Dao Feng’s cousin had the misfortune of provoking the little one. Without another word, she slapped him, sending him flying. What flew out even faster, however, was a row of his teeth. He crashed heavily to the ground, completely dazed.
The Zhang family’s clan elder, Second Aunt, and the others were still in shock when they heard the little one laugh brazenly. "You dare speak to me like that? Who do you think you are?"
"I... I’ll fight you!" Dao Feng’s cousin scrambled back to his feet. Missing a row of teeth and in severe pain, he was nonetheless determined to charge at the little one.
He’d been sent flying by a mere child in front of everyone. If word of this got out, wouldn’t his reputation be ruined?
But just as he reached her, the little one kicked out.
"Ah!" The man went flying once again.
The child’s ferocity stunned everyone present.
How can this child be so strong? The Zhang family’s clan elder, Second Aunt, and the others were frozen in terror. They had to admit that even though they were adults, none of their kicks could ever be as formidable as this child’s.
Seeing the little one about to strike again, Second Aunt Zhang, who managed the family’s affairs, had no choice but to step forward. Not daring to sound arrogant, she could only say gently, "Hello there, little friend. I apologize on his behalf, please..."
The little one stepped back with a look of disgust. "Ma’am, please don’t call yourself ’big sister,’ alright? You’re making me want to vomit."
What?
Second Aunt Zhang was even more stunned.
Seeing this, the clan elder stepped forward with a smile. "The one you beat is my grandson. For my sake, an old man, please let him go."
"An old man without dignity," the little one snorted coldly, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the clan elder.
"What did you say, you little bastard—" the clan elder bellowed. For years, he had been accustomed to acting tyrannically within the Zhang family. He could not tolerate such disrespect from anyone.
"What did you just say?"
Wu Tian’s eyes turned icy, and a bone-chilling cold instantly washed over the clan elder, freezing him in place.
"Slap him," Wu Tian ordered.
The clan elder was so chilled he didn’t dare move.
SMACK!
The little one snorted and swung a backhand slap that landed heavily on the clan elder’s cheek. A crisp sound echoed as the many members of the Zhang family watched, fuming but daring not to speak. All they could do was stare dumbly as their clan elder was slapped.
The little one slapped him again. "Who were you calling a bastard?"
An angry woman is a terrifying thing. An angry girl is no different. Normally, the little one was very respectful toward her elders, and she was particularly kind to old men and women she didn’t even know. But that didn’t mean she would tolerate someone who abused their age. As this second slap flew toward him, the clan elder wanted to dodge.
"You dare to dodge?" Wu Tian snarled, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the clan elder.
"I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare! Please, hit me! Hit me with all your might!" Frightened, the clan elder lifted his face, offering it to the little one. Under Wu Tian’s imposing aura, he could only keep shouting, "That was a good one! Please hit me! Hit me hard! Make it loud! Please, just hit me!"
The little one nodded, indulging his request. In this Immortal Emperor Realm, one could not be soft-hearted.
Hearing this, the Zhang family members couldn’t bear to watch. You’re the clan elder of the Zhang family, for heaven’s sake! You’re supposed to be a role model for the younger generation! How can you speak like this now?
Second Aunt Zhang and the others snorted in disdain, feeling that the clan elder had brought utter disgrace upon the Zhang family.
"How shameless," the little one muttered, delivering another backhanded slap to the clan elder’s face.
But after being hit, the clan elder only cried out joyfully, "Hit me! That felt great! Again!"
The little one lost her desire to continue. Instead, she looked at her own small hands and nearly started to cry.
"My hands are dirty. I’m going to wash them." With that, she ran off.
Wu Tian chuckled at the sight. He turned to the Zhang family members, his voice calm and distant. "It seems you want something from my disciple?"
His voice was flat and cold, yet it carried a terrifying power that pierced their very souls, making it difficult for any of them to breathe.
"Well, it’s like this," Second Aunt Zhang said after swallowing hard. "Dao Feng is a member of our Zhang family. When one man achieves greatness, his whole family rises with him. It’s only natural that he should lead our clan to prosperity, isn’t it?"
"Oh?" Wu Tian’s gaze fell upon Second Aunt Zhang. The moment it did, she felt her knees go weak, overcome by a fearful urge to kneel.
"What was that you said? I didn’t quite hear you. Please, say it again," Wu Tian asked, his tone deceptively polite.
But Second Aunt Zhang was frozen stiff, feeling as if she were being stared down by some ferocious beast from ancient times. She was scared to death. It seemed Wu Tian could kill a person with nothing more than a look.
"I... I..." She couldn’t utter a single word.
Wu Tian retracted his gaze and looked at everyone else. "Is there anything the rest of you want?"
Suppressing the terror in her heart, Second Aunt Zhang forced a smile. "It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! We... we didn’t actually come to ask for anything. We just wanted to see how he was doing."
"Right, right, right! We just came to see if Dao Feng is doing well."
"As long as he’s fine, we can rest assured."
"Yes, that’s right."
The other members of the Zhang family chimed in, their voices trembling as they fought to contain their fear.
Wu Tian nodded and then looked at Dao Feng. "It’s your turn to handle this."
"Yes, Sect Leader," Dao Feng replied with a nod.
Wu Tian wanted to see how Dao Feng would handle this and whether he was truly worthy of inheriting Ji Gong’s legacy.
Dao Feng looked at the clan elder, Second Aunt Zhang, and the others, then said coldly, "Since you say there’s nothing you need from me, you may leave."
With Wu Tian present, the clan elder and the others didn’t dare act recklessly, but they were unwilling to leave empty-handed. An idea came to Second Aunt Zhang. "Fine, we can leave. But you’d better remember that you are still a member of the Zhang family."
"That’s right. You must return for the ancestral rites," the clan elder added.
As long as Dao Feng was still a member of the Zhang family, they could slowly plot to gain other benefits.
"That won’t be necessary. I have nothing more to do with the Zhang family," Dao Feng said indifferently. "I am not a member of the Zhang family, and I will not be returning. From now on, we are strangers." He intended to completely and cleanly sever all ties with them.
"Don’t take it too far! Asking you to return is for your own good. How can you be so insensible?" Second Aunt Zhang snarled, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Get out," Dao Feng said flatly. "I have made myself perfectly clear. I have no connection to the Zhang family. ’Meat and wine pass through the body, but Buddha sits at the heart.’ I am a monk. Having already left my home, where is there a home to return to?"
Dao Feng’s demeanor made Second Aunt Zhang and the others grind their teeth in hatred.
Doesn’t this mean they won’t get any benefit at all?
"Never mind that," Second Aunt Zhang suddenly said, a new idea taking shape. "You may not acknowledge us, but we acknowledge you."
As long as outsiders knew Dao Feng was a Zhang, they would naturally treat the Zhang family well.
Dao Feng’s gaze grew colder. He knew they wanted to use his name for their own gain, and the thought filled him with anger.
He hoped the Zhang family had some shame left. They had better not push him any further. After all, even a Buddha feels anger, and so did he.