Druid Fairy

Chapter 72 Please forgive me
Li Pingfu felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

It's like climbing a mountain. The climb is arduous and tiring, but when you stand on the top and look out into the distance, you have a profound sense of "looking down on all the mountains"!
"It feels amazing. After breaking through to the Divine Fiend Realm, the murderous aura in my eyes is so intense that a single roar can terrify ordinary people. Even martial artists of the same realm will be stunned for a moment if caught off guard."

The Black Tiger Skill is known for its ability to gather power. The combination of the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound and the impact of the baleful energy is enough to achieve a "deterrent" effect.

This is a suppression of power, a suppression of realm!
Feeling the changes in his body, Li Pingfu was secretly amazed and carefully shared his insights and experiences with his family.

The Divine Fiend Realm allows a martial artist to unite their spirit and body into one. Not only does their spirit greatly increase, but their physique also reaches the level of a "monster." Even if sharp blades clash, ordinary weapons can at most scratch the surface of the skin, without making any further progress.

Unless it is imbued with internal energy or possessed by a celestial being's magic.

In Li Pingcan's perception, his elder brother was now a ferocious beast, the Tiger King!

"Dad, can we open a martial arts school now?"

Perhaps it was the exhilaration of the breakthrough that made even the usually composed Li Pingfu eager to ask.

Li Rongzhou laughed heartily, "Of course."

The eldest son must be the youngest martial artist in the Divine Fiend Realm in Pantao Town. This is the most prestigious reputation of the Li Family Martial Arts School!

"Before that, we need to use your breakthrough to the 'Divine Fiend' as an excuse to host a banquet for the experts of Pantao Town."

To put it bluntly, it's about probing the situation, figuring out who's friend and who's foe, and establishing connections in interpersonal relationships.

Previously, I was just a Qi and Blood Martial Artist, not yet in a certain level of "circle," and not qualified to share the pie.

But to gain momentum, you need to win over some factions and intimidate others. Otherwise, your martial arts school might be overthrown as soon as it opens!

"Dad, I understand."

Li Pingfu understood the key point and thought of Weiyuan Escort Agency. Master Zhou had a good relationship with the chief escort of the agency, and Weiyuan was a well-known name in the town. Perhaps he could leverage that connection.

He wrote out invitations and sent the news of his breakthrough and the banquet to the martial arts masters and independent martial arts experts in the town. Meanwhile, he used Zhou Enxian's connections to personally invite Zhao Huafeng, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of Weiyuan镖局 (escort agency).

Li Pingcan then sent Xiao Hei to Yunshui County to tell his second brother, who was studying at the academy, the good news.

As the ink fell from the brush, a sense of joy still lingered in my heart.

He himself might not be particularly happy or overjoyed by his breakthrough, but the fact that his elder brother was getting stronger and stronger and the family was thriving was more gratifying than anything else.

…………

There are no secrets in a small village.

The news of Li Pingfu's breakthrough to the Divine Fiend Realm spread like wildfire throughout Peach Blossom Village and all the way to Pantao Town.

Zhou Enxian looked refreshed, the worry between her brows completely gone. Her gaze towards Li Pingfu was filled with pride and joy, as if she were looking at her son.

At the beginning of the year, he finally took a concubine, but there was still no progress. Although he had not given up hope, he was preparing to take Li Pingfu, his last disciple, as a backup plan.

There's no need for the disciple to do anything; as long as the Divine Fiend Realm martial artist is alive, that's enough to deter him and allow him to live out his remaining years in peace.

Li Yuan and his brothers were overjoyed, walking with their heads held high and chests puffed out, feeling proud of themselves.

I knew that Brother Pingfu was a martial arts genius and would never disappoint.

……

Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Sweating profusely, Jiao Shichang knelt in front of the gang's headquarters, his eyes gleaming with disbelief.

Upon hearing the news of Li Pingfu's breakthrough, besides shock, what followed was naked jealousy.

