Chapter 20: A Strong Master Breeds No Weak Servants

Hearing the call from behind him, Chu Feng did not stop walking, but Mi Xin Jian suddenly reacted as if struck by lightning. With a swift movement, he darted in front of Chu Feng.

"Boy, didn't you hear someone calling you? Stand still!"

With a sharp sound, Mi Xin Jian blocked Chu Feng's path. After his shout, his long sword left its sheath, the tip aimed directly at Chu Feng's chest.

Chu Feng halted, glaring at Mi Xin Jian, who resembled a vicious hound.

"Young Master Lin Shan!"

At that moment, the woman in yellow who had called out to Chu Feng arrived before them, addressing Mi Xin Jian, "Brother Mi, what are you doing? Put your sword away!"

Her command was stern and forceful.

Mi Xin Jian was startled, "Sister Mu, weren't we supposed to detain this fellow?"

"I asked Young Master Lin to stay, not for you to threaten him with a sword!" The woman in yellow was clearly annoyed.

"So it was my misunderstanding?" Mi Xin Jian forced a sheepish smile, slowly sheathing his sword, his face flushed with embarrassment.

He had thought, upon hearing the woman in yellow call out to Chu Feng, that Chu Feng had done something against the Mu family. Driven by a sudden impulse, he wanted to show off in front of her, so he decisively drew his sword and blocked Chu Feng's way.

Who could have guessed he was utterly mistaken? Instead of earning her praise, he received only cold rebuke.

"Sister Mu, is there something you need from me?" Chu Feng asked the woman in yellow.

Though he spoke politely, Chu Feng was no fool. He knew things had taken a turn—she wanted him to return up the mountain.

"Young Master Lin, the Mu family did not intentionally offend you in the reception hall earlier. Please do not take it to heart." The woman in yellow offered him an apologetic smile. "It is rare for you to come and recommend yourself; my lady wishes to meet you. Please, come up the mountain!"

"Is that so?"

Chu Feng's brows furrowed. "To be frank, I am willing to return now. However, my spirit remains unsettled."

"Young Master Lin, what do you mean?" the woman in yellow asked cautiously.

"I mean, with my hasty arrival and departure, someone uninformed might think I am a servant at the Mu family's beck and call. Though I am not one for airs, I do not wish to suffer such humiliation!"

As he spoke, Chu Feng's icy gaze slowly shifted to Mi Xin Jian's face.

When Chu Feng had first come to the Mu family, Mi Xin Jian was sharp and scornful, openly belittling him, yet Chu Feng chose not to retaliate. But now, after the second provocation, with Mi Xin Jian mocking him and pointing a sword, Chu Feng could no longer endure it.

For a martial artist, to bottle up anger is to hinder one's progress in the martial path.

"You... why are you staring at me?" Mi Xin Jian was taken aback, feeling as if Chu Feng's gaze stabbed him like a blade.

"Young Master Lin, the Mu family disciple was disrespectful to you; I apologize," the woman in yellow nodded and addressed Mi Xin Jian, "Brother Mi, apologize to Young Master Lin immediately!"

"What did you say?" Mi Xin Jian was again stunned at her decisive command.

"I told you to apologize to Young Master Lin. Must I say it a third time?" Stepping forward, she spoke with force.

"Sister Mu, I am at least among the outstanding disciples of the Mu family's fifty-first generation. My master is the chief disciple of the fiftieth generation. On what grounds do you command me?" Mi Xin Jian's face reddened as he straightened his back and retorted.

"You need not use your master against me. Even if your master, Ding Wan Chong himself, offended a distinguished guest who seeks to cure my lady's illness, he would have to answer for his actions!"

She stepped forward again, speaking slowly, "If you refuse to apologize, do not blame me for acting against you!"

Mi Xin Jian instantly took a step back. "Sister Mu, I stopped Young Master Lin out of duty—it was merely a misunderstanding. How can you humiliate me like this? If you strike me, you violate the Mu family rules!"

"Put away your rules. In this family, my lady's safety outweighs your laws!" The woman in yellow refused to yield. "I am Lady Mu's personal maid; her words are mine! I now command you to apologize to Young Master Lin. Would you dare defy me?"

"I..."

Cold sweat appeared on Mi Xin Jian's forehead, and he fell silent. He turned to Chu Feng, cupped his hands, and said, "Young Master Lin, I was wrong just now. Forgive me."

He then looked at the woman in yellow. "Is that enough?"

"Hmph!"

She snorted coldly. With a flick of her arm, her hand moved with lightning speed.

A flash of cold light, then a crisp clang.

Chu Feng was startled to see several fragments of a broken sword on the ground. The woman in yellow had acted swiftly, snatching the sword from Mi Xin Jian's hand and, with a burst of force, broke it into several pieces, discarding them before Mi Xin Jian.

Seizing the sword, breaking it, and throwing it away—all done in one seamless movement, as fast as lightning.

Her speed was astonishing. Mi Xin Jian's complexion changed just as quickly; his face went from pale to livid, and even his lips trembled.

Chu Feng had not expected such dominance from her. Even after Mi Xin Jian apologized, she broke his sword.

For a martial artist, while not everyone lives or dies by their sword, to have one's weapon broken and discarded in front of them is a humiliating disgrace, far worse than being slapped.

If Chu Feng had not confirmed that she bore no ill will, he might have thought she was setting him up for future enmity.

"My sword! My master gave me this sword..."

After a long pause, Mi Xin Jian finally spoke, distraught. The blow of the broken sword was severe, and his earlier swagger when mocking Chu Feng was now gone.

"Young Master Lin, the Mu family warmly welcomes your arrival. The earlier misunderstanding was due to the seriousness of the matter, which required caution. Please forgive us," the woman in yellow nodded again, apologizing. "Young Master Lin, this way please!"

"Very well."

Chu Feng said no more and followed her back up the mountain.

As the basket ascended halfway, Chu Feng asked, "Sister Mu, I came to recommend myself with only a hope to help. I am not certain I can cure Lady Mu's illness, yet you risk offending Mi Xin Jian for my sake. Will this affect your fellowship?"

The woman in yellow shook her head. "Whether you can cure my lady's illness or not, your intentions are good, and the Mu family ought to treat you with respect. Mi Xin Jian, relying on his status as Ding Wan Chong's disciple, acts overbearingly here—such behavior deserves punishment, even if only toward ordinary guests."

"Thank you, Sister Mu!"

Chu Feng nodded. Though she was only Lady Mu Qiao Xue's maid, her words were composed and dignified—a true member of the Mu family.

"A strong master has no weak servants. If Mu Qiao Xue's maid can humiliate a fifty-first generation disciple like Mi Xin Jian, then Mu Qiao Xue herself must be even more formidable. I must be cautious—one false move could ruin everything!"

Chu Feng quietly calculated.

Opportunity and risk always go hand in hand. The greater the opportunity, the greater the risk.

If Mu Qiao Xue was indeed powerful, it would be well if Chu Feng succeeded, but any mistake might cost him dearly.

With this thought, Chu Feng felt the pressure in his heart was heavier than the mountain before him. Yet, at this point, he was like an arrow shot from a bow—there was no turning back.