Chapter 600 - 390: Envoys from the Capital, Eradicate the Li Family!

Chapter 600: Chapter 390: Envoys from the Capital, Eradicate the Li Family!

Li Gangshan’s Adam’s apple moved violently. The forced smile he was wearing looked worse than crying as he tried to salvage some dignity: "Master Hong, please see clearly! Our Li Family has always been honest in business dealings. We’ve never even associated with Tang Huang or Li Huang!"

"This must be someone who cannot stand seeing harmony between our two families and has set this trap to incite discord!"

Seeing the cold gleam grow stronger in Lu Yuhong’s eyes, Li Gangshan secretly clenched his palm.

The remnants of Tang Huang had long been burnt to ashes, known only to a few trusted confidants, unknown to anyone else.

As long as he claimed ignorance, even with the Lu Family’s immense power, they couldn’t do anything without evidence.

Lu Yuhong’s sinister gaze dissected Li Gangshan, and though his fingers were tightly clenched, and the killing intent surged within his chest, it eventually morphed into a cold laugh.

He slowly released his clutch on the collar with his right hand, allowing Li Gangshan to stagger backward.

Li Gangshan’s legs felt weak until once more feeling solid ground beneath him, and the sense of relief after surviving made him nearly collapse to his knees.

He glanced at Lu Yuhong incredulously—was it over just like that?

Could it be that the Lu Family ultimately feared the support behind him?

Just as Li Gangshan was half-sighing in relief, Lu Xuan, seated at the main seat, suddenly set aside his teacup.

The crisp clink of porcelain made Li Gangshan’s newly calm heart leap back into his throat.

This old man, who had remained silent the entire time, was now watching them, and in his serene eyes was reflected Li Gangshan’s pallid face.

Li Gangshan had once investigated the background of the Lu Family, knowing they harbored an ancestor who practiced national martial arts.

Yet, in his mind, an old man nearing a century, even if he was a national martial arts master in his youth, so what?

Time is the fairest of all; none can stop its passage.

So, that ancestor of the Lu Family nowadays would find it hard to even stand; perhaps he needed support just to walk.

Doing even a set of Tai Chi in the morning would leave him gasping. How would he have any energy to meddle in martial affairs?

Li Gangshan’s lips curved into a mocking arc.

These martial people are ultimately out of touch with the times. What era is this where one would still rely on hand-to-hand combat?

Nowadays, the world relies on intricate webs of connections and vast power.

No matter how skilled in martial arts, could you dodge a bullet?

If one bullet isn’t enough, then two. Could the greatest grandmaster withstand a rocket launcher?

He adjusted his suit tie, a gleam of superiority flashing in his eyes.

The Lu Family clinging to an antique as a treasure... little did they know that in front of true power, a so-called national martial arts master was utterly insignificant.

Li Gangshan steadied himself, musing privately: The Lu Family had managed to investigate him, likely by sheer luck, somehow connecting with the capital.

But so what?

In this day and age, legitimate businessmen have countless connections to the capital. Who doesn’t have backing?

The Li Family had been operating in the capital for years with deep-rooted support.

Were it really to come to tearing faces, who can say who would end up bringing the other down!

He straightened his back, regaining a bit of the confidence of a business tycoon in his expression.

After all, in Yifeng Province, Li Gangshan can be immensely confident that no one can shake the foundation of the Li Family.

"Li Gangshan."

Lu Yulong, seated on the side sofa, spoke slowly, his voice not loud but resonant like a deep bell, echoing through the seven-meter-high hall.

"You should be grateful that the Lu Family now honors propriety." He raised a Qing porcelain teacup, the misty steam softening his sharp gaze, "Had it been ten years ago... you wouldn’t even have the chance to kneel here."

As his last word settled, Li Gangshan was struck as if by lightning, his pupils contracting abruptly.

He stared hard at Lu Yulong, calmly sipping tea—the background of this second master of the Lu Family was no mystery to him.

A veteran member of the Yifeng Province Martial Arts Association and a legitimate successor of "Ten Thousand Valleys Returning Flow Fist," his disciples filled both military and commercial sectors.

"Master Long, I..." Li Gangshan forced himself to remain calm, trying once more to argue, but was cut off by urgent footsteps.

