Chapter 49: Exposing Ugliness

  "Right, get in touch with the Qin family again." Li Dongkui thought for a moment and said, "You are the fiancée of Qin Luo, the only son of the Qin family. If the Yang and Yu families really declare war on us, we must get the Qin family to help us with all their might."

  Li Ya Tong's face suddenly showed a complex expression, seemingly somewhat reluctant to say, "Dad, must we contact the Qin family? Didn't you say that we've already submitted a rescue application to the Zhengxuan Sect? We're an affiliated family of the Zhengxuan Sect, and every year we offer sacrifices to them. The Zhengxuan Sect won't just sit back and do nothing, they should send someone skilled to help us."

  Li Dongkui sighed and said, "If a master of the Zhengxuan Sect could come, would I have to rack my brains like this? Although our Li family has some influence in Fenglin City, it's far inferior compared to a major sect like the Zhengxuan Sect. They wouldn't even bother with the little tribute we offer every year. I've already sent out a request for help, but I'm sure it's fallen on deaf ears! Let's just forget about this path."

  Li Yatong stomped her foot in frustration: "Dad, why do we still have to offer sacrifices to the Zhengxuan Sect? Can't we just save some resources every year and do something good instead of trying to curry favor with them?"

  "You wouldn't understand. Becoming an affiliate family of the Zhengxuan Sect is an opportunity I've worked hard to get, and if you're not willing to make offerings, there are plenty of others who are. At least we can use the tiger's skin to intimidate the world. After we got the key, why didn't the Yang family dare to take action against us? Besides considering the Qin family, isn't it also because they're afraid of the Zhengxuan Sect? This big banner can only be used as a cover, so for now, you should hurry up and contact the Qin family."

  He paused for a moment, then said: "I know you don't particularly like Qin Luo, but Qin Luo is also a second-generation cultivator of the Post-Heavenly Realm. In terms of innate talent, he's not inferior to you. If we're talking about matching doors and households, in Fenglin City, there's only him who qualifies. Moreover, under current circumstances, we must bring the Qin family on board if we want any hope of countering the Yang and Yu families."

  "Daughter understands, then go arrange." Li Yatong said in a low voice.

  She walked past Xia Chen and Li Qiu Tong with a gloomy face and left the hall.

  "Dad, what's wrong with sister? If she doesn't like Qin Luo, why does she have to marry into the Qin family?" Li Qiu Tong asked.

  "What does a little kid know? Get out, there's nothing going on these days, just stay home and don't run around. Xiaochenz, you keep an eye on her for me, don't let her cause any trouble." Li Donggui waved his hand.

  "I'm not a kid." Li Qitong walked out of the hall with a huff, "Come on, Xiaochenzu, don't mind them, I'll arrange a place for you to stay."

  Xia Chen followed behind Li Qiu Tong, listening to the conversation between Li Dong Kui and his daughter. He also roughly understood the reason why the Yang family threatened the Li family, but he didn't know what that treasure was, and it was surprising that two martial arts families would fight for it with all their might.

  Should he get involved in this dispute? Xia Chen hesitated a little.

  Although his task was to help the Li family, the main purpose of going down the mountain was to gain experience, and whether or not the task was completed was not important. For this kind of task, even if it was completed, the sect would at most reward a bottle of Yuanqi Dan, which Xiacun had as much of as he wanted. Moreover, whether or not the task was completed, the sect wouldn't possibly have anyone to verify it, so Li Dongkui was right in saying that for ordinary cultivation families, Zhengxuan Sect was too lazy to care.

  The two walked to the backyard, and Li Qiu Tong pointed to a large area of neatly arranged houses: "Xiao Chen Zi, where do you want to live? These are all rooms in my house, and many guests live here, the conditions are very good."

  "Miss Two, I don't have any special requests. Just find me a quiet and soundproof room, that's all."

  Li Qitong thought for a moment, then suddenly tilted her head and smiled: "Alright, it just so happens that there's an empty room outside my quarters. You can stay there. It's close to me, so if I need you for anything, it'll be convenient. I'll have someone tidy up the place."

  Xia Chen nodded and said, "That's very good."

  "By the way, Xiaochen, you're so close to my boudoir, won't you peek at me later? I've heard that all men are lecherous. Are you lecherous?" Li Qitong suddenly leaned in close to him and whispered mysteriously.

  "This question is... Xia Chen helplessly said: "I'm not a pervert, nor will I peek at you, rest assured."

  "You're not even tempted, how can you not be tempted? Are you a man or what?" Li Qiu Tong asked curiously.

  "Second Miss, you're back? Hehe, I've really missed you." Suddenly, a clear voice came over.

  The sound of footsteps echoed, and about seven or eight people walked from the courtyard not far away. The first was a young man in white clothes, shaking a peach blossom fan in his hand, seemingly quite elegant. He looked at Li Kui-tung, with unreservedly fiery admiration in his eyes.

  "Good day, Miss!" The others chimed in with their greetings.

  "Zhou Lin, you're all here. Did my sister not assign tasks to you?" Li Qiu Tong nodded, but her expression turned pale and seemed somewhat impatient.

  "Big sister didn't come here, we all don't know, is second miss just window shopping? Why not sit down and have a chat with everyone?" Zhou Lin was taken aback, then smiled slightly.

  "No need, Zhou Lin. I still have to help my friend find a place to stay, won't bother you two anymore." Li Qiu Tong said. Her tone was quite indifferent, seemingly not too fond of this Zhou Lin.

