Chapter 433: Chapter 402 Bald Eagle_1
Inside the golden and grand banquet hall, bright lights illuminated the place. The debris of the shattered walls had been cleared out, leaving only gaping holes alone in their place.
A waiter dressed in coarse grey clothes, with a slight trepidation in his step, cautiously approached the wine table and set down the freshly-made meal from the back kitchen. Then, he quickly retreated with his head lowered.
Xu Mu, seated at the head of the wine table, was eating at a leisurely pace, despite having already eaten half a plate of food.
Zhang Ergou, who had long since been sated, stood behind Xu Mu, feeling rather uneasy. He often glanced at one corner of the hall.
Over there, Kang Fuxing sat on the floor, his chest stained with blood. He was silently writing down the Martial Method and his cultivation experiences.
Zhang Ergou had witnessed how formidable Kang Fuxing was just a while ago. Tonight, Xu Mu had once again revised his understanding of him.
He felt that the strength of this adopted young master he acknowledged was like a bottomless pit, deep and unfathomable.
No matter how many individuals, or who they were, all would be knocked down by him effortlessly, as if he was a towering mountain squashing any raging torrents into oblivion.
This made him gradually transition from the initial panic to a calm demeanor, feeling that even if a more challenging task were to come, he would not be as vulnerable as before.
Remembering how he was terrified to the point of sitting on the ground earlier, he felt deeply humiliated. Such an act was a disgrace not only to himself but also to Xu Mu. He resolved not to make such a mistake again.
Meanwhile, the five Martial Artists from LeFeng City were in a state of numbness. Like Zhang Ergou, their perceptions had also been reshaped.
At this moment, they started doubting their chances of survival and began losing faith in the League of Martial Artists, which they originally revered.
All of them were now extremely wary of offending Xu Mu. They stood around him like guards, displaying reverence in their expressions. If anyone dared to offend Xu Mu, they would most likely be the first to rush forward.
As for their reactions, Xu Mu seemed oblivious.
Time passed in the stillness, as if it would continue like this indefinitely.
Chirp!
An earsplitting call echoed in the sky above LeFeng City.
Kang Fuxing, who was engrossed in writing the Martial Method, jolted involuntarily, distorting the character he was in the middle of writing.
He recognized the source of this call—it came from the white-headed eagle, the mount of the League of Martial Artists.
Only the top-ranking members of the League had the privilege of riding this type of eagle, which could travel tens of thousands of miles a day. Each eagle was worth a fortune.
His family, the Kangs, had once tried to buy one, but no matter how much they offered, the League refused to sell. Even worse, they ridiculed the Kangs for being unrealistic. This experience was deeply ingrained in Kang Fuxing’s memory.
The arrival of the white-headed eagle signified that the people of the League were coming, and his rescue was imminent.
However, Kang Fuxing remained composed, or perhaps he was too greatly traumatized earlier. Even with the arrival of his saviors, he dared not make any significant moves. He continued to dutifully write the Martial Method, only his speed unconsciously slowed down a bit.
The others were clueless about what the bird call signified. When such a loud bird call suddenly resonated in the middle of the night, it gave the feeling of impending doom.
“Young Master, something seems off about this bird!” Zhang Ergou alerted.
Xu Mu remained silent.
One of the five Martial Artists from LeFeng City, a slightly round-headed man, came closer to Xu Mu by two steps and whispered, “Sir, it might be people from the League!”
This round-headed Martial Artist was the one who offered metal and was the first to be rewarded by Xu Mu.
The other four watched the actions of the round-faced man with eyes wide open, their surprise was evident.
This was clearly him trying to curry favor with Xu Mu!
They had to keep in mind that they were technically being coerced by Xu Mu.
Now the round-faced man was extending an olive branch to Xu Mu, which was not the same by any means. It meant standing on Xu Mu’s side, aligning against them, as well as the League and Kang Family.
Had this man gone crazy or developed a masochistic tendency?
However, they soon realized that he was risking his life for a shot at wealth and power.
If Xu Mu were to indeed withstand the assault from the League, he was bound to rise in status, and elevate everyone around him. Just thinking of how Xu Mu had effortlessly increased their abilities earlier was enough to understand. As long as one could join him, a promising future awaits.
For a moment, the other four were also tempted.
