Chapter 13 - Duties of a leader

-SHEN FEI? -

-Look… So little Zhu knows who I am, from your actions I expected you not to know I existed. Considering that, are you just really dumb or overly confident? -

Shen Fei said, leaning his face closer to Xiangju, his voice was gentle, but his gaze was like a lion looking at a helpless prey. Xiangju meant nothing to him, there was no chance of Xiangju causing him any harm, and that amused him in a way.

Xiangju began to hyperventilate, taking a few steps back.

You... You weren't supposed to be here! This doesn't make sense... - The boy spoke extremely scared; he knew with Shen Fei there, his chances of getting out alive were close to zero. The Sacred Family isn't the type to leave loose ends.

Shen Fei could kill him and they would claim that a beast entered the city secretly and killed Xiangju, or they could just disappear with his body and he would never be found again. All Xiangju knew was that he was screwed.

-What the hell are you talking about? You're really funny. - Shen Fei said with a still calm tone, but the bloodlust emanating from his body made Xiangju nauseous.

-H-hello, young master Shen Fei... It's an honor to meet you in person. - Xiangju tried to maintain a polite demeanor.

-Well, well, I didn't know you could also be polite. I thought you spent your days insulting other families. - Shen Fei said with a narrowed gaze, slowly showing more hostility.

-U-unfortunately, I don't know what you're talking about. Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going home now. Have a good night. -

Xiangju quickly ended the conversation and tried to turn away to leave, but was interrupted when Shen Fei spoke to him again.

-You know what? I was very surprised to find out that the one little Yue said was bullying him and insulting the Sacred Family was actually the same bastard who was secretly meeting with MY woman.-

Shen Fei now gnashed his teeth in anger, veins popping in his head.

Xiangju, not knowing what to do, made a decision that could be considered one of the worst decisions anyone had ever made.

"FUCK IT, THIS ASSHOLE IS NOT GOING TO LET ME ESCAPE!" He shouted in his heart, jumping towards Shen Fei and throwing a punch with all his might towards Shen Fei's face with the attempt to -

Shen Fei doesn't even try to back away, he just stands still and takes the attack head-on.

BANG

A strong gust of wind hit the area, along with a thick cloud of smoke rising from the street.

-Was that supposed to hurt? - Shen Fei's voice echoed through the night.

When the smoke dissipated a bit, the scene that followed could be seen.

Shen Fei stood with his hands on his hips, Xiangju's fist still against his face.

The little scarf-wearing boy cursed himself at this moment; he had struck with all his might and wasn't even able to push Shen Fei back.

The body of that demonic spiritualist of Gold Rank in front of him was as if it were made of steel, or some even more resistant material.

Xiangju's hand hurt; maybe he had broken his fist. He quickly backed away from Shen Fei, who now looked down at him and let out a loud laugh.

-HAHAHAHAAH you're really fucking stupid!- His expression seemed demonic; he grinned from ear to ear and then...

CRASH - A brittle metallic sound.

PING PING PING

A dripping noise could be heard in the silent night.

PING.

You're so arrogant even with such ridiculous strength. - Shen Fei said with contempt in his voice. He had just crossed the distance between the two at lightning speed, even though Xiangju was looking directly at him, he couldn't see him coming before being hit.

Xiangju spat blood, a lot of blood. Shen Fei had just crushed the stomach part of the chest that Xiangju took from Chen Linjian, and that with just a simple punch. Now the metal of the armor that made him invincible to those of Bronze Rank had been twisted and was a weapon against himself.

The blow had been so fierce and powerful that Xiangju was beginning to lose consciousness, but before he fell to the ground, Shen Fei grabbed him by the hair and slapped him across the face.

-Come on, don't tell me this is all you have, make this fight more fun.-

"He's too strong... there's no way to win..."

-Pathetic. - Shen Fei said, grabbing Xiangju's neck and lifting the boy off the ground, then throwing him against the ground with force.

-AHH- Xiangju groaned as his back hit the ground with the force of a speeding truck.

-I really wanted to kill you right here, but I don't want to stain the sidewalk of my future concubine.-

Those words coming from Shen Fei's mouth filled Xiangju with hatred; his eyes burned with a renewed desire to fight.

"-What is the duty of a leader?- Xiangju asked Ning'er.

-Huh? That's sudden. - The girl took a sip of apple juice her servants had brought her after she destroyed the tea cups.

-Sorry for asking out of the blue, I just thought you might know the answer. - Xiangju spoke determinedly.

-I wouldn't say I'm really the most suitable person for that. - The girl spoke, focusing on her juice.

-Plus, I thought you usually had all the answers.- The girl said with a playful face.

Xiangju rolled his eyes at that.

-I'm not all-knowing, you know. - The boy responded jokingly, both laughed.

-But seriously, you're one of the few people I trust enough to talk about something like this.- The girl narrowed her eyes slightly.

-One of the few is..? Who are the others? Are they girls?- She spoke with a piercing gaze.

-Jealous, my beauty? Don't worry, it's just my parents, but I guess you'd call them in-laws.- Xiangju said, taking advantage of the situation to tease the girl.

The girl turned as red as a tomato, but kept a calm expression, thinking she was maintaining a great composure, what a mistake of hers.

-Ok ok, stop with this nonsense. Listen well because I'll only tell you once, okay?-

-I'm all ears!- "

Xiangju stood up, Shen Fei clapped for him.

-Look at that, aren't you really fucking stupid? If you had stayed on the ground, I might have spared you.-

Xiangju ignored what Shen Fei said.

-Shen Fei... Do you by any chance know the duties of a leader? - Xiangju asked with difficulty, his gaze was downcast, he didn't want to show how much the wound was hurting; the pain was too intense, the armor's metal pierced his flesh deeply.

-What the hell are you talking about? Have you gone crazy or something?-

-What the hell are you talking about..? Have you gone crazy or something?-

-Let me tell you then...- Xiangju, with blood dripping from his mouth between each word, looks at Shen Fei with an extremely determined gaze.

-The duties... of a leader are: Unconditionally support your subordinates... Defend what you believe in without ever doubting yourself... and, above all... NEVER GIVE UP! That's what MY woman thinks about it, so I'll just tell you one thing, you damn Shen Fei... COME ON, DAMN IT!-