"You killed my Senior Brother Lei Yao. I wish I could tear you to shreds, but for the sake of our bond as fellow disciples, I simply cannot do so."
"That's right, Chu Feng — you should count yourself lucky. Lucky that you're a disciple of Green Wood Mountain. Otherwise… we would have torn you to shreds and scattered your ashes a hundred times over by now."
"No, not a hundred times would be enough to ease the hatred we bear for you. It would take a million times, ten million times," the members of the Star Observer Division snarled through gritted teeth, every last one of them seething with venom.
After all, Chu Feng's defeat of Lei Yao was not only Lei Yao's disgrace — it was the disgrace of the Star Observer Division, the disgrace of every single one of its members.
Chu Feng had humiliated them in public. How could they possibly not hate him?
"Oh, come on — spare me the 'bond between fellow disciples' and 'rules of Green Wood Mountain.' Since we already have a deep grudge and you all loathe me to the bone, why bottle it up inside? Setting aside the fact that it'll eat you alive, getting your revenge is actually quite simple — just challenge me to a life-and-death battle, and that's that!"
"Go ahead. Anyone who wants to avenge your Senior Brother Lei Yao, step right up. I, Chu Feng, will be right here waiting. I can sign the life-and-death contract right now and give you your chance at revenge." Chu Feng smiled broadly and raised his voice.
"This…" Every member of the Star Observer Division turned pale, some even involuntarily retreating a step. They lowered their heads in silence.
Those who had been cursing Chu Feng moments ago now clamped their mouths shut. They didn't even dare meet his gaze. The murderous resentment that had filled the air just a heartbeat ago vanished without a trace, replaced by fear and cowardice.
After all, they had witnessed Chu Feng's strength with their own eyes. If even Lei Yao was no match for him, how could any of them stand a chance? A life-and-death battle with Chu Feng? That was practically suicide.
"Chu Feng, don't you get cocky. Regardless of what you say, you killed Senior Brother Lei Yao and refined his origin — those are facts. Right now, you are a criminal, and you cannot escape that."
Suddenly, Yuan Qing spoke up again, brimming with righteous fury. He first jabbed a finger at Chu Feng in a tirade, then clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully to the elders of the Punishment Division, his voice both deferential and indignant:
"Honored elders, this Chu Feng is arrogant, defiant, and beyond reason. You have all witnessed his actions just now. Killing Senior Brother Lei Yao wasn't enough for him — he even tried to murder another fellow disciple.
"A person like this has no place in Green Wood Mountain. I, Yuan Qing, humbly beg the Punishment Division to punish Chu Feng severely. Stripping him of his status in Green Wood Mountain would be lenient — it would be best to cripple his cultivation so he can never do evil again."
"My, my — what a righteous speech that was. Yuan Qing, just how much do you hate me? Expelling me from Green Wood Mountain isn't enough for you — you want my cultivation crippled too?"
"If you hate me that much, don't trouble the elders. Why don't you just do it yourself? It's so simple. Come — challenge me to a life-and-death battle. I'll give you the chance to kill me." Chu Feng addressed Yuan Qing directly.
"Chu Feng, I won't fight you, much less engage in a life-and-death battle with you. I wouldn't dirty my hands with someone like you." Yuan Qing enunciated every word, making his rejection of Chu Feng's challenge unmistakably clear.
He might be arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. Despite his hatred for Chu Feng, he knew perfectly well that he stood no chance. He had no intention of fighting — he only wanted to use the Punishment Division to get rid of Chu Feng once and for all.
"Ah, yes — a very well-crafted excuse. Almost impossible not to find convincing."
"So I, Chu Feng, am scum, and you, Yuan Qing, are a hero. A hero refuses to rid the world of scum because he's afraid of dirtying his hands — what a wonderful excuse. What a considerate, selfless, truly magnificent person."
"But tell me, Yuan Qing — may I offer a different interpretation? Everything you've just said boils down to one simple thing: you're scared."