Now was the perfect time to show their loyalty. If they missed this opportunity, it would not be easy to find another one.
However, considering the might of the League and their own wives and children, they couldn’t help but waver and hesitate.
There would be plenty of benefits if successful, but it would be an irreversible disaster in the event of failure!
At this point, everyone remembered, though the round-faced martial artist wasn’t alone in the world, he didn’t seem to have any close kin. Even if he did accidentally die, it seemed that there wouldn’t be much for him to worry about.
With these thoughts in mind, the four people found themselves a bit envious of him.
In the end, the four decided to abandon the tempting thought of siding with Xu Mu. They stood obediently to one side, their eyes downcast and appearing as if they were minding their own business.
“What’s your name?”
Xu Mu asked, picking up a piece of roasted chicken with his chopsticks without even turning his head.
“Yang Jiang!”
The round-faced martial artist quickly answered.
The other four were taken aback, realizing that Yang Jiang had now fully latched onto Xu Mu.
They knew that Kang Fuxing was nearby. If he gave his name and something happened to Xu Mu, then Kang Fuxing would definitely not let him off the hook.
It was as if Yang Jiang had burned his bridges behind him.
After Yang Jiang gave his answer, Xu Mu didn’t continue speaking and gulped down the chicken with the bones.
Just at that moment, there was a rustling sound from outside, as if two huge fans were flapping vigorously.
They were here!
Everyone’s hearts thumped, apart from Xu Mu’s.
The people who were about to appear would determine their fates.
Xu Mu finally put down his chopsticks and looked up at the hole in the wall.
Thud!
A heavy landing came from outside, and through the hole, you could see wings covered with grey feathers slowly folding in.
It really was the League of Martial Artist’s flying mount, the White-Headed Vulture!
There was an inexplicable calmness in Kang Fuxing’s heart, accompanied by a glimmer of hope.
Zhang Ergou clenched his fists, fearful of making a fool of himself again.
Yang Jiang, however, gritted his teeth like a gambler who had put everything on the line. If Xu Mu failed, he would be irredeemably ruined.
It took a lot of courage for him to make this decision. He couldn’t bear to remain at the bottom forever, always being a minor martial artist. This opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Even if he died, he would have no regrets.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two golden figures jumped off the back of the White-Headed Vulture and one immediately appeared in the hall.
…
Inside the bustling tavern, their brilliant golden martial robes were even more dazzling under the lamp light. The two figures, a man and a woman, were like the sun and the moon radiating in the room, attracting everyone’s attention.
The man was the first to catch their eyes. He had a resolute and profound countenance, the eyes under his sword-like eyebrows were like deep pools. His tall and sturdy body, with clear muscle lines, seemed like a perfectly sculptured bodybuilder. Wearing the golden martial robe, he was like a lion covered in golden fur, appearing valiant. The intricate design on his robe narrates his glory and brilliance. You could sense a strong aura of heroic spirit from him, his face was full of power and confidence.
Immediately following him, was a woman with an elegant and beautiful appearance. Her delicate features were like a painting, her lips were like blooming peach blossoms in early spring. Her eyes were large and bright, shining with a smart glow. Her long hair cascading over her shoulders seemed to convey a gentle oriental beauty. Her warm smile was heartwarming, as if it could comfort people’s hearts.
The woman also wore a golden robe. Its delicate texture and lustrous silky look made it appear luxurious and solemn. The design on the robe was exquisite, and each flower seemed as if it had been embroidered by hand, radiating feminine softness and elegance. Her long hair was simply tied back, with a few strands hanging casually by her cheeks, adding a touch of playfulness and liveliness.
The moment they entered the tavern, their appearance seemed to illuminate the entire tavern. Every step they took exuded confidence, every movement they made was so elegant and natural.
Upon reaching the center of the tavern, the man casually swung the golden longsword in his hand, the tip pointing to Xu Mu, who was sitting at the head of the table.
The corner of the man’s mouth curled up into a smirk, showing off his sharp white teeth, he sneered, “Boy, were you the one who killed the court official? Do you know the consequences?!”
His voice was loud and resonated throughout the tavern.
The woman, however, scanned the room with amusement in her eyes until she saw Kang Fuxing. Her eyes flickered with surprise.
“What consequences?” Xu Mu smiled, raising his cup.
“Death!”