Chapter 116: Chapter 114: What Took You So Long?

"Guards!"

At Zhao Xinghe’s soft cry, a figure appeared in the room like a ghost. Zhao Xinghe didn’t react at all, simply ordering, "Go. I don’t care what methods you use. By tomorrow morning, I want to see the head of that damned, so-called down-and-out noble from the Great Qi Kingdom... the one named Qin Li!"

"Yes, sir!" The person vanished from the room in an instant, not even asking a single question.

"Wait. Come back."

The figure reappeared in the room, standing silently and awaiting orders.

Zhao Xinghe’s brows furrowed. ’If my "dear" second brother finds out about this, what will he do?’ he thought. ’That’s right. He’ll definitely send people to protect him, then wait for me to walk right into his trap. He knows the one I hate most is the one named Qin Li.’

’Hmph. Trying to bait me won’t be that easy!’

"Forget it. Go tell Leng Ping—tell him I said that kid has disgraced the Daqing Gang. Have him, the Gang Leader, step up and get revenge. It’ll be more legitimate that way!" As Zhao Xinghe spoke, a crazed light glinted in his eyes. He added coldly, "Tell him to make his move tonight! I’m worried that any delay will bring complications!"

"Yes, sir!"

The shadow-like person vanished from the room like a gust of wind.

’Shadows are so useful! If only I had brought him with me to Huangsha Town, that damned little bastard would have surely been killed by him!’ Zhao Xinghe thought. He lowered his head in contemplation for a moment. He felt this matter wasn’t a big deal, except for the fact that the damned, down-and-out noble from the Great Qi Kingdom was also named Qin Li.

...

「In the residence of the Imperial Left General, Du Wei.」

General Du Wei sat expressionlessly in a chair made of yellow pear wood, looking at the defiant son standing before him and letting out a soft sigh.

Du Wei had three sons and one daughter. His eldest and second sons were both talented and willing to work hard; they already held important positions in the army and had bright futures ahead of them. His youngest daughter, Du Yun, was currently studying at the Imperial Capital Academy. At just fourteen years old, she had already reached the ninth rank of the Yellow Level. Not only were her Martial Arts outstanding, but she also excelled in all other subjects. Furthermore, she was exceptionally beautiful, making her quite famous in the social circles of the Imperial Capital’s young elites.

It was only this third son before him who was a through-and-through dandy. Du Ziteng’s innate talent couldn’t be called bad; at the very least, if he applied himself, he would have had no problem breaking through to become a Profound Level Martial Artist before the age of twenty.

And yet, the boy was still only at the seventh rank of the Yellow Level—worse than his younger sister. Moreover, he had never known the meaning of hard work, spending his days taking his lackeys to the streets to harass respectable women.

However, there was one thing: the boy had always been very interested in the family’s businesses. With his direct intervention, instances of embezzlement had been greatly reduced, and business had improved significantly.

But that was precisely the problem. As the son of a general’s household, even if he couldn’t inherit the title, he was still a nobleman. His constant fraternizing with a group of merchants, followed by womanizing and debauchery, had long since drawn the dissatisfaction of many. This included the Emperor himself, who once cryptically remarked during a morning court session that every family should watch over their children and prevent them from doing things that would damage their status!

It was an undisputed fact that merchants held a low status on the Celestial Essence Continent. However, Du Wei was truly at his wit’s end with his youngest son. Every time he tried to scold Du Ziteng, Du Ziteng’s mother would interfere in every possible way. To keep the peace in his own house, Du Wei had gradually started to turn a blind eye to Du Ziteng’s behavior.

But today was different. That afternoon, he had received a secret report from a trusted subordinate, detailing everything that had happened on the commercial street in Cyan Dragon City.

Du Wei had been furious when he heard the news. It didn’t matter how he scolded his son at home—that was a family matter, handled behind closed doors. But if an outsider wanted to bully his son, Du Wei would absolutely not let it slide!

As a general who had been to war and commanded eighty thousand heavy infantrymen, Du Wei had no qualms about teaching a lesson to anyone who dared to bully his family.

And that lesson might very well be a bloody one!

But soon after, he felt that something was amiss. That youth named Qin Li was simply too fearless. He was clearly a down-and-out noble from the Great Qi Kingdom, for whom just getting by here was already difficult. Who with half a brain would choose to offend the most powerful underground force in Cyan Dragon City? Who would so brazenly curse out the son of a general?

Although the Second Prince didn’t cross his mind, Du Wei’s battlefield instincts told him there was something strange about this affair. Therefore, he stopped his son from taking men to get revenge. He tried to persuade him with earnest words, but the "Little General" Du Ziteng... didn’t seem to be buying it.

"I’m warning you, the Daqing Gang will handle this matter themselves! Your uncle... he’s not dead, is he? What are you getting involved for?" Du Wei was truly exasperated and spoke without thinking.

Just then, a woman emerged from the back. She was in her forties but didn’t look old, and she possessed a noble air. Her eyes were fixed on Du Wei as she cursed, "You heartless bastard! All these years, our household’s food, clothes, and expenses—which of them weren’t bought with the silver my brother provided? Including those mistresses you keep on the side, including the silver you spend on your romantic escapades—which of it didn’t come from Shitong? Fine! Now Shitong’s in trouble, bullied so miserably by some outlander, and you, his brother-in-law... huh? The Mighty Grand General... tsk tsk, you’ve actually chosen to be a coward and hide in your shell! I must have been blind! WAAAH!"

