The people aboard the ship were completely unaware that the vessel was hurtling toward the True King’s Tomb.
Inside the Treasure Ship, just outside the Stone Rock Lady Temple, a loud laugh echoed, "Uncle Wen, don’t scare Xiaozheng. Be careful not to frighten him to death! Although Xiaozheng is unkind, after all, he is a son-in-law of our Xia Family."
This voice belonged to the Red Elder.
Li Xiaozheng’s heart tightened, "The Red and Green Elders and Master Xia Zheng have also returned! Could it be that they have recognized me as well?"
At that moment, another cold laughter came from outside, "Red and Green Elders, you may consider him your son-in-law, but others may not be willing to acknowledge your Xia Family as in-laws!"
Li Xiaozheng’s heart trembled, "The Ma Family, Ma Guangji! This old bastard is stirring up trouble between me and the Xia Family!"
Then another loud voice came, filled with anger, "Nephew Xiaozheng, you’ve played a trick, making things very difficult for our Yan Family. We thought you died on the ship and risked our lives to save you, only to find you feigned death, making us the cannon fodder. You chill the hearts of your own people!"
This voice was Yan Jishi’s, causing Li Xiaozheng to secretly curse his misfortune.
Yan Jishi held a considerable position of power within the Yan Family, and his relationship with the Clan Leader was decent. Judging by his tone, he was also quite dissatisfied with himself.
At this moment, another woman’s voice arose, sighing, "The Li Family wants to monopolize the Treasure Ship, which is simply overestimating themselves. It’s regrettable that we of the Fei Family went through so much trouble to come to Qianyang Mountain to save you, losing the lives of a dozen Fei Family youths, only to become a stepping stone for the Li Family. It’s disheartening."
Li Xiaozheng broke out in a cold sweat. The speaker was Fei Qiqi of the Fei Family, infamously sharp-tongued. Previously, these people had only pinned the blame on him, but as soon as Fei Qiqi spoke, she implied the Li Family were up to no good, clearly throwing dirt on the Li Family and making them the target of public criticism.
In West Bull New Continent, the Thirteen Families held firm control, managing every facet of the fifty provinces. Although West Bull New Continent was nominally part of the Great Ming, in reality, it belonged to the Thirteen Families.
Apart from them, although there were many small families, none could contend with the Thirteen Families.
Although the Thirteen Families had large businesses and deep interconnections, the prospect of becoming the Twelve Families was still a tempting opportunity for any of them to kick a fallen stone.
Clearly, Fei Qiqi saw the situation with Li Xiaozheng as such an opportunity!
Suddenly, another voice rose, laughing, "Sister Qiqi is truly jesting. Xiaozheng is my brother; he has no intention of using anyone. My family learned that Xiaozheng was trapped on the stone ship and was also frantic, commanding me to come to his rescue. Fortunately, Xiaoti did not fail his mission, saving Xiaozheng but forgetting to inform everyone else. I hope you all can understand."
Li Xiaozheng breathed a sigh of relief; the speaker was his third brother, Li Xiaoti. The Li Family had also sent experts to explore this Great Ming Treasure Ship.
"Xiaozheng, why don’t you come out and meet all the uncles, aunts, and cousins?" Li Xiaoti’s voice came.
Li Xiaozheng arrived at the temple’s entrance, bowed and said, "Xiaozheng was reckless and fell into the stone ship, troubling all the uncles, aunts, and cousins to come and risk their lives for a rescue, which I deeply regret. Here, I offer my apologies to everyone!"
After speaking, he knelt on the ground and bowed his head to the crowd.
Li Xiaoti walked over with a smile on his face and whispered, "Xiaozheng, you must not outsmart yourself again. You are smart, but aren’t the other families any less wise to be easily deceived by you?"
Li Xiaozheng rose, bowing and said, "Thank you, third brother. If not for you, I’m afraid I would have been completely ruined this time."
Li Xiaoti said, "This time, we cannot hold the Great Ming Treasure Ship alone; we must share it with the other Great Families. Because of your cleverness, our Li Family has suffered significant losses, and I’m afraid your governor’s position is at risk."
Li Xiaozheng hung his head and agreed, feeling dejected.
After this incident, the Li Family would probably relegate him to obscurity.
Li Xiaoti looked at Chen Shi, Li Tianqing, and the black dog with surprise and murmured, "These two are..."
Li Xiaozheng did not hide anything and said, "That is Tianqing, one of our Li Family’s. The other one is the grandson of the West Capital Butcher, and the one beside him is his dog."
Li Xiaoti inwardly felt a chill, "The top Child Scholar of the fifty provinces?"
Li Xiaozheng nodded slightly.
"So, there is indeed a way to reverse life and death."
Li Xiaoti’s gaze towards Chen Shi was scorching as if looking at an incredibly exquisite piece of art.
Chen Shi held a vermillion pen in his hand, standing among many talismans, his brushstrokes flowing with every dot on the floating talisman characters in the air, with each dot, smear, pick, and push, like a master calligrapher.
After each talisman character was touched by him, they all dimmed, either falling to the ground, merging into the wall, or disappearing into the sky, hidden from view.
"Such an admirable mastery of talismans!"
Li Xiaoti’s eyes widened, whispering, "As expected of the Child Scholar, even without his unparalleled Divine Embryo, he is still extremely wise. His talent in talismans, in the whole West Bull New Continent, perhaps only five people could reach his level! Xiaozheng, you did well, managing to get him to agree to break the seal. That’s a credit to you."
Li Xiaozheng felt somewhat relieved and said, "Third brother, Xiaozheng doesn’t dare claim the credit. Any merits are yours."
He paused and said, "Though there are five Talisman Masters with Chen Shi’s abilities, he is the only one capable of dismantling the West Capital Butcher’s Talisman Array."
Li Xiaoti nodded slightly. He could see that Chen Shi was breaking the Talisman Array right now. This array was the most dangerous part of the Great Ming Treasure Ship; without breaking the formation, it would be impossible to take the Stone JI’s Head and sever the Ghost God Domain.
Li Tianqing’s eyes were fixed on Chen Shi’s brushwork, showing surprise. He glanced at Chen Shi’s profile but remained silent.