I defeated the saint with a parry.

"Who gave you the audacity to utter such treasonous words?"

"How dare you speak so presumptuously! This world does not belong to one person alone!!"

Xu Ling's legs went weak, and she almost knelt down on the spot.

This is Xu Huaixu, the ruthless man who dared to kill even members of the royal family. He would show no mercy to him.

"Huh? Why didn't I appear in the trial space?"

It was supposed to automatically activate when encountering an enemy at the Transcendent Realm, but it didn't react at all when facing Xu Huaixu.

Xu Ling was momentarily dazed. He looked at Xu Huaixu's face and suddenly realized what was happening.

The idea of ​​"the world belongs to all" is something only conservative and staunch monarchists would find utterly treasonous. But who is Xu Huaixu? He has even personally killed members of the royal family... Anyone in this world might be angered by this, but that person would never be Xu Huaixu.

call!

Once Xu Ling understood this, he felt completely relaxed, and the pressure was no longer pressure.

However, he reaffirmed one thing: he would never drink again, and even if he did, he would not drink with Zhang Li.

That bastard only knows how to force-feed alcohol; he's not even worthy of being human!

His relaxed posture naturally did not escape the gaze of Xu Huaixu and Yingzi. The two exchanged a glance, slightly surprised.

During their telepathic exchange, Xu Huaixu laughed loudly: "This kid really has the guts of a monkey; he's afraid of nothing."

Shadow laughed, "It's not surprising. He dared to draw his sword and attack even a cultivator at the Spirit Platform Realm. He's a bold person by nature. What he said last night must have been his heartfelt words... If I hadn't temporarily shielded the perception of that area, anyone else who heard those words would have regretted it later."

"Hahaha, he has to treat you to a meal at Fanlou. I've lived for so many years and I've never eaten such an expensive meal at a hotel. Ten thousand spirit stones for a meal, and he doesn't even feel the pinch. He's clearly just a commoner from the border, yet he's more extravagant than some scions of noble families in the capital. I wonder how he developed such a temperament..."

Xu Huaixu was joking. He had never spent that much at a hotel before, but if he wanted to eat, he could have dragon meat every meal. That kind of thing couldn't be bought for 10,000 spirit stones. Even if it had a price, there was no market for it.

After observing Xu Ling for the past two days, the two had thoroughly investigated his background. The only seed of doubt had been discarded, and all that remained was admiration for this human prodigy.

Seeing that he hadn't intimidated Xu Ling, Xu Huaixu immediately softened his tone: "Sit down, do you expect me to invite you?"

Xu Ling repeatedly said he dared not.

"You're so meticulous in your investigations, how dare you spout such nonsense last night?" Now that he'd laid his cards on the table, Xu Huaixu didn't mince words and said directly, "In my bustling city, there are countless informants from all sorts of sects and powerful families. Even the Golden Jade Pavilion has its hands in here. Aren't you afraid that these words will reach the ears of the Emperor?"

"That's utterly ridiculous."

Xu Ling chuckled awkwardly, not daring to reply. In reality, his mind was racing, thinking about what would happen if that dog emperor heard these words. He would have to run away as soon as possible and go to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons.

The shadow beside him sneered, "I thought you weren't afraid of anything... Don't worry, I was listening the whole way when you were talking to that little kid yesterday. I've already shielded you from the crowd, so this won't get out."

As for Li Yang, that kid knows his limits. Last night, he even reminded Xu Ling not to talk nonsense, and Xu Ling believes him.

However, this means that we'll have to put in a lot more effort to raise this child in the future.

Leaving that aside for now, Xu Ling seized the opportunity to press further: "Lord Garrison Commander, is the matter of Li Family Village now considered closed? Could you please provide me with the necessary intelligence?"

Xu Huaixu shook his head: "You do have some skills, that's true, but the case isn't over yet. I'm only saying it's closed to outsiders, but it's not closed internally."

"What should we do then?"

"Find out the whole story about the Li family before you bring this up with me."

"I'll listen to you, sir."

Recalling his experience at the brokerage firm yesterday, and what he had heard from Zhao Yi, Xu Ling handed over his report and asked, "Is there no one regulating the clandestine business dealings of these brokerage firms?"

Xu Huaixu's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "The matter of the brokerage firm is not something the government can resolve. This matter is complex and has not been resolved overnight. Let alone you, even I am helpless."

"Today you've shut down Fancheng's dog-selling business, but tomorrow another one might pop up. So what?"

Judging from his tone, it sounded like he had experienced it firsthand.

Xu Ling couldn't help but think that perhaps Xu Huaixu had really tried it, after all, he had been young once too.

Xu Huaixu pushed a cup of spiritual tea over: "Have a sip of tea to wash away the smell of alcohol. Don't investigate the brokerage business anymore. Just focus on investigating the Li family."

Xu Ling did not refuse; he was not some stubborn old man.

We should proceed gradually.

After taking a sip of the spiritual tea, his immediate sensation was similar to when he drank alcohol last night; his very soul trembled.

The tea was refreshing, without any of the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Instead, it gave him a cleansing feeling, like his soul had been cleansed. If he weren't too proud, he would have shouted it out on the spot.

He can give up alcohol, but he can drink tea every day...

"Sir! Do you have any tea leaves? Could you spare some for me?"

"..."

Xu Huaixu frowned slightly and said irritably, "Let's talk about it after you've dealt with what's in front of you."

Got it.

Xu Ling spoke of the Li family's rise to power: "According to Zhao Yi, the Li family's account books from back then might be the key to breaking the deadlock. Since it happened decades ago, without the account books, we can only find the people who handled it at the time."

"The Li family's decision to give up the brokerage business is like severing ties with what happened back then. After all, it was the business they started in, so how could they so easily think of changing to another industry? It wouldn't make sense unless something happened back then."

"Furthermore, from a small brokerage firm to the powerful family it is today, there must be someone supporting it."

Xu Huaixu showed a satisfied expression after listening to what Xu Ling said.

He slowly began to speak: "I came here five years ago. As soon as I arrived, people kept telling me that the Li family was the number one family in this prosperous city, and the Song family was second only to them."

"But do you know which family I've personally experienced the most powerful and influential family to be over the past five years?"

"The Ji family."

Ok?

Xu Ling suddenly realized that many people had forgotten that although Fancheng was large and prosperous, it was ultimately located within the fiefdom of that one person.

Prince Kang, Ji Ruikang, was a member of the imperial family.

With such a local tyrant around, how dare the Li family claim to be number one?

If Xu Ling's memory serves him right, the night he brought Li Xi here, even the patriarch's carriage where the second master of the Li family sat had a design bestowed by the Prince of Kang.

"Could it be that the Li family works for Prince Kang?"

"This is no secret," Xu Huaixu said. "Fanlou is both the property of the Li family and the property of Prince Kang."

Although King Kang was not in Fancheng, his presence could be felt everywhere in the city.

"Besides, the Li family isn't the only vassal of Prince Kang. What's so special that only the Li family can do it? As a prince, what can't he get that he needs to deliberately use brokers?"

Yes.

There is no evidence, no reason, and no motive.

"Let me remind you again, Prince Kang was a general who led troops into battle in his early years, and now he has been enfeoffed as a prince and is stationed at the border. His cultivation level is higher than mine."

Even with me as your backer, you can't touch him.

"Unless there is concrete evidence, you must never mention his name in your performance review."

Xu Huaixu can say he's not afraid, but you, Xu Ling, cannot.