Chapter 0746: Defending Father's Seat
Chapter 0746: Defending Father's Seat
Li Jingzhe's words caused a disturbance to erupt in the group, and they glanced at each other before turning towards Li Luo.
The son would represent the father to obtain results? How?
Even the person involved, Li Luo, was at a loss. He had never expected Li Jingzhe to lead the conversation onto him. He was as confused as the rest. What was a mere Fiend Palace Tier cultivator supposed to do? How was he going to achieve results on behalf of his father?
Li Jingzhe smiled as he looked at Li Luo. "You will join the Green Nether Banner, attain the position of Banner Leader with our own strength, and lead it to its previous heights. If you're able to achieve this, the position of the Green Nether Hall’s Hall Master will be left for your father. What do you think?"
Li Luo blinked when he heard this. Knowing his father, that man wouldn't care whether or not he possessed this position anyway!
"If you're able to achieve this, not only will the position of Hall Master be protected, but I will give you my word that a portion of the Hall Master's cultivation resources will be allocated to you directly. After all, you would have also played a part in achieving the results."
A look of amusement could be seen in Li Jingzhe's deep gaze as he continued to grin. "The cultivation resources allocated to a Hall Master are no trifling matter. Just a portion of it would be an unimaginable amount to you. I'm sure you will be pleased.
"So, what do you think? Are you willing to give it a shot?"
“Holy shit.” Li Luo's eyes enlarged and blood rushed to his head. A Hall Master was the highest position someone could hold in the Dragon's Fang Lineage with the exception of the Lineage Chief. The resources they could enjoy had to be enough to even move a Duke. Even if he only obtained a portion, would he ever need to worry about having insufficient amounts ever again?
His grandfather was the best! He was basically trying to hand him resources!
Li Luo's heart was moved, and he quickly gave the most radiant smile he could before impassionately announcing his intention. "My father's kindness towards me has always been as heavy and immense as a mountain. As a filial son, I will go through even seas of fires and mountains of blades just to fight for him!"
Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi glanced at him with peculiar looks on their faces. Didn't he look like he was planning to reject all of this a moment ago? Why had he suddenly changed his mind in a flash?
Li Jingzhe nodded and praised, "Having such a heart is truly commendable."
At this point, the rest seemed to have snapped out of their stupor, especially the Second Hall Master, Zhong Yushi. The man's face was as stiff as a rock before he blurted out his uncontrollable thoughts. "Lineage Chief, this... are you planning to leave the Hall Master's position vacant yet again? For how long? It's not beneficial to the Green Nether Hall!"
"It won't be long, just two more years. If Little Luo is unable to restore the glory of the Green Nether Banner, then I will immediately revoke Taixuan's position as Hall Master," Li Jingzhe replied.
Zhong Yushi's lips twitched as he glanced vaguely towards Zhao Xuanming. The latter imperceptibly shook his head. Today's meeting would soon come to an end and the Lineage Chief had already demonstrated his intentions. Pushing the matter further would only be detrimental.
Zhong Yushi could only retract his gaze and nod bitterly. However, when his eyes lowered, a gloominess exuded from deep within.
Just how could the Green Nether Banner reach new heights in just two years? With just the Fiend Palace Tier Li Luo? His current strength couldn't even qualify him to reliably maintain a position as a sub leader. And obtaining the Banner Leader's position?
Although triple resonances were powerful, the resources of the outer divine continents were sparse. Li Luo was not considered weak when compared against the average individual in his age group, but when measured against the elites of the banner? The gap was massive.
The way Zhong Yushi saw it, Li Jingzhe was merely using Li Luo as an excuse to buy another two years of time.
So be it. He would just wait a little more, and if Li Luo was unable to achieve anything by then, even the Lineage Chief would have no other choice.
With this in mind, he felt reassured and calmly retreated to his seat.
The rest naturally had no further questions and the situation was resolved.
"Little Luo, you should rest for the next two days before reporting to the Green Nether Banner. The two of you can help him arrange things." Li Jingzhe glanced at Zhong Yushi and Li Rouyun as the Second and Third Hall Masters.
"We will."
"We will adjourn today's meeting." After all things had been settled, Li Jingzhe waved his hand, signifying the end. Then the crowd dispersed.
"Little Luo, you, Jingtao, and Fengyi will stay behind and have a meal with me. We can speak more."
Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi glanced at each other and knew that their grandfather mainly wanted to speak with Li Luo. The two of them were merely accompanying him, but they could only obediently nod in agreement.
"Father, I can accompany you as well." Li Qingpeng smiled.
"Mind your own business. I have nothing to say to you, only the younger generation." Li Jingzhe shook his head and waved his hand as though shooing away a fly. Li Jinpan and Li Qingpeng looked at each other but could only helplessly nod and leave with the crowd.
Before she left, Li Rouyun informed Li Luo that she would take Ox Biaobiao to the Green Nether Hall and make arrangements.
