Chapter 24: Guan Sheng Slays the Wicked Youth with a Single Stroke

A single slap.

It landed on Li Yuyan’s face, and in that moment, it shattered her heart.

The entire hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence. Everyone stared at Li Yuyan with cold, detached expressions, showing not a shred of sympathy. They never imagined that Li Yuyan could be such a person.

"No wonder that Guan Sheng dares to act so recklessly; so he’s your man, Li Yuyan. Wonderful! You’ve truly done a fine job!"

"I knew this slut wasn’t right in the head, but I never expected her to be this depraved. What kind of love potion did she feed Young Master Qi to make him want to marry her?"

"That’s not the point. The point is that if this gets out, it will ruin the reputation of the Li family and might even provoke the Qi family!"

The whispers of the crowd were unbearable. A few words from others were enough to completely destroy the trust they had in Li Yuyan.

How ridiculous. How pathetic. How utterly heart-wrenching.

Feeling the burning pain on her face, Li Yuyan could not believe her grandfather would treat her this way. Would he not even grant her a chance to explain? Did he believe the words of outsiders so easily?

Li Yuyan knew that her grandfather had never looked upon her with favor, always considering her a burden. If it weren't for the message sent by Young Master Qi three years ago, he would still be doting on Li Yuxue, the daughter of the first branch, and the second branch’s charity group would not have survived to this day.

She knew she wasn't valued, but no matter how little he cared, she was still his granddaughter. Was his trust in her really so fragile?

A silent cry of anguish echoed in her heart. She felt a wave of despair; the urge to explain was swallowed by sorrow, and she stood frozen, her eyes hollow.

"Speak up, Li Yuyan. Why have you gone silent?" Li Yuxue sneered.

Xu Tao watched the scene with amusement. "What else is there to say? Now that her true colors have been exposed, she’s probably panicking."

"Isn't that right, Li Yuyan?"

Saying this, Xu Tao stepped toward her and leaned in close to her ear, whispering, "Yuyan, don't blame me. Blame yourself for being so thick-headed."

"I want you to sleep with me; that’s me giving you face. Of course, it’s also to humiliate that bastard surnamed Qi."

"I have always lived by one principle: there is nothing in this world that I, Xu Tao, cannot get. And if I cannot have it, I will destroy it."

"However, if you nod your head right now and agree to spend the night with me, I can make these people retract their words immediately and restore your innocence!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuyan’s body trembled.

It was not fear. It was rage.

He wanted her to sleep with him just to restore her reputation?

Ha!

Why were all these wealthy young heirs so utterly repulsive? One treated her like a commodity on a shelf, and the other—what did he take her for? A common prostitute?

Li Yuyan suddenly spun around and lashed out at Xu Tao.

Xu Tao’s expression shifted dramatically, and he quickly stepped back. But before her slender hand could strike, it was fiercely seized by her grandfather, Li Jianjun.

He glared at her, roaring, "What do you think you’re doing?"

Li Yuyan struggled, tears streaming down her face.

*Slap!*

Another blow struck her across the face. At that moment, Li Yuyan stopped resisting. Despair overwhelmed her, and her body went rigid, motionless.

She gave a self-deprecating laugh and said in a low voice, "Grandfather..."

"Am I truly so worthless in your eyes? A few words are all it takes for you to change your opinion of me?"

"I was wrong. I was truly wrong. I thought you were a man of reason."

Li Jianjun snorted coldly. "After doing such things, you still have the audacity to call me Grandfather?"

He flung her hand away, leaned on his cane, and turned his back to her.

Xu Tao then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "Old Master Li, I have already made the matter clear."

"I came here today in the interest of justice. However, since you are a founding hero and a man of great merit, I will show you respect and keep this scandal of the Li family under wraps."

"As for your granddaughter and these people, I leave their fate to you."

"I, Xu Tao, shall take my leave."

Hearing this, Li Jianjun felt a surge of gratitude toward Xu Tao. The Xu family was indeed a powerhouse on par with the Qi family; it was no wonder they raised a young master of such poise. If the men of the Li family possessed even half of this grace, the family wouldn't have fallen to its current state.

"Young Master Xu, many thanks," Li Jianjun said.

Xu Tao nodded, casting an arrogant glance at Li Yuyan before turning to leave.

But—

Just as he turned, a flash of cold light erupted.

Amidst the rain, a long blade whistled through the air, stopping horizontally inches from his throat.

The next second—

Xu Tao’s body went numb, his face drained of color. He stared at the silver edge sliding past his vision, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

This... this was...

"Guan Sheng!" He stared fixedly at the man holding the blade, the terror of the previous day flooding back into his mind.

A voice, cold as frost, reached his ears.

*Slash!*

"Did I say you could leave?"

In an instant, all eyes were fixed upon Guan Sheng. Li Feng and Xu Hong, the couple, looked as if they had seen a savior, their eyes bright with hope.

Li Jianjun felt a jolt in his heart. At first glance, he sensed an intense murderous aura emanating from Guan Sheng—the kind found only in those who had truly walked through the fires of war. The last time he had felt such a presence was from a man who had attained the rank of General at a remarkably young age.

*Who on earth is this person?* The old patriarch was stunned.

The rest of the Li family members were terrified. Seeing the man hold a blade to Xu Tao’s throat, they feared for his life. If anything happened to Xu Tao on Li family property, the Xu family would surely descend upon them with the fury of a storm.

Li Yuyan stared blankly at Guan Sheng’s profile. Just like the day before, this man had appeared once again at the moment she needed him most.

"Guan... Guan Sheng..."

Guan Sheng did not look at her, his cold gaze locked onto Xu Tao.

"What... what do you want? You, the one surnamed Guan, this is the Li family residence! Do you really dare to strike me in front of so many people?"

"Old Master Li, this fellow is Guan Sheng! Are you just going to stand there and watch him strike me again?"

"Let me be clear: if anything happens to me, the Li family will pay the price!"

The Li family descended into panic.

"What? This is Guan Sheng?"

"He... he actually dared to come back?"

"Wonderful! So he’s the one who caused us to be kicked out of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, is he?"

"We must make him pay today!"

Li Jianjun reacted immediately, pointing at Guan Sheng and ordering sternly, "Put the blade down immediately."

"Do you know who he is?"

Guan Sheng glanced at him, his voice arrogant. "I don't know, and I don't care. All I know is that he—has angered me!"

"He—deserves to die!"

As the words fell, Guan Sheng’s wrist flickered. The blade pierced through the air like paper, plunging deep into Xu Tao’s throat.

Then—

Xu Tao’s eyes bulged, his body convulsing violently. He couldn't believe the cold steel biting into his neck, nor could he believe that Guan Sheng had actually dared to kill him. Panic took hold, and the scent of death filled his mind. He could feel the blood within him surging upward in a frantic rush.

"No..."

"No..."

Xu Tao bowed his head, and when he saw the horrifying, gaping wound, a sense of suffocation washed over him.

*Spurt...*

*Splash...*

Blood erupted like a fountain from the blade's edge. The crimson liquid sprayed across half of Guan Sheng’s face, splattered onto Li Yuyan’s clothes, and instantly stained the floorboards red.

The air was suddenly heavy with the thick, metallic tang of blood.

With a final, clean sweep of the blade—

*Thud.*

The young master of the Xu family didn't even have time for one last word. His head, like a discarded stone, rolled across the floor.

Boom!

In that instant, the members of the Li family were struck dumb, as if by a thunderbolt—they were utterly, completely shocked!