Chapter 28: You Are Merely Cannon Fodder

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The Li family villa.
This was the first time Zhang Qi had truly stepped through these doors.
She was filled with trepidation, fearing she might not leave this place alive.
Li Meng sat alone on the living room sofa.
Zhang Qi had seen Li Meng just a few days ago, and she was shocked to find that in such a short time, he had aged significantly.
His hair had turned noticeably grayer.
It seemed that Li Qin’s death had dealt him a devastating blow.
Zhang Qi could understand that. After all, the Li family’s status had been built upon Li Qin’s foundation. The reason they had been able to stand on equal footing with the Sun family in Jiangcheng all these years was entirely due to him.
Now that Li Qin was dead, the Li family’s mansion was on the verge of collapse, so Li Meng’s distress was only natural.
Yet, there was one thing that struck Zhang Qi as very strange.
It was rumored that the Li family possessed over a hundred powerful bodyguards.
Why was not a single one to be seen?
The massive Li villa felt empty and desolate.
"Mr. Li."
Li Meng spoke indifferently, "Strange, isn't it? In the entire Li household, besides me, you can't see a single soul."
Zhang Qi dared not speak carelessly, fearing a wrong word might lead to her demise.
"My Li family’s hundred-plus experts—they are all dead."
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Zhang Qi’s forehead.
Over a hundred experts, all dead?
What kind of joke was this?
Who could possibly possess the strength to accomplish such a feat?
Could it be that the Sun family had already begun their move against the Li family?
"It wasn't the Sun family."
Zhang Qi suddenly felt her throat go dry.
"In your opinion, how many people would it take to kill so many experts?"
Zhang Qi kept her head low, not daring to speak. She understood even less why Li Meng was telling her these things.
"One person."
"He was alone, and he slaughtered every single one of my Li family’s bodyguards."
"Experts of the Li Fire Realm, Kan Water Realm, and even the Xun Wind Realm were all like paper before him."
Zhang Qi was shaken beyond measure.
If these words had come from anyone else, she certainly would not have believed them.
But because it was Li Meng speaking, she had no choice but to believe.
What kind of person could achieve such a thing?
When did such a formidable powerhouse emerge in Jiangcheng?
"Mr. Li, are you sure you aren't joking?"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Zhang Qi asked, struggling to process the reality of the situation.
"I saw it with my own eyes. Do you think it could be false?"
"Mr. Li, could it be that some reclusive master has arrived in Jiangcheng?"

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Li Meng shook his head and said, "He is a young man."
"A young man in his early twenties."
Zhang Qi gasped sharply.
A young man in his early twenties possessing such terrifying strength!
Yang Di, the number one martial arts prodigy of China, was hailed as the pinnacle of current martial arts.
In his early twenties, he had only reached the astonishing Earth Kun Realm.
Could it be that this young man was on par with Yang Di?
How was that possible!
"You must be wondering why I chose to make my father’s death public."
Zhang Qi did indeed find that strange.
"If I said I intended to destroy the Sun family, you would surely think I am a joke."
That was exactly what Zhang Qi was thinking, but she dared not voice it.
"He killed all my Li family’s bodyguards; to survive, I had no choice but to kneel before him."
"He is now my master."
Wave after wave of shock crashed over Zhang Qi.
Li Meng knelt to someone.
Li Meng pledged his loyalty to someone!
These things, which she found utterly absurd, were coming directly from Li Meng’s own mouth.
However, she admired his ability to bend and stretch; she wasn't sure she could do the same.
"If the Sun family moves against the Li family, it is the same as moving against him."
Zhang Qi was even more confused.
Isn't that a good thing?
Even if he had become a puppet, with such a backer, he wouldn't need to fear the Sun family at all.
In a sense, this was a good thing.
But why would he come looking for her at a time like this?
Zhang Qi did not believe she had any value that would catch Li Meng’s eye.
"Mr. Li, why did you come to me?"
Li Meng said, "I have no right to ask him to act, nor do I know when he might choose to do so."
"If the Sun family decides to attack me now, I have no power to fight back."
"So... I need some cannon fodder, and you are just one of them."
Zhang Qi couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Wasn't this just sending her to her death?
Li Meng continued, "But you are not necessarily doomed."
"If you are lucky enough and he acts early enough, the Sun family won't be able to kill you."
"And you, like me, may have the chance to become his puppet."
"You will become the top figure in the Jiangcheng underworld."
The top figure in the Jiangcheng underworld.
Why did those words sound so familiar?
Her younger brother had said the same thing.
But Zhang Qi hadn't taken it to heart.

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How could she ever harbor such wild ambitions?
"Mr. Li, I am just a small person. If the Sun family wants to kill me, they wouldn't even need to exert any effort."
"That is why you are just cannon fodder."
Zhang Qi’s face turned ashen.
"And if I refuse?"
Li Meng stood up, a playful, cruel smile on his lips, and walked over to Zhang Qi.
"Now, even trash like you has the right to refuse me?"
With that, Li Meng grabbed Zhang Qi by the throat.
"Don't forget, I am also an expert of the Xun Wind Realm."
"If I want you dead, you will die right now!"
Looking at Li Meng’s twisted face, Zhang Qi knew she was finished.
She only had the choice between an early death and a late one; there were no other options.
Meanwhile.
The old Tang residence.
Under the pressure of Tang Xuan, the old woman finally handed over the household registration book.
Tang Qinghua drove home happily, ready to take little Xuanzi to register his residency.
Watching little Xuanzi sitting in the back seat of the Rolls-Royce, Tang Xuan couldn't help but smile.
Finally, he had managed to get himself into a luxury car.
After the group departed, Tang Xuan dialed Zhang Qi’s phone number.
He had something to give her.
After what happened last night, Tang Xuan understood more deeply than ever that being beautiful was, in itself, a mistake.
Given Zhang Qi’s appearance, she might encounter more situations like last night in the future.
Tang Xuan could not stay by her side every moment, so he had specially crafted a jade pendant.
He had left a wisp of his divine consciousness on the pendant, so if Zhang Qi were in danger, he would know immediately.
However, he called her phone several times, but she did not answer.
Tang Xuan had no choice but to call Liu Zhenhua.
"Master Tang, why are you calling me?"
"Where is my sister? Why isn't she answering her phone?"
Liu Zhenhua’s expression froze instantly.
Zhang Qi had gone to the Li family, and he had no idea what the situation was now.
Furthermore, Zhang Qi had explicitly told Liu Zhenhua not to reveal this matter.
"This... Master Tang, I'm not really sure."
"Liu Zhenhua, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Liu Zhenhua’s stammering attitude gave Tang Xuan an ominous premonition.
"If you don't tell me the truth, I will kill you right now!"
Terrified to the point of wetting himself, Liu Zhenhua hurriedly said, "She went to the Li family."
Tang Xuan hung up the phone and rushed toward the Li residence without a moment's delay.