There are so many martial arts geniuses in the world, why is he the only one missing?
Heaven is unfair!
But there is clearly not enough time for him to appeal to the will of Heaven right now.

Although the Yellow Turban leader was fifty years old and his vitality was gradually declining, his aura was still fierce, and his grown beard and thick eyebrows made him look imposing without anger.

However, the first thing he said was a string of curses.

"Who did you tell that 'the gang leader will soon break through to the Divine Fiend realm'? I have no idea about this!"

"You look down on Li Pingfu, but I wouldn't dare look down on this junior. Take him in as a dog? I think you're just an ungrateful dog!"

The Yellow Turban leader was mentally broken.

It's said that gangs bully the weak and fear the strong, but Jiao Shichang only dared to provoke the toughest one. Why did he have to provoke the Divine Fiend Realm in the first place?

Once you enter the Divine Fiend Realm, you will generate internal energy. One strand of internal energy is equivalent to ten strands of robust blood and qi. If you are at a high level of the Divine Fiend Realm, you can also release your internal energy outwards. Even plucking flowers or flying leaves can injure people!

It can be said that Li Pingfu now truly has the qualifications to challenge others in Pantao Town.

The more I look at Jiao Shichang, this useless bastard, the angrier I get.

The Yellow Turban leader, furious, glared and roared at his men:
"Strip him of his clothes, carry a rattan cane on his back, and go to the Li family to beg for forgiveness!"

"Pleading for forgiveness?"

Jiao Shichang looked up in disbelief. In the past, the Yellow Turban leader had treated him very well, even more so than his own nephews and nieces. He never expected that the leader would turn on him so suddenly.

He had to apologize to his old rival, Li Pingfu, and suffer such humiliation in public. How could Li Pingfu ever maintain his position in the gang again?

His eyes darted around wildly. He clapped his hands together, instantly injuring two gang members who came to undress. With an exaggerated leap, he jumped like a frog and ran away.

Let's run away first!
"Rebel!"

The Yellow Turban Gang leader's eyes widened in fury, and his right palm suddenly glowed with a blue light. As his five fingers clenched, the air exploded with a loud bang. Just as Jiao Shichang reached the courtyard wall, a deafening roar suddenly came from behind him—it was the seventh level of the Yellow Turban Gang's ultimate technique, "Yellow Turban Mountain-Shattering Palm," the Tiger-Splitting Mountain and River!

Despite his advanced age, he was still vigorous and moved like a blur, appearing on Jiao Shichang's back in an instant.

Jiao Shichang turned around hastily, but before he could even throw out the poisoned iron caltrops hidden in his sleeve, he saw a palm strike coming at him. He hurriedly used the "Frog Step" to retreat, but in an instant, the gang leader's second palm strike came down like a thunderbolt.

"That old bastard is going too far!"

Jiao Shichang was struck in the chest with a palm strike, and with a "pfft," he spat out blood. His body, which had been levitating in mid-air, fell to the ground like a bird with broken wings.

Upon seeing this, the Yellow Turban gang members swarmed forward and tied Jiao Shichang up.

The gang leader's expression was cold and menacing.

Given Jiao Shichang's considerable talent in martial arts, I originally intended to nurture him. However, he refused the opportunity I gave him. Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless.

Having weathered many storms, the Yellow Turban leader knew that now that he had incurred Jiao Shichang's wrath, failing to eliminate him completely would lead to endless trouble, especially with someone as talented in martial arts as Jiao Shichang but narrow-minded.

He said coldly:

"Break his legs, destroy his meridians, cripple his dantian, and send him to the Li family."

The Li family is now far beyond what the Yellow Turban Gang can afford to offend!
…………

When the Yellow Turbans apologized with thorns on their backs, Li Pingfu treated them with utmost care, ignoring Jiao Shichang's resentful glare, and presented them with excellent medicine, thus gaining a great deal of goodwill and boosting his reputation.

Everyone praised Li Pingfu for his benevolence and magnanimity, saying he was even willing to forgive his enemies.

