Chapter 63: The Approaching Storm

The night was as dark as ink, and inside the main hall of the Qi family's estate, lights blazed brilliantly, casting an oppressive atmosphere over the room.

All the senior members of the Qi family had gathered here, their complexions looking ashen and grim to the extreme.

"Is that really what he said?" an elder dressed in a light blue long robe asked in a heavy, deeply majestic tone.

In the center of the hall, Qi Xiaohu lay on a stretcher, both of his legs heavily wrapped in bandages. He nodded repeatedly, looking thoroughly wretched and pathetic.

As the proud young master of the dignified Qi family, his leg tendons had actually been severed by someone, reducing him to a cripple who wouldn't be able to walk for a whole month. This was not only a supreme humiliation but also a resounding slap across the face of every single member of the Qi family.

Qi Xiaohu hurriedly spoke up: "Grandfather, that Guan Sheng is simply arrogant and lawless. He doesn't take our Qi family seriously at all; he deserves to die!"

"We absolutely cannot let that bastard go."

"And that little bitch Li Yiyan, she was actually helping that scoundrel. If a woman like that is allowed to step foot through the gates of our Qi family, where on earth will we save face?"

Upon hearing this, all the senior members of the Qi family present nodded in agreement, their expressions turning exceptionally gloomy.

The elder was none other than the current head of the Qi family, Qi Taihai, who was also the grandfather of Qi Xiaolong and Qi Xiaohu.

Qi Taihai kept his hands clasped behind his back and let out a cold snort: "That Guan Sheng naturally cannot be let off."

"As for Li Yiyan..."

"We will have to wait until Long'er comes down the mountain to decide personally."

He paused, narrowing his eyes: "However, if we don't let this girl suffer a bit, how can my Qi family keep her in line in the future?"

"It is time she learns what kind of ending awaits those who provoke the Qi family."

With these words, everyone in the Qi family nodded in approval.

Qi Taihai immediately commanded: "Doesn't this little girl want to open a new company? I suppose it's under the guise of charity."

"Yesterday, when that Guan Sheng took the girl away from the Li family, he boasted that in three days, he would host a banquet inviting major figures from Jiangnan Province to make donations."

"I would love to see whether, after her new company completely loses face in front of the prominent figures of Jiangnan, she will still have the shamelessness to accept those donations."

Qi Xiaohu frowned: "Grandfather, you don't actually think anyone from Jiangnan Province will show up, do you?"

Qi Taihai smiled, looking somewhat sinister: "Why wouldn't they?"

"Since that Guan Sheng is the new owner of Tianhao Mansion, he naturally cannot be a nobody."

"Furthermore, not only will people attend this little girl's banquet, but our Qi family will attend as well."

"What?" Instantly, the members of the Qi family looked at each other in bewilderment, unable to understand.

"Old Master, are... are you serious? The Qi family is going to attend too?"

"Old Master, isn't that just handing face to that little bitch Li Yiyan?"

"Indeed, Old Master! How could we possibly go and show support for them?"

Qi Taihai naturally had his own plans.

He raised an eyebrow nonchalantly: "Not only will my Qi family attend, but we will also ensure that all the prominent figures on good terms with our Qi family attend as well."

"After tomorrow, spread the word that the Qi family will be attending Li Yiyan's new company opening!"

At this, everyone present was dumbfounded, utterly failing to grasp what the old master was trying to achieve.

Without even figuring out Guan Sheng's identity, they were going to attend his charity banquet?

Weren't they supposed to deal with Guan Sheng and Li Yiyan?

What... what was going on here?

Qi Xiaohu was stunned; how did events unfold so differently from what he had imagined?

What on earth was his grandfather thinking?

According to his plan, after his exaggerated description of how Guan Sheng had humiliated the Qi family, his grandfather should have flown into a rage, mobilized all the power of the Qi family to crush Guan Sheng, and perhaps even thrown the fellow into prison!

Reluctant to let it go, he asked, "Grandfather, shouldn't we investigate that punk's identity first?"

Identity?

Just as Qi Xiaohu finished speaking, a voice echoed from outside the main gates.

"There's no need to investigate that punk's identity; I know who he is!"

In a flash, everyone turned their gazes toward the entrance to see an exceptionally dashing, handsome, and noble-looking young man leading several mysterious masked guards into the hall.

The moment he saw the visitor, Qi Taihai's expression abruptly shifted to one of profound respect, and he hurried forward to welcome him.

"Young Master Long, what brings you here?"

The newcomer was none other than the premier crown prince of the Capital, the eldest young master of the Long family, Long Feng!

