Hearing this sudden voice, Feng Yuanshuo’s face lit up with joy. After exchanging a punch with Zhu Chengjun, he swiftly retreated, exclaiming with surprise, "Senior Gu!"
Zhu Chengpeng, Zhu Chengjun, and Zhu Chengping among the Zhu Family people, however, had their expressions change drastically.
Zhu Chengpeng stared at the figure who had just stopped the carriage and was striding toward them, saying gravely, "Gu Manzhou, is your Gu Family also planning to intervene in this matter?"
Gu Manzhou, at the Energy Transformation Seventh Rank, was already called a Grandmaster in Martial Arts.
The Jiangbei region was teeming with talent; besides the Zhu and Feng Families, the Gu Family was also a Martial Arts Family of notable strength.
Gu Manzhou of the Gu Family had reached the Energy Transformation Seventh Rank more than a decade ago, earning the title of Grandmaster.
Over the years, although the Zhu and Feng Families had quite a few frictions, the Gu Family had always chosen to be an observer, sometimes even acting as a mediator to resolve grudges.
Therefore, Gu Manzhou’s sudden appearance here, let alone his remarks, filled Feng Yuanshuo and the Feng Family with overwhelming joy, while the Zhu Family’s folks were all with serious expressions, incredulous at the development.
Gu Manzhou advanced with large strides, his Grandmaster-level aura like a towering mountain, causing all present to feel incredible pressure, bowing their heads and making way for him.
Zhu Chengpeng was at the Energy Transformation Realm Fourth Grade and, although three grades below the other, did not fear Gu Manzhou’s pressuring aura. Instead, he stepped forward boldly, shielding the Zhu Family from the opponent’s sharp momentum.
"Gu Manzhou, does your Gu Family really want to wade into these troubled waters? The Feng Family has a Feng Tianzong, unbeatable under the Innate. And you, Gu Manzhou, what are you? Though I am not your equal, my eldest brother could easily thrash you," Zhu Chengpeng declared loudly, glaring at Gu Manzhou.
Under normal circumstances, he would have quite some respect for this man, given that he was from an older generation.
But today, this man had clearly come for the Zhu Family, seemingly already in cahoots with the Feng Family. Given Zhu Chengpeng’s fiery temper, he was in no mood to be courteous.
Gu Manzhou let out a cold snort upon hearing those words and said loudly, "Is this how the Zhu Family treats their guests? It’s said that the Zhu Family has dominated the Jiangbei Martial World for many years, and members of the Zhu Family have developed an arrogant and domineering character, overlooking everyone else. Seeing it today, it appears to be true."
Zhu Chengpeng sneered, "Gu Manzhou, don’t slander without proof. My Zhu Family conducts itself with integrity and sits with dignity; the rules of the Zhu Family gate are strict, the Zhu Family’s people are harsh with themselves, never engaging in villainous deeds. They have always been revered by peers in the Jiangbei Martial World, with an excellent reputation. How come in your mouth it turns out ? It seems you’d rather not be the respectable head of the Gu Family but choose instead to be someone else’s dog. Is the Feng Family really worth your fawning and boot-licking?" ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by noᴠelfire.net
Gu Manzhou hadn’t expected that he, a dignified Energy Transformation Grandmaster, would be so humiliated by Zhu Chengpeng. He instantly became livid with anger, his eyes bulging as he shouted, "Zhu Chengpeng, are you seeking death? I came today only at the invitation to preside over justice, not at all as you describe, to ingratiate myself with the Feng Family!"
"Hahaha, angry because I unveiled your hypocrisy? Let me tell you, Gu Manzhou, even if you side with the Feng Family, the Zhu Family fears nothing!"
Zhu Chengpeng was full of fierce momentum, a surge of righteousness emanating from him as he loudly said, "The men of the Zhu Family are upright and open in their dealings, unafraid of public opinion, and even less fearful of any challenge. If you wish to smear the Zhu Family with baseless accusations and expect the sons of the Zhu Family to bow their heads, I’m afraid you have miscalculated. The people of the Zhu Family would rather die in battle than live on their knees!"
The Zhu Family members nodded in unison and cried out, "We would rather die fighting than live in disgrace!"
The people of the Feng Family, feeling the dauntless aura of the Zhu Family folks, couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts, secretly awed.
Even Gu Manzhou was taken aback by the righteousness emanating from Zhu Chengpeng. True to the Zhu Family, even though Zhu Tianshou had fallen for over a decade, the spines of the Zhu Family remained rigid and straight, never bending.
