Free Web NovelChapter 242: Chapter 197: Unspoken Feelings
"Officer, we merchants don’t have it easy. Thirteen carts should be one hundred and thirty silver coins, right?"
It wasn’t that Boss Wang was worried about the money; he was just indignant. The Southern King had always had a virtuous reputation in these parts. ’Why would she start extorting money so blatantly this year?’
The young man had been looking for an excuse to give Boss Wang a hard time, and he inwardly rejoiced at the opening. He snapped, "Oh? I say, have you paupers decided to rebel? What I say goes. What... you dare refuse to pay?"
Feng Ling had already been made uncomfortable by the young man’s greedy, lustful gaze. She now retorted angrily, "We won’t pay... What, are you going to rob us?" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Heh heh? Girlie, you really don’t know who you’re dealing with!" A savage grin spread across the young man’s lips, and he bellowed, "Men! We have people here resisting orders and refusing to pay! Get over here and take them down!"
Boss Wang grew anxious. "I’ll pay! I’ll pay, alright?!" he said, pulling two gold coins from his pouch. He stuffed them into the young man’s hand. "Here are two gold coins. Please be the bigger man and let us go!"
The young man weighed the two gold coins in his hand. The members of the surrounding caravans all watched nervously. The Tier One Great Sword Master in Boss Wang’s caravan also looked worried. These were the Southern King’s men. He wouldn’t dare fight them even if he had ten times the courage.
The greasy-haired, powdered young man sneered. "The price just went up. Ten gold coins. Hand over ten gold coins, and you can leave!"
"You..." Boss Wang nearly fainted from rage. The scorching sun in the sky seemed to grow even more venomous. Boss Wang panted heavily. "Even the Prince can’t bully people like this, can she?"
At this, Feng Ling’s eyebrows shot up. ’This started because of me. I can’t let Boss Wang get dragged into it.’ She stared coldly at the man and said, "Have you gone blind? Even your Prince wouldn’t dare be so insolent if she saw me!" As she spoke, a powerful aura emanated from her.
The greasy-haired fellow stumbled back several steps in terror. He felt as if this pretty country girl had suddenly transformed into a tigress, her lovely face now an icy mask as she stared him down.
"Y-You’re lying! The Prince would never know someone like you!"
Feng Ling’s face was like ice from the Northern Lands. She spoke in a frigid tone, "Get lost, or I’ll cut you down where you stand."
The young man felt a powerful killing intent radiating from Feng Ling and knew she wasn’t bluffing. Just looking into her eyes, he recognized a look he had only ever seen on battle-hardened soldiers who had killed before.
"Fine. Very fine. You dare threaten me? You clearly don’t care about your caravan. Hmph, just you wait for the Southern King’s retribution!" the young man muttered, turning to leave.
"Wait." Feng Ling’s voice stopped him, cold as ice. "What did you just say? Do you dare repeat it?"
"Girl, let it go," Boss Wang sighed. ’It looks like my caravan can’t come here anymore. Offending the Southern King and still hoping to do business in the south is just a pipe dream. I never would have guessed this girl was a High-tier Martial Artist. Oh, well. I’m getting old anyway. It wouldn’t be so bad to go home and enjoy a few peaceful days,’ Boss Wang thought, calling out to Feng Ling.
Feng Ling reined in her aura and shot the young man a vicious glare. "What are you waiting for? Scram!" she snapped.
Just then, a group of soldiers who had heard the young man’s shout swarmed over, armed with heavy crossbows. They took aim at every single person in the caravan.
The Great Sword Master shouted in protest, "Why should our entire caravan be implicated because of some woman of unknown origin!"
"Exactly! Who even knows who she is! I say, Officer, please hold that crossbow steady. Don’t let your hand slip! We have nothing to do with that woman!"
The people in Boss Wang’s caravan all chimed in, including the young men who had just been relentlessly trying to chat Feng Ling up.
Feng Ling’s face paled. Her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a sharp needle, a sudden, sour pang. ’So this is so-called friendship? Just moments ago, these same people were crowding around me, saying a caravan is like a family. Now, in the blink of an eye, they can say such heartless things.’
Boss Wang shot them all a furious glare. Everyone except the Great Sword Master lowered their heads in shame. But then again, faced with the powerful crossbows in the soldiers’ hands and their terrifyingly sharp bolts, how many could truly remain calm?
The young man now looked at Feng Ling with a cold smile. "So, you’re not with this caravan. In that case, I suspect you’re a fugitive. Will you come with us peacefully, or should we... arrest all of your accomplices here?"
"Officer, we already said this woman has nothing to do with us! If you’re going to arrest someone, just arrest her!" the Tier One Great Sword Master said, mustering his courage.
"You, shut your mouth!"
The greasy-haired young man roared, showing a surprising bit of authority. ’If I don’t use you fools to threaten her, why would she ever surrender without a fight?’ he thought. ’It’s a shame. The girlie was trying to help you, but you’re all too stupid to know what’s good for you!’
Feng Ling slowly unstrapped the sword from her back. The young man watched her nervously. Seeing her begin to slowly draw the blade, he roared, "You dare resist? I’ll slaughter them all!" Then he added, "If you come back with me obediently, heheh, I guarantee not a single hair on your head will be harmed!" ’And then some!’ he thought to himself.
Suddenly, Feng Ling smiled. It was a smile as pure as a snow lotus on a glacier, and it left the young man stunned. Immediately after, he heard the beautiful chiming of a wind bell. DING... DONG... DONG... Each chime seemed to strike his very heart, and vivid, joyful scenes from his childhood flashed before his eyes.
