Li Family, inside a lavish hall.
The charcoal fire burned fiercely inside the bronze cauldron. Two rows of low tables flanked each side of the hall, with dozens of people kneeling beside young, beautiful maidservants who tirelessly served one exquisite dish after another.
Because Family Head Li Mingtai had emerged from seclusion, every person of status and authority within the Li Family had come to attend.
Li Mingtai sat in the seat of honor. From time to time, he raised his cup toward his household retainers and elite juniors. As cups were exchanged, he gradually learned the general outline of what had happened during his seclusion.
"So Third Brother died at Red Leaf Manor because that rebellious son acted recklessly?"
After hearing a steward's report, Li Mingtai slammed his wine cup onto the table with a bang, his expression dark.
The elderly steward acted as though he had seen nothing. He impartially and completely reported everything concerning Young Master Li Ming's actions before withdrawing.
"Eldest Brother, when all is said and done, Ming'er was thinking of the family. Don't be too hard on him." In the first seat beneath the place of honor, a burly middle-aged man who looked seventy or eighty percent like Li Mingtai spoke.
"Fifth Brother, I know my limits."
Li Mingjing nodded and no longer tried to persuade him, merely drinking his wine.
When the banquet was half over, Li Ming finally arrived, late as ever.
The moment he entered the hall, he hurriedly fell to his knees.
"Your son welcomes Father out of seclusion."
"Hmph! You rebellious son!" Li Mingtai suddenly swept out a hand, and a blood-red gust of force shot toward Li Ming's chest like lightning.
"Bang!" Li Ming's body flew backward, crashing into the bronze cauldron in the middle of the hall.
The household retainers and clansmen all watched in silence, their eyes fixed on their noses and noses fixed on their hearts. Not one dared to speak up for him. Some even had a trace of gloating flash through their eyes.
"Pfft." Li Ming spat out a mouthful of blood, but immediately crawled back up, knelt forward several steps, and pressed his forehead to the ground.
"Father, your son knows his guilt."
Li Mingtai sprang to his feet, pointed at Li Ming kneeling below, and shouted furiously, "For the sake of that mere Houtian Martial Artist, you caused our Li Family to lose two Elite Squads, severely wounded Cang Hai, and got your Third Uncle beheaded."
"You even offended the Wu'an Army, making them come to our door to demand an explanation and causing our Li Family to lose all face!"
"Before I entered seclusion, I repeatedly warned you to think three times before acting and to consult the elders whenever you were unable to make a decision. Now that you've created this situation, what use do I have for a rebellious son like you?"
With that, Li Mingtai descended the steps. A blood-colored blade materialized in his hand, and he flung it directly at Li Ming.
"Family Head, you mustn't!"
"Eldest Brother, don't!"
"Clan Chief!"
Several Xiantian Masters struck at once, blocking Li Ming and stopping the blood-colored blade.
"Why are you protecting him?" Li Mingtai shouted, about to charge forward again.
"Eldest Brother, please calm down." Li Mingjing hurriedly stopped him. "Ming'er was certainly at fault, but he acted wholeheartedly for the sake of our Li Family. The blame does not all lie with Ming'er. Wei Wenhe and Wang Long were simply bullying us too far!"
Seeing Li Mingtai restrained, the household retainers and clansmen all spoke up angrily to persuade him.
"That's right, Family Head. The Young Master isn't to blame for this."
"That Wang Long was far too despicable!"
"Damn that Wei Wenhe!"
"..."
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Li Mingtai glanced at his Fifth Brother, Li Mingjing. The latter immediately released his grip on Li Mingtai's robes, and the two returned to their seats.
"Everyone, since you have all pleaded for this rebellious son, I'll spare his life for now. But our Li Family clansmen and household retainers share weal and woe. This rebellious son caused an expert of the clan to lose his life. Though the death penalty may be spared, he cannot escape living punishment!"
Li Mingtai said coldly, "Give this rebellious son forty lashes with the Blood Whip and lock him in the Branch Shrine to reflect on his mistakes. Other than having food delivered each day, he is not to have contact with anyone and must not take a single step outside the Branch Shrine. The restriction will not be lifted until he reaches the Xiantian realm!"
"Your son knows his crime and is willing to accept punishment. Thank you, Father." Li Ming's heart trembled.
Forty lashes with the Blood Whip, every strike drawing blood. Within the family, this could be considered an extremely severe punishment.
Moreover, the restriction would not be lifted until he reached the Xiantian realm. That meant he would lose his freedom for a very long time.
"Shen Zhui, damn Shen Zhui!" Li Ming cursed inwardly. Who could have imagined that killing a mere Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm would bring such enormous trouble? The key point was that he had failed to kill him.
