As Wu Duan and Wu Zheng rose to their feet, trembling with fear, the rest of the Wu Family hurriedly stood as well, including cultivators like Wu Kang.
A mid-stage Ming Jin cultivator was nothing at all in front of Zhao Huayuan.
In an instant.
At the banquet, everyone except Chen Mo, Chen Lan, and Wu Zhiai stood ramrod straight!
"We had no idea the Zhao Family Head would grace us with his presence. My siblings and I failed to welcome you properly. Someone, bring the Zhao Family Head a chair."
As Wu Duan spoke, his legs trembled so hard that the wooden chair behind him creaked and clattered.
A servant hurriedly brought over a fine sandalwood chair, and Wu Duan cleared a place beside him.
Zhao Huayuan glanced at Wu Duan and Wu Zheng but did not linger. Instead, he turned his gaze to Chen Mo.
Wu Duan and Wu Zheng immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Huayuan spoke in a deep voice. "What is this, Chen Martial Master? Now that you've passed the Martial Examination and become a Martial Scholar, do you look down on me and begrudge me coming to offer my congratulations?"
Chen Mo slowly rose. "This junior has no ties to the Zhao Family Head. Your coming here has left me both honored and overwhelmed."
After speaking, Chen Mo gave a fist salute.
Zhao Huayuan said, "That's not right. The various powers in Black River Town are bound together like lips and teeth. Chen Martial Master has earned the title of Martial Scholar; that's cause for celebration all around. How can you say we have no ties? The Zhao Family is also holding a banquet tonight, and we're waiting for Chen Martial Master to come celebrate with us."
His meaning was plain.
Chen Mo had badly injured Zhang Chong, the Zhao Family's son-in-law. Zhao Huayuan was taking this opportunity to retaliate.
What no one expected was that Zhao Huayuan would lower himself so far for Zhang Chong, personally showing up to make his move.
The Zhao Family Head's face was the Zhao Family's face.
But Zhang Chong had lost to Chen Mo in the Martial Examination's Technique Trial. The Zhao Family Head had already lost every shred of face then, so he no longer needed to worry about people accusing him of being petty or bullying a junior.
When Chen Mo didn't reply, Zhao Huayuan turned to Wu Duan. "Family Head Wu, surely you have no objections to what I just said?"
Wu Duan wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and stammered, "This is a... private matter between the Zhao Family Head and Chen Martial Master. It should have nothing to do with the Wu Family..."
Zhao Huayuan smiled with satisfaction.
Wu Zhiai, standing nearby, scoffed.
Wu Duan had hurried to distance himself from Chen Mo, his attitude a complete reversal from before.
That was the way of the world when strength ruled.
Among the powers consolidating Anyang County, Zhao Huayuan was second to none. No matter how gifted Chen Mo was, could he surpass Zhao Huayuan?
In Wu Duan's eyes, no!
If the sky came crashing down, he wasn't going to be the first one to hold it up.
Seeing Zhao Huayuan smile, Wu Duan relaxed and slowly sat down. By then, his back was soaked through with cold sweat.
Zhao Huayuan took two steps forward and stopped in front of Chen Mo. A vast surge of force burst from him, sweeping the fine dishes on the table to the floor.
Chen Mo immediately released all the force within him to shield Chen Lan and Wu Zhiai. With his help, the two women barely managed to stay on their feet.
That was the terrifying power of a Hua Jin expert, unleashed with casual ease.
"Ugh..."
Chen Mo felt the force in his meridians draining away. A suffocating sensation surged over him.
Just as his head began to spin,
a familiar, gentle voice sounded from outside the hall.
"It's so lively today. Who said the Wu Family had fallen into decline?"
At the sound of that voice, Zhao Huayuan suddenly realized something and stopped.
He brushed the dust from his palms, turned around, and saw a striking young man walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
It was none other than the champion of this year's Martial Examination, Xie Jinyou of the Xie Family.
