"Remember this — Song Xi is my brother. Anyone who disrespects him in the future disrespects me."
"And if anyone dares to retaliate against him after I leave, I will make the Zhao Residence vanish from this world entirely."
Chu Feng spoke each word with deliberate weight, and without waiting for any reaction from the Zhao Residence's people, he led Song Xi and Aunt Jing away.
Along the road, Song Xi kept staring at Chu Feng, his gaze filled with admiration.
He looked practically like a lovestruck girl gazing at her idol. That look made Chu Feng profoundly uncomfortable.
"What are you staring at me for?" Chu Feng asked with a frown.
"Chu Feng, you really are the most impressive person I've ever met," Song Xi said.
"Now that's impressive?" Chu Feng said dismissively.
"You have no idea how impressive it was. The Zhao Residence's people are ruthless on a daily basis, and their master is so tyrannical he's practically above the law — a little emperor unto himself. But today they were absolutely terrified in front of you. It was so satisfying!"
"That pressure you put out was incredible. Even I was scared. If I hadn't been standing right beside you, knowing you wouldn't hurt me, I probably would've been on my knees begging for mercy just like them," Song Xi said.
"Keep talking and I'm going to think you're just flattering me," Chu Feng said.
In Chu Feng's eyes, while Song Xi's cultivation wasn't particularly strong, he had traveled far and wide and should have witnessed plenty of scenes like this. His reaction now was a bit over the top.
In truth, Song Xi had indeed seen many similar confrontations — but always as a bystander. This was the first time in his life he had stood at Chu Feng's side, watching him wield his power at such close range.
It was the difference between watching from the crowd and experiencing it firsthand.
So naturally, he was thrilled.
"I'm really not flattering you. I genuinely admire you," Song Xi said with a wide grin — and he meant every word.
"Enough. Let's move on," Chu Feng said, thoroughly exasperated.
If it were a woman making eyes at him, he could tolerate it. A man looking at him like that made him want to crawl out of his own skin.
"Oh, right — there is something I need to warn you about."
"Song Xi, you're far too indecisive. Wang Lianzhi treated your mother that way, and you let her off? If I hadn't shown up, your mother wouldn't have had long to live. And the one responsible was Wang Lianzhi," Chu Feng said.
"But… she grew up with me. I just couldn't bring myself to do anything," Song Xi said.
"She had no such trouble being harsh to you."
"You're too soft-hearted. That kind of softness won't keep you alive in the world of martial cultivators."
"You know what kind of people are most common in this world? People like the Zhao Residence and the Ouyang family — the sort who bully the weak and fear the strong."
"We don't have to go out of our way to provoke or oppress anyone on a daily basis. But remember — if someone comes after us, we absolutely must not show them mercy."
"Today, the only reason I spared the Zhao Residence's master was because you still have to live here, and I was worried about retaliation."
"Otherwise, he would already be dead."
"You know why?" Chu Feng asked.
"Why?" Song Xi asked.
"Because when he attacked, he intended to kill me. I see no reason to let a man who wants me dead continue breathing," Chu Feng said.
"I understand. I won't be so indecisive anymore. But Chu Feng — can you spare Wang Lianzhi?" Song Xi said.
"I already told you. What happens with her is your call. Since you chose to let her go, I won't make things difficult for her," Chu Feng said.
The truth was, Chu Feng felt a quiet exasperation settling in.
He could see it clearly — no matter how readily Song Xi agreed on the surface, at his core he was still hopelessly soft-hearted.