Li Feng raised his eyes and looked at the mother and son of the Fang Family standing at the entrance of the main hall. Just now, Li Feng had flatly denied any relationship with the Sikong Family, and Li Feng could roughly guess what the opposite party was thinking.

After all, the Fang Family had bet on Li Feng's background, which was hard to speculate on. Now, with Li Feng explicitly stating there's no blood relation with the Sikong Family, the Fang Family's previous bets seem untimely.

A forced melon isn't sweet.

Li Feng directly looked at the Fang family's matriarch, Tian Wenxin, and said: "You've all heard what I said to the Sikong young lady earlier. It wasn't an excuse. I reiterate once again, I have no blood relation to the Sikong Family. So, if you intend to find a patron, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."

"The apprenticeship ceremony is only halfway through, so if you regret it now, it's still early enough to turn back."

Tian Wenxin felt conflicted at the moment. Her beautiful eyes turned toward the blunt Li Feng, feeling slightly resentful. Why couldn't you have said so earlier? Now her son has already made half of the apprenticeship, and if she regrets it now, wouldn't the Fang Family seem like deceitful people?

But if the apprenticeship continues, can Li Feng, without "background," still protect the Fang Family?

Why did he have to reveal it?

Tian Wenxin gritted her teeth slightly. Even if you're not from the Sikong Family, you could have been vague. The Sikong people wouldn't have clarified so quickly. As long as the Sikong Family doesn't make it public, the protection brought by Li Feng's Vermilion Bird Bloodline would continue.

But now, it's too late to regret.

"Let's continue. Although the apprenticeship isn't entirely over, I've already bowed my head. Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back. Besides, even if I don't study under you, the Fang Family's situation would be just as untenable."

Fang Zhoushan seemed to have accepted it openly at this moment.

Before today, Fang Zhoushan was skeptical about apprenticing under Li Feng and wasn't wholeheartedly convinced. He was complying due to his mother's insistence, and he understood that all her efforts were for his sake.

But the plans obviously didn't match the outcomes.

Since resistance proves futile, why continue resisting? Even if he doesn't apprentice, the Fang Family's situation won't change.

Now, he felt a certain sorrowful kinship with Li Feng, as the Fang Family faces internal and external troubles, while this impromptu master wasn't exactly in a good position himself. Both are fellow travelers struggling through adversity.

Having shared the same predicament, Fang Zhoushan became less resistant to the apprenticeship, slightly surprising Li Feng.

"Do you truly intend to be my disciple?"

Li Feng, with interest, looked at Fang Zhoushan, considering earlier the young man didn't seem too willing.

"Master, please accept my bow as your disciple."

Fang Zhoushan adjusted his attire, stepped back two paces, and directly completed the steps left unfinished before, while Li Feng calmly accepted Fang Zhoushan's gesture.

Watching this scene, Tian Wenxin felt a mix of emotions, not knowing what to say, but her son had already bowed fully. Even if she wanted to oppose it, it's too late to reverse things.

Ah, despite all the calculations, I've missed a step.

Li Feng helped Fang Zhoushan up, saying: "You are my first accepted disciple. I don't have much to offer, but since you've apprenticed under me, the Fang Family's matters are now my business too. I won't turn a blind eye."

"Thank you, Master."

Even though Fang Zhoushan verbally expressed his thanks, inwardly he was skeptical. You can't even protect yourself, yet you're interfering in the Fang Family's affairs.

Apprenticing was an irreversible decision once made, and it's better to let errors persist as they were; after all, there's no real loss.

Li Feng nodded. Regardless of what Fang Zhoushan might inwardly feel, Li Feng was sincere in his words, since accepting a disciple wasn't done without thought.

Li Feng then turned to Zeng Batian.

"I'll give you a chance to reconsider as well. If you change your mind, you can now take your family back to the Zeng Family, and yesterday's incident will be considered as never happened."

Zeng Batian felt bitterness in his heart. Does he have a way back? Despite Li Feng offering him a choice, he simply cannot turn back.

The Zeng Family has already removed him.

Even if he wanted to return, the Zeng Family wouldn't allow him back in the family tree. The Zeng Family still cares about their reputation. If he dared to regret it, he'd have no life left in Ancestor Dragon City as no one tolerates a disloyal person.

These are worldly rules, enforced not by laws but by hearts.

Zeng Batian took a deep breath and bowed deeply, saying: "There's no need to test me, Head of the Family. I've already changed my surname to Li Batian, pledging allegiance to the Li Family, willing to live and die with them."

Li Feng looked at Zeng Batian, who had expressed his intention: "This is your own choice. I gave you the chance; after today, if you're disloyal, bear the consequences."

"Stand up. Go take the items outside to the backyard and prepare a banquet. Let's celebrate."

"Yes!"

Li Batian turned to leave.

"Family Head Li, can we find a quiet place to talk?"

Tian Wenxin looked at Li Feng. The situation couldn't be reversed, but there are matters she still needed to discuss.

"Let's go to the study."

Li Feng suddenly turned around, with Tian Wenxin following behind, while Fang Zhoushan didn't follow but turned with Zi Yan and several women to check the apprenticeship gifts the Fang family had sent.

Study.

Tian Wenxin followed into the study and sat down inside. Li Feng's gaze swept over Tian Wenxin. Though she was a beautiful wife, due to cultivation, there wasn't a trace of age on her face and body, adding a mature charm to her.

Moreover, this matriarch of the Fang Family was once one of the ten beauties of Ancestor Dragon City. Although new faces replace old ones, this Fang Family's matriarch still remains captivating, no wonder people from the Zeng Family eyed her.

Tian Wenxin didn't immediately speak, knowing her previous plans were no longer applicable, proving that plans don't keep up with changes.

Li Feng didn't rush her, sipping tea quietly, while Tian Wenxin was secretly observing Li Feng, thinking how calm this person seemed.

This made Tian Wenxin a bit exasperated as the idea of apprenticing was her ingenious move to break the deadlock, which now seems more like a wasted pawn.

The half of the Fang Family's property she brought had backfired, akin to throwing a bun to a dog, making her angry. As for Li Feng's prior claim that the Fang Family's matters were his too, such rhetoric was useless.

"Family Head Li, you've made me suffer."

Tian Wenxin said with a slightly sorrowful tone.

Li Feng raised his eyes and gazed at the Fang Family's matriarch's melancholy, aggrieved expression, truly stirring emotions.

Quickly steadied his mind and responded: "Matriarch of the Fang Family, how did I make you suffer?"

Tian Wenxin replied bitterly, "You have no blood relation with the Sikong Family, why didn't you say so earlier? You surely knew my intentions in approaching, yet you accepted calmly, and now, you expose the truth in front of everyone."

"You caused us to lose the lady and be pathetically defeated."

"And now my son has apprenticed under you, sharing the fate together. The Fang Family is already troubled internally and externally, and now it's heightened by adding insult to injury."

"Aren't you causing me enough harm?"

Tian Wenxin said, casting a poignant gaze toward Li Feng, which almost made him lose control as the gaze was too piercing, directly affecting his mind.