23: Chapter 23: Making an Example of Someone Else

The Zhao Family Elder's face darkened, but his words were not slow at all. He sneered, "The Li Family truly has good methods. Since you couldn't pass the field inspection, you want to take a thief of unknown origin and dump a bucket of filth on the Zhao Family's head?"

The Grand Elder's face sank. "Zhao Family Elder, I didn't say this person was from your Zhao Family. Why are you so anxious?"

Steward Xu Wenshan raised his hand and said indifferently, "Bring the person here."

Before long, two Li Family guards dragged a person to the edge of the spirit field.

The Cultivator was thin and scrawny, his gray clothes a mess, and there was a fresh bloodstain on his face, clearly from struggling just now. Another guard held a black-red thin needle in both hands; the needle was no more than half a foot long, with a circle of tiny fire patterns engraved on the end.

Li Qingfeng only took one look, and the fire in his heart flared up.

A Formation Breaking Needle.

This thing was specifically designed to drill into the weak points of small Formations. The outer layer of the New Courtyard currently used a combination of a Spirit Gathering Formation and the Fetal Protection Spirit Spring Well, which was exactly what feared such underhanded tricks. If he really managed to pierce it, the Spiritual Qi in the courtyard would definitely be thrown into chaos, and Su Qingyue would be in danger.

Thinking of her sitting by the bed, hand protecting her lower abdomen, waiting for him to return, Li Qingfeng's eyes darkened on the spot.

But he also knew clearly in his heart.

Relying solely on one Formation Breaking Needle to make the Zhao Family admit their guilt was difficult.

Since the Zhao Family dared to reach out, the person released could not possibly be one of their direct descendants; it was likely just small fry paid to do the job. If the small fry was caught, the people behind him would just push the blame away, refusing to admit anything, and no one would be able to do anything about them.

Steward Xu Wenshan took the Formation Breaking Needle into his hand. As he channeled his Spiritual Power, the fire patterns on the end of the needle glowed slightly, emitting a faint, fragmented aura of fire sand.

The Wang Family representative frowned, "Fire sand engraving; it does have a bit of the Zhao Family's style."

The Zhao Family Elder immediately interjected, his tone very firm.

"Resemblance is evidence? The Zhao Family isn't the only one in Qingshi Town who practices fire techniques. Which of those Artifact Refining shops outside doesn't know how to do a bit of fire sand engraving? Trying to pin this on the Zhao Family based on this is simply too childish."

Although these words were unpleasant, they hit the nail on the head.

There was no ironclad evidence.

Li Qingfeng's mind turned rapidly, and he had already understood the situation.

If he insisted on biting the Zhao Family today, the end result would most likely be a tedious dispute. If the Zhao Family didn't admit it, the Qingyun Sect wouldn't stand firmly on the Li Family's side based on mere speculation. But if he let it go lightly, the fact that someone had almost reached the door of the New Courtyard would become a stifling grievance.

He could not swallow this loss for nothing.

Since he couldn't pin it on the Zhao Family, he would ruthlessly deal with the person who broke in, and then use Steward Xu Wenshan's words to set the rules in stone.

This was the most valuable thing right now.

Steward Xu Wenshan looked at the gray-clad Cultivator. "Who ordered you to come?"

The man knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead, his voice weak. "No, no one ordered me. I just saw that the Li Family had many people today and wanted to sneak in and steal something valuable during the chaos..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard kicked him in the back of the leg.

"Bullshit! You were stealing things and ended up outside the inner courtyard, carrying a Formation Breaking Needle?"

The Cultivator gasped in pain but still stubbornly refused to change his story. "I, I was just momentarily confused..."

Li Qingfeng looked at him, and his heart actually felt steadier.

The more he used this kind of excuse, the more it showed that someone had taught him. No matter how much he asked, he wouldn't get anything new.

Zhao Mingyue stood in the back, his mouth even holding a hint of mockery, as if he were certain that the Li Family couldn't catch the Zhao Family's tail.

Li Qingfeng stared at that face and sneered in his heart.

Fine, you won't admit it, right?

Then today, in front of the Qingyun Sect and the other families, I will beat the person who reached out to death, and I will let your Zhao Family know that the Li Family's courtyard walls are not something just anyone can test.

He stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Steward Xu Wenshan.

"Steward Xu, the Zhao Family Elder is right. Relying solely on these items, it is indeed impossible to pin down which Family is responsible."

Hearing this, the Zhao Family Elder's expression relaxed slightly.

Li Qingfeng continued, his tone not loud but very steady.

