“Apologize. Apologize to Young Master Ma immediately,” Li Wu said sternly.
“Apologize?” Li Feng turned to Li Wu, his voice cold. “Li Wu, you want me to apologize? On what grounds?”
Hearing the exchange between Li Feng and Li Wu, a glint of delight flashed in Fu Yanxiong’s eyes. After their earlier clash with Li Feng, Li Wu had finally realized Li Feng was no ordinary foe. To secure his position as the Li family heir, Li Wu wouldn’t let Li Feng off easily.
Regardless of the outcome, Fu Yanxiong’s goal was achieved, and that was enough.
Qin Feng smirked coldly. Though he had no intention of sowing discord between Li Feng and Li Wu, their internal strife was advantageous to him. Both were rivals, and he’d love to see them tear each other apart.
“For the sake of the Li family, you must apologize. Otherwise, I’ll report this to the family head and the council of elders,” Li Wu said, displeasure in his eyes. Though he rarely spoke with Li Feng, this was the first time he’d heard Li Feng address him in such a tone.
Li Feng had truly changed.
At that moment, a cold glint flickered deep in Li Wu’s eyes.
Unlike others, if Li Feng wasn’t a nobody, his path to becoming the family heir would be fraught with obstacles. After all, compared to him, Li Feng was the true direct descendant of the family.
“For the Li family?” Li Feng sneered. For the sake of the family, he should tolerate others mocking his wife?
“Exactly, for the Li family,” Li Wu said firmly.
“What a fine ‘for the Li family,’” Li Feng said, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Li Wu. “You’re right, Li Wu. I was reckless earlier.”
Li Wu’s face lit up with a triumphant smile. Even if Li Feng wasn’t a nobody, he’d live in Li Wu’s shadow.
Song Zhiyuan watched the exchange, his eyes glinting with calculation. Under Uncle Ning’s advice, he had chosen to back Li Feng over Li Wu, much like his own rivalry with Song Yongquan. To become the family heir, Li Feng and Li Wu could not coexist peacefully.
Now, seeing their confrontation, Song Zhiyuan wavered, wondering if his choice was correct. Li Feng was too provocative, having offended Zhu Yuanyang, Fu Yanxiong, and now Ma Xiaoyong. Could he really prevail against Li Wu?
If Li Feng lost to Li Wu, Song Zhiyuan’s own position would be affected.
He decided to hold off and observe the outcome of their clash before acting.
Unlike Song Zhiyuan’s complex thoughts, Fu Yanxiong and Qin Feng were simply stunned as they watched Li Feng.
What was going on? Was Li Feng yielding? Impossible. With his personality, how could he back down?
Qin Feng, in particular, had witnessed Li Feng’s ruthless decisiveness and found it unthinkable.
What was Li Feng planning?
Compared to Song Zhiyuan’s calculations and Fu Yanxiong and Qin Feng’s confusion, Jin Songyang, Jin Xiaoya, and Ying Suyan were more relaxed, watching the drama unfold with interest.
Especially Jin Songyang and Ying Suyan, they hadn’t expected Li Feng to have so many enemies—Fu Yanxiong, Ma Xiaoyong, and now his own family’s Li Wu. They were curious to see how Li Feng would handle it.
Ying Suyan’s gaze occasionally landed on Hu Yuanyuan. The Ying family, based in Guanzhong near the northwest, had heard of the Flower of the Northwest. Though she’d never met Hu Yuanyuan, Ying Suyan had initially pitied her for marrying Li Feng. But from what she’d seen, Li Feng was no ordinary nobody, and Hu Yuanyuan seemed genuinely content with him. Others might think Hu Yuanyuan was putting on an act, but Ying Suyan, with her unique ability, knew it was true.
She was curious—what made Hu Yuanyuan so devoted to Li Feng? Though she’d never met her, intelligence reports suggested Hu Yuanyuan was no ordinary woman.
“Li Wu, for the sake of the Li family, why don’t you apologize to Ma Xiaoyong on my behalf?” Li Feng said calmly, looking at Li Wu.
“What?” Li Wu’s triumphant smile froze. He hadn’t expected Li Feng to ask him to apologize to Ma Xiaoyong.
“Li Feng, you’re the one who should apologize, not me,” Li Wu said, taking a deep breath and glaring at Li Feng coldly.
Li Feng shook his head and asked, “Li Wu, we’re brothers, right?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m older than you, correct?” Li Feng continued.
Li Wu nodded, his face dark. “Correct.”
“If that’s the case, why can’t you apologize to Ma Xiaoyong on my behalf? Li Wu, my dear brother, as members of the Li family, we should put the family first. I’m older, so it’s only natural for you to apologize for me. Are you unwilling?” Li Feng asked with a smile.
