Chapter 103: Mu Feng Is Dead
Chapter 103: Mu Feng Is Dead
The North King Manor sprawled over hundreds of acres in the capital, its grand towers and lavish design a testament to wealth and power. Within its walls, South Hao maintained a force of elite soldiers, skilled warriors, and esteemed enforcers.
High above the manor, Mu Chen hovered in mid-air, clutching the withered remains of Zhang Ju's body. His killing intent was palpable.
"South Hao, get out here!" Mu Chen roared, his voice reverberating across the entire estate, shocking the guards below.
"Someone's in the air!"
Soldiers clad in armor glanced skyward at the figure suspended over a hundred meters above them.
"A Core Formation expert is trespassing!"
The alarm spread, and many soldiers aimed their bows at Mu Chen.
"Who dares cause trouble at the North King Manor?"
A stern voice called out as six figures shot up from the manor. They were five men and one woman, a mix of middle-aged individuals and elders. The woman, draped in red, radiated a striking allure.
These six were Core Formation experts, enforcers of the North King Manor.
"It's you, Patriarch Mu. What brings you to our manor?"
A gray-robed elder surrounded by a blue aura addressed Mu Chen calmly, as seasoned experts in the capital were familiar with each other.
"Where is South Hao? Tell him to show himself!" Mu Chen barked coldly.
"How dare you, Mu Chen! While you may be a Core Formation expert, you cannot address the king so disrespectfully!"
A black-clad middle-aged man, surrounded by yellow energy, rebuked him.
"Haha, so it's Patriarch Mu," a light-hearted voice said as a golden streak emerged from the manor.
The figure wore a black robe adorned with a dragon motif, his hair neatly tied back. His dignified features and commanding presence exuded the aura of a ruler. It was none other than South Hao, the North King himself, a mid-tier Core Formation expert.
"South Hao, do you recognize him?" Mu Chen sneered, throwing Zhang Ju's shriveled corpse toward South Hao.
With a wave of his hand, South Hao enveloped the corpse in golden energy. Upon seeing its face, his expression darkened.
"Zhang Ju… How did he end up dead in your hands?" South Hao asked, his tone grim.
"That's Zhang Ju?!"
The six enforcers exchanged shocked glances.
"I should be asking you! Zhang Ju killed my nephew, Mu Feng. As one of your enforcers, why did he attack my family? Had I not been visiting the branch family, the entire clan might have been wiped out," Mu Chen said icily. "You know how my brother died, yet you refused to leave his family alone. South Hao, you've gone too far!"
Furious, Mu Chen summoned a black spear in his hand, which turned into a red streak as it shot toward South Hao. Hundreds of red energy beams followed, radiating immense power.
"Protect the king!"
The six enforcers leaped forward, unleashing their own techniques to counter Mu Chen's attack. Though their combined efforts deflected the onslaught, the backlash forced Mu Chen to cough blood and retreat.
"Mu Chen," South Hao said with a cold smile. "Zhang Ju may have been one of my enforcers, but how can you blame me for his actions? I don't control their every move. While I grieve for your nephew, where is your proof that I ordered his death?"
"You despicable coward! Who else could it be but you?" Mu Chen growled, his fury unrelenting.
Two streaks of light appeared in the distance. Mu Ye and Mu Hua arrived just in time to restrain Mu Chen.
"Patriarch, calm yourself!" Mu Ye urged.
"Yes, Patriarch. He's still the North King and of royal blood," Mu Hua added, trying to reason with him.
Reluctantly, Mu Chen allowed himself to be dragged away, but not without a parting warning. "South Hao, mark my words—your day of reckoning will come!"
As Mu Chen and his companions left, South Hao's expression turned grim. From their confrontation, one fact stood out: Mu Feng had indeed been killed by Zhang Ju, but Zhang Ju had also fallen to Mu Chen.
Was it a loss or a gain? He couldn't decide. Trading the life of a Core Formation expert for that of a prodigious youth was a double-edged sword.
"Take Zhang Ju's body," South Hao ordered, tossing the remains to a black-clad enforcer. "Give him a proper burial. Provide his family with ten thousand gold coins and take his children into the manor for proper care."
After issuing his commands, South Hao retreated to his chambers, his expression dark and contemplative.
The Fallout
The commotion at the North King Manor quickly spread across the capital. Word reached every major family that Mu Feng, the prodigious talent with the Ling Bone constitution, had been killed by Zhang Ju. While the true culprit behind the assassination was clear, none dared speak openly about it.
At the Yun Family
After receiving a report from his subordinates, Yun Hai sighed heavily.
"I never expected Mu Feng to meet such a tragic end," he lamented.
"But to trade a Core Formation expert for a fallen prodigy's life—South Hao miscalculated," remarked a wiry, white-haired elder beside him.
"South Hao isn't foolish. The only explanation is that Mu Feng's so-called ruined spiritual veins were a fabrication. Combined with his Ling Bone talent, he must have terrified South Hao," Yun Hai speculated.
"You mean the rumors of his ruined veins were a ruse by the Mu family?" the elder asked in shock.
"Exactly. That's why I left a two-year buffer for the engagement. I suspected something was amiss. But now, it no longer matters. The boy is dead. No amount of talent matters anymore," Yun Hai said, sighing again.
The elder hesitated before bringing up another matter. "And about Miss Wan'er…?"
Yun Hai's face turned pained. "Sigh… Let's agree to the arrangement. South Hao's rise is unstoppable. The royal family's influence is waning, and allying with him secures our future. It's just… poor Wan'er. She cared so deeply for Mu Feng."
As a family patriarch, Yun Hai bore the weight of responsibility for his clan. Personal wishes and emotions had to be sacrificed on the altar of pragmatism. In the end, family survival trumped all.