"Brother Longjian, reconciliation isn't out of the question — but it ultimately depends on whether Young Friend Chu Feng is willing."
"Truthfully, things reaching this point was never what our Eastern Imperial Clan desired either. If Young Friend Chu Feng is willing to make peace, I am prepared to personally offer him my apologies." At that moment, the Patriarch of the Eastern Imperial Clan suddenly spoke up.
As he said this, the Eastern Imperial Clan's Supreme Elders remained silent, their expressions one of tacit approval — a clear sign that they had already discussed the matter beforehand.
"What? They're actually agreeing to reconcile? And offering to apologize on their own initiative?" The surrounding crowd was stunned into disbelief upon hearing this.
"Our Beitang Imperial Clan as well." The Beitang Imperial Clan then voiced its willingness to make peace.
"Longjian has already spoken on behalf of our Nangong Imperial Clan," said one of the Nangong Imperial Clan's Supreme Elders. As he spoke, the other Supreme Elders — including the Patriarch, Nangong Beidou — all wore expressions of quiet agreement.
Truth be told, by now they had long recognized just how powerful Chu Feng truly was. Otherwise, they never would have resorted to this — going so far as to stop at nothing in their attempt to eliminate him.
Because they knew that if Chu Feng was not destroyed, it was only a matter of time before he destroyed them. But… if genuine peace could be reached, and if Chu Feng truly was willing to reconcile, they would welcome it wholeheartedly.
In fact, the Nangong, Beitang, and Eastern Imperial Clans had all harbored thoughts of making peace with Chu Feng for some time now. They simply believed that given Chu Feng's character, he would never agree to it. And after everything they had done to him, suddenly proposing reconciliation seemed utterly unrealistic.
On top of that, the Ximen Imperial Clan had been fiercely pushing for Chu Feng's destruction, so they had never raised the idea.
Now, with Nangong Longjian stepping in to mediate, they finally felt this was a rare opportunity not to be squandered.
"Young Friend Chu Feng, you've heard what they have to say?" Nangong Longjian turned his gaze toward Chu Feng.
"I never had any grudge against the Four Great Imperial Clans to begin with. In truth, it has always been the Four Great Imperial Clans that wanted me dead — when have I ever sought to kill them?"
"If they are willing to make peace, I naturally have no objection… Only, the human heart is fickle. I have been hunted by them for so long that I genuinely fear they might go back on their word — agree to peace on the surface while stabbing me in the back." Chu Feng smiled.
He could see the situation with perfect clarity. Reconciliation was the best course of action. And if not for Nangong Longjian stepping forward, they very likely would have already been killed by the Dark Hall. In a sense, Nangong Longjian had saved their lives.
Moreover, as a member of the Nangong Imperial Clan, Nangong Longjian had actually suppressed the Four Great Imperial Clans and forced them to the negotiating table. If Chu Feng were to refuse at a time like this, it would be terribly ungracious — and so this face… he absolutely had to give.
Besides, when it came down to it, for Chu Feng, reaching genuine peace with the Four Great Imperial Clans would bring nothing but benefits with no downside.
Setting aside the fact that his cultivation was still too weak to contend with the Four Great Imperial Clans on his own, even if he were to rise to prominence in the future, he would not exterminate them — at most, he would kill only those who targeted him.
After all, Chu Feng was no longer the brash youth he had once been. He had matured a great deal and understood that no matter how deep the hatred, the innocent must not be harmed. The Four Great Imperial Clans were despicable, certainly — but among them, there were still good people.
Nangong Ya, Nangong Baihe, Nangong Moli — they were all his friends. No matter how deep the enmity ran, how could he bring himself to kill them? How could he bear to destroy his own friends' families and leave them destitute?
Still, Chu Feng truly could not trust the Four Great Imperial Clans, which was why he wanted Nangong Longjian to give him some guarantee.
"Rest assured on that count. If any of them dare go back on their word — whichever clan it may be — I will help you destroy them," Nangong Longjian declared.
"Hssss—" Hearing this, everyone drew in a sharp breath. For someone who was himself a member of the four clans to say something like that — Nangong Longjian truly was a man who walked his own path, unlike anyone else.