Only I am Venerable

They had certainly drunk a lot of wine. But in reality, could Qin Li and Shen Le not see that Lin Heng was deliberately feigning drunkenness? This was no small matter. After all, this piece of information was likely a secret known only to a select few, even within the Lin Family, yet Lin Heng had just revealed it this way. The reason was crystal clear to them both. Lin Heng... ultimately couldn’t bear to lose his two friends. And so, he had betrayed his family’s interests!

"Lin is drunk. We should have someone take him home," Shen Le said softly to Qin Li. As he looked at Lin Heng, who was slumped over on the table, the previous sharpness in his eyes had vanished.

"I’m... not drunk... I can... still... drink!" Lin Heng groggily lifted his head and mumbled. This scene was witnessed by the two attendants Lin Heng had brought with him. They walked over, supported him, and helped him leave.

Only Qin Li, Shen Le, and Leng Fangfei remained in the room.

Shen Le looked at Qin Li and said with a wry smile, "That Lin Heng is a sentimental guy after all. This news is almost certainly true. To think the Lin Family has been hiding two Shattered Void Realm experts all this time, without a single peep... It’s truly unexpected! But this is not good news."

Qin Li nodded and smiled. "Since Lin Heng warned us, it means that expert is most likely right here in Fengsha City. We just need to be more careful. A Martial Artist of that caliber probably won’t make a move rashly. His target should be Xiaoxue."

Shen Le nodded, then looked at Qin Li with a hint of envy. "I really have to hand it to you. Where did you find such a formidable ally? Tell me the truth, do you have some insanely powerful Sect backing you?"

Qin Li paused for a moment, then chuckled. "Regarding my origins, I think you know more about them than I do. Where would I find a powerful Sect?"

"No, you definitely do. This is unbelievable! To have such a powerful ally... Sigh. If I had an ally like that, I wouldn’t be so hamstrung by that group of damned old geezers!" Shen Le lamented, a cunning glint in his eye as he looked at Qin Li.

Qin Li had a sudden realization and said, "Can’t your wife’s Sect send some experts to help you?"

A faint, teasing smile appeared on Leng Fangfei’s coolly elegant face. "I always thought Young Master Qin was a brilliantly talented Martial Artist, the very picture of righteousness. I never expected you to resort to such petty schemes for the sake of your friend."

As she spoke, Leng Fangfei shot Shen Le a look and snorted. "You think I don’t know what you’re scheming? I’m your wife. Do you think I’d just stand by and watch your position be threatened? I sent a message to my Sect a long time ago, and they’ve already replied. In fact, my Sect’s people should have arrived by now. It’s eight Venerable Realm Elders from Ice Edge. There, are you satisfied?"

"Heavens! Eight of them? They... they’re not planning to make a move on my Thousand Mechanism Sect’s assets, are they?" Shen Le exclaimed dramatically.

"You... You’ll be the death of me." Leng Fangfei looked at her husband with exasperation. "Those eight seniors from my Sect have all renounced worldly desires and live reclusive lives. They would never have come if it wasn’t to help me. If you don’t welcome them, I’ll just tell them to go back!"

"Welcome? Of course, I welcome them! Only a fool wouldn’t. Hehe." Shen Le leaned in and planted a lightning-fast kiss on Leng Fangfei’s cheek, then laughed heartily. "My wife really is the best!"

A blush crept up Leng Fangfei’s cheeks. Surprisingly, she didn’t scold Shen Le, only chiding with a red face, "Behave yourself! We’re in front of Young Master Qin!"

Qin Li watched the couple with a grin. ’He really had to admire Shen Le. It took real skill to transform such an ice queen.’

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, many people in Fengsha City were seen leaving in a hurry, their faces ashen.

Soon after, a shocking piece of news began to spread!

Just two days prior, several of the families and Sects that had been most ruthless in suppressing the Qin Family had their entire elite forces virtually wiped out overnight. Of those who had participated in the slaughter of the Qin family, not a single one was spared.

All their treasures were looted. Then, in the most conspicuous location, three words were left, painted in blood: Blood for blood!

Yes, this was the handiwork of the teams led by Golden Eagle, Spiritual Eagle, and Ink Eagle. An eagle’s nature is inherently bloodthirsty. They had been feeling terribly pent-up during their time with the Qin Family, so now that they had the chance, they naturally went on a killing spree.

Those sent out were all elites the Qin Family had cultivated over many years. Their strength wasn’t necessarily at the very top, but they were by no means weak. They were mostly Martial Artists of the Celestial Integration and Celestial Embracing Realms. Against ordinary small families and Small Sects, their opponents didn’t even have a chance to resist!

They were no match for the Qin Family to begin with, let alone after sending the majority of their elites to Fengsha City to cause trouble. So, it was perfectly logical that the Qin Family’s strike succeeded.

