Fox Demon: The villain at the beginning

Chapter 398 Retreat, Sword Technique
"The Mu family's body-forging techniques are indeed renowned; I have witnessed them firsthand today."

Jin Renfeng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Likewise, you're the first young person in all these years who can fight me to a draw."

The head of the Mu family stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the air of a grandmaster.

Upon seeing this, the shepherd's sons on the side looked surprised.

"It ended in a draw?"

"That guy can't even do anything to the family head?"

"This kid actually has some skill!"

Exclamations of surprise rang out continuously.

On the other side, seeing that Jin Renfeng was safe and sound, Li Muchen also breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's finally over!"

The head of the Mu family has been famous for a long time, and in his youth he even possessed the strength of a peak Great Demon King.

In her opinion, it was already the best possible outcome that Jin Renfeng, who was not even twenty years old, could fight to a draw with the head of the Mu family.

However, Huai Zhu frowned slightly.

"Strange, logically speaking, the head of the Mu family should not be a match for the eldest brother, so how did it end in a draw?"

"Sister Huaizhu, this is already quite good."

Li Muchen smiled wryly.

"That's the head of a first-rate family, an elder of the Dao Alliance's upper academy. Do you really expect this idiot to beat him up?"

"But something just doesn't feel right!"

Huai Zhu shook her head, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Logically speaking, my senior brother should be stronger."

"That idiot will probably come down soon."

Li Muchen said helplessly.

"What exactly is his plan? We can just ask him directly when the time comes, and the truth will be revealed."

Why rack your brains over this?

"It's true!"

Upon hearing this, Huai Zhu nodded slightly, no longer dwelling on the matter.

"Now that the outcome is decided, our sparring session ends here. I will take my leave."

With everything settled, Jin Renfeng cupped his hands in greeting.

"I won't send you far."

The head of the Mu family waved his hand, speaking very casually.

Although he ultimately saved face for the Mu family, he was still not in a good mood and therefore had no patience to treat them with courtesy.

Jin Renfeng didn't care. This time, he had come to their doorstep in a blatant attack, and no one would give him a friendly look.

He called out to the two women, and the three of them immediately took flight and flew away.

"Patriarch, it is thanks to your efforts in turning the tide that the reputation of my Mu family has been restored."

"The patriarch is truly vigorous despite his age; his strength is as great as ever!"

After the three left, several family elders approached the head of the Mu family and praised him.

Upon hearing this, the head of the Mu family showed no outward expression, but inwardly he was filled with shame.

What do you mean by "still going strong in old age"? If he hadn't changed his mind back then, he'd probably be lying on his deathbed by now.

Where is the dignity we have now?

“Patriarch, the Divine Volcano Manor is so aggressive; they are truly inhuman.”

Amidst the chorus of compliments, an elder suddenly spoke up.

"Right now, Shenhuoshan Manor and Wangquan Family are locked in a fierce struggle. Why don't we ally with Wangquan Family and target Shenhuoshan Manor instead?"

Upon hearing this, the head of the Mu family changed his expression and said coldly.

"Soliciting allegiance to the royal family is not a wise strategy! Don't speak nonsense!"

"That's right! My Mu family has always adhered to neutrality. How could we casually pledge allegiance to one side?"

Another elder spoke up.

Upon hearing this, many elders nodded in agreement.

The head of the Mu family remained silent. He raised his head, glanced at the figure disappearing into the horizon, and couldn't help but sigh.

He did not regret his final decision.

Ultimately, the strength of each major family depends on two factors: the number of magical treasures they possess and the strength of their experts.

Jin Renfeng is a ruthless and cunning fellow with great strength; he's really a tough nut to crack.

Given his age, his abilities will likely increase further in the future.

"With this kid around, Shenhuo Mountain Manor will prosper for at least several decades."

"Switching to the other side now is not a wrong choice."

"However, I still need to persuade the family first."

Looking at the group of elders, the head of the Mu family thought to himself.

. . . . . .

"Senior brother, in terms of raw strength, I think the head of the Mu family is far from being your match."

Why did the two of you end up in a draw?

High in the sky, Huai Zhu gently stroked her hair and asked the question that had been on her mind.

"This story begins from the very beginning."

Jin Renfeng stood with his hands behind his back, stepping on the Xunli Sword, and recounted the agreement he had reached with the head of the Mu family.

After the whole process was explained clearly, Huaizhu suddenly understood.
"No wonder I felt something was off about my senior brother's actions today. It turns out he did it intentionally, hiding his true strength."

Li Muchen, standing to the side, asked in confusion.

