Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 72: Tit for Tat

When he finally reached the seat reserved for the family head, Yun Xiaotian, supported by Yun Yanrou, tremblingly sat upon the main chair. Then, in a weak voice, he said, “I wonder what business brings Brother Hongyi to my Yun family today?”

“Oh, such words are too formal. We are both children of Shayan City—ought we not to support one another? Why draw lines between us?” The head of the Li family, Li Hongyi, sipped his tea and replied with some displeasure.

“If there’s nothing important, then please leave. I am injured and fear I cannot be a good host,” Yun Xiaotian said impatiently, before succumbing to a fit of coughing.

“My dear brother Xiaotian, seeing you like this, I suspect you no longer have much energy to manage family affairs. Why not let me help you?” Li Hongyi said openly.

“No need. See the guest out,” Yun Xiaotian forced himself to stand. He then instructed Yun Feng accordingly.

At this moment, the head of the Li family rose, his expression suddenly solemn. “A few days ago, I discovered a spirit stone mine in the west. Lacking manpower, I requested the aid of your Yun family in transporting the stones. Now that my Li family’s affairs are in order, I have come to retrieve the goods.”

“Well, Brother Xiaotian, where are the spirit stones?”

So, the true purpose emerges at last.

Yun Yanrou, standing beside Yun Xiaotian, stepped forward as if to speak, but Yun Xiaotian raised a hand to stop her. He already knew of this matter.

After Yun Xiaotian’s injury, the family had spent much of its wealth on his treatment, but his wounds showed no sign of healing, and the family coffers were nearly empty. At that time, the Li family approached, offering generous payment for escorting a shipment. Given the generations of rivalry between the Yun and Li families, Yun Yanrou hesitated, yet did not refuse outright.

At precisely this time, news spread that a third-grade Detoxification Pill had appeared in the western city. Tempted by this hope, Yun Yanrou accepted the task. The Li family’s payment, combined with what little the Yun family had left, might be just enough to purchase the pill.

Yun Xiaotian’s entire body was blackened, as if poisoned. The third-grade Detoxification Pill might be his only hope.

Yet, unexpectedly, their movements were exposed. The so-called goods of the Li family were robbed by the Whale Sand Gang while passing through the Ring Sand Ridge.

Now, when the Li family demanded the goods, Yun Xiaotian could only reply helplessly, “Master Li, the goods were taken by bandits from the Whale Sand Gang. Today, I cannot return them to you.”

At these words, Li Hongyi’s face changed drastically. He slammed his palm upon the table, splintering it with a crack, and stood, shouting in fury, “What? The goods were robbed? And you call yourselves a great family? You can’t even protect a shipment! Perhaps the Yun family has no place in Shayan City after all.”

“Master Li, the goods are gone. However, whatever number of spirit stones you lost, my Yun family will compensate you,” Yun Xiaotian said quietly.

Though his strength had recovered somewhat, he was still loath to fall out with the Li family.

“Compensate? And can you afford it?” Li Hongyi barked. “Among the goods were not only common spirit stones but also more than a dozen spirit essences. Even if you sold the entire Yun family, you couldn’t pay for them!”

“Master Li, if there truly were spirit essences, then I admit we could not compensate you. But are such things so easy to come by? Moreover, if such essences existed, why would you entrust them to my Yun family instead of bringing them back yourself? It’s hard to believe.”

“That’s none of your concern. The point is, your Yun family lost a dozen spirit essences belonging to my Li family. What do you propose to do about it?” Li Hongyi demanded.

“And what do you propose, Master Li?” Yun Xiaotian retorted coldly. It was clear Li Hongyi had not come today for mere compensation—he wanted to see what the Li family truly sought.

“It’s simple, Master Yun. If you sincerely wish to make amends, then just change your family name to Li. That will settle the matter.” Li Hongyi smiled smugly.

“Are you joking with me, Master Li?” Yun Xiaotian’s anger flared.

“Now, Master Yun, everything can be negotiated. I anticipated you would refuse to trade away the Yun family. After so many years of friendship, I am willing to make a concession. Hand over that item, and this will all be forgotten,” Li Hongyi finally revealed his true purpose.

“What item?” Yun Xiaotian was baffled.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Yun Xiaotian. If you don’t hand over the burial ground map today, I’ll see that your Yun family vanishes from Shayan City.”

At last, the fox revealed its tail. Yun Xiaotian sneered inwardly.

Excellent. Truly excellent! Among the crowd, Zhang Heng watched the drama unfold with keen interest.

“Master Li, if you truly came for those few chests of ‘spirit stones,’ my Yun family would find a way to repay you. If you’ve come to cause trouble, know that I am not one to shy from a fight,” Yun Xiaotian shot back.

“Yun Xiaotian, can you not see your situation? You can barely stand—what can you use to oppose me?”

“Men!” With a loud shout, the dozens of cultivators Li Hongyi had brought with him flooded into the hall, their spiritual power emanating—every one of them high-level Qi Sea cultivators. The conflict was about to erupt.

“You have come well prepared. It seems today my Yun family is doomed. But tell me, how did you know I possessed the burial ground map?” Yun Xiaotian chose to yield for the moment, avoiding direct conflict.

“Haha! For that, I must thank your dutiful foster son!” Li Hongyi laughed heartily, not the least bit anxious. With Yun Xiaotian fallen, the Yun family was like fish on his chopping block, ready for slaughter.

“Yun Feng—it was you?” Yun Xiaotian said angrily, but the effort brought on a fit of coughing. “I have treated you kindly—why betray me?”

No longer hiding, Yun Feng strode to Li Hongyi’s side, bowing respectfully before addressing Yun Xiaotian.

“Foster father, a wise bird chooses a fine tree to nest in. You cannot win against Master Li—I am merely seeking a path for myself.”

“So it was you who leaked the route of the shipment as well?”

“Foster father, why bother to ask?” Yun Feng replied coldly.

“Yun Feng, I have raised you for years, yet you commit such a base and vile deed?” Yun Xiaotian pressed.

Though Zhang Heng’s treatment had restored sixty or seventy percent of his spiritual power, it was not enough to confront Li Hongyi. He needed more time to recover.

“You treated me kindly? You knew I loved Yanrou, yet you kept us apart, sending her to the sect instead. The family business—you’d rather entrust it to an outsider than let me take part. Is that kindness? It’s clear you despise me for not being a true member of the Yun family. Since that’s the case, I’ll take back what should be mine,” Yun Feng said through clenched teeth.

“Wretch! You know full well your own capabilities. You idle your days away, never striving to improve. How could I entrust the family to you? As for Yan’er, you can forget about her,” Yun Xiaotian roared.

“Capabilities? Today I’ll destroy you, take over your Yun family, and claim Yun Yanrou. That’s capability!” Yun Feng shouted.

Then, obsequiously, he turned to Li Hongyi. “Master Li, Yun Xiaotian is gravely injured. No one in the Yun family can oppose you now. If you wish to destroy them, it’s as easy as turning your hand—why waste words?”

“Well, Yun Xiaotian, did you hear that? Someone is even more eager than I am. In your state, what use is the map to you? Hand it over, or don’t blame me for disregarding our years of acquaintance,” Li Hongyi said, growing serious.

At this, Yun Xiaotian shed all pretense of weakness, striding boldly toward Li Hongyi, looking down upon him with contempt. “You want the map? Come and get it yourself.”