12dz Chapter 27 The winds change again; the Wang family bares its fangs.
Chapter 27 The winds change again; the Wang family bares its fangs.
Early morning, Dongshi, Qingyun County.
As soon as it was light, the streets were already bustling with activity.
The news of the robbery of the Wang family's medicine cart last night spread throughout the city, and almost all the merchants were talking about it.
"I heard all three cartloads of medicinal herbs are gone!"
"One of the escorting monks was crippled!"
"The Li family is specifically targeting the Wang family's Achilles' heel."
"Tsk, the Wang family is probably really hurting this time."
At the entrances of tea stalls, taverns, and grain shops along the street, crowds of people were whispering among themselves.
In the past, people spoke of the Wang family with awe and reverence.
Now, for the first time, there's a hint of probing in that awe.
⸻
Meanwhile, at the other end of the East Market, long queues had already formed in front of the five newly opened shops of the Li family.
Jade Spirit Rice is being sold as usual.
Low-level healing powder and Qi-nourishing herbs have also been made available.
Many independent cultivators, upon hearing last night that the Wang family's medicine cart had been robbed, did not react with sympathy for the Wang family this morning; instead, their first reaction was—
Will the Li family be able to sell medicine for a lower price?
This is the wind direction.
⸻
Li Yuanshan stood behind the counter, his smile almost splitting his lips.
"Line up, line up, one at a time!"
"Limited to three jin (1.5 kg) of Lingmi rice per purchase!"
"A deposit is required to order medicinal herbs!"
As he collected the spirit coins, he quickly recorded them in the ledger until his hand ached.
I've never seen anything like this before when I sold goods at a stall in Black Stone Mountain.
Now, as soon as the door opens, spirit coins flow in like water.
⸻
Li Yuanlie stood at the door with his sword in his hand, looking at the crowded people with a look of disgust.
"It's just buying some rice and medicine, why are they fighting like this?"
Li Yuanshan didn't even look up.
"What do you know? This is called market hype!"
Li Yuanlie thought about it.
"Is it edible?"
"roll."
⸻
Private room on the second floor.
Li Xuan stood by the window, watching the flow of people on the street, his expression calm.
He never expected to defeat the Wang family with just three cartloads of medicinal herbs in last night's battle.
The Wang family has been operating for many years and has a deep foundation; they won't be that fragile.
Its real purpose is to tear down the Wang family's powerful facade.
Let everyone know:
The Wang family will also get hurt.
Once the impression of "being able to be hurt" is formed, people's hearts will begin to waver.
⸻
Zhao Yuancheng sat to the side, holding a teacup, with a broad smile on his face.
"Young clan leader, that was a beautiful strike."
"This morning, four small shops came to me asking if they wanted to become affiliated with the Li family."
Li Xuan said calmly:
"They didn't side with the Li family."
"It's about betting on trends."
Zhao Yuancheng laughed heartily.
"That's right."
He is increasingly grateful that he chose a side early on.
If we hesitate for a few more days, we might not even get a seat on the ship.
⸻
Just as the East Market was bustling with activity.
Inside the Wang family's ancestral home, the atmosphere was eerily somber.
Wang Tonghai sat in the main seat, with a list of losses from the previous night in front of him.
Three cartloads of medicinal herbs.
Twelve guards were killed or wounded.
A cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining was severely injured.
The losses are significant.
But what truly made him turn pale was another piece of paper.
It says:
[More merchants in Dongshi are adopting a wait-and-see approach]
The Zhao family continues to expand.
Two independent practitioners have resigned their posts.
The Wang family lost more than just goods.
It is power and authority.
⸻
An elder whispered:
"Master, should we temporarily avoid direct confrontation and first stabilize the medicine supply route and grain stores?"
Wang Tonghai paused for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"You all think the Wang family is starting to decline?"
Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to answer.
Wang Tonghai suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Alright."
"Since everyone thinks that way—"
"Then I'll show them why the Wang family has been able to suppress Qingyun County for twenty years."
Everyone in the hall was startled.
They knew that the family head was serious.
⸻
Noon.
The three grain shops of the Wang family lowered their prices at the same time.
