Xiang Li shook his head. "We know each other fairly well. With your abilities, my cousin certainly couldn't have kept you under his thumb."
Chen Shi'an did not deny it. "I did have other ways. But since Xiang Chuxiong had formed the intent to kill me, I couldn't let him live."
Xiang Li narrowed his eyes slightly. "You killed my cousin, and now you've come to me. Are you planning to eliminate me too, to cut off any future trouble?"
Chen Shi'an did not respond. He simply watched Xiang Li quietly without speaking.
After roughly ten breaths, the coldness faded from Xiang Li's face. He let out a long sigh. "Shi'an, tell me. What exactly do you want?"
An apologetic look appeared on Chen Shi'an's face. "Brother Xiang, Xiang Chuxiong is dead. The City Lord position can't remain unsettled."
Xiang Li added, "Hasn't Jiang Can already taken control of the City Lord's Mansion and started issuing orders?"
Chen Shi'an's lips curled slightly. "He's just a monkey leaping up and down. I'm merely using his hands to sweep away the ox-demons and snake-spirits in the stronghold first."
Xiang Li raised his eyelids slightly. "You want me to support you in becoming City Lord?"
Chen Shi'an shook his head. "You'll be the City Lord, not me."
At those words, Xiang Li jolted. Only after a long while did he speak. "You've planned all this, but not for the City Lord position?"
Chen Shi'an shook his head again. "My ambition lies at the pinnacle of the Martial Dao, not in power and status."
Xiang Li fell silent for three breaths. "I'm not particularly interested in the City Lord position either. Besides, my prestige and influence in Windrise Stronghold don't even match Jiang Can's."
Chen Shi'an promptly replied, "The City Lord position belonged to