Chapter 26: Do You Dare to Judge?
Outside the Mu family residence, a group of people strode forward with an imposing air. There were more than ten of them, led by a middle-aged man clad in a black robe, exuding a sense of authority. Behind him, several men carried a stretcher, upon which lay a yellow-clad youth missing an arm—Huang Yi.
As the group approached, the guards at the Mu family gate stepped forward to block their path. One of them quickly bowed and greeted them with a smile. "Master Huang, what brings you here today?"
"Hmph! Move aside and fetch Mu Hai for me!" Huang Tai, the leader, snorted coldly. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the guard flying several meters before storming into the Mu residence.
The other guards, stunned by the display, scrambled into the residence without daring to resist further.
Before long, Mu Hai, accompanied by several family members, came out to meet the uninvited guests.
"Ah, what an esteemed visitor! Master Huang, what an unexpected pleasure! To what do we owe the honor today? Oh, what happened to young Master Huang?" Mu Hai said, greeting them with a warm smile, though his gaze quickly fell on Huang Yi's missing arm.
Fu Bo, Mu Hai's trusted steward, immediately whispered through a Yuan energy transmission, "Master, this young man caused trouble with Young Master Feng yesterday and was injured in the process. I forgot to inform you amid all the chaos."
Mu Hai's expression darkened slightly but remained composed. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Putting on a mask of concern, Mu Hai stepped closer with a furrowed brow. "Please, Master Huang, let's discuss this inside. There must be some misunderstanding—perhaps even an attempt to frame someone else."
"Frame? What kind of nonsense is that?" Huang Yi, seething with anger, pointed an accusatory finger at Fu Bo. "This old man was present! He saw everything! If it wasn't Mu family people, then who else could it have been?"
Fu Bo's eyes turned icy. "Young Master Huang, I am your elder. Watch your tongue!"
The aura of a seasoned Condensed Qi Realm expert rippled from Fu Bo, making the tea on the table tremble and pressing Huang Yi into silence with a pale face.
"Yi'er, mind your manners," Huang Tai barked, releasing his own imposing aura to shield his son from Fu Bo's pressure.
The tension in the room grew thick, with the two auras clashing subtly in the air. The guards and attendants trembled under the unseen weight.
Finally, Huang Tai turned his cold gaze toward Mu Hai. "Let's not mince words, Mu Hai. Hand over the culprit who harmed my son, and we'll consider this matter resolved."
Mu Hai sipped his tea slowly before replying with an equally calm but resolute tone. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."
Huang Tai's expression darkened further. "What do you mean? Are you harboring the assailant?"
"It's not about hiding anyone," Mu Hai replied. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't hand him over. And Huang Tai, neither you nor I have the authority to deal with him. If anything were to happen to him, it wouldn't just be our families that suffer—both of us would be finished."
Huang Tai froze, frowning deeply. "What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering, Mu Hai gestured to one of his attendants. "Bring Young Master Feng here."
The hall fell silent as the servant left. Huang Tai, still stewing, pondered the weight of Mu Hai's cryptic words.
Moments later, Mu Feng entered the hall, his presence immediately commanding attention. Despite his youthful appearance, his confident stride and the iron-willed aura of a soldier marked him as no ordinary boy. Beside him was the towering figure of Mu Zhong.
As Mu Feng stepped inside, every member of the Mu family present rose to their feet in unison, bowing respectfully. "Young Master Feng!"
"Greetings, everyone." Mu Feng nodded slightly in acknowledgment before turning to Mu Hai. "Uncle Hai, you summoned me?"
At the sight of Mu Feng, Huang Yi's rage reignited. "Father! It's him! He's the one who cut off my arm! Him and that brute standing next to him!"
Huang Tai's sharp eyes flickered with suspicion as he noted the respect Mu Feng commanded from the Mu family elders. It was far from the treatment an ordinary branch family member would receive.
"Oh, it's you," Mu Feng said casually, glancing at Huang Yi. "Your arm hasn't healed yet? Are you here for more punishment?"
Huang Yi recoiled slightly under Mu Feng's unrelenting gaze, his mind flashing back to the cold precision with which this boy had severed his arm.
"Mu Feng, what's this all about?" Mu Hai asked, his tone light, as if the matter were trivial.
"Not much to say," Mu Feng replied nonchalantly. "Young Master Huang here decided to have his men attack me on the street. I simply gave him a fitting lesson—cutting off one arm instead of taking his life."
Huang Tai's restrained fury erupted. "Such arrogance! You maim my son and speak so lightly of it? Does the Mu family think they're above the law?"
As he spoke, a crushing aura radiated from Huang Tai, aimed squarely at Mu Feng. The oppressive force made it difficult to breathe.
But Mu Zhong stepped forward, unleashing his own aura to shield Mu Feng. The tension crackled in the air as the two Condensed Qi experts faced off.
Mu Feng remained unshaken, meeting Huang Tai's glare with cold resolve. "If I'd been in the capital instead of here, your son wouldn't even be alive to complain. I suggest you think carefully before making threats you can't back up."
Huang Tai's expression twisted. "You... are you from the Mu family's main branch?"
Before Mu Feng could respond, Mu Hai interjected with a faint smile. "Master Huang, let me clarify. This is Young Master Mu Feng, son of General Mu Tian. Do you really think you can dictate terms?"
The weight of those words struck like a thunderclap. Huang Tai's face drained of color, his arrogance replaced by nervous deference. Rising hastily, he bowed. "My apologies, Young Master Mu Feng. I did not realize who I was addressing. Please forgive any offense."
"Father, what are you—?" Huang Yi stammered, utterly confused by the sudden shift in his father's demeanor.
The hall grew silent once more as the implications sank in. Mu Feng had not only proven his strength but also solidified his authority as the son of a legendary figure. No one, not even Huang Tai, dared challenge him now.