Chapter 23: The Second Offering

Huang Sheng’s expression showed a trace of astonishment. He exchanged a glance with Hu Mo but, surprisingly, did not resist and nodded, stepping aside. Somehow, Hu Mo’s tone now carried an indescribable authority, projecting the aura of someone in command.

Du Zhong and Lin Meng were just about to rush forward, but Hu Mo’s words stopped them as well. Like Huang Sheng, they issued the same order. For a moment, the entire atmosphere in Drunken Fragrance became strangely tense.

The situation had dramatically shifted, and the momentum on Situ Jie’s side swelled rapidly. A gaunt old man in black appeared at Situ Jie’s side with uncanny silence, his face cold and sinister, his presence chilling.

He gazed at Hu Mo’s group with icy indifference, as if looking at a pile of corpses, his expression void of emotion.

Hu Mo took two steps forward, halting about ten feet from Situ Jie. Immediately, the Hu family’s guards surrounded him, forming a wall of protection.

“Eagle Elder, please teach these people a lesson. They dared to insult our Situ family, you—”

“Young Master, I advise you to stand aside and hold your tongue. I am here to fulfill my duty to protect, not to serve as your hired hand. Without the family head’s command, you have no right to order me,” Eagle Elder replied coldly, his gaze settling on Hu Mo. For some reason, he suddenly sensed a dangerous aura emanating from Hu Mo.

Cold sweat broke out on Situ Jie’s forehead. Indeed, while he was the second son of the Situ family, it was not his place to command the second consecrated elder before him.

“What you say is true, Elder. I was too presumptuous. Still, this boy is despicable—knowing my status and still opposing me is a direct insult to our family. Elder, since you are our family’s consecrated protector, an insult to the Situ family is an insult to you. If you let this go unpunished, wouldn’t it seem remiss?” Situ Jie’s tone was exceedingly respectful. Although Eagle Elder was not a Situ by blood, as the family’s revered protector, his standing was extremely high—not only was his strength formidable, but he even held influence over the selection of the family head. Situ Jie dared not offend him.

“Enough. Let’s go. I have already taught them a lesson. To strike again would be excessive—after all, this is a dispute among your generation, and it’s not appropriate for us elders to interfere further. And you, boy, don’t try to browbeat me with the Situ family’s name. You are not Situ Aoyun—understand?” Eagle Elder shot Situ Jie a frosty glance. Situ Jie nodded hastily and withdrew.

“Wait!” Hu Mo suddenly called out, his tone laced with cold amusement. “So, having killed someone, you think you can just walk away? Does your Situ family truly intend to rule Flame City with an iron fist?”

Hu Mo’s words were like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirring a thousand ripples. Drunken Fragrance instantly erupted in chaos.

The Situ family’s second consecrated elder was rumored to be a seventh-rank Slaughter King—ruthless and merciless in his actions.

He was notorious for his pride and cruelty; rarely would he relent after taking a life. This time, he had chosen to leave rather than continue the slaughter—Huang Sheng and the others already considered themselves incredibly fortunate.

Yet Hu Mo, at this critical moment, failed to grasp the gravity of the situation and openly challenged Eagle Elder. It was sheer recklessness.

Eagle Elder’s steps halted at once. Situ Jie’s heart soared with delight. Only moments ago, he had regretted not punishing Hu Mo—now Hu Mo himself had jumped into the fray. Was this not courting death?

“You, Hu family boy, are you speaking to me?” Eagle Elder narrowed his eyes, his face growing even more menacing.

At this, the patrons scattered like startled birds, fleeing as far as possible to avoid disaster.

“If not you, then who? Am I speaking to that dog?” Hu Mo cast a cold glance at Situ Jie, his tone biting.

“Who are you calling a dog?” Situ Jie exploded in anger, shouting furiously.

“Whoever admits to it, naturally. Since you’re so eager to claim the title, I’ll grant you the noble rank of dog,” Hu Mo retorted. At his words, laughter erupted once more in Drunken Fragrance—his sharp tongue left no mercy.

Situ Jie was so enraged he could scarcely breathe. Never before had anyone dared to humiliate him so. Earlier, when Hu Mo’s side had the numbers, he had dared not confront them directly. Now, with the advantage, how could he endure Hu Mo’s insolence?

“Attack! Slaughter him for me!” Situ Jie bellowed, his face flushed with fury, his whole body trembling like a boiling kettle.

The guards hesitated. They could follow Situ Jie’s command to strike at the Hu family’s guards—injuring a few servants was of little consequence. But to kill Hu Mo himself would bring serious repercussions. Situ Jie, blinded by rage, ignored these concerns, but the guards were far more cautious.

Eagle Elder frowned and barked coldly, shocking Situ Jie from his fury.

