Chapter 36: Visiting Together

“Lin Shan, are you alright?”

Seeing the sudden change in Chu Feng’s expression, Mu Kaishan immediately asked with concern.

“I’m fine. Did the people from Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect say they only wanted to visit me? Did they mention anything else?” Chu Feng inquired.

“No, they didn’t! But judging by the looks on their faces, it’s obvious their visit isn’t as simple as just paying respects,” Mu Kaishan replied, frowning. “It’s strange! Lately, Wind and Thunder Martial Hall has been investigating the matter of the Golden Serpent and the disappearance of their expert Tang Dong, while the Terror Sect is hunting for Chu Feng, who killed the second son of the Xiong family. Why would both groups come to the Mu family to visit you instead of attending to their own urgent matters? It’s baffling!”

A thought stirred in Chu Feng’s heart. Could it be that the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect had already discovered his true identity?

“If it’s a blessing, it won’t be a disaster; if it’s a disaster, it can’t be avoided. I’ll just go and see what’s happening,” Chu Feng decided resolutely.

With that, Chu Feng followed Mu Kaishan and left the martial training grounds, heading straight for the main reception hall.

…

The Mu family’s main reception hall was bustling. The Mu family, Wind and Thunder Martial Hall, and the Terror Sect were all gathered together.

The three factions were easily distinguished by their attire. The Mu family, dressed in white martial uniforms, occupied the main seats with the family head, Mu Zhendong, presiding. Several elders sat on either side, and the chief disciple of the fiftieth generation, Ding Wanchong, stood nearby.

The martial artists from Wind and Thunder Martial Hall wore blue, while those from the Terror Sect were clad in black, seated along the benches flanking the hall.

The leader of Wind and Thunder Martial Hall was Han Mo, a man in his early forties at the eighth level of body refinement. The Terror Sect was led by their master, Xiong Zhan, along with Pan Ba, the chief of the so-called “Eight Overlords of Terror Sect.”

Both factions had only brought three to five people each, but all were formidable martial artists, none below the fifth level of body refinement.

“Brother Han, Brother Xiong, this morning you both arrived together at the Mu residence, claiming to wish to pay your respects to our honored guest, Young Master Lin Shan? Forgive my bluntness, but I find that hard to believe,” Mu Zhendong said, shaking his head. “Judging by your expressions, it seems you’ve come to hold the Mu family accountable for something. If there’s a matter to discuss, let us hear it plainly and avoid misunderstandings.”

Their sudden arrival and serious expressions did little to ease the tension. The Wind and Thunder Martial Hall delegation seemed somewhat composed, but Xiong Zhan of the Terror Sect wore a murderous look.

With his keen eye, Mu Zhendong could immediately tell whether their visit bode well or ill.

Han Mo shook his head. “Brother Mu, please don’t misunderstand. I truly only wish to meet your distinguished guest, Young Master Lin Shan, and see for myself what manner of man he is.”

Xiong Zhan, face dark, also nodded. “The same goes for me.”

At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside the hall as Mu Kaishan and Chu Feng entered together.

Chu Feng scanned the room, his gaze immediately locking onto the murderously intent Xiong Zhan, as well as Pan Ba and several other leaders nearby, their faces equally grim.

He did not recognize any of the blue-clad members of Wind and Thunder Martial Hall.

“Nephew Lin Shan, allow me to introduce you. This is Han Mo, the junior brother of Lei Yingfeng, master of Wind and Thunder Martial Hall. And this is Xiong Zhan, master of the Terror Sect,” Mu Zhendong said, rising to introduce them. Indicating Chu Feng, he continued, “This is our honored guest, Young Master Lin Shan, who rescued the Mu family from danger and whose name is recorded among the benefactors of our household.”

Mu Zhendong deliberately introduced “Lin Shan” with such gravity to declare the Mu family’s position—regardless of the intentions of Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect, they must respect the Mu family.

“What an impressive Young Master Lin Shan! Truly a striking and extraordinary man,” Han Mo nodded, actually looking somewhat admiringly at Chu Feng.

“Hmph!”

A cold snort suddenly cut through the air.

The source of this derisive sound was none other than Xiong Zhan, the imposing master of the Terror Sect.

“May I ask why Master Xiong snorted in disdain?” Mu Zhendong asked in a low voice.

