Bai Feiyao’s words were, without question, aimed squarely at the Gu family!
In truth, the purpose of this gathering, for those who’d come from the Longyuan continent, was to forge connections with the various powers of Liuxian Island, to build relationships that would make things more convenient, whether for coming and going from the island or for exchanging martial skills.
As for the various families of Liuxian Island, the smaller clans had naturally come for networking purposes as well—but a great family like the Bai clan had absolutely come to flaunt their power!
For a family that had held second place for a thousand years, the most direct way to flaunt their strength was to openly challenge the first!
And what Bai Feiyao had just done wasn’t merely a challenge—it was outright provocation!
Everyone present could see it plainly. Yet no one dared step forward to speak up for the Gu family—the Gu family was fading with each passing day, and the Bai family would sooner or later become Liuxian Island’s dominant power. Even without the year-end ranking tournament, if the Bai family simply waited another decade, the Gu family would have no choice but to obediently hand over Liuxian Mountain.
“Elder Qin, what do you think?” Bai Feiyao asked loudly.
Elder Qin, caught in a difficult position, glanced toward Elder Se. Part of him wanted to agree, curious to see how the Gu family would handle this provocation, but he had to remain neutral, without showing favoritism.
Elder Se pursed his lips, thoroughly displeased with Bai Feiyao’s arrogant, domineering attitude. Yet, though his sympathies lay with the Gu family, he too had to remain neutral.
“Since you claim to speak for Liuxian Island, why not ask the opinion of everyone present? If they agree, we naturally have no objection,” Elder Se said loudly.
A wicked smile spread across Bai Feiyao’s lips as he swept his gaze across the crowd, raising his voice further. “Honored young masters, what say you all?”
At these words, Patriarch Gu could no longer restrain himself and slammed his palm down as he rose abruptly. “Young master Bai, when it comes to unified action among the people of Liuxian Island, it is not your place to stand here flaunting your power!”
Ziqing watched coldly, unable to help but sigh inwardly—the lack of an heir truly was the Gu family’s greatest weakness. The dignified patriarch of the Gu family, first among Liuxian Island’s clans, had been provoked into speaking with just a few words from a junior, walking straight into the trap the moment he opened his mouth.
Sure enough, hearing Gu Jun’s contemptuous rebuke, Bai Feiyao, far from getting angry, instead laughed and said, “This junior merely made a proposal. I certainly can’t summon all the young masters myself—I’ll need Patriarch Gu to take charge and preside over the matter. Patriarch Gu, if you please!”
As he spoke, he made a respectful gesture of invitation and stepped aside.
The moment these words fell, the entire arena fell into dead silence—silent enough that one could have heard a pin drop!
Bai Feiyao—this was bullying, plain and simple, pushing things far too far!
But what could Patriarch Gu do? To generously step forward and preside over this so-called grand affair would be to openly admit that the Gu family had no young master, that the Gu family couldn’t represent Liuxian Island at all!
If he simply stood there without moving, wouldn’t that mean he was afraid of this young upstart’s provocation?
Should he move to deal with him by force? That was simply impossible—where would he find the ability to handle this young man right now?
Should he argue with words?
One had to remember: reasoning only carries weight when spoken by someone with the strength to back it up. That strength doesn’t come from being in the right—it comes from having the ability to make one’s words become the truth!
Growing old truly meant needing something to lean on!
Patriarch Gu’s gaze kept drifting toward Jiang Chen and Gu Suying. But one was his own daughter, the other a son-in-law he’d supported for six years, and at this very moment, both remained utterly unmoved, neither daring to step forward on his behalf!
Could his heart not die a little, seeing this?
Did he have to open his mouth and ask them directly before they would step forward?
The older one grew, the less willing one was to admit to old age. Patriarch Gu absolutely would not bring himself to ask.
He said coldly, “Young master Bai, the ranking tournament for rising talents isn’t until the end of the year, still three months away. Since when did it fall to the young masters to represent Liuxian Island?”
