Chapter 854
Arrival in Qingyun City
"Tieshan, Tianxing, and Wanqing, the three of you stay in Hongyun City and help Young Master Guo defend the city," Zheng Yi said. "I'm going back to Qingyun City to see what the Li family is up to."
“Sir, I’ll go with you,” Fengling said.
"it is good."
Zheng Yi found Guo Tianyou and told him what had happened.
"Sir, you're returning to Qingyun City?" Guo Tianyou asked with some concern. "What about Hongyun City?"
“With Tieshan and the others here, you don’t need to worry,” Zheng Yi said. “Besides, the Li family’s current target is me. As long as I’m not in Hongyun City, they have no reason to cause trouble.”
"But sir, won't it be dangerous for you to go to Qingyun City alone?"
"Don't worry, I can handle it," Zheng Yi said. "Young Master Guo, you stay in Hongyun City and guard it well, don't let the Li family take advantage of any loopholes. I'll be back after I've dealt with things in Qingyun City."
"Very well, I will await your news, sir."
Zheng Yi, carrying the wind chimes, mounted his fast horse and galloped towards Qingyun City.
The two traveled without stopping, only changing horses once at a post station along the way.
They finally arrived in Qingyun City the following evening.
Looking into the distance, a large crowd was indeed gathered at the city gate of Qingyun City. These people were all dressed in black, close-fitting outfits, exactly like the Li family members they had seen in Hongyun City.
They lined up in several rows, completely blocking the city gate. Caravans and pedestrians were kept out, and complaints filled the air.
On the city wall, the city guards stood ready, and the archers had already nocked their arrows, waiting only for the order to fire.
Zheng Yi rode his horse to the vicinity of the city gate and dismounted.
"Get out of the way!" he shouted.
The Li family members who were blocking the city gate turned around and saw Zheng Yi, their eyes showing surprise.
"It's Dark Night!"
"Night has fallen!"
A commotion broke out in the crowd.
A middle-aged man in a blue robe stepped out from the crowd and looked coldly at Zheng Yi.
“Mr. Dark Night, you’ve finally arrived,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
"Who are you?" Zheng Yi asked.
"I am Li De'an, the Third Elder of the Li family," the middle-aged man introduced himself. "I have come to Qingyun City on the orders of our patriarch to invite Mr. Dark Night to the Li family as a guest."
"A guest?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Blocking the city gates and preventing caravans from entering or leaving—is this how you host guests?"
“Mr. Dark Night, you misunderstand,” Li Dean said with a forced smile. “We were just worried that you wouldn’t do us the honor of visiting, so we resorted to this tactic. As long as you agree to visit the Li family, we will leave immediately.”
"What if I don't go?"
“Then please forgive my rudeness.” Li De’an’s face darkened. “Although Qingyun City has the backing of the Town Domain Division, it’s impossible for them to watch over this place 24/7. If you, sir, don’t give the Li family face, then the Li family will not give you face either.”
"Threatening me?" A cold glint flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes.
“This isn’t a threat, just the truth,” Li Dean said. “Mr. Dark Night, I advise you to be pragmatic. Our Li family sincerely invites you to be our guest, not to oppose you. As long as you visit the Li family, everything can be discussed.”
Zheng Yi remained silent for a moment.
He knew the Li family was forcing him to submit. If he didn't go to the Li family, they would continue to cause trouble in Qingyun City and Hongyun City, keeping him constantly on the run. If he went to the Li family, he might fall into their trap.
But he wasn't afraid.
“Okay, I’ll go,” he said.
"What?" Li Dean was somewhat surprised. "The master agreed?"
“I agree to visit the Li family,” Zheng Yi said, “but you must leave now and are not allowed to cause any more trouble in Qingyun City.”
“Of course.” Li Dean smiled smugly. “As long as you’re willing to go, sir, we’ll leave immediately.”
"Sir, you can't go!" Feng Ling said urgently. "The Li family is clearly targeting you. If you go, you'll be walking into a trap!"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Zheng Yi said in a low voice. "You stay in Qingyun City and help Wang Tianhai defend the city. I'll go to the Li family to investigate and then I'll be back."
"But."
“No buts.” Zheng Yi interrupted her. “This is an order.”
Fengling bit her lip, but finally nodded.
"Sir, please be careful."
Zheng Yi turned to Li Dean: "When do we set off?"
