"Master Qiu, what great authority you wield."
A chilling voice echoed as three figures slowly entered.
The one at the forefront was Li Fan.
Li Fan glanced at Qiu Degguang, then swept his gaze across the assembled crowd before walking deliberately towards Qiu Degguang.
"Who are you? Today is a grand banquet for the marriage alliance between the Qiu family and the Prime Minister's mansion. I urge you not to make a mistake!" Qiu Degguang, as the head of the family, was startled by the appearance of Li Fan and his companions, but he also sensed their ill intentions.
However, Qiu Degguang knew that anyone daring to act like this within Hangjing City must possess some skill. Perhaps due to Li Fan's sudden appearance, Qiu Degguang restrained himself, not fully grasping the situation.
"Make a mistake? With Master Qiu's status and strength, you are indeed qualified to say such a thing. However, I am curious to see how Master Qiu intends to proceed." Li Fan nonchalantly walked to the round table where the six family patriarchs were seated, picked up a white jade wine pot, and took a hearty drink.
He nodded slightly. Li Xuan said, "As expected, those in higher circles know how to enjoy themselves. At least this wine isn't too bitter."
"Why have you come, sir? If I, Qiu, have been remiss in any way, please state it clearly. You must know that all those present are influential figures in Hangjing City. By acting this way, are you disrespecting all of us?"
Qiu Degguang's eyes darted in thought, but he could not recall ever meeting Li Fan, nor could he fathom any past grievances.
Considering how the guards had previously refused summons, and the fierce gazes of the two burly men by the door and the eight men blocking the entrance, Qiu Degguang could only…
Clap, clap, clap!
Li Fan put down the wine pot upon hearing the sound, and his applause resonated throughout the hall.
"Master Qiu is indeed the foremost among the six family patriarchs. Your ability to draw others into your affairs is something I, Li, cannot match."
Li Fan's cold demeanor shifted, and he spoke with a smile, "I have come, Master Qiu, and esteemed sirs, to present a gift."
"A gift?" Qiu Degguang was taken aback, completely bewildered by Li Fan's change in attitude.
"These two large coffins are the gifts I, Li, present to Master Qiu." Li Fan pointed at the two large coffins, his voice deepening.
"Insolence!" Qiu Degguang erupted in rage. A commotion spread through the hall as well.
To present two large coffins as a gift at the grand banquet for the marriage alliance between the Qiu and Prime Minister's families was an egregious insult.
"The gifts have been delivered. Does Master Qiu not intend to take a look?" Li Fan's eyelids drooped, and his body trembled slightly.
Li Meng and Li Chen, standing by the door, naturally saw that Li Fan was suppressing his killing intent. They cast sympathetic glances at Qiu Degguang, who still had no idea how he had provoked Li Fan.
"Brother Qiu, this man is too arrogant. We are both third-rank officials; how can we be insulted by such a ruffian! Boy, everyone present is an influential figure in Hangjing City. By acting like this today, you are digging your own grave!"
A middle-aged man at the round table stood up and pointed directly at Li Fan, speaking sternly.
"You must be the Prime Minister of the Prime Minister's mansion, Master Xiang. In our Great Hua Kingdom, officials range from ninth to first rank. A third-rank official is quite a considerable position. However, it holds little deterrence for me."
"If I, Li, am digging my own grave, does that mean you third-rank officials can excavate others' graves with impunity?" Li Fan burst into laughter, his gaze sweeping over Xiang Liushan as he spoke.
"Excavate graves? You, you are from Qingyun Town?" Xiang Liushan, hearing this, immediately understood and pointed at Li Fan in alarm. The other four family patriarchs at the round table also stiffened.
"It seems Master Xiang has some intellect, guessing so quickly. If that's the case, Master Xiang must bear considerable responsibility for this matter."
Li Fan sneered, then looked at the grim-faced Qiu Degguang and spoke again, "Master Qiu, do you know who was buried in the graves you excavated?"
"They were merely soldiers who died on the battlefield. Since they sacrificed their lives for the nation, can they not continue to contribute to the development of our Great Hua Kingdom? Occupying such excellent feng shui land, must I, an official, erect monuments for them?"
