This son, really did not give him any peace of mind. Causing trouble with the disciples of the Medicinal Saint Valley was one thing, but then picking a fight with the Mu Family was practically asking for a beating and a scolding.
Zhao Hong walked out from behind his father with a timid look on his face, not daring to defy his father's orders.
Now, only his father could save his life, and he certainly did not dare to offend his father.
"Tell me! Did you or did you not harm the young master of the Mu Family and kill him?" Zhao Tianba pointed at Zhao Hong and furiously demanded.
His voice thundered like a clap of thunder, startling Zhao Hong.
After calming his startled heart, Zhao Hong weakly replied, "Father, I did not kill him, I only taught him a lesson."
"So, did you kill him or not?" Zhao Tianba continued to inquire.
"No... I did not!" Zhao Hong answered, trembling with fear.
Truth be told, he wasn't very sure himself, because the poison was ultimately lethal. Mu Yu was definitely not dead for now, but who knows about the future.
After hearing his son's answer, Zhao Tianba finally breathed a sigh of relief. If Zhao Hong had really killed the young master of the Mu Family, he would have had no choice but to hand over Zhao Hong. After all, the Mu Family was not to be trifled with, and Mu Lingtian's realm and strength surpassed his own; overall, their Zhao Family couldn't beat the Mu Family.
Having calmed himself down, he then said to Mu Lingtian with due respect, "Brother Mu! My son is naturally naughty and I have not disciplined him strictly, please do not blame him. Whatever compensation you ask for, as long as it's reasonable, our Zhao Family is willing to pay."
Mu Lingtian knew what Zhao Tianba meant, but he was not in need of money. He only wanted justice for his son, "Although my son did not die, he has been poisoned with a chronic and severe poison. If there's no antidote, he will die all the same. I only want the antidote now; otherwise, I will surely flatten your Zhao Family today and take your son's life!"
Upon hearing that there was such a matter, the anger that Zhao Tianba had just suppressed flared up in an instant; he then roared at Zhao Hong, "Hand over the antidote quickly, or your father won't be able to protect you today!"
Zhao Hong was given another fright, then stammered in a terrified voice, "Father... Father, I... I don't have an antidote!"
He had acquired that poison from the black market as well, with no actual antidote to speak of. Initially, he had only intended to use it to intimidate enemies; little did he know that he would encounter the humiliating incident of last night, which made him harbor resentment against Mu Yu, resulting in the event of today.
"No antidote? Why resort to such dirty tricks? Do you want me to beat to death this unworthy son of mine?" Zhao Tianba interrogated.
He was truly infuriated. Now, he had no way to explain this to Mu Lingtian.
Zhao Hong immediately shut his mouth, holding his head down low, not daring to look at his own people. Everything was his fault and all he hoped for was that his father could help save his wretched life.
Zhao Tianba was full of remorse, considering punishing Zhao Hong, but couldn't bring himself to do it because Zhao Hong was already seriously injured and might not survive another lesson.
After pondering for a long time, he finally humbly pleaded with Mu Lingtian, "Brother Mu! Our Zhao Family will surely find the best alchemist to treat your son. If your son really doesn't make it in the end, I am willing to hand over my son for you to deal with as you see fit."
"There's no need! Today, I just want one of your son's arms. I wonder if you're willing to give it," Mu Lingtian declined outright, crisply and decisively.
Now, with Lin Yifan, a high-level alchemist, treating Mu Yu, he was very relieved, so there was no need for the Zhao Family to seek others to treat his son.
However, upon hearing this demand, Zhao Hong refused to accept it, "On what grounds? Your son, Mu Yu, injured me last night and didn't stop there; he stepped on my head and humiliated me. How will you explain that?"
"What? There's such a thing! Brother Mu, you can't justify that! Clearly, your son was at fault first, why should my son be punished?" Zhao Tianba's spirits were immediately lifted.
This was a divine twist! Now he had ample reason to defend his son's life.
"Your son attempted a foolish act last night and ultimately suffered a loss. Thankfully, my son intervened in time, or else your son might have been killed by that disciple from the Medicinal Saint Valley; your son ought to thank my son for his intervention!" Mu Lingtian retorted.
He had also heard about it from Mu Yu; truth be told, it was indeed their Mu Yu who was at fault first, and Zhao Hong couldn't be blamed for resenting his son; but that didn't justify Zhao Hong's attempt to poison his son.
"Hmph! What a joke! If it weren't for your son sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, no one would even know about my affairs; so I don't owe your son a thing!" Zhao Hong stood up straight and responded.
Now, he had the confidence and the grounds to refute.
"You dare to poison my son, placing his life on the brink, and you say you owe him nothing? Are you asking for death!" Mu Lingtian pointed at Zhao Hong and angrily demanded.
"He's not dead yet, is he? As long as our Zhao Family finds a good Alchemist, the poison in his body can naturally be cured! But the humiliation I suffered last night can never be erased," Zhao Hong replied fearlessly, with much arrogance. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
However, what he didn't know was that his actions had provoked an unstoppable fury in Mu Lingtian.
"How dare you poison someone and talk so righteously, I'll kill you, you bastard!"
Mu Lingtian, boiling with rage, then unleashed his formidable Cultivation Power, sweeping across the surroundings.
Feeling this power, Zhao Hong was so scared that he quickly hid behind his father, seeking his protection.
Seeing this, Zhao Tianba was not to be outdone, releasing his own Cultivation Power to resist Mu Lingtian's force.
Their Realms were not much different, so neither could gain the upper hand.
"Zhao Tianba! Get out of the way! Otherwise, I'll kill you too!" Mu Lingtian shouted furiously.
"If you've got the ability, then come and kill me, stop whining!" Zhao Tianba retorted.
Mu Lingtian could no longer swallow his anger and immediately made a move against Zhao Tianba.
If he wanted to punish Zhao Hong today, he had to get past this obstacle of Zhao Tianba; thus, the battle was inevitable.
Thus, the two Family Heads began fighting right at the doorstep of the Zhao Family.
After several exchanged blows, Zhao Tianba began to feel the strain.
With the difference in Realm being apparent—he was one Realm lower than Mu Lingtian, and with a lower level of Martial Arts, he could only be suppressed by the opponent.
Nevertheless, despite this, he would still keep going; because this was not only for his son Zhao Hong but also for the honor of the Zhao Family.
The Zhao Family of the Capital City was not one to be trifled with by just anyone.
Zhao Tianba clenched his teeth in resistance, not giving Mu Lingtian a chance to take him down.
Behind him, seeing his father fight so hard to protect him, Zhao Hong felt extremely pleased; his father had finally shown some sincerity in protecting his own son.
Mu Lingtian and Zhao Tianba fought fiercely, neither yielding nor sparing each other.
But as time went on, Zhao Tianba's physical strength began to wane.
With every clash, he had to withstand a portion of Mu Lingtian's power; the toll was accumulating, and his body was truly starting to suffer.