Chapter 51: A Word Decides Life and Death

Chu Feng was now a cultivator of both gun and hand techniques, practicing marksmanship and hand-to-hand skills alike; the spear and the fist were both deadly weapons in his hands.

Hearing Chu Feng’s words, Mu Qiaoxue covered her mouth and laughed, while Chu Xinlian added, “Brother, the way you killed that Ding Wanchong just now really startled me. Are you alright?”

“Of course I’m fine!” Chu Feng nodded with a smile, then turned to Mu Qiaoxue. “Miss Mu, earlier Ding Wanchong was controlling Xiaoli and suddenly called out inexplicably, then seemed possessed and only snapped out of it after I struck him twice. What happened?”

He was deeply curious about this incident.

Mu Qiaoxue explained with a gentle laugh, “It’s thanks to a technique I previously cultivated called ‘Gaze Strike.’ By gathering inner energy into my eyes, within a certain distance I can use my gaze to attack enemies. With my current level, I can’t kill Ding Wanchong with it, but I can severely disrupt his mind. While you struck him, my gaze was locked on his head, inner energy interfering with his mind!”

She elaborated, “If Ding Wanchong had known I possessed this technique, he never would have dared stand there and let my gaze fix on his head.”

“Incredible!” Chu Feng clasped his fists to her. “If you hadn’t disrupted him first, I would never have had a chance to act, and he wouldn’t have been killed! Xiaoli, hurry and thank Sister Mu for saving your life!”

“Sister Mu, thank you! I never imagined you’d be not only as beautiful as a fairy untouched by mortal dust, but also so powerful that with just a look, you reduced Ding Wanchong’s spirit to nothing and left his corpse on the spot. Truly, beauty and strength in one!” Xiaoli immediately heaped on the flattery.

Having wandered the martial world for some time, Xiaoli’s character had grown worldly. Knowing she had nothing material to offer Mu Qiaoxue, she could only sweeten her words and behave obediently to win Mu Qiaoxue’s favor.

“Chu Feng, listen to that! Your little niece’s tongue is sweeter than honey!” Mu Qiaoxue’s smile bloomed like a flower, but then her expression turned serious. “Chu Feng, for Xiaoli to let you learn the secret manual of Dance-Colored Pavilion, the foremost power of Northern Yue Water City, you must be someone truly dear to her! Rest assured, as long as she is by my side, even if she didn’t flatter me, I would never mistreat her!”

This delighted Xiaoli, but Chu Feng was puzzled. “Miss Mu, you could tell from my steps earlier where the technique came from?”

By now, Chu Feng felt that no matter the scheme or martial art, as long as Mu Qiaoxue laid eyes on it, she could immediately discern its nature.

To describe her insight as piercing as fire was no exaggeration.

“It’s nothing,” Mu Qiaoxue replied. “In the martial world of the Dayue Dynasty, the dance skills and footwork of Northern Yue Water City are unmatched. The set you used just now, Gale Steps, isn’t even a low-level dance step, but it’s obviously an introductory move from the Dance-Colored Pavilion’s school!”

“Miss Mu, your knowledge is truly impressive!” Chu Feng nodded in admiration.

She continued, “After all, I come from the Mu family of the Central Yue Imperial City. Because of a chronic vein ailment, I couldn’t cultivate profound energy and remained at the ninth level of body refinement, but I learned much from books and inscriptions. So while my martial strength is low, in terms of knowledge, there are few under four hundred years old who could surpass me!”

Her confidence was evident. “But now that my vein ailment is completely cured, I can cultivate profound energy and step into the realm of profound cultivators!”

With six town-vein golden needles, Mu Qiaoxue could suppress her ailment; now, with seven needles, she could not only suppress but eliminate it entirely.

Chu Feng had known this, so when Mu Qiaoxue spoke of owing him a debt for recreating her life, he did not feel it an exaggeration.

“From now on, the world of profound cultivation will welcome another mighty woman!” Chu Feng smiled.

With such a family background, when she couldn’t cultivate, she expanded her knowledge to its peak. Now, with the Mu family’s boundless resources, she would progress swiftly on the path of cultivation.

As they spoke, footsteps approached through the green bamboo forest—Mu Yun’er and Mu Zhentong, the family head, hurried over.

Mu Zhentong held a thick stack in his hands—clearly, the two hundred thousand gold notes.

