Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Problem Girl
Sure enough, by the next day, news of what had happened at the Shangguan Family banquet spread throughout Yellow Sand City as if it had grown wings. From the great noble families to the street vendors and laborers, almost everyone was excitedly discussing what they’d heard. Unlike the banquets the Shangguan Family held in previous years, this year’s event shone its spotlight almost entirely on a single person.
That person, of course, was Qin Li.
Even Qin Li himself probably never imagined he would one day become so famous. In his previous life, because of his status, Qin Li had always avoided the limelight. After all, looking at his peers, the aftermath of fame usually boiled down to a single word: death.
But now, the corners of Qin Li’s mouth curled up slightly. ’Fame is the best thing to protect myself with!’
As a former gang leader who had once been a formidable figure, Qin Li knew very well when to be low-key and when to be ostentatious. This included his defiance toward the Qin Family, because Qin Li was certain they wouldn’t dare do anything to him. Although there had been that one accident with Qin Shisan, now Qin Shisan was dead, and he was still alive and well.
The reason for severely injuring Qin Feng was even simpler. If the one injured hadn’t been Qin Feng, it would have been Qin Li himself! Besides, judging by the viciousness of Qin Feng’s attack, Qin Li might not have even kept his life.
Qin Li was never merciful to those who wanted him dead. Although by blood, he and Qin Feng were considered close cousins, the other party didn’t treat him as family. Why would Qin Li try to curry favor with someone who treated him with such contempt?
Qin Hanyue and Qin Xue left early in the morning. The mother-daughter duo had been acting mysteriously lately, and he had no idea what they were up to. Qin Li had asked twice, but both just gave him a secretive look, so he decided not to ask again and focused on cultivating at home.
Meanwhile, Watermelon had essentially consolidated all the forces in the northern part of the city. With a godfather-like figure like Qin Li backing him, Watermelon was like a fish in water. In Qin Li’s opinion, Watermelon was even more suited for this line of work than he was. ’Give him some time, and he’ll surely become a Dragon Head figure in Yellow Sand City’s underworld!’ Therefore, if he had the chance, Qin Li would definitely go to Phoenix Lake. If he could obtain the pill formula for the Celestial Profound Pill, he could help Watermelon eliminate the hidden danger of Nirvana for good. Otherwise, as Watermelon’s status rose, making enemies was inevitable. If someone with malicious intent learned of the combat skill he cultivated, they would surely use his Nirvana period to move against him.
Qin Li wasn’t naive enough to think that just by finding the pill formula for the Celestial Profound Pill, he could arm a massive force. Setting aside the risk of betrayal from those he trained or the panic it might cause among other major powers, the pill formula and the combat skill had existed since the Ancient Era. Why had no one ever managed to build a powerful super-faction with them? The reason was simple: even if one obtained the pill formula, the medicinal ingredients it required were bound to be priceless, peerless items—the kind considered Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
Around noon, Qin Hanyue and Qin Xue finally returned, bringing Qin Li some cooked food from Yellow Sand City’s most famous century-old restaurant, Cui Song Tower.
Seeing her son wolfing down the food with gusto, Qin Hanyue’s heart filled with joy. After the meal, while Qin Xue was clearing the table, Qin Hanyue called her son into a room. She looked at Qin Li with a teasing smile. "My dear son, your mother went out today and heard you’ve become quite capable. It makes your mother look good, too!"
No matter how he heard it, Qin Li felt her words were meant to be ironic. He had always harbored complex feelings for this young, beautiful woman who cared for him so meticulously.
His soul belonged to an adult, and he could increasingly feel that the other set of memories in his body was losing its influence over him with time. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the attachment to Qin Hanyue deep within his soul.
That was why Qin Li sometimes felt a little awkward, a feeling that was, in fact, growing stronger and stronger.
On one hand, she wasn’t truly his mother. In his past life, he was an orphan who never knew who his birth parents were or why they had abandoned him. Thus, in his previous life, Qin Li had simultaneously longed for a mother’s love and hated his parents. On the other hand, after merging with the memories of this body’s original owner, a deep-seated attachment to Qin Hanyue had taken root in his heart. ’This must be the legendary bond of flesh and blood!’ It was an emotion that no one could resist.
At the same time, Qin Li was well aware of how much hardship Qin Hanyue had endured for her son over the years, giving of herself selflessly and without complaint, all out of a mother’s unconditional love.
For this reason alone, Qin Li wouldn’t dare—couldn’t possibly... not be a filial son to Qin Hanyue!
In truth, Qin Li had no idea that this was precisely an effect of cultivating the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Only I am Venerable combat skill.
In all of heaven and earth, only I am venerable! This combat skill brought far more than just an increase in martial power. It fostered an indomitable will, an aura of one who would seize destiny and forge ahead. Even with the help of the Celestial Profound Pill, this skill was not something just anyone could cultivate. This feeling became more pronounced the higher one’s level.
And the current Qin Li had not even broken through the first layer. The true Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Only I am Venerable technique had nine layers in total!
Of course, these were things that could never be conveyed by the endlessly copied book in Qin Li’s hands. The true original, even with its great flaw, would never have been distributed so indiscriminately.
After all, this was a Divine-level Combat Skill!
The mysterious figure hidden behind the scenes had only one purpose in distributing this Divine-level Combat Skill so widely: to see who could obtain the pill formula for the Celestial Profound Pill. And, to see if there was anyone in this world who could cultivate it safely without the pill.
Qin Li was currently unaware of any of this. He now sat there as quietly as a well-behaved child, listening to Qin Hanyue’s gentle scolding, which was tinged with both distress and affection.
"Li, your mother has always thought of you as a grown-up, a man. But look at what you’ve done. You’re like a little fool!" Qin Hanyue said softly. Her expression wasn’t one of anger, but more of helplessness.
"You forced Wang Cheng, the third young master of the Wang Family, to his knees to apologize. When he tried to say a few harsh words, you broke his arm and two of his ribs. Mmm, I’m very pleased about that. The Wang Family is nothing to be afraid of, just a bunch of clowns who can’t stir up any trouble. But why did you have to go and provoke Lord Mo’s daughter? Sigh, that little girl lacks discipline, but that’s the Mo Family’s shame. What does it have to do with us? Yet you went and caused her to lose face completely. The little girl has sworn she won’t rest until one of you is dead. I’m telling you, my dear son, you’ve ruined her reputation. While it’s not entirely your fault, you bear direct responsibility. If it comes to it, you should just take her... as a concubine!" The more Qin Hanyue spoke, the more animated she became, her face breaking into an excited smile.
Qin Li’s eyes went wide, and his mouth hung open. He stared, completely dumbfounded, at his own mother. ’Is... is this still my gentle, virtuous, proud, and immensely talented mother? Has an enemy sent an imposter to impersonate her?’
Being stared at by her son like that made Qin Hanyue a little flustered. She tried to put on a stern face to regain some motherly dignity, but in Qin Li’s eyes, she looked more like a clever and spirited young girl.
"Alright, alright. I know that little girl fancies Qin Feng. If you’re not willing, then forget it. Stop looking at your mother like that. Let’s move on to the next ’good deed’ you did!"
Qin Li just stared blankly at Qin Hanyue. After a long moment, he finally blurted out with a world of emotion, "Mom, it seems you were quite the problem child back in your day. No wonder..."