Yet, judging by the expressions of the Qi family members, it seemed they did not recognize Long Feng at all.

This was hardly surprising; after all, this eldest young master of the Long family had previously been stationed in the Southern Military Region and only ever appeared at gatherings within the absolute highest circles of society.

Qi Taihai had only caught a few glimpses of this Young Master Long thanks to his association with a certain heavyweight figure in Jiangnan Province.

Today, he was immensely shocked, never expecting that a top-tier political scion of such stature would grace the Qi family with his presence.

"What are you all staring at in a daze? This is none other than the son of the Southern Region's premier God of War, the Dragon Lord of Tianfu, Long Feng!"

Qi Taihai turned his head and glared at the others as he introduced him.

Instantly, upon hearing the title of the Southern Region's premier God of War, everyone dropped their jaws wide open and hastily bowed in salute.

"Greetings, Young Master Long!"

"Pay respects to Young Master Long!"

"Wishing Young Master Long peace and health!"

Qi Taihai also lowered his posture when facing Long Feng.

"Young Master Long, your presence at the Qi family today is for..."

Long Feng wore an arrogant demeanor, a cold smile playing on his lips: "It's because of Li Yiyan!"

"What?" Qi Taihai's gaze tightened.

Long Feng continued: "Elder Qi, I know your grandson also fancies Li Yiyan, so you don't need to fret over it."

"When your grandson comes down the mountain, I will naturally negotiate with him."

"Now that I've come to Jiangcheng, I've heard many things and learned of yesterday's scandal in the city. Therefore, the purpose of my visit here today, considering my acquaintance with you, Elder, is to help you deal with this fellow named Guan Sheng."

"As for his identity, it is indeed extraordinary, but in front of me, Long Feng, he is nothing more than an ant to be squashed at will."

Qi Taihai caught the underlying implication; if this Young Master Long could crush Guan Sheng at will, wasn't his coming to the Qi family redundant?

"Young Master Long, please feel free to speak your mind!"

Long Feng chuckled: "Elder is a sensible man, so I'll be direct. I would like to ask the Qi family to put on a show with me. Elder, if you would condescend to play the villain..."

As he spoke, Long Feng beckoned, and Qi Taihai leaned in close. The two spoke in whispers for a long time, out of earshot of the others in the night.

After briefing him, Long Feng swept a glance over the members of the Qi family, waved his hand, and strode away arrogantly.

After his figure vanished, the elderly master of the Qi family wore an expression that was dark and grim to the extreme.

He stared into the pitch-black night and let out a cold snort: "You want me to play the black-faced villain while you play the white-faced hero to win the favor of Li Yiyan's little girl."

"Long Feng, you really do know how to calculate."

Qi Taihai felt extremely aggrieved inside, yet remembering the formidable influence behind Long Feng, he dared not provoke him and could only silently swallow his compliance.

What infuriated him the most was that the brilliant scheme he had just thought up to humiliate Li Yiyan had ended up serving as wedding clothes for someone else.

Just then, a steward hurried in, rushed up to Qi Taihai, and spoke in a low voice.

"Old Master, the few individuals that the major figure from Jiangnan Province asked us to smuggle in have all arrived at the docks. Should we arrange for someone to tail them?"

Qi Taihai's nerves tightened, and he snapped: "Fool! Didn't I tell you already? Those people are no good news; just get them brought in safely, and the rest has nothing to do with the Qi family."

"Yes... yes... yes..." The steward had never seen such a ferocious expression on the family head's face before and nodded repeatedly in terror.

Following that, Qi Taihai acted as though nothing had happened, turned to the assembled Qi family members, and roared: "Scatter!"

"Proceed exactly as I instructed today!"

"Issue the notice: the charity banquet for Li Yiyan's new company will be attended by the Qi family and all the prominent figures on good terms with us!"

---

Meanwhile, after leaving the Qi family estate, Long Feng glanced back at the masked guard trailing behind him.

The guard removed his mask, revealing a rugged yet sturdy face.

Long Feng asked: "Are you certain that the Black Vulture King returned the money to my father's account and exposed me precisely because of this fellow named Guan Sheng?"

The guard nodded repeatedly: "Confirmed. I captured the old bastard Black Vulture's confidant and chopped off his crown jewels to force him into confessing."

"However, we didn't manage to find out what kind of background this Guan Sheng actually has!"

Long Feng gave a cold chuckle, his eyes darkening ominously: "I couldn't care less what his background is."

"He dares to touch my woman and even got a marriage certificate with her!"

"He—is doomed to die!"

"Proceed with the plan! First, find out where that dog Black Vulture is hiding!"

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

"Understood!"