Within the Mu family’s territory, Mu Zhendong was not to be trifled with. Praise for his honored guest was welcome, but if anyone was dissatisfied, the Mu family would not take it lightly.

Xiong Zhan replied, “Master Mu, the Young Master Lin Shan you speak of is likely not who he claims to be. This appearance is not his true face. If I am not mistaken, he is the very man I seek—the one who murdered my two sons: Chu Feng!”

“What?”

Mu Zhendong was truly shocked by this revelation.

Aside from the people from the Terror Sect and Wind and Thunder Martial Hall, all the Mu family members in the hall were equally astonished.

Young Master Lin Shan was actually Chu Feng, the fugitive hunted by the Terror Sect throughout the Four Seas? How could this be?

The hall immediately erupted in anxious whispers.

“Master Xiong, surely you must be joking? How could Young Master Lin Shan possibly be this Chu Feng you’re after?” Mu Zhendong asked.

“Whether I’m joking or not, bring a basin of water and have him wash his face—then we’ll see!” Xiong Zhan replied coldly, his gaze boring into Chu Feng. He barked, “Chu Feng, you certainly know how to choose a place to hide—even the Mu family of the Heavenly Mechanism. But it doesn’t matter where you hide, I’ll catch you all the same!”

Mu Zhendong said nothing further, but turned a questioning look toward Chu Feng.

At this point, Chu Feng saw no reason to deny it any longer.

“Master Mu, friends of the Mu family, I must confess that I am not Lin Shan, but rather Chu Feng, once of the Terror Sect. My use of an alias was not intended to deceive the Mu family, and I ask your forgiveness,” Chu Feng cupped his hands to the Mu family members in apology.

Mu Zhendong nodded, saying nothing for the moment. He turned to Xiong Zhan. “Master Xiong, may I ask how you discovered Lin Shan’s—no, Chu Feng’s—true identity?”

“Yesterday. My men received an anonymous letter, stating that the Mu family’s guest, Lin Shan, was in fact Chu Feng, a defector from my sect,” Xiong Zhan replied. “Chu Feng is the murderer of my sons, so I came at once to see for myself. If I am mistaken, I will apologize to the Mu family. But if I am right, Chu Feng must pay with his life for the deaths of my two boys.”

“Whether or not he pays with his life depends on whether Chu Feng is willing to give it up. Let us set that matter aside for now,” Mu Zhendong said, waving his hand. He then asked Han Mo, “Brother Han, even if Lin Shan is Chu Feng, what business does this have with Wind and Thunder Martial Hall?”

“Brother Mu, you may not know. We at Wind and Thunder Martial Hall have been investigating the Golden Serpent and our missing expert Tang Dong. From the condition of the site where the Golden Serpent died, we can deduce that the one who killed it is the same person who slew the Xiong family’s two heirs,” Han Mo explained. “Like the Terror Sect, I too received an anonymous letter, stating that the Mu family’s guest, Lin Shan, is actually the wanted Chu Feng—also the one responsible for the Golden Serpent’s death.”

“So that’s how it is,” Mu Zhendong nodded, immediately realizing that someone within the Mu family had deliberately leaked Lin Shan’s true identity to stir up trouble with these two powerful factions.

But who could that informant be?

Lin Shan’s real identity had been unknown even to Mu Zhendong himself. Who else could have known?

While Mu Zhendong was deep in thought, behind him, Ding Wanchong allowed a sly smile to bloom on his face.

Yesterday, Ding Wanchong had lurked in the green bamboo grove, using a ram’s horn earpiece fashioned from fire bat wings to eavesdrop on Chu Feng’s conversation with Mu Qiaoxue, thus learning his true identity.

Upon discovering that “Lin Shan” was actually the Chu Feng being hunted by the Terror Sect, Ding Wanchong immediately wrote two anonymous letters and dispatched them swiftly to the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect, specifying that after participating in the Mu family’s autumn trials the next day, Chu Feng would be leaving—if they wanted to capture him, they should come quickly!

Now, just as Ding Wanchong had hoped, Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect had joined forces and come to demand Chu Feng.

Ding Wanchong suppressed his wicked smile, but inwardly he was beaming. Let’s see how you escape this calamity, Chu Feng.