95 Intel Gathering

"I suppose I need not explain why what we are here for, correct," The Li family head, Li Tianming, asked the people sitting in front of him. They were, just like him, the respective leaders of their families in this City of Delight. They were Zhang Huixin and Wang Yuhan. The former was a round-bellied old woman, with makeup thick enough to be spread on a cake, while the latter was a dashing young man, with black hair that had light-blue streaks in it. 

There were many others gathered, from elders to bodyguards, but they deserved no mentioning in the presence of these three.

"Could we get some food rolling in first? I can't concentrate on the conversation otherwise," Zhang Huixin said.

"You're kidding, right?" Wang Yuhan gave her a weird stare.

—As it was stated before, usually, seeing one member of the three big families was already rare. Seeing two together was reserved for only grand festivals and under courtship. Meeting all three was akin to being hit by lightning thrice—it happened only when the Emperor willed so, or in times of war.

And currently, it was war.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but have any of you offended the City Lord in recent days," Li Tianming opened the topic with a question. This was no time for any pleasantries or beating around the bush.

"I don't even know who the current City Lord is," Zhang Huixun spoke and cackled wildly. Her belly flipped up and down as she did so.

Wang Yuhan hid his face, inwardly disgusted by her vulgar display. "I can't say I have. Did you?"

Li Tianming shook his head. "If that's the case, I truly do not understand why he chose us as his enemies. We have no enmities."

"I've been asking myself the same thing," The leader of the Wang family spoke. "But whatever it is, he cannot be forgiven. He has already taken three of my children." Yuhan sighed, his long eyelashes fluttering. The man referred to all his family members as children, even if they were older than him or not his descendants.

"He's taken four of my elders too," Zhang Huixin said, and smiled, contrary to her words. "It's a big hassle, you should know."

"Have you tried taking him to court?"

"What's the point? All the judges are in his pocket," Huixin shrugged. "He has them on his lap like some obedient dog. I don't know what he did, but it sure worked well."

Li Tianming frowned. None of his family members have faced prison yet, but that was only because Li Won shilled well enough for that not to happen. He's actively been protesting and showing his goodwill by protecting the people. Naturally, the City Lord supported him wholeheartedly, and some of the weaker-minded had begun taking his side.

"I've been thinking about it," Li Tianming said, "And I think he doesn't truly hold a grudge against us?"

Zhang Huixin spat on the ground. "Have you gone senile since the last time I saw you, old man?" For reference, she was the oldest of the three. "If this isn't a grudge, then I am not the most beautiful woman in the world."

"But you aren't," Li Tianming shot her down. He seemed quite used to doing so. "Moving on, it's not about us, the three families, that he has a grudge against. It's about what we represent. Think about it. Besides us as persons, the one thing we symbolize is the empire. It's well-documented that those who stand beside his Majesty are Wang, Zhang, and Li."

"Then what about him? He's the City Lord," Zhang Huixun cut him off. "He too represents the empire. Even more so than us, I'd say."

"I am unsure," Li Tianming admitted honestly. 

Truth be told, the City Lord was a total enigma to him. In the beginning, he was just another washed-up politician, taking the job through family ties, and additional bootlicking. He was forgettable, bland, and not worth respecting. 

But the change came around two years ago—at least, so his sources told him. He became eccentric, yet his ideas proved effective. His character exuded charisma, and he was full of wisdom. And by now, he was a force to be reckoned with. It was truly unbelievable how much a man could change. It was as if he had turned into a completely different person.

"You are grasping at straws, my dear Tianming." Yuhan gave the man a wink, making him shudder immensely. "As I said before, it doesn't matter what his motives are. We just have to crush him. The three great families have stood in this land for centuries, and it will continue for many more. A mere City Lord will not get in between that."

"It's easier said than done. Some of the lesser families have sided with him, hoping to take a piece off that pie." Tianming crossed his arms. "In particular, the Du family is being a pain. Their elder, Du Wan has reached the sixth stage and is not to be trifled with."

"I also hear that Fu Hao of the Golden Dragon Circle has announced their support," Wang Yuhan spoke. "I can't believe I'd ever say this, but the City Lord has created a formidable force that can stand toe to toe against the three families."

"That only shows he's been planning this for a long time. Clearly, we aren't the last of goals. Maybe, we are just a stepping stone," Li Tianming spoke, annoyed.

"But of course, we cannot give in that easily, right," The Wang family head asked with a sly grin. "It'd be wrong to take us lightly. In the end, the family always comes atop."

Li Tianming squinted his eyes. He, for some reason, thought it wasn't that simple. Still, he agreed. "Then, can I take you to agree with this proposition?"

Wang Yuhan spoke. "Who do you take me for? Everything for you my dear."

"Don't leave me out of this," Zhang Huixin said, grinning. "The Zhang family agrees too."

Li Tianming nodded. "With this, I declare the three families' joint relationship as officially valid!"

...

"Are you sure you haven't found anything of him," the City Lord asked his secretary.

"I apologize, Milord," the secretary bowed her head and spoke politely, yet apologetically. "It is as if the shop had appeared out of thin air. The name 'Shou' is also in none of our records. The possibility is high that he is from a faraway land though, as he does not seem to be aware of the customs of the empire. Anything else, I wasn't able to find. He doesn't appear to have any friends either, except for his customers."

The City Lord laughed dryly. "It's as if he had been created by God Himself just to mess with me." Ever since he heard the magistrate had been defeated, the priority of that little Store of Fates rose significantly. No, calling it 'little' was underestimating the place. Any shop that could face off against a forth stage cultivator was not to be trifled with.

Yet, no matter how hard they dug, there was no information to find about him. There were no records, no paper trail, no name, no anything at all. It was as if he was a figment of their imagination.

"There's the previous owner of the shop," the secretary spoke. "But I doubt they have anything to do with each other. They don't even sell the same things. If you wish for it, I can try tracking down the old family?"

"No need. For now, we should put our focus on the three families." The City Lord clenched his fists. He felt his goal tightly within his grasp. "If I had known it would be like this, I'd have tried harder to get the store on my side. Oh well, can't cry over spilled milk."

"Apologies for being presumptuous, I believe, in the end, even that store will bow to you," the secretary spoke, bowing.

"I surely do hope so. Because—no matter how cliche that may sound—failure is not an option." The City Lord glanced at his secretary. "Thanks for the report. You can leave now, Hong San."

...

"To the owner of the Store of Fates, We ask you to peacefully comply to your warrant, or else—"

"Shut up." Shou packed the soldier by his nape and threw him out, like a sack of trash. He hit his fellow comrades, who then scrambled and ran away.

Mei Xue glanced out the window. "These people have gathered ever since you beat up that cocky magistrate," she said. "You know, if you wish to, I can get the Wang family to offer some protection, I wager."

"I don't think they are in the position to worry about others right now," Zhang Yong spoke. "And for Shou, these people are just fodder."

"Well, it helps that they don't truly seem to believe in their cause," the youth spoke. "I can feel the resistance in their steps."

"Even soldiers are only human after all," Zhang Yong replied. He shook his head. "It takes a toll on your psyche to arrest your fellow countrymen and send them to prison, no matter how much propaganda has been shoved into the brain." The man paused. "If it were me, I would have long quit."

"Yeah, who cares," Mei Xue said mercilessly. "Let's move to the important topic, namely, who of us will be the first to kill the witch and complete the instance."