As soon as Li Yan said this, the three members of the Shangguan Family all turned to look at him. Two were astonished; only Shangguan Liuyun's gaze was complicated.
"Brother Wan, what do you mean by that? My Shangguan Family is the greatest martial arts clan in Dongjiang City, and we have no shortage of businesses. How could danger lurk on every side?"
"Second Brother, stay calm. Let Brother Wan explain his thoughts."
Li Yan shrugged. "Everything those people said just now was an excuse. Before I arrived, had Dongjiang City never suffered attacks from the Fierce Wind Bandits?"
"Of course. Quite a few people in Dongjiang City have killed members of the Fierce Wind Bandits."
"Since that is the case, this enmity was forged long ago. Why has their reaction become so intense this time?"
"The Fierce Wind Bandits and I are merely an excuse. I fear the Shangguan Family has long been a thorn in others' eyes and a splinter in their flesh. This time is simply their chance to make trouble."
"This... why?"
"That's not right. Our Shangguan Family has always treated people kindly in Dongjiang City, and we often provide relief for disaster victims. How could something like this happen?"
"It is because the Shangguan Family controls too much."
Suddenly, Shangguan Liuyun spoke up with an explanation.
"The Shangguan Family has been rooted in Dongjiang City for many years. Since our grandfather's generation, we have conducted business here. Every kind of industry in the city bears the shadow of our Shangguan Family, and some crucial industries are firmly controlled by us."
"Therefore, no matter how many outside forces there are, as long as the Shangguan Family holds the lifeline of all kinds of supplies, our family's position cannot be shaken!"
Shangguan Feiyun and Shangguan Xiyun looked at each other. One was innocent and naïve, while the other was free-spirited by nature. Neither had ever concerned themselves with these matters of the family; Shangguan Liuyun had always been responsible for them.
Now that they heard this, both were rather shocked.
"But even so, our Shangguan Family has never harmed the common people. They..."
"Heh, this has nothing to do with the common people." Li Yan sighed. "The common people are merely an excuse. What they want is profit. They want to use this opportunity to snatch food from the Shangguan Family's mouth."
"They dare!"
With the family involved, Shangguan Feiyun's face was filled with anger. He could hardly wait to go settle things with those people.
"I am only curious what role that City Lord is playing in all this."
"The City Lord?"
Ignoring the surprise of the other two, Shangguan Liuyun began to speak of Huang Lingyan's situation.
This City Lord had been appointed and sent here by the Great Wu Dynasty, and he had already been here for some years.
However, when he arrived, the structure of Dongjiang City had already taken shape and stabilized. Even if he wished to govern, there was nowhere for him to insert his hand. Thus, he became a hands-off City Lord. Of course, the fees that every faction was supposed to submit each quarter were never lacking.
After hearing this, Li Yan could not help letting out a string of cold laughs. "Now it all makes sense. He is quite the clever one—using one hand to drive the wolf against the tiger. What a brilliant move."
"What does that mean now?"
"Enough. You two go down first. Brother Wan and I have matters to discuss."
At Shangguan Liuyun's word, although the brother and sister were baffled, they knew they could not get involved here, so they obediently left.
"Brother Wan, I knew long ago that City Lord Huang was not one to be content with obscurity, but I never expected him to use this chance to turn the various powers in the city against my Shangguan Family."
Since Shangguan Liuyun could manage the Shangguan Family's businesses by himself, he was naturally a shrewd man. Once he understood the situation, a little thought was enough for him to grasp what was happening.
"Then what does Brother Liuyun intend to do?"
Shangguan Liuyun frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Shangguan Family has operated here for many years. Naturally, we will not give up easily. But to guard against every possibility, we must give these people a warning."
"We only need to pass the news here to those merchants who work with us, and they will naturally know what to do. But if I try to leave now, I fear I will alert the snake by striking the grass. Worse still, it may bring disaster upon my family."
Shangguan Feiyun was not much of a problem. After all, he was also in the Meridian Opening Realm; leaving would not be difficult for him. The greatest problem was still Shangguan Xiyun.
