Chapter 361 178: Being a Guest (3)

"The Hall Master of the Blood Saber Hall has graced us with his presence. Forgive me, Feng Xianzhi, for failing to provide a proper welcome. I hope Hall Master Xuanyuan will pardon my oversight!"

"So he's Feng Xianzhi."

Tang Huayi whispered in Jiang Ran's ear,

"He really does look a lot like Feng Wu... Except his father is much more sensible."

Jiang Ran gave a wry smile.

"The man has spent half his life navigating the martial world. Of course he's nothing like Feng Wu."

Thinking of Feng Wu's current state, Jiang Ran sighed. He wondered what expressions the couple would make when they saw their son.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Feng Xianzhi's wife say,

"I wonder, how has our Qifeng Manor offended the Blood Saber Hall?

"To what end must Hall Master Xuanyuan mobilize such a force? And even… go so far as to take my disciples and my son as hostages.

"What is the meaning of these actions?"

Xuanyuan One Slash was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled.

"So that's why you two came running out. You were worried I'd taken a fancy to your estate.

"This estate of yours isn't half bad, though. With a few renovations, it could serve as a summer villa for my Master."

"Master?"

Feng Xianzhi and his wife exchanged a look.

'Xuanyuan One Slash is already so old,' they thought. 'At his age, how could he suddenly have a master?

'Wouldn't his master have to be ancient beyond belief?'

They couldn't help but scan the crowd, but after looking around, they saw no one who looked like he could be Xuanyuan One Slash's master.

Feng Xianzhi's expression suddenly darkened.

"Hall Master Xuanyuan, if you wish to make a move against my Qifeng Manor, then just do it.

"Why bother with such games?

"Who in this world is worthy of being your master?"

"It's true."

Ning Jiuyuan felt that if she didn't step up and say something quickly, Qifeng Manor was about to be annihilated.

"Really?"

Seeing it was Ning Jiuyuan, Feng Xianzhi nodded lightly, then sighed.

"Jiuyuan, come to your master's side. Tell me, did this Xuanyuan One Slash force you to say that?

"Speak freely. Qifeng Manor would rather die than submit!"

"That's… really not it."

Ning Jiuyuan glanced at Xuanyuan One Slash and his men, then her gaze fell upon Jiang Ran. She pointed a finger at him.

"Look. That is Hall Master Xuanyuan's Master."

Feng Xianzhi shot a glance at Jiang Ran and felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.

'How could *he* possibly be Xuanyuan One Slash's Master?'

Then, Feng Xianzhi's wife burst out laughing.

"Jiuyuan, have you lost your mind? You say he's Hall Master Xuanyuan's master? The way I see it, he looks a little young to even be his son. His grandson, maybe."

"Insolence!!"

An enraged roar echoed out. The surrounding crowd felt a storm of wind and thunder as a gale howled past them.

It was Xuanyuan One Slash.

His figure shot towards Feng Xianzhi's wife, his large palm raised to strike.

How could Feng Xianzhi stand by and watch his wife be struck?

He instantly flashed in front of his wife, blocking her, and channeled his energy into a two-palmed strike.

The cry of a phoenix rang out from behind him.

The next moment, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Their palms crashed together, unleashing ripples of force.

Shockwaves radiated out in a circle from the point of impact, and the sound of shattering explosions was unending.

Feng Xianzhi let out a muffled grunt, took a step back, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"My wife… spoke rudely. I hope Hall Master Xuanyuan will not take offense."

"A fine 'spoke rudely.'"

Xuanyuan One Slash sneered. "If she had only insulted me today, I would not have bothered to squabble with a mere woman.

"But her words insulted my Master. I'm afraid this matter will not be so easily resolved today."

"This… Can it be true?"

Feng Xianzhi couldn't believe his ears.

'The meaning behind Xuanyuan One Slash's words was clear: Ning Jiuyuan was right. He had truly taken this young man as his master?

'I've always known Xuanyuan One Slash was an eccentric, but I never thought he'd be *this* ridiculous!'

He immediately said in a hurry,

"We had absolutely no intention of insulting Hall Master Xuanyuan's Master! Please, Hall Master Xuanyuan, forgive us!"

Xuanyuan One Slash's face was livid. He snorted coldly and was about to say more.

Just then, Jiang Ran's voice cut in,

"That's enough."

Xuanyuan One Slash immediately swallowed the words he was about to speak and turned to look at Jiang Ran.

"Master."

Seeing Xuanyuan One Slash bow so respectfully, Feng Xianzhi and his wife exchanged another look, still finding it hard to believe.

'Is this young man really his master?

'Could he have mastered some art of preserving his youth?

'He looks young, but is he actually over a hundred years old?'

Jiang Ran waved his hand.

"We are in Qifeng Manor, after all. Rein in that 'Hall Master of the Blood Saber Hall' aura of yours.

"We are here as guests, at the invitation of Miss Ning.

"If there's been some misunderstanding, just clear it up. There's no need to resort to violence."

"Yes."

Xuanyuan One Slash immediately and obediently agreed.

When he turned back to Feng Xianzhi, Feng Xianzhi's heart tightened, only to see Xuanyuan One Slash burst into laughter.

"My Master has spoken. We are here as guests and must not act rashly.

"So, I wonder, does Manor Lord Feng welcome us or not?"

"We do!"

Although Feng Xianzhi didn't understand what was happening, he nodded repeatedly. "Extremely welcome! You are all distinguished guests whom we could never hope to invite on an ordinary day.

"Come, come, with such honored guests at our door, please, come inside."

With that, he quickly had the disciples behind him clear a path and led the group inside.

Meanwhile, Feng Xianzhi's wife pulled Ning Jiuyuan aside by the hand to ask about the situation.

From time to time, her gaze would fall on her son. She was puzzled. 'My son has always been closest to me.

'Why is it that today, it's as if he doesn't even see me…?'

But with a menace like Xuanyuan One Slash right there, she couldn't find the chance to ask.

Ning Jiuyuan, however, knew this wasn't the time to talk about Feng Wu.

She could only first give a brief explanation of the situation with Jiang Ran and Xuanyuan One Slash.

When she heard the name 'Jiang Ran', Feng Xianzhi's wife finally understood why Ning Jiuyuan had invited him as a guest.

But when she looked at Xuanyuan One Slash again, her face couldn't help but turn bitter.

'A man like that is the one carrying the Jiaowei… Even if we borrowed courage from the heavens themselves, we wouldn't dare try to take it from him.'