Decisiveness

The Si hour.

The heavy fog gradually scattered.

A burst of cheers seemed to come from the mountainside, extremely lively.

Qin Lian, who was in no hurry to practice the sword, left his courtyard upon hearing the sound.

Outside the courtyard, Qin Lingzhi was washing clothes.

Seeing Qin Lian come out, she hurriedly stood up at the very first moment.

"Family Head."

Qin Lian nodded at her.

Digestive of a few days' memories, he reckoned his words and actions were already difficult for others to detect flaws in, so he intended to walk around Dragon Abyss Mountain.

Qin Lingzhi hurriedly followed with short steps.

The peak area of Dragon Abyss Mountain was provided for "Qin Lian" to live in, and unless there was business, the Qin family members rarely came up.

Arriving at the mountainside area, the palaces and pavilions gradually grew denser, and the clansmen gradually more numerous.

At this moment, the lively commotion was coming from one of the spacious courtyards there.

Qin Lian had cultivated True Qi into Gang, possessing sharp ears and clear eyes, and before entering the courtyard, he already heard bursts of congratulations inside.

"Cousin Daozhi has finally forged True Qi. This way, our Qin family has two True Qi Realm experts!"

"The True Qi Realm ah, if placed in our Qingliu County, it is simply the number one expert. Our Qin family's ancestors, precisely because they produced a True Qi Realm expert, gained a firm foothold in Qingliu County and, passing through two hundred years, developed into today's scale."

"Isn't the Canglang Sword Sect going to hold a sect grand competition recently? Their True Disciple senior martial brother is only at the True Qi Realm cultivation level! If Cousin Daozhi takes the stage, he will definitely be able to sweep all disciples of the younger generation of the Canglang Sword Sect!"

Qin Lian listened from afar.

He was somewhat happy too.

The stronger the Qin family's strength, the less anyone would dare to easily harbor designs on the Qin family, and he could also have enough time to practice in peace of mind.

"I remember that originally 'Qin Lian', as the Qin family head, needed to busy himself with a not inconsiderable number of large and small matters... But I don't like this trivial management, perhaps I can pass the position of family head to Qin An."

During this month when "Qin Lian" was heavily injured, the Qin family's large and small affairs were originally managed by Qin An.

Speaking of blood ties...

Qin An was even the elder brother of "Qin Lian".

Only, "Qin Lian" had too high a reputation in the Qin family, equivalent to using his own strength to develop a county-level family business with a market value of several hundred million into a large group with a scale of tens of billions. Everyone, including uncles like Qin Lie and Qin Feng, naturally treated him with utmost courtesy and addressed him as the family head.

Yet he was Qin Lian; being able to live another life by borrowing the body of "Qin Lian" was already taking full advantage, how could he further usurp the high position of the Qin family?

No sooner said than done.

Qin Lian immediately turned around and headed toward the main courtyard.

Along the way, everyone who saw Qin Lian bowed and saluted without exception, filled with respect.

The original body did not achieve success overnight, being hailed as a legend since childhood.

Practicing martial arts at thirteen, he cultivated inner breath in three months and stepped into the ninth grade, unblocked his meridians at fourteen to advance to the eighth grade, ran the circulation through the microcosmic orbit at sixteen to enter the seventh grade directly, and forged True Qi at eighteen, stepping into the sixth grade.

Subsequently, he entered the Pure Yang Sword Sect, achieving success in ten years, dashing in fine clothes and angry horses, wielding a sword in the pugilistic world.

Such a living legend naturally established unprecedented authority in the hearts of the Qin family members.

Qin Lian strode to the main courtyard.

Yet when he entered the main courtyard, he discovered that Qin An, Qin Ping, Qin Yue, Qin Lie, Qin Feng, including Qin Zheng and Qin Hong who were already at the age of seventy and practically ignored worldly affairs, all seven members of the Qin family's Council of Elders were present.

They had received the news and came out of the council hall council hall to welcome him, just in seeing Qin Lian enter the courtyard.

Seeing him, Qin An hurriedly uttered a word: "Family Head, why have you come? Your injuries have not yet healed, you should rest properly."

People coming so completely...

"Something happened?"

Qin Lian asked a question.

"Some wind and grass rustling, not any major matter. As long as the family head's injuries are healed, these fiends and ghosts naturally will not dare to act rashly."

Qin An said.

