Li Quan gave a sinister smile, “Li Feng, you wish to know about the Emperor’s Pavilion? Hmph, I shall not tell you; abandon all hope.”
A trace of regret flickered in Li Feng’s eyes; he had not expected Li Quan to be so cunning. It seemed some methods were necessary after all.
“Li Feng, kill me if you must.” Li Quan glared coldly at Li Feng, finally understanding the purpose of Li Feng’s visit today, but what of it? He would yield nothing from his lips.
“Li Quan, were I you, I would spill all I know obediently; perhaps you might suffer a little less.” Li Feng advanced two steps, his gaze falling upon him, eyes icy cold.
“Hmph.”
Li Quan snorted.
Slap!
Li Feng’s palm lashed out, sending Li Quan sprawling to the ground, his left cheek swelling high.
“You dare strike me?” Li Quan’s face turned ashen as he glared at Li Feng.
“Fool, forget not your present station.” Li Feng sneered, saying: “Tell me obediently of the Emperor’s Pavilion; perhaps I might let you suffer a touch less, otherwise you shall rue this day.”
“Hmph, fat chance.” Li Quan snorted.
Li Feng raised his foot and kicked out.
Bang!
Li Quan flew backwards from the kick.
Li Feng pressed his advantage relentlessly, leaping forward to rain fists and kicks upon Li Quan.
“Li Feng, if you have the guts, kill me; else one day I shall see you buried without a grave.” Li Quan’s voice brimmed with venom.
“Hmph.” Li Feng snorted coldly, his hand showing no mercy as another palm struck forth.
Boom!
The palm imprint loomed like a mountain, air warping around it.
Under Li Feng’s palm, Li Quan flew back like the wind, crashing heavily against the iron pillar before rolling to the ground, spewing several mouthfuls of blood.
“Speak: what manner of people are the Emperor’s Pavilion, and why do they seek my death?” Li Feng arrived coldly before Li Quan’s face and demanded.
Li Quan looked at Li Feng, his eyes filled with towering hatred.
“Very well, let us see how long you endure.”
Li Feng sneered, unleashing another palm.
Li Quan’s body flew once more, slamming into the iron pillar.
“Will you speak?”
Boom!
“Still silent?”
Boom!
“Speak, then?”
Poor Li Quan, hurled repeatedly by Li Feng’s palms; though Li Feng held back from slaying him, the immense agony was beyond what he could bear.
“Will you not speak?”
“I…”
Boom!
Li Quan flew yet again.
“I, I shall speak…” Li Quan broke utterly, terrorised; if Li Feng had simply beaten him to death, the pain would have been fleeting, but Li Feng spared his life each time, inflicting unbearable torment. Such suffering no ordinary man could endure.
“Speak, then; I wish to know all about the Emperor’s Pavilion.” Li Feng sneered.
“I, I shall say: it was the Emperor’s Pavilion who sought me out for alliance. I had only just arrived in Tianhai City when they approached, as if knowing my intent to harm you. They proposed cooperation, promising that upon success, I could become the Li family heir.” Li Quan spoke tremulously.
“Is that all? You would not ally with the Emperor’s Pavilion over such a vague pledge, surely?” Li Feng sneered.
Glancing at Li Feng, Li Quan continued: “Of course not; I refused them at first, but…”
Here, terror surfaced on Li Quan’s face: “But they produced something, and I knew alliance inevitable. For I wished not to die.”
“What thing?” Li Feng asked.
“Proof of my schemes against you,” Li Quan glanced at Li Feng and said.
“The matter in Yan capital where you plotted against me?” Li Feng asked.
Li Quan nodded, his expression dim: “The Emperor’s Pavilion told me that refusal meant public exposure; what is more, their aim was your death, so I had no cause to refuse.”
“Then do you know the Emperor’s Pavilion’s origins?” Li Feng asked.
Shaking his head, Li Quan said: “I know not; only that the Emperor’s Pavilion wields vast influence, knowing all. I once suspected ties to several of Huaxia’s peak clans, but lacked proof.”
“Huaxia’s peak clans? Now the eight great families of Huaxia?” Li Feng furrowed his brow.
“Indeed; possibly backed by one of those eight great families, or some other power, though this is mere conjecture on my part. I investigated them too, but uncovered nothing.” Li Quan said.
“And the Black Stone Gang? Did you seek them, or the Emperor’s Pavilion?” Li Feng pressed.
“The Black Stone Gang approached of their own accord.” Shaking his head, Li Quan said: “I know not why the Black Stone Gang suddenly targeted you, but with them as Tianhai City’s local snakes, dealing with you seemed simpler; who would have thought…”
“The Black Stone Gang came of their own?” Li Feng’s brow creased; he had assumed the Black Stone Gang summoned by Li Quan or the Emperor’s Pavilion.
Was Li Quan deceiving him, or…
Li Feng could not help recalling Master Wen’s parting words: Chang’e descends to the mortal realm, rowing a boat beneath the starry bridge.
Chang’e descends to the mortal realm, rowing a boat beneath the starry bridge. What did these words portend? Surely Master Wen left them not idly; could the Black Stone Gang’s pursuit of him relate to this?
“Yes.” Oblivious to Li Feng’s thoughts, Li Quan continued: “The Black Stone Gang’s arrival was a godsend for us; we plotted to slay you, but then Xiangfeng Investment’s Smart One emerged, and the Black Stone Gang coveted its core technology, forcing a change in plans.”
“The Emperor’s Pavilion desired it too?” Li Feng asked.
“I know not, though the change was proposed by the Black Stone Gang; neither the Emperor’s Pavilion nor I objected. Our end was your death, the delay but two days more; who would have thought…” Li Quan glanced at Li Feng, trailing off.
“Apart from this, know you aught else of the Emperor’s Pavilion? Such as their strength.” Li Feng asked.
“I know not; the Emperor’s Pavilion is most mysterious. That drag race was their arrangement, but Liu Shichao acted; Liu Shichao is but a foppish scion of Tianhai City’s Liu family, utterly insignificant. I suspect he knows somewhat.” Li Quan shook his head and said.
Li Feng eyed Li Quan deeply; though extracted under duress, he knew not if Li Quan’s words rang true or false, yet combining what he had gleaned from Master Wen and Liu Shichao, most seemed genuine.
Yet Li Quan’s account held naught of value to him; was the Emperor’s Pavilion truly so veiled?
Facing the enigmatic Emperor’s Pavilion, Li Feng’s heart grew heavy. Though yet to clash directly, from all signs, the Emperor’s Pavilion dwarfed the Black Stone Gang in might; even Master Wen admitted as much, and the Black Stone Gang had dominated Tianhai’s underworld for decades as its premier force. Their concession bespoke the Emperor’s Pavilion’s formidable reality.
Last time against the Black Stone Gang, had he not struck first and relied on superior skill at the crux, the Black Eagle Squadron might have suffered grievously. Thus, against the Emperor’s Pavilion now, he could not repeat such errors.
“Tell me of the Li family, then; speak all you know.” Li Feng continued.
“The Li family…”
Here, Li Quan’s voice halted abruptly, his eyes bulging wide.
Bang.
Terror dawned in Li Quan’s eyes, then with a thud, he collapsed to the ground, dead just like that.
“Dead!” Li Feng exclaimed in shock. He had never imagined Li Quan perishing at this juncture.
“Could it be my hand too heavy earlier?”
Li Feng muttered to himself.
