Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Liu Yunfeng didn’t dare hide anything more. Trembling, he quickly recounted how he had lost to Chen Li in the land auction at the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office, how he had held a grudge, and how he had asked Liu Yuanqi to suppress the Chen Family.

After hearing this, Yun Ya shot her son a fierce glare. She was furious, but she knew that blaming him now was useless.

’Besides,’ she thought, ’it’s normal for Noble Families to scheme against each other and use their power to bully others.’

’Her son had done nothing wrong.’

’His only mistake was failing to investigate his opponent beforehand and running into a steel wall.’

She took a deep breath and proposed a new offer. "Besides those two thousand-odd mu of land, I can also arrange to have Liu Yuanqi’s family Textile Workshop, along with the Official Tribute Silk contract he holds, transferred to you."

Chen Li shook his head, his tone turning cold. "Madam Liu, do you take me for a fool? Haven’t you already promised that Textile Workshop and the Official Tribute Contract to the He Family?

"You want me to go fight the Governor for scraps? Madam Liu, this doesn’t sound like you’re negotiating. It sounds like you’re trying to lead me into a disaster."

"How could you possibly know?"

Liu Yunfeng shrieked, the color draining from his face.

Yun Ya’s expression also changed drastically, and a storm of shock raged in her heart.

’He even knows such a secret. Just who is he?!’

’The negotiations between her son and the He Family had only taken place a few days ago.’

’And only a handful of people knew about it.’

’Could he be close to the He Family?’

’Could it be He Mingyun who is making a move against our family?’

’That’s it!’

’No wonder Liyang County has been dragging its feet on our family’s matters.’

’And the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County has also been treating the Chen Family with such courtesy!’

Yun Ya felt as if she had uncovered the truth.

She looked at Chen Li, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. "What... what is it you truly want?"

Chen Li didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "What did your Liu Family take from the Zhou Family?"

Yun Ya’s pupils constricted. ’He even knows all the details about the carving up of the Zhou Family!’

This further confirmed her suspicions.

After a moment of silence, she said, "Zhou Shuwei escaped to the He Niu Martial Arts Academy. The others had reservations and didn’t dare to be too ruthless. The Liu Family... we got nothing."

Chen Li gave a faint smile. "Madam Liu, do you think I believe you?"

Yun Ya said resolutely, "It’s the truth. The He Family has already taken the Zhou Family Textile Workshop. While my Liu Family did get the Official Tribute Contract, it’s completely useless until the Cao Family gets the Zhou Family’s land!"

"Oh?"

Chen Li raised an eyebrow. "What does this have to do with the Cao Family?"

"The old patriarch of the Cao Family, Cao Zhongda, is the current Jiangzhou Textile Junior Minister. All official tributes within Jiangzhou are ultimately decided by him."

Yun Ya explained, "Since the Cao Family has yet to see any actual benefit, he will never approve it. To put it bluntly, without Junior Minister Cao’s approval, that contract is just a piece of scrap paper."

Chen Li chuckled, but his eyes turned completely icy. "So there’s nothing left to discuss? In that case, I’m afraid I’ll have to... send you two on your way."

"No! Wait!"

Yun Ya shouted frantically, throwing out her last bargaining chip. "Silk! I’m willing to trade thirty thousand bolts of fine silk for my son’s life and mine."

"That would be the Zhou Family’s thirty thousand bolts of silk, wouldn’t it?"

Chen Li sneered. "And where, Madam Liu, do you expect me to sell such an obviously stolen batch of goods? Madam Liu, even now, you’re still trying to set a trap for me? Truly... a leopard never changes its spots."

His figure blurred, and in an instant, he was beside Liu Yunfeng.

The longstaff in his hand struck out like lightning.

CRACK!

Four consecutive sharp cracks rang out as the bones in Liu Yunfeng’s four limbs were crushed inch by inch.

"AAAAH... Mother! Save me!"

Liu Yunfeng let out a bloodcurdling scream, snot and tears streaming down his face, the pain so intense he almost fainted.

"Feng’er!"

