When Fu Yanxiong spoke, all eyes turned to him. At that moment, everyone sensed the anger and hatred in his words.
Just moments ago, Fu Yanxiong had been defending Li Feng, leading others to assume they were on good terms. Now, it was clear their relationship was anything but amicable.
This left everyone puzzled.
“Young Master Fu, why so angry? Did I hit the mark? Is there really no hair under that hat, so you can’t show your face?” Li Feng’s eyes glinted with a cold smirk as he continued, “Young Master Fu, your hat looks nice, but I think it’d look even better in green.”
Song Zhiyuan burst out laughing, “Young Master Feng’s got a point. I think Young Master Fu would look great in a green hat.”
The Song family harboured deep resentment toward the traitorous Fu family, even more than toward the Zhu family. Song Zhiyuan wasn’t about to miss a chance to mock Fu Yanxiong.
This was the first time Song Zhiyuan learned of the rift between Li Feng and Fu Yanxiong. For him, it was an unexpected delight. Combined with Li Feng’s earlier slap to Zhu Yuanyang, they now shared common enemies.
“Li Feng, Song Zhiyuan, have you said enough?” Fu Yanxiong snorted coldly.
“Young Master Song, have you had your say?” Li Feng asked Song Zhiyuan.
“How could I? I’ve only said one thing. How’s that enough?” Song Zhiyuan glanced at Fu Yanxiong, a smile flashing in his eyes. “Young Master Fu, just now Young Master Feng said you’ve got no hair under that hat. Why not take it off and let us see?”
Fu Yanxiong’s expression darkened, his gaze turning icy as he looked at Song Zhiyuan. “Since when did you and Li Feng become so chummy? You two really are birds of a feather.”
“Young Master Fu, you’re joking. Young Master Feng and I just share the same ideals. But you, I hear you’ve been cosy with Zhu Yuanyang lately. Could something be going on? Who’d have thought, with so many beauties out there, you’d fancy Zhu Yuanyang,” Song Zhiyuan said with a cold smirk. “Young Master Feng just slapped Zhu Yuanyang. Are you looking to settle the score?”
“Settle the score?” Li Feng took two steps forward, standing before Fu Yanxiong, a chill flashing in his eyes. “Young Master Fu, are you really going to avenge Zhu Yuanyang?”
“Li Feng, don’t get cocky. Someone’s coming for you today,” Fu Yanxiong said in a low voice.
“Don’t worry, Fu Yanxiong. You’re not dead yet, so I, Li Feng, will be just fine. Our business isn’t over. I’ve stepped on you once, and I can do it again,” Li Feng replied in a voice only they could hear.
“We’ll see about that,” Fu Yanxiong snorted coldly.
“Li Feng, this is a gathering for representatives of the eight top families, not a place for a nobody like you. Leave now,” Ma Xiaoyong said coldly, glaring at Li Feng.
“So, you, Ma Xiaoyong, represent the Ma family?” Li Feng turned to look at him.
“Exactly.”
“No wonder the Ma family’s stuck in the northwest. They send out idiots like you,” Li Feng sneered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ma Xiaoyong roared, striding toward Li Feng, his gaze fierce. “If you don’t explain yourself, you’re not leaving here today.”
“This is the Empire Hotel, hosting a business networking event. Why can’t I be here?” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
“The Li family’s representative is Li Wu, not you,” Ma Xiaoyong retorted.
“Calling you an idiot wasn’t wrong. Li Wu represents the Li family. I, Li Feng, represent myself,” Li Feng said.
“Yourself? Impossible,” Ma Xiaoyong said, disbelief written on his face. A nobody like Li Feng invited to a business networking event? Were the four major families of Tianhai City blind?
“Young Master Feng is the chairman of Fengyuan Group, one of Tianhai City’s top hundred enterprises. Of course, he’s qualified to attend,” Song Zhiyuan chimed in.
“Song Zhiyuan, I’m talking to Li Feng. Who asked you to butt in?” Ma Xiaoyong shot him a cold glance.
“You…” Song Zhiyuan started to respond but was held back by Li Feng, who turned his gaze to Ma Xiaoyong. “Whether I, Li Feng, can attend this event isn’t for you to judge. If it weren’t for Young Master Feng and Young Master Song dragging me here, you think I’d want to come? But, Ma Xiaoyong, I’m warning you. Don’t mess with me, or you’ll regret it.”
“Big Brother, how can you be so rude to Young Master Ma?” Li Wu stepped forward, visibly displeased. To him, Li Feng was causing too much trouble. Slapping Zhu Yuanyang wasn’t enough; now he was clashing with Fu Yanxiong and offending Ma Xiaoyong, even mocking Ying Suyan. Was he trying to antagonise all seven other families?
