After exchanging a few pleasantries, Murong Fu invited Li Daoqiang onto the boat. As the vessel set sail, the two sat at the bow, sipping wine and admiring the scenery of Taihu Lake, chatting and laughing as if they were old friends. After pointing out various sights for a while, Murong Fu smiled and said, "Brother Li, since you've come to Taihu, you must stay a few more days. Let me show you the full beauty of the lake."
"Haha, as long as Brother Murong doesn't mind the intrusion, I'll gladly linger a few days," Li Daoqiang replied with an unceremonious laugh.
"It would be my honor," Murong Fu said, his expression delighted, maintaining a humble demeanor. This was simply due to the disparity in their strength. Inwardly, though, he grew wary—what exactly did Li Daoqiang intend to do?
"Brother Murong, to be honest, I've come this time to settle a matter," Li Daoqiang said, his tone turning more serious after a few more jokes.
Murong Fu's heart tightened, and he straightened his face. "Brother Li, please speak."
"Over a month ago, I went to Dali on some business and ran into a few old women. Ha, I've never seen such vicious old hags—they attacked me without a word. Naturally, I didn't hold back. I killed a few and let one go to deliver a message, saying I'd settle this later. That's why I'm here now—to resolve it," Li Daoqiang said with a relaxed smile.
Murong Fu's heart skipped a beat, his foreboding growing stronger. Forcing a smile, he asked, "And whose old women might they be?"
"She said she was from the Wang family of Manjue Manor on Taihu," Li Daoqiang replied casually.
Murong Fu's smile faltered, a sense of helplessness washing over him. Who else could those vicious old women be but from his aunt's household? "I've heard the Wang family of Manjue Manor has some connection to you, Brother Murong. Since we're friends, I couldn't just act rashly. So I came to trouble you and see how things stand," Li Daoqiang said, taking a sip of wine with an air of leisure, as if this were a trivial matter he could handle with a flick of his hand.
Murong Fu, however, grew more solemn. Manjue Manor might be easily dealt with by Li Daoqiang, but he couldn't stand idly by. After a moment's hesitation, he let out a long sigh and said with a bitter smile, "Brother Li, what a coincidence. I won't hide it from you. The Wang family of Manjue Manor is a branch of the Lin'an Wang family. The current head is my aunt."
Li Daoqiang's smile paused, and he frowned, looking at Murong Fu. "Blood relative?"
Murong Fu's brow twitched, and he nodded emphatically. "Blood relative."
"How close are you?"
Li Daoqiang hesitated, as if weighing his words, then asked again.
"My aunt has always treated me well, like her own son," Murong Fu said after a brief pause, forcing a sincere tone.
"Unexpectedly, you're that close. That does make things tricky," Li Daoqiang murmured with a sigh.
Murong Fu breathed a silent sigh of relief and quickly asserted, "Brother Li, that old woman must have been reckless, acting on her own under her mistress's name. Rest assured, my aunt will give you a proper explanation."
Li Daoqiang frowned, silent for a moment, as if pondering. Finally, he said gravely, "Brother Murong, you know me. In the jianghu, I can endure many things, but not a loss of face. An old hag threatens to kill me and actually follows through. If this isn't settled, I'll become a laughingstock. This explanation can't be a simple one."
Murong Fu's heart sank further. He knew Li Daoqiang wouldn't let this go easily. But with the other's strength and the moral high ground, he had to go along. "What kind of explanation do you want, Brother Li? I'll relay it to my aunt."
"How about this—since she's your aunt, I can't disregard your face. Tomorrow, let's go together and see the situation before deciding," Li Daoqiang said thoughtfully.
"Good, thank you, Brother Li," Murong Fu said with a grateful smile, though inwardly he felt no relief. Not stating terms was more troublesome than stating them. Li Daoqiang clearly wouldn't back down easily.
After that, Li Daoqiang dropped the matter and chatted with Murong Fu about various topics. At noon, they shared a meal on the boat. By afternoon, they arrived at Canhe Manor on Yanziwu. Murong Fu personally arranged for Li Daoqiang to rest, promising a grand feast that evening. Li Daoqiang told him to attend to his own affairs and they'd catch up later.
Once he left, Murong Fu's expression turned grim. "Brother Deng, you know the situation. Go to Manjue Manor immediately and explain it to my aunt. Tell her not to think about denying it or silencing anyone—it's best to go along with Li Daoqiang," he instructed Deng Baichuan solemnly.
Deng Baichuan nodded, equally grave. "Understood, young master." With that, he turned and hurried away.