Qin Lian did not want to be entangled by trivial matters, wishing only to practice in peace of mind.

Yet if he remained indifferent knowing full well there was trouble, he feared he could not even sleep peacefully.

Right now, he had no choice but to pursue the question: "Speak."

The several elders exchanged glances, and Qin Lie spoke: "Let us first invite the Family Head inside."

At once, the group entered the council hall.

Organizing his words slightly, Qin An still said: "We have most recently obtained news that the Canglang Sword Sect has used the pretext of holding a sect grand competition in the past few days to recall all disciples and elders."

He frowned and said: "If only this one household acted differently, that would be it, but within the Dragon River Gang, there has also spread word of a hall master retiring and selecting a new hall master, gathering personnel over..."

Qin Lian understood upon hearing.

"You worry they want to make a move against the Qin family?"

He was somewhat puzzled: "Didn't I appear in person to cow and drive them back? Do they still dare to stir up wind and waves?"

"Yes."

Qin An glanced at Qin Lian: "The Family Head is the calming divine needle of our Qin family. A month ago, in the battle against the Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao, it is a fact that you sustained some injuries. Even though you cowed and drove several households back a few days ago, you after all showed timidity..."

"Wait!"

Qin Lian interrupted: "Showed timidity? What is wrong with me?"

The several elders exchanged glances, all of them seeing the look of worry in each other's eyes.

After quite a moment, Qin Lie, whose seniority belonged to that of an uncle, spoke: "Four days ago, the Xie lineage, the Canglang Sword Sect, and the Dragon River Gang clearly came to probe. Although they did not dare to tear their faces apart, this kind of ill-intentioned act was able to withdraw safely after seeing you, the Family Head. This... does not resemble your past style."

He paused: "However, we can also understand. You have injuries on your body, and once you strike, it is easier to expose yourself... At present, they are at least restless and do not yet dare to truly make a move, which gives us an opportunity to maneuver."

"Withdrew safely?"

Qin Lian was slightly startled.

"Didn't I let them leave supplies behind as a lesson?"

None of the several elders spoke.

Yet obviously...

What kind of lesson was this?

At this moment, Qin Lian also understood something.

"So, just because I didn't beat them up, they thought I couldn't lift my blade anymore?"

"It... it should be so."

Qin Lie said.

Qin An at the side sighed with emotion: "After all, Family Head, you disguised yourself far too well this past month. Not to mention the Xie lineage, the Canglang Sword Sect, and the Dragon River Gang, even we almost thought..."

Thought what, he did not continue.

Yet Qin Lian knew his meaning.

He could not refute.

The original "Qin Lian" was truly dead.

Could it not be like that?

"So... if I appear once more..."

Saying this, Qin Lian stopped.

Appear once more?

Publicly proclaim to everyone that he was fine?

Meaningless.

The Xie lineage, the Canglang Sword Sect, and the Dragon River Gang fully interpreted what it meant to fear might but not cherish virtue with their own actions.

Ultimately, he arrived at a conclusion.

"It looks like this battle is unavoidable."

"Family Head, we will strive to win enough recuperation time for you..."

Qin Ping said: "If all else fails, we can send you to the Pure Yang Sword Sect overnight to avoid the sharp edge. As long as you remain for a single day, the Xie lineage, the Canglang Sword Sect, and the Dragon River Gang will absolutely not dare to act rashly."

"I avoid their sharp edge?"

Qin Lian shook his head.

He merely feared trouble and had yet to adapt to this world's way of doing things.

Now that he knew the matter would inevitably happen...

The sense of "discomfort" in his heart instead faded away entirely.

What remained...

Was only execution.

"The Canglang Sword Sect and the Dragon River Gang have already completed their assembly? What about the Xie lineage?"

"The Xie lineage has been calm and tranquil these past few days with no actions seen. Even Xie Yushi, Xie Baoyu, and others are hiding deep within the grand residence, out of sight."

"Give me all the intelligence on the Canglang Sword Sect and the Dragon River Gang."

Qin Lian said.

When it is time to break, break decisively.

This was the trouble left behind by "Qin Lian".

Since he inherited this cultivation and this identity...

Bearing its karma, he ought to return peace to the Qin family.

Only thus could he live in this world with the body of Qin Lian and have a clear conscience.

At the same time, he would also use this world's method of handling matters to officially integrate into this world.