The Li Family's Counterattack!

In a luxurious hall within the Li Family estate.

Charcoal burned brightly in a bronze cauldron. Two rows of low tables lined the hall, with dozens of people kneeling around them. Young, beautiful maids attended to them, constantly serving delicious dishes.

Because the Li Family Head, Li Mingtai, had emerged from seclusion, all those within the Li family who held status and power were present.

Li Mingtai sat in the main seat, occasionally raising his cup to toast his retainers and elite disciples. Through the exchange of drinks, he gained a general understanding of the events and intelligence that had transpired during his seclusion.

"So, you're saying my third brother died at Red Leaf Manor because that unfilial son acted rashly?"

After hearing a steward's report, Li Mingtai slammed his wine cup onto the table, his face darkening.

The old steward acted as if he saw nothing. Without bias, he reported the young master Li Ming's actions completely before stepping down.

"Eldest Brother, Ming'er was ultimately considering the family's interests. Please don't be too harsh." From the seat directly below the main seat, a middle-aged, robust man who bore a striking resemblance to Li Mingtai spoke up.

"Fifth Brother, I know what I'm doing."

Li Mingjing nodded and stopped his admonishment, merely drinking his wine.

The banquet was halfway through when Li Ming arrived, finally making his tardy appearance.

As soon as he entered the hall, he immediately knelt on the ground.

"This child welcomes Father's emergence from seclusion."

"Hmph! Unfilial son!" Li Mingtai waved his hand violently, and a crimson gust of wind shot towards Li Ming's chest like lightning.

"Clang!" Li Ming's body was instantly sent flying backward, crashing into the bronze cauldron in the center of the hall.

The assembled retainers and family members watched with their eyes focused on their noses and their hearts on their minds, silently observing. No one dared to speak up in intercession. Some even had a flicker of schadenfreude in their eyes.

"Pfft~" Li Ming spat out a mouthful of blood. However, he quickly scrambled back up, crawled forward a few steps on his knees, and kowtowed on the ground.

"Father, this child admits his guilt."

Li Mingtai shot up, pointing at Li Ming kneeling below him, and angrily declared, "For that mere Houtian Martial Artist, you caused my Li family to lose two elite squads, gravely injured Cang Hai, and had my third uncle beheaded."

"Now you've also offended the Wu'an Army, forcing them to come to our doorstep demanding an explanation, causing my Li family to lose all face!"

"Before I went into seclusion, I repeatedly warned you to think thrice before acting and to consult the elders of the clan when in doubt. Now that things have come to this, what use do I have for you, my unfilial son!"

With that, Li Mingtai descended the steps. A blood-red blade materialized in his hand, which he then flung, slashing towards Li Ming.

"Family Head, you cannot!"

"Eldest Brother, don't!"

"Patriarch!"

In an instant, several Xiantian Masters moved, blocking in front of Li Ming and intercepting the blood-red blade.

"Why are you all protecting him!" Li Mingtai said, preparing to charge forward again.

"Eldest Brother, please calm your anger." Li Mingjing quickly stopped him. "While Ming'er is indeed at fault, he was also acting with the Li family's best interests at heart. The fault for this matter doesn't lie entirely with Ming'er; it's Wei Wenhe and Wang Long who were too overbearing!"

Seeing Li Mingtai being restrained, the assembled retainers and family members also angrily offered words of counsel.

"Yes, Family Head, this matter is not the Young Master's fault."

"It was Wang Long who was too despicable!"

"Damn Wei Wenhe!"

"..."

Seeing that his objective was achieved, Li Mingtai glanced at his fifth brother, Li Mingjing. The latter immediately released his grip on his robe, and the two returned to their seats.

"Everyone, since you are all pleading for this unfilial son, I will spare his life for now. However, my Li family members and retainers share weal and woe. This unfilial son caused the deaths of clan experts; while his death sentence is commuted, he cannot escape punishment!"

Li Mingtai said coldly, "Give this unfilial son forty lashes with the Blood Whip and confine him to the Ancestral Hall for repentance. Apart from daily food delivery, he is not to have any contact with anyone and is not to step out of the Ancestral Hall. Until he reaches the Xiantian realm, this prohibition will not be lifted!"

"This child admits his guilt and willingly accepts the punishment. Thank you, Father." Li Ming's heart trembled.

Forty lashes with the Blood Whip, each one drawing blood. This punishment was considered extremely severe within the family.

Furthermore, the prohibition not being lifted until he reached the Xiantian realm meant he would lose his freedom for a considerable period.

