Although the Emperor didn’t attend, the banquet’s procedures were fixed. The Ninth Princess first praised all the meritorious soldiers and then generously bestowed gold and silver. Lu Yunxue and Pei Jianzhi were naturally among those rewarded. As the rewards were distributed, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
After a few cups of wine, Lu Yunxue and Pei Jianzhi’s faces were flushed with slight drunkenness. Although seated at the very end, as the heroes of this campaign and rising stars, many officials sought to befriend them. Compliments flowed endlessly. As the saying goes, the sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Pei Jianzhi felt he was capable once again.
Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Pei Jianzhi suddenly stepped forward and addressed the Ninth Princess at the head seat, “The atmosphere is perfect tonight. I’ve recently heard of the State-Stabilizing Duke’s unparalleled martial prowess. I humbly request a bout with the Duke for the entertainment of the gathered officials. What does the Duke think?”
It was here!
At this moment, everyone present sharpened their focus.
Although there were rumors during the day that Mu Zian had singlehandedly killed seven top experts from Liu Zang Hall, no one had seen it with their own eyes. The truth was still uncertain.
The Ninth Princess turned her gaze to Mu Zian, who was drinking.
“What does the State-Stabilizing Duke think?”
At that moment, a prompt sounded in Mu Zian’s mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering a choice!]
[Choice 1: Refuse the challenge and become a coward. Reward: A top-grade Profound Iron Sword.]
[Choice 2: Accept the challenge and publicly humiliate Pei Jianzhi. Reward: A set of Mountain-Shaking Fist Techniques.]
[Please make your choice.]
Mu Zian twisted his neck slightly and slowly stood up. There was no need to hesitate. Since someone sought death, he would oblige. Looking at Pei Jianzhi standing in the center of the hall, Mu Zian sneered, “Don’t cry later.”
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for making your choice! Reward has been distributed!]
In the next instant, Mu Zian felt a flood of unfamiliar martial knowledge surge into his mind. It was as if he had practiced the Mountain-Shaking Fist Techniques millions of times already.
Seeing Mu Zian stand up, a smug smile appeared on Pei Jianzhi’s face. He had long investigated Mu Zian thoroughly. Although Mu Zian came from a military family, he had never practiced martial arts and was nothing but a pure wastrel. He didn’t believe for a second that someone like Mu Zian could have killed the assassins from Liu Zang Hall. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The real assailant must have been someone else. As for why the rumors credited Mu Zian, it was obvious. Reopening the State-Stabilizing Duke’s Residence needed a feat to convince everyone, and the rumor of killing the assassins served perfectly to show that the Emperor had chosen the right person.
Because of this, Pei Jianzhi was absolutely confident he could defeat Mu Zian. The thought of Mu Zian’s soon-to-be desperate expression made Pei Jianzhi tremble with excitement. Stepping on the State-Stabilizing Duke—what a thrill that would be.
Shen Congwu, seated among the crowd, gave Pei Jianzhi a sympathetic look. Pei Jianzhi, sneering at Mu Zian, said mockingly, “I must thank the Duke for his generosity, giving up the Heroine Marquis and allowing me to have her.”
His words caused an uproar. No one expected Pei Jianzhi to provoke Mu Zian so openly.
However, Mu Zian only smiled and spread his hands, saying, “Just a worn-out shoe. Who would’ve thought the Pei family’s young master would like collecting trash, and toxic trash at that.”
Lu Yunxue’s face flushed red with embarrassment at Mu Zian’s words. Pei Jianzhi hadn’t expected such a fierce counterattack either. Mu Zian’s words brutally dragged both their faces through the mud.
The Ninth Princess couldn’t help but chuckle. She hadn’t realized Mu Zian was so sharp-tongued before.
Mu Zian’s voice rang out clearly across the hall, “I ask everyone here to bear witness: from this day forward, Mu Zian and Lu Yunxue are completely severed. She is no longer my wife, and the Mu family no longer needs an unfilial, unchaste, unkind, and unrighteous woman.”
Lu Yunxue stood up furiously. If these words spread, her reputation would be utterly ruined.
Pei Jianzhi frowned and quickly countered, “State-Stabilizing Duke, your words are unfair! Xue’er has suffered countless hardships on the battlefield for the Empire. You, meanwhile, indulged yourself in the capital. Shouldn’t you reflect on your own faults before blaming her?”
Classic! Absolutely classic!
Mu Zian laughed heartily, his laughter carrying a mix of arrogance and disdain. “Let me ask you: you were born a collateral branch of the Pei family, naturally inferior to the main branch. Shouldn’t you reflect on that?”
“Why must you risk your life on the battlefield to seek a future, while others in the Pei family enter government service directly? Shouldn’t you reflect on that?”
“Your fiancée fought at the borders for three years, and you sent her money and provisions, only to have her return and break off the engagement to consort with another man. Shouldn’t you reflect on that?”
“Answer me!”
Mu Zian’s words were deafening, leaving the entire hall dumbfounded. Three consecutive questions left Pei Jianzhi speechless and frozen on the spot.
“Without countless soldiers dying for the Empire on the battlefield, what right do you have to sit here and boast at this banquet?” Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“A yapping cur, a heartless and ungrateful pair! You two truly are a match made in heaven.”
Mockery, sarcasm, and scorn filled the air, and the officials whispered among themselves.
Pei Jianzhi felt like he was losing his mind. He roared, “I never thought the State-Stabilizing Duke would be such a glib-tongued man! Since we are both from military families, let’s see if your fists are as sharp as your tongue!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Jianzhi lunged at Mu Zian, clenching his fist and aiming a heavy punch straight at Mu Zian’s face.
It was a fierce punch. Mu Zian’s earlier words had crushed Pei Jianzhi’s pride, stirring up his deep-seated inferiority complex as a collateral member of the Pei family. Now, Mu Zian had ruthlessly torn open that hidden scar.
Pei Jianzhi lost all reason, shouting, “If you’re a real man, defeat me today!”
Mu Zian calmly sidestepped, and Pei Jianzhi’s punch brushed past his face.
Pei Jianzhi’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected to miss.
But Mu Zian gave him no time to react!
To receive but not return would be impolite! Tonight, he would collect some interest from him!
In an instant, Mu Zian struck out with three blows of the Mountain-Shaking Fist!
The first punch hit the leg to prevent escape! The second punch smashed the mouth to prevent begging! The third punch struck the waist to prevent resistance!
Shen Congwu, seeing this, sucked in a cold breath. He himself had been sent flying with just one punch from Mu Zian, but Pei Jianzhi had endured three punches!
What Shen Congwu didn’t know was that Pei Jianzhi had wanted to surrender after the first punch. It wasn’t that he could withstand Mu Zian’s monstrous strength—it was that Mu Zian had landed all three punches within a single second!
One elbow to clear the airway! Three punches to restart the heartbeat!
The once lively Hall of Righteous Virtue instantly fell silent.
Only the howling wind of Mu Zian’s fists echoed.