Qi Kingdom's military strength was weaker than Li Xuan had imagined. With his abilities, he felt he was practically a god in Qi Kingdom.
He could completely ignore the Qi Kingdom imperial court now.
"I'll go see what tricks these people are playing."
Toying with the Jade Ruyi, Li Xuan strolled leisurely to the courtyard entrance and opened the gate.
Outside the courtyard.
A group of more than a dozen people stood there, all dressed in coarse hemp garments, their faces solemn and dignified. The leader was an old man in hemp clothing—the Peak Jianghu Expert who had just transmitted his voice.
"Greetings, benefactor!"
The old man in hemp clothing clasped his hands before his chest, lowered his head, and bowed in greeting.
"What brings you all here?"
Li Xuan spun the Jade Ruyi in his hand and feigned confusion.
"Benefactor, the Heavenly Mother is compassionate and saves the common people. I see that you are handsome and well-off. Would you be willing to donate money to save the common people?
"The Heavenly Mother is compassionate. She will bless you with peace and happiness!"
The corner of Li Xuan's mouth twitched. After staring at the old man in hemp clothing in silence for a moment, he said, "You came to ask for money under the banner of saving the common people. There's nothing wrong with that.
"But couldn't you at least put a little more effort into the act?"
As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed at the old man's fingers. "Look at you. Dressed so shabbily, you came to ask me for money looking like you travel the world for the common people and relieve their suffering.
"But could you take off those huge gold rings on your fingers? At least try to hide them!"
The old man in hemp clothing stared blankly, then lowered his head and glanced at his hands. Both his thumb and index finger wore jade-inlaid gold rings.
Li Xuan lifted his gaze and looked at the middle-aged man beside the old man in hemp clothing. With a sigh, he said, "And you. You're wearing a valuable thumb ring, with coarse hemp clothing on the outside and a brocade lining underneath.
"You're all far too unprofessional!"
Behind him, Xu Yan watched his master critique them from head to toe, his face turning blank with astonishment.
What was more, his master was completely right.
These people from the Tianmu Cult really were terrible at acting.
And that man wearing the thumb ring looked somewhat familiar.
Only after a long while did Xu Yan exclaim in surprise, "You're the County Magistrate of Yunshan?"
The County Magistrate of Yunshan was actually a member of the Tianmu Cult?
The Tianmu Cult members fell silent, sinking into deep thought. In the past, whenever they visited wealthy families, people had promptly handed over money. They had never felt that anything about them was amiss.
Why was today different?
"Your eyesight is impressive, sir!"
A sharp glint flashed in the old man in hemp clothing's eyes. Since things had come to this, he could only get straight to the point and rely on strength!
"It's not that my eyesight is impressive. It's that you're genuinely too incompetent."
Li Xuan sighed. He reached out and placed a hand on the old man in hemp clothing's shoulder. "With the way you do things, no wonder you've kept rebelling and kept failing."
The old man in hemp clothing was utterly horrified.
A master!
A supreme master among supreme masters!
Cold sweat nearly broke out across his forehead.
"I am the Brocade-robed Protector of the Tianmu Cult. May I ask which Jianghu master you are?"
The old man in hemp clothing's entire body stiffened. His Internal Energy gathered, ready to erupt, as he asked in a deep voice.
The County Magistrate and the others felt a chill in their hearts. Xu Yan's master was actually a supreme master?
A supreme master of such a young age was truly rare.
They exchanged a covert glance, then suddenly attacked.
They did not strike at Li Xuan. Instead, they lunged at Xu Yan. As long as they captured Xu Junhe's foolish son, their objective would be achieved.
Looking at the approaching Tianmu Cult members, Xu Yan slightly furrowed his brows. He raised a hand, his Vital Energy surging, and gently pressed downward. A powerful Vital Energy aura instantly descended and suppressed them.
Thus, the County Magistrate and the others felt as though a mountain had come crashing down. With a series of thuds, they all sprawled on the ground and could no longer get up.
"Overestimating yourselves!"
Xu Yan snorted coldly.
He had held back and did not kill them outright.
Everything still depended on his master's decision.
The old man in hemp clothing and the others were already terrified.
What kind of master was this?
"Let's talk this out. We bear no ill will."
The old man in hemp clothing spoke with a face covered in cold sweat.
