Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 419 The Quietly Approaching Danger

Shocked, Cao Ling, seeing Lin Feng stop talking, prepared to leave quietly. But just then, something strange happened. She watched as the food and water she had placed on the ground slowly floated up, as if gently lifted by a pair of invisible, gentle hands, and then flew steadily towards Lin Feng.

Cao Ling covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief. But soon, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of joy. She knew that this was Lin Feng expressing his gratitude in his own unique way. Perhaps he was not as cold and heartless as he appeared. Beneath his cold exterior, perhaps he hid a warm and kind heart.

The haze in Cao Ling's heart instantly dissipated. With a small sense of surprise and satisfaction, she turned and walked briskly back. Meanwhile, Lin Feng accepted the food and water that floated to him and began to eat silently. As he ate, he slowly raised his head and gazed up at the vast, starry sky. The stars twinkled, like dazzling gems inlaid in the sky, mysterious and beautiful.

The faint light of dawn, like strands of golden threads, passed through the cracks in the towering stone walls on both sides of the canyon and gently fell on the winding Cao family caravan.

A night of rest had eased everyone's fatigue somewhat, and now, facing the breaking light of dawn, they set out on their journey once more. Lin Feng, as usual, walked at the front of the group with a steady, yet somewhat solitary pace, like a cold mountain, silently guiding the group's path forward.

Cao Xun raised his eyes, his gaze settling on Lin Feng's tall yet distant figure. He frowned slightly, a complex expression flickering across his eyes: curiosity, confusion, and, more than anything, helplessness. Then, he gently shook his head, seeming to feel both helplessness and a touch of awe at Lin Feng's unfathomable demeanor. Throughout this journey, Lin Feng had been like a veil of mystery, lingering in everyone's minds, elusive yet daring to dispel its veil of mystery.

The caravan slowly moved along the canyon. The cliffs on either side were steep and rugged, their jagged rocks like the fangs of a ferocious beast, exuding a cold, oppressive feeling. On either side of the canyon, two mysterious groups quietly lurked. They were all dressed in uniform black garb, the fabric thick yet lightweight, fluttering gently in the breeze, creating a subtle rustling sound like the venom of a venomous snake hidden in the darkness. The black veils covering their faces concealed their features, revealing only a pair of eyes. Their gazes were as sharp as hawks, piercing with coldness and ruthlessness, as if they could see through all disguises and pierce the heart.

The two leaders, both massive figures, stood at the front of their respective groups, like ghostly leaders lurking in the shadows. One of them fixed his gaze on the approaching Cao's men. When he realized the group numbered over twenty more than they had anticipated, he was startled, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He subconsciously narrowed his eyes, frowning slightly as he pondered.

However, this suspicion only flashed through his mind, and he quickly dismissed it, speculating that these extra people might simply be ordinary merchants who had heard of the Cao family caravan's reputation and wanted to join them to trade and share in the profits. With this thought, he raised his hand slightly, silencing his men behind him. Lowering his voice, he ordered in a low, chilling voice, "Shut up! Don't make a sound! Wait until they get closer."

The sound was like the sobbing coming from the Nine Nether Hell, making the surrounding air seem a little colder. Upon hearing the order, the subordinates gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes revealing the excitement and cruelty of the upcoming hunt, quietly waiting for the prey to step into the trap they had carefully set.

Meanwhile, the Cao family and Lin Feng, trapped in the canyon, were completely unaware of the impending danger. Cao Ling walked briskly beside her father, Cao Xun, her face brimming with youthful vigor, her lips curled slightly upward in an innocent smile.

Cao Ling occasionally looked up at the sliver of sky above the canyon, her eyes filled with curiosity about this unknown journey. From time to time, she turned to look at her father, her voice clear and crisp like a mountain lark: "Dad, do you think we can successfully hand over all the goods when we get to Lingyuan City this time? I heard a lot of foreign merchants have been coming to the city lately, and I'm afraid business is going to be tough."

Cao Xun looked at his daughter lovingly and responded with a smile, "Ling'er, don't worry. Our Cao family has been operating in Lingyuan City for many years and has an excellent reputation. Those old customers are still waiting for our good stuff." The father and daughter chatted with each other, and the Cao family guards and sand bandits behind them were also talking in low voices, either talking about what they saw and heard along the way, or sighing about the wonders of fate, making the originally quiet canyon have a lively atmosphere.

Just as everyone was immersed in this seemingly peaceful atmosphere, danger arrived without warning. At first, only a slight rolling sound came from above the canyon. The sound was so thin, like a muffled thunder from afar, easily drowned out by the laughter of the crowd.

However, in an instant, the sound surged like a surging tide, rapidly amplifying and rolling in, like a mighty army galloping through, shaking the entire canyon slightly. Everyone was stunned at first, their smiles instantly frozen, and then they all looked up in astonishment. Above the canyon, they saw countless huge rocks falling like a dense rain.

The stones were of different sizes, some as small as millstones, and some as big as houses. They brought with them a powerful impact force and a whistling sound, smashing towards everyone like the judgment of Doomsday.

The first to notice anything unusual was naturally the ever-perceptive Lin Feng. Like a vigilant cheetah, he jerked his head up the instant the stone began to roll. A flash of cold light flashed in his deep eyes, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, sharp and icy. He stared silently at the cascading boulder, his brow furrowed in a brief, yet profound, moment of contemplation.

Although a hint of surprise surged through his heart at this moment, he quickly calmed down and began to analyze the sudden crisis in his mind, considering a response. His eyes grew deeper and deeper, like a bottomless pool, focused and calm, as if everything around him had vanished, leaving only him and the vast boulders in the world, engaged in a silent but life-or-death confrontation.