Seeing her son’s horrific state, Yun Ya’s heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife. Her eyes wide with fury, she let out a guttural roar like a mother beast. "What do you want? If you want something, come at me! Let my son go!"

Chen Li turned, looking at her with a blank expression. "What do I want? That’s a question for you, Madam Liu. I’ve given you chance after chance, yet you’ve only tried to stall with empty words and entrap me with schemes. You have shown no sincerity whatsoever. Did you really think I wouldn’t dare to kill?"

"I’ll give it to you! I’ll give you everything!"

Yun Ya completely broke down. "As long as you let me and my son go, gold and silver, treasures, Martial Arts Secret Manuals—anything the Yun Family has is yours for the taking. Just name your price."

Chen Li watched her calmly. After a while, he finally said, "I want a Divine Sense Treasure. Does your Yun Family have one?"

"Yes! We do!"

Yun Ya clung to this as if it were her last straw.

Seeing Chen Li’s disbelief and that he was about to move against her son again, Yun Ya yelled frantically, "The Yun Family really has one! It’s in my father’s possession. My father was injured by Liu Zongying’s Divine Sense Secret Skill years ago. Later, by a stroke of luck, he obtained a Divine Sense Treasure and was able to recover. As long as you spare us, I’ll return to the Yun Family immediately and bring the treasure to you."

Chen Li glanced at Liu Zongyuan. Seeing him nod, he immediately said, "Fine."

A flicker of relief from surviving a disaster had just crossed Yun Ya’s eyes when she saw Chen Li suddenly kick her fiercely in the abdomen, right at her Dantian.

PUFF!

A surge of immense Inner Qi penetrated her body, instantly shattering her Dantian Qi Sea.

Yun Ya’s eyes filled with astonishment and despair as she stared deathly at Chen Li.

She couldn’t understand why he would still strike such a fatal blow when she had already promised him the Divine Sense Treasure.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her body twitched twice before she collapsed, her breathing stopped, and she died.

"Mother..."

Witnessing his mother’s brutal death, Liu Yunfeng let out a heart-wrenching, mournful wail.

Expressionless, Chen Li stared intently at Liu Yunfeng.

Prajna Glaze Heart Sutra of the Self-Viewing.

A Dream of Millet Porridge.

Liu Yunfeng shuddered, his wails ceasing abruptly. His eyes instantly became vacant and dazed.

Chen Li asked, "Where are the Zhou Family’s thirty thousand bolts of silk hidden?"

Liu Yunfeng replied, "At the Jiangkou County Pier Yongfeng Granary, in No. 7 Warehouse."

Chen Li frowned. "Why was it placed in Jiangkou County?"

"Eunuch Liu specifically requested it... He demanded it be stored in Jiangkou... As for the specific reason, I... I don’t know either."

Liu Yunfeng answered dazedly.

Chen Li interrogated him for a few more details about his collusion with He Zhangqiu to frame the Zhou Family.

After confirming there was no more valuable information, he didn’t hesitate, striking Liu Yunfeng’s head with his palm.

Liu Yunfeng’s body trembled. The last spark of life faded from his eyes, and he collapsed limply to the ground, following his mother in death.

Chen Li glanced at the stunned and speechless Liu Zongying and Liu Ruoyi beside him and said flatly, "Lend a hand."

Liu Zongying shuddered and came to his senses. He and Liu Ruoyi quickly began to help Chen Li dispose of the bodies.

...

「Jiangkou, Yongfeng Granary.」

「Inside A-7 Warehouse.」

In a sheltered spot near the inner wall, a small, makeshift table had been set up.

A clean-faced, beardless middle-aged man sat leisurely by the table.

With delicate movements, he used a small knife to slice a block of soft white tofu into thin pieces.

In front of him, a small charcoal stove held up a clay pot, in which pickled vegetables and slices of fatty and lean pork belly were simmering.

On the table was also an exquisite small porcelain bottle, along with a small dish of fried peanuts.

He carefully picked up a slice of tofu with his chopsticks, swished it gently in the pot, and brought it to his mouth to savor.

Then, he lifted a small porcelain cup, took a sip of the clear liquor, his expression as relaxed as if he were in an elegant study.