With his dantian destroyed and his legs crippled, Jiao Shichang wouldn't live long even if left to his own devices.

Moreover, the cunning Yellow Turban leader would never let this person go, so Li Pingfu was naturally happy to play the good guy and gain a prestigious reputation.

Meanwhile, Li Ping'an, who was far away at Yunshui Academy, also received a letter from home and read it repeatedly with unusual excitement.

"Weining, what makes you so happy?"

The handsome young man beside Li Ping'an held a book, smiling slightly, somewhat surprised, as he had never seen Li Weining with such an expression before.

Wei Ning is Li Ping'an's courtesy name, given to him by Master Xie. It means "to hold one's mind like a balance, so as to maintain peace in the world." It contains both the fortitude to quell chaos and the composure of a wise man who can foresee opportunities.

The character "Li" belongs to the element of wood, "Ping An" (peace and safety) is compatible with water and earth, and "Wei Ning" (peace and safety) supplements fire. All five elements are present, which is in line with the principle of continuous growth.

"Junzhi, a letter came from home saying that my eldest brother has broken through to the Divine Fiend Realm." Li Ping'an said happily to his friend Zhou Junzhi, still holding the letter.

Zhou Junzhi was five years older than Li Ping'an, but he was cheerful and talented in literature, and often discussed governance with Li Ping'an. Both of them came from humble backgrounds and had witnessed the hardships of ordinary people, which fueled their lofty ambitions. They wanted to govern their region, serve the country and its people, and punish evil, making them like-minded "close friends".

"The Martial Arts Gods and Demons are no ordinary beings."

Zhou Junzhi was somewhat surprised. Even those at the Divine Fiend Realm were qualified to compete for military officer positions. The county magistrate of Yunshui County was a master at the peak of the Divine Fiend Realm.

Reaching the Divine Fiend Realm also signifies a change of allegiance for the Li family, which could bring benefits to Li Ping'an's future.

But he felt no jealousy, nor did he exhibit the disdain of scholars for martial artists.

Despite his young age, Brother Li Ping'an has endured hardships that may not be less than those who study diligently.

Li Ping'an was in a good mood and carefully preserved the letters by placing them between the pages of a book. When the wind blew the paper, he could see the sealed letters one by one.

Apart from the contents that had to be destroyed, most of the letters were preserved intact.

When you're away from home, what you miss most is the situation back home.

After a moment of joy, Li Ping'an calmly picked up the book, his expression focused. "My elder brother has made a name for himself, and I must also pass the celestial official examination to help support my family."

The teachers at the academy taught him everything they knew, allowing him to absorb knowledge like a sponge.

For a boy from a farming family, every opportunity must be firmly grasped!
…………

Zuixian Tower.

The largest and most impressive restaurant in Pantao Town.

The private room, named "Qingyajian," features a flowing water and winding wine cups, with the poem "Sitting and watching the clouds rise," and the melodious sound of silk footsteps.

To entertain these martial arts school owners, the Li family specially hosted a banquet at Zuixianlou Restaurant.

Li Pingcan looked at "Xuexia Soup," which was actually lotus flower tofu soup, and it cost one tael of silver for a bowl.

That's really expensive!

He sat to the left of Li Pingfu, observing the guests discreetly, but paying particular attention to the martial arts school owners.

Lei Zhenshan, the master of the White Tiger Martial Arts School, was as tall and imposing as an iron tower, with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes. His thick, black beard almost covered half of his face, and he seemed to have a bold and unrestrained personality. When drinking, he would fill every cup to the brim.

Lin Fengwu, the head of the Vermilion Bird Martial Arts School, is a woman dressed in fiery red, with her hair piled high in the clouds. Her eyebrows are sharp as knives, and there are deep wrinkles at the corners of her mouth and eyes, making her look very unapproachable.

Shen Xiaotian, the master of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, was tall and thin like bamboo, with sunken cheeks. He looked at Li Pingfu with a half-smile and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Heroes have always emerged from among the young. We old bones will sooner or later be washed up on the rocks by the younger generation. Where is there any place for us in this Peach Town?"

