"Young Master Shi, please take a seat up here," Wu Shibai said respectfully.
Shi Hao nodded. Under Wu Shibai's almost obsequious guidance, they walked to the study where Shi Hao took the seat of honor, while Wu Shibai sat next to him. The Iron King stood behind Wu Shibai, towering like an iron tower.
"I want all the information on Li Mingjun," Shi Hao stated unapologetically.
"Yes," Wu Shibai quickly ordered someone to fetch the information, treating Shi Hao as the boss.
The Hailing Martial Hall was ostensibly a place for teaching martial arts, but in reality, it was the head of the underworld forces in Mengyang City, hence they were very well-informed.
Soon, the information on Li Mingjun was delivered.
Li Mingjun, a standout of the third generation of the Imperial Capital's Li Family, was only twenty-three years old. He had extraordinary martial arts talents, having advanced to a senior martial disciple six months prior. Additionally, he had a gift for medicine and had been taken as an apprentice by the Imperial Physician Liu Yue.
As for the Li Family, in the Imperial Capital, it belonged to the third-tier of forces, backed by... the Shi Family.
As for more specific details, the Hailing Martial Hall couldn't find out, as after all, they were only a force in Mengyang City, and it was impressive that they could find out as much as they did.
Shi Hao's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression subtle, because the Shi Family that the Li Family relied on was also the very Shi Family that had driven his foster father out!
In the past, Shi Tianyang had been a leading figure among the younger generation of the Shi Family, with outstanding martial arts talents. However, during the competition for the position of family head, he was plotted against by his cousin Shi Fengyun. Not only did he lose the position of family head, but he also lost all his strength and became disabled.
Yet, the Shi Family had condoned this outcome, infuriating Shi Tianyang to the extent that he severed ties with the Shi Family and came to Mengyang City alone.
It was also then that Shi Tianyang found Shi Hao, who had drifted ashore, and took him as his adopted son.
However, three years prior, Shi Tianyang mysteriously died.
Shi Hao had no evidence, but he believed it was Shi Fengyun's doing, meant to eradicate a potential future problem completely.
How coincidental, it was the Shi Family again.
He would start with Li Mingjun, exact a bit of interest, and soon he would go to the Imperial Capital to seek justice for himself and his foster father.
No one could owe him; this was the oath he had taken, and he would surely fulfill it.
"Bring Li Mingjun here," Shi Hao ordered.
Wu Shibai was taken aback, wondering what his leader intended to do.
"Young Master Shi, you want—"
"Go invite him," Shi Hao cut him off before he could finish asking.
Wu Shibai, feeling helpless, had just pledged his loyalty—was he about to break his persona now?
"Yes!" He nodded and then said, "However, I am afraid I might not be able to bring him here."
Li Mingjun was a scion of a powerful family in the Imperial Capital and did not need to take someone like him, a local snakehead, seriously.
Shi Hao smiled, "Just tell him I found a prescription formula on my corpse and want to sell it for a good price."
Wu Shibai immediately arranged for someone to invite Li Mingjun, now throwing caution to the winds. He figured he might as well try his luck. If it pleased Shi Hao, by fighting side by side this time, he might just become one of Shi Hao's trusted associates.
After a while, someone reported, "Boss, Young Master Li has been invited here."
Wu Shibai looked towards Shi Hao, wondering what to do next.
"Go ahead first, just improvise," Shi Hao said.
"Yes." Wu Shibai, along with the Iron King, hurried off.
Shi Hao then rose leisurely from his chair and left the study, descending the stairs to walk a few steps further, which would take him to the training ground of the martial hall.
He saw that Li Mingjun had not come alone; there was an old man beside him, appearing to be in his sixties, but with a posture straight as a post and large, rough palms — clearly a practitioner.
At that moment, the conversation between Wu Shibai and Li Mingjun reached his ears.
"Head of the Martial Hall, where is the formula?" Li Mingjun asked, evidently quite interested in the formula for the Hemostatic Powder.
"Hehe." Wu Shibai didn't know what Shi Hao really wanted to do, so he could only try to stall, "I wonder how much Young Master Li is willing to pay for this?"
"One hundred taels," Li Mingjun said offhandedly.
Wu Shibai roared with laughter, "Young Master Li, you really do have a sense of humor! If this prescription is worth only a hundred taels, would you personally make the trip?"
Li Mingjun also smiled, as he too was just trying to save some money, but the other party was not foolish.
"Ten thousand taels," he said earnestly.
What kind of prescription is worth so much money?
Wu Shibai muttered to himself, but aloud he said, "Ten thousand taels? Hehe, that's still a bit too little."
Li Mingjun frowned, feeling that this Wu Shibai was getting a bit too greedy.
The elderly man beside him immediately said in a stern voice, "Master Wu, there's an old saying: know when to stop!"
"Old man, how dare you speak to my boss like that?" Iron King stepped forward.
Wu Shibai just smiled and did nothing to stop it.
Li Mingjun didn't need to give face to this local snake, and similarly, he didn't need to be afraid of him, especially since the Imperial Capital was far too distant from here.
Since he needed to stall for time, he might as well let Iron King do his thing.
Li Mingjun also sneered coldly. Since these people were greedy, he might as well strike at their morale and let them understand the meaning of awe!
The elderly man immediately stepped forward and closed in on Iron King.
Iron King laughed heartily, disdainfully saying, "Old man, you're quite old. You should go home and play with your grandchildren. Don't say I'm bullying—"
Before he could finish his words, the elder had already made his move. His large hand swung out like a huge iron fan, instantly sending Iron King flying.
"Wow!" Iron King immediately spat out blood, his complexion deathly pale.
"Mr. Qing Sr., a slight punishment will suffice," Li Mingjun finally spoke.
"Yes," the elder replied respectfully, then returned to his side, withdrawing all his formidable presence.
Seeing Wu Shibai still with a petrified expression, Li Mingjun couldn't help but smile and said, "Let me introduce him. This is Master Ning Yangqing, known as the Iron Fan, who has achieved fifty years of mastery in Bagua Palm, a Primary Level martial master!"
He deliberately emphasized the last four words.
As expected, Wu Shibai's complexion changed immediately.
What exactly does a Primary Level martial master signify?
The starting strength reaches ten thousand catties, with a limit of fifteen thousand!
He had thought Ning Yangqing was merely an ordinary old servant, and even if a practitioner, his strength couldn't be that significant.
But a Primary Level martial master?
He began to tremble. If Ning Yangqing were to truly unleash his killing intent, he could even have the capacity to eliminate everyone in the martial arts hall by himself.
"Ahem!" Li Mingjun coughed as a reminder, "Master Wu, the prescription!"
Wu Shibai was desperately anxious, unsure of what to do.
"The prescription is here." Just then, Shi Hao's voice resounded.
Wu Shibai suddenly felt relieved; although this was equivalent to tearing his face off with Li Mingjun, at least he wasn't stuck between a rock and a hard place anymore.
Li Mingjun looked towards Shi Hao, his face immediately turning cold, and after a sweeping glance at Wu Shibai, he coldly said, "Well, Master Wu, you dare to deceive me, you really have guts!"
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