Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Defying the Wang Family (2)

Wang Feng suddenly threw his head back and laughed uproariously, "Haha, Lou Yun, ah, Lou Yun, it’s been two years, yet you’ve become much braver. Do you even know who you’re talking to?"

Wang Feng’s expression abruptly turned frigid as he remarked coldly, "But before opening your mouth, you should survey the situation, Lou Yun. It’s not like it was two years ago anymore. The glory days of your Lou Family have long vanished. In present-day Lingjiang City, only our Wang Family reigns supreme. I’ll tell you this: it’s only out of respect for your Lou Family that I reclaimed your family’s mansion under my name. Otherwise, I would’ve torn this place down long ago!"

As his words fell, everyone present felt a sudden blur before their eyes, and an instant later, a sharp slapping sound rang out: "Crack!"

The crowd hurriedly turned toward the noise and saw Wang Feng with a vivid palm print etched on his left cheek. In a flash, his entire face swelled up as though it were fermented dough.

What exactly had happened in that split second? Before anyone could react, Lou Yun’s voice cut through the air, "Wang Feng, after two years apart, you’re even bolder than I am. But before speaking, you should take a good look at your predicament and mind your words, or next time, a slap won’t be the only consequence!"

Clutching his cheek, Wang Feng stared at Lou Yun, who was still hovering motionless in the distance. His face was filled with disbelief; he couldn’t believe it was Lou Yun who had struck him!

Despite the many witnesses and countless eyes in the crowd, no one had seen Lou Yun move an inch. Yet the swollen side of Wang Feng’s face was undeniable proof. Even in their skepticism, everyone had to concede that the slap had indeed come from Lou Yun!

That single slap instantly shattered the confidence Wang Feng had felt moments earlier, replacing it with profound terror. If Lou Yun could strike him undetected without any reaction time, then had Lou Yun intended to kill him just now, Wang Feng would likely be dead already!

The thought of narrowly escaping a brush with death made cold sweat instantly bead on Wang Feng’s forehead, and his back was thoroughly drenched.

Faced with Lou Yun’s question, Wang Feng dared not utter another word. Lou Yun remained silent too, fixing Wang Feng with an imposing, unblinking stare.

After a brief silence, Wang Feng gritted his teeth and declared, "Lou Yun, don’t you think for a moment that just because you’ve learned a few tricks, you can run wild! I’m warning you, your Lou Family—"

Before he could complete his sentence, the crowd again saw a blur, followed by a piercing shriek. Hastily, they looked over to find Wang Feng clutching his right ear, with blood staining his clothes crimson.

"Wang Feng, I already warned you to mind your words! And mark this: our Lou Family is not something someone like you has the right to mention!"

Lou Yun was still in his original spot, but as he spoke, he flung something onto the ground. Everyone glanced down immediately, and the sharp-eyed among them saw it was unmistakably a right ear—Wang Feng’s right ear!

Obviously, the right ear belonged to Wang Feng, but once more, no one could perceive how Lou Yun had acted so swiftly or severed it.

Yet this only underscored how much Lou Yun’s power had surged in the two years since they’d last seen him.

Lin Yongdu and his son exchanged a glance. This time, Lin Yongdu recognized admiration and respect in his son’s eyes.

As a clan head, Wang Feng had never suffered such humiliation. Now, reeling and hopping in agony while grasping his ear, he could no longer feign toughness. Though he glared fiercely at Lou Yun, his eyes betrayed stark fear. All the while, his mind raced at top speed, planning how to escape today’s crisis.

After much deliberation, he could think of only one solution: summoning the Wang Family’s ultimate safeguard, or else the entire clan might very well perish at Lou Yun’s hands.

Once decided, a small stone suddenly materialized in Wang Feng’s free hand. He squeezed it forcefully, turning it to dust.

As the stone crumbled, a fragment of Wang Feng’s tension eased. He knew the Wang’s ace-in-the-hole would appear soon.

Yet Lou Yun’s voice echoed like that of death itself, "Quickly, Wang Feng! My patience is thin. It’s time you tell me your choice!"

All Wang Feng needed to do now was stall for time until the Wang’s key figure arrived. So he adopted a placating tone, "Ah, well…Lou Yun, although our Lou and Wang families have always been at odds, we’ve still had ties for many years. Let’s talk things out reasonably rather than escalating this, yes?"

"Talk reasonably?" Lou Yun arched an eyebrow. "When you colluded with the Lin Family to plot against my Lou Family, where was that reason? Or when you brazenly seized our family mansion—where was the reason? Now you propose talks? Don’t you think it’s far too late?"

