Chapter 45: A Slap

Nowadays, the Fifth Elder no longer appeared as decadent as before; clearly, he had prepared extensively to deal with Chu Fengmian.

"Even if he hadn't prepared, do you really think Chu Fengmian could defeat the Fifth Elder?" one Lin Mansion disciple said with a continuous sneer.

"Three months to go from the fifth level of the Bone Tempering Realm to the Body Forging Realm? Just who does Chu Fengmian think he is? Even the Young Mansion Lord took nearly half a year to achieve that. Could a little bastard's talent really be higher than the Young Mansion Lord's?"

"Exactly. In this battle, Chu Fengmian is bound to lose," another Lin Mansion disciple added.

"It's almost noon. Why hasn't Chu Fengmian appeared yet?"

"Perhaps he was too terrified and fled," a mocking voice rang out. It was Lin Ye, speaking with a sinister expression.

"If he really fled, then Chu Fengmian would be a criminal of our Lin Mansion. By violating the family laws, he will be hunted by everyone in the Lin Mansion!"

"That's right! Even if we have to chase him to the ends of the earth, we must kill that boy!" Lin Mo added viciously.

Having been beaten so brutally by Chu Fengmian previously, the two of them now hated him to the bone.

"Chu Fengmian, please, don't come."

On the viewing stands, the Third Elder's expression remained calm, but the sweat in his palms completely betrayed the tension in his heart.

The Third Elder secretly hoped that Chu Fengmian would not show up; that way, the boy might still have a chance at survival and could grow again in the future given his talent.

If he came today, even the Third Elder lacked much confidence in him. It had taken the Third Elder several full years to advance from the fifth level of the Bone Tempering Realm to the Body Forging Realm.

Three months was simply too short; even the Third Elder himself lacked confidence.

"Third Elder, it seems that little bastard intends to flee without fighting. Fleeing a life-and-death pact is a capital offense. If any Lin Mansion disciple encounters him in the future, the first thing they must do is execute him!"

The stout Fourth Elder sat to the side, looking at the Third Elder with a cold sneer.

He had never liked the Third Elder, and he had been particularly targeting Chu Fengmian for a long time.

Seeing that Chu Fengmian had not appeared, the Fourth Elder's expression became even more triumphant.

As long as Chu Fengmian did not appear today, his violation of the family rules would be set in stone. Even if Chu Fengmian held the status of the Outer Mansion's Great Steward, it would be impossible for the Third Elder to protect him.

"Correct. If Chu Fengmian has not appeared by noon, this life-and-death pact shall be considered a flight from combat. He will have violated the family laws, and every Lin Mansion disciple must kill him upon sight!"

The Second Elder, who was also the Lin Mansion's Law Enforcement Elder, spoke coldly from the side.

"Indeed. If Chu Fengmian has not appeared by noon, he is considered to have fled the pact and violated the family laws. In the future, every Lin Mansion disciple who sees him must execute him!"

Before the Third Elder could even attempt to argue, the Lin Family Head spoke in a cold voice.

Once he spoke, he effectively canceled out any other possibility; no amount of arguing would change the outcome.

Time passed minute by minute under the scorching sun as it approached noon.

"Since Chu Fengmian does not dare to show up, then execute the family law. Law Enforcement Elder, make the announcement," the Fifth Elder said coldly from the stage.

The Law Enforcement Elder glanced around, nodded, and spoke.

"Very well! Chu Fengmian has fled the life-and-death pact! He has violated the family laws, a capital offense. From now on, all Lin Mansion disciples must execute Chu Fengmian upon sight!"

"The Law Enforcement Elder is quite impatient. It isn't even noon yet; how can he have violated the family laws?"

A mocking voice suddenly rang out.

A figure suddenly leaped from the surroundings and landed upon the stage.

That figure was none other than Chu Fengmian.

"Chu Fengmian?"

"He actually dared to come?"

Seeing Chu Fengmian's sudden appearance, almost everyone was caught off guard.

They had all assumed he had fled, as facing the Fifth Elder likely meant nothing but death, yet Chu Fengmian had arrived.

At the very last moment, he stood upon the Life-and-Death Stage.

"You little bastard, you actually came! I thought you had run away."

The Fifth Elder looked at Chu Fengmian, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Fine then! Today, I shall personally slay you, you little bastard, to avenge my Xing'er!"

"Even if you kneel on this stage and beg for mercy today, I will not let you off! I will tear out your soul and place it before Xing'er's tomb to be burned, so that her spirit in heaven may find solace!"

Chu Fengmian had killed Li Xing, the only grandson of the Fifth Elder, Li Fu. Now, the old man wished nothing more than to tear Chu Fengmian into ten thousand pieces.

"Cut the nonsense, Li Fu. If you have the ability today, how about I stand here and let you try to kill me?"

A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Chu Fengmian's mouth.

"But if you lack the ability, I wonder who it will be that dies on this Life-and-Death Stage today."

"You little bastard! Arrogant! A mere waste actually thinks he is someone important!"

Hearing Chu Fengmian's words, the Fifth Elder's face flushed with rage, and veins bulged on his forehead, making him look nothing like a man in his fifties.

"As your elder, I naturally will not take advantage of a junior like you. I shall give you three moves. Only after three moves will I strike," the Fifth Elder said, standing his ground and looking at Chu Fengmian with a cold sneer.

A layer of golden barrier slowly emerged around his body.

By manifesting spiritual energy into armor, the Fifth Elder was now utilizing the techniques of a Body Forging Realm martial artist—a move that was almost invincible against those in the Bone Tempering Realm.

"He's using spiritual energy armor right from the start. The Fifth Elder is being far too cautious," the crowd below remarked in surprise.

It seemed the Fifth Elder was extremely wary of Chu Fengmian, using spiritual energy armor immediately to prevent any unforeseen accidents.

Another Lin Mansion disciple added, "It's only natural. We don't know where Chu Fengmian learned those bizarre movement and sword techniques; it's not wrong to be on guard."

"Li Fu, are you truly letting me strike first?"

Chu Fengmian looked at the Fifth Elder, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Don't you dare regret it later."

"I say what I mean and never regret. Dealing with a junior like you, giving you three moves only shows my..."

Before the Fifth Elder could finish his sentence, a crisp sound suddenly rang out.

*Slap!*

A loud slap struck the Fifth Elder's face.

Chu Fengmian's figure appeared to remain standing in the same spot without any change, yet a clear red palm print had been slapped onto the Fifth Elder's left cheek.

Even half of the Fifth Elder's mouth was swollen from the blow.