Chapter 89: Rising in Fury

A murderous air hung over Xiong Wu’s face as he said, “Uncle Master Han, you jest! I am perfectly satisfied with the food and wine. The one I am not satisfied with is not anyone else, but you!”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Han Mo froze for a moment. The others were equally baffled, all turning to look at Xiong Wu with strange expressions.

“Nephew Xiong, if you have something to say, say it plainly,” Han Mo said in a deep voice.

Xiong Wu gave a cold snort and declared loudly, “Uncle Master Han, back at the Mu Family of Heavenly Mechanism, my father and Chu Feng agreed to a decisive battle four months later. Was it not you who personally proposed that agreement?”

“Yes, that is correct. What is wrong with that?” Han Mo asked.

“If that is so, then what is the meaning of Master Lei now promising his daughter to Chu Feng?” Xiong Wu demanded sharply.

Han Mo frowned even more deeply, his tone turning colder. “Nephew Xiong, what a peculiar thing to say. If Master Lei wishes to marry his daughter to Chu Feng, what has that to do with you? And what has it to do with the agreement for the duel?”

“Uncle Master Han, I think you understand perfectly well and are only pretending not to,” Xiong Wu said with a cold laugh. “When the agreement was made, the terms were clear. Before the day of the duel, our Terror Gate would not harm Chu Feng, nor lay a finger on him. And when that day arrived, whether it was the Mu Family of Heavenly Mechanism or the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall, no outsider was to interfere. The grievance between Terror Gate and Chu Feng was to be settled face to face, between Terror Gate and Chu Feng alone. Am I right or not?”

“You are,” Han Mo nodded.

“Very well then. If Master Lei now gives his daughter to Chu Feng, then Chu Feng becomes the son-in-law of your Wind and Thunder Martial Hall. When the day of the duel comes, our Terror Gate will certainly kill Chu Feng. Would that not amount to killing Master Lei’s son-in-law? Then the grudge between Terror Gate and Chu Feng would be dragged onto the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall as well. Will this ever end?” Xiong Wu cried.

Han Mo gave a cold, mocking laugh and shook his head. “Now I understand what you mean. Nephew Xiong, I truly did not expect you to be so adept at twisting reason.”

“Twisting reason? How is it twisted?” Xiong Wu shot back.

“Nephew Xiong, when the agreement for the duel was made, nowhere was it stated that before its appointed day Chu Feng absolutely could not take a wife, or absolutely could not have children. To make such a muddled nuisance of yourself over this matter is truly beneath dignity,” Han Mo said icily.

The moment those words were spoken, the great hall erupted again. Warriors from every side voiced their opinions all at once.

“In my view, Uncle Master Han is right. The meaning of the duel agreement is simply that neither side may seek outside help. Does that mean Young Master Chu is not allowed to marry, or even make friends? That would be absurd!”

“Exactly. Those few months before the duel were meant to allow Young Master Chu to build up his own strength. Whether through friendship or marriage, these are both ways of strengthening oneself. If he can neither marry nor make allies, then what meaning does the duel agreement even have?”

“Heh, if you ask me, for Xiong Wu to make such a fuss over this now—could it be that Terror Gate has seen how quickly Chu Feng is growing and has become afraid?”

“Leave aside the duel agreement. Just look at this man named Xiong trying to obstruct the marriage of Young Master Chu and Miss Lei. He is truly detestable. If I were not restraining myself, I would have already made him taste my sword!”

For a time, the male and female warriors throughout the hall talked all at once. Aside from the two or three people from Terror Gate, almost without exception they all took Han Mo and Chu Feng’s side, while loudly condemning Xiong Wu’s interference.

Hearing the criticism and reproach from all around him, Xiong Wu’s face did not change. He said, “No matter how you put it, the core meaning of the duel agreement is only one thing: until the day of the duel, no third-party power is allowed to shelter Chu Feng. Yet your Wind and Thunder Martial Hall is shielding him by every possible means. That is a violation of the agreement.”

Han Mo shook his head. “On that point, you may set your mind at ease. On the day of the duel, our Wind and Thunder Martial Hall will absolutely not protect Chu Feng.”

Xiong Wu gave a cold laugh. “Uncle Master Han, do you take me for a three-year-old child? You say now that you will not protect him, but when the time comes, if our Terror Gate kills Chu Feng, you may simply find any excuse to make a move against us. Would that not leave Terror Gate beset on all sides?”

