Chapter 327: You’ll Move, If I Don’t

Yang Cheng's expression only grew odder.

"President, not only did City Leader Xie agree to our demands, but he doubled them."

Li Xiaofei was momentarily stunned.

"Really?"

He found it hard to believe.

Would someone from the Xie family of the Northwest really be so generous?

Even though this guy had been playing it safe recently by following all the policies set by Tan Zhenwei without making any alterations, Li Xiaofei had always felt that Xie Renyu was harboring some kind of hidden agenda. He never let his guard down around him.

Yang Cheng pulled out the already signed digital compensation agreement. Li Xiaofei took it and looked it over.

"Compensation to the Cloudy Sky Gang: 10 million star coins. 50 acres of construction land allocated for the Cloudy Sky Youth School, with 2,000 sets of educational equipment. Access to the Education Department’s exclusive light core network interface for the youth school. 20 tons of purified water. 5,000 sets of police equipment... Approval for the Cloudy Sky Gang's special economic zone in the city..."

As Li Xiaofei flipped through the document, he couldn’t help but freeze on the spot.

Good heavens!

These conditions were even more favorable than what old Tan had arranged. It was practically a giveaway. If he wasn’t still clear-headed, Li Xiaofei would have wondered if Xie Renyu was secretly his illegitimate son.

After double-checking that the digital contract was legitimate, he looked around at everyone with a bewildered expression.

"What the hell is this guy scheming?" Li Xiaofei was utterly baffled.

Yang Cheng cautiously suggested, "Boss, is it possible that this City Leader Xie is actually... a good person?"

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible," Li Xiaofei replied with certainty.

Li Xiaofei was convinced that this number-one family of the Northwest harbored malicious intentions when he found people from the Xie family in the Jiepeng camps. Xie Renyu had been chosen to represent the will of the family, so he definitely wasn’t acting out of kindness.

"Boss, what should we do next?" Yang Cheng asked. "Do we proceed with the contract?"

Li Xiaofei responded, "Of course we proceed. Why wouldn’t we if this kind of good fortune is handed to us on a silver platter?"

After a moment, Li Xiaofei ordered everyone in the Cloudy Sky Gang and Martial Alliance to closely monitor the activities of the Realm of Traces. As the saying goes, snakes follow their own paths and rats theirs.

Although gang members didn’t have a high status in society compared to the elite families, they were incredibly well-informed. If he mobilized Liuhe Base City’s gangs, they could certainly track some of the Realm of Traces’ movements.

Once Li Xiaofei finished issuing orders, he turned back to Xiao Bidao. The latter grinned sheepishly.

After a moment’s thought, Li Xiaofei said, "Alright, let’s not make this a habit. Keep doing a good job teaching martial arts. There are some promising youths in the Cloudy Sky Gang, strong, spirited men who, due to a lack of opportunity and martial techniques, have wasted their youth. However, it’s not too late if they put in the work. Old Xiao, train them well. Maybe one day they’ll grow and contribute to Great Xia."

"President, don’t worry. Teaching is my specialty," Xiao Bidao replied, overjoyed to have made it through this ordeal. "I’ll make sure to turn them into brave and passionate warriors."

Many of those present snickered.

Could the king of cowards really train elite soldiers?

Li Xiaofei didn’t bother arguing. After all, based on recent events, Xiao Bidao had indeed demonstrated impressive skill in teaching martial arts.

"Also, pull in some of the younger ones from the Martial Alliance to learn from you as well," Li Xiaofei added. "They’re all sons of Great Xia who want to preserve the ancient martial ways. Train them properly, and when you’ve molded them into capable warriors, you’ll have completed your task."

Xiao Bidao beat his chest confidently. "Rest assured, I’ll train a batch of experts for you!"

***

In the afternoon, Li Xiaofei participated in another round of the Martial God Tournament organized by the Longya Group. He was already the top seed in this division. As expected, he won the match without any suspense.

After the competition, he received an invitation letter through the light core system from the Longya Group.

"They’re inviting me to register as a streamer for Longya Group?"

Li Xiaofei glanced over the invitation and didn’t give it much thought. He wasn’t particularly interested in becoming a streamer. Sure, it could make money. But aside from that, it was just a waste of time.

By evening, Hu Yuer had cornered Li Xiaofei in his room once again.

"You're back at it again?" Li Xiaofei looked at the school principal who was dressed in a professional suit, and said, "Young fox, you should practice some restraint."

"Didn’t you want to handle serious business?" Hu Yuer replied, "This is serious business."

"What serious business do you have?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Hu Yuer answered, "Saving Ye Liuying."

"You have a plan?" Li Xiaofei inquired.

Hu Yuer shook her head and said, "No... I need some time to tame the Heaven's Mandate Silkworms. That’s the only way to obtain a chance to save her. In the meantime, as the Martial Alliance Leader, you’ll have to figure out a way to stall the Realm of Traces and keep them in Liuhe City."

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Heaven's Mandate Silkworms could control puppets, so there was some hope. However, Li Xiaofei shook his head.

He asked, "Even if you manage to tame the Heaven's Mandate Silkworms and save her, what then? Not only will it fail to clear her of suspicion, but it will also cement her reputation as a heretic. Worse, it would expose you. Then both of you will be hunted by the Inquisition forever. How long do you think you can run?"

Hu Yuer sighed. "I know all of that, but does that mean we should just give up on Ye Liuying?"

"Are you two close?" Li Xiaofei asked.

"No," Hu Yuer replied.

"Then why—"

"Because she was one of the old leader’s people, so I have to save her."

"How did you know old Tan?" Li Xiaofei asked, his curiosity piqued.

"That’s a long story... better left untold," Hu Yuer said, unwilling to delve into the past.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on Li Xiaofei. "So, the reason you've been trying to dual cultivate with me all this time was to urgently increase your strength and save her?"

Hu Yuer rolled her eyes. "What, did you think that I was so desperate for a man that I couldn’t live without you?"

Li Xiaofei chuckled. That wasn’t the attitude she had when she’d first asked him for help.

"So, you got hurt before because you were trying to save Ye Liuying?" Li Xiaofei asked again.

Hu Yuer didn’t hide it, nodding in confirmation. "I was just trying to gather some information. I didn’t expect the Realm of Traces to be so vigilant, and I almost got caught in a trap."

"Then stop trying to get involved," Li Xiaofei said.

Hu Yuer shook her head stubbornly. "No, even if it costs me my life, I have to save her. Whether it exposes me or not, the priority is getting her out first."

Li Xiaofei smirked. "Didn’t expect a sly fox like you to be so loyal."

He added, "I said you don’t have to move. I will."

"You’ll move, if I don’t?" Hu Yuer eyed him suspiciously. "Can you even pull it off?"