"Mu Hanyan, I actually intended to save you some face, but since youâre being reckless, donât blame me for not showing mercy," Mu Feng said, his face livid, his teeth clenched.
"You should be more worried about saving your own face. Donât end up beaten and hiding under a bridge for the night again, making me take the blame," Mu Hanyan replied with a sidelong glance at Mu Feng, his voice tinged with resentment, his eyes clearly filled with disdain.
"So arrogant, too arrogant! A mere First Rank Swordsman daring to speak such wild words in the presence of a Fifth Rank Swordsman, Family Head, is this how you teach your descendants?" the Great Elder slammed his hand on the table and questioned Mu Ruiâan.
In the Holy Court Continent, Swordsmen hold great honor, and the hierarchy among them is rigid. Normally, lower-ranking Swordsmen must show respect to those of higher rank, and any disrespect, verbal or otherwise, is met with punishment that garners no sympathy from others.
Of course, these family internal competitions arenât as strictly regulated, but for a First Rank Swordsman to speak so wildly in front of a Fifth Rank Swordsman, showing no basic respect, indeed appears too arrogant and inappropriate, and rebuking him a few times is appropriate.
Ultimately, the Great Elder was just eager to seize an opportunity to make Mu Ruiâan uncomfortable, even if it meant stretching the truth to verbally harass him, feeling satisfied internally.
"How I teach my descendants is my own business and doesnât seem related to this competition. Let the younger generation handle their matters and let their strength speak for itself. Surely we arenât going to bully the weak," Mu Ruiâan countered coolly, his demeanor as indifferent as ever.
"Fine, fine, let the competition be like any other. Mu Feng, donât bother saving his face," the Great Elder, initially intending to embarrass Mu Ruiâan, retorted coldly, displeased at being metaphorically pressed down by an accusation of bullying the weak.
Inwardly smirking: Anyway, youâll be embarrassed soon enough, no point in verbal sparring now. I canât wait to see, once my Mu Feng humiliates your pathetic son in front of the entire clan, old and young, whether youâll have any more excuses to hold on to that Vessel Cutting Marrow Cleansing Pill.
"Donât worry, Grandfather, Iâll give it my all," Mu Feng said, without needing prompting, as he walked to the center of the training ground, his longsword at his side.
Mu Hanyan also moved forward, his steps balanced, his expression calm and serene.
"Bets are on, bets are on! Ten to one, I bet on Mu Feng to win, anyone else betting?" Before they started, from the crowd a boisterous young Mu Family disciple called out. He was Mu Nan, always lively and fond of excitement.
These internal family contests werenât usually severe, and a younger member causing such a stir wouldnât be tolerated, but since no one considered this match as evenly matched, everyone just came to see Mu Hanyan embarrass himself and consequently the Family Head, no one stopped him.
"Who doesnât know Mu Feng will win? Whatâs there to bet on?" other young Mu Family disciples scoffed.
"How about one to one hundred? Anyone betting now?" Mu Nan continued.
"Even at one to a thousand, it wouldnât matter; who would bet knowing theyâd lose?" the others said, looking at Mu Cheng as if he were foolish.
"Mu Cheng, why donât you join me?" Mu Nan asked Mu Cheng.
"Join what?" Mu Cheng, still distracted, hadnât heard him and looked up blankly.
(Mwah everyone, please favorite, give full stars, and if you have time, leave a review below. Boost the popularity. Post topics in separate posts. Last time it was about waking up beautiful everyday, this time letâs write about... let me think... what to eat today? Haha)