Chapter 119 - It’s In My Blood

"Young Master, are you sure you're feeling okay?" Tang Lingling asked in a worried tone. 

"Your face is way too pale and I don't think you should overwork yourself."

Lee Tao shook his head.

"Nah, it's fine, Tang Lingling. I've been through worse and this is just a trivial thing." Lee Tao smirked as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder.

He then used her to balance himself and get the strength to move forward.

'Damn it, this is a blunder… I shouldn't have reminded Lee Tao about the meeting.' Tang Lingling cursed herself inwardly as she felt heartache seeing Lee Tao struggling for the first time.

Sometime later, Lee Tao and Tang Lingling saw Liu Ying along the path.

"What's happening to you, Xiao Tao?" Liu Ying was alarmed as she quickly rushed to Lee Tao's side.

Lee Tao held a cheeky smile as he pulled his arms out from Tang Lingling's shoulder.

"I'm fine, mother. Just a bit exhausted." Lee Tao said.

"Do you take me for a fool? Look at your current appearance, completely void of your previous confident and arrogant look." 

"Aren't I still pretty confident right now?"

Liu Ying twitched her mouth in disbelief.

Honestly, if she didn't see his current appearance, she would have believed he was absolutely fine based on his tone of speech.

"What can I do to help you out, Xiao Tao?" Liu Ying asked.

"Hmm, just give me some good artifacts for my journey." Lee Tao responded with a calm smile.

It was about time that he informed Liu Ying of his desire to venture into the Sierra Desert.

The Tianyun Kingdom is pathetically small in his mind that it won't even be enough to boost him much.

Meanwhile, Liu Ying held an understandable expression as she nodded her head.

"Alrighty then, I'll make sure to arrange some people for us to enter the treasure vault of our Liu Clan." Liu Ying said.

"Thank you," Lee Tao smiled as they headed toward the meeting room.

Despite understanding Lee Tao, Liu Ying was still worried about him as she held his hand tightly. 

Lee Tao felt an unfamiliar feeling rising in his heart when he saw such care and worry from his mother.

After a few more walking, they arrived at the meeting room where all the other elders were already seated.

However, their expression changed drastically when they saw the pale-faced Lee Tao.

"What's going on with Nephew Lee Tao?" Liu Zheng stood up with his face full of rage.

"Who the hell dares to attack my Nephew Lee Tao?" He shouted aloud and slammed his palm on the table.

At the same time, Liu Lanfen showed a murderous aura as she was prepared to get revenge for Lee Tao.

He was her lifesaver and anyone that tried to mess with their Liu Clan shall never be able to live their life peacefully anymore.

Meanwhile, Liu Ying twitched her mouth at their over-reaction.

Like hello? She was the mother of Lee Tao and if he was truly attacked by someone else, would she be standing here idly and not make a move?

"Stop overreacting, little brother." Liu Ying scolded as she helped Lee Tao take his seat.

"Xiao Tao is just feeling a bit unwell lately and was not attacked by anyone. Otherwise, you wouldn't be seeing me standing here since I would have slaughtered the attacker if there was one." She added.

Lee Tao nodded his head.

"Everyone should take a breather and calm down. It's just a minor illness that occurred and I'm fine as hell." Lee Tao said.

With Lee Tao and Liu Ying's reassurance, the elders finally managed to calm down their rage.

After all, Liu Ying's prestigious identity in the Liu Clan is not someone who can be trampled easily on, especially his son, Lee Tao.

"Is there anything we can do to help cure Nephew Lee Tao's illness?" Liu Zheng asked softly.

"It's alright, little brother." Liu Ying said as she patted Lee Tao's back. "He knows what to do and just needs a little bit of rest."

"I see…"

Sometime later, the meeting proceeded without any hindrance as it went smoothly.

"Alright, I forgot to say this, but I wish to make Zuo Xiaoli the new patriarch for the Lin Clan." Lee Tao suddenly said.

And he continued, "I know everyone must be confused, but trust me on this one. By implementing Zuo Xiaoli as the patriarch, we will gain a new subsidiary clan on our hands." 

"If Nephew Lee Tao said so, then I don't think I would have any problem funding for her." Liu Zheng said as he glanced at Liu Qiu.

"What do you say, Grandma Qiu?" 

Liu Qiu smiled blissfully as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm an old woman already and I will do anything to support Xiao Ying's son." Liu Qiu said.

"Since that's the case, then I shall declare the end of this meeting." Liu Zheng announced as he dismissed the rest of the elders.

Meanwhile, Liu Lanfen secretly walked near Lee Tao as she whispered, "Lee Tao, is your injury related to curing my condition?"

Guilt was filled in her face as she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she was the cause of his illness.

After all, Lee Tao was alive and kicking just the previous day yet he turned into a sickly man as soon as he finished curing her.

Lee Tao chuckled softly as he glanced at her.

"If I say yes, then what will you do?" Lee Tao asked as he leaned close to her ears. "Are you going to be some cringy girl and say stuff like using your body to repay this debt?"

Liu Lanfen's face turned bashful when she heard his teasing.

With a puff-up face, Liu Lanfen stuck her tongue out, "Hmph, go to hell, Lee Tao."

She then left the meeting room in a huff.

"You really haven't changed a bit despite being sick, Xiao Tao." Liu Ying shook her head.

"What can I do? It's in my blood."