Chapter 253: Chapter 253: A Wolf in Front and a Tiger Behind
Over in the Peng Family’s main hall, tensions were at a breaking point.
Though compensation was on the table, the exact terms were still a matter of fierce debate.
"Head of the Feng Family, I’ve made myself perfectly clear. This was Peng Yu’s personal affair. The Peng Family is only willing to offer compensation out of respect for our many years of friendship. Isn’t it unreasonable for you to make such an exorbitant demand?"
The Peng Clan Leader sneered. The group of elders at his side all had their hands on their weapons, ready to strike at his command.
The members of the Feng Family likewise stood silently beside Feng Jinchuan, weapons in hand and faces grim.
Only Feng Jinchuan himself appeared indifferent, as if he couldn’t care less.
Song Wanning’s lip twitched. Recalling what she had been told earlier, she had no choice but to step forward and say, "Peng Clan Leader, Feng Liuguang was the finest of our Feng Family’s new generation. Do you have any idea how important he was to us?"
"The amount we’re asking for is already considerate of the good relationship our two families have maintained over the years."
"And I don’t know if I should say this, but is the Peng Family completely blameless for how Peng Yu turned out? If you had reined in her behavior from the start, would things have ever gotten this far?"
Song Wanning went on the offensive, letting loose a torrent of words.
"It wasn’t long ago that Peng Yu harmed someone from the Sima Family, and you did nothing. Now someone is dead, and you’re still trying to shirk responsibility? This isn’t something you can just talk your way out of. Tell me, am I wrong?"
She tilted her chin up, her expression full of defiance.
"That’s right! It was the Peng Family’s fault to begin with. Don’t even think about getting out of it!"
"We won’t accept anything less!"
A group of mighty Divinity Transformation cultivators were now bickering like common street vendors, red-faced and utterly devoid of their usual transcendent grace.
Internally, Song Wanning pursed her lips in disdain, but her own voice was the loudest and fiercest of them all.
The Peng Family members’ faces flushed with anger at the accusations, yet they couldn’t find any solid ground to refute Song Wanning’s words, resorting only to flimsy excuses.
Soon, the two sides clashed, and the argument escalated into a physical confrontation.
At first, everyone held back, but after a few shoves, the conflict exploded.
Just as Feng Youming’s memories suggested, it was perfectly normal for a minor disagreement to erupt into a full-blown fight.
Just as the brawl was about to escalate, Song Wanning suddenly felt the ping of a Communication Talisman.
Inside her Storage Ring, the talisman from Bai Yang was vibrating insistently, urging her to check it.
Her heart sank, and an eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
She had told Bai Yang to stay put and wait. He wouldn’t be contacting her now unless something was wrong.
’What happened?’
The thought had barely formed when her Divine Soul jolted. She sensed a disturbance in the Array.
It was just a slight tremor, but she detected it immediately because of the special imprint she’d left on it.
’This is bad!’
’Someone’s at the cave!’
’Bai Yang can’t be discovered.’
Song Wanning’s expression tightened as a sense of urgency gripped her.
But with everyone locked in a heated brawl, she couldn’t possibly leave. Worse, Feng Jinchuan was watching her like a hawk, just waiting for her to act...
’I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. One wrong move and it’s all over...’
She silently clenched her fist and threw a punch at the person in front of her.
"AARGH—"
The man cried out in surprise, then immediately started cursing.
"Damn it, Feng Youming, was that a cheap shot? You bastard, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"
"Hmph. So what if I am?"
Song Wanning grabbed the man by the collar and, giving him no time to react, swung her fist at him again.
’Feng Youming practices Body Refinement, and this clone, forged from sentient clay, has excellent physical strength. Perfect for the current situation.’
’The longer I can go without using Spiritual Power, the longer I can avoid being found out.’
’But a full-scale battle is about to erupt; it’s unavoidable... Feng Jinchuan, you scheming bastard!’
Cursing internally, Song Wanning’s fist landed squarely on the cultivator opposite her.
The man hadn’t practiced Body Refinement, and getting hit by such a solid fist made him grimace in pain.
But Song Wanning was too fast. She gave him no opportunity to use his Spiritual Power, pinning him down and pummeling him relentlessly.
Her move was the final trigger, and everyone else finally erupted.
"Fuck! Don’t you push it, Feng Family!"
"We’ll beat you bastards to death! Trying to weasel your way out of paying up? Dream on!"
"If you’ve got a problem, go find Peng Yu! What are you doing picking on us?"
"Oh, we’ll get to Peng Yu. But first, we’re going to take our anger out on you!"
"..."
A dazzling array of Spells bloomed simultaneously. The Peng Family’s clan-protection Array activated, deflecting the bulk of the Mana.
Even so, the ground shook violently, as if an earth dragon were stirring from its slumber, a terrifying display of power.
People rushed out of their homes, all looking toward the Peng Family estate. What could possibly have provoked such a battle?
It sounded like they were about to tear the whole place down.
The brawl instantly intensified. Song Wanning attacked with all her might, her mind racing for a way to get through this.
At that moment, Feng Jinchuan’s gaze was like a torch, fixed on the "Feng Youming" in the crowd, whose attacks were exceptionally vicious.
"He" fought with brutal, close-quarters punches, repeatedly interrupting his opponent’s Spiritual Power and preventing any retaliation.
It was, admittedly, Feng Youming’s signature style.
But he was more interested in seeing "Feng Youming" use Spiritual Power. If he saw those familiar moves, he could finally lay his suspicions to rest.
He made no effort to hide his scrutiny, his gaze boring into Song Wanning. If something was truly wrong, "he" couldn’t possibly show no signs of it.
BOOM—
Song Wanning once again aimed a punch at her opponent. The force of the blow cut through the air like a blade.
The man had just regained his footing when he was forced to stumble backward again, barely dodging by throwing himself into a roll on the ground.
He was just about to cast a Spell when Feng Youming leaped on him, interrupting it.
This time was even more outrageous—Feng Youming straddled him and started raining down blows.
THWACK—
Fists fell like raindrops, a dense and brutal barrage that inflicted excruciating pain.
"Still talking big? You were the one spewing shit just now, weren’t you?"
"You dare to be arrogant? Your Peng Family is the one in the wrong, and you’re acting all high and mighty!"
"Watch me beat you to a pulp today!"
Song Wanning cursed as she pummeled him, creating the illusion that she was simply venting her rage. It was the only way to explain why she wasn’t using Spells.
’Besides, a good old-fashioned brawl is more satisfying anyway.’
The man being beaten was so furious he could have spat blood, his face already swollen like a pig’s.
A dignified Divinity Transformation cultivator, being humiliated like this.
"Feng Youming, get the hell off me! If you’ve got any guts, let me up and we’ll have a proper fight!"
"You’re obviously using this as an excuse to settle a personal score!!!"
"Let me go!!"
The others, hearing the sounds of the brutal fistfight, spared a moment to glance over.
A flicker of understanding passed through their eyes. That man and Feng Youming had old grievances; it made sense that Feng Youming would use this chance to vent his anger and settle a private score.
But no one could say he was in the wrong. The whole situation had devolved into chaos; who was keeping track of who was doing what?
And so, they turned back to their own fights.