The County Magistrate, however, began shouting, "I'm the County Magistrate of Yunshan! Killing me is equivalent to rebellion. You'd better think carefully!"
"Hm?"
Xu Yan glared, and the pressure of his Vital Energy abruptly intensified. The County Magistrate felt as though he were about to be crushed into a meat patty, and he was terrified out of his wits.
He hurriedly said, "Stop, stop! Young Master Xu, your parents are currently in danger. Only our cult can save them. If you kill me, you'd better consider the consequences!"
"What did you say?"
Anger surfaced on Xu Yan's face. His Vital Energy surged, and the powerful aura frightened the old man in hemp clothing and the other Tianmu Cult members until their faces turned deathly pale!
"I'm telling the truth, but it has nothing to do with our cult!"
The County Magistrate was so frightened that his soul nearly flew out of his body!
"Speak. What happened?"
Xu Yan's face was livid. "If you dare deceive me, I'll crush you and feed you to the dogs!"
He had only been away from home for how long? How could his parents already be in danger?
"Our cult received intelligence that the Prefect of Donghe Commandery is preparing to move against the Xu Family, confiscate its property, and imprison them. There is absolutely no falsehood in this!"
The County Magistrate did not dare conceal anything and hurriedly spoke.
"Hah! Are you looking to die? The Prefect of Donghe Commandery wouldn't dare move against my Xu Family even if you gave him ten times the courage!"
Xu Yan sneered. "My maternal grandfather is the current Minister of Personnel. Where would the Prefect of Donghe Commandery get the courage?"
Li Xuan, standing nearby, was astonished. His foolish disciple's background really was extraordinary.
His father was the richest man in Donghe Commandery, and his maternal grandfather was the current Minister of Personnel. With such backing, he could run rampant not only in Donghe Commandery but even in Qi Kingdom's Capital City.
"The Prefect of Donghe Commandery naturally wouldn't dare, but this is the will of a powerful figure in the Capital City..."
The County Magistrate feared that Xu Yan would slap him to death in a fit of rage.
He hurriedly continued, "Word has it that in the Princes' Succession Struggle, the First Prince has already gained the upper hand. Secretary Guo supports the Third Prince, so..."
The Princes' Succession Struggle. Once one side won, how could the defeated side possibly have a good ending?
It seemed the Xu Family really was in danger.
"The Princes' Succession Struggle?"
Xu Yan knitted his brows.
Naturally, he knew nothing about these matters. His entire mind had been focused on seeking out Reclusive Masters. After taking Li Xuan as his master, he had devoted himself completely to martial cultivation.
He had barely paid any attention to matters at home.
Let alone the Princes' Succession Struggle taking place far away in the Capital City.
Xu Yan's brows furrowed, and he withdrew the pressure. The County Magistrate immediately let out a breath of relief.
He continued, "The Great General of Donghe's Manor broke off the engagement because they noticed that the Third Prince's faction had fallen behind and that the Princes' Succession Struggle was about to reach its conclusion. That was why they broke off the engagement and withdrew in time."
Xu Yan froze. There was actually such a hidden reason behind the general's manor breaking off the engagement?
The County Magistrate cautiously climbed to his feet and said, "The Prefect of Donghe Commandery is about to make his move. By now, everyone with connections in Donghe Commandery knows that the Xu Family is about to fall.
"They're all eyeing the Xu Family's businesses, wanting to tear off a piece of flesh."
Xu Yan was instantly enraged when he heard this. He cursed, "That blind old emperor! My maternal grandfather supports his third son—that's giving him face. How dare he? Is it easy for my family to run a business?
"Whoever dares confiscate my family's property, I'll kill him!"
The County Magistrate was overjoyed when he heard this. "Young Master Xu, it's wonderful that you have such awareness. Join our Tianmu Cult. We'll rebel together!"
"Get lost!"
Xu Yan sent the County Magistrate flying with a single slap.
Li Xuan sighed inwardly. The struggle for succession in this dynasty truly brought tremendous rewards—and tremendous risks.
Win, and you would earn the merit of supporting the dragon.
Lose, and at worst, your entire clan would be executed.
More seriously, nine generations of your family would be exterminated!
The Xu Family's crisis had arrived out of nowhere. However, with Qi Kingdom's military strength so laughably low, it could not be considered a crisis at all with Xu Yan's abilities. Even if thousands upon thousands of troops came marching in, he could still regard them with complete ease.
Before you continue