The figure that stepped out elicited such a strong reaction from the group for a reason.
It was because this person looked exactly like Chu Feng—so identical that no one could tell the difference, no matter how closely they examined him.
“Supreme Elders, who is this?” someone asked.
“You don’t need to know who he is. All you need to understand is that tomorrow, he will poison the patriarch. When that happens, you must work together with me and Chu Hanqing to denounce Chu Feng,” Chu Hanyouyou said.
“We will obey the Supreme Elders’ commands,” the group replied, kneeling in unison.
“Disperse,” Chu Hanyouyou waved her hand. The group then left, moving stealthily and using concealment techniques, fearful of anyone discovering they had been there.
Now, only Chu Hanyouyou, Chu Hanqing, and the man who looked identical to Chu Feng remained.
“We’ll be relying on you for this,” Chu Hanyouyou and Chu Hanqing said, clasping their fists toward the man with polite deference.
“No need for thanks. I’m not doing this for you—I’m doing it for myself. I want Chu Feng ruined, disgraced, and dead,” the man replied.
Even his voice was indistinguishable from Chu Feng’s, though his words dripped with hatred.
“Then what grievance do you have with Chu Feng?” Chu Hanqing asked.
Chu Hanyouyou’s gaze also fixed on the man.
This individual had approached them主动ly, proposing to join forces against Chu Feng. The plan itself had been his idea.
Though he’d done things to prove his intent to target Chu Feng, earning Chu Hanqing and Chu Hanyouyou’s agreement to cooperate, they still harbored wariness toward him.
“You don’t need to know that. Since I’ve come to work with you, I trust you fully, and I hope you’ll trust me in return,” the man said.
“Of course,” Chu Hanqing and Chu Hanyouyou nodded.
“Ugh—”
Suddenly, the man’s face twisted in pain. His features distorted grotesquely, splitting into two shadowy forms that trembled violently.
But the episode lasted only a moment. Soon, he returned to normal, resuming Chu Feng’s appearance.
“What’s happening to you?” Chu Hanqing and Chu Hanyouyou’s eyes flickered with concern.
They could tell something was wrong with his body.
Their worry wasn’t for his health—it was whether this would affect tomorrow’s plan.
“It’s nothing, just a minor issue. Tomorrow, I’ll take a suppressant—no accidents will occur,” the man assured them.
“Good,” Chu Hanqing and Chu Hanyouyou said simultaneously.
“See you tomorrow, then.” The man’s form flickered, turning into a dark shadow that darted away swiftly.
Chu Hanqing and Chu Hanyouyou exchanged a glance.
“This man makes me uneasy,” Chu Hanqing said.
“Indeed, but at this point, we have no choice but to take the risk. This might be our only shot,” Chu Hanyouyou replied.
—
The next day, Chu Hanyouyou and Chu Hanqing invited the Chu Heavenly Clan patriarch out.
Thanks to their careful planning, the first step went smoothly.
They orchestrated a gathering where many prominent figures of the Chu Heavenly Clan, including the patriarch, Chu Xuanzhengfa, and Chu Hanpeng, were present.
It was meant to be a simple family event—everyone chatted and laughed, relaxed despite the presence of the patriarch and Supreme Elders.
But when Chu Feng appeared, the crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to him.
He carried a jar-like container, stepping into view one deliberate step at a time.
Most gazes weren’t on Chu Feng himself but on the container in his hands, curious about its contents.
Meanwhile, Chu Hanqing, Chu Hanyouyou, and their accomplices grew tense to the breaking point.
Some, less composed, were drenched in sweat, their bodies trembling.
They knew this wasn’t the real Chu Feng—it was their imposter.
The true Chu Feng was still in his residence, guarded by their people. If he emerged, they’d be alerted immediately to prevent the real and fake Chu Fengs from appearing together.
Still, they were nervous.
Though this imposter was flawless to their eyes, they weren’t sure if the patriarch could see through the disguise.
In the blink of an eye, the fake Chu Feng approached and knelt halfway, speaking in a tone of reverence: “Chu Feng pays respects to the patriarch, the Supreme Elders, and all seniors.”
“Chu Feng, get up! Weren’t you planning to enter seclusion? Why are you here today?” The patriarch’s face lit up with joy, his smile broader than before.
He clearly hadn’t noticed this Chu Feng was a fraud.
“Knowing how hard the patriarch works, Chu Feng specially prepared a bowl of soup using rare treasures to help relieve your fatigue,” the imposter said.
“You little rascal, since when did you learn to flatter like this?” the patriarch teased, though his face beamed with delight. He waved a hand. “Come, let me taste your handiwork.”
The fake Chu Feng stepped forward quickly, presenting the soup.
“Not bad at all—it smells good,” the patriarch remarked.
He opened the bowl, took a whiff, and then downed the entire contents in front of everyone.
Those unaware of the plot saw nothing amiss, watching with smiles.
*Pfft—*
Suddenly, a gush of blood sprayed from the patriarch’s mouth. He stared at Chu Feng in shock.
He realized he’d been poisoned—and the poison came from the soup Chu Feng had given him. Yet, he didn’t voice this. Instead, he sealed the bowl, hiding the truth.
“Patriarch, what’s wrong?”
But as black blood spurted from his mouth, the crowd erupted into chaos, rushing toward him.
Chu Hanqing seized the moment, snatching the bowl from the patriarch’s hands and shouting, “It’s the soup! The soup is poisoned! Chu Feng, you dared to poison the patriarch?”
“What?”
The crowd turned incredulous gazes toward Chu Feng. Those in the dark were filled with doubt, unable to accept this.
Why would Chu Feng poison the patriarch? It made no sense—he had no motive.
*Pfft—*
At that moment, blood gushed from the patriarch’s mouth like a fountain—foul-smelling black blood.
As he vomited, his body shriveled, his hair fell out, and he became a terrifying husk, like a corpse long dead, frail beyond belief.
Yet even in this state, the patriarch mustered his last strength and roared, “All members of the Chu Heavenly Clan, hear me—do not harm Chu Feng!!!”
With those words, his body slumped, and he fell unconscious.
