Chapter 27: Estrangement
Li Qian and his five companions didn’t leave Dongchen Restaurant until evening. They planned to stay at a nearby inn for the night and return to Divine Sword Sect the next day.
“Young Master.”
As soon as they left the restaurant, a servant in green clothes came up to him. “Master told you to go back.”
“Tell him I’m not going back.”
Li Qian shook his head and said.
With that, he left.
The green-clothed servant didn’t know what to do, so he hurried back to the Li Residence.
“Scoundrel! He’s been away from home for more than three years without any news, and now he’s back in White Jade City and won’t come back. Do I have to go and invite him back myself?”
In the Li Residence, Second Master Li Donglin slammed the table in anger as soon as he heard the servant’s report.
“Master, don’t be angry. Qian’er is just being willful for a while.”
A woman walked in and said softly.
“This is not just willfulness. It’s been more than three years. I think he’s completely wild at heart and thinks I can’t control him anymore.”
Li Donglin said angrily.
He was originally very happy to know that his son had appeared in White Jade City.
After all, he had been worried for more than three years.
But now he was very angry.
He thought he had always attached great importance to this son. He had arranged for family tutors to guide him in his studies and to pursue academic fame so that he could embark on an official career in the future.
But this son was unlearned and incompetent. Instead, he liked to practice martial arts and was unwilling to listen to his arrangements. He was very rebellious.
“Old Xu, take some people with me to tie him back.”
Li Donglin suddenly stood up and said to the housekeeper standing at the door.
“Master, please communicate with Qian’er properly first.”
The woman hurriedly persuaded.
“Madam, I know you’re doing this for his own good, but he won’t appreciate your kindness. He’s been wild for three years. He must be properly disciplined.”
Li Donglin waved his hand, showing his attitude as the head of the family.
Seeing this, the woman couldn’t say anything.
After Li Donglin left with the housekeeper, a coldness flashed in her eyes.
Li Qian was the legitimate eldest son and the first in line to inherit the family property.
In this way, her son would have to stand aside.
Only by forcing Li Qian away could her son logically inherit everything from Li Donglin, including his connections in the officialdom.
At the inn.
Li Qian was just about to start cultivating when he heard a commotion outside.
Not long after, the door was pushed open, and Li Donglin barged in with a group of servants.
“Li Qian, come back with me.”
Li Donglin was about to get angry when he saw Li Qian standing there, but his tone softened.
After more than three years of not seeing him, his son, who had caused him so much worry, seemed to have grown taller and stronger.
He couldn’t help but recall the entrustment of Li Qian’s mother before her death, asking him to take good care of Qian’er.
“Since I left the Li family, I haven’t planned to go back, and I won’t fight with Li Kun for the family property.”
Li Qian said calmly.
Li Kun was the former Li Qian’s half-brother. Four years ago, he had passed the Xiucai examination and was even accepted as a registered disciple by the great Confucian scholar Chu Xun. If nothing unexpected happened, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to pass the Juren and Jinshi examinations.
For the scholarly Li family, the former Li Qian, who was unlearned and incompetent, was naturally a good-for-nothing.
But in fact, the reason why the former Li Qian hated studying was entirely due to the scheming of his stepmother, which eventually led to his strong rebellious psychology and frequent conflicts with his father, Li Donglin.
That was the former Li Qian’s business and had nothing to do with him.
“You unfilial son, you really want to anger me to death!”
Upon hearing Li Qian’s words, the last trace of guilt in Li Donglin’s heart was immediately replaced by anger. “Over the past three years, your stepmother has been very concerned about your safety. Kun’er has already passed the Juren examination and will definitely not fight with you for the family property. It seems that I have been too indulgent with you in the past. From today onwards, I must discipline you properly.”
With that, he waved his hand. “Tie this unfilial son back for me.”
Hearing the master’s order, several servants immediately rushed forward like wolves and tigers.
Although these servants were not Ranked Martial Artists, they had all been trained. Coupled with their burly figures, they looked extremely capable.
◈◈◈
Just as the servants rushed forward, Li Qian gently waved his hand, and they were sent flying, tumbling into a heap.
“Father, this is the last time I’ll call you father. Don’t try to impose your ideas on me anymore. I’m in charge of my own life.”
Li Qian said indifferently.
Then he stretched out his hand and grabbed the precious sword on the table, making it fly into his hand. Then, with a swift movement, he quickly flashed out of the room.
Not long after, the sound of horse hooves could be heard. It was Li Qian riding away from the inn.
Li Donglin’s face was even uglier. He clearly cared about his son very much, so why had it come to this? He didn’t even want to go home. How could this be?
Several Inner Sect Disciples who heard the commotion were very surprised. They also heard that Junior Brother Li seemed to have fallen out with his family.
“Young heroes, may I know if you’re with my son?”
Li Donglin hurriedly stepped forward and asked when he saw these Inner Sect Disciples.
“We don’t deserve to be called young heroes. We’re Inner Sect Disciples of Divine Sword Sect. Junior Brother Li is on an e*cort mission with us.”
Liu Hui, one of the Inner Sect Disciples, hurriedly said.
Since the man was Junior Brother Li’s father, he spoke more politely.
“Divine Sword Sect?”
Li Donglin was shocked.
As a major martial arts sect that dominated the Three Provinces and Twelve Counties, Divine Sword Sect was known to everyone in White Jade City.
“My son Li Qian, he’s an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect?”
He couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes.”
Liu Hui nodded.
He was very curious as to why Junior Brother Li’s family didn’t know about this.
Li Donglin’s mood was complicated. He naturally knew the weight of an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect.
He remembered that he had invited a Martial Instructor in the city to examine Li Qian’s bones. The instructor said that his root b*ne aptitude was very mediocre, and even if he took the path of martial arts, there was little hope.
A major martial arts sect like Divine Sword Sect had very high requirements for the root b*ne aptitude of its disciples. How could his son be qualified to become an Inner Sect Disciple?
Could it be that the Martial Instructor had made a mistake?
With complicated feelings, Li Donglin returned to the Li Residence.
The woman greeted him. “Master, is Qian’er still unwilling to come back?”
In fact, she was very happy in her heart.
If Li Qian was unwilling to come back, the conflict between father and son would become deeper and deeper, and it would be difficult to resolve.
“He…”
Li Donglin shook his head. “Madam, he has become an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect.”
The woman was stunned and said in astonishment, “An Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect? How is that possible? Didn’t a Martial Instructor examine his bones and say that Qian’er’s root b*ne aptitude was very mediocre?”
“I’m also very puzzled, but the several Inner Sect Disciples of Divine Sword Sect who came with him have already confirmed it.”
Li Donglin said.
In fact, he was quite happy in his heart.
This son was disobedient and didn’t follow his wishes to take the imperial examination path.
But becoming an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect, this path was obviously better.
As a scholarly family, the Li family had not never thought of cultivating their own martial artists.
For a family to truly grow b*gger and stronger, the best solution was to take the path of martial arts.
The path of taking the imperial examination and becoming a civil official was too narrow.
Once troubled times arrived, it would be difficult for such a scholarly family to protect themselves. They would lose all their power and be destroyed in an instant.
But the path of martial arts was too difficult.
The root b*ne aptitude required for practicing martial arts was the first hurdle.
Moreover, martial arts resources were monopolized by powerful martial arts forces.
If the Li family could produce a powerful martial artist, and he was a disciple of a major martial arts sect like Divine Sword Sect, it would undoubtedly open a brand new door for the Li family to a bright future.
