“How would I know.”
Li Zhengxiang looked at Li Feng. He naturally understood who Li Feng meant by “those people”, but some things, even if known, could not be said too much. Besides, he did not know very much himself.
More importantly, Li Zhengxiang felt very dissatisfied with what Li Feng had said earlier. As a direct descendant of the Li family, he actually thought of establishing his own branch. This was absolutely something he could not tolerate. If every Li family descendant developed such ideas, would the Li family still be the Li family in the future?
Li Zhengxiang felt that if Li Chuanwei were here today, he might give Li Feng a severe beating. But then again, Li Chuanwei might not even be able to beat Li Feng now.
“Fourth Uncle, I imagine many people called you today.” Li Feng smiled and asked. He said this not because he truly wanted to leave the family. The Li family’s foundation was something he needed, especially the ancient records stored in the family. Those might contain accounts from the medieval period, which were priceless treasures.
So he had no intention of abandoning the Li family to start his own. The reason he spoke like that was to let certain people know that if pushed to the extreme, he, Li Feng, could ignore everything and act without any restraints.
However, from Li Zhengxiang’s reaction, he felt the effect was very good. He just needed Li Zhengxiang to pass on his words, even if not word for word. That would be enough for him.
Li Zhengxiang’s expression changed. He nodded and said, “Yes, many people did call me. I think you know why they called.”
“Heh, it seems they care about him very much. Someone who did not know better might think he is already the family heir.” Li Feng gave a cold laugh.
Li Zhengxiang’s eyes flashed.
“Fourth Uncle, tell me, what will Second Uncle do?” Li Feng looked at Li Zhengxiang and asked in a deep voice.
“Li Feng, what Second Brother wants to do, do you think I would know just because you asked me?” Li Zhengxiang shook his head and said to Li Feng, “But since he is in your hands, Second Brother will definitely not let it go easily. Li Feng, you should never have captured him in the first place. Capturing him is just asking for trouble.”
“You’re right. I should have killed him instead of capturing him.” It would be false to say Li Feng had no regrets now. If he had known capturing Li Wu would cause so much trouble, he should have killed Li Wu before the news spread. Even facing Li Xiangyang’s fury would be better than feeling so stifled now.
Li Zhengxiang’s expression turned serious. Li Feng spoke of killing Li Wu so casually. It seemed he had truly underestimated Li Feng. Back when they competed for the family heir position, none of them had ever looked down on their opponents like this.
If he did not know Li Feng’s true ability, he would definitely think Li Feng was arrogant and conceited. But now, he had to admit that Li Feng had the capital to be so. With half-step Innate strength, neither he nor Li Chuanwei nor Li Xiangyang possessed it. In terms of individual strength, Li Feng had already surpassed their entire generation.
If the family heir selection competition were based purely on personal strength, Li Feng would be unbeatable. But the selection for family heir was not about individual power. On the contrary, personal strength was not important at all during the family heir selection.
Moreover, in modern society with advanced technology, an acquired ancient martial artist could be dealt with by a single bullet, and even an Innate expert could be taken down by a cannon shell. So even though Li Zhengxiang did not want to admit it, in these families, ancient martial strength was becoming less and less significant.
At the same time, what a family needed was an heir who could lead the family to grow and prosper, not a reckless brute with great strength. Even if someone reached the peak of Innate, they could only bring the family power for a hundred years or so. But a family needed to last for thousands of generations.
Throughout history, why did no dynasty last beyond three generations? It was precisely because of problems with the heirs.
A hundred-year dynasty versus a thousand-year family clan, the difference lay right there.
Now Li Zhengxiang only saw formidable strength, but in other aspects, he still did not know enough. So although he did not think Li Feng was arrogant, he still felt somewhat displeased by his disregard for others.
“However, I am curious who Second Uncle will send because of him.” A sharp gleam flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. Then he said to Li Zhengxiang, “Fourth Uncle, I want you to pass on a message to Second Uncle.”
“Oh? What message do you want me to pass?” Li Zhengxiang asked.
“Just tell Second Uncle that I would like to invite him to Tianhai City for a cup of tea.” Li Feng replied.
A sharp light flashed in Li Zhengxiang’s eyes. He nodded and said, “Alright. I will pass on your words.”
“Then thank you, Fourth Uncle.” Li Feng smiled.
“Li Zhengxiang, Li Feng, have you two finished talking? The food is ready. Come and eat. I will go call Rain’er.” At that moment, Yuan Muyun walked out from the kitchen and said.
Li Zhengxiang stood up and said, “Li Feng, let’s go eat.”
“Alright.” Li Feng did not refuse. He followed Li Zhengxiang to the dining room.
“Muyun, go call Rain’er down for dinner.” After arriving at the dining room, Li Zhengxiang said to Yuan Muyun.
“This…” Yuan Muyun glanced at Li Feng and said hesitantly.
“Li Feng is Rain’er’s elder brother. No need to worry.” Li Zhengxiang knew what Yuan Muyun was worried about. However, he actually hoped Li Xinyu could have some contact with Li Feng. After all, in the future, their family might need Li Feng’s help.