Murong Fu sat in thought, a heavy weight on his mind. The Beggar's Sect was already coming after him, and now Li Daoqiang had shown up with this issue. It was hard not to feel burdened.
As night fell, Murong Fu hosted a lavish banquet for Li Daoqiang, who found no fault with it. The only thing missing was the two pretty maidservants, which left him a bit restless. Of course, he wouldn't bring it up—he prided himself on having some dignity.
Meanwhile, at Manjue Manor, Deng Baichuan stood respectfully below. Above him sat a woman with a cold, fierce demeanor that marked her as someone not to be trifled with, yet her face was stunningly beautiful—fair as snow, delicate as a flower, almost otherworldly. But the harshness between her brows marred that ethereal beauty.
"Li Daoqiang... he's actually come," the woman, Li Qingluo, mistress of Manjue Manor, murmured after hearing Deng Baichuan's report, a clear note of wariness in her voice.
Deng Baichuan was startled, not daring to meet her gaze directly. "Madam, did you know about this?"
Li Qingluo gave him a cold, disdainful glance before saying stiffly, "An old servant came back some time ago and mentioned it."
Deng Baichuan frowned deeply. "Madam, my young master says Li Daoqiang is extremely powerful, likely a peerless expert. As a bandit, he acts as he pleases. It's best to go along with him. Since he's come, he must be certain of the matter. Denying it will only anger him—he's not one to care about evidence."
Li Qingluo's brow twitched with suppressed anger, but she held it in, replying coldly, "I know that well enough."
"Then I'll take my leave," Deng Baichuan said, departing without further words.
Li Qingluo sat still, her face growing colder, a slight frown creasing her brow. Li Daoqiang... Even though she rarely concerned herself with the outside world, she knew how famous he'd become over the past year. His strength and his bandit identity meant he might not care about the Lin'an Wang family's prestige. After all, the Wang family of Manjue Manor was just a branch, with the male head dead and only a young girl left as heir.
The more she thought, the deeper her frown. What kind of compensation would he demand? Likely money, but how much would satisfy him? Known for her ruthless and capricious nature, she now felt a rare sense of gravity.
The next day, Li Daoqiang accompanied Murong Fu to Manjue Manor. "Ha, Brother Murong, don't worry. No matter what, she's your aunt. As long as she has a good attitude, I won't be too harsh," Li Daoqiang said with a hearty laugh, noticing Murong Fu's furrowed brow. But Murong Fu didn't believe a word of it—neither did Duan Yanqing or Yun Zhonghe.
"Thank you, Brother Li," Murong Fu said, grateful despite his doubts.
Li Daoqiang patted his shoulder warmly and turned to chat about the scenery. The Taihu Lake was truly beautiful, he mused—the only pity was that he was enjoying it with a bunch of men.
Soon, they arrived at Manjue Manor. On the dock, a crowd of women waited, all dressed in finery. Li Daoqiang's eyes locked onto the leader. She was stunning, her face nearly identical to the jade statue in Langhuan Blessed Land, though her temperament was different—one like a celestial maiden, the other cold and fierce, like a demon from hell. Her strength was nearly at the peak of the innate realm, which wasn't surprising in this world where personal power mattered most. Li Qingluo wasn't foolish; she'd turned Manjue Manor into her own domain, and formidable strength was essential.
As gazes crossed, Li Daoqiang and his party disembarked. "Brother Li, let me introduce you. This is my aunt, Madam Wang. Aunt, this is the renowned Chief Li of Black Dragon Stronghold," Murong Fu said first.
"Madam Wang," Li Daoqiang said with a casual smile, offering a polite greeting as if only out of respect for Murong Fu.
"Chief Li, I greet you," Li Qingluo replied with a nod, her face still carrying a layer of coldness.
"Madam Wang, you know why I'm here. What do you propose we do about it?" Li Daoqiang cut straight to the point, with no hint of beating around the bush and a touch of bluntness.
The atmosphere grew tense. Murong Fu's heart sank, and Li Qingluo's anger flared—she hadn't been treated so lightly in a long time. But she held back, saying evenly, "What kind of compensation does the Chief have in mind?"
"Brother Li, Aunt, let's go inside first," Murong Fu tried to mediate.
Li Daoqiang hesitated, glanced at Murong Fu, and nodded, clearly doing him a favor. Even Murong Fu felt a flicker of relief. Li Qingluo also looked at Murong Fu, then gestured with her jade-like hand. "Please."
Li Daoqiang strode forward without ceremony. Entering the manor, he noticed the camellias but paid them no mind, pressing on. As they neared the main hall, he stopped, his gaze fixed on a direction where a young maiden stood gracefully.
(Chapter 2, thanks for the support.) ······