C9 – He Picked up His Blade and Slashed It Forward!
Liu Shuile was jolted to his core, and his typically unambitious heart suddenly burned with fervor.
Could Liu Xingchang truly elevate the Liu Family to greatness?
Liu Shuile furrowed his brow, voicing his concerns, “However, those two and a half mining veins are shared by at least five families. The Liu Family’s situation has improved with your influence, but isn’t it risky to suddenly make enemies of five clans?”
Liu Xingchang scoffed, “If those five families have seized what’s rightfully ours, they’ve made themselves our enemies. Why should we fear offending those who are already against us?”
Liu Shuile pondered, then added, “That’s true... But before you head to the Great Black Mountain Range, shouldn’t you meet with a visitor first?”
Liu Xingchang was initially taken aback, then it clicked.
The Liu Family now stood shoulder to shoulder with the Dai Family, no longer the feeble house that was the target of everyone’s derision. The once empty doorway must now welcome a throng of visitors.
Liu Xingchang shook his head, “The Great Elder and you can handle these visitors. I’d rather focus on more pressing matters.”
Liu Shuile insisted, “We can manage the others, but there’s one person you really must see.”
“Who?” Liu Xingchang inquired.
“The Third Prince,” Liu Shuile revealed.
“The Third Prince?”
Liu Xingchang paused, then a smile spread across his face, “Even if the Third Prince hadn’t sought me out, I would have needed to see him. This actually saves me some effort.”
......
Once Liu Xingchang was ready, he met the Third Prince at the Liu Family’s back door to avoid the throng of visitors at the front. The Third Prince was the epitome of decorum and elegance, his demeanor as soothing as a gentle spring breeze.
Accompanying the Third Prince were the Prime Minister’s children, Qing Yi and Qing Bai.
Upon seeing Liu Xingchang, Qing Yi playfully punched him in the chest and huffed, “Hey, you’re so formidable, yet you didn’t think to inform an old friend? You had me worried sick yesterday, to the point where I defied my father’s wishes and dragged my brother to the Dai Family to rescue you!”
Liu Xingchang coughed from the punch and managed a wry smile. “You know, you haven’t changed a bit since we were kids. Always greeting me with a punch like some tomboy.”
Qing Bai frowned from the sidelines. “Qing Yi, Liu Xingchang’s wounds haven’t fully healed. You shouldn’t be so reckless.”
”Oh no, I forgot!” Qing Yi’s face filled with remorse as she steadied Liu Xingchang, apologizing, “I’m so sorry, I completely forgot about your injury from yesterday. I just wanted to express my affection in this way...”
Liu Xingchang suddenly grinned, shrugging off the pain with a hearty laugh. “Gotcha, you little rascal. You thought you could really hurt me with those light taps?”
”You’re asking for it now!” Qing Yi’s fair face flushed with indignation as she launched another flurry of punches, but this time Liu Xingchang was quick enough to catch her small hands.
Her hands felt cool and tender, and even Liu Xingchang’s heart seemed to flutter at the touch.
Embarrassed, Qing Yi demanded, “Let go this instant! It’s improper for men and women to touch like this.”
Liu Xingchang chuckled. “How many nobles’ heads have you knocked in the Royal Capital? And now you’re lecturing me on propriety?”
”Ah!” Qing Yi snatched her hands back, stomping her foot in frustration before running off to stand by her brother, giving Liu Xingchang the cold shoulder.
“Uncle Xun, what’s happening here?”
With those words, all eyes turned to Liu Xingchang.
Upon Liu Xingchang’s arrival, the Wang Clan burst into raucous laughter.
Their leader, a sleazy old man with a mustache, flashed a yellow-toothed grin and mocked, “Oh look, the Liu Family’s good-for-nothing head has come to the rescue. We’re shaking in our boots, hahaha...”
Despite their irritation with the Wang Clan’s demeanor, Liu Jitai’s veterans couldn’t help feeling humiliated.
“Why isn’t the big boss enjoying his cushy life at home instead of slumming it with a floozy in our grimy mine?”
“His presence just fuels the Wang Clan’s ridicule. We’ve lost our spirit... It’s humiliating!”
Xun Tong’s eyes, fierce as a tiger’s, narrowed as he frowned and asked, “Xingchang, why are you here?”
The deputy general, Liu Chang, sneered, “The young master is here for a taste of life in the mines, I suppose.”
Standing next to Xun Tong was a striking woman dressed in a form-fitting outfit, a long sword in hand, exuding a confident air.
The woman glanced at Liu Xingchang and questioned, “Father, is he the inept head who’s driving the Liu Family to ruin?”
Xun Tong replied sternly, “Chan Er, we owe a great debt to the old general. You may disdain his grandson, but you mustn’t speak so recklessly.”
Xun Chan quickly acknowledged with an “oh” and fell silent, though her eyes still flickered with scorn.
Liu Xingchang looked at Xun Chan without anger, simply pointing at the Wang Clan members as he addressed Xun Tong, “Uncle Xun, what’s the trouble? What’s occurred here?”
Xun Tong, his thick eyebrows furrowed, explained, “Those scoundrels from the Wang Clan covet the remaining half of our mine. They’re up to no good today, but they won’t get away with it. We’re here to stand guard, and they won’t set foot in our territory!”
Liu Xingchang questioned, “Guarding? Isn’t that rather time-consuming?”
Liu Chang, unable to contain his anger, retorted, “Are you suggesting we abandon the Heavenly Stone mine’s defense, like you wanted us to do three years ago? You fear the Wang Clan’s assault on the Liu Family, yet you fail to see that without this mine, our family would be doomed!”
All of them glared at Liu Xingchang with fury in their eyes.
Xu Chan’s eyes brimmed with even greater disdain and disgust.
The Third Prince, along with Qing Yi and Qing Bai, were taken aback. They turned their attention to Liu Xingchang, curious to see how he would handle the situation.
Liu Xingchang’s expression remained unchanged. He walked over to Liu Chang, drew a nearly rusted knife from his waist, and said, “Uncle Liu, you’ve misunderstood me. What I’m trying to say is, if others dare to disrespect us so blatantly, why should we simply stand by and take it? Why can’t we arm ourselves and fight back? For instance...”
With a sudden fierce look in his eyes, Liu Xingchang whirled around and delivered a vicious slash to the neck of the smirking, moustachioed old man from the Wang Clan.
“Like this!”
As the old man’s head soared into the air, everyone froze in shock.
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