“Alright then.” Yuan Muyun nodded and left the dining room.
Rain’er, Li Xinyu.
Hearing Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun’s words, memories deep in Li Feng’s mind were stirred.
In Li Zhengxiang’s generation, the four siblings were Li Chuanwei, Li Xiangyang, Li Xueqing, and Li Zhengxiang. Apart from Li Xueqing who married out, Li Chuanwei, Li Xiangyang, and Li Zhengxiang formed the three main direct lines of the current Li family.
For a top family like the Li family, the distinction between direct and collateral lines was different from other families. Even though Li Chuanwei was now the family head, the branches of Li Xiangyang and Li Zhengxiang were still considered direct lines.
And because Li Chuanwei became the family head, several of Li Feng’s grandfather Li Xiaopeng’s brothers became collateral lines.
The Li family was a vast clan. After thousands of years of development, the entire family numbered hundreds of thousands, with hundreds of collateral branches. But in Li Feng’s generation, the direct line was somewhat lacking in successors. There were only four true direct descendants: Li Feng, Li Wu, Li Feiyu, and Li Xinyu. Among them, Li Wu and Li Feiyu were brothers. Compared to other families’ direct lines, their generation was pitifully small.
Not only that, in the past ten-plus years, Li Feng had been famously useless, and Li Xinyu suffered from mental illness. Among the direct descendants of the Li family, the only ones considered capable were really Li Wu and Li Feiyu. And since Li Wu and Li Feiyu were brothers, with Li Feiyu not even eighteen yet, Li Wu had always been the main focus of the family’s cultivation.
Because of Li Feng and Li Xinyu, the Li family had been mocked by countless people.
At this moment, Li Feng thought of Li Xinyu. In his memory, Li Xinyu was just a pitiful little girl. Because of her mental illness since childhood, she almost never interacted with anyone. Even he had only seen her a few times.
Soon, Yuan Muyun came down the stairs leading a frail-looking woman around twenty years old.
“Rain’er, your elder brother Li Feng is here this time.” Li Zhengxiang quickly went forward, full of affection.
“Elder brother…” Li Xinyu glanced at Li Feng, then hid behind Yuan Muyun.
“Rain’er.” Li Feng looked at Li Xinyu and smiled. His original self and Li Xinyu shared the same misfortune, so seeing Li Xinyu gave him a sense of closeness.
Li Xinyu heard Li Feng’s words but did not dare to look at him and remained silent.
“Li Feng, Rain’er is like this. Please do not mind.” Li Zhengxiang said to Li Feng.
“Fourth Uncle, you are too polite.” Li Feng shook his head. In his heart, he felt somewhat puzzled. Both Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun were normal people, so why did Li Xinyu have mental illness from birth? This was not normal. Could it be inherited across generations?
This was not impossible. Many illnesses were passed down across generations. But in the past dozen or so generations of the Li family, it seemed there had been no one with mental illness. Could it have come from Fourth Aunt Yuan Muyun’s side?
However, Li Feng did not say anything at the moment, because this was only his guess. Speaking it out might offend Fourth Aunt Yuan Muyun.
“Come, let’s all eat.” Li Zhengxiang said to the three of them.
“Rain’er, come, sit next to Mummy.” Yuan Muyun pulled Li Xinyu to sit down.
After sitting, Li Xinyu raised her head and glanced at Li Feng. When she saw Li Feng looking at her, she immediately lowered her head in fright.
“Rain’er, it’s alright. This is your elder brother. He is not a stranger.” Yuan Muyun quickly comforted Li Xinyu while glaring at Li Zhengxiang. If Li Zhengxiang had not insisted on bringing Li Xinyu down, this situation would not have happened.
What Yuan Muyun feared most now was Li Xinyu having an episode. In recent years, every episode had been more severe than the last.
“Yes, Rain’er, do not worry. He is your elder brother. Back in Yanjing, he even played with you.” Li Zhengxiang said.
With Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun’s comfort, Li Xinyu finally calmed down and began to eat.
Originally, Li Feng still had some things to say to Li Zhengxiang. But seeing Li Xinyu like this, he felt it was not the right time to speak. He knew Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun had only this one daughter. Even though Li Xinyu had mental illness, they doted on her immensely. If he really frightened her, they might turn against him immediately.
Moreover, Li Feng felt that it was quite pitiful for Li Xinyu to suffer from such an illness at such a young age. He did not want to cause her to have an episode because of him.
Time passed minute by minute. Seeing Li Xinyu eating peacefully, Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun finally breathed a sigh of relief. What they feared most was that Li Feng’s presence today would trigger Li Xinyu’s illness.
But Li Zhengxiang and Yuan Muyun were happy too soon. Just when they thought Li Xinyu would not have an episode, she suddenly started screaming, “Do not come over! Do not come over! There are ghosts! There are ghosts! Murder! Do not kill me! Do not kill me…”
