Chapter 357 – The Rising Storm in the Capital (14)
“You don’t need to care who my father is, but you damn well should know who I am!”
Upon hearing Jiang Pengji’s declaration, Feng Jue was left stunned, a devilish grin spreading across his face.
“Second Brother, is this truly Liu Lanting, the one you often talk about? Indeed, seeing is believing—what a wild character!”
Forget everything else; his outrageous spirit was just to Feng Jue’s taste.
Feng Jin discreetly noticed his younger brother’s lovesick expression and couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve, pulling him out of the fray. He didn’t want this clueless younger brother to get caught up in a mess. If Jiang Pengji decided to give him a thrashing, it would be a totally pointless beating—no room for excuses.
Meanwhile, Huang Song, the Eunuch’s grandson, limped over, one hand holding his sore waist and the other cupping his battered face.
“Jue, I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess, ugh—this damn fatty hits hard!”
Huang Song grimaced in pain. Although he was two years older than Feng Jue in age, he was only a year or so old in months. Perhaps from always tumbling and fighting, he was built sturdier than his peers, though his height was somewhat lacking.
Feng Jue stifled a laugh, his face showing concern, “No worries—it’s just that my dear brother might face the family’s punishment when he returns home.”
At the mention of the “family punishment,” Huang Song’s face twisted in agony, becoming more abstract as if a paint palette had been overturned.
“Ah—don’t even say it, I’ll definitely be beaten when I get back.” Huang Song wore a woeful expression, his face full of drama.
When he found a moment, he discreetly glanced at Feng Jue. Seeing no trace of disdain or distance in the other’s eyes, he silently let out a sigh of relief.
To be honest, despite how much he despised being insulted because of his connection to the eunuch, it was a background he could never deny, and it was the root of his insecurities and arrogance. Having finally made a likeminded friend from a noble background, he really didn’t want to lose Feng Jue over this.
“Is this the friend of Huaijing?”
Feng Jin wasn’t concerned about the chaotic scene around them; he knew those lackeys wouldn’t even be enough to fill someone’s teeth.
Feng Jue’s brother was named Feng Jue, styled Huaijing.
The Feng family’s naming conventions often held connections to jade.
Upon hearing his name mentioned, Huang Song quickly composed himself, adopting a serious tone, “That would be me.”
Feng Jue introduced, “Second Brother, this is the friend I often mention—Huang Song, a disciple under the esteemed Master Ji.”
In Dongqing, the atmosphere of scholarship was thick, with brilliant scholars emerging one after another. While Master Ji might not reach the heights of Mr. Yuanjing, he was still a prominent figure within Dongqing. Huang Song, holding the notorious title of the eunuch’s grandson yet managing to study under a respected master, clearly had some skills.
Huang Song quickly added, “No need for formalities; just call me ‘Boga,’ Second Brother Feng.”
Feng Jin maintained a gentle smile, nodding, “Then I’ll gracefully accept.”
Huang Song was quite perceptive to the subtle shifts in emotions around him and quickly sensed Feng Jin’s desire for distance, avoiding deeper connections.
He wasn’t particularly disheartened by it.
If others knew he was the grandnephew of the eunuch, they would have covered their noses and walked past, rarely willing to engage in normal conversation with him.
Feng Jin’s attitude was already quite favorable.
While absorbed in introductions, he almost forgot that Jiang Pengji was still fighting Fatty Fang. Huang Song slapped his forehead and quickly asked Feng Jue, “Should we call for help?”
Feng Jue lowered his eyes and gestured, “Does he look like he needs help?”
Just as the words fell, Huang Song turned to see a massive shadow crash down right at his feet.
He stumbled back in shock, panic coursing through him.
“Now! Tell me, who is the dad here?”
“You are the dad! You’re the real dad!”
At first, Fatty Fang was boastful, but as one lackey after another fell beneath him, his confidence shriveled, resembling a snail stripped of its shell, exposed and vulnerable, feeling utterly unsafe.
In an instant, whatever Jiang Pengji said, he cried out in snot and tears.
With a kick, Jiang Pengji sent a blocking house servant flying, grabbing Fatty Fang by the collar. In front of Huang Song, whose eyes nearly popped out, she effortlessly lifted Fatty Fang in one hand, “Say it again! My ears aren’t working; I didn’t hear you.”
“Daddy! You’re my daddy!” Fatty Fang, stout but all blubber, was shorter than Jiang Pengji by a head. Now lifted like a chick, he went pale, shrinking back like a quail, utterly stupefied.
Huang Song couldn’t help but suck in a breath, nearly biting his tongue, murmuring in awe, “Wow, that chunky dude weighs over a hundred kilos, and she just lifted him with one hand… this… this is simply superhuman strength!”
One dan equals about fifty kilograms, making two dan a solid two hundred pounds, and that was just an estimate.
Looking at Fatty Fang’s build, he must weigh around two hundred and thirty-four pounds!
Even with her delicate arms, who knew she was this strong!
Now he realized that Jiang Pengji had taken down all the lackeys and henchmen Fatty Fang brought. Each one was bruised and battered; although no lives were lost, the degree of swelling suggested they wouldn’t be stepping out for at least half a month.
Observing this, Huang Song regarded her with admiration, eager to forge a connection.
“Our Young Master possesses natural strength; that’s already widely known.”
Xu Ke chuckled lightly, giving off an air of that ruffian charm, like he wasn’t talking about their Young Master at all.
“By the way, may I ask where your Young Master is from, and where his home is?” Huang Song bowed his hands in a gesture of respect.
“Our Young Master hails from Hejian; our family has long resided here, the Liu Clan.” Xu Ke replied coolly, as Huang Song’s gaze met his, an unspoken sense of intimidation seemed to linger, as though his previous thoughts had been seen through, “Liu Zhi of Chongzhou, our Young Master’s father.”
Such a lineage was beyond what the eunuch’s progeny could hope to affiliate with.
Xu Ke silently added in his heart.
Liu Zhi’s offspring, Liu Xi?
Suddenly, Huang Song recalled something, “Are you saying he’s the one with legendary strength who chased a tiger across the ravine?”
Chasing a tiger across the ravine!
This phrase described an exceptionally fierce general from the previous dynasty, implying unmatched ferocity—so much so that even a fierce tiger would flee in terror.
Though Jiang Pengji also had great strength, her reputation wasn’t as widespread until she left Langya and fought a wager, slaying two tigers, parading the two tiger corpses, showcasing them around her rival’s residence, inciting such fury that it left her opponent spitting blood. Thus, her fierce reputation spread.
Xu Ke fell silent upon hearing this, as all he could visualize was their Young Master grandstanding, chasing after a terrified tiger, laughing heartily—such a picturesque scene he dared not dwell on.