But seeing from afar the headless corpse of Ding Wanchong, blood pooling on the ground, Mu Zhentong’s face was filled with shock and confusion.

“Uncle Mu, I must apologize to you!” Chu Feng stepped forward before Mu Zhentong could ask, and briefly recounted how, after Ding Wanchong’s crimes were revealed, he had captured Xiaoli and tried to threaten them.

On the way there, Mu Zhentong had already heard from Mu Yun’er about Ding Wanchong’s anonymous letters, but not that Ding Wanchong had died at Chu Feng’s hand.

“Nephew Chu, what crime have you committed? Ding Wanchong, as my chief disciple, not only failed to repent but grew worse. His anonymous letters to the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and the Terror Sect were not only meant to kill you, but would have dragged the Mu family into disaster!” Mu Zhentong shook his head. “Ding Wanchong was wicked beyond redemption and deserved his fate. You’ve cleansed my household and spared Miss Xiaoli from harm—I can only thank you. How could I blame you?”

“Thank you, Uncle Mu, for your understanding!” Chu Feng bowed deeply, his heart full of respect for this family head.

A clan like the Mu family needed a leader able to distinguish right from wrong. If a black sheep like Ding Wanchong were left unchecked, disaster would be inevitable.

“Nephew Chu, Mi Xinjian and Little Third are both Ding Wanchong’s disciples and helped him in his crimes. How do you wish to deal with them? Your word is final.” Mu Zhentong spoke with firmness, showing no hint of leniency.

Chu Feng considered for a moment. “They were forced by their master’s tyranny; some of their misdeeds may have been out of fear. With the main culprit dead, let’s be lenient with these two pawns.”

“Oh? Then how would you handle them?” Since Chu Feng was the aggrieved party, Mu Zhentong deferred to his wishes.

“Master Chu, please be merciful and spare my worthless life! I have long since repented and only wanted to earn your favor!” Mi Xinjian, knowing his life hung in the balance, wept and kowtowed.

To Chu Feng, Mi Xinjian was like an ant—his life or death depended on Chu Feng’s will.

“Mi Xinjian, I am not one to press my advantage. Since you show true remorse, I’ll spare your life. But though you avoid death, you won’t escape punishment. Since you no longer live up to the standards of a Mu family disciple, you needn’t practice martial arts. Go to the family’s mines or logging camps and work there.”

With those words, Chu Feng decided Mi Xinjian’s fate. “Do you have any complaints?”

“None! Thank you for sparing my life! Once at the mines or camps, I’ll turn over a new leaf and live honestly!” Mi Xinjian kowtowed repeatedly.

Though he would never progress in martial arts again, at least his life was spared—a small mercy.

As for Little Third, he still knelt before Chu Feng, trembling so violently he dared not meet Chu Feng’s gaze.

The way Chu Feng killed Ding Wanchong had terrified him to the core; even had he not offended Chu Feng, he wouldn’t have dared look him in the eye.

Mi Xinjian’s behavior at the mountain gate that morning had been at least somewhat satisfactory, so Chu Feng spared him, but Little Third, with his shifty eyes and rat-like features, was loathsome. To have sent two anonymous letters was a crime worthy of losing both hands.

Chu Feng strode step by step toward Little Third. With each step, Little Third trembled all the more.

Ten paces.

Five paces.

One pace.

When Chu Feng stood a pace away, Little Third’s muscles shuddered violently, his teeth chattering uncontrollably; he was on the brink of collapse.

When a man is unsure if the next moment will bring life or death, terror reaches its peak, and even a breath of wind can make him quake.

Chu Feng suddenly slapped the back of Little Third’s head. “Raise your head!” he commanded.

Unexpectedly, Little Third was frozen like a puppet—his head unmoving, his body rigid, shuddering ceased.

Chu Feng tapped his head again, then withdrew his hand and said to Mu Zhentong, “Uncle Mu, this Little Third has done too many wicked deeds. I meant to be lenient, but he’s been scared to death by a single word—perhaps Heaven refused him life!”

Earlier, Little Third had witnessed Chu Feng use the Tiger Orangutan Skull-Taking Hand to decapitate Ding Wanchong, a sight that shattered his nerves. When Chu Feng slapped his head, he thought he, too, was about to die, and so—without a sound—died of terror.