Two days later, after the meetings of the 4 cultivator clans of Black Swan City.
Inside a private meeting room, of a remote restaurant, 4 men were sitting around a round table.
All of them wore dark claok with long hood, making it difficult to see their faces.
Even though none of them could see eachother's faces, they still knew which one is which. They were the 4 patriarchs of the 4 cultivator clans.
Today, they gathered together to further discuss their decision — regarding the new city lord.
One of them said. "I wonder what kind of decision you guys have come to." His voice deep and carried the momentum of a middle-aged man. He was the Jin clan leader.
The other three didn't answer immediately when they heard it.
They looked at eachother, trying to understand.
Finally, someone spoke up. "We came to the same decision as the Jin clan."
His voice was low, with plain tone. He was the clan leader of Lin clan.
Hearing the response, the Meng clan leader also spoke up. "Our decision is the same."
"So, the three of our clan are on the same side, to intercept the city lord on his way." The Jin clan leader said.
Both the Lin and Meng clan leader nodded in union.
Then, the three of them turned towards the seat, Li Fang was sitting. Who hasn't spoke up the whole time.
Even though he could not see their faces, Li Fang could feel the questioning gazes from them.
Ahem...
He cleared his throat with a light cough and gave his response. "I am sorry. But I can not join you guys. Forgive for that."
Beneath the hoods, all of the showed a surprised expression. But that quickly turned into cold one.
"Oh.. why is that? I think you must have a good reason for that. Please do tell us." The Jin clan leader spoke in a cold chilling voice.
To the outside world, the Jin clan is the most kind clan among them four of them. But what the public does not know is that, the Jin clan is the most vicious one of them. Secretly, they engage in many evil activities, like child and women trafficking.
And their leader, Jin Mo, is the most twisted one among the 4 patriarchs. Just like his name, he is known as the golden demon by the 4 clans.
A golden face fill with kindness on the outside. But inside he was a literal demon.
Even Li Fang felt a chill when he heard Jin Mo's voice, though they were in the same level, peak of Level 4 of Body Refinement Realm.
Calming himself, he explained. "I know what you are thinking, I am afraid. But that is not the reason."
"You guys should know, my only son is in the coma for a long time. And their are no other youths with talent that can take on the duties of my clan when our generation left. So, I don't want to take the risk by joining in the chaos."
Before the 3 other patriarchs could say, he continued.
"And I know you guys are doing for the good of our clans. If you guys succeed, I will also get to enjoy the aftermath. So, our clan has come to a decision that, instead of the usual 25% of resources, we will take 15%. It is must better than getting nothing when the city lord arrives."
The 3 patriarchs of Jin, Lin and Meng, that were about to force the Li clan to join them, suddenly went silent.
The looked at eachother, communicating. Letting the Li clan offer up 10% of the resources was a huge thing.
At the end, they could not pass on that.
After coming to an understanding, Jin Mo said. "OK, we accept the offer. The Li clan doesn't need to join the mission."
"But I hope the Li clan honor their words. If not, it will 1 against 3. Remember that."
"Of course, we will." Li Fang firmly assured. "Then.., I am leaving." Then, he stood and left the room.
After Li Fang left the room, the other 3 patriarchs looked at eachother.
"Do you two think, we can trust the words of Li Fang?" Jin Mo was the first to asked the question.
The other two also felt the same.
"We can not trust the Li clan and that cunning Li Fang. But we must take action for now." Jin Mo said.
"OK. But what if the Li clan leak the words that we are doing it. Or what if they helps him by playing the good guy. What then?" The Lin clan patriarch expressed his concern.
"Hump, they won't. They must be also hopping for us to succeed."
"And even if they choose to help the city lord, they won't succeed. It will be too much for the Li clan to handle all of us at once."
"Not only that, we will be doing it anonymously. So, even just we fail to accomplish the mission, we will not face the consequences." Jin Mo patiently explained the reasons. "Above that, they won't even know time and the site." He added.
For quite a while, the 3 of them continued to discuss the details of the plan.
-------
As soon as he reach his home, Li Fang immediately called for a emergency clan meeting.
Without missing anyone, all the core members arrived at the meeting hall.
Without delaying, Li Fang told the details of the meeting of the 4 patriarchs.
"Whar do you we should do now? Li Fei." Since it was his idea, Li Fang asked his son for the plan ahead.
All the members looked at Li Fei.
"Since the first part of the plan is completed, we will go ahead and continue the second part of the plan." Li Fei replied.
"But how do we know the date and time for that. Our spies are not that advance that they can get that kind of secret information." One of the elder expressed what everyone had in their mind.
Calmly, Li Fei said. "Don't worry about that part. I have already set someone to do that part. In no time, the information will come to our door. We just need to wait for it."
Hearing that, some were skeptical as Li Fei doesn't have connections outside the clan. Some were surprised thinking that Li Fei must have secret connections.
The meeting ended after discussing what they should do if they fail to do so.
----
That evening, dressed in black— with face covered. Li Fei sneaked put from his clan.
With one thing one his mind, he headed to a certain direction.
Half an hour later, he arrived at an abandoned courtyard, likely used by blacksmiths.
Looking at the abandoned rooms, surrounding the courtyard, Li Fei called out in a very specific tone. Like the sound of a bird chirping.
Chirp...Chirp. chirrrrppp....
Seconds later, he felt a gust of wind behind him.
He quickly turned around to see.
There, standing in front of him was a young man. He was wearing a simple commoner clothings.
Even with that, his charm was still there. Dark pupil, slightly grey hairs, sword like eyebrows.
If Ren Wei was present there, he would know the young man. It was none other than the most mature one of the 5 leaders of South Wind Pavillion, the second oldest of the Nan sworn brothers. He was Nan Yuan.
Currently at the early 19 years of age.
When he appeared in front of Li Fei, he didn't even bother hiding his face. That's because he knew Li Fei couldn't remember his face clearly the moment they parted ways.
Seeing Nan Yuan, Li Fei quickly greeted. "Hello." A simple greeting.
"What do you need?" Nan Yuan didn't bother greeting back. He went straight for the topic.
Li Fei didn't show an displeased emotion when Nan Yuan didn't greet back. He knew the one standing in front of him is the strongest person he had ever seen, including the ancestors of the 4 clans of Black Swan City.
Feeling that the other person doesn't want to waste time, Li Fei asked his question. "I wonder if you can get some information from the other 3 clan?"
Without thinking, Nan Yuan replied. "Yes, what do you need?"
Hearing the reply, Li Fei smiled inside, relieved. Then, he told the things about the attack and the plan.
After hearing all that, Nan Yuan said. "Come back in 2 days if you want the information. And remember to bring the appropriate amount."
Then,
Whoosh...
Just like the first time, with a gust of wind, he disappeared in front Li Fei's very eyes.
Fi Lei stood there dazzled. Even with his peak level 5 Body Refinement Realm, he could only catch a glimpse of the shadow of the other party.
"How strong are you?" He murmured.
Then, he also left the courtyard and headed out.
When he arrived at the street road, he felt a slight dizziness for a split second.
And when he came back to his normal state, he found something. He could not remember the face of the other party. He had clearly seen the face. It was the second time that was happening to him.
'What a bizarre ability.' He thought.
Unbeknownst to him, just a few distance away from him, Nan Yuan was watching him leave.