Chapter 788: A Big Commotion

Li Zhoulou hesitated for a moment, then lifted the letter in his hand. Everyone in the courtyard watched him. An Siwei, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the An family, stood silently beside An Zheyuan. The mining operation was a place ripe for exploitation. An Xuanxin, who was in charge of the matter, had been personally summoned by Li Zhoulou. This young man and his brother, An Xuantong, were both geniuses of their generation, and Li Zhoulou was quite familiar with them. He had a plan in mind: 'The An family has a prominent background; there's no need for them to be greedy for a few pieces of ore. Even if they took some, the daily accounts currently balance, which means they haven't taken anything. These four individuals together represent ninety percent of the voices on the lake; they need to be divided.'

He put down the envelope and said amicably, "Elders, please don't be hasty. Everything must be done according to reason. I have read and remembered all the reports Xuanxin submits daily. The changes in the mine's branch lines are part of the rules still being finalized. I was going to discuss this with Xuanxin anyway, so there's certainly no question of misappropriation or private taking." He conceded, giving a signal. Di Liguang immediately went to help An Xuanxin. The kneeling An family members stood up. Old An Zheyuan’s face was flushed red, and he rambled on about poor discipline, but An Siwei held him back. The middle-aged An family Foundation Establishment cultivator turned, gave An Xuanxin a cold look, and said, "However, the west bank is in an uproar, and An Xuanxin is guilty of inadequate supervision! This subordinate will now seize him and take him to the Jade Court for interrogation!" He immediately grabbed An Xuanxin from the ground. A few An family members headed straight out of the hall, making a clean escape.

As soon as the An family left, Li Chengzhi, who had been lying in his seat looking utterly weak, immediately lowered his head. Li Zhouming, who had previously spoken up for the An family, felt increasingly uneasy. Though he was useless in other ways, having been a womanizer for many years and often contemplating women's hearts, he was at least good at reading expressions. The expressions of several clan elders caught his eye. This well-known scoundrel felt uncomfortable. His fan snapped shut with a "swish," clutched tightly in his hand. Yet, everyone always showed superficial respect; privately, no one cared about him. Li Cheng, with his graying hair, watched the An family depart, then turned and quietly asked, "Have Zhou Fang and Zhou Yang not arrived yet?" These two elder brothers of the Zhou generation had lost their father, and their closest relative was their uncle, Li Cheng. They had always been obedient to Li Cheng, but now they were late. Without these two brothers' backing, and with the other clan elders being mortals, Li Cheng felt somewhat insecure.

Li Zhoulou had settled An Xuanxin. The remaining two were Ren Ting, Li Minggong's maternal uncle, and Li Chengpan, his clan uncle. Each was more difficult to handle than the last. He decided to tackle the easier one first and called out, "Li Hun!" Li Hun's lineage branched off from the main one, but his father, Li Anshuo, managed affairs on the North Bank and had married into the Chen family, which gave him some prestige. However, in this great hall, he had no prestige whatsoever. He cowered in the back. When Li Zhoulou spoke, the middle-aged man trembled, his knees shifted forward two inches, and he replied, "Your humble servant is here!" Li Zhoulou considered that the three had undoubtedly verified the message, and he spoke first: "You supervise the spiritual rice. This 30% bribery matter must have passed through your hands. Now I'm seeking confrontation with the families on the west bank and the officials on the peak. Confess in advance who instructed you… otherwise, once discovered, I'll kill you first."