This was, admittedly, a decent counter.
But it was clearly lacking in real force. Had his internal energy remained intact, these words would surely have carried far more weight!
Ziqing gave a slight start—Gu Suying and Jiang Chen had conspired with the Bai family to harm Jun Beiyue, so Bai Feiyao clearly knew everything about the Gu family’s affairs!
Sure enough, Bai Feiyao immediately used this to press his advantage further. “Does Patriarch Gu mean to say he’ll personally step onto the platform himself?”
Countering Xuanyuan Lige’s sound-based attacks required not just mental fortitude but also substantial internal energy. And the sword dance Bai Feiyao had proposed was clearly not meant for defense, but for attack!
This scheme was truly vicious!
First, it invited all the powers of Liuxian Island to gang up on Xuanyuan Lige, taking revenge for having just been humiliated by him;
Second, it provoked the Gu family, using the occasion to declare to everyone that the Bai family no longer held the Gu family in any regard;
Third, it was clearly designed to force Patriarch Gu into public humiliation!
What a masterstroke—killing three birds with one stone!
This Bai Feiyao, beneath his wild, domineering exterior, actually possessed considerable cunning, backing Patriarch Gu step by step into a corner with no way out!
Patriarch Gu trembled with fury, his fists clenched tight, yet he truly had no idea how to counter, nor did he dare counter rashly!
At this moment, everyone in the arena had their eyes fixed on him—this contest between him and Bai Feiyao meant, in essence, a contest between the Gu family and the Bai family!
Seeing Patriarch Gu offer no response, Bai Feiyao immediately burst into loud, wildly arrogant laughter, and finally delivered a direct taunt. “Patriarch Gu, is this all you amount to? Not even the courage to step forward, yet you dare lecture this young master? What right do you have to represent Liuxian Island? What right do you have to occupy Liuxian Mountain while accomplishing nothing?”
“You!” Patriarch Gu choked with rage and finally drew his long sword.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Gu Suying’s eyes, but in the end she still held back. Jiang Chen’s lips couldn’t help curving into a hint of anticipation—he could hardly wait to shove Patriarch Gu forward himself!
“Me? What about me? What, no son to send forward, so you’re really going to fight yourself? Come on then!” Bai Feiyao snorted coldly, striding forward generously, chin raised, looking down on everyone with disdain.
Patriarch Gu pointed his long sword forward but said in a low voice, “Jiang Chen, you go up there.”
Though his voice was low, Ziqing heard it clearly. But Son-in-law Jiang apparently didn’t hear it at all, his brow furrowed, staring straight ahead.
“Jiang Chen!” Patriarch Gu urged again, but Jiang Chen remained unmoved.
“Suying!” Patriarch Gu had no choice but to switch to someone else.
But Gu Suying, too, seemed not to have heard, both of them sitting there like wooden statues. This gathering was, after all, the start of Bai Feiyao’s scheme to bring down the Gu family—everything was proceeding as planned. How could they dare step forward on Gu Jun’s behalf so easily?
“Oh my, Patriarch Gu, I’m so terribly frightened of your sword—do hurry up and come at me!” Bai Feiyao put on a pitiful, mocking expression, and at these words, the entire arena immediately burst into laughter.
Patriarch Gu’s expression grew even uglier. Ziqing suppressed the cold smile tugging at her lips.
She had only wanted Patriarch Gu to see clearly the true faces of his daughter and son-in-law—she had no intention of waiting for him to call on her!
That Bai Feiyao would dare to poison Beiyue, and that this were their first meeting without settling the score—that simply wasn’t how she and Beiyue operated. Of course, if Patriarch Gu hadn’t saved Beiyue, things wouldn’t have come to this point today!
She had always kept her debts of gratitude and grudges clearly separated. Today, she would settle them both!
Amid the tense atmosphere, she slowly rose to her feet. Though unhurried, the movement instantly drew everyone’s attention. Just who was she, in relation to the Gu family?