"You idiot, since the entire Mu family is no match for you, why did you deliberately hold back?"

"Wouldn't it be just as effective to force the Mu family to agree?"

"The Mu family is a neutral family after all, so we can't push them too hard. It would be bad if we forced them to side with the Wang family."

Jin Renfeng shook his head.

The Mu family is, after all, a first-class family and one of the top forces of the human race. If we go too far and cause them to lose face, it will be troublesome if they switch sides to the Wang Quan family.

"But your agreement is just a verbal promise, and you can go back on it at any time."

Li Muchen said indignantly.

"If you back down like this, what if the head of the Mu family holds a grudge and goes back on his word? Wouldn't all your efforts have been in vain?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Renfeng chuckled and shook his head.

"The weak may yield as a sign of weakness, but the strong are always grateful for the concessions they receive."

"The difference lies in whether or not one has sufficient strength."

"We are the stronger party this time. Even though we went to their doorstep, we didn't cause them too much damage, which is already a favor."

"With the experience of the head of the Mu family, he naturally knows what to do."

"As for so-called verbal agreements, they are not without guarantees."

Jin Renfeng said calmly,

"My strength is the biggest guarantee of this agreement."

"If the Mu family really goes back on their word, it will just mean that I have to go to the Mu family again."

Upon hearing this, Li Muchen immediately understood.

For powerful and influential families, neither written agreements nor verbal agreements are actually binding.

The only thing that can bind both sides is strength.

The agreement with the Mu family was entirely based on Jin Renfeng's strength. With Jin Renfeng's strength, everything was guaranteed.

Conversely, without strength, even the most meticulously crafted agreement will collapse instantly.

. . . . . . .

Wangquan Villa!

Butler Fei hurried along and pushed open a door.

The room was filled with books and scrolls, and several landscape paintings and calligraphic works hung on the surrounding walls.

Wang Quan Shouzhuo lay on his couch, holding a book in his hand, reading it carefully.

Upon seeing Butler Fei enter, an aged voice emerged from his throat.

"Any news?"

Butler Fei shook his head, his face grim.

"Several days have passed, and the demon king experts we sent out have not returned. It seems they have all been lost."

Wang Quan Shouzhou sat up, tossed the book aside, and sighed.

"Fortunately, no great demon king experts were sent this time, but the great demon king's magic treasures were not lost."

Butler Fei looked worried and said,

"Although the people the family sent this time did not have a Great Demon King in charge, they did have a Great Demon King formation."

"Destroying the Xiao family would be more than enough; logically, this shouldn't have happened!" "There must be other forces involved."

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said calmly, then turned his head.
"Any news about the spies at Shenhuo Mountain Manor?"

"No, according to the intelligence from the spies, no one in the entire manor has been mobilized."

Butler Fei bowed and said.

"It seems it wasn't Shenhuo Mountain Manor that made the move. Could it be that Jin Renfeng, that brat, went back to fight again?"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo frowned.

"The family's spies are also keeping an eye on that kid Jin Renfeng."

Butler Fei said,

The message stated that he had stayed at the inn all day and had not returned.

"If it's not Jin Renfeng, then who could it be?"

Wang Quan Shouzhou was also puzzled for a moment.

"Master, could it be the Yang family?"

Butler Fei guessed,

"The Yang family and Shenhuo Mountain Manor are in cahoots, and they've been keeping an eye on the Xiao family. They might take this opportunity to attack the Xiao family."
"Impossible. The Yang family is a thousand-year-old family. They would never be willing to do such dirty work for Dongfang Guyue, a down-and-out.

Wang Quan Shouzhu shook his head and made a pronouncement.

In his view, it was already the limit for a thousand-year-old family to lower itself to a lower position; even if things were at their worst, they shouldn't have to do dirty and tiring work for a nouveau riche.

"If it's not the Yang family, then who else could kill the experts we sent out?"

Butler Fei asked, puzzled.

“A force at the level of a Great Demon King is not something that ordinary forces can send out.”

"Apart from a few top families, even first-class families do not have enough powerful demon kings to fight against."

"Don't forget, there are other Dao Alliance families within this Dao Alliance!"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said calmly.

"Is the Wen family the one you're referring to, sir?"

Butler Fei probed.

"I remember when Ba Ye went out to travel, he accidentally injured Wen Bolin."

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said calmly.
"If the Wen family harbors resentment and takes this opportunity to retaliate, harming the men I sent out, it's not impossible!"

"If it really is the Wen family, then they are far too presumptuous!"

Upon hearing this, Butler Fei's expression changed drastically.

As a member of the royal family, he could not stand to see other powerful families harm the royal family.

