As he slowly opened it and began to read, his expression grew increasingly solemn.
Inside was a territory sales agreent for South East Street. It detailed the paynt price, the direction of their business partnership, the thods and duration of cooperation, the responsibilities of both parties, and a pact of non-aggression outside of comrcial matters.
Although the terms weren’t oppressive, they were heavily skewed in favor of the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang.
The term of cooperation was three years—the sa length of ti Li Mingxin would be around. They would revisit the terms after that.
But should the contract be breached during this period, the penalty was death—one’s Soul Returns to the Wilderness.
Overall, while unfair, the terms were still within the realm of what Ding Wu could accept.
As long as he engaged in mutual business cooperation, shared his channels, and maintained non-aggression with the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang for three years, there should be no problems.
"This agreent... I..."
"Gang Leader!"
Just then, a gang mber walked in from outside, cupped his fist, and announced, "Patriarch Qiu and Patriarch Xu are here to see you."
At this, Ding Wu’s expression soured.
’How did those two families get here so fast?’
He imdiately turned to Li Lu and said, "Gang Leader Li, I was just about to say that I agree to the agreent. We can sign it now. The money... I’ll have soone send it over..."
"No need to rush." Li Lu chuckled. "What’s ant to be yours, no one can take away. What’s not, you can’t obtain anyway. We’re not done talking. Let’s take our ti. Show them in."
With that, he ignored the anxious Ding Wu and gave the order to his subordinate.
"Yes, sir."
A mont later, Qiu Fengxing entered the main hall, followed by his daughter, Qiu Wan’Er, and then Xu Tieshan, who had co alone.
"Gang Leader Li!"
The three of them said in unison, cupping their fists.
’This attitude...’ Li Lu was filled with emotion.
’At a banquet late last month, I was practically invisible to them. They didn’t give the ti of day.’
’Now, they have to cup their fists and greet respectfully.’
’This is the advantage of power! Even if it’s not my own power, their change in attitude is completely real!’
"There’s no need for such formalities. Please, have a seat," Li Lu said with a smile.
"Thank you, Gang Leader Li," Qiu Fengxing replied, offering another polite, fisted salute.
Xu Tieshan simply nodded, his expression placid.
After taking a seat, Qiu Fengxing glanced at Ding Wu’s furious expression and knew he had arrived in ti. ’The Ding Family hasn’t bought the Liu Family’s territory yet.’
Behind him, Qiu Wan’Er’s eyes swept across the room, but she didn’t see Cheng Zongyang.
’The Cheng Family had suppressed the He Family, and the Celestial Break Gang, by so unknown ans, had captured and wiped out the entire Liu Family with just a dozen or so Martial Artists.’
’But she knew this was definitely not due to Li Lu’s own power.’
’Based on the information she’d gathered, she had analyzed the situation. If Li Lu truly possessed such strength, he wouldn’t have been beaten so badly by her family’s n on the day he first arrived.’
’Later, Li Lu, who should have been gravely injured, made a full recovery in just a few days. The only sign anything had happened was that on the day he t Li Mingxin, he was walking a little abnormally.’
’Therefore, she was certain that the Cheng Family was behind everything.’
’This only made her more curious about the Cheng Family and Cheng Zongyang. And yet, there was so little information to be found on the Cheng Family’s origins.’
’All she knew was that the Cheng Family clan had once been put on the wanted list by the forr County Magistrate, Chang Younian. Beyond that, she could find nothing.’
’She wasn’t surprised that Cheng Zongyang wasn’t here tonight.’
"Everyone." At that mont, Li Lu spoke up.
Qiu Wan’Er was pulled from her thoughts.
"I know why you’ve all co here so late, so let’s dispense with the pleasantries. This Liu Family territory—aside from the Ding Family, do you two want it as well?"
"Yes."
"No."
The result, however, was two different answers.
Instantly, everyone in the hall turned to look at Xu Tieshan, for it was he who had said, "No."
"You all can talk first. I’ll discuss my business with Gang Leader Li separately afterward," Xu Tieshan said coolly.
Although the others didn’t understand, they didn’t press the issue.
But Li Lu just smiled and said, "It seems Patriarch Xu is looking for my Brother Cheng, correct? As it happens, Brother Cheng did entrust with a matter that concerns everyone here."
"We’re listening," said Ding Wu.
Li Lu was already prepared. He took out a simple diagram and posted it on the wall behind him.
"This is a map of the new layout for the County Town."
Everyone looked at the diagram. It depicted a completely new distribution of power.
They quickly noticed that while the Cheng, Celestial Break, Ding, Qiu, and Xu families were all marked on the map, the Lu, Liu, and He families were nowhere to be found.
This imdiately sparked a few theories in their minds.
