Although Yang Fei knew he was there to suppress the family spy sent to watch him, Xu Xingzhou still hadn’t expected Yang Fei to be so direct.
Facing the questioning from the side-branch elder of the family, Xu Xingzhou no longer concealed the truth and sneered, "Xu Mao, you ask me what I mean, but I have to ask you. You think I don’t know about the contact between you and Xu Xinghai?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Mao’s expression changed drastically, and he asked in surprise, "What do you know?"
At the same time, he became extremely vigilant, preparing for a fight and staring down both Yang Fei and Xu Xingzhou.
Having been in Binhai for several days, his task was to surveil Xu Xingzhou and to see, as reported to the family, whether Xu Xingzhou had indeed taken control of the Dragon and Tiger Hall.
Through his observations over the past few days, Xu Mao had not detected anything amiss. Moreover, Xu Xingzhou had treated him exceedingly well, providing delicious food and drink, and even sent several top-quality beauties his way.
However, his branch was closer to Xu Xinghai’s family and they had a better private relationship, so when Xu Xinghai contacted him and revealed his plan, Xu Mao almost didn’t think before agreeing to help.
Now that his actions had been exposed, Xu Mao’s eyes flashed with unhidden murderous intent.
Interfering in the competition between the younger generation of family rivals was a violation of family rules, a grave offense. If word of this got back to the family, the consequences were unimaginable.
Therefore, he had to make sure Xu Xingzhou died.
As long as Xu Xingzhou was dead and Xu Xinghai’s plan succeeded, with his efforts to help him ascend, he could rest easy in the future.
"Xu Mao, by seniority, I should be calling you Uncle. With the two brothers, Xu Xinghai and me, it would be the same to support either of us. Why do you insist on working with him to deal with me?" Xu Xingzhou looked at Xu Mao with an unwilling expression and asked.
Upon hearing this, Xu Mao snorted coldly, "Everyone has their own ambitions. Although you are more talented than Xu Xinghai, don’t forget that his grandfather holds a higher position in the clan."
Xu Xingzhou disdainfully said, "How much longer can he live?"
Xu Mao’s expression flickered a few times before he gritted his teeth and said, "As long as he doesn’t die within the next ten or eight years, the matter of the next Clan Leader will have long since been settled."
Xu Xingzhou chuckled, a hint of defiance on his handsome face, "The situation is not yet settled, who will rise or fall is still unknown. Uncle Mao, it’s too early to conclude."
Yang Fei, listening to their conversation, frowned slightly and glanced at Xu Xingzhou, saying, "I’m here to listen to your nonsense?"
Xu Xingzhou’s face was flushed with embarrassment.
Xu Mao raised an eyebrow and stared at Yang Fei, "Kid, who are you to interrupt when my nephew and I are catching up? Is it your place to speak?"
Xu Xingzhou coughed and said, "Uncle Mao, you must not be rude to Mr. Yang!"
Xu Mao scoffed, "A mere doctor, and even if he has learned a bit of martial arts, so what? Such talents are a dime a dozen in every sect and clan, why do you need to demean yourself to curry favor with him, isn’t it a disgrace to our Xu Family’s name?"
Cold sweat beaded on Xu Xingzhou’s forehead as he hurriedly said, "Xu Mao, you mustn’t speak nonsense, I... I am not worthy of recruiting Mr. Yang, I’m just his little brother, that’s all."
Internally, he added bitterly to himself, still under evaluation.
Damn it, when did I, Xu Xingzhou, become someone’s little brother, and still need to pass an evaluation?
This is too insulting.
Xu Mao, listening, was utterly astonished, looking at Xu Xingzhou as if he were looking at a fool, "You... what did you say?"
Xu Xingzhou walked respectfully to Yang Fei’s side, called out for Mr. Yang, and then stood silently behind him.
Explanations were useless; actions would prove everything.
Xu Mao, witnessing Xu Xingzhou’s behavior, was thunderstruck.
Then, he flew into a rage, smashed the dining table with a fierce slap, and stood up angrily, scolding Xu Xingzhou, "Scoundrel, you have brought shame on our Xu family. I felt guilty before, thinking I shouldn’t have gotten involved in the struggle between you brothers, but now, seeing how you willingly degrade yourself to kowtow to an outsider, it is an enormous insult to our Xu family. How can someone like you be fit to lead our Xu family?"