The martial arts school owners were not young, almost a generation younger than the newly promoted Shen Sha, so they all deeply empathized with Shen Xiaotian's words.

The atmosphere became slightly somber for a moment.

Li Pingfu, unhurriedly, raised his cup and said, "I am honored to have you all grace us with your presence at this banquet. I have grown up listening to your stories of adventure in the martial world. Today, I am not hosting this banquet to compete with you, but simply to witness your elegant demeanor, which is indeed as impressive as ever."

Lei Zhenshan and Lin Fengwu's expressions softened slightly; regardless, the younger generation's attitude was still quite good.

Shen Xiaotian sneered: "You're all talk and no action. You pretend to be hosting a banquet, but in reality, you're just showing off your power. I wouldn't mind if I wasn't here today, but since I am, I'll definitely teach this arrogant brat a lesson!"

Li Pingfu's smile faltered slightly. "Senior, this junior has never been one to flaunt his power..."

"Heh." Shen Xiaotian sneered again, interrupting Li Pingfu. "You dare to lie to me? I've seen plenty of young people like you. You're humble on the surface, but you're actually arrogant and unruly. You want to use us as stepping stones to show off your power!"

"You misunderstood..."

"What misunderstanding? Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone! No matter how eloquent you are, you can't change his ambitious mind... Take this!"

Shen Xiaotian struck first, hurling his wine glass at Li Pingfu. The wine traced a flowing arc in the air, and a hand with azure dragon scales pierced through the wine, reaching towards Li Pingfu's chest.

The Azure Dragon Cloud-Piercing Hand is a treacherous and unpredictable move, with poisoned fingertips that specifically target the opponent's vital meridians. It is the signature technique of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

If you want to add a crime, why worry!
This battle was inevitable!

Seeing that the other martial arts school owners made no move, Li Pingfu understood that this was a show of force. If he were to lose today, he would not only be unable to open a martial arts school, but he would also be unable to establish himself in Pantao Town.

Although he was attacked first, he remained on guard from beginning to end. The moment his opponent made his move, he held nothing back, unleashing the Black Tiger Skill's Thunderous Roar, which solidified the air within three feet of him like an iron plate.

The Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound of the Divine Fiend Realm is a "spiritual" shock, while ordinary martial artists are relatively weak in mental state compared to physical cultivation.

Shen Xiaotian's dark green robe fluttered without wind, and his figure suddenly froze.

Without missing the opportunity, Li Pingfu chopped down with his right palm, unleashing his inner strength. The sound was like thunder, startling Shen Xiaotian awake. He quickly turned and retreated with the Dragon Step. The next moment, the blue brick ground where the force had touched him exploded with a "bang"!

Shen Xiaotian's eye twitched. These young people nowadays are so ruthless, disrespectful to elders, and lack martial ethics!

Shen Xiaotian had thought he could take advantage of the opponent's early entry into the Divine Fiend Realm to suppress him, but just by looking at how easily he controlled and released his energy, he knew that Li Pingfu was not easy to handle.

When an expert makes a move, there's nothing left to sell.

Continuing the fight might not guarantee victory, and the thought of retreating began to take hold.

He suddenly laughed and said, "You are indeed a junior I value. I tested you, and you remained calm in the face of danger, showing the demeanor of a great general."

With just one sentence, the previous conflict was wiped clean.

As expected of a seasoned veteran, he can handle things smoothly and gracefully, even in such an awkward situation.

The two martial arts school owners, who had been like wooden puppets, "woke up" at this moment. "Why did you start fighting? We are all at the Divine Fiend Realm. We should stand together and fight side by side. Come on, let's continue eating and drinking."

It's clear that the three of them are on the same page.

Li Pingfu wasn't surprised. As a newcomer, it was perfectly normal for him to be initially rejected. Which newcomer doesn't face difficulties? Given time, he'll surely integrate into the group eventually.