Just then, they heard Li Lu say, "Jade Peak County is but a small county town with limited resources. It cannot bear the pressure of a Middle Third Grade Family, nor can it support so many families. As you all know, He Shujun has already beco a Sixth Grade Martial Artist."
Ding Wu, Qiu Fengxing, and Qiu Wan’Er remained silent. They knew this, of course, but they were powerless to do anything about it.
Ding Wu suddenly asked, "He Shujun is a Sixth Grade. The Cheng Family must have a Sixth Grade Martial Artist as well, right?!"
Li Lu answered, his expression calm, "If the Cheng Family had a Sixth Grade Martial Artist, would any of this trouble have been necessary?"
With that, he glanced around at those seated and seized the opportunity. "While the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang are not a Middle Third Grade power, we have the ans to withstand an attack from the He Family. The sa cannot be said for the rest of you.
"According to the rules, a Middle Third Grade Family cannot make the first move against Lower Three Grade Families. But she has endless ways to force your hand. I’m sure you are all well aware of that, aren’t you?"
The room fell silent once more.
They had no choice but to admit he was right.
It was difficult for a subordinate to challenge a superior, but all too easy for a superior to oppress a subordinate.
Forcing a Lower Three Grade Family into a provocation was simple. There were countless thods. You just had to make things difficult, again and again, until the lower-grade power could no longer endure it.
Their only options would be to fight back or flee. Either way, the final outco was already determined.
At this point, Qiu Wan’Er suddenly spoke up. "Gang Leader Li, are you proposing that we all form an alliance?"
Upon seeing the diagram and hearing Li Lu’s words, she had already considered this possibility and decided to voice it.
Li Lu looked at Qiu Wan’Er, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He then turned to Qiu Fengxing and said with a smile,
"Patriarch Qiu, you’ve raised a fine daughter. Indeed! The Celestial Break Gang and the Cheng Family have the ans to stop the He Family, but we’d rather not invite unnecessary trouble.
"We are content to defend our own territory in West City. If that weren’t the case, we wouldn’t have made a move on the Liu Family’s land. I’m sure you all realize that the Celestial Break Gang and the Cheng Family have the strength to back up our claims."
"What are the terms?" Xu Tieshan asked, speaking up as well.
’We can protect ourselves. The He Family can’t touch us, and we have no intention of provoking them. But if you want the He Family to leave—or disappear—it will co at a price.’
The pressure was now on the three families.
The families present knew full well that if the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang simply stood by and watched, the three of them would eventually share the Lu Family’s fate.
Li Lu didn’t speak, instead turning his gaze to the Qiu and Ding families.
The Xu Family had spoken, indicating their willingness. But the other two had not, so Li Lu needed them to declare their stance.
Qiu Fengxing understood Li Lu’s unspoken demand and had no choice but to say, "Please speak plainly, Gang Leader Li. We will do it, as long as it is within our power."
’This was a situation that could no longer be resolved with re sches.’
’In the face of absolute power, such sches were as fragile as clay chickens and pottery dogs—utterly useless.’
’The very reason the Royal Family forbade Middle Third Grade Families from attacking Lower Three Grade Families was because of this disparity in power.’
’An Eighth Grade Martial Artist could still contend with a Seventh Grade one, whether through strategy or brute force.’
’But the gap between a Seventh and a Sixth Grade was not sothing a single family could hope to overco.’
"Gang Leader Li, how do you propose we deal with them? The Ding Family is also willing to do its part," Ding Wu chid in, stating his position.
"Good." Li Lu smiled faintly.
He imdiately laid out Cheng Zongyang’s plan.
"As I said before, the County Town’s resources are limited, but the annual tribute that must be paid is considerable. The more powers there are, the smaller each one’s share becos. In the long run, this only breeds internal conflict. Therefore, Jade Peak County Town doesn’t need so many powers.
"The Lu and Liu families are now out of the picture. That leaves the He Family as the one pressing down on all of us.
"Since everyone is on board, things beco much simpler.
"Once the He Family is gone, the County Town can be neatly divided into four territories instead of seven!
"According to this diagram, the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang will be in West City; we’ll make do with just that portion. The Ding Family will be in South City; the Xu Family in North City; and the Qiu Family will occupy East City. I wonder, how does this arrangent sound to everyone?"
Instantly, the representatives from the three families were stunned into silence.
’Such a good deal existed? One family in charge of an entire district? Of course they were willing.’
’They had rushed here tonight for the sole purpose of buying the Liu Family’s territory. But what Li Lu was proposing now went far beyond their wildest expectations!’
But Qiu Wan’Er, having already anticipated sothing like this, remained calm. She knew there had to be a catch.
’Nothing is ever given for free!’
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