Li Hun kowtowed and replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, there was an arrangement, but your humble servant received orders to collect it in two portions… The message was passed to me by Guest Elder Ye from Nine Gates Peak, who said it was an order from the Garrison Commander of Nine Gates Peak… These matters… have always been managed by the Garrison Commander of Nine Gates Peak." Silence fell over the hall instantly. Li Zhoulou abruptly stopped speaking—the Garrison Commander of Nine Gates Peak was An Xuanxin, who had just been removed. "Where is Guest Elder Ye?" Li Zhoulou asked. Chen Donghe, at his side, replied, "I investigated this person. A few months ago, a report stated he reached the peak of the Fetal Breath stage. After reporting to his family, he went out to break through and seek opportunities." This clearly indicated he had escaped early. Li Zhoulou saw Li Hun's frightened expression, probably unaware of the inside story. He quietly ordered, "Di Liguang, bring An Xuanxin and the He family woman here. Then go to the bank and interrogate the peak officials, and bring in the family heads waiting in the mountains one by one." Chen Donghe replied softly, "Patriarch, the He family woman committed suicide."

This made Li Zhoulou grit his teeth. But the fair and plump Li Xixuan suddenly knelt forward and sighed, "Patriarch! These underlings are involved in shady dealings, it's hard to tell clearly. Please… please invite Chenghuai out and let him use a spell to make everything clear!" This statement caught Li Zhoulou by surprise, making him slightly stunned. Li Cheng immediately followed, also kneeling and pleading, "This child's innocence cannot be wrongly accused! Please, Patriarch, invite your brother out to question him!" Li Chengzhi sat silently. The last old man, Li Xiye, stirred. This old man, with his white hair, was very old and looked kind. He closed his eyes and ultimately did not follow suit.

Li Zhoulou was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping around the faces of those present. Li Chengzhi, who wanted to protect An Xuanxin, had been forced to open his eyes by the mention of the Nine Gates Peak Garrison Commander, but now he was silent. This uncle was probably the one least wanting to be involved among the four. The remaining two, Li Xixuan and the cultivated Li Cheng, were the most insistent. Li Cheng's father, Li Xiye, had gained enormous prestige through the loss of his child, and clearly valued his reputation, appearing conflicted. 'It's obvious these people deliberately brought this up… and they insist on father coming out of seclusion…' He couldn't grasp the elders' intentions for a moment. He gritted his teeth and said, "Father is injured, and it might not be suitable for him to come out of seclusion. These are just minor matters."

Li Xixuan sighed, his fair, plump face filled with regret, and replied, "We still hope the family makes decisions together. Please invite Chenghuai out; after all, it concerns the reputation of a major lineage. An investigation would only take half a day… otherwise, Chengpan's entire latter half of life will be ruined!" Li Zhoulou's words were completely blocked by him. Li Chengpan in the hall continued to lower his head and endure, silent. The pressure was entirely on Li Zhoulou. Before he could speak, a loud shout rang out: "Doesn't Lord understand the Patriarch's meaning?!" This sudden shout in the hall startled everyone. They all looked up, but to everyone's surprise, a young man in a flowing red robe stepped forward, his face full of indignation.

It was Li Zhouming, who could no longer hold back. This direct descendant of the Purple Mansion was furious. He threw his fan down and cursed, "If it can't be investigated now, then lock them all up and wait a year or two! One is aggressive, another is sighing—what do you want?!" Everyone was stunned, whispering to each other, exchanging silent glances. 'What kind of madness is this guy on now…' Li Xixuan was startled into a daze by his shout. He was Li Minggong's father, and ordinarily, who would dare to give him such a look? His fair face instantly flushed, and he gritted his teeth, "You…" Li Zhouming had been seething with anger the whole time. His red robe fluttered as he stepped forward, cursing, "I respect you as an elder, but if you hadn't given birth to a good daughter, what would you be?! Though I'm a scoundrel, at least I know how to lie low! What do you want? What do you want?! Taking advantage of the True Person being out, you've come to bully us juniors, haven't you?! You, you, you, your mother's head, what are you…" Even fouler words were about to come out of his mouth. Li Chengzhi, next to him, was so startled he practically rose from his deathbed, quickly grabbed his sleeve, and cursed, "Beast! Are you trying to rebel?!"