Yet, Li Wu was puzzled. This Li Feng didn’t match his memory. The Li Feng he knew was timid, barely able to speak clearly in such settings, let alone provoke others.
Had Li Feng really changed?
Li Wu grew wary. Until he became the Li family’s heir, Li Feng remained a significant threat. With Li Feng’s parents, Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng—the family head and matriarch—Li Feng still had considerable support within the family.
Moreover, Li Wu recalled Fu Yanxiong’s earlier words.
Fu Yanxiong had said that if Li Feng was a nobody, then they all were.
Initially, Li Wu hadn’t believed it, but now he felt Fu Yanxiong might be right. Li Feng wasn’t as simple as he seemed.
“Rude? Li Wu, it’s just Ma Xiaoyong. Look at you, all nervous. Forget rude. Even if I killed him, so what? He’s just the Ma family’s third heir. If I killed him, his two older brothers might thank me,” Li Feng sneered. “Li Wu, you’re part of the Li family, the representative at this Tianhai City business event. Are you just going to let someone walk all over our family?”
“Big Brother, you…?” Li Wu’s face darkened. This time, he truly felt Li Feng’s change. Even last night, Li Feng hadn’t spoken to him like this. Now, Li Feng was clearly lecturing him as an elder would a junior.
This was the tone Li Wu usually used on Li Feng, but now the roles were reversed.
Li Wu couldn’t fathom how Li Feng had changed so drastically.
Before he could figure it out, Ma Xiaoyong, enraged by Li Feng’s words, glared at him coldly. “Li Feng, say that again.”
“I’ll say it ten times if you want. Ma Xiaoyong, if you provoke me again, I might just kill you if I’m in a bad mood,” Li Feng sneered.
“You’re courting death,” Ma Xiaoyong said, exuding a murderous aura.
“That’s none of your business, Young Master Ma. But I’m warning you, don’t mess with me, or Zhu Yuanyang will be your example,” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
Ma Xiaoyong froze, then burst into laughter, looking at Li Feng arrogantly. “To think someone would dare speak to me like this, so brazen in my presence.”
He paused, a cold glint in his eyes, and sneered, “Fine. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, how will I, Ma Xiaoyong, face anyone? This is the price of provoking me.”
“Try it,” Li Feng said, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Only then did the others react, their responses varied. Song Zhiyuan, Jin Songyang, and Jin Xiaoya watched with amusement, as the conflict between Li Feng and Ma Xiaoyong didn’t concern them.
Qin Feng and Ying Suyan smirked coldly. Qin Feng knew Li Feng’s strength and was sure Ma Xiaoyong would suffer, but he had no intention of warning him. As for Ying Suyan, after Li Feng’s earlier insult, she hoped Ma Xiaoyong would teach him a lesson. Besides, she didn’t think Ma Xiaoyong was any better, having annoyed her earlier. If they fought, it was exactly what she wanted.
Li Wu’s gaze flickered, lost in thought.
Fu Yanxiong’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn’t expected Qin Feng or Li Wu to act against Li Feng, but Ma Xiaoyong, the fool, had taken the bait. Though he didn’t rate Ma Xiaoyong’s chances, if Li Feng thoroughly offended him, it was a welcome outcome.
With Qin Feng and Zhu Yuanyang added, Li Feng had nearly offended half the eight top families. Though they didn’t fully represent their families, their influence was significant. Offending them would cost Li Feng dearly, if not his life.
This was exactly what Fu Yanxiong wanted.
“Haha, it’s been a while since anyone spoke to me like that. Let’s see if your skills match your mouth,” Ma Xiaoyong sneered, swinging a swift, fierce slap at Li Feng.
The slap was fast and powerful, stirring a gust of wind.
Li Feng’s expression remained calm. Just as the slap was about to land, he reached out, grabbing Ma Xiaoyong’s wrist.
“Is this all you’ve got, Young Master Ma?” Li Feng said with a cold laugh.
“How is this possible?” Ma Xiaoyong was incredulous. He was confident in his strength; no ordinary person could withstand that slap, let alone a supposed nobody like Li Feng. Yet, Li Feng had effortlessly caught his wrist, preventing the slap from landing. With so many watching, failing to teach Li Feng a lesson would be a complete loss of face.
At this thought, a ferocious glint flashed in Ma Xiaoyong’s eyes. With a roar, he swung his other fist, aiming a vicious strike at Li Feng’s chest.
“Go to hell.”