Three men dressed in black tight-fitting clothes quickly entered, bowing to whisper into Lu Yuhong’s ear.

The tattoo on the neck of the lead man moved with the flexing of muscles, marking him clearly as a seasoned national martial arts expert.

Li Gangshan’s heart sank sharply, an ominous feeling like a venomous snake coiling around his spine.

He recognized the attire of these men—Lu Family’s security team; their appearance never signaled anything good.

"Bring them in."

Immediately following, Lu Yuhong’s undisguised instruction sounded like a death knell.

These individuals took the orders and left, the sound of boot heels striking the marble floor grew distant.

Within a dozen heartbeats, five burly men tied up with bovine tendons were pushed inside.

When the black hoods were yanked off their faces, Li Gangshan’s legs went limp, his whole body collapsing onto the leather sofa—these were his bodyguards sent to silence Tang Huang!

These five had clearly been through severe interrogation, each face ashen as paper, bodies covered in hideous wounds, some even had arms twisted into grotesque angles.

Suddenly, one blood-covered bodyguard shrieked hoarsely, not even noticing Li Gangshan slumped on the sofa: "It was all commanded by our boss, Li Gangshan!"

"He ordered us to kill Tang Huang and those street magicians. The ashes are buried beneath the old locust tree outside the suburbs!"

Before he could finish, the others scrambled to confess, fearing a moment’s delay would bring more torture.

The entire hall resonated only with the sound of chattering teeth.

After all, there are truly few in this world who could withstand the "Great Memory Recovery Technique."

"You bastard! How dare you hide the ashes privately!"

Li Gangshan’s veins bulged, lunging to kick the traitor, only to be seized by the back of the neck by Lu Yuhong with lightning speed.

That hand, seemingly casually placed, sapped his strength completely, like a snake grasped by its vital seven-inch area.

The five bodyguards shrank instinctively at Li Gangshan’s man-eating glare, then straightened their necks with a sneer:

"Hmph, we brothers in the underworld all have some life-saving measures, don’t we?"

He spat blood-tinged saliva, "Boss, all those incriminating recordings and videos were already stored on hard drives."

"If any of us ever met an accident, those treasures would show up on the cops’ desk!"

The others voiced their agreements, their eyes brimming with the viciousness of leaving no retreat.

"Second brother, take people and verify the authenticity." Lu Yuliang slowly rose, "If true, contact Director Zhang of the Security Bureau directly."

He continued, turning to his third brother, "Yuhong, personally ’escort’ Mr. Li on a visit to the Security Bureau."

Upon hearing this, Li Gangshan’s face turned ghastly pale, an equal mix of joy and dread.

Joy because, though entering the Security Bureau could temporarily guarantee his life, the Lu Family had means to ensure he "enjoyed his twilight years" inside.

This outcome of rotting in prison would be worse torture than directly killing him—it’s the brutal wear of a dull knife.

Nonetheless, Li Gangshan offered a wry smile, as he indeed had no choice left.

To salvage a life was the concession the Lu Family extended in this era of the legal system.

In truth, Li Gangshan observed astutely, the modern Lu Family was far from the blood-tinged underworld legacy it once was.

Fighting and killing? That’s for the common street gangsters.

True high-level players aim to kill without bloodshed.

Of course, in real crisis moments, the Lu Family could still choose physical elimination of opponents—after all, a century-old family always keeps several options ready.

As for Li Gangshan? Just an autumn cicada at the end of its days.

From today, Yifeng Province’s business world would no longer have a figure named Li Gangshan, let alone a place for the Li Family.

Even the backing behind Li Gangshan, the Lu Family intended not to spare.

A large group departed the hall in a grand fashion, leaving only Lu Xuan and Lu Yuliang remaining.

Lu Yuliang bent to whisper near his father’s ear, "Dad, the few from the capital are arriving soon." He glanced at his watch, "I’ll go outside to welcome them."

To handle the powerhouses backing the Li Family could only be resolved by comrades from the capital.

After all, the ones in Yifeng Province were too high-ranking.

"Mm." Lu Xuan’s eyelid twitched slightly, already sensing the road noise of three black sedans entering the estate.