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Chapter 42: You're Really Too Incompetent
Chapter 42: You're Really Too Incompetent (Please Continue Reading)
The military might of Qi Country was weaker than one could imagine. With Li Xuan's strength, he would undoubtedly be a god-like existence in Qi Country.
He could completely disregard the Qi imperial court.
"I shall take a look and see what tricks these people are playing."
Li Xuan fiddled with the jade scepter, took a leisurely stride to the courtyard door, and flung it open.
Outside the courtyard.
A group of more than ten people stood there, each dressed in coarse hemp clothing, their faces solemn and dignified. Leading them was the elderly man in hemp clothing who had shouted earlier—an unparalleled martial arts master.
"Greetings, kind sir!"
The elderly man in hemp clothing bowed politely, his hands clasped in front of his chest.
"Who are all of you?"
Li Xuan feigned confusion as he twirled the jade scepter in his hand.
"Kind sir, the Heavenly Mother is merciful and saves all living beings. Seeing your handsome and wealthy appearance, may we ask if you would be so kind as to donate to the salvation of the people?
"The Heavenly Mother will bestow blessings of peace and joy upon you!"
Li Xuan twitched his lips as he regarded the elderly man in silence for a moment before speaking, "You're here to ask for money, using the pretext of saving the people, and you're quite flawless in that regard.
"However, could you put a bit more effort into your acting?"
As he spoke, he lifted a finger and pointed at the elderly man's hand, "Look at yourself, dressed so poorly, putting on an act of wandering the earth and relieving suffering as you come to ask me for money.
"But can't you take off that big gold ring on your finger? Or at least try to hide it!"
The elderly man in hemp clothing froze, lowering his head to glance at his hand, where both his thumb and index finger were adorned with jade-inlaid gold rings.
Li Xuan raised his eyes, looking at the middle-aged man beside the elderly man, and sighed, "And you, wearing an expensive thumb ring, with coarse hemp clothing on the outside and a silk lining underneath.
"You're all really too incompetent!"
Behind them, Xu Yan stared at his master's criticism, his face frozen in bewilderment.
Moreover, his master was absolutely right.
These people from the Heavenly Mother Sect were truly terrible actors.
And that man wearing the thumb ring looked vaguely familiar.
After a long while, he exclaimed, "You're the Yunshan Magistrate?"
The Yunshan Magistrate was actually a member of the Heavenly Mother Sect?
The members of the Heavenly Mother Sect fell silent, deep in thought. In the past, when they had approached wealthy families for donations, they had always been given money without hesitation, and they had never sensed anything amiss.
Why was today different?
"You have a sharp eye, sir!"
The elderly man's eyes gleamed, and since things had already come to this, there was no point in beating around the bush. It was time to bring out their true strength!
"It's not that I have a sharp eye, but that you're truly terrible," Li Xuan sighed. As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and placed it on the elderly man's shoulder, "With your performance, it's no wonder you've continuously failed in your rebellions."
The elderly man's heart froze in fear at that moment.
A master!
An unparalleled master among masters!
Cold sweat was about to break out on his forehead.
"I am Mai Yi, protector of the Heavenly Mother Sect. May I ask which esteemed master of the martial world you are?"
Mai Yi's body stiffened, his internal energy coiling and ready to strike as he asked in a low voice.
The magistrate and the others' hearts sank as they realized that Xu Yan's master was an unparalleled master.
To find such a young master at this age was indeed rare.
They exchanged a subtle glance and then suddenly made their move.
However, they did not attack Li Xuan. Instead, they targeted Xu Yan, knowing that capturing Xu Junhe's foolish son would still accomplish their goal.
Watching the advancing members of the Heavenly Mother Sect, Xu Yan furrowed his brows slightly. He raised his hand, causing his qi and blood to surge, and with a subtle downward press, a powerful wave of qi blood energy instantly suppressed them.
And so, the magistrate and the others felt as if a mountain had descended upon them. With a thud, they all fell to the ground, unable to get up.
"Overestimating yourselves!"
Xu Yan coldly huffed.
He had held back, choosing not to kill them outright.
Everything would depend on his master's decision.
Mai Yi's face was drenched in cold sweat as he spoke with a trembling voice, "Let's talk this out. We have no ill intentions."
However, the magistrate suddenly shouted, "I am the magistrate of Yunshan County. Killing me is equivalent to rebellion. You must consider the consequences!"
