Only I am Venerable

Feng City, the Feng Family estate.

The Patriarch, Feng Bubian, had summoned all the family’s upper echelons. Over a hundred people gathered in the assembly hall—a far grander scale than the Qin Family’s meeting of less than twenty.

Moreover, the vast difference between the two families was evident in the Feng Family’s lavishly decorated assembly hall and its exquisite, detailed craftsmanship.

At this moment, however, Feng Bubian showed none of his previous confidence, nor any of the disdain and contempt he once held for the Qin Family of Fengsha City. His face was twisted with rage, pain, and regret, transforming the once-handsome middle-aged man into a menacing figure.

SLAM!

A gaunt, long-bearded Elder slammed his hand down on the heavy, luxurious mahogany table before him. The table let out a loud bang and a groan, as if unable to bear the weight of his fury. This was a testament to the rage boiling in the Elder’s heart.

"What is there to discuss? We should just take our men and slaughter them! I refuse to believe the Qin Family has any other significant power besides that one mysterious expert! Kill all of their young disciples! I’d like to see them try to defy us then!"

"That’s right, let’s attack them directly! We’ll wipe them out, leaving no one alive!"

"Let the Qin Family know the consequences of offending our Feng Family!"

From the murmurs among the crowd, it was clear many shared the Elder’s sentiment.

However, there were also those who held the opposite view.

"Slaughter them? With what? Not to mention, many of our own disciples are in the Qin Family’s hands right now. If we attack, their lives will surely be forfeit. And what about the expert at the Shattered Void Realm? What do we have to resist someone like that? Do you think this is a battle that can be won with sheer numbers? The Feng Family’s goal is to rise to the next level on Profound Island and become a super-power, not to be the fool that sticks its neck out, only to be used by others without even realizing it!" a plump, clean-shaven old man declared forcefully.

"Exactly. Elder Feng Ping has a point. He’s Grand Elder Feng Xuan’s younger brother. Do you think he doesn’t hate the Qin Family? Do you think he doesn’t want to kill Qin Li? But if we rush in to attack like this, we’ll just be playing right into many people’s hands."

"So if we don’t attack, are you suggesting that our great Feng Family should bow our heads and admit fault to the likes of the Qin Family? Hmph! You can go if you want, but I won’t be the one to suffer that humiliation!" the gaunt Elder retorted angrily.

Feng Bubian waved his hand and said slowly, "Enough. Stop arguing. This is pointless. The first thing we need to do now is ask the Wang Family for help!"

Feng Bubian’s words silenced the assembly hall, leaving only the sound of his voice. "The Wang Family’s renowned Fire Dragon Wang Sheng also suffered at Qin Li’s hands. Do you think a family like the Wangs will let this go? Therefore, we must first send people to the Wang Family to ask for their aid. We’ll have to play the victim. *Sigh*... At a time like this, we have no choice. The Feng Family’s road to becoming a super-power is still very long!"

Feng Bubian couldn’t help but sigh. Looking at the pensive crowd, he continued, "Then, immediately send someone to secretly deliver a large amount of treasure to the Qin Family. Let’s make it... ten times the value of the assets we took from them... yes, ten times should do it! Then, return their shops and promise that we won’t cause them any more trouble in the future. We must ransom back all of our family’s elite disciples!"

"What? Ten times? No, I won’t allow it!" The gaunt Elder, who clearly held some status in the Feng Family, loudly objected before Feng Bubian could even finish. "Why should we hand over so much wealth? In terms of resources and strength, our Feng Family is countless times stronger than the Qin Family! How is this any different from ceding territory and paying reparations? Patriarch, are you trying to become the greatest traitor in the history of the Feng Family?"

"Feng Wen, stop your nonsense! The Qin Family has an expert at the Shattered Void Realm. Do we? The Qin Family has a peerless young genius like Qin Li, who reached the Venerable Realm at twenty. Do we? The Qin Family also has several other mysterious Venerable Realm experts watching over them. You’ve conveniently ignored all of this. Besides, you’re just an Elder. Can’t you shut your mouth when the Patriarch is speaking?" The plump, fair-faced Feng Ping narrowed his eyes, mercilessly mocking the gaunt old Feng Wen. It was clear they were of the same generation.

The animosity between the two was clearly long-standing. Feng Wen’s gaunt face showed no change at Feng Ping’s words. Instead, he sneered, "Venerables are nothing! Which one of us isn’t a Venerable? You may be scared, but I’m not! I’ve lived this long, I’m not afraid of dying!"

"Right, I’m not afraid of death either!"

"Me neither! Are there any cowards who cling to life among the disciples of the Feng Family?"

"Exactly! I support Elder Feng Wen!"

"Support my ass! Not being afraid of death and foolishly throwing your life away are two different things! Have you lost your minds? A Venerable Realm Martial Artist... you go fight one, then!"

