15: Chapter 15 Taking Control of a City
[You look at Li Hu and say directly, "Senior Brother, I have no interest in the Azure Nether Martial Hall, and I don't want to inherit it in the future."]
[Your single sentence leaves him shocked.]
[Before Li Hu can recover, you add, "I'm already twenty years old, yet I've never interfered in the management of the martial arts hall. Can't you sense that?"]
["Yet you insist on causing trouble for me."]
[At this point, feeling annoyed, you throw out a palm strike, shattering the nearby doors and windows into pieces.]
[The fierce Innate Sword Qi rampages through, kicking up a gust of wild wind.]
[Li Hu can't help but close his eyes, taking two steps back.]
[You pull a throwing knife from your sleeve and toss it casually.]
[Li Hu is carried away by the throwing knife, the powerful force pinning him to the wall.]
["You... you... impossible! How can you have this level of cultivation?"]
[Li Hu's face is full of disbelief: "Zhou You, you really put on quite a performance."]
[Stepping over the debris, you approach him: "Tell me, what is my father's Innate method?"]
["And what has changed about him compared to five years ago?"]
[Li Hu didn't expect you to ask this.]
[He is quite surprised, ignoring the pain in his hand: "You... how do you know about these things?"]
["Right, you are his son. How could he not tell you the Innate method?"]
[Li Hu seems somewhat despondent.]
[You lower your head, your voice deep: "Li Hu, answer my question."]
[Does this guy have a problem with his brain? I don't know, that's why I'm asking!!]
[None of this is a secret, so Li Hu answers directly: "Master's Innate method is called the 'Zhou Yous Void Control Art'. I only found out by chance after seeing Master's diary."]
["The diary says this Cultivation Technique can break through to the Innate Realm, and even the Inner Gang Realm."]
["Zhou You, Zhou You... the names are so similar, it's hard not to see a connection. There's definitely something there."]
[It seems Zhou Zhuan really is hiding a lot.]
["And the other question?"]
[Li Hu recalls for a moment: "Master was the same five years ago as he is now."]
["Besides the Azure Nether Martial Hall, he has other martial arts halls under him. In total, over a dozen True Qi Realm experts follow him. For the sake of the halls' interests, Master has to fight with other forces..."]
["He was busy five years ago, and he's still busy now."]
[So there's no problem then.]
[You pull the throwing knife out of Li Hu's body.]
[Li Hu falls to the ground.]
[His injuries aren't heavy; he still has 95 HP.]
[Standing up from the ground, Li Hu suddenly asks, "Five years ago, did the disappearance of the Third Junior Brother have anything to do with you?"]
[You glance at him without answering the question, instead saying: "Li Hu, from now on, submit to me and work for me. How about it?"]
[You look at him and snap your fingers: "Your wife and child in the east of the city, as well as the woman and child in Yuanxing City—I will take good care of them."]
[This is a blatant threat.]
[Li Hu is increasingly shocked: "How do you know about them?"]
[The second woman was his secret; he can't understand how it was exposed.]
["That's none of your concern."]
[You walk out of the room, leaving him with: "Next, I'll see how you perform."]
[Keeping Li Hu wasn't a whim, but an idea you'd had for a long time.]
[Today, it finally came to fruition.]
[In the previous two simulations, your strength was too weak, giving you no chance to interfere in Qingyun City.]
[This time is different.]
[You want to grasp this place firmly in your control and test Zhou Zhuan while you're at it.]
[Conveniently, the bandits and mountain outlaws you've recruited over the years can now be put to use.]
[Walking out of the headquarters, you first head to the City Lord's Manor. Circulating your Cultivation Technique along the way, you've already recovered the True Qi consumed earlier.]
[The City Lord's Manor is the strongest force in Qingyun City, with many experts.]
[As soon as you stand before the gate, you feel many people spying on you.]
[Looking in the direction of these people, you grip a handful of silver needles in each hand, take a step, and land on the roof: "Those who surrender shall not be killed."]
[As you speak, you throw out a handful of silver needles, striking dozens of people within your line of sight.]
[These silver needles have been soaked in Zhou Poison for years; their effect is potent.]
[Upon contact, they claim their lives.]
[A figure rushes over from a distance and lands before you, his face grim: "Didn't you say those who surrender shall not be killed?"]
[You look at the Middle-aged Man before you and shake your head: "Before that, I must establish my authority."]
["Otherwise, no one will listen to me."]
[The Middle-aged Man flicks his sleeves, grips a blade, and sneers: "Who would have thought that Zhou You of the Zhou Family would be like this?"]
["You've hidden yourself so deeply."]
["City Lord Han, those who surrender shall not be killed."]
[You pinch a Willow-leaf Blade, gazing at him calmly.]
[Locked under your gaze, he immediately feels a surge of pressure.]
[City Lord Han's expression shifts; after a moment of hesitation, he finally takes a step back: "I am old. This world, in the end, belongs to you young people."]
[You nod, casually putting the Willow-leaf Blade into your storage space: "A wise man submits to the circumstances."]
[City Lord Han can't help but ask: "Are you currently in the Innate Realm?"]
["Can't you feel it?"]
["I only feel that your True Qi is very, very strong."]
["Mm."]
[City Lord Han's strength is a bit higher than you imagined, at the seventh layer of the True Qi Realm. With him around, he can do more for you.]
[You aren't afraid of him betraying you; after all, this City Lord's entire family is in Qingyun City.]
[Furthermore, you have other means of restraint.]
[And so, relying on your powerful strength, you subdued the City Lord's Manor, then led them from house to house.]
[The Three Major Families also submitted after several of their True Qi Realm experts died.]
[The final Two Major Gangs were the same, but they failed to recognize reality and suffered greater losses.]
[Hundreds of their men were instantly killed by your hidden weapons.]
[In a single day, you took control of all the top forces in Qingyun City. Everyone submitted to you, at least on the surface.]
[Night, the main hall of the City Lord's Manor.]
[Dressed in green robes, you sit in the seat of honor. Beside you are City Lord Han, the three family heads, and the two gang leaders. Li Hu is also present; he is now responsible for all the martial arts halls in the city.]
[After gaining power, Li Hu's mindset has also changed.]
[You can feel that he has developed a bit of loyalty toward you.]
[Or rather, he is loyal to the source of his power.]
[You tap the table and look at the group: "Still no news of Zhou Zhuan?"]
[City Lord Han nods: "Hall Master Zhou left the city three days ago. We only know he went east, but the specific location is unclear."]
["He often goes out, usually returning in three to five days."]
[The others show expressions suggesting that this is normal.]
[They also have doubts in their hearts as to why you call Zhou Zhuan by his name directly.]
[Addressing him by name—just how much resentment is there?]
[Hearing this, you nod slightly and say: "Closely monitor Zhou Zhuan. As soon as there is news of him, notify me immediately."]