Chapter 31: Chapter 28 A Surprise
"Master, the Third Elder of the Iron Saber Association requests an audience!"
Li Qiusheng put down the scroll in his hand and rubbed his brow. Over the last few days, casualties among the collateral branches of the Li Family had been heavy. Among these, Qing Yu played a part, as did Li Xin's secret manipulations, and a few were even assassinations instigated by other leaders.
The Li Family's control over the Iron Saber Association was no longer as strong as before. Li Xin had repeatedly proposed attacking the Qingshan Gang to avenge the death of the Deputy Gang Leader and two elders, but Li Qiusheng had suppressed these proposals.
The Third Elder had sought an audience several times, expressing the collective will of the association.
He probably came with the same old rhetoric—The gang was agitated and yearning for battle. This old man couldn't seriously be bribed by Li Xin, could he? Li Qiusheng thought to himself.
Weary, Li Qiusheng sighed, "Let him in."
An audience had to be granted. Li Xin's influence within the Iron Saber Association was expanding, and it was necessary to win over the remaining three elders to oppose him. As long as his father emerged from seclusion... A cold gleam flashed in Li Qiusheng's eyes. As soon as his father had entered seclusion, Li Xin, that illegitimate son, had revealed his fangs—how laughable, whether to call him shrewd or foolish!
The Third Elder, upon receiving permission to enter, straightened his robes and instructed his two followers to wait outside as he proceeded alone to meet Li Qiusheng.
A hint of mockery flashed in the eyes of the servant delivering the message. Ever since Li Dian and the others were assassinated, the Third Elder had been deathly afraid, always needing bodyguards close by for protection. It was said that even when he shared a room with his wife at night, someone had to guard the door. If it weren't for the strict security of the Li Mansion, he might have even brought these two bodyguards to meet the young master.
"Ah... you..." A scream came from the room.
Followed by the Third Elder's shout, "Help, assassin!"
The incident happened so suddenly. The two servants guarding outside instinctively turned to rush into the room.
As they turned, the two followers brought by the Third Elder fiercely attacked.
One, with a sallow face, thrust his sword through the neck of the servant in front, and the other, equally ruthless, delivered a heavy palm strike that shattered another servant's spine, then moved forward to twist his throat.
The two exchanged a smile and entered the room.
Inside, the Third Elder hastily bowed as the two men entered, "Greetings, Gang Leader."
Li Xin, as he entered, immediately looked toward Li Qiusheng.
The eldest young master of the Li Family was slumped in the Taishi Chair, blood dripping from his mouth, one hand pressed against his chest. He tried to maintain his composure in front of Li Xin, the illegitimate son he had once looked down upon, but he couldn't hide the defeat and disarray on his face.
His eyes fixed on the Third Elder, he had not anticipated that this always meek, timid man harbored malicious intentions, striking him in the chest with both palms during the bow, severely injuring him.
The Third Elder bowed his head, unable to meet Li Qiusheng's gaze. Ever since Li Dian and the others' well-publicized funeral stirred up all of Yang City, followed by a series of mishaps, the Li Family had given up trying to hide the deaths of Mrs. Li and Li Qiuyan, or rather, they couldn't afford to.
The Third Elder, having secretly viewed Li Qiuyan's corpse, with bulging eyes and a face like an evil ghost, unblinking in death, found the memory so horrifying that it chilled him every time. Though he feared Li Pingsheng might settle scores with him once he emerged from seclusion, he was already too deep in Li Xin's conspiracy to back out.
He feared Li Pingsheng, but he feared the Three Corpses Brain God Pill even more.
Li Xin saw that Li Qiusheng ignored him but didn't care and turned his head to instruct the Third Elder, "Go summon the brothers outside the mansion and take control of Li Mansion."
The Third Elder sneaked a look at the wax-yellow faced attendant and noticed that Li Xin instructed him, the Third Elder, to run errands instead of the attendant, feeling slightly dissatisfied. However, thinking of the Three Corpses Brain God Pill, he shivered and dared not defy Li Xin's command, going down to carry out the task.
Li Xin watched Li Qiusheng and mocked with a sneer, "It seems that your identity and the intelligence you pride yourself on can't save you, Great Young Master."
Finally unable to ignore Li Xin, Li Qiusheng still couldn't hide his arrogance and looked at Li Xin with disdain, "Despicable villain, just enjoy your moment now. You have no idea what true power is. Once father finishes his retreat, I will have you torn into thousands of pieces."
"It seems that Li Pingsheng is indeed planning to retreat and break through to the Innate level," the wax-yellow faced youth suddenly spoke up.
Li Xin stepped back as he spoke. Previously, in front of the Third Elder, Li Xin needed to hide the identity of the wax-yellow faced youth, positioning himself at the center of the hall; now that the Third Elder was gone, there was no longer a need for pretense.
Indeed, the wax-yellow faced youth was Qing Yu.
Seeing this, Li Qiusheng couldn't help but burst into laughter, even as the act of laughing pulled at his chest injury and his mouth was filled with blood foam, he did not stop.
"Li Xin, oh Li Xin, I wondered where you got such audacity. Turns out you're still just someone else's dog," Li Qiusheng said with a face full of disdain, "A dog can't change its habit of eating feces. Without my Li Family, you, Li Xin, are still a dog, and will always be a dog."
"You..." Li Xin, who had trained himself to be unfazed by insults over the years, still couldn't remain calm in the face of these enemies from the Li Family.
"Ei..." Qing Yu raised his hand to stop Li Xin, "It's just the wailing of a defeated dog. The harsher he curses, the more he fears inside. Don't worry, the people of the Li Family will have a hard time."
Li Xin suppressed his anger and stared coldly at Li Qiusheng.
Qing Yu stopped Li Xin and smiled at Li Qiusheng, "Regardless of how Li Pingsheng will deal with us, you are now in our hands. Tell me, what food do you usually send to Li Pingsheng, is there any secret signal, or is it always a specific person who delivers it? If you don't tell us, I think Li Xin would be more than happy to `entertain' you."
Hearing this, Li Qiusheng burst into another round of mocking laughter, "You still want to poison my father's food? Haha... all the food needed during father's retreat has already been prepared at the retreat site, no need for anyone to deliver. You might as well just wait for your deaths!"
He glared fiercely at Li Xin, his face ferocious, "Li Xin, you dog-raised bastard, once my father comes out, I will make you wish you were dead. And your lowly mother, I will crush her bones and scatter her ashes."
Mention of his mother was his Achilles' heel, and Li Xin could no longer suppress his anger, instantly making a move against Li Qiusheng.
Qing Yu again stopped Li Xin, saying, "The worst has happened, Li Pingsheng has prepared his own provisions."
He reached into his robes and pulled out a red porcelain bottle, tossing it to Li Xin.
"This is..." Li Xin recognized it as identical to the bottle he had been given before, to control the three elders, and said, "Does the young master want to control Li Qiusheng? To have him attack Li Pingsheng?"
Qing Yu shook his head, "I wouldn't underestimate the resolve of the Li family's young master. Family ties are the most precious and firmest of connections in the world. Few can overlook their familial bonds. You stayed in the Li Family for the sake of your mother all these years, enduring humiliation. Li Qiusheng would also die rather than betray his father. Controlling him and making him attack Li Pingsheng might very well backfire."
Qing Yu still smiled, but in Li Qiusheng's eyes, that smile hid endless ruthlessness and malice.
"I'll use him to give Li Pingsheng a little surprise..."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone