Rebellious Son

"Now, can I teach you a lesson?" With every sentence Li Tianming spoke, the Bloodfire Dagger swept across Li Zifeng's body.

A bloody gash appeared, making Li Zifeng scream repeatedly, his face deathly pale.

"You wreak havoc outside, born of a father but never taught by one. So I'll teach you what rules are. What's wrong with that?"

"You think that just because you're the city lord's son, you can do whatever you want? You think you can treat human lives like blades of grass?"

"Little brother, let your big brother tell you this: everyone is born equal. If you go too far in how you conduct yourself, retribution will come knocking. You called me a 'wild dog'—did you ever think this day would come?"

"Today, I'll show you what retribution means."

"Does this blade feel good?!"

He spoke six sentences in a row and delivered six slashes. They landed on Li Zifeng's limbs and backside, avoiding anything vital, yet making him wish he were dead. Now he truly understood what a lesson was!

Li Zifeng's Greensteel Sword had long since fallen to the ground. His face was completely bloodless, and in that short span of time, his wails shook the heavens. Such despairing screams frightened everyone.

Because no one had expected that even this battle would be so one-sided! Before Li Tianming, Li Zifeng had not possessed the slightest ability to fight back.

It was a crushing defeat!

The young man standing on the arena now had shaken everyone to the core.

Even more terrifyingly, just as Li Tianming completely subdued Li Zifeng, a massive bird crashed down from the sky. It was almost drenched head to toe in blood—it was the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird!

As the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird lay on the ground, whimpering and trembling, a Little Yellow Chick landed on its back with a beakful of feathers.

It spat out the feathers and cursed, "You stupid stinking bird, don't you know how to bathe? Even your feathers stink! You nearly knocked your daddy unconscious with the smell!"

Such a tiny, adorable creature had beaten a Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird dozens of times its size into this state. It was simply inconceivable. Was this something a First-Order Companion Beast could do?

Seeing the furious Li Tianming, his blood-dripping Bloodfire Dagger, and then that arrogant Little Yellow Chick, the entire City Lord's Mansion fell into an unprecedented silence.

The reason everyone was silent as the grave was that no one dared to speak. All eyes were on the city lord, on Li Yanfeng's reaction!

Today had originally been a joyous occasion. The Yanhuang Academy Selection was meant to bring Li Yanfeng good fortune, yet who could have expected something like this to happen?

It would have been one thing if Li Tianming had merely come out to cause trouble. The key was that he had utterly crushed Li Zifeng.

At this moment, the entire venue was deathly still. Only Li Zifeng and his companion beast's terrified howls could be heard.

Though both were Li Yanfeng's sons, the meaning was completely different. If Li Zifeng won and received the Yanhuang Order, it was a celebration to ward off misfortune. But if Li Tianming, the "laughingstock of Lihuo City," came out, crushed Li Zifeng, and took the Yanhuang Order, that was practically a celebration with shit.

In other words, it was like throwing a pile of dung straight into Li Yanfeng's face. Whether it stank, whether it was humiliating—only Li Yanfeng himself knew best.

Li Tianming also wanted to know: what was Li Yanfeng's reaction now? And those people who had treated him as a joke these past three years—what were their reactions?

If his mother, whom he respected most, could come here and see him standing up for himself, would she smile? Or would she cry?

He had wanted to bring her, but he feared her body could not bear it. There were too many people here who had made her too ashamed to show her face.

She had done nothing wrong. The ones at fault were the City Lord's Mansion, and Li Yanfeng, selfish, heartless, and cold-blooded as he was!

This time, Li Tianming was standing up for her, and for himself!

This time, it was to reclaim the dignity he had once lost!

This time, it was to demand the justice that belonged to him!

Wei Jing's dignity had become a joke in a single letter of divorce, while Li Tianming's dignity had been lost for three years. Everything they had lost, Li Tianming would take back, all of it!

As he made so many people fear and respect him, he thought that if his mother saw this scene, she would surely cry. They would be tears of utter exhilaration. To have such a moment in one's life left no regrets.

No matter what adversity awaited him next, Li Tianming was ready to fight.

That day, he was like a demon gone mad. Though young, his divine might had already begun to emerge. From this day onward, Lihuo City's history would absolutely remember this day of his!

Just as Li Tianming had expected, after he gave Li Zifeng six slashes, Li Yanfeng finally rose to his feet atop the Wind-Listening Tower.

"Master, save Zifeng! Quickly, execute that rebellious son!" Lady Mo had already wept in panic. She wanted to rush up herself, but she did not dare.

Everyone watched Li Yanfeng. On his joyous day, something like this had happened. For Li Yanfeng, who valued face above all else, it was truly a slap across the face.

After all, many distinguished guests were still inside the Wind-Listening Tower. They were all here to watch the show. Though they would not say anything in public, they would definitely laugh about this after returning home.

Li Tianming had already felt two scorching gazes from the Wind-Listening Platform, burning into his body.

