Druid Fairy

Chapter 96 Family Schemes
Li Fang ultimately failed to utter the words of help he needed.

He had imagined the other person's mockery, pity, or hypocritical politeness, but he never expected this calm and detachment, a calm that seemed to say, "I have already seen through you, but I am too lazy to point it out."

This was more embarrassing for him than any ridicule.

He practically fled the Li family mansion, a place he once considered a "muddy's den," but now it was a distant shore he could never reach.

The villagers' murmurs stung Li Fang's back like needles, making him appear ten years older in an instant. His once-splendid silk robe now looked utterly ridiculous on him.

Back at the sealed-off gate of the mansion.

"Master? You didn't get the money?" Realizing that the Li family had truly lost, the concubine complained bitterly, "No wonder they have such a useless daughter, so this is the root of the problem..."

"Enough!" Li Yuan rushed over and immediately scolded upon hearing this.

Over the years, he had gained experience in Li Pingfu's security escort agency, witnessing the coldness of human relationships and the dangers of the martial world. He was no longer a boy.

The prosperity of the Li family and Li Pingfu's teachings made him deeply understand a principle: complaining and blaming others is the most useless thing to do; only by relying on oneself can one truly stand up.

"Mother, don't cry."

Li Yuan's voice was not loud, but it was unusually calm. He walked to his mother, Huang, and gently helped her up. "We're not staying here anymore."

He glanced at his father, who was lying on the ground, his eyes filled with complex emotions. There was no resentment in his eyes, but rather a faint sense of estrangement and disappointment.

He used all the savings he had accumulated over the years from traveling all over the country and running countless escort missions to buy a quiet two-courtyard house in the town.

Ignoring the astonished looks of his father and concubine, he calmly packed his bags and helped the exhausted Huang Shi.

“Yuan’er, your father…” Madam Huang looked back every few steps, unable to put her mind at ease.

"Mother, Father has hands and feet, he won't starve."

Li Yuan said calmly, "He needs to figure it out himself, instead of relying on some celestial maiden or some scoundrels on earth."

No matter how bad life got, it couldn't be worse than toiling in the fields and being bullied by the officials.

…………

a few days later.

Li Ping'an hurriedly returned home, and the core members of the Li family gathered in a secret room.

"Father, elder brother!" Li Ping'an, who had been an official for two or three years and had become more and more dignified, could not contain his excitement at this moment. "Yunshui County is going to add the position of 'County Commandant Assistant'!"

"County Lieutenant Assistant!?" The four members of the Li family looked at each other, not understanding what this person did, only knowing that it was an "official".

Seeing this, Li Ping'an realized that he was the only one in the family who was excited, and began to explain.

Within the territory of the Dayu Dynasty, especially in remote prefectures and counties, there have recently been frequent occurrences of evil cults and sorcerers who have bewitched the villagers, disturbed their peace, and even caused several serious incidents.

To strengthen local military preparedness and suppress illegal activities, the Songling Prefecture government ordered that each county be permitted to establish additional military posts.

Although Pin Yi was not of high rank, he held real power and assisted the county in managing the county's military affairs, patrols, and public security.

If one can advance to the level of a Xiantian martial artist, the original county magistrate will be relieved of his post. The assistant county magistrate, being in a position of close proximity, can take the next step and directly become the county magistrate, becoming a true military officer.

Li Ping'an said in a low voice, "Since the three major families of Yunshui County were punished by Liang Xianguan, they can no longer rely on connections to hold important positions. Now they have to rely entirely on their own abilities." Take the Zhao family members, for example. They once had the "glorious history" of serving as county magistrates at the Divine Fiend Realm.

The selection method for this position is quite novel—it doesn't consider family background or social standing, only ability. The government will set up a competition arena for open recruitment, and only martial artists at the Acquired Realm are eligible to participate. The winner will be appointed.

A glint of light flashed in Li Rongzhou's eyes.

His keen intuition instantly grasped the opportunity hidden behind those four words.

“Ping’an is on the path of a civil official, and with the marriage alliance with the Mu family, his foundation is already solid. If Pingfu can secure this military officer position, our Li family will be able to flourish in both the civil and military fields in Yunshui County, supporting each other and forming a formidable alliance! Only then will we truly have a solid foundation to live on!”

