Only I am Venerable

The sound of footsteps approached from outside, and Shen Le’s distinctive voice rang out from afar. "Is my brother really back? You’re not lying to me, are you?"

Someone replied, "Sect Leader, of course we’re not lying. Young Master Qin is really back!"

As they spoke, a group of figures appeared at the courtyard entrance. The Qin Family disciples parted to make way for Shen Le.

The moment Shen Le walked in and saw the scene, he couldn’t help but freeze. He had rushed to the Qin Mansion as soon as he heard Qin Li was back, only to be told that Qin Li had gone out. Several Supreme Elders of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, who were in the Venerable Realm, had then used their powerful Divine Sense to quickly locate him here. But the sight that greeted them was... this.

The few Supreme Elders of the Thousand Mechanism Sect who harbored ill intentions also stared blankly, their gazes fixed on Feng Ziqi, who was kneeling like a groveling worm. Their eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"What a worthless coward!" Sun Zhong spat on the ground and said loudly.

Sun Zhong’s words were like a sharp sword piercing the hearts of the other Feng Family disciples, who couldn’t help but glare at him in fury.

"Hahaha, what are you looking at me for? Am I wrong? The Feng Family is considered a renowned family on Profound Island, but who would’ve thought they could produce such a peculiar specimen! Hahahaha!" Sun Zhong roared with laughter, his voice dripping with schadenfreude.

Qin Li glanced over at Sun Zhong but ignored him, turning to Shen Le with a smile. "Brother, thanks!" Then he clasped his hands in salute to Leng Fangfei, who was beside Shen Le. "Greetings, sister-in-law!"

Leng Fangfei’s lovely face flushed slightly as she returned the gesture.

Shen Le, on the other hand, walked over nonchalantly and gave Qin Li a hug, booming with laughter. "We’re brothers, no need for thanks. It’s just good to have you back!"

Time truly reveals a person’s character. Shen Le’s pure, guileless heart, free of any ulterior motives, moved Qin Li deeply. He said nothing more.

Just then, Huo Feng, who had arrived with Shen Le, looked at the kneeling Feng Ziqi and sneered, "You’ve completely disgraced the Feng Family! Why don’t you just go die?"

Feng Ziqi seemed oblivious, still kneeling and wailing, "Young Master Qin, spare me! Young Master Qin, spare my life!"

Li Tai, standing to the side, said with a sneer, "What a show of power, Young Master Qin. I wonder what crime this man committed to deserve such humiliation from you. Even a death sentence is a cleaner end than this..."

Qin Li turned and cut Li Tai off. "And who are you?"

"Uh... I am Li Tai, a Supreme Elder of the Thousand Mechanism Sect!" Li Tai said, clearly displeased. ’He’s playing dumb!’ he cursed inwardly. Shen Longxing had introduced Qin Li to all the upper echelons of the Thousand Mechanism Sect during Shen Le’s wedding. For Qin Li to pretend not to know him in front of everyone was outrageous!

"What right do you have to comment on the affairs of my Qin Family?" Qin Li said coolly, then turned away, dismissing Li Tai completely.

The moment Shen Le had entered, he had sent a mental message to Qin Li, warning him that these three Supreme Elders were here to make trouble and that he should just ignore them.

Shen Le was showing him loyalty, so Qin Li naturally had to return it. Seeing these old men ignore Shen Le, their own Sect Leader, and speak out of turn, it was clear they had no respect for him whatsoever.

’In that case, what’s the harm in humiliating them a little?’

"You... In all my life, I have never met such a despicable person! It seems we were wrong to help your Qin Family! Hmph! Sect Leader, you’re on your own. We’re leaving!" Li Tai seized the opportunity to fly into a rage and turned to storm out.

Sun Zhong and Huo Feng followed right behind him, giving Shen Le a look full of profound meaning as they left.

Qin Li paid them no mind at all. He just smiled faintly and said to Shen Le with a teasing look, "Shen, being a Sect Leader seems a little dull for you. It looks like any old small fry can challenge your authority!"

"What did you say, boy? You have the guts to say that again?!" The hot-tempered Huo Feng froze in his tracks, his wide, bell-like eyes fixed on Qin Li as he spoke in a cold voice.

"It’s not my place as an outsider to comment on another family’s internal affairs, but since you’re so eager to know, I’ll indulge you." Qin Li smiled. "If people like you were in the Qin Family, you’d have been kicked out long ago!"

"Hahaha! Excellent, truly excellent! As expected of the number one expert of Profound Island’s younger generation!" Sun Zhong said with a loud laugh, holding back the explosive Huo Feng. "Young Master Qin may not be the Qin Family’s Patriarch, but his authority surpasses that of one. I’m impressed!"

Qin Suo, who was standing nearby, snickered. "Don’t trouble yourself, old man. In the Qin Family, Qin Li’s word is law! Those are the rules of my Qin Family. You should worry about yourself. You’re so old, yet your temper is so fiery. Be careful you don’t burn yourself to a crisp. You should go find a stinking ditch to cool off. Or, hey, I know a few good brothels in Fengsha City. How about... I show you some hospitality? Hehe!"

"You’re courting death!" Huo Feng roared, lunging at Qin Suo and swinging his arm to slap him across the face.

