kamisato Ayato)
Carrying a sword, dressed in Liyue attire. His appearance and clothing are very similar to those from Liyue.
He should be from Liyue.
However, why does he look so ordinary?
As the two men were making their assessments, Kamisato Ayaka suddenly spoke.
"Brother, this is Ling Feng. He's a new friend I've made, from Liyue."
"Just now..."
Kamisato Ayaka recounted the events in the Forest of Guardian, omitting the part about Ling Feng being from another world. She only stated that Ling Feng was from Liyue and was a Vision wielder.
Ling Feng also produced the Pyro Vision he possessed and put it on.
"So that's how it is."
Kamisato Ayato understood everything after hearing Kamisato Ayaka's explanation. Then Thoma returned.
Thoma whispered the information he had gathered from the Yashiro Commission into Kamisato Ayato's ear. Kamisato Ayato nodded. It was indeed consistent with what Kamisato Ayaka had said.
However, despite Ling Feng's ordinary appearance, he felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before. But he couldn't recall where.
"Thoma, arrange a guest room for Lord Ling Feng to rest in. Remember to treat him well and not neglect him."
"Yes, head of the household."
Guests are to be treated with respect, and he had even saved his sister. As her brother and the head of the Kamisato clan, he had to thank the man.
"My Lord, why don't you stay at the Kamisato Estate for the next few days? It will save you Mora on renting a room."
"As you wish."
Ling Feng smiled; he was not picky.
"This way, please, my Lord."
Thoma displayed his excellent butler skills.
"Ling Feng, I'll head back to my room now. See you tomorrow."
"Mm."
Kamisato Ayaka left first, while Thoma then gave Ling Feng a tour of the Kamisato Estate, offering brief introductions, before finally leading Ling Feng to the prepared guest room.
Upon returning to his room, Ling Feng finally lifted the silencing spell on Shagiri and the others. He had expected Shagiri and the others to be asleep by now, but as soon as the spell was broken, Shagiri's voice appeared in his mind.
"Ling Feng, why did you suddenly silence us? Are you secretly meeting other girls behind our backs?"
"I say, Shagiri, why are you still awake so late?"
"It's all because of someone; I can't sleep."
"Sorry."
Then, Shagiri emerged from the mist and hugged Ling Feng tightly, her eyelids growing heavy, and soon she fell asleep.
Seeing this, Ling Feng didn't disturb Shagiri's rest and lay down on the bed. To prevent Shagiri from being exposed, Ling Feng set up a warding spell on the door and cast a perceptual restraint. Anyone weaker than him would be unable to perceive certain things. Soon, Ling Feng also fell asleep.
...
In Kamisato Ayato's room, he was searching for something, feeling that Ling Feng looked familiar, like someone he had met before, but he couldn't recall where.
In Kamisato Ayaka's room, after her nightly ablutions, she carefully stored all the photos Ling Feng had given her in an exquisite box. Then, with a happy expression, she went to rest.
The eventful night passed.
...
The next morning, early, Ling Feng's door was knocked.
"What is it?"
"Lord Ling Feng, Miss Ayaka has invited you for breakfast."
"Understood, I'll be right there."
Ling Feng had actually woken up earlier and was cultivating his 'Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens'. Since Kamisato Ayaka had invited him, he naturally had to accept.
Slapping his sword, Mist-Veiled, into its sheath and slinging it over his back, Ling Feng pushed open the door. Thoma stood there, seemingly waiting for a long time.
"My Lord, this way."
"Thank you."
Not long after, they arrived at the dining area where Kamisato Ayaka and Kamisato Ayato were already waiting. Seeing this, Ling Feng quickly took his seat. He looked at the variety of delicacies on the table with surprise. Perhaps because of the guest, the breakfast was unusually lavish. And the dishes, if he hadn't possessed intermediate cooking skills, he wouldn't have recognized any of them. Even if he recognized them, he didn't know what they tasted like.
Seeing Ling Feng take his seat, Kamisato Ayaka smiled and asked.
"Ling Feng, how did you sleep last night?"
"It was alright. As expected of a wealthy family's bed, very comfortable."
"..."
Kamisato Ayato watched his sister and Ling Feng chatting so happily and felt a sense of relief. After all, Ayaka finally had a decent friend, not because of status, but because of their encounter and shared topics. However, if Ling Feng were to betray or deceive his sister's sincere feelings in the future, he would make sure to teach him a lesson.