"Hmm?"
Xu Yan's eyes widened as he unleashed his surging qi and blood, causing the magistrate to feel as if he were about to be crushed into a meat pie. He was so frightened that he hurriedly pleaded, "Stop, stop! Young Master Xu, your parents are currently in danger. Only our sect can save them. If you kill me, you must think of the repercussions!"
"What did you say?"
Xu Yan's face twisted with anger, and his surging blood energy scared the members of the Heavenly Mother Sect, including Mai Yi, turning their faces deathly pale.
The magistrate quickly added, "I speak the truth, but it has nothing to do with our sect!"
Xu Yan's anger intensified, and he said, "Explain! What is going on?"
"If you dare deceive me, I'll crush you into dog food!"
The magistrate's soul nearly departed from his body at the threat.
"I-I received intelligence that the Prefect of Donghe County plans to take action against the Xu family. He intends to confiscate your family's property and throw them into prison. This information is undoubtedly true!" the magistrate stammered.
Fearing Xu Yan's wrath, the magistrate dared not hide the truth.
"Hmph! Do you want to die? Even with ten times the courage, the Prefect of Donghe County wouldn't dare to lay a finger on my Xu family!" Xu Yan scoffed.
"Your maternal grandfather is the current Deputy Minister of Personnel. What makes the Prefect of Donghe County think he can challenge your family?" Li Xuan added, astonished by his disciple's background.
"My father is the richest man in Donghe County, and my maternal grandfather is the Deputy Minister of Personnel. With such a background, not only in Donghe County but even in the capital of Qi, our family could act with impunity," Xu Yan boasted.
The magistrate, desperate to save his life, continued, "Of course, the Prefect of Donghe County wouldn't dare, but this is the will of a powerful figure in the capital..."
Fearing that Xu Yan might kill him in a fit of rage, the magistrate quickly explained, "It is said that the struggle for the crown prince is heating up, and the first prince already has the upper hand. As Deputy Minister Guo supports the third prince, things don't look good for them."
The struggle for the crown prince was no small matter. The losing side would undoubtedly face dire consequences.
Indeed, the Xu family was now in grave danger.
"Struggle for the crown prince?"
Xu Yan furrowed his brows, unaware of these developments. All his attention had been focused on seeking out reclusive masters and cultivating his martial arts after taking Li Xuan as his master. He had paid little attention to affairs outside, let alone the power struggle in the distant capital.
"How is that related to my family?" Xu Yan asked, his brows knitted together.
"Your maternal grandfather supported the third prince, giving face to the emperor. How dare they target your family now? Doing business isn't easy. Who dares to confiscate your family's property? I'll make them pay!" Xu Yan's anger rose, and his oppressive aura intensified, causing the magistrate to breathe a sigh of relief.
The magistrate quickly continued, "The Donghe General's Mansion called off the marriage because they sensed that the third prince's faction was losing ground, and the struggle for the crown prince was about to come to an end. That's why they withdrew their support."
Xu Yan was taken aback. He never expected that the General's Mansion's decision to call off the marriage had something to do with the power struggle in the capital.
The magistrate cautiously got up and added, "The Prefect of Donghe County is about to make his move. Everyone in Donghe County who has backing knows that your family is in deep trouble. They're all eyeing your family's business, hoping to grab a piece of the pie."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yan flew into a rage and shouted, "That old fool of an emperor! My maternal grandfather supported his third son out of respect for him. How dare they target my family now? Doing business is no easy task! Who dares to confiscate my family's property? I'll make them pay!"
The magistrate was overjoyed to hear Xu Yan's anger toward the royal family and quickly seized the opportunity to invite him to join their rebellion. "Young Master Xu, your awareness of the situation is truly admirable. Join our Heavenly Mother Sect, and let us rebel together!"
"Get lost!"
Xu Yan slapped the magistrate, sending him flying.
Li Xuan, witnessing the events, couldn't help but marvel at the enormous risks and rewards associated with the struggle for the crown prince.
Success would mean great merit and honor, but failure...
At the very least, it would mean the extermination of the entire clan.
And in the worst-case scenario, the extermination of the nine relations!
The Xu family's crisis had suddenly emerged, but with Qi's military might being so weak, this was hardly a crisis for Xu Yan, given his strength. Even if thousands upon thousands of troops were to march against him, he could face them without batting an eye.
(End of Chapter)
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