"Boy, I, an official, will spare you today, considering it is the grand celebration of the Qiu and Prime Minister's family alliance. If you know what's good for you, take these two broken coffins and get out! Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret it!"
Upon realizing that Li Fan and his companions were here about the graves in Qingyun Town, Qiu Degguang's apprehension vanished.
"My eldest brother, Li Yong, and my second brother, Li Zhi, joined the army for the northern conflict and died on the battlefield without regret. I never imagined that after their deaths, their graves would be desecrated. Not even their final peace could be preserved."
"And those forty-one soldiers, they were mere youths when they joined the army with me. Ten years later, they returned home as corpses. For the sake of so-called prosperity and development, you would arbitrarily excavate their resting places and even throw their bones and coffins into a mass grave?"
Li Fan let out a self-deprecating chuckle, his gaze filled with disappointment.
"You claim it's for development, but isn't it just for you to line your own pockets and exploit the common people's labor and wealth? Do you truly believe that the misdeeds of you six great families over the years are seamless?"
"They fought on the battlefield for peace. Yet, you spare even their resting places. If the graves of soldiers are treated thus, how much worse must it be for the common folk?"
"Enough. Three days from now, the six great families will carry their coffins northward. Forty-three large coffins in total. For every coffin short, ten people will be killed. Even if a single corner is damaged during transport. Remember, all members of your six great families."
Li Fan's gaze swept over Qiu Degguang, Xiang Liushan, and the other four family patriarchs, his voice low and cold.
He then walked directly towards the door. After a few steps, as if remembering something, he stopped.
"Of course, you can choose not to comply. I, Li Fan, do not mind sending you on your way myself."
As Li Fan finished speaking, he walked out of the Misty Rain Pavilion. Li Meng and Li Chen then looked at Qiu Degguang, Xiang Liushan, and the other four patriarchs. With a sudden movement, they stepped directly in front of Qiu Degguang.
"If our Young Marshal were not so benevolent, I would have snapped your necks today for daring to desecrate the graves of my brothers! As for the large coffins of my elder brothers, Young Marshal Li Yong and Li Zhi, your Qiu family shall carry them back. Remember, it must be members of your Qiu family!"
Li Meng stared into Qiu Degguang's eyes, patted his shoulder with a slap, and spoke coldly. He then swept his gaze across the others before turning and leaving with Li Chen.
"Li Fan? That name sounds somewhat familiar."
"Familiar? More than familiar, have you forgotten? The newly appointed Ten-Star Commander of our Great Hua Kingdom is also named Li Fan."
"What?! Could that person just now be our Great Hua Kingdom's Ten-Star Commander, Young Marshal Li Fan?!"
"The six great families actually dug up the graves of the Young Marshal's soldiers, and it seems his elder and second brothers were also there. This time, the six great families are surely courting disaster."
"..."
As Li Fan and his companions departed, the crowd in the hall erupted into discussion. As the murmurs grew, Qiu Degguang, Xiang Liushan, and the other four family patriarchs exchanged nervous glances, sweat beading on their brows.
It was clear they now understood what kind of entity they had provoked. Their gazes towards the two large coffins were filled with fear and unease.
Three days later, the six great families marched north, carrying their coffins. A total of forty-three large coffins, solemn and tragic.
In the imperial capital of the Great Hua Kingdom, news of the six great families desecrating soldiers' graves quickly spread. The King of Great Hua was furious upon hearing this, and his previous confusion as to why Li Fan had not heeded the imperial decree to receive his enfeoffment was instantly resolved.
With a decree issued, the estates of the six great families were confiscated. Even their ancestral graves were dug up and exposed to the sun for seven full days. As for the life and death of the six great families, their fate was directly left to Li Fan.
In the void, as the scene showed all members of the six great families reduced to laborers, the image froze.
Meanwhile, Li Fan, with his eyes closed, felt his aura begin to surge.
The Heavenly Dao Brush within the Prison of Suppression observed this and said, "My young master seems to be on the verge of entering the realm of supernatural beings."