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu's eyes also blazed with fighting spirit. He was a composed man, but that didn't mean he lacked courage. As a martial artist, who didn't yearn to achieve great deeds and bring glory to their family?

"Father, I want to fight for it!" he said in a deep voice.

Li Pingfu had the confidence to do so. He was already quite talented, and with the precious medicine secretly provided by Li Pingcan, his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

Not long ago, he had just broken through to the long-awaited Acquired Realm and was worried about not having a chance to use his skills. More importantly, he had not yet taken the "Strengthening Pill" that his second brother had given him and that his third brother had given it back to him.

With the help of this elixir, he will not only be able to solidify his foundation, but his strength will also be able to improve further. He may even be able to put up a fight against those long-established masters!
"Good! That's ambitious!" Li Rongzhou nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Li Pingcan, "Pingcan, what do you think?"

Li Pingcan smiled and said, "If my elder brother wants to go, I will naturally support him. This is not only for his personal future, but also a crucial step in the long-term plan of our Li family."

Having connections in the imperial court makes things much easier. Over the years, the whole family has enjoyed all the benefits of having "connections in the court." Take the Li Family Escort Agency, for example. Without Li Ping'an's name and the Mu family's endorsement, would they have had the opportunity to earn ten thousand taels of silver a year?

Furthermore, due to previous reports of unusual activity by the cult, Peach Blossom Village was placed under martial law to guard against countless hidden threats and dangers. It's worth noting that in a neighboring village not far away, women and children had "disappeared."

"but……"

Li Pingcan changed the subject, his expression becoming serious. "This competition is no small matter."

“My brother is right.” Li Ping’an took a deep breath.

He has used his wife's connections to record all the information about the main competitors in this competition, and the level of detail is far beyond what is available on the market.

"Within Yunshui County, there are four openly recognized experts eyeing this position, and none of them are easy to deal with."

The first to be affected was Qin An, a guest elder of the Zhou family, the largest clan in the county.

This man is said to be over sixty years old, with decades of fame. He is skilled in Mantis Boxing, a style that combines strength and flexibility, and his palm strikes are powerful enough to shatter stone tablets. He is highly respected in both the legitimate and underworld circles of Yunshui County. He represents the interests of a long-established local power, with deep-rooted and intricate connections.

Secondly, he was a lone, wandering martial arts practitioner, nicknamed "Bloody Hand Butcher".

This man has a mysterious background and is ruthless and merciless with his swift knife skills, reportedly leaving no survivors. His achievements are all earned through real combat, and his extensive experience makes him the most dangerous of all his competitors.

In addition, there are two other newly promoted martial artists: one is a relative of the Zhou family by marriage, a member of the Xie family, a prominent family; the other is the owner of a martial arts school. Both have their own backgrounds and their strength should not be underestimated.

Li Pingfu pondered for a moment and said, "When martial artists fight, it's not about reputation, it's about fists. Whoever has the strongest fist is right."

"well said!"

Li Rongzhou clapped his hands and laughed heartily, exclaiming with boundless pride, "The men of the Li family don't usually cause trouble, but they fight when it's time to fight!"

Li Ping'an used all his connections in the county town to continue digging for detailed information about his opponents, even compiling their usual tactics and personality weaknesses into a book.

Lee Pyeongchan returned to his room and fell into deep thought.

"My brother is following the righteous path of open strategy, deciding the outcome on the stage. But there may be conspiracies and tricks behind the scenes."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "The Zhou family has a long history, and even if a branch family rises to power, they will certainly not be lacking in cunning. I need to think of a way to provide some assistance to my elder brother."

He thought of his druid abilities: [Spore Sensing] could provide early warnings, [Nature's Grace] could enhance his luck, and even [Beast to Friend] could come in handy.

…………

In Yunshui County, a thousand miles away, the bustling pavilions are draped with light gauze curtains, and the air is filled with exotic fragrances. Every corner is decorated with tiny barriers to prevent prying eyes.

Qin An, a guest elder of the Zhou family, was sitting on a soft couch, holding a wine cup, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

A woman with a graceful figure was sitting opposite me.

The woman appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She wore a peach-colored palace dress, half-undone, revealing her fair shoulders and delicate collarbone. She leaned back languidly, her fox-like eyes sparkling with a captivating charm, as if she were a born enchantress.

