Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Future Plans
Neither Hu, Bu Yunyan, nor even Qin Li showed any surprise at Leng Yao’s words. Hu and Bu Yunyan, in particular, had been her companions for many years and knew her better than anyone.
Hu, in particular, remembered it clearly. Six years ago, a youth of sixteen or seventeen had appeared at the Hunter Guild. With ragged clothes, a filthy face, and hair that looked like it hadn’t been washed in ages, they were the spitting image of a little beggar. Everyone there had steered clear, looking at them with disgust.
But this little beggar had calmly walked up to the counter to accept a mission. Many people in the Hunter Guild at the time had stared as if the beggar were an idiot, certain they had gone mad.
Later, the little beggar saw Hu recruiting companions and walked over, asking to join. While Hu didn’t look down on the youth for being a beggar, adventuring in the jungle was no game. Even without encountering powerful Spirit Beasts, the jungle was filled with other dangers: venomous insects, toxic gases, swamps that could swallow a person without a trace... One misstep could be fatal!
But the youth said nothing. They simply stood there, Concentrating and Calming the Mind, and a faint cyan light flashed across their body!
It wasn’t just Hu; everyone was stunned. They thought they were hallucinating. Then they stamped their feet and beat their chests in regret for having so completely misjudged the situation, for letting such a powerful young prodigy slip through their fingers!
It wasn’t until many days later that Hu learned the little beggar he had accepted was actually a girl. When Leng Yao changed back into clean, crisp women’s clothing, he was struck by her beauty. But even more than that, he saw a deep-seated hatred hidden within her cold eyes.
The little beggar from back then was, of course, the Leng Yao of today. She had been at the initial stage of the Profound Level then, and six years later, she was still at the initial stage of the Profound Level. But Hu knew it wasn’t for a lack of effort. She had poured all her energy into Alchemy!
"Yaoyao, your enemies are..." Bu Yunyan had worked with Hu even longer, so she had also known Leng Yao for six years. They were as close as sisters, willing to entrust their lives to one another. Since Leng Yao had finally brought it up, she naturally had to ask for details.
A shadow passed through Leng Yao’s clear, beautiful eyes. She shook her head. "It’s no use. Their power is too immense, completely beyond your imagination. Let me put it this way: the imperial family of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom is powerful, right? Their strength on the surface alone is enough to make one tremble—fifty-four Celestial Level Tributors! Not to mention the imperial family has connections to some Secret Lands and likely has even stronger forces backing them. But my enemies... if they wanted to annihilate the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, it would take but a wave of their hand. And... no one would dare to stop them!"
Hu and Bu Yunyan both gasped. ’Good heavens,’ they thought. ’Who in the world is Leng Yao? How could her family have provoked such a terrifying enemy!’
Qin Li, however, asked, "Leng Yao, is your family also from Profound Island?"
Leng Yao gave Qin Li a surprised look. "Profound Island... You actually know of that place!" Then she shook her head. "My family isn’t from Profound Island. But my enemies are."
"What is Profound Island?" Bu Yunyan asked, confused.
Hu frowned in thought. "Could it be that Profound Island is one of those legendary Mysterious Lands?"
Leng Yao nodded. Bu Yunyan exclaimed, "Heavens! Do Martial Artists of the Celestial Shattering Realm really exist in this world?"
"Celestial Shattering Realm?" Leng Yao said lightly. "There are beings even more powerful than that. But forget it. There’s no point in discussing this now. As for revenge... I’m not as obsessed with it as I once was. Right now, what I want most is to personally refine these Ancient Elixirs!"
But Qin Li saw the shadow of grief in her eyes. He knew it wasn’t that she no longer wanted revenge; she just didn’t want to send her friends to their deaths.
Never mind their small group; even the immensely powerful imperial family, with its hundreds of Celestial Level Martial Artists, was nothing more than a tiny ant to be casually crushed by many of the families from Profound Island.
At this thought, Qin Li smiled. "Only heaven knows what the future holds. Don’t lose heart. As long as we still have a spark of defiance in us, we will eventually get closer to our goals and make our wishes come true! Besides... Profound Island. One day, I will go there!"
Leng Yao’s eyes brightened slightly, but she said no more. She knew this young man was every bit as resolute as she was.
"So..." Qin Li said with a smile, "the first thing we must do is increase our strength. And the wealth needed for that requires a power base. Looking over the entire Cyan Dragon Kingdom, only the Imperial Capital is suitable. I’m preparing to go there to build our foundation. Do any of you... have a problem with that?"
Bu Yunyan and Leng Yao both nodded simultaneously. They were like rootless duckweed; it made no difference where they went. Hu hesitated for a moment but then quickly nodded as well. "My mother always said a man’s ambition should reach the four corners of the world. For the sake of fortune and glory, I’m all in!"
Qin Li smiled and nodded. He liked Hu’s straightforward nature; it was much better than hiding things. Then, his expression grew serious. "However, before we leave, I have two things I need to do. First, it’s about my sister’s disciple, Little Watermelon. He has also cultivated the ’Only I am Venerable’ technique and is about to face his second Nirvana. I don’t want him to die, so I have to take him with me. Second, I need to pay a visit to the Shangguan Family."
