"Your father is Li Zhongyong?" Qin Hu asked.
Li Yuntao showed a proud expression: "Precisely."
"Good, lead the way!" Qin Hu immediately nodded, signaling Li Yuntao to lead.
Li Yuntao was overjoyed and quickly led the way: "Young masters, please follow me. My father is entertaining distinguished guests in the living room. Follow me."
"Let's go, Qin Hu," Chu Chen said.
"Alright!" Qin Hu nodded, then flashed a ferocious and cruel smile at Lin Tianyu.
As the top noble family in Qingyang City, the Li mansion occupied two-thirds of the entire estate.
Upon entering the Li mansion's grounds, one could feel a sense of peace and tranquility.
Servants and maids bustled about within the Li mansion, each attending to their duties without any disorder.
"Father!" Li Yuntao led Chu Chen and Qin Hu into the main hall.
At this moment, Li Zhongyong was seated at the head of the table, with a middle-aged man sitting beside him.
"Father, these two are..." Li Yuntao asked in surprise.
"You may withdraw. I have important matters to discuss with Patriarch Zhao," Li Zhongyong said, glancing at Li Yuntao with a stern tone.
Although Li Yuntao was confused, he dared not disobey his father and quietly withdrew.
"You are Chu Chen of the Chu family?" Li Zhongyong's gaze fixed on Chu Chen, scrutinizing him indifferently.
Chu Chen bowed slightly and said, "I am Chu Chen. May I ask why Senior Li is looking for me?"
"Hmph, your Chu family's actions are too overbearing! My son, Lin Tiannan, is my only heir, Li Zhongyong. He is your cousin, and yet you dared to inflict such a severe injury!" Li Zhongyong's face was grim. "Is your Chu family determined to be enemies with our Li family?"
Chu Chen pondered for a moment, then looked up at Li Zhongyong: "I know nothing about Lin Tiannan's matter!"
"Heh heh." Li Zhongyong shook his head. "If you know nothing, then why was your Chu family's young master killing my son on our Li family's territory?"
"Does your Chu family truly believe that the Lin clan is your backing? Let me tell you, your Chu family's backing is insignificant before the imperial family!"
"You!" Chu Chen was instantly enraged, his fists clenching with a creaking sound.
"Alright, enough nonsense," Li Zhongyong said, waving his hand. "All of your Chu family's shops in Qingyang City are to be handed over to our Li family."
"Dream on!" Chu Chen shouted angrily!
"Heh heh, you disagree?" Li Zhongyong's expression turned completely cold. He stood up and looked at Chu Chen indifferently.
"Li Zhongyong, do you know Chu Chen's identity?" Qin Hu suddenly sneered, looking at Li Zhongyong with amusement.
"What?" Li Zhongyong was taken aback, looking at Chu Chen in disbelief. Did this young man have such a profound background?
"Young Master Qin, what exactly is going on?" Li Zhongyong quickly asked.
"Heh heh, our Qin family has had a long-standing conflict with the Lin family. I've been too lazy to bother with these old matters. I didn't expect your Li family to encounter it today," Qin Hu said slowly. "However, you needn't worry. With Chu Chen handling it, the Lin family won't last long."
Li Zhongyong's expression shifted several times upon hearing this. The Lin family was, after all, an imperial family, and their authority was supreme. If things truly escalated to a point of no return, it would likely be extremely disadvantageous for their Li family. Not to mention, Chu Chen's backing seemed to be that Marquis Qin Wu of the Qin family.
"Chu Chen, regardless of anything, it was ultimately my son Lin Tianyu who was in the wrong first," Li Zhongyong gritted his teeth. He apologized to Chu Chen: "We Li family were rash today. I hope you can overlook it!"
"Heh heh, given your sincere attitude, I won't pursue it further," Chu Chen said with a faint smile.
"However, Lin Tiannan is dead. Half of the Lin family's assets must be handed over, otherwise, I will absolutely not let you off!"
"You!" Li Zhongyong's eyes widened, and he was furious. The Marquis Qin Wu of the Chu family was their Li family's backing, and now Chu Chen was making an outrageous demand. To ask him to hand over the entire wealth of the Lin clan was simply wishful thinking!
"Chu Chen, don't push your luck!" Li Zhongyong's face was flushed red, his eyes filled with anger.
"I'm pushing my luck?" Chu Chen shook his head and sneered, "I warned you long ago that our Lin family's business is not something anyone can just interfere with!"
Li Zhongyong clenched his fists, his eyes red.
Chu Chen continued, "Li Zhongyong, I know Lin Tiannan is your Li family's only heir, and you are reluctant to part with money. That's why you sent Li Yuntao to trouble me. Do you think I can't figure that out?"
"In reality, even if I hadn't killed him, you wouldn't have let our Chu family off, would you?" He said indifferently, "Since that's the case, to prevent you from going back on your word, why don't we settle our accounts now?"
"Chu Chen, you're going too far!" Li Yuntao roared in anger.
"Scram! If you utter another word, I'll kill you." Qin Hu slapped Li Yuntao away, then sent him flying several meters.
"Qin Hu, don't push your luck!" Li Zhongyong roared.
"Heh heh, pushing my luck?" Qin Hu laughed heartily, sneering, "Li Zhongyong, your son ambushed my friend and nearly killed him. I didn't take his life, and only made him lose two legs. I've already been merciful!"
Li Zhongyong gritted his teeth and remained silent.
"Chu Chen, our Li family will not touch your Chu family's business!" he said in a low voice.
"You say you won't touch it, and so you won't?" Qin Hu sneered. "Lin Tiannan, that good-for-nothing, is dead and gone. But your Lin family's business must be handed over. Our young master doesn't have time to waste with you!"
"Qin Hu! Don't force me!" Li Zhongyong's eyes turned scarlet, veins bulging on his forehead.
"I'm not forcing you," Qin Hu said calmly. "I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to consider."
After saying that, he turned and left the room.
Seeing this, Chu Chen frowned and said to Li Zhongyong, "Old man, you shouldn't have agreed to him."
"Heh heh, young friend, you don't need to worry. The Qin family is merely a subordinate force of our imperial family. My Li family is not afraid," Li Zhongyong said dismissively, waving his hand.
Chu Chen shook his head and gave a wry smile. He knew Li Zhongyong had misunderstood him.
"Our Chu family has been passed down through generations since the founding of the nation. It took over a hundred years to achieve today's glory. Your Li family is just a new family, why do you expect to annex our business?" Chu Chen frowned.
Hearing Chu Chen reveal the secrets of the Chu family, a hint of surprise flashed across Li Zhongyong's face. "Oh? So the ancestors of the Chu family were all from the Marquis Wu's mansion?" He hesitated slightly, then his composure returned. "This is a secret of the Chu family, and I am not at liberty to say. In short, I can only say that the Chu family has a close relationship with the imperial family."