They hadn’t even eaten yet, and the table was smashed, the delicious food scattered all over the floor.
Yang Fei furrowed his brows.
He stood up and walked toward Xu Mao, "You have two choices, one, submit to Xu Xingzhou and swear lifelong loyalty from now on, or two, die!"
Xu Mao was furious, his body radiating a ferocious aura as he barked, "You’re too arrogant, kid, too ignorant of your own strength. I’ll kill you."
Having said that, Xu Mao charged at Yang Fei like a tiger pouncing on a rabbit, striking ferociously towards Yang Fei’s chest with his palm.
A cold glint flashed in Yang Fei’s eyes as he said icily, "You chose wrong!"
All of a sudden, he made his move, accurately grasping the opponent’s wrist and twisting it with a quick reversal.
Xu Mao’s pupils suddenly contracted, his expression drastically changed, and he spun his body along the direction of Yang Fei’s twist, dissipating the force of the twist.
Yang Fei was slightly surprised and nodded to himself.
So experienced, truly worthy of being a Late Stage Internal Strength expert.
The next instant, Yang Fei unleashed a kick.
He was holding onto the opponent’s wrist; Xu Mao could not dodge and had to withstand it. Seeing Yang Fei’s kick, he also kicked out at the same time.
Xu Mao’s expression changed dramatically, feeling an immense force sweeping over him, propelling his body backward. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveI(F)ire.net
Yang Fei let go of the hand he was gripping just in time.
Xu Mao flew back several meters, crashing harshly against the wall behind him.
The wall cracked and caved in, creating a deep pit. Xu Mao’s body flew through the pit and landed in another private room, shattering a chair.
With a look of shock, Xu Mao stood up.
As he stood up, a sharp pain in his right leg struck, and he staggered, nearly losing his balance.
Looking down, Xu Mao’s face was filled with horror. He saw his right shoe torn apart, his right foot bloody and his sole split open.
Xu Xingzhou, watching his family’s elder, a Late Stage Internal Strength expert, get injured by Yang Fei with a single move, gasped despite being psychologically prepared for it.
Who is this guy? Is there no way to survive this!
How strong is he really, being so young, yet so unreasonably powerful?
Xu Xingzhou felt like he had sustained ten thousand points of damage.
Every time he saw Yang Fei make a move, it was a blow to his confidence.
If Xu Xingzhou was shocked, Xu Mao was no less astonished.
It was his first time meeting Yang Fei and his very first experience of Yang Fei’s combat power, leaving him utterly disoriented.
He looked at Yang Fei with disbelief, struggling to accept this harsh reality.
Was he really defeated by a man in his twenties?
And it was almost an instant knockout!
Moreover, he suspected that the other party hadn’t even used his full strength; otherwise...
Xu Mao didn’t dare to continue the thought, and simultaneously, his heart shook even more, filled with disbelief.
"How is it possible? You... you could injure me?" Xu Mao stared at Yang Fei, struggling to utter those words after a long silence.
Yang Fei gave a faint smile.
He was very satisfied with his combat prowess.
Xu Mao was the most formidable Martial Artist he’d encountered since returning to the country, but now that he had just injured him, he didn’t feel the threat of his inner energy stirring in a dangerous way after being activated.
Indeed, his martial capabilities had improved quite a bit after the last loss of control.
Xu Xingzhou was ultimately loyal to the Xu Family. Seeing Xu Mao bewildered by Yang Fei’s attack, he quickly reminded, "Uncle Mao, Mr. Yang possesses exceptional strength, a true dragon among men. Are you really going to persist down this path to a dead end, without leaving any way out for yourself?"
Xu Mao snapped out of his daze at Xu Xingzhou’s sharp reprimand.
The shock in his heart was instantly replaced by fear.
Now was not the time for astonishment but a matter of life and death!
Yang Fei had intended to directly take Xu Mao’s life, but hearing Xu Xingzhou’s words, he understood the younger man wanted to win over the other, so he gave Xu Mao another chance, "Fine, since Xu Xingzhou has spoken, I’ll give you another chance to choose."