Only I am Venerable-Chapter 28: Self-Inflicted Humiliation
Qin Li’s eyes narrowed, a glint flashing within them. He didn’t know most of the people from the Qin Family, but this voice was very familiar. It belonged to one of the core figures of the Qin Family, the head steward Qin Yonggang—Qin Li’s fourth maternal uncle!
Qin Li could never forget. When he had first arrived in this world, his mother, Qin Hanyue, had been humiliated at the hands of this fourth uncle’s concubine and had wept silently by his bedside.
His mother had been unwilling to speak ill of her own brother, telling Qin Li that her "Fourth Brother" wasn’t home. But Qin Li knew the truth. ’Not home? He clearly just didn’t want to get involved!’
Sure, they still felt some attachment to his mother, but as for him, her nephew... they found him more and more detestable. If it weren’t for him, Qin Hanyue would have likely been chosen for the imperial palace to become an Imperial Consort long ago, and the entire Qin Family would have soared to prominence as a result.
The tavern door creaked open. Sunlight instantly streamed in, silhouetting a tall figure blocking the entrance. The man scanned the people inside, his gaze finally landing on Qin Li.
"Well, well, look who it is. If it isn’t you, you little bastard!"
Qin Yonggang shot Qin Li a cold glance before turning to Hu and his men with an arrogant sneer. "Did you think that just because you have his backing, you can offend the Qin Family without consequences? Heh, you’re dead wrong. This little bastard can’t even protect himself, and besides, he has nothing to do with the Qin Family. You, on the other hand, dared to injure my Qin Family’s people. I’ll be settling that score with you right now!"
"Heh heh. I never thought the great Master Qin Si of Yellow Sand City would personally stick up for a few of the family’s degenerates and lowlifes. How rare!" Qin Yonggang’s constant stream of "little bastard" had thoroughly enraged Qin Li. He stood up, shot his fourth uncle a contemptuous look, and sneered, "Qin Yonggang, if you have the guts, then kill me. Step over my dead body to get to my brothers. If you’re gutless, then get the hell out!"
"What! You little bastard, you’re looking to die!" As Master Qin Si, he had been a man of status and standing in Yellow Sand City for years. When had he ever been so humiliated? He flew into a rage and cursed, "Do you really think I wouldn’t dare to kill a little bastard like you?"
Truth be told, Qin Yonggang had only come because he heard Qin Li was here. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to personally intervene for a few members of a branch family. He just happened to be nearby, and the moment he heard Qin Li was involved, his anger flared. ’If it weren’t for this little bastard, I would’ve been an Imperial Uncle by now!’
"That’s right, of course you don’t dare!" Qin Li said with a smile, looking at Qin Yonggang, who remained standing at the door. He taunted, "With that little courage of yours, would you dare offend the Shangguan Family? You wouldn’t! If Qin Hongyuan found out, he’d surely break your legs!"
"You..." Qin Yonggang’s face turned beet red with anger. At that moment, he truly began to understand why his two nephews, Qin Feng and Qin Hu, wanted to kill Qin Li. The little bastard’s words were enough to infuriate someone to death!
"Me what? I said, if you don’t dare to kill me, then get out! Don’t stand here embarrassing yourself!" A sharp, cold light suddenly shot from Qin Li’s eyes. The group of attendants behind Qin Yonggang were all cracking their knuckles, glaring at Qin Li with uncontrollable fury. If their master gave the order, they would charge in and tear Qin Li to pieces.
Unfortunately for them, Qin Yonggang truly didn’t dare to kill Qin Li. He didn’t even dare to harm him.
Because just this morning, the Shangguan Family and the Qin Family had simultaneously announced an engagement between their children. At the same time, the Qin Family formally announced its entry into the transportation and restaurant industries, having "bought" several properties from the Shangguan Family.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see there was something fishy going on, but so what? When the two great powers of Yellow Sand City came to an agreement, even the Fang Family remained silent. Who else would have the right to interfere?
During such a sensitive time, how could Qin Yonggang dare to provoke Qin Li? He had originally come to curse the little bastard out and show off his authority as Master Qin Si, but instead of humiliating him, he ended up being humiliated himself. He had truly lost face.
Meanwhile, appreciative looks appeared in the eyes of Hu and the others behind Qin Li. People of the Martial World valued loyalty above all else. Although Qin Li was young, his willingness to take responsibility made them see him in a new, higher light!
"Fine, fine! You little bastard, I’ll remember this offense. Just you wait. Sooner or later, I’ll make you regret this!" Qin Yonggang spat out through clenched teeth, then retreated dejectedly with his enraged entourage.
Qin Li shook his head nonchalantly, turned back, and said apologetically to Hu, "Hu, I’m really sorry for dragging you into this. Qin Yonggang is a petty and vindictive man. I’m afraid in the future..."
"Qin, don’t say that. What’s this about dragging us in? If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have taught those shameless animals a lesson today! Worst case scenario, I just won’t hang around Yellow Sand City anymore!" Hu let out a hearty laugh, seeming unconcerned.
Qin Li said calmly, "That won’t happen. Don’t worry, that day will never come. Yellow Sand City doesn’t belong to the Qin Family alone!"
Bu Yunyan watched Qin Li with great interest. The more she looked, the more she found the little guy absolutely adorable. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old from an ordinary family, no matter how mature, could never be such a monster! He had clearly seen that Master Qin Si wouldn’t dare do anything to him, which was why he’d been so brazen, almost making the man cough up blood from rage. If you ignored his face, you’d think he was some crafty old fox, not a child.
The drinking session ended, with everyone lost in their own thoughts. They agreed to meet at the Hunter Guild in three days. Qin Li left by himself and headed toward the north side of the city.
The evening wind picked up, tousling Qin Li’s hair and stirring his thoughts into a similar state of disarray. ’This world is so different from my last one!’
The country he came from was in an era where Martial Arts had declined. The rule of law was well-established. Faced with the mighty machinery of the state, no one, no matter how skilled in Martial Arts, would dare to act recklessly.
But here in the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, just within Yellow Sand City, everyone knew of the three great families. Yet if you mentioned the City Lord, many people wouldn’t even know who that was.
Everything he had experienced since his rebirth pointed to one thing: this was a world where strength truly reigned supreme.
A strange smile suddenly crept onto Qin Li’s lips. In the light of the setting sun, his young, handsome face took on a hint of devilish charm. He patted the Divine-level Combat Skill manual tucked in his chest and sneered without turning around, "You two have been following me for a while. Aren’t you tired?"
The moment Qin Li’s voice fell, two young men appeared behind him, one to his left and one to his right. The one on the left was about thirty, with a thin build and an icy expression. The one on the right was only twenty-one or twenty-two. A scar ran diagonally across his otherwise handsome face, from the tip of his eyebrow all the way to the corner of his mouth, giving him a ferocious look.
"Hee hee, interesting. I heard from Qin Hu that you were a good-for-nothing, with some nickname like ’Basic Master.’ Looks like he was wrong. Tell us, how did you spot us?" The young man in his early twenties grinned, the scar on his face twitching along with the motion. It looked like a giant centipede clinging to his face, making him appear even more terrifying.
Qin Li sneered internally. ’Do you really think my opened Ren and Du Meridians are just for show? You think that without a combat skill, I can’t beat two losers who aren’t even at the Profound Level?’
Instead of answering the young man’s question, Qin Li said with a calm expression, "Spit it out. Why are you following me?"
