Chapter 28: The Joseon Dynasty (Part 4)

Li Ming was filled with doubt.
The second young master of the Li family wanted to see him?
He didn't know the second young master of the Li family.
He had frequent dealings with Li Yuanfa, the eldest young master of the Li family. After learning that his most beloved great-grandson had been kidnapped by the infamous Twelve Fiends, he immediately thought of seeking help from this eldest young master.
However, to Li Ming's dismay, Li Yuanfa directly demanded that his great-granddaughter marry him.
Li Ming naturally refused. He knew perfectly well what Li Yuanfa was up to.
If he agreed to Li Yuanfa's demands, all the savings he had worked so hard for would fall into Li Yuanfa's hands within a few years.
Not to mention... he had a shocking secret.
It absolutely could not be revealed!
Li Ming's refusal enraged Li Yuanfa, who then ordered that the Li Group should not help Li Ming.
This was to force Li Ming to comply.
Li Ming was in despair; even his former acquaintances showed him no mercy.
Among the Twelve Great Fiends was a powerful expert at the Spirit Soul Realm.
This was beyond Li Ming's capabilities.
And no one was willing to confront the Twelve Great Fiends.
Just when he thought he was about to bury his son,
an elder from the Li family found him, claiming to be the second young master of the Li Group who wished to see him.
With a heart full of trepidation, Li Ming followed the elder to the place where Su Chen was cultivating.
Li Ming had long heard of the second young master of the Li family; he was said to be a prodigy, a talent unseen in the Li Group for centuries.
Upon seeing him today, the young man before him was truly extraordinary. He had a high, straight nose, thin lips slightly upturned, and every gesture was naturally graceful, exuding an indescribable air of nobility and Daoist wisdom.
Most importantly, this young man, roughly the same age as his great-grandson, possessed a cultivation level that Li Ming could not fathom.
The rumors about the Li family were indeed true!
Li Ming looked uneasy, afraid that this second young master of the Li family would propose the same conditions as Li Yuanfa.
Seeing Li Ming's tense expression, Su Chen smiled.
"I can help you deal with the Twelve Great Fiends."
Li Ming's face was a mixture of joy and worry. He mustered his courage and asked, "What does the second young master need me to do?"
Su Chen chuckled, looking at Li Ming's heart pounding in his throat, thinking to himself, 'Is this old guy afraid I'll make a move on his great-granddaughter?'
Was he, Su Chen, that kind of person?
He certainly didn't want this good friend from his second life to suddenly become his father-in-law.
Su Chen found the thought terrifying. If Li Ming knew this in the afterlife, he'd probably laugh himself to death.
He felt strangely uneasy.
Su Chen coughed. "The Twelve Great Fiends are difficult to eradicate because their whereabouts are unpredictable, leading them to commit numerous major crimes. Many large and small forces have been harmed by the Twelve Great Fiends, daring not to speak out."
"I only need Elder Li's cooperation to eliminate the Twelve Great Fiends."
"That's all."
Li Ming was incredulous: "That's all?"
This young man only needed his cooperation?
Li Ming had already prepared himself for a severe beating.
Su Chen raised an eyebrow: "What, Elder Li, do you suspect I have ulterior motives?"
Seeing this, Li Ming suddenly realized that the person before him was a more prestigious figure within the Li Group than Li Yuanfa.
It's no exaggeration to say that the Second Young Master could crush him more easily than an ant; he could easily fabricate a charge, and no one would speak up for him.
Why would someone like that harbor any ill intentions towards him?
"The Second Young Master must be using the heads of the Twelve Great Fiends to orchestrate a grand scheme!"
Li Ming began to speculate about Su Chen's true intentions.
Su Chen, unaware of Li Ming's thoughts, chuckled upon seeing Li Ming's bewildered state.
This old fellow seems to have lived on thin ice these past few years, developing a cowardly nature.
After having the elders take Li Ming away, a genuine smile appeared on Su Chen's face.
Helping Li Ming didn't really have much of a reason.
Reunited with his 'adopted son'
He had to do something.
After Li Ming left, Su Chen went to the Li Clan's ancestral land, where the true foundation of the Li Group was cultivated.
Even the Li Clan head, Li Jiangqun, couldn't enter this place at will.
However, when Su Chen stepped into the ancestral land, only a few gazes swept over him indifferently. Upon seeing that it was Su Chen, these gazes withdrew.
The Li family's prodigy certainly has privileges.
As Su Chen entered the ancestral land, he heard soft laughter.
"Little Chen, what business do you have with us old folks at the ancestral land?"
One by one, powerful figures at the Spirit Soul Realm appeared, smiling at Su Chen. Sensing that Su Chen's cultivation had increased again, their faces showed long-lost smiles.
Su Chen respectfully bowed to each of the elders before smiling and saying, "I can't hide it from Grandpa Hongwen. To be honest, I have a favor to ask of you."
One of the elders, carrying a large sword, chuckled and scolded, "Just because I spoke first, you've set your sights on me!"
The other elders smiled at this and then withdrew, handing the task over to Li Hongwen.
The Third Ancestor of the Li Family.
A Spirit Soul Level 8 expert—in this era, such powerhouses, both openly and secretly, can be counted on two hands.
Su Chen chuckled.
"Alright, little guy, what trouble have you run into?"
Li Hongwen was somewhat puzzled.
Could it be that the unfilial patriarch Li Jiangqun was showing favoritism again?
Should they hold a meeting to depose Li Jiangqun, skip the formalities, and directly make little Chen the patriarch?
Li Jiangqun didn't know that he almost lost his position as patriarch.
Su Chen explained Li Ming's situation, then said, "I want Grandpa Hongwen to take action and kill the Twelve Great Fiends."
Li Hongwen pondered for a moment.
If anyone else had said that, he would have cursed them to death.
Damn it, for free!
Was he, Li Hongwen, that cheap?
But this was Su Chen.
Then it's alright.
This is the future king of his Li Group.
Li Hongwen, still curious, asked, "Chen'er, do you have any ideas?"
He didn't believe his clever grand-disciple had suddenly lost his mind, offering to solve someone's troubles for free, especially not with a powerful expert like himself at the eighth level of the Spirit Soul realm. Asking the top five in the world to intervene was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Su Chen had already devised a plan. He said softly, "The Twelve Great Fiends have been a menace for a long time, and their reputation is immense. If Grandpa Hongwen were to eliminate them, it would solidify the Li family's reputation throughout the land, ensuring the Li family's continued success."
“An exception is Li Ming. He is utterly loyal to the Li Group. If we ignore him this time, it will inevitably discourage the other branches of the family. I want to set an example for them.”
“As long as you are loyal and get things done, the main branch of the Li family will always be our strongest support!”
Hearing Su Chen's resounding words, Li Hongwen was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
“Excellent! Excellent! Truly worthy of being the Li family's prodigy!”
Li Hongwen was increasingly delighted.
His Li family had produced another true dragon!