"But this person snuck to the outside of my Li Family's New Courtyard, and he was carrying a Formation Breaking Needle. This isn't petty theft; this is aimed at destroying the Formation. If we just scold him a few words today, in the future, others might use the pretexts of field inspections, visiting, or discussing business to circle around my Li Family's inner courtyard."

The Grand Elder's eyes lit up, and he immediately chimed in. "Well said. The Family's inner courtyard involves the daily life of wives and the Family Bloodline Legacy; how can we let people cross the line so easily?"

The Zhao Family Elder coldly snorted. "That doesn't mean just because your Li Family says he was destroying the Formation, he necessarily was. Who knows if he was just trying to steal some Spirit Medicine—"

Li Qingfeng interrupted him directly.

"Stealing Spirit Medicine while carrying a Formation Breaking Needle?"

He looked at the gray-clad Cultivator, his voice suddenly dropping a few notches. "You, a fourth-level Qi Refining Cultivator, snuck to the edge of a cultivation Family's inner courtyard and used this kind of thing to test the base of the wall. Do you really think my Li Family guards are blind, or do you think that because there are many people here today, someone will fish you out even if you get caught?"

The Cultivator's face turned pale instantly.

Li Qingfeng's words didn't count as a forced confession, but they hit very hard, causing even the Zhao Family Elder's brows to furrow.

Steward Xu Wenshan said indifferently, "How do you want to deal with him?"

Li Qingfeng felt steady in his heart, knowing the opportunity had arrived. He didn't mention the Zhao Family, just stared at the man on the ground, speaking word by word.

"This person trespassed on the outer side of the Li Family's inner courtyard with the intent to damage our house's Formation using a Formation Breaking Needle; this is a violation of the rules."

"Seal his Meridians for three days. If he does not reveal the mastermind behind him, he will be sent to the market to be beheaded after three days, letting all of Qingshi Town know that whoever dares to touch a cultivation Family's inner courtyard must pay the price."

Once these three points were stated, the expressions of those on the Zhao Family side changed completely.

Because Li Qingfeng didn't mention the Zhao Family once.

Yet, every sentence was like a slap in the Zhao Family's face.

You won't admit to being the mastermind, fine, then I will ruthlessly deal with the dog you released, and I will do it in front of everyone. With the dog beaten like this, even if the master doesn't admit it out loud, they will still feel the pain in their heart.

The Wang Family representative glanced at Li Qingfeng, a different meaning in his eyes. The Grand Elder felt even more reassured.

This kid really knew how to handle things.

Steward Xu Wenshan pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Agreed."

"This person broke the rules, so he shall be dealt with according to this precedent."

The gray-clad Cultivator panicked upon hearing this and hurriedly kowtowed. "Senior, spare my life! I really didn't—"

Steward Xu Wenshan didn't even look at him, simply waving his hand.

A guard struck like lightning, poking two fingers into the gray-clad Cultivator's chest and shoulder well. As the Spiritual Power pressed down, the man immediately let out a miserable scream, his whole body collapsing limply to the ground.

Zhao Mingyue's eye twitched violently, and his fists clenched tight.

Li Qingfeng watched all of this, and the frustration in his heart finally smoothed out a bit.

This grievance, half of it was vented today. The remaining half, he would settle with the Zhao Family slowly in the future.

The Grand Elder took the opportunity to say in a deep voice, "The Steward's judgment is wise, and the Li Family is grateful. Today, I also ask the several families to bear witness: from now on, whoever dares to take the opportunity to approach my Li Family's inner courtyard again, the Li Family will definitely not be polite."

The Zhao Family Elder's face turned green, but he couldn't say a single word of rebuttal. If he spoke again, it would look like he was backing the gray-clad Cultivator.

Steward Xu Wenshan nodded, his gaze returning to the spirit field.

"The result of the field inspection remains unchanged. The Li Family's experimental spirit field is indeed effective, and the account books are clear. Starting today, the Li Family is listed as a candidate for the tribute cooperation, with a three-month trial period."

As these words fell, everyone from the Li Family breathed a sigh of relief.

The Grand Elder cupped his hands. "The Li Family will definitely not disappoint the Steward."

The Wang Family representative also smiled indifferently. "Looking at it today, the Li Family not only manages the spirit fields steadily, but the people are also composed. Giving you the candidacy is not unfair."

The people on the Zhao Family side all had very dark faces, but they could only stand there and take it.

Li Qingfeng stood steadily on the surface, but his heart felt no ease at all.

The candidacy had been obtained, and the boundaries of the inner courtyard had been established by taking this opportunity.

But this matter also proved one point.

The Zhao Family was already anxious.