He released Li Zifeng. Li Zifeng collapsed limply at his feet, then crawled to his feet like a wild dog and fled the Wind-Listening Platform in panic, not even caring about the Purple-eyed Double Pupil Bird.

His body dragged a trail of blood across the Wind-Listening Platform. From the Wind-Listening Tower, it could be seen clearly—far too clearly.

Li Tianming raised his head and met Li Yanfeng's gaze. Their eyes collided in the air. This was the proudest Li Tianming had ever felt.

Because only in this clash of gazes were they equals!

He could not yet see Li Yanfeng's rage or agitation in his eyes alone, but he guessed the man could not possibly be feeling pleased. No matter the circumstances, this man would always force himself to preserve his face.

"Tianming, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility upon a man, it first torments his will, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his flesh, empties his body, and confounds all he does. Your performance today lives up to those words. Three years of misery did not defeat you."

Everyone had thought Li Yanfeng would erupt, but they had still underestimated his composure. He praised Li Tianming from this angle, acknowledging his resilience. After all, Li Tianming was his son, so it was not entirely disgraceful.

"Thank you for the praise." Li Tianming stared at him. He had called this man father for nearly twenty years, but today, he could no longer force out those two words.

In truth, when he returned from the Flame Capital and told Li Yanfeng about how he had been framed, only to receive silence in response, he had known. Li Yanfeng did not dare offend Thunder Lord Manor. He would never stand up for him.

At that moment, Li Tianming had been utterly disappointed. He had never imagined that his father could be such a person.

Though he stood high above others and controlled Lihuo City, when facing the colossal Thunder Lord Manor, he chose silence. He chose to abandon Li Tianming—and, by the way, Li Tianming's mother as well.

Such a selfish father was simply too shameful to speak of.

That letter of divorce was the most ruthless act of his life. Li Tianming remembered every single word on it with absolute clarity.

Treat each other with respect as honored guests—then stab you in the back?

Li Tianming admitted that he was this man's son, but from this day onward, he no longer wanted any ties to him in his life.

That single sentence of thanks made them strangers.

"You defeated Zifeng. What do you want?" Li Yanfeng had no intention of tearing all pretense apart here, so his tone sounded calm, displaying how fair he supposedly was toward his children.

But everyone knew that he had already married someone from Thunder Lord Manor. Li Tianming and Thunder Lord Manor had a blood feud. Li Yanfeng had made his choice three years ago. The only reason he did not kill Li Tianming today was because of his damned face!

On his wedding day, his eldest son defeated his younger son, and he executed his eldest son himself—if such a thing spread, would he not become the laughingstock of the world?

"I want the Yanhuang Order. And I want you to send me out of Lihuo City, just as you did four years ago. Repeat it once more, and for the rest of my life, I will never set foot in Lihuo City again." Li Tianming's voice was loud and resolute.

At last, he was qualified to say those words.

Obtaining the Yanhuang Order was to return to Yanhuang Academy, to take revenge, and to cure his mother's illness.

Having Li Yanfeng send him away was for dignity. He had long said that he did not want his mother and himself to leave this place like homeless dogs because of that letter of divorce!

When those words came out, everyone was deeply shaken.

"He lost his companion beast, his cultivation regressed, and he no longer met Yanhuang Academy's standards, so he left Yanhuang Academy on his own. Now he actually wants to return?"

"What would he go back for? He's the laughingstock of Yanhuang Academy now. Lin Xiaoting and Mu Qingqing are both Heavenly Court geniuses, a hundred thousand miles beyond him. Isn't he afraid of going back only to humiliate himself again?"

"But it's clear that he no longer wants to remain in Lihuo City, nor does he expect to repair his relationship with the city lord."

"Right. Asking the city lord to send him away is nothing more than wanting to leave with some dignity. From his perspective, that is understandable."

"Understandable? I think he brought this upon himself. If he had not been so lust-crazed and bold enough to harass Lin Xiaoting's woman, would he have ruined himself? The city lord lost all his face because of him too! The city lord did nothing wrong in this matter. He brought it all upon himself! If I had a son like that, I'd be ashamed too!"

In any case, everyone had the right to voice their opinions.

Just wait and see.

Now, everyone was waiting for Li Yanfeng's decision.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then said, "You merely obtained a First-Order Companion Beast. Your current strength was cultivated with Jin Yu back then. Your talent in this life ends at the Beast Pulse Realm. Even if you defeat Zifeng here and obtain the Yanhuang Order, Yanhuang Academy will never accept you."

What he said was indeed true. A beastmaster with a First-Order Companion Beast could never break through to the Spirit Source Realm in their lifetime.

"That need not concern you. I took first place in the Selection, so I should receive the Yanhuang Order. What happens afterward is my own responsibility. Since the city lord has already stripped me of my status, we have no relationship from now on. If I embarrass myself again, it will have nothing to do with you. For both of us, it will be cause for celebration." Li Tianming said.

In truth, for a youth like him to dare speak to Li Yanfeng as an equal, that courage alone was worthy of respect.