No one, not even in their wildest dreams, would have imagined that the Qin Family would dare to make such a mad move at a time of crisis.

The Qin Family had gone mad!

This was the first reaction of many upon hearing the news.

As for the families and Sects that had suffered these devastating blows, their reactions varied. The vast majority chose to immediately return to their homes to see for themselves, as they couldn’t quite believe it was true.

However, there were also those who had a more extreme reaction. By mid-morning, a large contingent had charged to the gates of the Qin Mansion, intending to break down the entrance that had stood untouched for ages and storm inside.

However, they were held back by the elite disciples of the Qin Family.

Though not considered a High Level power, as a family with a legacy stretching back millennia, how could they be so easily breached?

During the standoff, Qin Li walked out with Leng Yao, his expression calm.

The opposing force numbered over seventy people. More than fifty of them were yellow-clad Martial Artists of all ages, arranged in two rows, blocking the main gate of the Qin Family. The remaining twenty or so were dressed differently, but judging from the auras they emanated, their strength was not to be underestimated.

These twenty-odd people were, in turn, loosely led by an old man who appeared to be in his sixties.

The old man was dressed in a long purple robe and had an average build. His sword-like brows slanted towards his temples, his complexion was ruddy, and his piercing eyes were currently filled with grief and rage.

He carried an ancient-looking longsword on his back, and he radiated an imposing aura just by standing there.

"Hehe, what’s all this? Make way, make way. I’m going out for a celebratory drink." A sudden smile spread across Qin Li’s face. Seeing this group of people overwhelmed with grief and indignation made him very happy. It wasn’t that he built his happiness on the suffering of others; he simply found these fools hilarious!

The moment the words left his mouth, all their faces turned livid as they glared at him.

A young man in his twenties standing beside the elder, his eyes seeming to split with rage, immediately pointed at Qin Li and roared, "Qin Li, you bastard! I’m going to kill you and avenge my brother!"

Qin Li’s expression instantly darkened. His eyes fixed on the young man, who looked a few years older than himself, and his voice turned to ice. "Where did you crawl out from? You have no manners! Are all the adults in your family dead? They let a child like you speak to me?"

"You have some nerve, Your Excellency. How old are you to be calling others a child?" The purple-robed elder’s eyes landed on Qin Li. "So you are Qin Li? Very well. I will fight you to the death!"

By now, crowds of onlookers had gathered from all directions, having heard the commotion. Qin Li even spotted Lin Heng, his face pale, standing among one of the groups. ’Clearly, the guy didn’t use his cultivation to sober up when he got back,’ Qin Li thought. ’He put on a good show of breaking ties with his friends and getting blackout drunk. No one in the Lin Family would suspect him of saying anything he shouldn’t have.’

The atmosphere at the Qin Mansion grew increasingly tense. Most of the spectators wore malicious expressions; it looked as if they were itching for an opportunity to swarm forward and help annihilate the Qin Family for good.

Just then, Shen Le appeared with a group of experts from the Thousand Mechanism Sect. He leaned lazily against one of the giant stone lions at the Qin Family’s gate, watching the assembled masters with a devil-may-care look on his face.

The ever-reclusive and mysterious Qian Family also made a sudden appearance. A group of about thirty of them arrived from a distance and stopped before the other stone lion.

The appearance of these two great powers made many of the onlookers’ eyes twitch. But the arrow was already nocked; it had to be loosed. Even if a mountain of blades or a sea of fire stood in their way, they were determined to press their attack!

Because by any calculation, the forces arrayed against the Qin Family were far stronger!

"A fight to the death? But why?" Qin Li asked, looking at the seething, purple-robed elder with a bewildered and innocent expression.

"Qin Li, stop playing dumb! Three days ago... my entire Tu Family was slaughtered by your Qin Family! You depraved monsters! You didn’t even spare the infants! Everyone under heaven has the right to strike you down!" the purple-robed elder roared. With a CLANG, he drew the longsword from his back and pointed it at Qin Li. "Today, I will claim justice for my family! Qin Li, prepare to die!"

Qin Li’s brow furrowed slightly. The instant the purple-robed elder spoke, a thousand thoughts raced through Qin Li’s mind. ’The entire family was slaughtered? Looking at the old man’s grief and rage, it doesn’t seem like an act. Could it be that after my people left, someone else went in and finished the job?’

At this thought, Qin Li couldn’t help but glance toward the contingents from the Wang, Xiao, and Lin Families. Of course, from such a distance and with only a fleeting glimpse, he couldn’t discern anything.

Just then, the purple-robed elder charged forward. His body moved like a bolt of lightning as his longsword shot toward Qin Li’s throat!

"Fight me? You’re not worthy!"

Qin Li’s voice had just reached the crowd’s ears when, before almost anyone could see how he moved, a sharp CRACK echoed through the air. When they looked again, half of a broken sword was embedded in the purple-robed elder’s chest. He was still holding the other half in his hand.