Compromised
Madam Feng's serene smile froze for the briefest of moments. Her fingers tightened around her teacup, betraying the composure she worked so diligently to maintain.
Xu Qi's words, seemingly laced with a casual musing, accurately struck a nerve. He had deliberately implied a vulnerability. A subtle accusation that her clan might not be the sole puppeteers of this drama.
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she placed the teacup down with a soft clink. "Young Master Xu, are you suggesting that our Feng Clan is colluding with outside forces? Such a claim carries weight, one that should not be made lightly."
The pressure of her cultivation once again made itself known as Xu Qi felt an intense weight on his shoulder.
Nevertheless, he kept his composure and didn't even falter in the face of it. Just that, the gulf between their current strength was like an ocean. He had no hope to fully withstand her pressure for an extended period.