She was Qin An's old flame, Su Meiniang, a rogue cultivator whose cultivation had reached the third level of Qi Refining. Her specialty was her seductive arts, which were difficult to defend against.

Because of a grave mistake he made years ago, he was expelled from the sect. As a rogue cultivator, he was worse off than a dog. His charm skills were useless in combat, and the noble immortal was reduced to being able to associate with martial artists.

That's not the case. With spiritual roots, if she were imprisoned by a powerful martial artist, she might be with 365 men for 365 days a year!
Thinking of that scene, Su Meiniang felt that things were quite good as they were now. "Brother Qin, you've come to my place so late. Did you miss me?" Su Meiniang covered her mouth and chuckled, her voice sweet and seductive.

"Meiniang, we've known each other for so many years, don't you understand my feelings?"

Qin An put down his wine cup, his withered hand covering her soft, boneless hand. A glint of greed flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cold, calculating look. "I've come to see you today because I have a great fortune to share with you."

"Oh?" Su Meiniang withdrew her hand and gave him a coquettish glare. "I'm afraid Brother Qin's wealth is not easy to obtain, is it? My cultivation is shallow, and I can't do things involving fighting and killing."

"I don't need you to kill anyone." Qin An's lips curled into a sinister smile, his voice extremely low. "I need you to help me deal with someone."

He recounted the whole story of "the county magistrate's assistant".

When Su Meiniang heard that Li Pingfu was already a master of the acquired realm at the young age of twenty, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but it quickly turned into a knowing smile.

"It turns out to be Ba Hu from the Li Family Martial Arts School. He's been making waves in the county lately, and even that young girl from the Jiang family is completely infatuated with him."

Su Meiniang played with a strand of her hair and said disdainfully, "He's just a greenhorn who relies on brute force. How could he understand the dangers of immortal techniques?"

"exactly!"

A fierce glint flashed in Qin An's eyes, making him appear exceptionally sinister. "No matter how high his martial arts skills are, he is still just a hot-blooded young man. As long as you are willing to make a move, using your 'Thousand Illusions of Love' technique, you only need to make him lose his mind for a moment, just a breath will be enough! At that time, I will ambush him from behind, and he will surely die!"

This was his plan: simple, direct, yet incredibly vicious.

He knew that he was getting old and his vitality had already begun to decline. If he were to face off against a young master like Li Pingfu, who was at the peak of his career, even if he could win, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

He can't afford to gamble, nor does he want to. His style is to use the safest and most despicable means to strike a fatal blow.

Upon hearing this, Su Meiniang's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she pondered, "That boy is, after all, a master of acquired skills, with vigorous blood and energy. My seductive arts may not be able to succeed easily. Moreover, he is now the son-in-law of the Jiang family, and his second brother is a celestial official. There are many connections behind him. If we fail, we will be in trouble."

"Hahaha, Meiniang, you're being too cautious!"

Qin Anzhi sneered confidently, "No matter how strong his will is, how can he resist your Qi Refining Level 3 seductive arts? No matter how powerful his backing is, once he's dead, he's nothing! Besides, I'm not without backing either. Who would offend the Zhou family behind me for the sake of a dead man?"

He leaned close to Su Meiniang and whispered in her ear, his breath carrying a putrid, fishy smell:

"Once this is done, my treasured 'Fragrance Jade' will be yours. This item will not only help you stabilize your cultivation, but also keep you looking young forever. What do you say?"

"Ningxiang Jade?" Su Meiniang's breath hitched, and a strong desire instantly flared in her eyes.

For a female cultivator like her who specializes in seductive arts, appearance and cultivation are equally important. The allure of Ningxiang Jade is enough for her to take any risk!
"Alright!" Without further hesitation, she picked up her wine glass, her red lips parted slightly, "Then this servant wishes Brother Qin all the best and that he will soon become the magistrate of Yunshui County!"

"Hahaha!"

Qin An let out a triumphant, hoarse laugh and lightly clinked his wine cup against Su Meiniang's.

The wine in the glass swirls, reflecting two smiling faces, each harboring their own secrets.

Li Pingfu was nothing more than a country bumpkin, a stepping stone on the road to power and wealth.

With just a light kick, he will fall into the abyss and be shattered to pieces!
…………

Quiet room.

