Chapter 124: Patronage

The Dragon Slayer hoisted Li Zhendong directly from his chair and hurled him across the room!

Thud!

Li Zhendong’s body slammed into the floor, and he spat out a mouthful of blood the moment he landed.

"Father!"

Li Xianwu’s expression shifted drastically as he scrambled over to his father.

"To think that my dignified Li family has been reduced to this state under your watch. The ancestors are shamed!"

The Dragon Slayer had held back, so Li Zhendong was not severely injured. However, Li Xianwu’s heart burned with fury. Yet, what choice did he have? That was the Mo family, a prominent power from the North! Could he provoke them? Did he dare? He was utterly powerless against them.

Whether it was because he sensed his son’s helplessness or because he saw through the overwhelming might of the Mo family, Li Zhendong climbed to his feet with difficulty and stumbled out of the room.

Li Xianwu watched him leave without the slightest intention of helping him. In fact, he blamed Li Zhendong for today’s humiliation. He thought to himself that if not for Li Zhendong’s incompetence, things would be different. If only Li Zhendong hadn't been so afraid of Li Xiande’s rise that he seized control of the family, barred Li Xiande from managing the business, and caused the Li family's decline—if only he hadn't ceded the pharmaceutical plant to Li Xiande’s family—none of this would have happened. If Li Zhendong hadn't tried to make Li Xiande’s family the scapegoat when the drug poisoning incident occurred, the situation would never have spiraled to this point. The pharmaceutical plant would still belong to the Li family, and his own son would not have been beaten into a vegetative state by Mo Han.

"You old wretch, why don't you just die!"

Li Xianwu cursed inwardly. The more he thought, the more he felt that all this disaster was brought upon them by Li Zhendong, and he directed all his resentment toward his father.

He stood there in a daze, and after some time, Mo Feng returned, straightening his clothes as he walked.

"Master Li, you are getting old; you can't quite satisfy Madam Li anymore. Don't thank me this time."

As Mo Feng passed by, he patted Li Xianwu on the shoulder, looking thoroughly satisfied. Li Xianwu was furious to the point of exploding, itching to choke Mo Feng to death. Yet, he still had to plaster a fawning smile on his face. At this point, what else could he do? The best course of action was to curry favor with Mo Feng and hope he would elevate the Li family.

***

Mo Feng returned to his seat, clearly in a good mood. He poured himself a glass of wine, downed it in one gulp, and fixed his gaze on Qin Changqing.

"Speak. What do you two want?"

Mo Feng set his glass down, looking dismissive. "As long as it can be found within this City of Qian, I can grant it to you."

Qin Changqing was instantly thrilled. It seemed his gamble today had paid off. Though Mo Feng was overbearing and tyrannical, he was a man who played by his own rules; if he was pleased, he would not treat his subordinates poorly.

Li Xianwu was also filled with excitement. Mo Feng’s words were a clear signal that he would support the Li family. The anger that had consumed him moments ago vanished into thin air. Compared to the growth of his family, what did Tan Feng matter?

"We wouldn't dare ask for much. It is a rare honor for Young Master Mo to visit our City of Qian; as long as you are happy, that is enough for us," Qin Changqing said with a fawning laugh, picking up the bottle to refill Mo Feng’s glass.

"Speak plainly. I don't like pretense," Mo Feng said with a sneer. He was far too shrewd not to see that both men were begging for his favor.

"Young Master Mo, I will be direct then." Qin Changqing glanced at Li Xianwu and continued, "Both the Li family and my Qin family wish to be your friends here in Qian. Being able to serve you is the greatest reward we could hope for."

He had phrased it diplomatically, but Mo Feng understood perfectly. Qin Changqing and Li Xianwu were essentially offering to be his dogs. He had come to Qian to reorganize the local underground circle, and he certainly needed help. Since Fifth Master and Tyrant Blade had betrayed the Mo family, he could no longer rely on their subordinates. Besides, those men had all defected to Mo Han, and if he wanted them to work for him, he would have to kill Mo Han first.

He agreed to their request without hesitation. "That’s a small matter. I will look after both the Qin and Li families." He looked at Li Xianwu and chuckled, "Especially Madam Li."

This was his way of promising to promote the Li family, yet Li Xianwu couldn't bring himself to be happy. This success had been bought at the cost of utter humiliation.

"Why haven't you thanked Young Master Mo yet?" Qin Changqing nudged Li Xianwu.

Li Xianwu snapped out of his trance, his smile stiff. "Many thanks, Young Master Mo."

He looked at Qin Changqing, his feelings a complex mess. Qin Changqing also kept a mistress, one no less attractive than his own wife. Qin Changqing must have known Mo Feng’s tastes and deliberately changed the dinner venue to his own home to cater to him.

***

That must be it!

He suddenly felt a pang of regret for agreeing to Qin Changqing’s plan. When he was younger, he had done everything—offering women, property, and money—to advance the family business and achieve his goals. But now, at his age, to be forced into such a demeaning act—especially when Mo Feng had explicitly humiliated him by demanding he offer up a woman—was something he found difficult to stomach.

He felt regret and fury, but what other choice did he have? He was already trapped on Mo Feng’s pirate ship.

"Follow me well, and you won't be mistreated," Mo Feng said with a grin.

"We will give it our all!" Qin Changqing nodded excitedly. He immediately raised his glass. "Young Master Mo, come, let me toast you again!"

Qin Changqing drained his glass, while Mo Feng took a light sip and set it down. "I heard that the sons of both your families were crippled by Mo Han. Are you looking for me to help you take revenge?"

Both men were jolted. They hadn't mentioned this matter. They looked at Mo Feng, a flicker of fear rising in their hearts. Mo Feng was far more astute than they had imagined.

"I won't hide it from you, Young Master Mo. That animal Mo Han is truly abominable. If we don't kill him, we can never soothe the hatred in our hearts!" Qin Changqing knew that if he tried to hedge, Mo Feng would surely be displeased, which would be counterproductive. Thus, he admitted it directly.

"Do you think that because I am overbearing and rude, I am also a fool?" Mo Feng’s expression darkened as he barked the question.

"We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!" Qin Changqing’s heart trembled as he quickly explained, "Young Master Mo, we only thought that since you were planning to deal with Mo Han anyway, we wanted to join forces with you. You don't know—that Mo Han is truly too strong. Li Xianwu and I saw it with our own eyes; he defeated both Fifth Master and Tyrant Blade with a single punch. It was like a demon god; no one could stand against him!"

"Oh? Tell me more about that situation."

Mo Feng was taken aback. He knew Fifth Master and Tyrant Blade; they were the two dogs his family had raised. Their strength was not trivial, and he hadn't expected Mo Han to defeat them with a single strike. Was Mo Han truly as formidable as the rumors suggested?