Anissa looked at Feng Zhiming with a questioning gaze, sensing that he was waiting for something to unfold.
“From now on, don’t act until I tell you to,” Feng Zhiming sent a mental transmission directly to her mind.
Anissa nodded subtly and continued sipping her tea, her posture relaxed but her senses heightened.
The three men, each exuding a menacing aura, slowly approached a table where an old man sat with a little girl who looked to be about eight years old, likely his granddaughter.
“Come with us if you know what’s good for you, old bastard,” one of the men sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
The old man glanced at the young girl beside him. She gave a small, approving nod, and together they stood and followed the men out of the restaurant, arriving at a narrow alley just next door.
Feng Zhiming and Anissa silently observed the situation from their table, letting the events unfold without interference.
“Can I ask what the three of you want with us?” The old man spoke calmly as he revealed his cultivation level—the Peak of Foundation Establishment, just a step below the Ethereal Core.
The little girl hid behind him, peeking out cautiously.
The three men smirked as they revealed their own cultivation levels, all within the Foundation Establishment realm.
“We’ll let you go, old man. Just hand over the little girl,” one of them demanded.
The old man hesitated, then sighed. “Forgive me, young lady, but for your safety, I must reveal your identity. This girl here is the sixth child of the Zhuge Clan.”
The three men merely chuckled darkly.
“We know,” one of them replied. “The Zhuge clan and its arrogance must be addressed today. Now stand aside.”
Back at the restaurant, Anissa’s eyes widened in shock. Three weaklings at the Foundation Establishment stage actually want to offend the Zhuge Clan, she thought, though she kept her focus on the unfolding scene.
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Meanwhile, Feng Zhiming continued enjoying his steak, seemingly unfazed by the tension building outside.
The old man’s expression hardened as he realized a fight was inevitable. “Who sent you? What faction dares to challenge the Zhuge Clan?”
The three men ignored his question and launched their attack.
Anissa glanced at Feng Zhiming, waiting for his signal.
He met her gaze with a slight smirk, calmly cleaning his hands in a bowl of water provided at the table. “When the old man is on his last legs and about to die, I want you to intervene,” Feng Zhiming instructed. “Leave one of the attackers barely alive, and make sure you don’t reveal that you know the little girl’s identity. Pretend she’s just a random child, not a rich heiress.”
Anissa nodded in understanding.
Time passed as the old man exchanged blows with the three attackers. Though he held his ground, it was clear he wouldn’t last much longer against their combined assault.
Feng Zhiming, meanwhile, casually picked up Anissa’s teacup and finished the last of her tea.
Anissa couldn’t help but feel baffled. Why was he such a peculiar person? It was obvious he could afford his own tea.
“Not bad, good tea,” Feng Zhiming commented, giving Anissa a thumbs-up as if she had brewed it herself.
Anissa was about to respond when he suddenly spoke again. “Now.”
Without hesitation, Anissa vanished from her seat, reappearing in the alley just as the old man was about to collapse.
Feng Zhiming slowly stood up, dropping two pieces of gold on the table before making his way out of the restaurant. It took him only ten seconds to reach the alley.
The scene before him was picture-perfect: Anissa, sword in hand, standing over the three fallen men, one of whom was barely alive. The old man and the little girl stood behind her, the girl’s eyes wide with awe.
“This old man is very grateful to the great cultivator,” the old man said, cupping his hands and bowing deeply on one knee. The little girl, still in tears, mimicked the gesture.
Anissa responded coolly, “No need for gratitude. I merely stopped these three from bullying you with numbers.”
Feng Zhiming, satisfied with how things had played out, jogged over in an exaggerated, almost out-of-character manner. “Master, you are so fast! This lowly disciple cannot keep up with you,” he exclaimed.
Anissa sighed internally. His acting was impeccable, if a bit over the top.
Feng Zhiming turned his attention to the man still alive on the ground and approached him with measured steps before delivering a swift kick to his stomach.
Anissa was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such a move from him, finding his unpredictability intriguing.
“Speak! Why did you attack these poor people, you fiend?” Feng Zhiming demanded, his tone overly dramatic.
Even Feng Zhiming had to suppress a laugh. It had been a long time since he had played such a role.
The man on the ground groaned, clearly in pain, but his eyes betrayed recognition. He had seen Feng Zhiming before, and as the memory surfaced, his expression twisted with fear.
Why did I even come here? the man thought, realizing the gravity of his situation. I’m not stupid enough to fight the Zhuge clan...
He had been about to reveal something, but then hesitated, his mind racing. Instead, he chose his words carefully. “It’s on the orders of Dao Lord Fury.”