Immediately, everyone was thrown into disarray. Li Zhouming was indeed an impulsive scoundrel, but his temper was usually easy to manage. No one expected him to suddenly go crazy. Moreover, he was a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion, so no one dared to provoke him. They all retreated, except for his father, Li Chengzhi, who jumped up, his back no longer aching and legs no longer hurting, full of vigor, pulling and scolding him. But his father, being a mortal, couldn't control him. Although Li Zhouming was unreliable, he was at least at the third level of Qi Condensation. Among the four elders, only Li Cheng had cultivation, and he was one level lower than Li Zhouming. This scoundrel, when he went mad, was like an ox. Li Xixuan was so afraid of being slapped to death that he immediately lost his composure and scrambled back, almost soiling himself. Li Cheng and the two juniors rushed up in a panic to protect him.

"Beast!" Li Zhouming ignored his father's curses. Now that he understood, he realized that the words his family had taught him earlier were also meant to put Li Zhoulou in a difficult position. This surge of anger was both hot and resentful, compounded by the chaotic shouts and exclamations around him, making him dizzy. For the first time, he was seen glaring angrily, roaring, "Shut the hell up!" He used his spiritual power to amplify his voice. It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Cultivators fared better, but mortals almost had their eardrums shattered. All eyes turned to him. They saw that the young man had well-defined features, slightly thick eyebrows. His normally nonchalant demeanor had been completely washed away by anger, and a bright, dazzling glow emanated from him. His eyes wide with fury, he stood with his hands behind his back in the hall. When his shout ended, many in the hall clattered to their knees.

Li Zhouming was, after all, Li Ximing's grandson. Even dressed in flamboyant red robes, and no matter how much makeup he wore, his features still bore a striking resemblance. Now, stepping forward with a radiant glow and standing in the hall, glaring furiously, he only lacked the divine light on his forehead to be exactly like him. He almost scared everyone out of their wits. Even the Foundation Establishment guest elders had to avert their eyes, looking at each other before kneeling. "True Person…" At that moment, even his father, Li Chengzhi, felt his heart jump. He released his grip as if he had touched hot coals, the word "beast" could no longer escape his lips, and his legs gave way, almost making him kneel. The courtyard fell silent, but a faint red light emerged from beside Li Zhouming. A muscular man in crimson battle armor suddenly materialized. This man exuded a fierce aura, with a swallow's jaw and tiger's whiskers. His eyes were like piercing swords, making everyone afraid to look up. Two short clubs were in his hands. His chin was slightly raised, and he stood beside Li Zhouming, his expression so dark it seemed blood would drip from it. It was Hall Sun Tiger Ding Weizheng.

At this moment, everyone on and off the mountain finally remembered that he was the direct descendant of the Purple Mansion. They became as silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to look at each other. People knelt everywhere, from the steps to the floor, most with their heads pressed to the ground. "Your Highness…" Hearing the trembling whispers from below, Li Zhouming seemed to awaken from a dream. He threw his fan down, stepped back, and waved his hands repeatedly, "Excuse me, Protector Ding!" He returned to his seat, looking distraught, but no one dared to speak to him again. Ding Weizheng nodded, the light of his immortal foundation disappeared, his battle armor transformed into a Daoist robe, and he silently retreated to a corner of the main hall. Li Xixuan, who had collapsed onto the ground, became the focus of everyone's gaze. With an extremely awkward expression, he scrambled up and knelt on the ground, silent.

The great hall was as if swept by a storm. The aggressive atmosphere disappeared. Li Zhoulou merely lowered his gaze to the letter, seeing Li Zhouming, who looked distraught through the gaps between his fingers. Although his face was still powdered, his eyes suddenly felt a little sore. 'Good Fifth Brother…' But he had no time to think further. He only heard a soft sound in the courtyard: "Thud…" It was Li Cheng who had knelt down. He was one of the few remaining cultivators of the Chengming generation. His eyes were slightly red, and he said in a deep voice, "Chengpan is the youngest among the brothers. From being brought from the lake's periphery to inside the lake, I have always been the one leading him. This child has been diligent since childhood, always earning praise wherever he went. He stayed on the west bank for several years without complaint. Now, if he suddenly suffers such slander and cannot have his name cleared, where is the fairness in this family? Patriarch, I only ask that you invite our elder brother out. If Chengpan is even slightly unclean… I am willing to bear the same crime as him!"

