Chapter 162: If You Want War, Then War It Is!

"Ha, that is indeed an exaggeration!"

Seeing Jin Sheng smile silently, Chu Feng also gave a slight smile and said in a low voice, "However, judging from this, it seems not many of the clansmen are truly grieving or angered by Dong Zhe's death?"

"Yes, Brother Chu Feng!"

Yu Zui suddenly chimed in, speaking softly, "Among the male clan, although Dong Zhe was the supreme leader with the most formidable strength, the clansmen felt more fear than respect toward him. Toward Leader Yun Fei, however, they feel more respect than fear."

"Ah! Respect and fear are two different things. With your explanation, little sister, I now understand what kind of presence Dong Zhe and Yun Feiそれぞれ hold in the hearts of the male clan warriors!" Chu Feng nodded and said.

While they were talking, Deacon Chen Feng led Chu Feng and the others through a stretch of icy domain to the entrance of a subterranean ice cave.

Standing here, an intense wave of cold air surged outward directly from the cavern.

Without delay, Chen Feng took the lead, and the four of them followed him into the ice cave, which measured about a zhang in circumference.

Following the pure ice steps deeper underground, the cold grew increasingly severe. The entire cavern was filled with swirling chill, thick as a dense fog, making it impossible to gauge the true scale of the cavern.

Once they reached the end of the solid ice stairway, the frigid mist thinned slightly. A zhang away, three men completely enveloped in frost sat atop a massive, round platform carved of pure ice.

Clearly, this gleaming, freezing platform was the coldest spot within the entire ice cave.

Of the three men, two wore the attire of male clan deacons.

The third, a young man in his late teens, was dressed in a sharp, snowy-white outfit. Though his features were ordinary, his bearing was visibly a cut above the two deacons. He sat unmoving upon the ice platform, constantly repelling the piercing cold radiating around him.

"Young Master Yun Fei, the three revered women of the female clan and Chu Feng have come here to discuss an important matter with you!" Chen Feng stepped forward and said softly.

"What?"

Yun Fei snapped his eyes open, and upon seeing one man and three women just a zhang away, he could not help but be greatly startled.

"It really is the three revered women and Chu Feng? What brings you here? Where is Young Master Dong Zhe?" Yun Fei asked in astonishment.

"Young Master Dong Zhe has already been slain by Chu Feng! If you wish to know the details, come outside and speak!"

With those words, Heng Mei turned and walked back toward the cave's exit.

Chu Feng cast a deep glance at Yun Fei without saying much more, and the group of one man and three women all stepped out of the freezing cavern.

The Ice Nether Cavern truly lived up to its name, holding an extreme chill within. Although all four of them could withstand the bone-chilling air, there was no reason to stay inside and suffer the cold alongside Yun Fei, needlessly expending inner Qi just to fend off the frost.

Shortly after Chu Feng and the three sisters of Heng Mei emerged, Yun Fei, Chen Feng, and the other two deacons hurried out as well.

Meanwhile, the male clan warriors who had been trailing behind earlier now surged in from all directions, eager to witness the situation firsthand.

At the entrance of the Ice Nether Cavern, several hundred people had quickly gathered. The male clan warriors formed tight concentric circles, sealing off the entire area completely.

"Grand Revered Woman, have Young Master Dong Zhe and the thirteen deacons under his command truly all perished at the hands of Chu Feng?"

Yun Fei, still trailing wisps of cold mist, asked Heng Mei with a look of utter shock.

"That is correct!"

Heng Mei nodded. "Dong Zhe led thirteen deacons, blazing with murderous intent, into our female clan's territory to avenge his younger brother's death upon Chu Feng. As a result, every single one of them was struck down by Chu Feng. That is the whole story of what happened! We have come to you now to clarify this matter and then discuss restoring trade between our two tribes!"

Hearing this, Yun Fei's expression twisted slightly.

Shock, sorrow, despair, and melancholy flickered across his face.

After a long moment, Yun Fei's gaze suddenly shifted to Chu Feng.

Chu Feng was also staring right back at him without blinking.

"Chu Feng, I challenge you to a duel!"

Abruptly, Yun Fei spoke these words to Chu Feng.

Without a word in response, Chu Feng turned to Yu Zui beside him and said, "Listen to that, little sister. The very first thing he says to me is a challenge to the death. Tell me, should I accept this fight, or not?"

"Brother Chu Feng,"

Yu Zui gently grasped Chu Feng's wrist, then turned her gaze to Yun Fei and said, "Young Master Yun Fei, are you going to issue a challenge to Brother Chu Feng right out of the gate without distinguishing right from wrong, or good from evil? Dong Zhe is indeed dead, but he was the one who provoked this conflict!"

"First, when Dong Zhe heard that Chu Feng was traveling from the Nine Mountains and Eight Veins to the female clan, he had his younger brother Dong Zhuo send men to ambush him in the Great Snowy Mountains, attempting a halfway assassination. Second, Dong Zhuo tried to forcibly seize the Ice Nether Mother Shell that Brother Chu Feng won for our female clan. It was he who initiated the provocation and met his end at Brother Chu Feng's hands!"

"I, Yu Zui, have never spoken ill of anyone behind their back, let alone spoken ill of the deceased. But looking purely at the facts before us, I dare say that both Dong Zhe and Dong Zhuo brought their deaths upon themselves by crossing Brother Chu Feng!"

Though Yu Zui usually spoke in soft, gentle tones, her reasoning now rang clear and forceful, carrying an inherent dignity that commanded respect.

"Yun Fei, Sister Yu Zui has said so much to you—do you accept this reason or not? Let me warn you, even if you refuse to listen to reason and insist on fighting Brother Chu Feng, you are no match for him! Brother Chu Feng's ultimate technique is called 'One Bird-Man, One Pit.' Once you experience it, it will be too late to beg for mercy!"

Jin Sheng also stepped forward a few paces and said loudly to Yun Fei.

Yun Fei let out a long sigh and said, "What you say is true! Both Dong Zhe and Dong Zhuo brought their deaths upon themselves. However, I am one of the two pillars of the male clan. Now that Dong Zhe has fallen, how can I remain indifferent? Today, even though I know I am no match for him, I must fight Chu Feng. Win or lose, dead or alive, I must provide an accounting for the fallen Dong Zhe!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the surrounding male clan warriors erupted into a clamor of whispered discussions.

"Young Master Yun Fei, you must not! Since we acknowledge that Dong Zhe and his brother brought this upon themselves, why throw yourself against a stone and fight Chu Feng?"

"Indeed! Chu Feng's strength is unfathomable. It is said he can slay top-tier experts at the tenth stage of Body Refining. Young Master Yun Fei, even if you fight, you are definitely not his match!"

"Young Master Yun Fei's intention is to give an accounting to Dong Zhe—and to the entire clan—through this battle with Chu Feng! While this sentiment is touching, doing this is simply not worth it!"

The surrounding warriors chattered endlessly among themselves.

Although everyone understood Yun Fei's perspective, not a single clansman stepped forward to explicitly voice support for this duel.

Clearly, anyone who stood up to support Yun Fei in this fight would be tantamount to supporting his death.

"My fellow clansmen, there is no need to dissuade me! My mind is made up. I will fight Chu Feng!" Yun Fei declared loudly.

"Very well, if you want to fight, then we fight!"

Chu Feng immediately replied.