A large amount of the stored Lingmi rice was dumped out of the warehouse.
Prices have been driven almost to the cost line.
At the same time, the two pharmacies began selling limited quantities of Healing Powder and Qi-Nourishing Pill supplements.
And news has spread:
Merchants who have long-term cooperative relationships with the Wang family can purchase goods on credit.
This move immediately caused an uproar in the East Market.
⸻
"Has the Wang family gone mad?"
"This is throwing money at the market!"
"It really works! Some people from my shop have already gone back to the Wang family to buy more goods."
"An old family is indeed an old family..."
Many merchants who had initially favored the Li family began to waver again.
Money and resources are always the most practical things.
⸻
Inside the Li family's shop.
Upon receiving the news, Li Yuanshan's expression changed slightly.
"Young clan leader, the Wang family has lowered their prices!"
"Should we go with them?"
Li Xuan sat in the chair, flipping through the account books without looking up.
"I won't follow."
Li Yuanshan was in a hurry.
"But we'll lose customers!"
Li Xuan then looked up.
"The Wang family's price-cutting is burning through inventory, cash, and morale."
"They're eager to prove they haven't fallen."
"The more they prove it, the more it shows they're panicking."
Zhao Yuancheng nodded repeatedly as he listened.
high.
That's really impressive.
⸻
Li Yuanlie listened for a long time, and finally concluded:
"So, they're bleeding to show off?"
Li Xuan nodded.
"almost."
Li Yuanlie grinned.
"I understand."
"Wait until they've drained dry, then cut them down."
⸻
Black Stone Mountain.
Li Tianheng stood atop the mountain gate, gazing towards the county town with a solemn expression.
Although the Li family is currently gaining momentum, its foundation is still shallow.
If we're really comparing historical and cultural heritage, the Wang family still has a significant advantage.
Wang Tonghai himself, in particular, has been at the ninth level of Qi cultivation for many years and is very shrewd and calculating. He is definitely not the kind of person Xing Bao from Black Wind Village.
This struggle is far from over.
⸻
It was evening.
A scout hurried back up the mountain and knelt on one knee.
"Reporting to the young clan leader!"
"The Wang family has recalled seven clansmen who were stationed elsewhere!"
"Two other former retainers have returned to the palace!"
"Starting tonight, security at the Wang family ancestral home will be doubled!"
The hall fell silent instantly.
Li Yuanshan swallowed.
"Is this... a final assault?"
Li Tianheng slowly shook his head.
"No."
"This is the Wang family beginning to back down."
"The more you pull back, the harder you hit."
⸻
A glint of light flashed in Li Xuan's eyes.
finally come.
The attacks we've seen so far have all been on the periphery.
Grain shops, medicine routes, Black Wind Village, public opinion, and people's hearts.
These are never the real factors that determine victory or defeat.
Rather, it is the power of cultivators.
Whoever has the strongest fist will reap the final rewards.
⸻
He slowly stood up and looked at everyone.
"Send the order to the battle hall."
"Stop expanding outwards and return to the mountains for reorganization and training."
"Double the number of guards protecting the spirit field."
"The five shops in the East Market will continue to operate as usual, but all accountants and managers will have a backup plan."
Li Yuanshan was taken aback.
"Leave yourself an escape route?"
Li Xuan said calmly:
"If the Wang family starts fighting desperately, their first strike might not necessarily be one of ours."
"They might cut off our source of income."
Zhao Yuancheng felt a chill run down his spine.
This young man is thinking too far ahead.
⸻
late at night.
Li Xuan sat alone in his study, the system panel appearing in his mind.
[Stable Expansion of Family Businesses]
[Dongshi's Influence Increases]
[Family Luck +12]
[Current Luck: 253]
[Mission Progress: Acquired Wang Family's peripheral assets (68%)]
[Note: The Wang family's core combat forces have begun to be mobilized]
[New Phase Mission: Directly Subdue the Royal Family]
Li Xuan looked at the last line of text and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Finally, the business battles have transitioned into a true power struggle between cultivation families.
A breeze stirs outside the window, causing the lights to flicker.
The situation in Qingyun County is entering its most dangerous and exciting phase.
Chapter Twenty-Seven (The End)