Chapter 1202: A Huge Commotion (II)

"Unfilial beast!"

Li Zhouming ignored his father's curses. Now he finally understood that the lines his family had drilled into him earlier were meant to make things difficult for Li Zhouluo. Rage flared, molten and bitter, fueled by the surrounding shouts and outcries that thundered in his head.

For the first time, his eyes blazed with true fury as he roared, "Shut the hell up!"

His shout was backed by mana and struck like thunder on level ground. Even cultivators felt the shock, while the mortals nearly had their eardrums burst. All eyes turned toward him.

They saw a young man with sharp, upright features and thick brows. The usual nonchalance in his bearing was swept away by anger, replaced by a fierce brilliance of Bright Yang radiance that seemed to blaze from his body. His eyes were wide with fury as he stood in the center of the hall, hands clasped behind his back.

As his voice faded, the hall erupted in a rustle of robes, and countless figures fell to their knees.

After all, Li Zhouming was Li Ximing’s direct grandson. Even dressed in gaudy red robes, even painted and powdered as he was, his features still bore a striking resemblance to his grandfather's. As he stood in the center of the hall with Bright Yang radiance beneath his feet and anger flashing in his eyes, he seemed almost identical; only leaner, and lacking that gleam of heavenly light between his brows. The resemblance was enough to terrify the crowd. Several Foundation Establishment Realm guest cultivators averted their eyes at once and dropped to their knees.

"Daoist Master..."

Even his father, Li Chengzhi, was startled. His heart jolted violently, and it was as though he had touched burning coals; he released his grip at once, the curse dying on his lips. His legs went weak, nearly dropping him to the ground.

The courtyard fell utterly silent. Then a faint red glow emerged beside Li Zhouming, coalescing into the form of a burly man clad in crimson armor.

The man radiated ferocity. His hawk-shaped face and tiger whiskers gave him a fearsome air, and his eyes gleamed like twin blades, forcing everyone to lower their heads. He held two short clubs in his hands and lifted his chin slightly, standing at Li Zhouming's side with a face so dark that it seemed ready to bleed.

He was the Palace Sun Tiger, Ding Weizeng.

At that moment, everyone in the mountain compound finally registered that Li Zhouming was a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion Realm line. One after another, they fell silent as if struck by frost. No one dared exchange glances as the steps and the floor below filled with kneeling figures, most with their foreheads pressed to the ground.

"Your highness..."

When he heard the trembling voices below, Li Zhouming seemed to awaken from a dream. He tossed aside his fan, took a step back, and waved his hands hurriedly as he said, "Thank you, Dharma Protector Ding!"

He stumbled back to his seat, dazed, and no one dared speak to him again. Ding Weizeng nodded slightly; the Immortal Foundation radiance faded from his body, and the battle armor dissolved into a Daoist robe. He retreated to the shadowed corner of the hall without a sound.

All eyes turned to Li Xixuan, who had collapsed onto the floor. He rose awkwardly, his face pale with humiliation, and knelt again in silence.

It was as though a storm had swept through the hall; the air of confrontation was gone. Li Zhouluo lowered his gaze to the letter in his hand. Through the gaps between his fingers, he caught sight of Li Zhouming sitting dazed and hollow-eyed. His face was still painted and powdered as always, yet for a moment, a sting of sorrow welled in his eyes.

Good fifth brother...

But he had no time for reflection before a faint sound came from the courtyard.

Thud.

It was Li Chengdan collapsing to his knees. One of the few surviving cultivators of the Chengming generation, his eyes were tinged red as he spoke in a low, solemn voice, "Chengpan is the youngest among our brothers. I have guided him from the time he was brought from the lake's edge into its heart. The child has been diligent since youth, and earned praise wherever he went. He has served on the western shore for years without a word of complaint, yet now he is slandered like this! If his name cannot be cleared, what fairness remains in our family? Family head, I beg you to summon our elder brother. If Chengpan is guilty of even the slightest stain, I will share his punishment!"

His words were heartfelt and sincere. Li Zhouluo tightened his grip on the letter and closed his eyes, wavering within. He knew full well that his father, Li Chenghuai, was not truly injured; there was nothing stopping him from leaving seclusion.

At that moment, Li Xuanxuan, who had been sitting silently from the beginning, finally spoke. The old man's voice was hoarse as he said, "Chenghuai is in seclusion. Do not disturb him."

The old man's single declaration silenced the entire hall. The two family elders froze in hesitation. Li Zhouluo faintly heard a muffled sob amid the stillness. It seemed that Li Chengpan, who had kept his head bowed all this time, could no longer hold back his tears. His shoulders trembled faintly where he knelt in the hall.

The sound of sobbing struck Li Zhouluo's heart like a drum, leaving him dazed and uncertain. The letter in his hand suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand catties.

He spoke softly, "The matter of the western shore will be jointly investigated by the Jade Court and Qingdu. Chen Donghe and Li Wen are to proceed to the western shore. Both peaks will conduct interrogations together before reaching a final conclusion.

"This matter is still unclear, and the families along the western shore are in uproar. We cannot leave it unanswered. Ren Ting is to be stripped of his position and detained in Qingdu's underground cells. Li Chengpan, for failing his oversight duties, will be taken back to the main island for questioning."

Since Li Xuanxuan had blocked any attempt to summon Li Chenghuai, both Li Chengdan and Li Chengpan could only keep silent after Li Zhouming's outburst.

They watched as Li Zhouluo folded the letter in his hands and said calmly, "Li Hun has confessed to taking bribes. Execute him."

Li Hun jerked his head up, face twisted in terror, but he had no chance to speak. The cultivators at his sides seized him and immediately dragged him out.

As his limp body was pulled across the floor, Li Zhouluo said, "I must trouble the elders to make the journey. Within ten days, this matter will be resolved, and you will be informed of the verdict."

He felt stifled remaining in the hall. Rising quickly from the main seat, he bowed toward Li Xuanxuan and left without looking back. No one else moved at first; all eyes turned toward Li Zhouming. Only when he escorted Li Chengzhi out did most of the assembly finally disperse.

Li Chengdan's expression was grave as he followed the escort taking Li Chengpan back to the main island. Outside the hall, he encountered Li Zhouyang and his brother, who had just arrived. He said nothing, face cold and unreadable.

The two brothers looked embarrassed and murmured in soft voices, "Uncle... just now, Younger Sister Xinghan called us over..."

But Li Chengdan was no fool, he knew perfectly well what that meant. Forcing down his anger, he strode off, leaving behind Li Xixuan, whose face was dark with humiliation. Just as Li Xixuan was about to leave, a middle-aged man stepped into his path.

It was Li Shuya, Li Quewan’s elder brother. Ever since losing his ship on the lake, he had served by Li Xuanxuan's side; a misfortune turned to fortune.

He bowed slightly and said softly, "Elder, the old elder requests your presence."

Feeling somewhat ill at ease, Li Xixuan followed Li Shuya into the side peak. The small courtyard within was clean and orderly. Li Xuanxuan was calmly brewing tea at a square table, his expression serene. Seeing this, Li Xixuan relaxed a little.

He approached, dropped to his knees, and said respectfully, "Grandfather!"

The cup before Li Xuanxuan gently steamed with heat. Setting it aside, he slowly raised his wrinkled hand, rolled up one sleeve, and struck Li Xixuan across the face.

Slap!

The blow was not heavy, but the sound echoed sharply. The fair middle-aged man broke into a cold sweat and collapsed beside Li Xuanxuan's feet with a thud, not daring to utter a word.