"I’ll fight him, so what? I’ve got balls, unlike you, you waste..."

"Who are you calling a waste?"

"I’m talking about you! What are you going to do about it?"

"You’re courting death!"

"You..."

"Enough!" Feng Bubian roared, his voice overpowering all the arguments and discussions. Instantly, the entire assembly hall fell deathly silent.

"So you’re the only ones with brains? The only ones with intelligence? The only ones with strength?" Feng Bubian’s gaze swept slowly across the crowd. Most of those he looked at bowed their heads, not daring to object. Even Feng Wen and Feng Ping wisely chose to shut their mouths, not daring to openly defy the Patriarch.

Great families had their rules. If anyone could oppose the Patriarch, the family would likely not be far from ruin.

Moreover, Feng Bubian’s own strength was not to be underestimated. He had broken through the Celestial Embracing Realm and reached the Venerable Realm thirty years ago! Although he was only a Human Venerable, he was not yet one hundred and fifty years old. Even on Profound Island, he was considered an exceptionally talented individual.

"Look at the state of you all! A single Qin Family, a single Shattered Void Martial Artist, and you lose your composure like this? Even if the Feng Family had the resources of a super-power, do any of you possess the steady demeanor that comes with it?"

Feng Bubian’s words made many of the older members blush. It was true. In the face of the Qin Family and the impending crisis, they had all lost their calm and composure.

In contrast, super-powers like the Xiao, Wang, and Lin Families were all incredibly composed, possessing the kind of bearing that would not change even if a mountain collapsed before them.

Feng Bubian didn’t press the point further. As the leader of a family, managing a large group of unruly Martial Artists was no easy task.

Sighing, Feng Bubian continued, "Paying compensation to the Qin Family and ransoming our disciples at this time will, first and foremost, give the impression that we are showing weakness to our enemies. As a family subordinate to the Wang Family, our various actions in recent years have already made them uneasy. Showing weakness now will put the Wang Family at ease. It will also make the Qin Family underestimate us, and it will allow us to get our disciples back! Don’t forget, the designated heir to the Feng Family Patriarch is among them!"

At these words, many in the hall immediately fell silent. Indeed, the Feng Family’s actions in recent years had not escaped the Wang Family’s notice. The Wangs were clearly unwilling to let the Feng Family grow too powerful. Therefore, Feng Bubian’s move would certainly dispel some of the Wang Family’s suspicions and push them to the forefront.

Pleased with their reactions, Feng Bubian continued, "Did you all really think I don’t want revenge? Grand Elder Feng Xuan was one of the strongest and most senior Elders in our family. His loss is a tremendous blow to the Feng Family, and even to all of Feng City! How could we possibly not avenge this? As long as our first step succeeds, we can just sit back and watch the struggle between the Wang, Xiao, and Lin Families and the Qin Family. That is when our opportunity will come!"

"So we send people to kill them at that time?" the gaunt Elder Feng Wen asked, his tone now lacking its earlier aggressive edge.

"Kill what? Who could we possibly kill?" Feng Bubian gave a self-deprecating smile. "At that time, our job is to watch from the sidelines! We were too rash before, too conspicuous! Isn’t it better to watch them fight amongst themselves? Do you really think the Wang, Xiao, and Lin Families will let that mysterious Shattering Void Martial Artist by Qin Li’s side go? What a joke! The one they want to deal with most is that mysterious expert!"

"Then what should we do?" This time, Feng Wen wasn’t angry. He could see from Feng Bubian’s savage expression that the Patriarch was absolutely determined not to let this matter rest.

"We will act only in the shadows. We’ll dispatch our elite forces to bribe, poison, and assassinate... In short, we will use every method imaginable to destroy the Qin Family’s younger generation! We will coordinate with the Wang Family!" A sinister smile spread across Feng Bubian’s face as he finished.

The plump, fair-faced Elder Feng Ping had a sudden realization. "I understand now. Patriarch, this move is to once again tarnish our own name to eliminate the suspicions the super-powers like the Wang Family have about us, while at the same time reaping great benefits from the Qin Family!"

Feng Bubian nodded slowly. "Correct. Although our Feng Family has enough Venerable Realm Martial Artists, perhaps even as many as the super-powers, we lack their greatest foundation... a Martial Artist at the Shattered Void Realm. Therefore, what we must do is use this method of slow infiltration to avoid attracting attention while reaping the greatest possible benefits!"

Feng Wen slapped his thigh and declared loudly, "Good! The Patriarch’s plan may be a bit frustrating, but if it means making those Qin Family bastards suffer an even greater loss, then it’s worth it!"

A cold glint flashed across Feng Ping’s baby-smooth face. He said, "I hope that Qin Li doesn’t fall into my hands. Otherwise, I will make him wish for a fate worse than death!"

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