He raised his glass, smiled modestly, and casually brushed aside the matter, saying, "This junior would like to offer another toast to our seniors."

…………

After the banquet.

"Many thanks to Chief Escort Zhao for protecting me. Without you today, I might have been defeated and killed."

Li Pingfu was filled with gratitude and bowed to express his thanks.

Zhao Huafeng of Weiyuan Escort Agency was one of his backup plans, which allowed him to keep the situation under control and also to protect himself.

If the martial arts school owners disregard martial ethics and gang up on him, Zhao Huafeng will be his protector.

Although he eventually managed to smooth things over with the Qinglong Martial Arts School Master, he couldn't refuse the favor he owed to the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

Zhao Huafeng laughed heartily, "It was nothing, and I didn't do anything. It was all your own hard work."

He secretly envied his friend Zhou Enxian for having such a promising young talent to inherit his martial arts legacy. He had traveled all over the country but had never encountered one like him.

Such good fortune is truly something you can only envy!

However, having established a good relationship today, and with the exchange of favors, there's no worry about not being able to win over this young man.

After seeing Zhao Huafeng off, Li Pingfu returned to the banquet and, seeing Li Pingcan bustling about, asked, "What are you doing?"

"Pack them up, several of these dishes haven't been touched."

Li Pingcan counted on his fingers: three ounces of steamed egg custard, five ounces of Dongpo pork... It wasn't that the Li family couldn't afford it, but it would be a waste not to eat it.

Li Pingfu thought it made a lot of sense, and without caring about the waiter's expression, he and his brother packed up the leftovers.

He looked at his younger brother's profile, and amidst the clinking of teacups, his surging emotions gradually calmed down.

He lied to Zhao Huafeng.

Throughout the entire Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the only backup plan he truly and unconditionally trusted was his younger brother, Li Pingcan.

This is Li Pingfu's true trump card, the unchanging cornerstone of the Li family.

…………

Qinglong Martial Arts School.

The three martial arts school owners gathered together, looking worried.

"I didn't expect this kid to be so capable." Shen Xiaotian frowned. His methods were rather dark and cunning, while Li Pingfu's Black Tiger Kung Fu was powerful and restrained.

I should have let that old man surnamed Lei handle it.

"What should we do now?" Lin Fengwu asked.

"What can we do? With this publicity stunt, the Li Family Martial Arts School is definitely going to open. I told you long ago that there was no need for this show of force."

Lei Zhenshan shook his head, but didn't seem too worried. His family had run a martial arts school for generations, and the White Tiger Martial Arts School in Pantao Town was just a branch. This little commotion was nothing to him.

Ultimately, they are just martial arts school owners. Although they compete with each other, it's not like gangs fighting for territory, killing each other, or creating deep-seated hatred.

Martial arts schools are businesses; harmony and goodwill are the right way to make money.

Hearing Lei Zhenshan's nonchalant words, Shen Xiaotian couldn't help but feel angry. Good heavens, I took the risks of the previous test, and now that it's not working out, he's starting to shift the blame?

Shen Xiaotian cursed inwardly, but had no better solution. The Li family's rise was unstoppable, and the three parted on bad terms.

Not a few days passed.

Shen Xiaotian discovered that Lei Zhenshan, that old bastard, had secretly hosted a banquet for Li Pingfu behind his back, while Lin Fengwu, that old woman, had actually allowed her youngest daughter to associate with the Li family's young man!
Are those two old geezers even human?!
Oh no, did my mockery of the Li family's son back then make me an enemy?

He could still deal with the Divine Fiend Realm, but what if Li Pingfu broke through to the Acquired Realm in his lifetime... Thinking of this, Shen Xiaotian felt ants crawling all over his body and was drenched in sweat.

He regretted his actions; the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and everyone in the alliance was a bad guy!

"No, we can't just sit here and wait to die!"

Shen Xiaotian pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, "That's right, let's do it this way!"

(End of this chapter)