"Shen Zhui, damn Shen Zhui!" Li Ming cursed inwardly. He never imagined that killing a mere Ninth Stage Houtian would bring about such great trouble. The crucial point was that he hadn't even succeeded in killing him.

This led to him having to endure such torment.

"Take him away!"

After Li Ming was taken away, Li Mingjing appropriately interjected, "Eldest Brother, Wei Wenhe has already begun secretly sending people to investigate our landholdings in places like Anyang, Hekou, and Panshan. Several branch ancestral halls have suffered attacks, incurring heavy losses, with three branch ancestral halls destroyed."

"Eldest Brother was in seclusion before, and we dared not act rashly. Now that Eldest Brother has emerged, please decide how we should proceed."

Li Mingtai did not answer directly but smiled and said, "Everyone, I have two pieces of good news."

"The first piece of news is that the situation in the imperial court has changed. The actions of destroying sects and temples have met with resistance from many Princes and Marquises. I heard that the Son of Heaven is already implicitly considering overturning his previous decree, intending to rebuild temples and recast golden statues to appease all parties."

"What?!"

"Is this true?"

"Has the Son of Heaven really changed his mind?"

"The ancestors bless us, the deities have opened their eyes."

The crowd immediately began to discuss, and some of the elders were even moved to tears.

Why was Wei Wenhe able to suppress the two major families to the point of being unable to breathe within three years of taking office?

Wasn't it all because of the Son of Heaven's decree?

Over the past three years, more than thirty families, large and small, had been forced to submit to Wei Wenhe's policies.

They couldn't even arbitrarily punish or beat a lowly servant, for fear of being thrown into prison.

Even within the two major families, there were dissenting voices, daring not to confront Wei Wenhe.

As a result, the influence and territory of the two major families were now less than half of what they were three years ago!

Now, upon hearing that a decree would be issued, even if it was just a whisper, they were overjoyed!

Because the imperial court had never mentioned it, and now there was a sudden rumor, how could it be easily quelled?

It was likely that it would be implemented in various regions before long!

This way, their comfortable life would be preserved, but more importantly, their illicit activities could continue to be concealed!

As the murmuring subsided, Li Mingtai spoke again, "The second piece of good news is that upon emerging from my seclusion, I have entered the Spirit Bridge Realm!"

"Congratulations, Family Head!" everyone cupped their hands in congratulation.

This news was even more heartening than the first. After all, the foundation of a great family's standing ultimately depended on the strength of its powerful individuals.

The decree was still far in the future, but Li Mingtai's increased strength was immediate and tangible.

This meant that it would be even more difficult for Wei Wenhe to eradicate the Li Family!

"Since Wei Wenhe wants to push things to the extreme, we have no need to be polite any longer. Now, it is time to return the favor!"

Li Mingtai's eyes turned cold as he began to issue orders:

"Pass down the order, send people to monitor all city gates in the county town. If Wei Wenhe dares to send anyone out of the city to investigate, kill them all! Especially the Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artists, send Xiantian Masters to lead teams to intercept and kill them!"

"Throw all their heads at the city gates!"

"Sixth Brother, go to the fourteen townships including Hekou, Panshan, Anyang, and Tongxiang. Select thirty percent of all the tenant farmers under the Li Family and have them come to the county town. Tell them that County Magistrate Wei Wenhe has ordered us, the Li Family, to reclaim the land, and they should come to Wei Wenhe to beg for food!"

"Seventh Brother, stop all river transport operations at the Wei River and Baiyun Port outside Heyuan City, for all ships and merchant caravans under the Li Family. At the same time, massively purchase all kinds of medicinal herbs and grains.

Within a month, I want to see the prices of grain, cloth, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs in Heyuan City double!"

"Uncle Fourteen, you will personally go to Liang Prefecture to lobby officials at all levels, asking them to remain neutral during the triennial official assessment. If possible, have them submit memorials impeaching Wei Wenhe for misgovernance."

"Fourth Brother, go and contact the Yang Family and ask them to cooperate with us. Remember to meet the Yang Family Head in person!"

"Also, Fifth Brother, arrange for people to spread rumors in the county town that I have broken through to the Spirit Bridge Realm, and send out invitations to all families in the city to attend a banquet."

"I want everyone to know that Wei Wenhe is nothing more than a paper tiger, all show and no substance!"

As the orders were issued, those in the hall quickly sprang into action.

Li Mingtai looked at the sky outside the door, a flash of bloody light in his eyes.

"Wei Wenhe, I'd like to see if, after a month of widespread public discontent outside Heyuan County and an inquiry from the prefecture, with my subordinates being killed one by one, you can still sit still! And still have the nerve to continue opposing my Li Family!"