  "Friend?" Zhou Lin finally looked at Xia Chen.

  He saw that Xia Chen was unassuming in appearance and silent, and thought he was Li Qiu Tong's follower. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be a friend. Moreover, hearing Li Qiu Tong's tone was very intimate, seemingly valuing Xia Chen greatly, his eyes condensed, flashing with sharpness.

  Zhou Lin suddenly smiled slightly: "Second Miss, I understand. This friend must be the new guest you've just recruited, no need to bother finding a room, I have plenty of them. Why don't I take this new friend there?"

  "Thank you, but it's not necessary!" Li Qiu Tong said, "I've already arranged a room for Xia Chen, right next to mine."

  Zhou Lin's face changed, almost all the guests at Li's house were arranged in the backyard. Xia Chen He De was actually arranged by the beautiful second miss to be next to her own boudoir, their relationship is not ordinary.

  He suddenly felt jealous and sour in his heart, thinking that this little guy was not impressive, why did the second miss value him so much. He couldn't help but step forward and say: "I'm Zhou Lin, it turns out you're Xia Chen, nice to meet you." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand.

  Xia Chen coldly watched from the side, still not understanding his intentions. With a faint smile, he grasped Zhou Lin's hand: "I'm also very happy to meet Brother Zhou!"

  "Haha, what a wonderful encounter...". Zhou Lin sneered, exerting force on his hand, thinking to himself that today he would make him lose face in front of the second young lady.

  Xia Chen let him hold her hand, her face expressionless.

  Zhou Lin's face gradually changed, he had already used five parts of his strength, yet this young man was acting as if nothing was wrong. Damn it, could it be that he had misjudged him? This guy was just like himself, a post-heavenly first-class cultivator?

  "A mantis trying to shake a tree, without knowing its own strength!" Li Qiting knew that Zhou Lin was asking for his own humiliation, and she said disdainfully, hugging her shoulders.

  Zhou Lin's face suddenly turned bright red, he gritted his teeth, steeled himself and added thirty percent more force to his hand.

  Xia Chen furrowed his brow. He didn't want to cause trouble and thought Zhou Lin would back down, but unexpectedly the other party didn't know what was good for them.

  He subtly manipulated his Qi, and immediately transformed it into countless sharp Qi needles that burst out of the skin on his palm.

  "Ah!" Zhou Lin shouted loudly, almost jumping three feet high. He inhaled cool air and retreated several steps, his expression twisted in pain, his palms already red and swollen, like a roasted bear's paw.

  The other guests were shocked. Zhou Lin wanted to make things difficult for Xia Chen, but everyone could see that. Zhou Lin was quite good among the guests, and he thought Xia Chen would be at a disadvantage, but unexpectedly, it was Zhou Lin who ended up being embarrassed.

  "You scoundrel, you actually used a hidden weapon to secretly attack me? You're so despicable!" Zhou Lin was both shocked and furious. He didn't know that Xia Chen's true energy control was extremely strong, allowing him to change the shape of his true energy at will, and thought that Xia Chen had used underhanded tactics.

  "Shut up, Zhou Lin! You provoked Xia Chen for no reason and now you're not even a match for him. What nonsense are you spouting?" Li Qiu Tong scolded.

  His face turned red with rage, he was furious that Li Xiangtong only defended Xia Chen, and loudly shouted: "Second Miss, I'm not talking nonsense! I sincerely shook hands with this guy, but he used a hidden weapon to hurt me. Isn't that despicable? Maybe this guy is a spy, with ill intentions, beware of being deceived by him! Let me capture him, and have Eldest Miss interrogate him herself!"

  He jumped over with red eyes and swung his fist at Xia Chen!

  "Get out!" Xia Chen said expressionlessly, kicking Zhou Lin's abdomen with one foot.

  Bang!

  Zhou Lin fell out and landed awkwardly in a patch of flowers, not only was the peach blossom fan broken into pieces, but also his brand new white clothes were reduced to rags.

  "Zhou Lin, you not only disrespect my friend but also dare to insult me. I will definitely tell Father and have you kicked out! You are not worthy of being a guest in the Li household. Xia Chen, let's go, don't bother with him." Li Xue-tong said angrily.

  "Second Miss, listen to me explaining, I didn't..." Zhou Lin hastily got up, his face already filled with a deep sense of regret.

  "What's going on here!" Suddenly, a voice filled with anger rang out, and then Li Yatong walked over with an angry look on her face.

  "See Miss!" The crowd of guests hastily bowed and said, showing more respect than when they saw Li Qiu Tong.

  Apart from Li Dongkui, it has always been this unsmiling young lady who is in charge of affairs at the Li household, and all the guests are extremely respectful.

  "Big sister, you've arrived just in time. You be the judge. Second Miss brought this person in, and I was kind enough to shake hands with him and ask how he's doing. But he actually used a hidden weapon to hurt me! It's absolutely outrageous! Big sister, if you don't give me an explanation...I, Zhou Lin, will...!" Zhou Lin said indignantly. However, as for what would happen if no explanation was given, it seemed that no matter what, he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

  Li Yatong's face changed, and she walked up to Xia Chen: "It's you again. My father is willing to take you in, which is already a great kindness. Not only do you not know how to be grateful, but you also hurt the guest our Li family invited. I'm warning you, don't think about playing any tricks in front of me."