Chapter 61

First Volume, Chapter 61: The Matter Escalates

Cheng Fa also didn't sit idle; he stood up and bowed mockingly to Qin Feng: "The contest reflects character—if you dare not accept the challenge, it means your participation is merely trickery, not true wisdom, and how could you possibly deserve the Sage's great favor?"

Qin Feng had finally figured it out: these bastards couldn't bear to lose, and now they were playing moral blackmail, clearly determined to ruin the Qin Family's reputation.

Seeing Li Rui and the others band together against him, Qin Feng naturally stopped refusing; since they wanted to play, he'd play them to the end.

The Liang Emperor surveyed the entire scene, taking in every reaction; as emperor, he naturally delighted in the sight of the two factions clashing. As Qin Feng and Ning Hu fought harder and harder, the Liang Emperor showed no intention of stopping them—instead, he wore an expression of "the more chaos, the better."

"Qin Feng, are you willing to compete against Ning Hu once more?"

Even if Qin Feng were stupid, he wouldn't be foolish enough to think the Liang Emperor was consulting him; if the Liang Emperor could lift him up, he could just as easily crush him back to the ground.

Knowing full well he had no choice, Qin Feng put on the face of a sycophantic minister and groveled: "If only Ning Hu wished to challenge me, I would ignore him. But since the Sage has spoken, I dare not refuse."

Upon hearing this, every minister of the Hubei Party sneered, thinking: This bastard is a master of flattery!

Qin Tianhu, however, was in high spirits; after all, serving the sovereign is like serving a tiger—even a top-rank official trembles before the Sage. Since Qin Feng understood how to obey the Sage's will, it was undoubtedly more beneficial than harmful to the Qin Family. Qin Tianhu suppressed his restless emotions and waited to see what tricks Qin Feng would pull today.

The Liang Emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Then you shall compete against Ning Hu again. This time, regardless of the outcome, both sides must accept it wholeheartedly. Whoever dares to object again, I shall not tolerate!"

This was the final ultimatum.

The Hubei Party immediately perked up, relaying the order down the chain: Ning Hu must win this contest at all costs.

Still seething from his previous loss to Qin Feng, Ning Hu didn't hesitate—he stepped forward to the base of the Talou and growled at Qin Feng: "What are you waiting for? Start!"

Under countless eyes, Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, walking slowly and elegantly over: "Why the rush? Are you in a hurry to be reborn?"

Though Ning Hu was furious, he knew Qin Feng was sharp-tongued; even Li Rui and Cheng Fa, masters of scheming, couldn't match him. He swallowed his hatred.

As Qin Feng approached the Talou, he summoned the Imperial Guard and whispered a few instructions.

The Imperial Guard, aware Qin Feng was favored by the Liang Emperor, held him in high regard and immediately nodded: "Young Master, rest assured—your Shu Xi will see it done."

Seeing this, Ning Hu knew Qin Feng was up to some trick.

But the Talou stood ten zhang tall; Qin Feng's previous levers, though still usable, would need to be dozens of zhang long to launch him directly to the top. Not only would wood lack the strength to make such a long lever, but even if they could build it, the other end would nearly lift into the sky—how would they ever press it down?

Most crucially, the Imperial Guard could only help Qin Feng assemble the device—they could not intervene directly.

So no matter how intricate Qin Feng's mechanism, he could not operate it alone.

Once he understood this, Ning Hu's worries vanished; his gaze toward Qin Feng grew even more contemptuous.

The Vice Minister of Revenue leaned close to the Minister of Revenue and whispered: "Your Excellency, Qin Feng is always scheming. Why not petition the Sage outright to ban all mechanical devices?"

The Minister of Revenue waved his hand: "Qin Feng is a scholar. If this were a test of bare fists, he'd stand no chance against Little Marquis. Even if Little Marquis won, it would mean nothing. Besides, the Sage valued Qin Feng's wisdom just now—it's wisdom versus strength that makes this a fair contest."

Hearing this, the Director of the Hubei Department sighed: "Vice Minister, the Sage himself previously stated: to conquer Heaven requires strength; to defend Heaven requires strategy. Now that the Di have breached our northern border, this is precisely the time to defend Heaven—that's why the Sage cares so deeply for Qin Feng. To avoid making a mess of things, we should simply watch and wait."

Sitting on the throne, the Liang Emperor observed the Hubei Party's reactions without expression.

Meanwhile, Li Zhan, standing beside him, smiled and said: "Your Majesty, who do you think will win—Qin Feng or Ning Hu?"

The Liang Emperor's lips curled slightly, forming a deep, subtle smile: "Ning Hu's martial skill should secure his victory—but Qin Feng possesses the Technique of Turning Decay into Wonder. The outcome remains uncertain. Issue my military order: if Qin Feng loses, seize all the ill-gotten wealth he has acquired these past days as punishment!"

At these words, Li Zhan's expression flickered; though he said nothing aloud, he clenched his heart for Qin Feng.

This seemingly entertaining contest was in truth a storm beneath calm waters—before so many court ministers, there was no game here, only outright struggle.

Once the Qin Family's honor is shattered, the neutral officials clinging to the fence will tilt toward the Hubei Party, and the Pro-War Faction will collapse without a fight.

In short, the Liang Emperor had placed a heavy bet on Qin Feng in his casual words—if Qin Feng proves useless, the Liang Emperor will not spare him.

Qin Feng understood this well: though the Liang Emperor smiled warmly, beneath that smile lay deadly intent.

But as a merchant, Qin Feng knew another truth: the greater the risk, the greater the return.

Since Ning Hu and Li Rui and the others insisted on conspiring to ruin him, Qin Feng decided to seize this chance and bury them all instead.

While the Imperial Guard bustled atop the Talou, Qin Feng didn't idle—he turned to Li Rui and the others, yawned loudly, and feigned utter boredom: "Just testing Lightness Skill is utterly dull!"

"Since today, the Sage and the court ministers have gathered here for Ji Wang's birthday banquet, why not add a stake to this contest?"

Stake? The crowd exchanged glances—they knew what Qin Feng intended, but none dared voice it before the Sage.

Qin Feng didn't care—he spoke bluntly: "If I win, the Yong'an Marquis, the Minister of Revenue, and the Director of Hubei each pay me Ten Thousand Li Silver. If I lose, I pay each of them Ten Thousand Li Silver."

The crowd fell silent. No one spoke.

After all, how could court ministers gamble? It was undignified.

Even Qin Tianhu thought Qin Feng was being reckless and was about to rebuke him—when the Liang Emperor cut him off first.

The Liang Emperor's eyes gleamed with interest, his tone casual: "Qin Feng's proposal has some merit."