After everyone had left, Li Jingzhe's stern expression turned warm and he revealed a warm smile towards his grandchildren. He then led the trio to his lodgings in the middle of the mountain. It was a simple courtyard and cabin in the midst of a bamboo forest that was filled with serenity and peace.
Li Jingzhe personally dug up some fresh and tender bamboo shoots which he then used to cook some simple and light meals.
He also retrieved carefully brewed wine from bamboo's core.
"This bamboo core wine is made by pouring wine into growing spirit bamboo. Ten years of aging will only produce a bitter taste, fifty years for astringency, and a hundred years for a sweetness to develop. In the past, that brat Taixuan hacked down half of my bamboo garden, all just to find a hundred-year bamboo core wine. For a period of time, I was so angry that I prohibited him from entering this place." Li Jingzhe's wizened face had a trace of a smile despite talking about a frustrating memory. Clearly, he was in good spirits today.
Li Fengyi and Li Jingztao had complicated expressions. From their grandfather's words, they could distinctly feel his deep affection towards their Third Uncle, which was much reduced when dealing with their fathers, Li Jinpan and Li Qingpeng.
Perhaps this was just how a normal family was like. Li Qingpeng was originally the oldest son and had the highest probability of receiving this sort of favor, but alas, he was not very talented. As a result, Li Jingzhe's appreciation towards him gradually tapered off.
The second son, Li Jinpan, was the most pitiful. Although his talent was better than Li Qingpeng’s, it was still limited, and he might have been neglected as the middle child.
Li Taixuan was the third and the youngest with supreme talent and became the most adored one in the family. With such a position, even the usually stern Li Jingzhe couldn't help but pamper him. Clearly, Li Taixuan was the one who the old man wanted to make the successor of the Dragon's Fang Lineage.
Li Fengyi and Li Jingtao also knew that their Third Uncle's temperament and talent was amazing, far surpassing their own fathers. It was only a pity that such a thing had happened that year.
The four sat around a small table, and the atmosphere turned cozy.
However, the two were still a little cautious. Instead, it was Li Luo who was most relaxed. He drank with his grandfather and happily told him the things that happened when he was young in House Luolan. Everytime he did so, the old man would listen attentively.
The difference was because the two had experienced their grandfather's sternness as they grew up, respecting him from the bottom of their hearts, so it was inevitable that they felt like they were walking on thin ice.
On the other hand, it was Li Luo's first time meeting Li Jingzhe, and he simply did not know his personality. He had never experienced his grandfather's strictness and just treated him as a slightly special old man with perhaps an even more special position.
It was thanks to Li Luo's presence that this small gathering did not turn too dull in the end.
Still, Li Fengyi and Li Jingtao could not stay for long. After finishing their light meal, they hurriedly came up with reasons to take their leave.
As they left the small courtyard, even Li Luo could feel that the tension in their bodies had eased.
Li Jingzhe similarly watched the two young ones take their leave, and the expression on his old face eased a little. He gulped down a cup of wine before saying to Li Luo self-deprecatingly, "These old bones of mine are only good for attracting resentment and fear."
"You have accumulated years of prestige, and even Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle tremble before you, much less Eldest Brother and Second Sister. I've only just returned and have no inkling of how amazing you are, Respected Grandfather. I'm sure I will also feel like I'm under a lot of pressure once I get used to your presence and awe." Li Luo smiled.
Li Jingzhe fell silent. "Then I hope you don't get used to it either. It's rare to find anyone to keep me company. Feel free to come here whenever you have spare time."
Li Luo smiled and nodded.
Li Jingzhe then studied Li Luo's youthful and handsome face as he smiled. "You really resemble your father."
"I've also inherited Respected Grandfather's elegant bearing," Li Luo continued.
Li Jingzhe's smile deepened, and he poured yet another glass of wine for himself. "There are no outsiders here, so stop calling me that."
Li Luo felt a little surprised. He could see the look of hope within the old man's eyes. The current Li Jingzhe was no longer a King Stage expert or the idolized Dragon's Fang Lineage Chief. He was just an old man dreaming, hoping for his son to just come home.
His own father's face surfaced in Li Luo's mind, and he then raised his own wine cup and clinked it against his grandfather's.
"Grandson Li Luo greets his grandfather."
Li Jingzhe finally laughed heartily, as though set free from some of the burdens of his heart. The wrinkles on his aged face bloomed and his laughter echoed throughout the courtyard.
It echoed throughout the bamboo forest, and even Li Jingtao and Li Fengyi could hear it. They lightly sighed and even envied Li Luo's bravery. It's not that they did not want to take things easy, but Li Jingzhe's strict visage had been indelibly branded upon them since young, leaving behind a shadow in their hearts. "Forget it. With Little Brother accompanying grandfather, things will get easier for us." The two looked at each other once more before leaving with utmost haste.
Since Li Luo was so likable, they would leave him to carry their grandfather's heavy expectations. At least that way, their own fathers might not force them to live up to expectations they could not achieve.