“Someone come.”
Liu Dongjian called out.
“Family Head.” A young man entered the room, walked to Liu Dongjian’s side, and respectfully addressed him.
“Liu Xu, how are the preparations for what I asked you to arrange?” Liu Dongjian asked expressionlessly.
“Reporting to the Family Head, everything is fully prepared as instructed.” Liu Xu replied quickly.
“Very good. Have your men come here immediately.” Liu Dongjian nodded.
“Here?” Liu Xu was startled.
“Yes, exactly here.” Liu Dongjian turned to glance at Liu Xu, gave a cold laugh, and said, “What, do you have a different opinion about my orders?”
“This subordinate dares not.” Liu Xu said hurriedly.
“You had better not. Hurry up and prepare. I want your men to appear here in the shortest possible time.” Liu Dongjian said with a cold hum.
“Yes.”
“What are you still standing there for? Did you not hear my orders clearly?” Liu Dongjian said coldly.
“Family Head…” Liu Xu looked at Liu Dongjian, hesitating to speak.
“Speak. What else do you have?” Liu Dongjian felt anger rising in his heart. What was wrong with Liu Xu? He was actually disobeying orders. Had he, the family head, already lost the ability to command him?
“Family Head, Zhao Xingping wants to see you.” Liu Xu replied.
“Zhao Xingping?” Liu Dongjian’s brows raised. Zhao Xingping was Zhao Xiu’s son. What did he want to see him for at this time?
“Yes. He is in this building.” Liu Xu nodded.
“You are saying Zhao Xingping is in this very building?” Liu Dongjian’s eyes narrowed. A sharp glint flashed in them.
“Yes. He just sent a message through special channels, saying he wishes to meet you.” Liu Xu nodded again.
“Very well. Have Zhao Xingping come here to see me at once.” Liu Dongjian thought for a moment and said.
“Yes.” Liu Xu nodded and immediately left the room.
“Zhao Xingping?” A cold smile curved Liu Dongjian’s lips. Zhao Xingping was Zhao Xiu’s son. Like his father, he was a martial fanatic. Young as he was, he had already reached the fourth level of the acquired realm. One could say that in the future, Zhao Xingping would be another Zhao Xiu.
Zhao Xiu had been the strongest family head among the four great families. Arrogant and domineering, he often suppressed the other families until they could not recover. Last time at the Empire Hotel, he had concealed the fact that Li Feng had an innate expert by his side. This not only caused the four families to lose face, but also led to heavy losses for the Liu family.
One could say that while Liu Dongjian hated Li Feng, he hated Zhao Xiu even more. However, considering Zhao Xiu’s strength and the Zhao family behind him, before dealing with Li Feng, he could only suppress this hatred in his heart.
Now Zhao Xiu was dead, but the hatred in Liu Dongjian’s heart had not diminished. On the contrary, it grew stronger. Liu Dongjian knew that not only he, but the other two great families also harboured deep hatred towards Zhao Xiu. In their view, if not for Zhao Xiu, their families would not have lost so many ninth-level acquired ancient martial artists.
Of course, Zhao Xiu was already dead. No matter how much hatred Liu Dongjian felt, he could not whip the corpse. Thus, he transferred this hatred to the Zhao family.
Originally, Liu Dongjian had planned to settle accounts with the Zhao family after dealing with Li Feng this time. But unexpectedly, dealing with Li Feng proved so troublesome. Li Feng’s schemes threatened to wipe out all his men.
At this point, Liu Dongjian could only initiate the final step of his plan.
However, upon hearing from Liu Xu that Zhao Xingping wanted to see him, a plan to borrow a knife to kill formed in Liu Dongjian’s mind.
Zhao Xingping’s presence here was clearly to avenge Zhao Xiu by killing Li Feng. He could exploit Zhao Xingping’s hatred and have his men deal with Li Feng.
After Zhao Xiu’s death, although the Zhao family was embroiled in disputes over who would become the next head, Zhao Xiu had a group of loyal supporters during his lifetime. After his death, most of them followed Zhao Xingping. Their strength was not to be underestimated.
Right now, he lacked men capable of dealing with Zhong Shuhui and the others. If Zhao Xingping’s group joined, it might prevent his own forces from being completely annihilated. Even if not, it could buy him time to complete the arrangements for the final plan.
Tap, tap, tap…
Footsteps approached. Soon after, a young man entered the room accompanied by an elder.
“Uncle.” This young man was none other than Zhao Xiu’s son, Zhao Xingping.
“Xingping, I did not expect you to be here as well.” A sharp light flashed in Liu Dongjian’s eyes. For Zhao Xingping to deduce from clues that they were acting against Li Feng tonight was already impressive.
Moreover, with Zhao Xingping’s talent, in just twenty years he could become another Zhao Xiu. This was something Liu Dongjian did not wish to see.
This time, to deal with Li Feng, the Liu family had already suffered heavy losses. Even if they killed Li Feng, the Liu family might end up in decline. Therefore, he absolutely could not allow Zhao Xingping the chance to become another Zhao Xiu at this juncture.
Thus, while borrowing a knife to kill, Liu Dongjian’s deeper intention was to weaken Zhao Xingping’s forces.