"It’s Left General..." Du Wei explained weakly.

"I don’t care if you’re the Left General or the Right General! All I know is that my brother was beaten so badly it was a miserable sight! One of his hands was snapped right in two! How cruel can that person be? How did my brother offend him to deserve such a vicious attack?"

Du Wei shot a look at his guilty-faced son. ’Isn’t this all your precious son’s fault?’ he thought. But what he said was: "You’re just a woman, what do you know? The waters run deep in this matter. Let me ask you, do you want your son, or do you want your brother? If you want your brother, it’s simple. I’ll send twenty Blade Warriors right now to hack that kid to pieces. But your son might be ruined as a result!"

"You’re lying!" The woman looked at Du Wei with tears in her eyes. "What does this have to do with our third son?"

"Hmph, what does it have to do with him? This whole mess was caused by your son! If it weren’t for him, this conflict never would have happened!" Du Wei glared, his voice full of authority. Hearing that the matter involved her son, the woman finally calmed down a little.

She asked weakly, "Really?"

Du Ziteng nodded with some humiliation, then said loudly, "I refuse to believe that kid has any powerful background! Father is just too timid!"

"You, shut your mouth!"

The one who spoke was not Du Wei, but the woman, her eyes red. She pointed at Du Ziteng and yelled, "Get on your knees!"

Du Ziteng wasn’t afraid of his General father, but he was terrified of his mother. In fact, everyone in the Du Family was rather afraid of this tigress.

He obediently knelt. He then heard his mother say sternly, "You little brat! I won’t say you’re worthless, but how dare you say your father is timid? Do you have any idea that I was rescued by your father when he charged in and out of an army of a hundred thousand men three times! Can you list all the military honors your father has earned? If you weren’t my own flesh and blood, for those words you just said, I would have flayed you alive!"

Faced with such a formidable mother, Du Ziteng immediately wilted. He said obediently, "Mother, I was wrong. I’ll never dare to do it again..."

"Hmph. I hope you truly know you were wrong. Get back to the rear courtyard! You’re grounded for half a month! Now get lost!"

Watching her dejected son leave, the woman’s expression changed in an instant. She looked at her husband and said coquettishly, in a soft, charming voice, "Wei..."

Du Wei blinked. Seeing that no one else was around, he lowered his voice and said, "We’re not exactly young anymore. Still acting so coquettish, aren’t you afraid someone will see?"

"You’re no fun. The older you get, the more timid you become. Has your youthful vigor all been eaten by a dog?" The woman pouted, her expression returning to one of noble dignity. She then said, "So, according to you, we can’t do anything about the revenge for my brother?"

Du Wei sighed. "It’s not that we can’t do anything. If the Daqing Gang doesn’t make a move, I will definitely get justice for you! But you know as well as I do that the Daqing Gang is one of the Crown Prince’s forces. Do you think His Majesty the Emperor is unaware of this? If we get involved, those who know the situation will say I’m avenging my brother-in-law. But what will those who don’t know think of me? I’ll immediately be branded as part of the Crown Prince Faction!"

"What’s so bad about the Crown Prince Faction? The Crown Prince Faction is the future Emperor’s Faction!" the woman said with an unconcerned expression.

"Foolish!" Du Wei looked at his beloved wife helplessly. "How can you be so sure the Second Prince has no chance at all? With this kind of thing, no one can be certain until the very last moment! Besides, if I pick a side now, do you really think His Majesty will let me off the hook?"

Ultimately, her family’s wealth and status were on the line, and the woman wasn’t a fool. As much as she doted on her brother, she couldn’t just sacrifice her husband and child. So, she accepted her husband’s explanation, but still said, "Alright, we have a deal. Ten days. If the Daqing Gang still hasn’t made a move after ten days, then I... I will personally lead troops there myself! Hmph, I refuse to believe a down-and-out noble from Great Qi can be that arrogant!"

Du Wei looked at his wife, speechless, and shook his head. "It won’t even take ten days. Someone won’t be able to hold back tonight."

...

Qin Li and Bu Yunyan were sitting in the ground-floor hall of the shop, separated by a table. On the table was a chessboard, and the two were locked in a fierce, joyful battle.

"Young Master, are you sure they’ll send people for revenge tonight?"

"Of course. Otherwise, wouldn’t the Daqing Gang’s reputation be dragged through the mud?"

"Then do you think the Second Prince will send people to intercept them?"

"Definitely not. He still needs to further gauge my strength. I suspect the Emperor is watching too, though. So, by the time he sees clearly, it will be too late."

As Qin Li spoke, he gave a faint smile. "They’re here. Go up to the second floor and calm the girls."

The street was brightly lit but deserted. When a group of men in tight-fitting outfits arrived at their destination, they discovered a young man lying on a lounge chair by the entrance. He was yawning and mumbling, "I was about to die of boredom. What took you guys so long?"