Although he wasn’t using much strength, if the slap landed squarely, it would probably ruin that side of Qin Suo’s face!

There was no way Qin Suo could dodge Huo Feng’s slap, yet his expression didn’t change in the slightest. Not even a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. He just stood there, as if he disdained the very idea of dodging!

BAM!

A dull thud echoed through the air. The next moment, Huo Feng’s body shot back like a sandbag that had been struck, smashing through the front wall of the room and flying violently outside!

"Elder Huo!"

Sun Zhong and Li Tai, their faces paling in shock, shot forward with incredible speed to catch Huo Feng’s body.

Huo Feng was spewing mouthfuls of blood, his face ashen pale and his breathing as faint as a silken thread. He was obviously severely injured.

What terrified everyone was that... no one... had seen... who... attacked!

"Qin Li! You repay kindness with hatred! You’re an ungrateful bastard! The Thousand Mechanism Sect came here with good intentions to help the Qin Family, and this is how you treat your benefactors?! Are you even human?!" The moment he snapped out of his shock, Sun Zhong whirled around, pointed a finger at Qin Li’s nose, and started screaming accusations, trying desperately to slap one label after another on him.

"Get lost!"

Qin Li had no desire to argue with him. He was already annoyed that they had interrupted him while he was dealing with Feng Ziqi, and seeing Sun Zhong’s hypocritical act made him furious.

Shen Le knew it was time for him, the Sect Leader, to speak. He had originally planned to handle this situation slowly, but he never expected his brother to hand him such a golden opportunity the moment they met. If he didn’t know how to take advantage of it, he wouldn’t be worthy of being the Sect Leader of the Thousand Mechanism Sect.

"Do you even see me as your Sect Leader? Hmph! Ever since you arrived, you’ve been openly and secretly instigating the other Elders, trying to get them to join your cabal. Not only have you been a hindrance to the Qin Family, you’ve been secretly passing information to other families and Sects. You’ve even been plotting to take my position as Sect Leader! Today, right here, I declare in my capacity as Sect Leader of the Thousand Mechanism Sect: the three of you are hereby expelled! Let your fate serve as an example to anyone else who dares to harbor thoughts of dissent!"

"Hahahaha! I’d like to see anyone try!" Sun Zhong threw his head back and laughed, then pointed at Shen Le and cursed, "You little bastard, you’ve finally shown your true colors, haven’t you? Purging us Elders who have rendered such great service to the Thousand Mechanism Sect? Have you thought about how many of our people there are in the Sect? With only your Shen Family faction, the Thousand Mechanism Sect would immediately fall apart if we left! Besides, you don’t even have the authority to give such an order!"

"And what if I say he does?"

A voice, so calm it was devoid of any emotion, echoed through the air. Yet, to Sun Zhong and the other two, it was like a clap of thunder exploding in their minds. Their faces turned ashen, their eyes filled with horror and despair. They had never imagined that the old ancestor of the Shen Family, Shen Chong, would appear here at this time! No wonder that brat Shen Le had been so fearless. But it was far too late for regrets.

Sun Zhong dropped to his knees with a thud, his voice filled with grief and remorse. "Forefather, I was wrong! Please, give this junior a chance to repent!"

Sun Zhong kept his head bowed as he spoke, but Shen Le caught the venomous glint in his eyes. Shen Le sneered, "Did you really think the Forefather knew nothing of your schemes? Get lost, before he really loses his temper! Go back to the Thousand Mechanism Sect and tell that pack of minions of yours that if anyone wants to cause trouble, I, Shen Le, will be waiting for them! But I hope you’re all prepared to bear the consequences!"

Sun Zhong and Li Tai didn’t dare utter another word. They hauled up Huo Feng and fled in a panic, like beaten dogs with their tails between their legs.

Shen Le and Qin Li looked at each other and shared a slight smile. She She, standing nearby, pouted. ’She wouldn’t have bothered with such petty tricks,’ she thought with disdain. ’They were just three Supreme Martial Artists. She could have just waved her hand and annihilated them!’

She didn’t understand that if they had acted recklessly according to her disposition, the Thousand Mechanism Sect would have truly been torn asunder. By scaring off these three Supreme Elders, they would now certainly return to the Thousand Mechanism Sect and strictly discipline their own faction. The consequences of truly angering a Great Power like Shen Chong were more than they could bear.

This sudden turn of events was like a farce, coming and going in a flash. Yet Shen Le and Leng Fangfei were in high spirits. Although they were now left with only seven top experts, five of them were from the Shen Family’s faction, and the other two were close allies. Furthermore, all of them were Martial Artists of the Venerable Realm. They had managed to avoid bloodshed between fellow sect members, a result that Shen Le couldn’t be happier with.

Qin Li now turned his attention back to Feng Ziqi. His performance had not earned him an ounce of pity. Qin Li said grimly, "Feng Ziqi, it’s not impossible to spare you. However, you insulted my father in front of so many people and severely injured him. You then insulted my Qin Family. We need to settle this debt properly!"

Feng Ziqi raised his trembling head to look at Qin Li. He suddenly had a feeling that, no matter how he looked at it, the expression on the other man’s face was that of a wolf that had just found a fat sheep.

Feng Ziqi couldn’t help but shiver.

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