"After taking the nourishing herbal decoction for several days, I can finally take the Strengthening Pill."

Li Pingfu exhaled a breath of hot air.

He has just broken through the Acquired Realm and is about to break through the Innate Realm. The advancement is too rapid and may put an extra burden on his body, so he needs to "nourish" himself in advance.

I learned this nourishing prescription from my second brother. I heard it was a prescription commonly used by the county magistrate and was worth a hundred gold pieces.

It was precisely because becoming an "official" person had so many hidden benefits that Li Pingfu wanted to strive for a military post.

The Strengthening Pill was warm and smooth, with a flowing light seemingly rotating on its surface. Just smelling its fragrance made his blood and qi circulate faster involuntarily.

The green pill melts in your mouth, without the expected bitterness. Instead, it transforms into a warm and powerful current that flows down your throat and into your dantian.

In an instant, Li Pingfu felt as if a red-hot iron had been thrown into his dantian, and an extremely pure medicinal power exploded out!

This power was not as violent as ordinary precious medicines. It was like a highly skilled master who first repeatedly tempered and purified the originally abundant acquired internal energy in his body, removing the last trace of impurities, repairing the hidden injuries left by his years of martial arts training, and widening his meridians.

Li Pingfu groaned, feeling his bones cracking and popping, as if his flesh was being reshaped beneath his skin, a mixture of indescribable comfort and excruciating pain.

He focused his mind, guiding this power, circulating it again and again according to the mental techniques of the "Five Spirits Play." The ferocity of the tiger, the agility of the crane, the steadiness of the bear... the five divine qualities intertwined within his body, perfectly merging with the medicinal power.

After an unknown amount of time, when he had completely absorbed the medicinal power, the gaseous internal energy in his dantian had completely condensed and transformed into a wisp of innate internal energy that was constantly regenerating and seemed to resonate with the primordial energy of heaven and earth!
The innate state of being is achieved naturally!
Li Pingfu slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them.

Feeling the harmonious, fulfilling, and ever-renewing power within my body, I felt a surge of pride and joy.

He is now completely different from how he was a few hours ago!

…………

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed Peach Blossom Village in a warm golden glow.

On his way home from purchasing nourishing medicines in Yunshui County, Li Pingfu suddenly caught a faint, lingering fragrance.

He looked up and saw a strange woman standing under a peach tree not far away, looking somewhat lost and helpless.

The woman looked like a passing traveler, with a graceful figure that stirred the imagination.

Alarm bells rang in Li Pingfu's mind.

A martial artist who has reached the Innate Realm possesses heightened senses and is impervious to heat and cold, yet this fragrant breeze caused him to feel a strange heat, and his mind was stirred. This was definitely not normal!

"Gah!"

Just then, a black crow in the tree suddenly let out a sharp, urgent cry.

Li Pingfu instantly understood.

He remained impassive, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a perfectly timed look of "amazement" and "hesitation." He deliberately feigned being captivated by her beauty and took a few steps closer to the woman.

"Young lady, are you lost?"

Seeing the change in his expression, Su Meiniang was secretly pleased. It seemed that this "tyrant" was nothing special after all, and in the end, he couldn't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.

She added a touch of allure, her voice so soft it could melt water: "Yes, sir, it's getting late, and I'm all alone, feeling quite frightened. I wonder... I wonder if I could bother you for a moment?"

“This…” Li Pingfu pretended to hesitate. “I have female relatives at home, so it’s inconvenient for me. How about this, there’s a pavilion in the woods ahead. I’ll take you there to rest, and then help you find your way down the mountain.”

What "inconvenience"? Is it because you're overcome with lust and want to "fight" in the wild?

"Then...then I'll have to trouble you, brother." Su Meiniang's eyes flickered, and she sneered inwardly. This kid had indeed taken the bait.

Li Pingfu turned around and led the way, seemingly exposing his back to the other party without any defense, but in reality, all the muscles in his body were already tense, and his innate true energy was ready to be released.

He led Su Meiniang step by step into that secluded and quiet mountain forest.

As night deepened, the light in the forest became dim.

When they reached a deserted open space, Li Pingfu suddenly stopped and turned around.

The last trace of "obsession" on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling coldness and a sharp killing intent, his eyes as sharp as knives!

"Who are you?"

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(End of this chapter)