106. A Duel of Losses Without Victory

Mo Geyi’s voice rang right beside Gu Fei’s ear. She suddenly looked up, staring intently at him, her dark eyes like a silent abyss. She had never imagined that Mo Geyi would dare to disregard the grand ceremony’s rules and break away from convention.

Now that things had come to this, there was no way she would let Mo Geyi get his way so easily. She let out a light laugh and quickly followed up after the tail end of Mo Geyi’s words, “Since big brother refuses to abide by the grand ceremony’s rules, then little sister will also dare to challenge once.”

After saying this, she looked at Feng Lizhi, her tone playfully rising, “Lizhi, you did agree earlier to compete with me in ink crafting, using the Feng family hammer method as the stake.”

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in a stir. Everyone knew well the Feng family’s esteemed status today. Feng Puyu’s prominence was all due to the Feng family hammer technique. While formulas might be perfected or altered, this particular hammer method had truly been refined bit by bit through countless predecessors’ efforts and careful study. This legacy was the fundamental reason why the ink-making families with a heritage were distinct from ordinary small workshops.

Feng Lizhi frowned slightly. He bent his head to whisper a few words to Feng Puyu, and only then did Feng Puyu’s gaze soften as he looked toward Gu Fei.

Before the murmurs and whispered discussions could settle, Mo Geyi spoke again in his usual startling manner, “Rules? Naturally, they are made to be broken. I won’t conceal it—this time, I came to Yizhou specifically on behalf of Elder Feng. That’s why right from the start of this grand ceremony, I couldn’t restrain myself. I hope everyone will grant me some face and allow me to fulfill this intention.”

As the last syllable fell, he turned to Gu Fei, his expression unreadable. “Fei little sister, are you certain you want to contest me on who came first?”

Gu Fei sneered quietly to herself. She was about to retort defiantly when, unexpectedly, Feng Puyu spoke—

“After discussing with the other ink masters just now, this segment of the grand ceremony may not be set in stone, but alas, I’m afraid it will disappoint the young lady of the Gu family,” Feng Puyu said, stroking his silver beard with a smile as he looked at Gu Fei. “The Feng family hammer method is the cornerstone of our family’s standing; thus, it can never be offered as a wager. I trust the young lady of the Gu family understands this.”

Gu Fei could understand. She was merely worried that Mo Geyi’s cunning would not die down.

She tilted her head toward him, as if trying to detect some anomaly in Mo Geyi’s face. Yet from beginning to end, Mo Geyi wore a faint smile. Aside from a brief flicker in his eyes, no emotion—neither joy nor anger—was ever betrayed.

Then she replied to Feng Puyu, “Since Elder Feng says so, it seems I was indeed hasty at first. I beg your forgiveness.”

She lightly attempted to take the matter in stride. This was also the root of how she exposed Mo Geyi’s true intentions before he could make them fully known.

Feng Lizhi understood her. There had never truly been any challenge agreed upon between them, so it was easy to guess this was Gu Fei’s way of defusing the situation. Though Feng Puyu’s words were addressed to Gu Fei, those with discerning eyes knew perfectly well they were meant for Mo Geyi.

“What if I, too, put up the Daijing Ink Family’s hammer method as the stake? I dare ask, Elder Feng, would you be willing to accept the challenge?” Mo Geyi was indeed audacious to the extreme—some might say he wouldn’t shed tears until facing a coffin.

The moment these words fell, it was like a stone dropped into a lake, sending endless ripples across the crowd, unsettling the calm waters.

Even Feng Puyu’s expression grew serious. The usually gentle elder’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Mo Geyi.

Gu Fei gripped the armrest tightly, suddenly taking a deep breath. A faint, almost unsettling smile flickered across her face. She addressed Mo Geyi directly, “Big brother really does always enjoy making things difficult for others. Such behavior is hardly that of a gentleman. Even little Fei understands this truth. Big brother, are you truly going to ignore it? Such a waste of all those years spent reading the sages’ teachings.”

The sarcasm in her words was glaringly obvious, laid bare without any attempt at concealment.