Chapter 52: Disciple of the Xixiang Chu Family
Walking into the villa, Chu Feng and Su Miaoke found Zhao Qinghan training.
She was wielding a Tang Blade, which whistled as it sliced through the air.
Chu Feng watched Zhao Qinghan’s Sword Skill. It was incredibly sharp and fierce, and every move was filled with power. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
Although he was powerful, he completely lacked her kind of pure, refined Sword Skill.
Even Su Miaoke’s eyes lit up at the sight, and she asked Chu Feng curiously, "Do you know how to do that?"
Chu Feng simply shook his head. "I don’t."
He had no idea how to do any of that; it belonged to a completely different system of martial arts.
The two of them watched from the side. A servant courteously brought them tea and attended to them.
They drank their tea and waited. After about seven or eight minutes, Zhao Qinghan finally sheathed her blade and stood at ease.
"Chu Feng, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting," Zhao Qinghan said, taking a towel from a servant to wipe the sweat from her face.
"Miss Zhao, what did you need me for?" Chu Feng asked directly.
"It’s about the storm we encountered at sea. I had it investigated, and it was definitely not an accident. Someone was deliberately trying to kill us," said Zhao Qinghan.
"Who?" Chu Feng asked.
"The Tang Family and the Qing Gang," Zhao Qinghan said.
"So it was them," Chu Feng said, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Is this Qing Gang very powerful?" Chu Feng asked curiously.
He knew nothing about these gangs and Martial Arts Families.
"You don’t know about the Qing Gang?" Zhao Qinghan asked with a frown.
Zhao Qinghan then walked slowly to Chu Feng’s side and asked in a low voice, "Aren’t you from the Xixiang Chu Family?"
"The Xixiang Chu Family? You’re mistaken. I’m not," Chu Feng said, shaking his head.
"Twenty-six years ago, the Xixiang Chu Family fought against the Qing Gang and the Tang Family from the Southern Border," Zhao Qinghan explained. "The Chu Family lost—and they lost badly. They were almost completely wiped out. If the people from Sword King Valley hadn’t intervened, the Chu Family would have ceased to exist."
Listening to this, Chu Feng frowned and shook his head again. "You’re mistaken. I’m not."
"No, you have to be. I’m sure of it!" Zhao Qinghan insisted, completely certain.
At this, Su Miaoke was a little speechless. She interjected, "Miss Zhao, you can’t just assume he’s from the Xixiang Chu Family simply because his surname is Chu, can you?"
"Because he has a birthmark on his shoulder that only members of the Chu Family possess," Zhao Qinghan said. "It looks like a blooming flower bud. Every descendant of the Chu Family has one."
She was so certain because she had seen Chu Feng’s bare torso back on the island.
Hearing this, Su Miaoke seemed to recall something. She immediately went to lift Chu Feng’s shirt and look.
Sure enough, on the back of Chu Feng’s left shoulder was a faint mark that looked just like a flower bud.
"I’ve had that since I was a kid. I was just born with it," Chu Feng said.
"No! It can’t be natural. It’s your family’s sigil! Newborn children are all given this flower bud mark, just as the Zhao Family’s mark is a blade!" Zhao Qinghan said.
As she spoke, Zhao Qinghan extended her right wrist, revealing a mark shaped like a blade, similar to a birthmark.
Hearing this, Chu Feng was a little dumbfounded.
’I’m obviously from a poor family. How did I suddenly become the scion of a major family?’
"However, the Chu Family vanished without a trace more than twenty years ago," Zhao Qinghan continued. "They’ve been completely silent ever since that incident. What happened back then almost led to their complete annihilation."
In fact, the first time Zhao Qinghan saw Chu Feng, she’d felt he looked familiar.
But she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. That, combined with his surname, led her to think of the Xixiang Chu Family.
That was also why she had asked Chu Feng if he knew Chu Ling. Chu Ling had been a good friend of hers, a playmate she’d known since childhood.
"I’ll choose to believe what you’re saying, but I really don’t come from any major family. My parents were just ordinary farmers," Chu Feng said.
"I can’t say for sure, then. Perhaps your parents hid some things from you. But you are a descendant of the Chu Family; that’s something you can’t escape," said Zhao Qinghan.
"So what? What does that have to do with me? I’m just me. Did you call me over this early just to tell me all this?" Chu Feng asked.
"Of course not. I just wanted to properly thank you today. If it weren’t for you, the rest of us would have been goners," said Zhao Qinghan.
"Don’t mention it. It was the right thing to do," Chu Feng said.
"As for the Qing Gang and the Tang Family, you don’t need to worry. They won’t dare to make a rash move against us right now. Both sides have always competed in the shadows, and neither wants to be the first to openly declare war. So, for now, we’ll have to let this matter rest," said Zhao Qinghan.
"And you’re so sure the Tang Family will behave?" Chu Feng asked.
"I’ve already sent a message to Tang Chuxia of the Tang Family. I told her that if it happens again, the matter will be far from over. So, the Tang Family will certainly rein themselves in. However, Chu Feng, you need to be careful. I heard that Tang Mu, the younger brother of the Tang Lin you killed, has also arrived in Beihai."
"This Tang Mu is even more ruthless than Tang Lin, and his position in the Tang Family is quite high. You must be careful around him," Zhao Qinghan warned.
"Let him come. It’s not like I’m afraid of him," Chu Feng said confidently.
"Next year is the Martial Dao Grand Gathering, which is held once every forty-five years. All sorts of reclusive clans and Martial Arts Families will emerge from their seclusion. Perhaps people from the Chu Family will show up as well," said Zhao Qinghan.
"That has nothing to do with me. I’m just me. As long as my wife and family are safe, that’s all that matters. I don’t want to get involved in anything else," Chu Feng said.
"Chu Feng, I’m afraid it’s no longer up to you," said Zhao Qinghan. "You’re already in the same boat as my Zhao Family now. Since the Su Group is our business partner, they’re considered one of us."
Hearing this, Chu Feng still looked completely unconcerned.
’In the same boat? I couldn’t care less,’ he thought. As long as his family was safe, everything was fine.
"I just want to live my life in peace. If anyone dares to mess with me, my family, or the people I care about, I’ll make them regret it," Chu Feng said with an imposing air.
"You really are confident," Zhao Qinghan said, looking at Chu Feng.
She couldn’t see the slightest hint of anxiety or worry in him. He always seemed this self-assured.
Even during the storm at sea, Chu Feng hadn’t shown the slightest panic. It made her desperate to know where the hell his confidence came from.
He showed not the slightest fear when facing the Tang Family and the Qing Gang—in fact, he looked completely indifferent.
After all, the Chu Family had been defeated at their hands, nearly wiped out completely.