Chapter 334: The Aftermath of the Massacre
"The contents of the deal?" Feng Lei smiled with a conflicted expression as the events of that day repeated in his mind.
...
"Huo Tianyang, youâve done enough damage to the Feng Clan and any more than what your clan has already done would elicit a strong response from the emperor.
Your attempt to exterminate the Feng Clan has already enraged him, so if you continue to act as brazenly as you have until now, then even your status as the Huo Clanâs patriarch wonât be enough to save you."
The Imperial envoy glared at Huo Tianyang, whose fists were covered in blood.
Amongst the rubble around them, several bodies could be seen lying around as a metallic stench of blood pervaded the air.
Turning to face the opposite direction, the envoy addressed an old man who had a fist-sized hole in his stomach and was barely standing thanks to the support of his daughter beside him.
"Patriarch Jun..." the envoy glanced at Feng Junâs state with a trace of regret in his eyes and said, "I apologise that it took us so long to come here...but rest assured. The Imperial Family will ensure that nothing else happens to your remaining clan members. The history of the Feng Clan wonât be erased so easily..."
"T-he envoy has this Junâs thank-"
COUGH! COUGH!
Feng Jun coughed out several mouthfuls of blood.
"Father! Donât speak!" Feng Xing, who had been supporting her father from the side, cried out in anxiety, seeing her father cough up large patches of blood.
"...Itâs alright, Xingâer. Something like this...it doesnât faze me at all," Feng Jun muttered while rubbing the blood off his lip as he forced out a smile that was meant to comfort Feng Xing.
However, clearly knowing the tragic fate that awaited her father after surviving Huo Tianyangâs killing strike earlier, she started crying uncontrollably.
"I-Iâm sorry, Father... just because of me-"
"...D-Donât say that." Feng Jun weakly raised his hand to wipe the tears off his daughterâs face, "...Itâs me who should be apologetic...not you."
Hearing those words, Feng Xing tightly pressed her lips while shaking her head incessantly. However, before she could express her thoughts in words, Feng Jun spoke with difficulty.
A hint of ridicule was evident in his voice.
"...In the end, I failed as a father. A father who couldnât even ensure that his daughter gets to marry the man of her liking...Iâm sorry, Xingâer...Iâm truly sorry."
"F-Father..." Feng Xingâs entire being was overwhelmed with emotions when she heard her fatherâs words.
"Thatâs not true!" a man standing next to the two of them exclaimed with all his might.
Just like the few Elders next to him, he, too, was in a grievous state with wounds covering his body and blood staining his robes.
However, a crazed expression was evident on his face as he continued, "Youâre the greatest father both Xingâer and I could ever have, and this fact will remain true until the end!"
"...Leiâer,"
Feng Jun couldnât help but glance at his son, with regret evident in his eyes.
He always wanted to see this kind of drive and burning desire to get stronger in his sonâs eyes, for whom cultivation had always been the last thing he wanted to focus on.
Meeting his fatherâs eyes, Feng Lei continued, "Rest assured, Father! Iâll ensure that no matter what happens, Xingâer will only marry the person she wants to marry and no one else!"
"With just you? Do you really think that the Imperial Family can save your clan from my hands?" A piercing voice came from the other side as Huo Tianyang snorted in amusement.
"Try it if you dare, you bastard!" Feng Lei lashed back fearlessly.
Not a trace of worry could be seen on his face as he did that, even though he was just at the Third Qi Absorption Stage while the other party was already a Core Building Stage expert.
"You dare!"
Huo Tianyangâs eyes darkened that very moment as a crushing pressure descended upon all the Feng Clanâs members who were standing in front of him.
Seeing things taking a turn for the worse, the envoy gritted his teeth and countered the crushing feeling with his own.
"Get lost!" Huo Tianyang hurled his robes to increase the force he was applying while roaring, "Tell that emperor of yours to come here himself if he wants to save the Feng Clan!"
With that, the envoyâs figure was thrown behind like a broken kite, but before he could collapse onto the wall behind him, his figure was brought to a stop by some force, and he was standing back on the ground with no signs of discomfort.
It was also at this moment that the envoy tilted his head up to glance at a figure standing on top of an enormous beast.
"Greetings to Your Majesty!" The envoy exclaimed with brightened eyes as relief finally welled up inside him.
The emperor nodded his head while turning towards Huo Tianyang, "I heard from a distance that you wanted to meet me personally, Huo Tianyang. The Huo Clan seems to have developed quite a backbone in these years, donât you agree?"
"Y-Your Majesty..." Huo Tianyangâs eyes shuddered at the sight as he immediately fell to his knees.
"...P-please forgive me for my insolence, for I was blinded by my anger." He begged while kowtowing in the emperorâs direction.
Even though the emperor was only two levels higher than him, Huo Tianyang was fully aware that the gulf that separated these two levels was so wide that he might never be able to cross it in his entire life.
"Three hours. In three hours, the sun will rise. I want this matter to be resolved without any bloodshed. If not, then the Feng Clan wonât be the only clan that would be wiped out from existence."
"Yes, Your Majesty! Iâll do just as youâve ordered!" Huo Tianyang exclaimed the next instant, while not daring to raise his head.
The emperor snorted at that response and, after casually glancing at the few Feng Clan members who had survived the massacre, turned towards his envoy.
"Make them sign a treaty and end this quickly. Since the Feng Clan is also to be blamed for reneging on a promise, they too must pay a price, even if itâs a large one. However, ensure that the clan survives as thatâs what matters in the end..."
Understanding the meaning behind those words, the envoy couldnât help but feel bitter. However, knowing that he couldnât go against the emperorâs orders, he clasped his hands and bowed, "Iâll keep the emperorâs words in mind while stating the terms!"
"Mhm." The emperor nodded at those words and disappeared along with the winged beast that very moment.