“The vengeance for killing my father is irreconcilable. This time, I must kill Li Feng. I ask Uncle to help me.” Intense hatred flashed in Zhao Xingping’s eyes.
In Zhao Xingping’s heart, Zhao Xiu had been his role model. If Zhao Xiu could break through to the innate realm, their family could become the foremost among Tianhai City’s four great families. From childhood, everything Zhao Xingping did was aimed at emulating Zhao Xiu.
But when news of Zhao Xiu’s death arrived, Zhao Xingping felt the sky collapse and the earth cave in. At the same time, deep hatred towards Li Feng filled his heart.
In Zhao Xingping’s view, the enmity between him and Li Feng went beyond simply avenging his father. Li Feng had erased the Zhao family’s only hope of producing an innate expert and destroyed their chance to become the top family in Tianhai City.
“Xingping, rest assured. I will avenge your father.” Liu Dongjian looked at Zhao Xingping and said gravely, “Because Li Feng not only killed your father, but also caused the deaths of my two sons.”
“Uncle, I wish to avenge my father personally. Please help me.” Zhao Xingping said quickly. If not for Liu Dongjian’s two sons dying at Li Feng’s hands, Zhao Xingping would not have dared approach him.
Because Zhao Xiu had once warned him that Liu Dongjian was the kind of person who devoured people without spitting out the bones.
“Xingping, it is not that Uncle looks down on you. Although your strength is at the fourth level of the acquired realm, compared to Li Feng, the gap is too great. Li Feng’s current power allows him to slay peak ninth-level acquired experts. Your father died directly by Li Feng’s hand.” Liu Dongjian said gravely.
Zhao Xingping’s pupils contracted. “Uncle, no matter how difficult, I must take revenge. The vengeance for killing my father is irreconcilable. I cannot let it go unavenged.”
“Xingping, wanting to avenge your father is admirable, but do you know how many ninth-level acquired ancient martial artists Li Feng has slain tonight?” Liu Dongjian said gravely.
Zhao Xingping shook his head. After Zhao Xiu’s death, although Zhao Xingping controlled most of the forces Zhao Xiu had left behind, he had completely lost access to the Zhao family intelligence network. Otherwise, he would not be seeking Liu Dongjian now.
“Three peak ninth-level acquired ancient martial artists and four eighth-level acquired ancient martial artists.” Liu Dongjian said gravely.
“What? Li Feng actually killed three peak ninth-level and four eighth-level acquired ancient martial artists?” Zhao Xingping’s expression changed dramatically. This was shocking. Although realm did not equal strength, killing across levels was extraordinarily difficult.
“Yes. So, Xingping, killing Li Feng is simply impossible for you.” Liu Dongjian said.
“Uncle, no matter what, you must help me.” Zhao Xingping said hurriedly.
“Xingping, it is not that Uncle cannot help you, but right now Uncle can barely protect himself.” Liu Dongjian sighed.
“Uncle, I do not understand what you mean.” Zhao Xingping shook his head and asked.
“Xingping, come here and look.” Liu Dongjian pulled Zhao Xingping by the hand to the window, pointed at the fighting below, and said, “Of the two groups fighting down there, one is Uncle’s men, the other is Li Feng’s. Originally, Uncle planned to be the oriole behind the mantis stalking the cicada, but unexpectedly, there was a hunter behind the oriole. Now Uncle’s men have been surrounded by Li Feng’s subordinates. Among Li Feng’s men, there is even someone hidden who can defeat our Liu family Grand Elder. I believe it will not be long before Uncle’s men are completely wiped out. Once they die, Uncle will be a commander without troops. I will not even be able to avenge myself, let alone help you.”
With that, Liu Dongjian briefly explained the situation to Zhao Xingping.
“Uncle, do you have no backup plan?” A glint flashed in Zhao Xingping’s eyes. He had recognised that one side in the fight below belonged to Liu Dongjian, which was why he had sought him out. He believed they shared a common goal and could cooperate.
“Xingping, from Wangjiang Road onwards, Uncle’s men have been constantly assassinating Li Feng. These are the last batch Uncle has. If they die, Uncle will have no one left. What backup plan could there be?”
Liu Dongjian gave a bitter laugh. “Xingping, so this time Uncle truly cannot help you. Li Feng and his subordinates are so powerful that even with all these arrangements, Uncle is no match. Although you have considerable forces left by your father, you are absolutely no match for Li Feng. If you act tonight, you will only sacrifice yourselves in vain. In Uncle’s view, you would be better off preserving your strength, lying low in secret, and planning a comeback later.”
“No. The vengeance for killing my father is irreconcilable. Tonight, I must kill Li Feng.” Zhao Xingping shook his head. His gaze was resolute.
“But Xingping, you can see the situation now. Even if your men act, it will change nothing.” Although Liu Dongjian said this, his heart was blooming with joy. He knew Zhao Xingping’s temperament was much like Zhao Xiu’s, and now it proved true. All his earlier words had not been in vain.
“That may not be true.”
Zhao Xingping stared at the fighting below for a while, then said gravely, “Uncle, I have a way to help you.”