Hu and the others had heard a little about Watermelon. They knew the kid was a formidable character who, in just one short year, had unified all the gangs in the city’s north district. He’d made quite a name for himself among the underground powers of Yellow Sand City. They just never expected he would also be cultivating the ’Only I am Venerable’ technique.
Hu and the others couldn’t help but feel a new sense of admiration for this young man they had yet to meet. What they didn’t know was that when Watermelon first started, he had no idea how serious it was. If he’d known back then, he would have rather died than cultivate this lethal technique. The pain of one’s soul being seared was a fate worse than death!
’But, the Shangguan Family... What would he do there?’ The three of them looked up at Qin Li simultaneously. Hu’s mouth twitched, but he remained silent. Bu Yunyan asked gently, "We heard that Miss Shangguan is unwavering in her devotion to you. So... the Shangguan Family’s attitude probably won’t affect her. You don’t really need to go, do you?"
Qin Li smiled. "I know what you’re worried about. It’s fine. I know my limits; they won’t dare to do anything to me. The ones who wanted me dead most were the Qin Family, and they’ve already been destroyed."
Hu and the others’ hearts stirred at his words. ’He’s right,’ they thought. ’The fall of the Qin Family was directly connected to him!’
Bu Yunyan said, "Even so, you have to promise us you won’t be reckless. The Shangguan Family’s resources are far beyond what the Qin Family ever had!"
Qin Li nodded, touched. "I’ll come find you again in three days. Get ready. We’ll set out immediately."
Watching Qin Li’s back disappear at the end of the alley, Bu Yunyan murmured to herself, "He acts so nonchalant, but deep down, he’s incredibly proud."
"What does he plan to do at the Shangguan residence?" Hu scratched his head, not quite understanding.
"A show of force," a faint, mocking smile touched Leng Yao’s cold face. "Except for their old Patriarch who’s in seclusion, the Shangguan Family is just a bunch of blind fools."
...
"Watermelon, have you thought about your future? If something were to happen to you, what would your parents do?" Qin Li asked in a somber tone, facing the reluctant youth.
"But, Martial Uncle, if I leave, am I supposed to just hand over the territory I fought so hard to win in the North District? I’ve made plenty of enemies this past year. It’s fine as long as I’m here, but what about my parents if I leave? If my enemies can’t find me, there’s no guarantee they won’t go after my parents for revenge." The Watermelon of today had long since lost the childishness of a year ago. His bearing was calm and steady, his speech deliberate, and he radiated an imposing aura.
"Short-sighted!" Qin Li snorted. "They’re just a disorderly mob. Could they withstand an assault from two Profound Level Martial Artists?"
"Martial Uncle..." Watermelon dropped the mask he wore for outsiders, his face twisting into a frown as he whined, "Could you please not be so discouraging? My faction would never pick a fight with Profound Level Martial Artists, alright? What are we? We’re the lowest of the low! We’re the bottom-feeders of this city, people who live in the shadows, in the dark! We don’t have anything to do with the kind of people you’re talking about!"
"Cut the nonsense. In this past year, haven’t you found a few trusted confidants? A few capable men?"
Qin Li’s slightly disdainful tone provoked Watermelon. The kid jumped to his feet and shouted, "Of course I do! I have trusted followers! How could a boss get by without a few core subordinates? I have the Four Great..."
"Alright, alright, enough of that nonsense." Qin Li waved his hand dismissively. "Hand over your position as boss to someone who can command respect! Just say... you’re going to the Imperial Capital to expand your influence, and once you’re established, you’ll bring them all over! Then have them look after your parents! It’s not as if they know what kind of Cultivation Technique you’re practicing, right? As a Profound Level Martial Artist, you should at least have the power to make that happen, shouldn’t you?"
"But, Martial Uncle, I’m a bit reluctant to leave it all behind..."
"What about your life? If you don’t come with me, you’ll be dead in six months, guaranteed!" Qin Li said. "Come with me, and you’ll have a sliver of hope. Besides, what kind of place is the Imperial Capital? Just think, if you can establish a major underground force there, will you still have to worry about your parents not being provided for?"
Qin Li’s words finally moved Watermelon. He was a decisive person by nature; otherwise, he never would have been able to take control of a quarter of Yellow Sand City’s underworld at such a young age and earn the title of Young King.
"Alright, Martial Uncle, I’ll do it. I’m putting my life in your hands..." Watermelon said, looking pitiful.
Qin Li smiled and nodded. "Alright, I understand. Go get ready. I’ll give you two days. I’ll come to your house to get you in three days."
...
The Shangguan Family Estate—a home of great power and influence.
Arriving here once more, Qin Li was filled with emotion. ’The high walls are still the same, but the fair lady is gone.’
As he was lost in thought, two cold-faced guards glanced at him. One of them snapped, "Get lost! Stop loitering around here. Don’t you know where you are? Scram! You blind fool!"
