Shen Mu's face contorted in fury, his eyes blazing with hatred. "How dare you speak to us in such a manner!" he roared, his voice quaking with rage. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the air around him seemed to ripple with barely restrained energy.
Without further warning, he lunged forward, his body erupting in a searing golden aura. His intent was as clear as it was deadly—he aimed to strike Li Wei down where he stood.
Before Shen Mu could close the distance, Zhou Tian moved with lightning speed, gripping Shen Mu's arm and yanking him back. "Control yourself!" Zhou Tian barked, his sharp eyes darting between Li Wei and Patriarch Liu Feng. His voice was low but brimming with authority. "This isn't the time for rashness. We need answers, not a bloodbath."
Zhou Tian turned his piercing gaze to Liu Feng, his expression tightening like a coiled spring. "Patriarch Liu," he said coldly, his tone as sharp as the edge of a blade, "explain why you are shielding this insolent wretch who dares to defame the Shen and Zhou clans. Who is he, and why does he enjoy your protection?"
Liu Feng's face paled, the relentless pressure from the two young masters pressing down on him like an avalanche. His mind raced, scrambling for a way to defuse the situation without further inflaming their wrath. He opened his mouth, words teetering on the edge of his tongue, but before he could speak, Li Wei stepped forward.
"Ah, the mighty Shen and Zhou clans," Li Wei drawled, his lips curving into a mocking sneer. "So quick to bark, yet so pitifully inept when it comes to biting. You strut around like roosters in a henhouse, mistaking your noise for power."
The words landed like a slap, cutting through the already fragile tension in the hall.
Shen Mu's body trembled with rage, his aura flaring brighter. With an enraged roar, he summoned a blazing fist of fire, its radiant energy crackling with untamed ferocity. He hurled it at Li Wei, the flames roaring as they tore through the air.
Gasps echoed across the hall as the fiery attack streaked toward its target.
But Li Wei didn't flinch. With a swift, almost disdainful motion, he raised his hand and swatted the fire aside, the impact creating a shockwave that rattled the room. The flames dissipated harmlessly, but the force of Li Wei's counterattack sent Shen Mu hurtling backward. His body slammed into a wooden pillar with such force that it splintered, the resounding crack echoing through the hall.
A stunned silence descended. Shen Mu crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain as the once-imposing young master was reduced to a pitiful heap.
Zhou Tian's face turned ashen, his earlier confidence evaporating as he stared at Li Wei.
"Is that it?" Li Wei taunted, his tone dripping with condescension. "You came here to make demands, yet you crumble at the first sign of resistance. How utterly pathetic."
Zhou Tian hesitated, then rushed to Shen Mu's side, helping him to his feet. His hands trembled, but his voice was steady as he whispered, "This isn't over, Li Wei. You've made powerful enemies today."
Li Wei smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Enemies? Please. You're nothing more than deluded children, clinging to your so-called authority. But by all means, run along and tell your elders. I'm sure they'll be just as unimpressive."
Liu Feng stepped forward, his tone heavy with forced calm. "Young masters, let's not escalate this further. We can find a way to resolve this conflict without resorting to violence."
Zhou Tian's glare hardened, but he nodded reluctantly. "Very well, Patriarch Liu. For now, we'll hear what you have to say. But make no mistake—this insult will not go unanswered."
Before Liu Feng could respond, Li Wei's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Bring your elders, your ancestors, even your gods, for all I care," he said, his grin widening. "None of them are worthy to polish my boots."
The hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Zhou Tian's pupils contracted, a murderous gleam flashing in his eyes. His voice was low, trembling with suppressed fury. "You will regret those words, Li Wei," he hissed, the threat hanging in the air like a storm cloud.
Li Wei chuckled, utterly unfazed. "I doubt it, Zhou Tian. But feel free to prove me wrong—if you survive the attempt."
Shen Mu, still struggling to recover, spat a mouthful of blood, his face a mask of humiliation and fury. "You'll pay for this!" he wheezed, his voice hoarse but defiant.
Liu Feng cleared his throat, his expression grave as he stepped into the center of the room. "Young masters, I urge you to reconsider your approach. Li Wei is not someone to be trifled with lightly. His power surpasses what you've seen today."
Gasps rippled through the elders. Chen Xi and Liu Mei exchanged incredulous looks, their disbelief mirrored in their expressions.
'Has Father lost his mind?' Liu Mei thought, her frustration barely contained. 'Defending this arrogant fool after all the trouble he's caused? What is he thinking?'
Chen Xi's telepathic voice cut through Liu Feng's mind, laced with anger. "Husband, have you truly gone mad? Are you willing to sacrifice our clan's honor for this man? Explain yourself!"
Liu Feng met her gaze briefly, his expression unreadable.
For his part, Li Wei simply smiled, his thoughts a mixture of amusement and calculation. 'The patriarch sees the opportunity, just as I expected,' he mused. 'The question is, will he seize it fully?'
Zhou Tian's expression darkened further. "You expect us to believe this nonsense?" he snarled. "That this... this nobody possesses power beyond our comprehension? Absurd!"
Before anyone could respond, Zhou Tian lunged at Li Wei, his sword flashing as he aimed a killing blow. Shen Mu followed close behind, his aura igniting as he poured every ounce of his remaining strength into the attack.
But Li Wei moved faster. In a blur, he sidestepped Zhou Tian's strike and countered with a devastating punch that sent him crashing into the far wall. Shen Mu's fire-infused assault met a similar fate, effortlessly deflected by Li Wei, who sent the young master sprawling once more.
The room descended into chaos.
"Enough!" Liu Feng's voice thundered, silencing the cacophony. His hand swept through the air, activating the hall's defensive array. Shen Mu and Zhou Tian were enveloped in a glowing force and unceremoniously hurled out of the hall, their protests fading into the distance.
As the array deactivated, a tense quiet settled over the room.
Li Wei dusted off his sleeves, his expression calm and smug. "Well, that was invigorating," he said, turning to Liu Feng. "I trust you'll see the wisdom in my presence now."
Liu Feng sighed, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his shoulders. "I only hope this gamble pays off," he muttered.
The hall remained silent, the elders too stunned to speak. Opportunity and disaster hung in the air, intertwined like the fates of the clans themselves.