"Xie Jinyou of the Xie Family?"
A note of surprise entered Zhao Huayuan's voice.
Everyone in the main hall, Chen Mo included, looked astonished.
Xie Jinyou had indeed told Chen Mo he would come visit in person. Chen Mo had assumed it was just a casual remark.
He really keeps his word...
Chen Mo thought. Let's see how he talks to Zhao Huayuan. If he isn't on the same side as Zhao Huayuan, then the Xie Family wasn't involved in the embezzlement of military equipment.
He helped Chen Lan and Wu Zhiai to their feet and gave Xie Jinyou a fist salute. "Brother Xie, it's been a while since we parted in Anyang. I trust you've been well."
Xie Jinyou walked right past Zhao Huayuan, patted Chen Mo on the shoulder, and laughed. "It's only been a day. What's there to ask about? I came today to congratulate you, Brother Chen."
Everyone nearby was left speechless.
Xie Jinyou was Anyang's most brilliant young talent. He was calling Chen Mo "Brother Chen" and had come to congratulate him?
Had the sun risen in the west today?
"You're too kind, Brother Xie. You're first on the Red List of this year's Martial Examination, yet you've come to congratulate me. I'm humbled."
Chen Mo clasped his hands in thanks.
He saw clearly what Xie Jinyou was doing: publicly taking his side.
Only then did Xie Jinyou seem to notice Zhao Huayuan. "Hm? The Zhao Family Head is here too?"
Zhao Huayuan turned around, his expression dark. "Young Master Xie and Chen Mo know each other?"
Xie Jinyou replied with a smile, "We became acquainted through a fight. I haven't admired many people, but after our match in the Technique Trial, I genuinely came to admire Brother Chen."
Wu Duan and Wu Zheng exchanged odd looks at those words.
On one side stood Zhao Huayuan, a Hua Jin expert; on the other, the young master of the Xie Family.
It was immortals fighting.
But, by comparison, the Xie Family wielded greater influence.
Wu Duan let out an awkward laugh. "I've always admired you, Young Master Xie. Since you're a friend of Chen Martial Master, you're a friend of Wu Kang's—and mine, too! I hope you'll stay at the Wu Family for a few days and let us play host."
As he spoke, his back bent until it was almost perfectly straight.
"There's no need," Xie Jinyou replied. "I'll leave after offering my congratulations. Oh, right..."
He suddenly remembered something, pulled a dark-colored book from his sleeve, and handed it to Chen Mo. "This is the Tiemang Technique I learned years ago. I no longer need it, so I'm giving it to you as a congratulatory gift."
Chen Mo's heart stirred. He accepted it with both hands.
He had heard of this martial art. It was a defensive technique, likely in the same category as Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt.
He was in need of a defensive technique, and the defensive techniques at Tianqing Martial Hall were both scarce and comparatively weak.
With Mountain and Water Cultivation, he only needed an original copy of a martial technique to master it. The longer he honed it, the greater his Comprehension of that technique became.
"Many thanks, Brother Xie!"
Chen Mo thanked him sincerely.
First, Xie Jinyou had come to congratulate him; then he had given him a gift. He was doing all this for Zhao Huayuan to see.
He was telling Zhao Huayuan that the Xie Family would not stand with the Zhao Family.
Chen Mo understood. It seemed the Xie Family couldn't have been involved in the Black Tiger Hall's embezzlement of military equipment.
He quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Huayuan, ignored by everyone nearby, clenched his fists. Xie Jinyou's sudden appearance had truly caught him off guard.
Now, he couldn't take Chen Mo away, nor could he attack him directly in the Wu Family's home.
Even if he wanted to make a move later, he would have to think twice. The Xie Family held a pivotal position in Anyang County, and its head was a late-stage Hua Jin expert, stronger than Zhao Huayuan, who was only at the early stage.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Leaving those words behind, he strode out of the main hall.
The Wu Family members remained silent.
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