Just then, Shangguan Liuyun took a booklet from his robes and handed it to Li Yan.
"This is..."
"Wind Chasing Wave Treading. It is the Lightness Skill Movement Technique I practice."
"Feiyun told me that your blade techniques have reached Peak Mastery, yet one rarely sees you use movement techniques or lightness skills. Clearly, you have never cultivated them."
"But when fighting and killing in the martial world, the importance of a Lightness Skill Movement Technique is no less than that of other Martial Arts. You should understand this."
Li Yan naturally understood. If he knew lightness skills, the time it took to bring Shangguan Xiyun back could have been shortened considerably, and he would not have been chased around by the Fierce Wind Bandits.
"More importantly, I hope you can do me a favor. Consider this a token of thanks."
Looking at the Wind Chasing Wave Treading manual in his hands, Li Yan licked his lips. The Shangguan Family truly was a money-scattering boy, and they handled matters generously and clearly. Naturally, he had no reason to refuse.
"Let us not speak of the reward for now. Brother Liuyun, if you have something in mind, you may as well say it outright."
While the two spoke here, Wang Jin and Xu San sat facing each other in a residence elsewhere.
"Old Xu, this matter cannot be delayed. We suddenly made such a huge commotion this time. Shangguan Liuyun is no fool; he will discover the problem soon enough. If he strikes first, we will be in trouble."
"Eh, there is no need to worry too much. That boy Shangguan Liuyun is constrained by his reputation and will not use force against us. Still, the City Lord's sudden appearance today did surprise me."
"What is so surprising about it?"
Wang Jin chuckled. "Do you think the City Lord is truly some idle man who does not concern himself with worldly affairs?"
Xu San's eyes rolled, and he realized. "He wants power, so he wants Dongjiang City to descend into chaos."
"That's right!"
"If that is so, perhaps we can find a way to join forces and strike at the Shangguan Family together!"
"And how do you intend to strike at the Shangguan Family?"
Suddenly, the door of the small room was pushed open, and Huang Lingyan strode inside.
Nightfall, in a stone pavilion in the Shangguan Family's rear courtyard.
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, is this really necessary?"
Shangguan Xiyun looked at her two brothers, her face full of reluctance.
"Little Sister, this is no child's play. Tonight will surely be especially dangerous. Your brothers may not be able to look after you."
"But isn't there... isn't there San Huo..."
"San Huo will not do either. Enough, get inside!"
Shangguan Feiyun stopped wasting words. With a flash of his body, he struck the four pillars of the pavilion in succession. As the sound of mechanisms rang out, the stone table slowly split apart, revealing a passage leading to a secret chamber.
Though Shangguan Xiyun felt helpless, she knew tonight's matter was likely no small affair. She could only obediently enter the secret chamber.
In the front hall, Li Yan had just finished reading Wind Chasing Wave Treading, and the system had also completed its record.
Martial Arts: Wind Chasing Wave Treading, not learned (0/200)
"System, learn Wind Chasing Wave Treading."
"200 points consumed. Wind Chasing Wave Treading learned."
Martial Arts: Wind Chasing Wave Treading, Initial Glimpse (0/400)
Wind Chasing Wave Treading was divided into two parts: Wind Chasing was a lightness skill, while Wave Treading was a method of shifting and maneuvering while fighting others.
Though he had only reached Initial Glimpse, it had still relieved Li Yan's urgent need.
"Brother Wan, sorry to keep you waiting."
Shangguan Liuyun and Shangguan Feiyun arrived. The three exchanged a glance, then immediately set off from the Shangguan Family.
Just as the three set out, Xu San and Wang Jin also received the news. Both turned to look at Huang Lingyan beside them.
Huang Lingyan chuckled. "It seems our thoughts were correct. They truly intend to send that Wan Sanhuo away tonight. Heh, their plan is not bad."
"Go. Stop them. I will take action to hold Shangguan Liuyun back. As for that Wan Sanhuo, if necessary, kill him. Just leave an intact corpse."
"Many thanks, City Lord."
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