“Now we can,” Li Dean said. “We have prepared a carriage; please aboard, sir.”
He waved his hand to the side, and a magnificent carriage drove up from behind the crowd.
Zheng Yi glanced at the carriage and shook his head.
"I don't need a carriage, I'll ride a horse myself."
“Well…” Li Dean hesitated for a moment, “Alright, whatever you wish, sir.”
Zheng Yi mounted his horse, nodded to Wang Tianhai on the city wall, and then followed the Li family's group northward.
Li De'an rode his horse alongside Zheng Yi, a smug smile on his face.
“Mr. Dark Night is indeed straightforward,” he said. “Rest assured, sir, the Li family is reasonable. As long as you are willing to talk to us properly, everything is negotiable.”
"I hope so," Zheng Yi said calmly.
The procession traveled north along the official road.
As dusk settled, the western sky was dyed orange-red by the sunset. On both sides of the official road were fields of golden rice, which rippled and rustled in the breeze.
After walking for about two hours, it was completely dark.
“Sir, it’s getting late. Let’s rest for the night in the town ahead and continue our journey tomorrow,” Li Dean said.
"it is good."
The group arrived at a small town called Willow Town.
This is an ordinary border town with only one main street lined with low houses and shops. As it was getting late, most of the shops had already closed, and the street was deserted, with only a few dim lanterns swaying in the wind.
Li De'an led Zheng Yi to the largest inn in town—Wangyuelou.
Wangyue Tower is a three-story wooden building with an imposing facade, standing out conspicuously in this small town. Two large red lanterns hang at the entrance of the inn, appearing particularly eye-catching in the night.
“Sir, this inn is owned by the Li family, and the conditions are quite good,” Li De’an said. “Please rest here tonight.”
Zheng Yi glanced around the inn and nodded. He had long suspected that the Li family would sabotage things along the way, so he had remained vigilant. Since the Li family had chosen to stay here, there must be an ambush.
But he wasn't afraid.
Stepping into the inn, the decor was indeed impressive. The lobby was spacious and bright, furnished with several mahogany tables and chairs. Some calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, and a few potted plants were placed in the corners, creating an elegant yet sophisticated atmosphere.
"Please take a seat, sir." A waiter greeted them warmly.
Li De'an instructed the waiter to prepare wine and dishes, and then led Zheng Yi to a private room on the second floor.
A sumptuous feast had been set out in the private room, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat, as well as several jugs of fine wine.
“Please sit down, sir.” Li Dean gestured for him to sit.
Zheng Yi sat down in the main seat and glanced around the private room.
The private room was furnished in a very ordinary way, but he could sense that there were certain presences lurking outside the window and in the next room. Although those presences were well hidden, they couldn't escape his perception.
"It seems Elder Li was well-prepared," he said calmly.
"What did you say, sir?" Li De'an pretended not to understand.
“I say, shouldn’t those people hiding outside the window and next door come out and meet us?” Zheng Yi pointed to the window and then to the wall next door.
Li De'an's expression changed slightly.
"Sir, you have a keen eye." He sneered, no longer bothering to hide it. "Since you've already discovered it, then I won't conceal it any longer. Guards!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and more than a dozen experts dressed in black rushed in and surrounded Zheng Yi.
At the same time, the window was broken, and more than a dozen men in black jumped in from outside.
In the blink of an eye, the private room was filled with people, at least thirty or forty.
These people all exuded a profound aura, clearly highly skilled cultivators. They wielded various weapons, their blades and swords gleaming coldly, radiating a murderous intent.
“Mr. Dark Night, forgive me.” Li De’an stood up, his smile turning sinister. “Our patriarch said that as long as you obediently return to the Li family with us, we will not harm you. But if you resist, then don’t blame us for being impolite.”
Zheng Yi looked around at the men in black, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Elder Li, do you think these people can subdue me?"
"How will you know if you don't try?" Li De'an sneered. "While you are formidable, you can't fight against so many. There are thirty-six experts at the Great Ascension Realm here, plus this old man, a late-stage Great Ascension Realm expert, to back you up. No matter how strong you are, you can't possibly handle so many people by yourself, can you?"
"Thirty-six Mahayana Realm cultivators?" Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow. "The Li family really went all out."