Anxious enough that they would rather use such underhanded, shameful tricks to try and pry open the Li Family's courtyard gate. In the future, they would only watch him, Su Qingyue, and this New Courtyard even more closely.

When the gathering dispersed, the Grand Elder specifically lagged two steps behind to walk side-by-side with Li Qingfeng.

"You did well today." The Grand Elder lowered his voice. "Without ironclad evidence, don't stubbornly bite the Zhao Family. If you can't bite them down, you'll only mess up your own footing. But by dealing with that person severely and getting the Steward to nod, if the Zhao Family wants to reach out again, they will have to think about whether it will hurt first."

Li Qingfeng nodded. "That's what I thought too. If I can't hit the main Family, I'll chop off their claws first. Let them know that the Li Family is not a soft persimmon."

The Grand Elder glanced at him, his face showing a bit of genuine satisfaction.

"Later, add another layer of patrol to the perimeter. The Family will also watch over the New Courtyard more closely."

This sentence carried a lot of weight.

Li Qingfeng felt steady in his heart upon hearing it.

This meant that the Grand Elder had truly begun to regard the New Courtyard as a place the Li Family needed to protect.

When they returned to the New Courtyard, the sky was already turning towards evening. Su Qingyue had been waiting in the room, and hearing footsteps, she immediately rose to greet him.

Today she was wearing a moon-white long dress, covered by a light green thin shirt. Her slender waist was very prominently cinched, and her long legs were faintly visible under the hem of the skirt. She didn't have much makeup on, but that gentle, soft demeanor was even more alluring. Only, the worry in her eyes was obvious; one look and it was clear she had been thinking about the commotion outside the whole time.

"How was it?" Her voice was very soft, and her hand had already grabbed Li Qingfeng's sleeve.

Li Qingfeng helped her sit down and whispered about what had happened outside. When Su Qingyue heard the three words "Formation Breaking Needle," her face turned pale, and her hand pressed unconsciously against her lower abdomen. "It was really aimed at the New Courtyard..."

Li Qingfeng felt his heart tighten at the sight and quickly held her hand.

"The person is already crippled; he won't be able to show his face in Qingshi Town for three years. The Zhao Family wasn't pinned down, but this blow today was meant to show them."

Su Qingyue looked up at him, her eyes filled with lingering fear, but also reliance.

"You didn't force the Zhao Family to admit their guilt?"

"I couldn't force them." Li Qingfeng sat down beside her, his tone very steady. "Without ironclad evidence, forcing it would only lead to a mess. But I couldn't let this matter pass lightly either, so I hit the person who reached out hard, and then had the Qingyun Sect set the rules. This is the only way it's worth it."

Su Qingyue understood, and her heart slowly calmed down. She moved closer, her shoulder gently leaning against him, her voice softening. "I feel at ease with you handling it this way."

Li Qingfeng looked at her fair and delicate face, and his heart warmed along with it. Her expression was soft right now, with a hint of fatigue at the corners of her eyes, which only made her look even more endearing. Especially when her palm was protecting her lower abdomen, that delicate and soft aura emerged, drilling straight into one's heart.

But Li Qingfeng didn't dare to act rashly, only raising his hand to embrace her, his palm resting on her back, slowly channeling a wisp of Azure Wood Spiritual Power to her. "I will handle the matters outside. You just focus on taking care of yourself and keeping our child safe."

Su Qingyue let out a soft "Mn," her whole body leaning into his embrace. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "If that person had really driven the needle in, would it have startled the Fetal Breath?"

Li Qingfeng's palm tightened slightly.

This was the part he least wanted to think about in detail today.

But he still answered honestly.

"It would have had an impact, which is why I couldn't let him off lightly."

Su Qingyue didn't speak again, only pressing her face against his shoulder, her breathing light. Li Qingfeng held her, the thought of wanting to protect the New Courtyard like an iron barrel growing heavier and heavier in his heart.

It was also at this moment that the System panel lit up quietly.

[Host has successfully defended the boundary of the Dao Companion's residence.]

[Family safety recognition has increased.]

[Reward: Detailed Explanation of Low-Level Courtyard Protection Formation.]

[Description: Can be stacked with the Spirit Gathering Formation and the Fetal Protection Spirit Spring Well to enhance outer layer alerts, anti-detection, and buffer against Formation-breaking type impacts.]

Li Qingfeng's eyes flickered slightly. The reward had arrived. And it came at the perfect time. Just as he was about to mention this to Su Qingyue, a steady sound of footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Immediately following, the Grand Elder's voice rang out from outside the door. "Qingfeng, Qingyue, is it convenient for me to come in for a moment?"