Central hall.
The steps of the central hall gleamed, and the boots made crisp, pleasant sounds as Li Zhouwei strolled in. The family guards on both sides bowed their heads in deference.
Having broken through to Qi Cultivation Realm, Li Zhouwei now handled some family affairs and was gradually taking over the chief’s duties. The strangeness he’d carried since birth had faded greatly. He now looked more like a living man and would even smile occasionally when he spoke.
But when his subordinates erred, the sharpness in his eyes returned, enough to make others tremble. Chen Yang followed behind him, sword in hand, as they entered the inner chamber together.
Li Zhouwei set his halberd on the rack, glanced at Chen Yang beside him and saw that he was still at the fifth stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm. He lowered his gaze and said, “Chen Yang, step forward.”
A warning bell rang in Chen Yang’s heart. Like lightning, he reviewed all recent events in his mind but found no mistake. He thought to himself. What is this tiger scheming again...? This doesn’t feel right...
He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, “Your subordinate is here!”
Li Zhouwei pulled a jade vial from his robe and tossed it into his arms, speaking casually, “This is Bright Spirit Powder. Take it quickly and break through.”
Chen Yang paused, slightly stunned, and accepted it with suspicion. Li Zhouwei wiped his weapon and said softly, “I know you’re not satisfied. I’ll report to Qingdu and try to allocate resources to you according to your lineage.”
He sat quietly and continued, “Feel free to try and see if you can catch up to me.”
Chen Yang slowly raised his head and saw, at last, a hint of a smile in those always-calm eyes. He met the gaze squarely, openly and responded in a low voice. Seeing Li Zhouwei wave his hand, he quickly withdrew.
It wasn’t until he had walked out of the main hall and returned to his own cave dwelling that a look of eager determination appeared on Chen Yang’s face. His gray eyes narrowed slightly.
He had been suppressed by Li Zhouwei for years. Outwardly obedient, he had nonetheless studied his every move in secret, observing his character and handling every task perfectly. He laid the groundwork for his own advancement.
Chen Yang calculated inwardly and murmured, “Then let’s try... We are both Qingdu blood.”
———
Grand hall.
Li Zhouwei watched Chen Yang depart, set his weapon aside and quietly stared at the sunlight filtering into the hall.
Chen Yang is shrewd and decisive... takes pride in the Li bloodline, and is full of ambition... It’s just a shame he’s not my full brother...
Since taking over family affairs, he had gradually come to understand his generation better. Li Ximing had weak heirs, Li Xijun remained unmarried to this day and only Li Xicheng’s line had a flourishing number of descendants.
Looking across them, most had decent temperament but only average talent that was not even close to Chen Yang. Li Zhouwei could only elevate him to a middle rank, but it was difficult to keep him close.
He pondered a while but wasn’t overly concerned. He removed his outer robe and stepped into the courtyard beyond.
Li Zhouwei’s gray-brown eyes narrowed slightly as he sensed something off. His spiritual sense swept through the area and found a young woman standing obediently with her head lowered and silent.
He gave her a brief glance and understood at once. He thought, I just passed my fourteenth birthday a few days ago. The family must’ve sent someone ahead.
Li Zhouwei understood clearly. He stepped forward without hesitation and opened the door. The girl startled slightly and rose, bowing her head as she spoke, “I am Xu Peiyu. Greetings, heir.”
Li Zhouwei gave a brief acknowledgement, slowly walked forward and invited her to sit. He began to observe her closely.
Her face was slightly round, with delicate brows and curved eyes. It was the classic look of someone from the Northern Jiangnan region. She had clearly been carefully selected and looked several years older than him. She was already smiling even before speaking.
As Li Zhouwei studied her, Xu Peiyu was also quietly observing him. She glanced at his eyes only once, carefully, yet even so, was abruptly seized by an overwhelming feeling.
She suddenly felt as though a golden radiance had taken form before her. His eyes seemed filled with vibrant color, so dazzling they made her breath catch. She exclaimed involuntarily, “Ah!”
Xu Peiyu was eighteen, well-versed in how to charm and manipulate men with feigned modesty. Yet at this moment, she was completely entranced. A strange passion surged in her chest and she didn’t even notice when the man before her took her hand.
All her careful plans vanished before that face and those eyes, gone before she even realized it. Not until she lay upon the bed did she begin to come to her senses.
Li Zhouwei simply watched her flushed face. His eyes were frank and clear which revealed his desire. He asked, “You’re from the Xu Family? What do you want?”
This was a perfect opportunity, yet Xu Peiyu found herself speechless. That face, so perfectly to her taste, left her powerless. After a moment’s thought, she replied, “Men like you, when they take without returning, are somehow all the more irresistible to women.”
She felt an immense sense of comfort in her act of devotion, as if she were wrapped in the shadow of a vast, towering beast. A deep sense of safety rose within her. Even if he were to devour her body like a tiger or leopard, the thought still pleased her.
Li Zhouwei paused in surprise. A strange emotion stirred within him, this kind of fiery feeling was something he had seemingly never experienced before. He couldn’t help but smile faintly and spoke a few gentle, pleasing words.
Li Zhouwei was born able to sense the emotions of others. In this moment, it felt as if a fire was burning before him and offering itself to him entirely. A faint, unfamiliar sense of being moved rose within his heart.
After all, he was only fourteen. For all his cunning, the books he had read only taught him how to outwit enemies, divide factions and maintain power. It never taught him how to love. He simply held her close, trying to mimic the tone of romantic words he’d seen in books and suddenly, a quiet hope stirred within him, Us second lineage has mostly lived one life with one partner... following our ancestral founder, Lord Tongya, as an example... Even if I cannot give her the title of wife, I could still have only her.
As he was still deep in thought, he noticed that Xu Peiyu didn’t seem to be listening to him at all. She gazed blankly at the bridge of his nose, her slender hand rested on his shoulder and quietly slid downward until it reached his chest.
Li Zhouwei narrowed his eyes slightly, and his emotions stilled in an instant. After studying her expression for just a moment, he understood immediately.
He cooled instantly, let out two self-mocking chuckles and suddenly grasped a simple truth, To deal with someone lacking firm resolve, all it takes is a Bright Yang body with enough allure.
He lowered his gaze, as though watching a fantasy quietly unravel, he thought, Unfortunately, I was born with unnatural gifts. For me, most people in the world have weak minds. She’s just a mortal, how could she possibly endure my test?
He could only push her away and return to sit at the head seat. Looking at the infatuation in Xu Peiyu’s eyes, he thought to himself, No wonder they fear me!