“Li Xiaotian, Lord Li! The Yang family admits guilt!”
“As long as you spare the Yang family, we are willing to pay any price!”
Old Master Yang, with a look of humility, spoke as if filled with sincerity.
“The Yang family’s industries are spread across the country, supporting the livelihoods of over a hundred thousand people, and improving the quality of life for tens of millions. If the Yang family is destroyed, the losses incurred will undoubtedly be immense.”
“If the common people’s lives become difficult due to the Yang family’s demise, it is likely that the high-level officials of Great Qin will take notice.”
“Lord Li, it is hardly worth it to annihilate my Yang family over a minor matter!”
“If you incur the wrath of a high-ranking figure in Great Qin because of this, it will be a very unfavorable outcome for you!”
Listening to Old Master Yang’s words, a faint trace of mockery flickered across Li Xiaotian’s face. Was this an attempt to coerce him with the broader implications?
Moral blackmail?
Did he really think he would care about such things?
“Is this your attitude of admitting guilt? Old man, do you truly believe that Li Xiaotian would care about such matters?”
“The Yang family, if I decide to destroy it, will be destroyed. No one will dare to utter a word of protest!”
“What? Has your martial might failed, so you resort to using these grand pronouncements to pressure me?”
Li Xiaotian chuckled.
Outside the main hall, the heads of the major aristocratic families of Jiangnan all wore complex expressions. While Old Master Yang’s methods were somewhat underhanded, what he said was true.
A top aristocratic family was not something that could be easily eradicated.
Furthermore, the Yang family had been arrogant and had not utilized official resources. Had they contacted their connections within the government earlier, tonight’s outcome might have been different.
“My King! Governor of Jiangnan, Jiang Hai, requests an audience!”
Outside the Yang family estate, the voice of a warrior from the Dragon King Hall rang out.
Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged glances. Jiang Hai had arrived! Was he here to save the Yang family?
Old Master Yang’s eyes lit up with joy. As a top aristocratic family in Jiangnan, the Yang family had contributed significantly to the region’s development. Jiang Hai would surely not stand idly by while his family was destroyed.
Unconsciously, Old Master Yang rose, a hint of relief appearing on his face.
Li Xiaotian glanced at Old Master Yang, let out a soft hum, and then instructed those outside the door.
“Let him in!”
He wanted to see what further tricks the Yang family could conjure.
Jiang Hai strode into the Yang family hall, recalling what he had witnessed on his ascent. He was profoundly shocked.
The Yang family’s three thousand valiant guards were gone just like that!
And the Dragon King Hall seemed to have suffered minimal casualties!
Truly worthy of being the world’s number one power!
Seeing Jiang Hai enter the hall, Old Master Yang’s expression changed drastically. With a look of grief, he shouted.
“Governor Jiang, you must uphold justice for our Yang family! Please, save our Yang family!”
“This scoundrel, Li Xiaotian, has no regard for the rules of your Governor’s office. He has openly violated the regulations and led troops to surround my Yang family!”
“He even brutally slaughtered my Yang family’s three thousand guards. Governor Jiang, such a lawless individual, you must take action to punish him!”
The Yang family patriarch, Yang Zhentian, immediately spoke up. At this moment, only Jiang Hai could save the Yang family. As the Governor of Jiangnan, he commanded all forces in the Jiangnan military region. If he intervened, Li Xiaotian would surely die.
“Governor Jiang, Li Xiaotian has wantonly killed innocent people and has also imprisoned the heads of various aristocratic families in Jiangnan. His ambition is to throw Jiangnan into chaos!”
“We implore Governor Jiang to act and punish the villainous Li Xiaotian!”
The members of the Yang family pleaded one after another, their gazes filled with hatred as they looked at Li Xiaotian. To be forced into such a predicament by him was an utterly profound humiliation!
Jiang Hai’s mouth twitched. Without even glancing at the Yang family members, he walked behind Li Xiaotian and said respectfully.
“Jiang Hai, Governor of Jiangnan, pays respects to the Dragon. Lord Li!”
Silence.
Absolute silence!
At this moment, even the sound of a pin dropping would be audible.
Everyone present was stunned. The heads of the major aristocratic families of Jiangnan were dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
The members of the Yang family, their minds went completely blank. What were they seeing?
Jiang Hai, the Governor of Jiangnan, was addressing Li Xiaotian as “Lord”! And his attitude was incredibly humble!
Old Master Yang couldn't catch his breath and fainted from shock. What exactly was Li Xiaotian’s identity? What kind of existence had his Yang family provoked?
“Something the matter? What, you wish to protect the Yang family?”
Li Xiaotian asked, without turning his head, his tone indifferent.
“No, no, no!! Lord Li, you misunderstand. The Yang family deserves to die. It is only right for you to destroy them, and the Governor’s office has no objections!”
Jiang Hai quickly replied, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his heart filled with trepidation.
“I have come this time only to report to you that after the Yang family is annihilated, I will personally send people to liquidate all of the Yang family’s assets and transfer them to your name. As for the Yang family’s industries, relevant personnel will take over.”
“Therefore, after the Yang family is destroyed, nothing will be affected!”
Boom! Jiang Hai’s words struck everyone present like a bolt from the blue.
Such a colossal family as the Yangs, to be destroyed so casually, and Jiang Hai, the Governor of Jiangnan, didn’t dare to utter a single word of plea, but instead considered all the follow-up arrangements for Li Xiaotian.
How… how was this possible?
At this moment, everyone turned to look at Li Xiaotian, their hearts filled with shock.
What exactly was Li Xiaotian’s identity?
How could he make Jiang Hai behave in such a manner?
Moreover, Jiang Hai’s actions seemed to be an attempt to curry favor with Li Xiaotian!
This was truly astonishing. Given Governor Jiang Hai’s status, there were fewer than a handful of people in the Great Qin Kingdom for whom he would show such deference.
And these individuals were beings who, in their eyes, were like gods!
But Li Xiaotian, they had some understanding of his background. How could Li Xiaotian make Jiang Hai so obsequious?
What was Li Xiaotian’s identity?
Countless speculations arose in their minds.
“Good! Well done!”
Li Xiaotian nodded and said, he was very pleased with Jiang Hai’s goodwill.
Jiang Hai breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Li Xiaotian was satisfied, everything would be fine.
The members of the Yang family had long since collapsed mentally, completely unable to accept this outcome.
Their Yang family was about to be wiped out?
When Old Master Yang was revived and learned of this result, his expression became even more panicked. He looked pleadingly at Jiang Hai, and then at Li Xiaotian.
At this moment, he had no trace of hope left. He immediately knelt and kowtowed incessantly.
“Governor, Lord Li, the Yang family admits guilt! The Yang family admits guilt!”
“We beg you to spare the Yang family this time!”
Li Xiaotian glanced indifferently at him and instructed Jiang Hai.
“The rest is up to you. Killing these ants would dirty my hands!”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Jiang Hai nodded immediately.
Li Xiaotian, accompanied by Long Yi, departed. The Dragon King Hall warriors who had surrounded the Yang family also withdrew.
In the Yang family courtyard, the heads of the various aristocratic families of Jiangnan looked at each other, then at Jiang Hai, unsure of what to do.
Jiang Hai gazed at the Yang family members, a flicker of killing intent in his eyes.