CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 41 THE STORY OF LI XIN

Taking the elixir, then circulating his Qi around the Celestials, Qing Yu finally stabilized his injuries.

"Master, are you feeling better?" Li Xin, who was standing beside him, saw Qing Yu’s face color improve and asked with concern.

"Much better, thanks to the cross-training I began recently, otherwise I might not have been able to withstand it," Qing Yu weakly waved his hand and said, "I didn’t expect the Innate Realm to be this terrifying, far out of reach for those in the Postnatal Realm."

With the help of the Mystic Iron dagger and having swiped Ao Shaobao’s Character Card in his spare time, Qing Yu had acquired the martial arts inheritance of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training Golden Bell Shield. However, cross-training required a large amount of medicinal materials, otherwise it would only ruin one’s body.

It was only after acquiring the medicinal resources from the Li Family’s inventory that Qing Yu began his cultivation. Thinking about it, the Li Family truly was a lucky star in Qing Yu’s life.

Hearing this, Li Xin’s worried expression eased a bit, and he said, "That’s good. I never expected the highly skilled operatives from the Six Gates to follow Zhang Qingfeng out, it seems that he’s indeed very important to them."

Qing Yu nodded and added, "Yes. Zhang Qingfeng’s importance exceeds my imagination. That Lord Luo, so young yet able to advance to the Innate Realm, appears to be a proud individual yet willing to play nanny for Zhang Qingfeng, safeguarding him along the way. This can only mean that Zhang Qingfeng is very important."

"However, he isn’t without resentful energy," Qing Yu turned the conversation, "Zhang Qingfeng was injured to such an extent that he could only call for help before he was willing to step in. It seems he is quite dissatisfied with this nanny job."

"Forget about him. What about the situation with the Iron Saber Association?"

Li Xin reported, "The Third Elder sent someone to inform us; a group of mysterious individuals in black suddenly appeared at the Qingshan Gang, easily repelling our men. Oddly, although much more powerful than the members of the Iron Saber Association, they did not pursue the victory but disappeared mysteriously after repelling our forces."

"Mysterious individuals? I think it’s the people from the Six Gates; they must have their own apprehensions," Qing Yu said with a smirk.

As to what they were wary of—whether it was Xuan Guang or Lord Zhen Shan—Qing Yu had no way of knowing.

After pondering for a moment, Qing Yu asked, "Any changes with the Li Family?"

The Li Family was too conspicuous. Li Xin’s recent actions were a clear sign that something must have happened, which led to the unlikely rise of Li Xin.

Today, Qing Yu’s attempt to assassinate Zhang Qingfeng with Li Xin’s assistance had failed, escaping the situation only by exploiting Lord Luo’s reluctance to damage valuable possessions.

Whether it was the proud individuals like Lord Luo or Zhang Qingfeng, neither were ones to suffer losses willingly; retribution was inevitable.

At such a time, still injured and staying within the Li Family, would be unwise, especially when the enemy was far superior in strength. Therefore, Qing Yu’s current location was a safe house secretly arranged by Li Xin.

"Master’s guess isn’t wrong. The people from the Six Gates probably do have some reservations. Over at the Li Family, it’s calm, without any disturbances," Li Xin replied.

"The necessary spiritual medicines and other resources should be transferred first. The people from the Six Gates won’t act openly. Once Zhang Qingfeng’s poisoning heals, he won’t be willing to endure. The injuries he sustained are external wounds, and with the poison being lethal, once it’s cured, his recovery will be much simpler than my internal injuries."

"Keep a close watch on the situation in Yang City. Our actions today have thrown a large stone into the still waters of Yang City; the calm will not last long."

"Also, pay more attention to the movements of the City Lord Mansion. I have a feeling that their response is a bit too calm. No matter how much they seek stability, it’s impossible for the City Lord Mansion to show no reaction at all. No, it should be said that precisely because they seek stability, they should make a significant move now to stabilize the situation."

Qing Yu laid out his orders clearly, instructing Li Xin item by item.

In Yang City, the strongest public force was always the Song Family of the City Lord Mansion. The other three families, no matter how powerful, would have to pay taxes to the City Lord Mansion.

Speaking of which, it was pitiful for the three families like the Li Family, who paid tribute to Lord Zhen Shan, the local emperor of the frontier, and additionally had to pay taxes to the City Lord Mansion.

The root cause was their lack of strength. Lord Zhen Shan’s forces were not to be mentioned. The Song Family, who controlled the City Guard Army, was another matter. Although the City Guard Army was usually idle, its combat effectiveness was questionable.

However, nearly two thousand in number, they almost equaled the total manpower of the three families combined. Not to mention, no matter how ineffective in battle, the City Guard Army was still an official army registered with the Court Military Department, even though in reality, this official army was not much different from the Song Family’s private army.

Official troops are never without standard-issue weapons and armor, and perhaps even military crossbows. The three families, such as the Li Family, wouldn’t stand a chance against the City Guard Army, even if they had hundreds more men.

"Master..." Li Xin hesitated to speak.

"Speak your mind, there’s no need for concern."

"Yes." Li Xin made up his mind, "It’s regarding Miss Song Ziqi of the City Lord Mansion."

"Song Ziqi..." Qing Yu’s gaze turned peculiar as he looked at Li Xin; could it be that this young man had some hidden depth.

"Don’t tell me you have a secret affair with Miss Song of the Song Family."

Goodness, this is straight out of some third-rate novel, isn’t it? Li Xin, this young man, couldn’t possibly be the fabled protagonist with an illegitimate birth, relentless self-improvement, deeply filial to his mother, irresponsible father, cruel legal wife, antagonistic half-brothers, and now entangled with the young lady from another family. What a story.

With that thought, Qing Yu’s gaze grew even more bizarre as he looked at Li Xin.

Li Xin: "..."

"Master, Master!" Li Xin called out.

"Ah, cough cough, what is it, Li Xin?" Qing Yu returned to reality from his wild imagination.

Li Xin patiently continued, "About something concerning Miss Song Ziqi of the Song Family."

"Oh," Qing Yu straightened himself, "I’m ready, please tell your story."

"..."

Despite feeling a bit speechless, Li Xin went on, "Doesn’t it strike you as curious how I reached today’s realm of cultivation? With the resources from the Li Family, my cultivation has soared, but don’t forget, before I met Master, I already reached the Postnatal Seventh Realm."

Well, isn’t it obvious, the protagonists in novels are never lacking talent or cultivation resources. Not to mention, there’s Miss Song too...

However, Li Xin was unaware of his master’s internal turmoil and said, "Even though I have decent talent which earned me some favor within the Li Family, when it comes to this generation of the Li Family, setting aside the side branches, the three young masters of the main branch—Li Qiusheng has subpar talent, Li Qiuran is often away, and Li Qiuyan has no interest in cultivation. If I were to progress rapidly, I might become more influential than the branch allows."

"For that reason, the Li Family not only refrained from providing cultivation resources. Even the cultivation technique I practiced was merely a basic Qi Cultivation Technique that circulates among commoners."

Qing Yu started to take it seriously; he knew that what Li Xin had been practicing was far from being a common Qi Cultivation Technique available on the streets.

"My martial arts were all taught to me by the City Lord Mansion..."