Though only eighteen, merely two or three years older than Chu Feng, Xiong Wu was no fool. At the very least, he could see the stakes clearly enough.

Indeed, when the day of the duel arrived a few months later, all would be well enough if Chu Feng destroyed Terror Gate. But if, by misfortune, he were killed by Terror Gate, how could the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall possibly swallow the fury of having its son-in-law slain? And since Chu Feng was also one of the honored names on the gratitude register of the Mu Family of Heavenly Mechanism, that family too, whether from public obligation or private feeling, would never let the matter rest.

Thus, if the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Mu Family of Heavenly Mechanism were to join forces and press charges against Terror Gate, then let alone one Terror Gate—even two Terror Gates would be unable to bear it. Extermination would be a very real danger.

And that was precisely what Xiong Wu was thinking: no matter what arguments he had to use, under no circumstances could he allow Chu Feng to become the son-in-law of the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall. After already gaining the support of the Mu Family of Heavenly Mechanism, Chu Feng must not be allowed to attach himself to yet another formidable power.

Han Mo shook his head again. “Nephew Xiong, I have already made myself very clear. What you choose to think is your business; I cannot interfere. But no matter what you think, if Master Lei wishes to give his daughter to Chu Feng, that is not something you can prevent.”

“You—”

Xiong Wu was so enraged that for a moment he was struck speechless.

At present, Xiong Wu’s strongest weapon was not his fists, but his tongue. If he wanted to prevent Chu Feng from becoming the son-in-law of the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall, he could only try to force the matter with words. To rely on brute force to ruin it would be nothing less than courting death.

Seeing that Chu Feng had said nothing all this while, Xiong Wu suddenly had a flash of inspiration in his anger and said, “Chu Feng, if you truly have courage, if you truly have the confidence to stand against Terror Gate, then do not cling to the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall like some great tree for shelter. If you borrow the power of the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall, then no matter what you do, it is nothing but a fox borrowing the tiger’s might. It is not your own true ability.”

The instant he said this, before Chu Feng could reply, the various warriors in the hall began discussing heatedly once more.

“Oh my, oh my, this Xiong Wu of Terror Gate is truly shameless. He wants to seize every advantage for himself, yet still speaks as though he were perfectly justified. How disgraceful,” Tang Xicui said, shaking her head as she looked at Xiong Wu in utter contempt.

“Isn’t that so? Young Master Chu is challenging the entire Xiong family of Terror Gate by his own strength alone. Whether they are heroes or cowards, the Xiong family already holds an overwhelming advantage in numbers. And even with such a great advantage, they are still afraid it is not enough. That is cowardice indeed,” Sha Jianhai laughed loudly.

“For Xiong Wu to speak this way is proof of fear and trembling in his heart. I daresay he deeply regrets it now—regrets ever making an enemy of Young Master Chu in the first place. Otherwise, why would he be living in such a nightmare?” Ge Zhong said with a cold smile.

Listening to the mockery and rebuke of the surrounding warriors, Xiong Wu’s face flushed green, then purple. He forcibly held in his anger and said to Chu Feng, “Chu Feng, what do you say?”

Chu Feng smiled and shook his head. “Xiong Wu, there is no need for you to be afraid, and no need to provoke me with words. Rest easy. On the day of the duel a few months from now, your father and son of the Xiong family will hardly be enough for me to kill by myself. Even if others wished to lend a hand, I would stop them.”

“Oh? Those are your own words?” Xiong Wu pressed at once.

“That is right.” Chu Feng nodded. “Take that fearful heart of yours and settle it back in your belly. But as for Master Lei wishing to give Miss Lei to me now—that is a matter between Miss Lei and myself. Yet here you are, sticking your hand into it. Why do you not find a puddle and take a good look at yourself? What are you, really? Less than nothing.”

“Haha! Xiong Wu, Xiong Wu—do you really think yourself so formidable? You should take Chu Feng’s advice and find somewhere to look at yourself in a puddle. Then you can see whether you amount to anything at all—or not even that!”

Fan Qianjun at the neighboring table had long been unable to restrain himself while watching Xiong Wu stir up trouble. Now, catching the look Han Mo cast his way, he immediately burst into loud laughter and abuse.