vstars Chapter 71 Zhou Hu's Visit
Chapter 71 Zhou Hu's Visit
Xiong Tianba was taken aback, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. Although he was in Shaanxi, he was fully aware of what was happening in Hengyang. The Eastern Depot had gained power and intended to swallow up the entire martial arts world; everyone in the martial arts community trembled at the mere mention of its name. Now, it had come knocking on his door? Or was it because of some unknown young man his daughter had brought back?
Countless thoughts raced through Xiong Tianba's mind in an instant, but he came to only one conclusion: no matter what the purpose of the people from the Eastern Depot was, they should be treated as honored guests and should not be neglected or slighted.
Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and said, "Please come quickly..." Suddenly he remembered that the so-called Lord Zhou was asking to see Yue Feng. When he looked at Yue Feng, he saw that he seemed not to have heard the servant's words. He took a large bowl from the maid's hand and poured all the three cups of wine in front of him and the three cups of wine in front of Xiong Zhaozhao into it.
Xiong Zhaozhao was only stunned for a moment before she looked at him with a smile, her eyes and brows brimming with boundless joy.
Xiong Tianba was worried about offending the Eastern Depot, and even more worried about his daughter being deceived. He looked at Yue Feng and then at Xiong Zhaozhao, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Yue Feng poured the wine, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then said to the servant, "Tell him to find a place to wait. I might be free in an hour."
The servant glanced at Xiong Tianba, and seeing that he had no instructions, he reluctantly went to do so.
The living room was unusually quiet. Xiong Tianba had a lot to say to Yue Feng, but Zhou Qianhu's interruption silenced him. Xiong Zhaozhao quietly asked Yue Feng, "Is Zhou Qianhu here to seek revenge? Is there any way to avoid implicating my family?"
Yue Feng gave her a disdainful look: "Not afraid when you're beating people up, but scared afterward? So this is what the young lady of the Weihe Gang is like—all looks and no substance?"
Xiong Zhaozhao retorted angrily, "You're all show and no substance! I don't care, since Commander Zhou came looking for you, you take care of him. Whatever method you use, you can't let him target my family."
Yue Feng pretended to ponder for a moment, then sighed, "Fine, I'll do my best. What will you give me in return?"
Xiong Zhaozhao got a headache just hearing about "benefits"—Yue Feng was highly skilled in martial arts and had plenty of money; she really didn't know what kind of benefits could tempt him. Yue Feng had previously said he wanted a sword technique, which she hadn't even taught him yet, and now she was offering a second benefit so soon.
"What do you want?" Xiong Zhaozhao could only ask.
Yue Feng smiled mysteriously: "I'll owe you for now. I can't think of anything yet. I'll tell you when I do."
Xiong Zhaozhao looked suspicious, feeling that Yue Feng wasn't up to anything. But then she thought that she didn't seem to have anything to gain either, so she agreed with some skepticism.
Seeing Yue Feng and Xiong Zhaozhao whispering to each other endlessly, Xiong Tianba couldn't hold back any longer and said to Yue Feng, "Young hero Feng, it's fine that you like my daughter, but we still have to follow the rules, right? Let me ask you the most important question first..."
Xiong Zhaozhao cried out, "Father! What nonsense are you talking about!" Xiong Tianba waved his hand at her and continued, "...Looking at your demeanor, I feel you bear a resemblance to Yue Buqun of the Huashan Sect. You wouldn't happen to be from the Huashan Sect, would you? Yue Buqun's distant nephew?"
Xiong Zhaozhao laughed and said, "Father, what nonsense are you talking about? The Huashan Sect is a prestigious sect. How could they allow their disciples to wander around the martial world? Besides, Feng Yue's martial arts are not Huashan Sect's martial arts at all. I would never be wrong."
Xiong Tianba gave an "oh," already believing him to be about 70-80%. Then Yue Feng laughed, "As Miss Xiong says. However, if I may be so bold as to ask another question, judging from Chief Xiong's tone, it seems you have some dissatisfaction with Headmaster Yue of the Huashan Sect?"
Xiong Tianba snorted, "It's not that I'm dissatisfied with Yue Buqun, it's with his adopted son! Back when I took Zhao'er to Mount Hua..."
"Ahem!"
Yue Feng choked on his drink, coughing violently. Xiong Zhaozhao rushed to pat his back, angrily confronting Xiong Tianba:
"Dad, how many times have I told you, you're not allowed to mention this again! If you do, I'll run away from home just like last time, and I'll never come back!"
Xiong Tianba realized he had spoken out of turn and remained silent. With Xiong Zhaozhao's help, Yue Feng caught his breath and, not daring to ask any more questions, drank with Xiong Tianba.
Xiong Tianba's alcohol tolerance was far superior to Xiong Zhaozhao's. However, Yue Feng had once held a grand banquet for heroes at Huiyan Tower in Hengyang, remaining standing until the very end – what kind of alcohol tolerance was that? In less than half an hour, Xiong Tianba was completely drunk, staggering and his mouth began to gurgle uncontrollably.
"Brother Feng... hiccup, I'm entrusting my daughter to you... hiccup, you must... treat her well... hiccup."
Because she was worried about her father, Xiong Zhaozhao didn't drink too much this time. She watched as Yue Feng poured bowl after bowl of wine into Xiong Tianba's house until he was drunk, while he chatted and laughed as if nothing had happened. It was clear to everyone how deep Yue Feng's alcohol tolerance was.
The thought of how she had repeatedly mocked Yue Feng's drinking capacity made Xiong Zhaozhao furious. She reached out and pinched Yue Feng's waist: "Well, you, surnamed Feng, you actually dared to cheat on me... um!"
Yue Feng was already a little tipsy. In the candlelight, he saw Xiong Zhaozhao leaning towards him, her pretty face flushed. In a moment of impulse, he kissed her. He felt her lips were soft and warm, and besides the lingering smell of alcohol, there was also a faint fragrance.
Xiong Zhaozhao's lips were suddenly sealed, her mind went blank, and her eyes widened. Yue Feng touched her briefly, like a dragonfly skimming the water, but Xiong Zhaozhao remained stunned for a long time before she suddenly came to her senses. She first looked at Xiong Tianba, who was fast asleep on the table; then she looked at the maid, who had gone to the kitchen to prepare new dishes.
Xiong Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling she should hit Yue Feng a few times and scold him, but her body felt languid and wouldn't obey her commands. At this moment, Yue Feng poured her a cup of wine and handed it to her, saying, "I acted impulsively just now, and didn't mean to offend you, young lady. Let me offer you a toast to express my apology."
Xiong Zhaozhao didn't dare look at Yue Feng and accepted the drink. Feeling the living room was unusually hot, she made up an excuse and ran away. Yue Feng summoned several maids, entrusted Xiong Tianba to their care, and returned to his room.
He sat alone in the side room for a while when a servant came to report: "Commander Zhou of the Eastern Depot requests an audience with Young Hero Feng again."
Yue Feng nodded and said, "Bring him over."
The servant obeyed and soon brought Commander Zhou to the room. Commander Zhou closed the door and immediately knelt before Yue Feng: "I beg you, Young Hero Feng, to have mercy and spare me! If you will lift the restrictions on me, I am willing to serve you like a slave!"