Chapter 434: Want to Watch the Tigers Battle It Out

Translator: Tim Editor: GlobeGlotter

Tian Youneng immediately began devising ways to save his life. He immediately thought of Xu Shi. The Li Family was a behemoth, but not everyone feared it. Xu Shi didn't fear the Li Family. He was from the Heaven Squad; he wouldn't be afraid of the Li Family. Even Li Mingyong, the Li Family leader, would show Xu Shi respect. His master would warrant even greater deference.

If he got Xu Shi to deal with the young man, even Li Qiancai couldn't intervene. Furthermore, Xu Shi would be compelled to fight the young man because Guo Qi had killed the warrant officer Xu Shi had brought—a blatant insult.

Tian Youneng chuckled at the thought. It had nothing to do with him; why should he be scared? He couldn't help but commend his own cleverness.

“Commander Li, Tian Youneng.” Tian Youneng's ample figure moved surprisingly quickly as he ran to Li Qiancai and bowed.

Li Qiancai waved him away impatiently, silencing him. He knew Ye Mo was there because of Li Dong, and though Li Dong wanted to harm Tian Youneng, he hadn't dared to hide it from his uncle.

Li Qiancai was far superior to Li Dong; he knew much about Ye Mo. Even the Li Family couldn't withstand Ye Mo's power, and they needed to maintain connections with him. Li Qiuyang had once dined with Ye Mo, and his significant assistance had made him an important family member. He wouldn't miss this opportunity. Tian Youneng's interruption had annoyed him considerably.

“Are you Li Qiancai?”

Li Qiancai had already identified himself to Ye Mo. The question felt odd, but he replied cautiously.

Ye Mo nodded. “I’ve seen you once.”

“Instructor Ye has seen me before?” Li Qiancai was shocked. He knew Ye Mo wouldn't fabricate such a claim, but he was always in the military; how could Ye Mo have seen him?

Though he yearned to address Ye Mo as "Brother Ye," like Li Qiuyang, he could only use the formal "Instructor."

Ye Mo smiled. “A year ago, at an auction in the Wu Liang Mountain's Xi Xia temple. I even sold a few pills there. I saw two people from your Li family upon entering.”

“What?” Li Qiancai was stunned. Ye Mo's words struck him like lightning.

While the Li and Zhang Families were among the five great families, only they had members in the hidden sects. Zhang Zhihui, the Zhang Family's representative, rarely associated with them. Therefore, the Li Family, with its direct ties to hidden sects, held significant sway in China; many of its members were sent to hidden sects for cultivation.

The Li Family's power far surpassed the other four, excluding the Zhang Family, if Zhang Zhihui were counted.

Few knew of the Li Family's hidden sect connections, yet Ye Mo had mentioned it casually, shocking Li Qiancai. Families with hidden sect connections typically avoided entanglement to avoid government interference; the Li Family’s attendance at hidden sect auctions made their relationship undeniable. If Ye Mo knew he and Li Qiuming had been at that auction, he must have been there too. How had he not seen Ye Mo?

He'd mentioned selling pills. Li Qiancai was astounded again; was he the one who'd sold the face-preserving pill and taken the blue carrot from the Xia Family? It had to be him.

Ye Mo saw Li Qiancai's reaction and knew he'd been recognized. His past was no longer a secret, and his current power negated the need for concealment. He’d seen someone resembling Li Qiuyang and a masked man, likely Li Qiancai, at the auction.

“You…” Li Qiancai's excitement was uncontainable; a face-preserving pill was worth over a billion. If Ye Mo had sold it, continued production would yield unimaginable wealth.

Ye Mo nodded silently. He looked at Tian Youneng, who was listening intently. His perceptive skills allowed him to recognize the fat man as the one raging about capturing Guo Qi and Fang Wei. Tian Youneng wore a deceptively pleasant smile.

As their conversation ended, Tian Youneng hastily interjected, “Commander Li, I’ve prepared a feast to welcome you. Commander Li, may I ask who this is?”

Before Li Qiancai could respond, Ye Mo waved him off. “Are you Tian Youneng? It’s only 2 p.m., and you’re already eating? No wonder you’re so… substantial.”

Ye Mo’s words nearly made Tian Youneng vomit. He was indeed fat, but that wasn't the same as being "substantial."

Though he wanted to devour Ye Mo at that moment, he maintained a warm smile. “Haha. It’s indeed a bit early for food.”

Ye Mo said bluntly, “Since it’s too early, then bring Captain Lu Lin. I haven’t time to waste talking to you.”

Tian Youneng's forced smile faltered. Even if Commander Li were to apprehend someone, he couldn't be treated this way. This was an open slap to his face. He had approved Lu Lin's capture, and now this young man demanded her release without explanation. Even if Ye Mo intended to free her, some pretext was necessary. He could say, "Oh, is that so? I'll have Lu Lin brought here immediately," then report it and let someone else handle Ye Mo.

But he had simply demanded her return, bossily, without introduction. Though Tian Youneng wanted to rage, he dared not. Who was this man that Li Qiancai treated with such deference?

“Yes, yes. But Lu Lin’s case is serious; she’s en route. May I ask who you are?” Tian Youneng asked cautiously.

Ye Mo sneered. “Then get her back immediately. I’m taking her away. If a single hair is harmed, I will cut off your arm. If a nail is lost, I will take your life.”

“You—” Tian Youneng, a seasoned man, couldn't help but become enraged. The young man was far too arrogant.

Though Li Qiancai didn’t know what had transpired, he saw Tian Youneng’s expression. “Commander Tian, I suggest you comply with Instructor Ye’s request.”

“Oh, yes, yes.” Tian Youneng hadn’t expected Li Qiancai to obey the young man without explanation. Who was this “Instructor”?

“Yu Yang, get Lu Lin back to the barracks immediately!” Tian Youneng vented his frustration on his men.

After Yu Yang departed, Tian Youneng turned back to Li Qiancai and Ye Mo with a smile. “Lu Lin will be back within the hour. We can inspect the training grounds in the meantime.”

Tian Youneng had a plan; Xu Shi, upon returning, would head straight for the training grounds, encountering Guo Qi, provoking Xu Shi's wrath, and forcing a confrontation with the young man. He rejoiced at Guo Qi’s killing of Xu Shi’s warrant officer; otherwise, his scheme would fail. He doubted the Qiu Family would oppose the Li Family over a son-in-law.

Li Qiancai looked at Ye Mo, clearly intending to comply with his wishes.

Tian Youneng led them to the training grounds, onlookers clearing a path. Some recognized Li Qiancai, but not his companion.

Upon seeing Guo Qi and Fang Wei, they were dumbfounded. The hunt for them was still ongoing, yet they were here, and Commander Tian seemed respectful.

Guo Qi and Fang Wei were bewildered, hesitant to speculate. They remained quietly behind Ye Mo. They didn't know Ye Mo's strength, but they'd heard Tian Youneng send for Lu Lin.

“What’s happening? Commander Tian, why are these criminals allowed in the barracks unscathed?” A cold voice rang out.