Across the table, three burly men sat on the floor.

All three were powerfully built with bushy beards, and in front of them were large bowls and an entire platter of braised beef.

They drank wine in big gulps without a care, tearing off chunks of meat with their hands and chewing loudly. Their eating style was boisterous, and they would occasionally spit out some crude complaints.

"Damn it! We’ve been guarding this shithole warehouse for months. Haven’t seen a single woman. My dick’s about to fall off from boredom!"

one of the men yelled in a rough voice after chugging a large mouthful of wine.

Another man with a scar by his eye wiped his greasy mouth and asked, "Steward Li, give us a straight answer. How much longer do us brothers have to be cooped up in this hellhole?"

The clean-faced man lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at the three. "What’s the rush? Just keep watch patiently. It should be soon."

The three men grumbled a bit more, but knowing it was useless, they could only go back to drinking sullenly.

Just as the atmosphere grew a little dull,

the clean-faced man, who had been eating and drinking calmly, suddenly froze. The chopsticks he was using to pick up food hovered in mid-air.

A frosty look passed over his fair features. He snapped his head up, his gaze shooting toward the depths of the warehouse as he barked, "Who’s there? Get out!"

The sharp, piercing shout shattered the warehouse’s silence.

The three burly men tensed up, instantly dropping their wine and meat. They shot to their feet, weapons already in hand, and stared warily into the shadows.

However, as they focused their senses to probe the area, they didn’t detect any unusual presence and couldn’t help but look at Steward Li with confusion.

"Steward Li, did you mishear something...?"

one of the men asked, puzzled.

But the clean-faced man ignored them completely. His figure floated up like a phantom, moving so fast he left only an afterimage as he lunged into the warehouse’s shadows.

Before he even arrived, he had already sent a palm strike flying.

The Palm Wind was insidious and bone-chilling, accompanied by a shriek as it tore through the air.

"Holy hell!"

A strange cry came from the shadows.

An agile figure appeared, hastily trying to flee.

It was Shu San.

He was extremely fast, but the clean-faced man stayed right on his tail. The distance between them closed rapidly, forcing Shu San to turn back and receive the man’s palm strike.

BANG!

A muffled thud rang out.

Shu San felt a strange, chilling Power penetrate his body. His entire arm instantly went numb and lost all feeling, and the qi and blood in his body churned violently.

He spat out a mouthful of blood with a "PUFF," stumbling backward.

’An Inner Mansion expert?’

He was horrified.

"You skulking rat, leave your life behind!"

The clean-faced man pressed his advantage, his figure sticking to Shu San like a shadow. He changed his palm into a claw, aiming straight for Shu San’s throat.

Just as Shu San was about to be killed by the claw,

at that critical moment,

"WHOOSH..."

a deep whooshing sound suddenly exploded through the air.

The shadow of a staff, condensed to its absolute limit, tore through the darkness and smashed down toward the top of the clean-faced man’s head with the force of a falling mountain.

The speed of this strike was beyond imagination.

The clean-faced man’s expression changed drastically. Feeling the terrifying power, he no longer cared about killing Shu San. With a shriek, he scrambled to dodge.

His Body Technique was strange and extremely fast, but he still failed to completely evade the strike.

CRACK!

"AHHH..."

The clean-faced man let out a bloodcurdling scream.

His bones shattered inch by inch. His entire body was sent flying, then slammed heavily onto the ground. He sprayed blood wildly, his aura instantly weakening to an extreme degree.

"A... A Grandmaster?!"

The clean-faced man struggled to lift his head and looked at Chen Li, who had landed gracefully. His eyes were filled with terror.

"A eunuch?"

Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing that high-pitched voice.

But the killing intent in his eyes grew even stronger.

He took a step, his body moving like lightning. He raised the longstaff in his hand again, the wind from the staff whistling as it aimed straight for the clean-faced man’s head.

"No... Wait!"

The clean-faced man let out a desperate shriek.

The staff fell.

The sound of a skull shattering echoed, and the shriek came to an abrupt end.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Only then did the three burly men fully react. Scared out of their wits, they scrambled to flee in different directions.