Wang Feng’s eyes darted rapidly back and forth. Suppressing the throbbing agony in his ear, he continued his dissembling with Lou Yun. "Lou Yun, you misunderstand me. I didn’t seize your home—blame the royals of Gu Feng Nation for hauling away your relatives!"

"Shut up!" Lou Yun could bear no more of Wang Feng’s babble. "Enough nonsense! Make a choice—or I’ll choose for you!"

Just as Lou Yun finished speaking, a resonant voice boomed from above, "Haha, so you’re that ‘useless’ brat from the Lou Family! Now, after picking up a few tricks, you’ve become downright arrogant and lawless, have you?"

The voice reverberated in everyone’s ears as a dark silhouette flashed across the sky and alighted before Lou Yun.

Seeing a middle-aged man of about forty with keen, piercing eyes, and sensing his palpable energy waves, Lou Yun curled his lips in a cold smirk. Addressing Wang Feng, whose face now radiated excitement, he said, "Wang Feng, after all your rambling trash talk, was this the outcome you were itching for? But really, do you honestly believe his arrival can save the Wang Family?"

This man, whom Wang Feng saw as the Wang’s last refuge, possessed the magical weapon realm of a profound-level magical weapons master at mystery rank one star. In the small domain of Lingjiang City, he was practically a top-tier master. (In truth, each of the three major families hid one or two experts at the Mystery Rank level. Fusang Fire was gifted to Lou Yun by a Great Grandfather from the Lou Family with profound-level magical weapons mastery.)

Once, to avenge the fallen brother of Zuo Mingyang, Lou Yun alone had wiped out the men of the Wu family. At the time, the Wu family’s clan head was also a profound-level magical weapons master. However, Chang Xiang intervened at a critical moment with his sword, and Yi Jin Guan lent a hand. Though victorious, it wasn’t thanks to Lou Yun’s own strength.

But now, a profound-level magical weapons master at mystery rank one star was insignificant beside Lou Yun. After all, Lou Yun was already an advanced one-star magical weapons master, his true prowess easily matchable to a mystery rank one-star magical weapons master—and this without factoring in his use of the Xiang Tian Sword, Fusang Fire, or Xiao Huo’s aid.

Lou Yun’s spiritual sense had detected the man long ago. He remained silent on purpose, wanting to watch Wang Feng plunge from hope to despair.

Wang Feng, oblivious to the reason for Lou Yun’s calm, assumed Lou Yun simply underestimated the prowess of this senior Wang figure. Paying no more mind to Lou Yun’s sneers, Wang Feng clutched his ear and hurried to the man’s side, declaring respectfully, "Great Grandfather, this unworthy Wang Feng has disturbed your meditation. But he truly shows contempt for us, and for you above all."

This Great Grandfather was Wang Qingshan. He waved his hand dismissively at Wang Feng, "Enough talk; I already know the situation."

Turning to Lou Yun, Wang Qingshan continued, "Lou Yun, though we haven’t met, I’ve heard of your exploits. Today, I shall impart a lesson from your elders—as a youth, do not grow too insolent!"

Even as Wang Qingshan’s words trailed off, Lou Yun snorted disdainfully and abruptly mobilized. This time, everyone finally glimpsed a motion: a flicker before their eyes.

Lou Yun morphed into a streak that flashed before Wang Qingshan. His right fist, brimming with spiritual energy, clenched tightly as his weapon spirit power surged forth, materializing into an immense, solid-looking fist in the air that crashed down upon Wang Qingshan!

Despite Lou Yun’s blistering speed and ferocious assault, Wang Qingshan, a profound-level magical weapons master with genuine skill, merely snorted contemptuously through his nostrils at Lou Yun’s choice to attack with his fist, not a magical weapon.

A silver armor instantly materialized upon Wang Qingshan’s body. Lou Yun’s punch slammed heavily against it, causing the armor to vibrate violently.

Lou Yun dashed back to his prior position. Outwardly, their first frontal clash—one attack, one defense—had been even. Yet Lou Yun quietly admired how swiftly Wang Qingshan had transformed his magical weapon into armor to withstand the blow. As for Wang Qingshan, he was stunned by Lou Yun’s speed and sheer power!

"Lou Yun, it’s clear you’re steeped in arrogance! Do you believe that without a magical weapon, relying solely on your body could defeat me? Hmph! Like an egg smashing against rock—rash and futile!"

Lou Yun gave a slight smile, "True, my physical strength alone might not be enough to overpower you. But against you, it doesn’t warrant my magical weapon; a common weapon will suffice!"

In the same breath, the Xiang Tian Sword materialized in Lou Yun’s hand as if by magic.