"Sir, should we send some men to teach them a lesson?"

Although the Wen family is one of the top families, it is far inferior to the Wangquan family, the number one family in the Dao Alliance.

With the power of the Wang family, it might not be able to severely damage the Wen family, but it would not be difficult to make them pay the price.

"Now is the crucial moment to compete with Shenhuo Mountain Manor for the position of leader of the alliance. It is not advisable to cause any trouble."

Wang Quan Shouzhuo shook his head.

"We can settle things with him later."

Butler Fei bowed in agreement.

Although he was very dissatisfied with the Wen family, he had no choice but to obey the head of the family since he had made up his mind.

"By the way, how are things going with the Zhang family?"

When the Wen family was mentioned, Wang Quan Shouzhuo thought of the Zhang family, which was also a top neutral family.

"The Zhang family patriarch has now agreed to join our faction, but they request to study the Royal Power Sword Technique."

"That's what Butler Fei replied."

"Royal Sword Technique?"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo chuckled.

"They are quite greedy, making outrageous demands right from the start, wanting the inheritance of my royal family."

"The Zhang family originated from our Wangquan family from the very beginning, and their swordsmanship is based on the Four Guardian Divine Swords."

Butler Fei said.

"They have always hoped to acquire the Wangquan Sword Technique, deduce its power, and enhance the Zhang Family Sword Technique."

"Let them change their terms! But we cannot give them the Royal Sword Technique."

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said calmly.

"This old servant also spoke to the Zhang family about this."

Butler Fei looked troubled.

"But they just kept insisting on getting the Royal Sword Technique."

"Only the Royal Sword Technique?"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo's face was grim.

"What a bunch of greedy fools."

"Did this old servant go and refuse the Zhang family?"

Seeing the displeasure on the head of the family's face, Butler Fei probed.

"We cannot refuse!"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said coldly.

"In recent years, Shenhuo Mountain Manor has expanded too rapidly, with nearly a hundred more demon king experts alone. It is in no way inferior to the top families."

"With the assistance of the Li and Yang families, even we cannot fight them alone."

"We do need the help of fresh blood to stabilize the situation."

Under normal circumstances, he would never have agreed to the Zhang family's request, but now the pressure from Shenhuo Mountain Manor was too great, and he had no choice but to seek external support.

"Could it be that we really intend to give the Wangquan Sword Technique to the Zhang family?"

Butler Fei asked in surprise.

"Although the Wangquan Sword Technique is quite precious, the foundation of my Wangquan family ultimately lies only in the Wangquan Sword. Without the Wangquan Sword, this sword technique is nothing but an empty shell, and it's no use in spreading it."

Wang Quan Shouzhu shook his head and said.

"However, it is impossible to give them all of the thirteen styles of the Royal Sword Technique."

"At most, we'll give them one sword technique."

"A single sword technique? I'm afraid the Zhang family will have a hard time agreeing to that."

Butler Fei said.

"They have no choice but to agree."

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said coldly.
"Otherwise, they will have no chance to acquire the Royal Sword Technique."

“Master, if we really give away the Royal Sword Technique, the family elders will definitely have objections.”

Butler Fei whispered.

"At that time, I'm afraid it will bring you a lot of trouble."

"I am the head of this royal family. They have no right to interfere in the affairs of this family!"

Wang Quan Shouzhuo said coldly.

"Do whatever I tell you to do."

"Others don't need to care."

"Yes!"

Butler Fei bowed respectfully.
"This old servant will go and negotiate with the Zhang family head immediately!"

"If the Zhang family agrees, remember to have them send messages to all families, condemning Shenhuo Mountain Manor and stating their position."

The king upholds the principle of simplicity.

"If you eat the food of the Wangquan family, you have to serve the Wangquan family!"

"You can't just take advantage of someone else!"

"I've got it!"

. . . . . .

In the stillness of the night, sitting on his bed in the inn, Jin Renfeng summoned the Mirror of Reincarnation.

The ancient mirror surface shimmered faintly in my mind's eye. Countless points of light surrounded the mirror, like a sky full of stars.

"Mirror of Reincarnation, how much causal power do I still have?"

Jin Renfeng asked.

[Current causal power: 466 points!]

The Mirror of Reincarnation quickly provided an answer.

Upon seeing the specific numbers, Jin Renfeng nodded.

466 points, a full 129 points more than the 337 points when the Nine-Headed Pheasant Demon was destroyed.

"I remember that I gained 84 points from destroying the Xiao family last time, so I think I gained 45 more points of causal power from defeating the Mu family this time."

(End of this chapter)