Inside the study.
Li Haitao knitted his brows, pondered briefly, then told Li Mengchao, "Stay here in the study. Don't go outside. That old fellow Sun Yong came here in a fury. Don't give him a chance to vent it on you and stir up more trouble."
Though reluctant, Li Mengchao knew his father had considered everything carefully. He frowned, then nodded. "I understand, Father."
Li Haitao said no more. He straightened his robes, turned, and strode out of the study toward the main hall.
Sandalwood incense curled through the Li Family Hall.
An ink-wash landscape hung on the main wall, its brushwork vigorous and its atmosphere vast and profound.
With his back to the entrance, Sun Yong stood before the painting with his hands clasped behind him. His figure stood straight as a pine, yet a biting chill surrounded him, leaving the servants in the hall scarcely daring to breathe.
"Master Sun, what an honor. Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you."
Li Haitao's voice came from the doorway. Three old men followed behind him, all highly respected elders of the Li Family. Each possessed a deep, steady aura and the power of peak hidden strength.
Sun Yong slowly turned, his gaze cutting straight toward Li Haitao like a blade. "Spare me the pleasantries, Family Head Li. I came for one reason only. Yesterday, someone crippled my disciple Lin Yue, destroyed his major acupoints, and severed the tendons in his hands and feet. Doesn't your Li Family owe me an explanation?"
His voice was icy. He went straight to the point without the slightest attempt to beat around the bush.
Li Haitao wore a perfectly measured look of surprise and spread his hands. "Such a thing happened? You must be mistaken, Master Sun. My Li Family