Chapter 89: Setting Up Estate Defense And Threatening Prisoners

The aroma of slow-roasted meat and rich herbs filled the dining hall as the three of them sat down around the wooden table. Lu Feng took his first bite, his eyes brightening slightly at the incredible depth of flavor, while Ye Chenxue silently enjoyed her meal with her usual quiet grace.

As expected, the main dish was so delicious that the plates were wiped clean in no time. When Lu Feng looked up, expecting a second serving, Han Lin innocently pointed toward the basket of freshly baked bread and the bowl of fresh fruit set on the side.

Both Lu Feng and Ye Chenxue made do with the bread to fill up the remaining empty space in their stomachs, unaware of Han Lin’s playful scheme.

Once dinner concluded, Han Lin cleared the table and retired to her quarters, wearing her new dragon pendant and protective hairpin with pride. Ye Chenxue gave a brief nod to Lu Feng before returning to her private room to resume her meditation and continue absorbing the remaining Ice-Blooded Blossom Pills.

Left alone in the quiet main hall, Lu Feng stood up and stretched his shoulders. Knowing that night had fully fallen over Crimson Vale, he decided to take the first watch and check on the estate’s security.

His first stop was the secluded holding room near the training hall where the two captive intruders were kept. He pushed open the heavy wooden door, the hinges creaking softly in the dark space. Bound tightly with spiritual suppression ropes, the two men flinched as the lantern light fell across their bruised faces.

Looking down at their fearful expressions, a cold, dark smile formed on Lu Feng’s lips. He leaned against the stone doorframe, crossing his arms as he decided to make their remaining time thoroughly uncomfortable.

"I have good news and bad news," Lu Feng said smoothly, his voice echoing in the small room. "The good news is that one of you will actually get to leave this estate alive and return to your gang. Naturally, that is on the strict condition that you keep your mouth shut about my involvement in your group’s disappearance."

The two captives blinked, a sudden spark of desperate hope lighting up in their eyes. But before either of them could speak, Lu Feng’s smile widened slightly, turning noticeably colder.

"The bad news is that the other one of you will be dying here soon enough," Lu Feng continued casually. "And just so we are completely clear—if either of you tries to kill the other before the decision is made to force my hand, I will personally guarantee that the survivor dies a slow, excruciatingly painful death instead."

The faint glimmer of hope in the room instantly vanished, replaced by a suffocating dread. The two men turned to look at each other, their eyes filled with suspicion, fear, and complete helplessness. They couldn’t fight each other to claim the single spot to live, nor could they bargain.

"I haven’t decided which one of you gets to walk yet," Lu Feng added offhandedly as he turned toward the doorway. "Though, if you prove to be completely useless, perhaps Miss Ye will handle the execution herself. I believe you both saw what she did to your colleague yesterday?"

At the mention of Ye Chenxue’s name, the hearts of both intruders sank into absolute despair. The memory of her cold, ruthless strike freezing their companion solid was still fresh in their minds. The thought of facing her again sent a visible shiver down their spines.

Leaving the two captives frozen in agonized suspense, wondering who among them would be chosen to die, Lu Feng quietly stepped out of the holding room and pulled the heavy door shut behind him.

Next, Lu Feng retrieved the wooden box containing the Ancient Turtle Shield of Balance array from his inventory. He stepped out into the cool night air, heading toward the outer boundaries of the property to set up their new defenses.

The estate covered a vast area, and its four corners sat in distinctly different surroundings.

Lu Feng walked to the first corner near the northern edge, where a clear, quiet pool reflected the moonlight. Kneeling by the damp earth near the water’s edge, he dug a small, neat hole into the soil, placed the first heavy array disc inside, and covered it firmly with earth.

He then moved to the eastern boundary, where an old, barn-like wooden structure stood quietly near the perimeter wall. Navigating past the tall timber frames, he located the exact corner of the property line, dug the second hole, and buried the second formation disc deep beneath the stone foundation.

The third corner sat along the southern wall, completely covered by a thick patch of wild bushes and overgrown shrubs. Lu Feng stepped through the dense leaves, cleared away a patch of soil near the root lines, and buried the third disc out of sight. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Finally, he walked over to the western corner near the main gates, completing the final installation by burying the fourth disc securely in the ground.

With all four anchor points established, Lu Feng pulled the fifth disc—the master control disc—from his inner robe pocket. The control disc was carved from smooth, dark stone, featuring two distinct, raised metallic runes on its surface.

He pressed his thumb against the first rune. Instantly, a subtle, invisible wave of energy rippled out across the entire estate. High above, a faint, translucent grid resembling the pattern of a massive turtle shell flared into existence for a brief second before vanishing completely into the air, seamlessly sealing the entire property within its protective boundary. He then touched the second rune, and the subtle hum of the barrier smoothly deactivated.

Lu Feng nodded in quiet satisfaction, a genuine smile returning to his face. The master control disc was purely mechanical and rune-based—it required no Qi input from the user to operate. That meant Han Lin could easily activate or deactivate the whole estate’s defensive array whenever she needed to.

With the new security system fully set up and verified, Lu Feng tucked the control disc safely into his pocket and walked back across the dark courtyard.

Returning to the holding room, he sat down silently on a wooden chair directly opposite the two terrified captives, resting his hands on his knees as he watched over them in total, unyielding silence.