His words were sincere and heartfelt, making Li Zhoulou clench the letter in his hand and close his eyes, his heart wavering. He actually knew that his father, Li Chenghuai, was not seriously injured and was not unable to come out of seclusion… Li Xuanxuan, who had been sitting still and observing from beginning to end, finally spoke. The old man's voice was hoarse, "Chenghuai is in seclusion; do not disturb him." The old elder's single sentence brought immediate silence to the hall. The two clan elders hesitated and stopped. Li Zhoulou vaguely heard a sobbing sound, as if Li Chengpan, in the center, finally couldn't hold back his tears. The young man had kept his head bowed, but now his shoulders trembled slightly. This sobbing sound struck Li Zhoulou's heart, making him suddenly feel dazed and confused. He found the letter in his hand heavy as a thousand catties, and whispered, "Regarding the west bank matter, both Jade Court and Qingdu will send people to investigate. Chen Donghe and Li Wen are to go to the west bank. Both peaks will jointly interrogate and then make a final decision."

"This matter is still unclear, and the families on the west bank are in an uproar; an explanation must be given. Ren Ting is to be temporarily relieved of his duties and taken to the bottom of Qingdu. Li Chengpan, due to inadequate supervision, is to be brought back to the continent for investigation." Li Xuanxuan had blocked the path to inviting Li Chenghuai out, and Li Zhouming had caused a huge commotion. Li Cheng and the other two could only remain silent, watching Li Zhoulou fold the letter in his hand and say in a gentle voice, "Li Hun accepted bribes and confessed without reservation. Kill him." Li Hun suddenly looked up, his face filled with terror, but he didn't even have a chance to speak. The cultivators on both sides immediately dragged him away. Li Zhoulou watched him being dragged limply on the ground and said, "Thank you, elders, for coming. This matter will be concluded within ten days, and you will be informed." Feeling uncomfortable staying there, he quickly rose from the main seat, bowed to Li Xuanxuan, and left without looking back. No one moved. They looked up at Li Zhouming. Only after he left with Li Chengzhi did most of them disperse.

Li Cheng's expression was solemn. He chased after the escort bringing Li Chengpan back to the continent. Upon exiting the hall, he saw his elder brothers, Li Zhouyang and his sibling, who had just arrived. They looked cold and silent. The two brothers had awkward expressions and softly, meekly said, "Uncle… Sister Xinghan invited us away just now…" But Li Cheng was not foolish; how could he not understand? He suppressed his anger and walked away, leaving Li Xixuan, who had completely lost face, looking embarrassed. He lifted his foot to leave but saw a middle-aged man blocking his path. This was Li Shuya, Li Quewan's brother. After losing the boat on the lake, he had been following Li Xuanxuan, which could be considered a blessing in disguise. He bowed and said in a deep voice, "My Lord, the Old Lord has invited you." Li Xixuan felt slightly awkward. He followed Li Shuya into the side peak and saw that the small courtyard was clean and orderly everywhere. Li Xuanxuan was brewing tea by an Eight Immortals table, his expression peaceful. Only then did he feel a little relieved. He knelt down respectfully before him and said, "Grandfather!" Li Xuanxuan's cup was steaming hot, emitting white vapor. He set the cup down for a moment. His wrinkled hand lifted and pulled up the sleeve of his other arm, then stretched forward and slapped Li Xixuan across the face. "Slap!" The blow wasn't heavy, but it was very loud. The fair-skinned middle-aged man immediately broke out in a sweat and knelt with a thud beside his feet, not daring to speak.