One had to know that throughout all of Lihuo City, there were truly very few people who dared negotiate with Li Yanfeng like this.

Especially when today was Li Yanfeng's joyous day.

"Looks like Li Tianming is going to achieve his goal."

"What he accomplished today really is unbelievable."

"Come to think of it, he's got some backbone."

The mocking and sarcastic voices had long since faded away. Even if he would no longer be a member of Lihuo City from now on, much of the ridicule he had once endured would dissipate.

"Father, the Yanhuang Order is mine! You can't give it to him!" Li Zifeng struggled to his feet, his face pale and filled with panic.

"Master, since we've already gone this far, why not ignore those rumors and simply finish him off..." Lady Mo whispered into Li Yanfeng's ear.

"Get lost." Li Yanfeng looked at her and spoke a single word, frightening Lady Mo into shrinking into a corner.

That scene was enough to make everyone understand that Li Tianming's performance and demands today were all like slaps landing across Li Yanfeng's face!

Before so many watching eyes, it seemed Li Yanfeng could only do as Li Tianming demanded.

To force Li Yanfeng to such a point, Li Tianming had truly been extraordinary today. Though his future prospects were limited, at this moment, he seemed far more majestic and broad-minded than Li Zifeng, his courage soaring into the heavens!

"City Lord, please give me the Yanhuang Order, and then send my mother and me out of the city!" Li Tianming narrowed his eyes. This was his fiercest response to that letter of divorce. Those who knew the truth understood what Li Tianming wanted!

"Give me the Yanhuang Order! Send us out of the city!" He emphasized his words. Every word he spoke was like an iron hammer, striking heavily against everyone's hearts!

Such boldness in openly challenging authority suddenly gave people the illusion that he stood unrivaled beneath heaven!

But Li Tianming needed this, and his mother needed it even more. She had once married into Lihuo City in greater splendor than even Liu Qing. She absolutely could not accept leaving Lihuo City in misery when she was old and near death!

As her son, making Li Yanfeng personally see them off was even more important than obtaining the Yanhuang Order!

As he spoke, he thought of that woman. She was still in the courtyard now, but she surely could not sleep. She must have been waiting anxiously, her hand gripping the armrest tightly. Perhaps she was pacing in the courtyard. Maybe she said nothing, but how could she possibly be willing to be driven from Lihuo City like this?

Back then, how glorious had she been when she came here? In her youth, whose bearing could compare to hers?

So many vows of mountain and sea had turned to nothing after she fell ill. Li Yanfeng had hidden away, married three wives and taken four concubines to strengthen the Lineage, and betrayed his vow to remain devoted to one woman until the end. No matter how powerful such a man was, could he truly be called a man?

What he pursued was nothing more than face, reputation, authority, and power!

"City Lord, please send us out of the city!" Li Tianming said it one final time. His burning eyes pierced through the air and scorched Li Yanfeng's face.

This was an unprecedented collision of their gazes!

Perhaps Li Tianming saw the words "rebellious son" in his eyes, but he found them laughable.

Under such pressure, he had defeated Li Zifeng openly and fairly. According to the rules, he was entitled to the Yanhuang Order!

At that very moment, Li Yanfeng suddenly smiled.

That smile seemed to perfectly dissolve all of Li Tianming's attacks, making his hot blood and courage rush into the sea and vanish in an instant.

He smiled, then beckoned to Liu Qing at his side. Understanding his meaning, Liu Qing came to him.

Her graceful body leaned against Li Yanfeng's. The charm in every gesture she made was enough to outshine every beauty in the city. A woman of such enchanting elegance would be the absolute focus anywhere. That lazy, fiery allure was something young girls simply could not imitate.

"You tell him," Li Yanfeng said calmly.

"Mhm."

Liu Qing smiled softly. She looked at Li Tianming, her pink lips parting slightly. Her eyes seemed able to speak; with a single blink, endless charm blossomed like peach flowers and fell upon Li Tianming.

"Tianming, young people mustn't be too impatient." Liu Qing spoke gently, her voice soft but not vulgar. She was not the gaudy sort of beauty, but alluring with elegance.

"What do you mean, Madam?" Li Tianming had no interest whatsoever in this young woman who had taken his mother's place. She was from Thunder Lord Manor; he could not possibly feel favorably toward her.

"What I mean is, the Yanhuang Academy Selection is not over yet. There is still one little genius from Lihuo City who has not appeared." Liu Qing said with a smile.

Those words plunged the entire audience into confusion and doubt, including Li Tianming.

How could there be anyone else?

Could it be Liu Qing herself? That was absolutely impossible. She had long passed twenty years of age, and her realm was at least the Spirit Source Realm.

Then who could it be?

I have something to do at noon, so this chapter is early today. There will be another update at 20:00 tonight.

Updates will remain steady during the new book period. I'm saving some chapters so I can unleash a mad burst of updates when it's time to climb the rankings and let more people see this book. Hope everyone understands.

Let's keep this book steady for now. Don't get carried away~