“Sir, you are a man worth our utmost investment,” Li Dean said. “Sir, let me give you another piece of advice: discretion is the better part of valor. Come back to the Li family with us obediently, and everything can be discussed. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences.”
Zheng Yi stood up and patted off non-existent dust from his robes.
“Elder Li, I’m giving you two choices,” he said. “First, have your men withdraw now, and I can pretend nothing happened. Second, continue the attack, but you’ll have to bear the consequences yourselves.”
"Mr. Dark Night, are you still being stubborn?" Li De'an sneered. "Who do you think you are? Even if you are a peak Mahayana Realm expert, you couldn't possibly defeat so many people by yourself!"
"Is that so?" Zheng Yi said calmly. "Then let's give it a try."
He had barely finished speaking when he suddenly moved.
He appeared like a ghost in an instant in front of the nearest man in black and struck out with a palm.
Before the man in black could react, Zheng Yi slapped him away, sending him crashing into the wall, spitting blood, and rendering him unconscious on the spot.
"Charge! All of you, charge!" Li De'an shouted.
More than thirty men in black swarmed forward and surrounded Zheng Yi.
Swords flashed and shadows danced in the air, and a murderous aura filled the entire private room.
But Zheng Yi moved through the crowd with effortless ease, as if strolling in a garden. His movements were as fast as lightning, and his attacks were incredibly fierce. Each palm strike carried a sharp, celestial energy, sending the men in black flying wherever it went.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, all thirty-odd men in black were knocked down, lying haphazardly on the ground, groaning in pain.
Li De'an's face turned deathly pale.
He stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.
Thirty-six experts at the Mahayana Realm were defeated just like that?
"Elder Li, what else do you have to say now?" Zheng Yi stood there, his robes without a single wrinkle.
Li De'an trembled all over, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
"How could you be so strong?" he murmured.
“I told you, these people can’t control me.” Zheng Yi walked step by step towards Li De’an. “Elder Li, I gave you a chance, but you didn’t cherish it.”
"Spare me!" Li De'an knelt on the ground in terror. "Mr. Dark Night, spare me! I know I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again!"
"Admit your mistake?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Elder Li, your Li family has repeatedly caused me trouble, pressuring the Guo family, causing disturbances in Qingyun City, and even setting an ambush to capture me. Now that your schemes have been exposed, you think you can get away with just saying you admit your mistake?"
“I…I am willing to compensate,” Li De’an said in a trembling voice. “As long as you spare me, sir, I am willing to pay any price.”
Zheng Yi stared at Li De'an for a while, then said, "Fine, then tell me, what exactly does your Li family want? Why are you so determined to take over the Guo family's territory in the north of the city?"
Li De'an hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's because there's a spiritual vein underground in the north of the city."
"A spiritual vein?" Zheng Yi narrowed his eyes.
Spiritual veins are places where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, and are priceless treasures for cultivators. Cultivating near spiritual veins can make one achieve twice the results with half the effort, greatly accelerating the cultivation speed.
“That’s right. There’s a mid-grade spiritual vein underground in the north of the city,” Li De’an said. “Our Li family detected the existence of this spiritual vein long ago, which is why we’ve been trying to acquire the territory in the north of the city.”
"I see." Zheng Yi suddenly realized.
No wonder the Li family is so obsessed with the north of the city; it turns out it's all for that spiritual vein.
The value of a mid-grade spiritual vein far exceeds 300,000 taels of silver. If the Li family can acquire the land in the north of the city, it will be equivalent to acquiring that spiritual vein, which would be an enormous fortune.
“Elder Li, thank you for your frankness,” Zheng Yi said, “However, this spiritual vein is on the Guo family's territory and has nothing to do with your Li family. Don't even think about trying to get your hands on it!”
“I understand. I understand,” Li De’an nodded repeatedly.
“Go back and tell your patriarch,” Zheng Yi said coldly, “the Guo family will protect its own property. If the Li family dares to cause trouble again, I don’t mind going to the Li family myself. Then, it won’t be as simple as negotiations.”
"Yes, yes. I will certainly pass on the message."
Zheng Yi ignored Li De'an and turned to leave the private room.
He came outside the inn, looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, and smiled slightly.
"A spiritual vein. Interesting."
He mounted his horse and galloped off towards Qingyun City.
Traveling through the night, Zheng Yi returned to Qingyun City before dawn. (End of Chapter)