Gu Manzhou initially had no desire to get involved in this messy affair, but today Feng Tianzong personally called him, asking him to make his position clear.
The declining power of the Zhu Family and the rise of the Feng Family had already become an accepted truth in the Jiangbei Martial World.
After today, the Zhu Family may even face crippling defeat at the hands of Feng Tianzong.
As long as Feng Tianzong is alive, the Zhu Family will not be able to hold their heads up again.
As a member of the Jiangbei Martial World, the Gu Family has no choice but to take sides and make their stance clear.
Since they have picked a side, they must stand firm, otherwise, they will be criticized both internally and externally in the future.
So, although Gu Manzhou admired the Zhu Family’s spirit and moral integrity, he also stuck to his own decision, and looking up at Zhu Chengpeng, he said, "Zhu Chengpeng, you should still hand over the person who inflicted the injury. As long as you do so, I can still mediate and prevent harm to the goodwill between both sides."
Feng Yuanshuo was afraid Zhu Chengpeng might agree under pressure.
Although once the Zhu Family handed the person over, their reputation would plummet, meaning they would be bowing to the Feng Family, this was far from the effect he wanted.
He hastily said, "That’s right, Zhu Chengpeng, if you know what’s good for you, quickly hand over the person who injured my son. There’s no way your Zhu Family can protect him today. As long as you apologize, I, Feng Yuanshuo, am not unreasonable. I’ll let your Zhu Family off just this once."
Zhu Chengpeng was indeed furious. His eyes flashed dangerously as he rebuked, "Piss off, anyone who comes to the Zhu Family is a friend of the Zhu Family. How could the Zhu Family betray a friend? And as for your son harassing someone else’s wife, he got what he deserved. If it had been me, not killing him on the spot would have been letting him off easily."
Feng Yuanshuo was thrilled and asked, "Are you truly not going to hand over the person?"
"Fuck off!" Zhu Chengpeng couldn’t help but curse, "Feng Yuanshuo, what are you? You think you’re in a position to demand someone from me?"
Feng Yuanshuo, publicly scolded, did not dare to confront Zhu Chengpeng physically, but instead turned to Gu Manzhou and said, "Senior Gu, you’ve seen it too, the Zhu Family has always been arrogant and domineering in Jiangbei. Today, they are blatantly protecting a violent criminal, isn’t that going too far?"
Gu Manzhou sighed internally, loathing Feng Yuanshuo privately, but since he had come, he had to take a stance.
So he raised his head and said to Zhu Chengpeng, "Let your elder brother come out. He’s the head of the Zhu Family. If he also refuses to hand over the perpetrator, then the Zhu Family is truly lawless, acting arbitrarily in the Jiangbei Martial World, and we will need to elect a new leader."
Zhu Chengpeng snorted disdainfully, "Pah, after all that talk, it’s still about this matter. You’ve finally shown your true colors. There’s no need to call for my big brother; I, Fourth Brother Zhu, have the authority to decide on this matter. If you want to take someone from the Zhu Family, you’ll have to step over my dead body."
Gu Manzhou did not expect Zhu Chengpeng to be so assertive, and it also roused several degrees of genuine anger in him. In a stern voice, he asked, "Are you really determined to go against everyone and drag the entire Zhu Family down with you?"
Zhu Chengpeng replied disdainfully, "Don’t put such a heavy burden on me. I’m not wrong, and the Zhu Family hasn’t done anything wrong. You want a justified reason to deal with the Zhu Family? No way. The Divine Continent Martial World will have its own public opinion on today’s events," Zhu Chengpeng said loudly.
Red-faced with shame and anger, Gu Manzhou, but having no choice, said, "The Zhu Family harboring a violent criminal is flouting the law and breaking the Martial Alliance’s rules."
"Do you expect the Zhu Family to hand over the person and earn a foul reputation for betraying a friend? Gu Manzhou, I’m not giving you any face today. If you want to do something, then do it. But if you think you can have it both ways, that’s impossible. The Divine Continent Martial World will judge today’s affair fairly," Zhu Chengpeng declared loudly.
With enormous shame and rage, Gu Manzhou’s eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent as he suddenly looked up and stared at Zhu Chengpeng, saying, "Are you truly going to persist in this folly?"
"Less talk, more action if you dare!" Zhu Chengpeng stared back at Gu Manzhou fearlessly.
Caught by his own pride, Gu Manzhou said, "Don’t say I bully the weak. You are no match for me. Call out your elder brother Zhu Chengyou."