Now he had to suffer this torment because of it.
"Take him away!"
After Li Ming was taken away, Li Mingjing made his timely suggestion once more. "Eldest Brother, Wei Wenhe has already begun secretly sending people to investigate our fields in Anyang, Hekou, Panshan, and other places. The Branch Shrines in various locations have suffered several attacks, with heavy losses. Three Branch Shrines have been destroyed."
"Eldest Brother was in seclusion before, so we did not dare act on our own. Now that you have emerged from seclusion, how we proceed is for you to decide."
Li Mingtai did not answer directly. Instead, he smiled and said, "Everyone, I have two pieces of good news."
"The first piece of news: the situation in court has changed. The Destroying Sects and Temples campaign has met resistance from many Princes and Marquises. I hear that the Son of Heaven has begun to waver in his intention to overturn his previous decree. He wishes to rebuild the temples, recast the golden statues, and pacify all sides."
"What?!"
"Is this true?"
"The Son of Heaven really changed his mind?!"
"Our ancestors are protecting us! The gods have opened their eyes!"
Everyone immediately began discussing it, and some elderly men were even moved to tears.
Why had Wei Wenhe managed to press the two great families until they could barely breathe after only three years in office?
Was it not because of the Son of Heaven's decree?
Over the past three years, some thirty families, large and small, had been forced to submit to Wei Wenhe's policies.
They could not casually punish or beat even a lowly servant, for fear of being thrown into prison.
Even within the two great families, there were differing voices, and no one dared oppose Wei Wenhe.
As a result, the power and territory of the two great families were now less than half of what they had been three years ago!
Now that they had heard a decree might be issued, even though it was only the faintest rumor, they were ecstatic!
The court had never mentioned it before, yet now there was suddenly a rumor. How could it be easily suppressed?
Before long, it would probably be implemented throughout the various regions!
At that point, keeping their fine clothes and sumptuous food would be secondary. More importantly, they could continue concealing those deeds that could not see the light of day!
When the discussion gradually quieted, Li Mingtai continued, "The second piece of good news is that during this retreat, I have entered the Spirit Bridge Realm!"
"Congratulations, Clan Leader!" Everyone bowed and offered their congratulations.
This news was even more heartening than the first. When all was said and done, the foundation of a great family still depended on the strength of its experts.
The decree lay far in the future, while Li Mingtai's increased strength was right before their eyes—a tangible benefit!
This meant that it would be even harder for Wei Wenhe to uproot the Li Family!
"Since Wei Wenhe intends to take things to the bitter end, we no longer need to be courteous. Now it is time to repay him in kind!"
Li Mingtai's gaze turned icy as he began issuing one order after another:
"Pass down my order. Send people to watch every city gate and exit in the county seat. If Wei Wenhe dares send even one person out of the city to handle a case, kill one if one comes, kill two if two come! Pay special attention to Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artists. Have Xiantian Masters lead teams to intercept and kill them!"
"Throw all the heads at the city gates!"
"Sixth Brother, go to Hekou, Panshan, Anyang, Tongxiang, and the other fourteen townships. Gather thirty percent of all the tenant farmers under our Li Family and bring them to the county seat. Tell them that County Magistrate Wei Wenhe has ordered it, and our Li Family has no choice but to reclaim the land. Let them go beg County Magistrate Wei Wenhe for food!"
"Seventh Brother, stop all river transport on the Wei River outside Heyuan City and at Baiyun Port. Every ship and merchant caravan under our Li Family must cease operations. At the same time, purchase medicinal herbs and grain on a massive scale.
"Within a month, I want to see the prices of grain, cloth, fruit, vegetables, and medicinal herbs in Heyuan City double!"
"Fourteenth Uncle, personally make a trip to Liangzhou. Bribe the officials from top to bottom and have them remain neutral during the triennial official evaluation. If possible, have them submit memorials impeaching Wei Wenhe for poor governance."
"Fourth Brother, contact the Yang Family and have them act alongside us. Remember, you must meet the Yang Family Head in person!"
"Also, Fifth Brother, arrange for people to spread the news throughout the county seat. Say that I have broken through into the Spirit Bridge Realm, and widely distribute invitations to every family in the city, inviting them to the banquet."
"I want everyone to know that Wei Wenhe is nothing more than a paper tiger—good for show but useless in practice!"
As order after order came down, everyone in the hall swiftly sprang into action.
Li Mingtai gazed at the sky outside the door, and a trace of blood-colored light flashed through his eyes.
"Wei Wenhe, I'll see whether you can still sit still a month from now, when resentment among the people outside Heyuan County boils over, the provincial government sends a reprimand, and your subordinates are slaughtered one after another! I'll see whether you still have the nerve to continue opposing my Li Family!"