“You’d best calm yourself. If you kill that boy, you won’t survive either. Young Master, your rashness will bring disaster to the Situ family. If the family head learns of this, what do you imagine your fate will be?” Eagle Elder spoke without reservation.

Situ Jie stepped back in stunned silence, no longer daring to make a sound.

Eagle Elder had been born into poverty, cultivating for decades to reach his current state. What he despised most were the arrogant sons of noble houses, those who bullied others on the strength of their family’s power.

Thus, seeing Situ Jie act so brazenly before him, his contempt was palpable.

Yet, he was puzzled. He had always believed Hu Mo to be the most hopeless, worthless scoundrel in all of Flame City, even the entire Empire of Heavenly Fire. But today, Hu Mo’s bearing and composure were entirely at odds with that reputation. His commanding presence and calm in the face of danger surprised Eagle Elder greatly. After all, he himself was a seventh-rank Slaughter King, while the strongest among the Hu family’s guards—Zhang Long, now deceased—had only been a third-rank Berserker. The others were merely ninth-rank warriors at best.

No matter how many sheep were gathered, they were mere prey before a tiger.

Eagle Elder could not fathom why Hu Mo, whose battle energy was at most at the fourth level, would dare confront him. Not only Eagle Elder, but even Huang Sheng and the others were baffled by this.

Hu Mo was like a volcano ready to erupt. His bloodshot eyes brimmed with rage, forcibly suppressed within, harming him all the more.

He desperately wanted to calm himself, knowing the gulf between himself and Eagle Elder. Yet he could not back down—Zhang Long had died for him; how could he let his soul remain restless in the afterlife?

Had he the power, these enemies would already be corpses at his feet. Though he kept channeling his Flowing Wave Technique, its effects remained feeble. After all, he didn’t even understand the true power of the technique, let alone wield it effectively.

His cultivation was too meager; even with the support of the three treasures, he stood no chance against a blow from Eagle Elder.

But now, he had no reason to retreat—neither for himself nor for those he must protect.

“Hu, we’re with you!” Huang Sheng and the others gritted their teeth and stood beside Hu Mo. Despite their fear, the guards, seeing their masters take a stand, dared not cower and gathered around them as well.

“You all…”

“No more of that, Hu. You must stay alive to cure my illness—how can you die here? We may not be true brothers, but we are closer than blood!” Huang Sheng’s voice was fervent and full of resolve.

At these words, the eyes of the onlookers shifted; to hold brotherhood in such high regard—were these truly the infamous Four Scourges of Heavenly Fire?

“And us—we are four brothers!” Du Zhong declared loudly, pulling Lin Meng and Huang Sheng in front of Hu Mo, shielding him with their bodies.

“Since you are the Situ family’s honored elder, you should at least consider your family’s safety. No matter how powerful the Situ family is, it cannot afford to make enemies of all four of our families at once!” Lin Meng clenched his fists as he spoke. In truth, he was terrified—his life hanging by a thread, cold sweat already soaking his undershirt.

Seeing the sweat on Lin Meng’s back, Hu Mo felt his anger begin to melt into gratitude. He had never imagined that these friends, known for nothing but feasting and revelry, would be so loyal in the face of real danger.

“Haha, interesting, very interesting! It seems I must reevaluate you notorious Four Scourges. Still, courage alone is not enough—sometimes, playing the hero brings only ruin. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson, to show you just how high the heavens truly are, and how deep the earth!” Eagle Elder’s lips curled into a cold smile as he advanced step by step toward Hu Mo’s group.

The guards of the four families braced themselves, forming a barrier in front. The Hu family’s guards led the charge with a shout of “Protect the young master!” and rushed forward.

Together, there were thirty to forty guards, all at least second-rank warriors. Their combined charge was formidable.

“Heh, courting death!” Eagle Elder sneered, unleashing several palm strikes in rapid succession. The guards were sent flying like cannonballs, crashing through several private room doors. Drunken Fragrance was thrown into utter chaos as the patrons scrambled to escape.

“Hu, get back!” Huang Sheng grabbed Hu Mo and yanked him backward, taking the brunt of a flying guard himself. He crashed into the wall, spat blood, and collapsed unconscious.

Lin Meng and Du Zhong were both struck down—how could their frames withstand such force?

In the span of a few heartbeats, only Hu Mo remained standing on his side, the floor strewn with the fallen.

Just as Hu Mo regained his senses, a chilling presence touched his back. In the next instant, a large hand gripped his shoulder like an iron vise, digging into his flesh.

“Boy of the Hu family, accept your fate!” Eagle Elder sneered, tightening his grip until Hu Mo’s shoulder bones cracked. He only meant to break a few bones, not kill him outright.

“And if I refuse to accept my fate?” Hu Mo’s expression turned icy. At that moment, he heard a familiar voice in his mind—cold and low.

“I told you—not to disgrace the Flowing Wave Technique. Didn’t you understand?”