“Li Feng, you…” Li Wu glared at him, furious. He hadn’t expected Li Feng to push the apology onto him. On what grounds?
“Li Wu, don’t you care about the Li family?” Li Feng sneered. Apologize to Ma Xiaoyong? Sparing him earlier was already a mercy. And now an apology?
Li Feng had some guesses about Li Wu’s intentions but wasn’t surprised. After this business networking event, he knew his actions couldn’t be hidden from Li Wu. Nor did he intend to hide them.
While concealing his strength could catch others off guard at critical moments, Li Feng saw no need for it. In a family like the Li family, where strength ruled, hiding one’s power only led to being overlooked and deprived of resources.
Li Wu’s words earlier deserved a slap, but Li Feng had already shown him enough face. Did Li Wu still think he was the same old Li Feng?
“Li Feng, well done,” Li Wu said, taking a deep breath, his face dark as he gritted his teeth.
At that moment, Li Wu and Li Feng were completely at odds. What followed would be a life-and-death struggle.
The thought brought a cold, murderous glint to Li Wu’s eyes.
He had always known Li Feng was a rival, but given Li Feng’s reputation as a nobody, no one believed he could become the Li family heir. Though Li Wu remained wary, he hadn’t harboured killing intent. First, Li Feng seemed harmless, not worth killing. Second, he feared Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng. The couple, united in power, had controlled the Li family for years and had many supporters. Killing Li Feng could provoke their retaliation, benefiting others and costing Li Wu dearly.
But now, things were different. Li Feng was no longer a nobody, not the Li Feng he knew. With Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng’s support, Li Feng could very well defeat him in the heir selection. That was unacceptable. Li Wu and his father had worked decades for this, and they couldn’t let Li Feng’s change ruin it.
The only solution was to kill Li Feng.
“I’ve always been doing well,” Li Feng said with a cold laugh, turning to Qin Feng and Song Zhiyuan. “Gentlemen, it seems I’m not welcome here. I’m leaving. Are you coming with me or staying?”
“Young Master Feng, I’m with you,” Song Zhiyuan said after a moment’s hesitation. Though he favoured Li Wu, he trusted Uncle Ning’s judgment and chose to follow Li Feng.
“I…” Qin Feng began, but Li Feng cut him off. “Young Master Feng, you distinguished guests should stay and chat. I have things to do and won’t keep you company today.” With that, he ignored Qin Feng, took Hu Yuanyuan’s hand, and left the room.
Song Zhiyuan glanced at Qin Feng and the others, then hurried to follow.
“Arrogant! Insolent!” Ma Xiaoyong snapped out of Li Feng’s killing aura, his face flushed with embarrassment. He had been intimidated by Li Feng’s presence.
“Li Wu, that’s your dear cousin?” Ma Xiaoyong said coldly to Li Wu. “You called him a nobody? Fu Yanxiong was right—if Li Feng’s a nobody, then we’re all nobodies.”
Li Wu’s face darkened. His earlier words to Li Feng had been useless, and in front of Ma Xiaoyong and the others, he’d lost all face.
“Ma Xiaoyong, mind your own business,” Li Wu said coldly. “Hu Yuanyuan is my sister-in-law, the Li family’s young mistress. Aren’t you afraid of the Li family’s retaliation?”
“Hah, I’m not scared of anything. The Li family? You’re part of it, Li Wu. Would you retaliate against me?” Ma Xiaoyong sneered.
Li Wu looked at him and said, “Don’t forget, Hu Yuanyuan’s father is Hu Wenhai, the King of the Northwest.”
Ma Xiaoyong’s expression shifted slightly. In his eagerness to target Hu Yuanyuan and get back at Li Feng, he’d forgotten her other identity—Hu Wenhai’s daughter.
The King of the Northwest, Hu Wenhai, was a formidable figure, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops and the fierce Tianlang Camp. Even the Ma family showed him respect. Offending Hu Wenhai was beyond what Ma Xiaoyong could handle.
But soon, Ma Xiaoyong brushed the thought aside, sneering, “Women? I’ve got plenty of ways to deal with them. So what if Hu Yuanyuan’s father is the King of the Northwest? I’m set on having her today. If she willingly follows me, what can Hu Wenhai do even if he finds out?”
“You?” Li Wu sneered with disdain. “Who was just scared speechless by Li Feng? If you dare touch Hu Yuanyuan, I bet Li Feng will cripple you.”
“Li Feng? I’m not afraid of him!” Ma Xiaoyong roared, furious. “Li Wu, just watch. Today, right here in the Empire Hotel, I’ll have Hu Yuanyuan. Your Li family’s young mistress will become my woman.”
“As long as you’ve got the skill, I’ve no objections,” Li Wu said, a glint in his eyes. Letting Ma Xiaoyong, the fool, test Li Feng was a fine choice.
