273: Chapter 53 Persuading with Reason

After a round of filial speeches from Mu Wanqing, A Zi, and the others, the criticism session directed at Duan Zhengchun concluded.

The group of ladies then started chatting about other topics.

Midway through their conversation, a servant suddenly reported that a group of people had arrived from outside, demanding an explanation.

Meng Li understood immediately. This group must be the relatives and friends of those who died by their own signature techniques, and they had finally come knocking.

Wang Yuyan, A Bi, and the others also realized this.

"Cousin," Wang Yuyan called out to Meng Li, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

She believed that Meng Li certainly had a way to handle the situation, but facing it head-on naturally made her concerned.

A Bi and A Zhu felt the same way.

Meng Li rose from the lounge chair and smiled, "It's fine, I will go meet them."

"I'll go with you," Wang Yuyan offered.

A Bi and A Zhu didn't speak, but their expressions conveyed a similar sentiment.

Meng Li shook his head, "The man handles external affairs while the woman manages the household. If I am not home, you can handle matters as you see fit. Since I am here now, there is no need for you to accompany me."

Saying this, he gently stroked Wang Yuyan's cheek to soothe her, "I will be back shortly."

Seeing his resolve, Wang Yuyan said no more.

...

Not long after, Meng Li met the visitors in the reception hall.

There were over ten people, divided into two groups.

Leading them were two young men of unremarkable appearance.

One of them had slightly darker skin, wore black fitted clothing, sported a three-pronged hair ornament pointing upwards, and held a long saber.

The other was relatively fair-skinned, dressed in a white robe, with his hair tied up by a rope, carrying a peculiar long-handled small hammer.

As soon as Meng Li appeared, the two seated men quickly stood up.

After he took his position near the main seat, the young man in black, holding the saber, proactively asked, "Are you the person in charge of the Murong Family?"

Meng Li nodded, "I am Murong Fu, the Young Lord of the Murong Family."

Logically, since Murong Bo had passed away many years ago, the Murong Family had been under his control, making him the master, or 'Family Head.' However, as he was not yet married, he still belonged nominally to the younger generation, hence the slight difference in title for now.

The reason A Bi and A Zhu called him 'Young Master' was also due to this.

Of course, there was also the factor of having been accustomed to the title for many years.

After a brief self-introduction, Meng Li turned and inquired, "And you two are?"

The black-clad youth clasped his hands, "I am Yao Bodang, the leader of Qin Family Village in Yunzhou."

Then the white-robed youth followed, "I am Sima Lin of the Qingcheng Sect."

"So it is Village Master Yao and Young Hero Sima," Meng Li said with feigned realization, then asked knowingly, "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Yao Bodang said in a deep voice, "To tell you the truth, my Junior Brother died recently due to the misuse of his own Martial Arts Move. While investigating the truth, I met the Sima brothers and learned that their father also died by his own Martial Arts Move."

"Furthermore, we have heard that quite a few others in the Jianghu have met a similar fate."

"The only method that could cause such a situation, as far as I can conceive, is the Murong Family's technique of turning an opponent's Move against them."

"Therefore, we have come here specifically to seek an answer."

"Were my Junior Brother and Young Hero Sima's father killed by the Murong Family?"

"No," Meng Li flatly denied, then explained, "The Murong Family's technique of turning an opponent's Move against them originates from our inherited secret skill, Shifting Stars. To my knowledge, currently, only I know this technique."

"And since I mastered this secret skill, I have never used it to kill anyone."

"Aside from that, most people kill for two reasons: enmity, or for profit."

"This is the first time I am meeting the two of you, and I have never even met Village Master Yao's Junior Brother or Young Hero Sima's father. It is impossible for us to have developed a feud, let alone a life-or-death hatred."

"As for profit, what we in the Jianghu seek is nothing more than wealth and Martial Arts."

"My Murong Family is not wealthy enough to rival nations, but we certainly possess some family assets, enough to live comfortably. We have no need to kill for money."

"As for Martial Arts, to put it bluntly, although I have been secluded practicing Martial Arts in recent years and have not made a name for myself in the Jianghu, the prestige accumulated by my predecessors remains. The Suzhou Murong Clan's reputation in the Martial Forest is still more resounding than that of the Qin Family Village or the Qingcheng Sect."

"Therefore, I have no need to covet your Martial Arts."

Yao Bodang and Sima Lin nodded repeatedly as they listened.

Meng Li continued, "Since we have neither enmity nor any tangible profit to gain, why would I kill?"

"Furthermore, I would have to travel far and use my own inherited secret skill."

"Why would I do something so utterly pointless? Am I insane?"

"In your estimation, do I look like a madman?"

Yao Bodang and Sima Lin both shook their heads.

Then, Sima Lin spoke, "Young Master Murong, what you say is indeed reasonable. We didn't think it was the Murong Family's doing at first. Just as you said, since we have no enmity and no conflict of interest, the Murong Family has no motive to kill."

"But with so many people in the Jianghu recently dying by their own Martial Arts Moves, the only thing that could cause this situation is the Murong Family's technique of turning an opponent's Move against them."

"That is why we had no choice but to suspect you."

"There must be many people like us."

"Although what you say is logical, mere words might not convince everyone."

Meng Li nodded slightly, then asked with keen interest, "Does Young Hero Sima have a better suggestion?"

Sima Lin replied, "I wouldn't dare claim to have a better suggestion. I just feel that we are all people of the Jianghu. While logic sometimes prevails, the Jianghu is full of rough elements. When encountering those who are unreasonable or impervious to reason, ultimately, we must test our skills."

"I am not an unreasonable person, but I have long admired the secret skill of the Suzhou Murong Clan. I wish to exchange pointers with Young Master Murong to witness the profoundness of the Murong Clan's secret skill."

Yao Bodang followed up, "Since Brother Sima puts it that way, I too will boldly ask Young Master for a few pointers. I request Young Master to grant us this opportunity."

Meng Li sighed helplessly, "Since it is so, the two of you may make your Move."

Sima Lin and Yao Bodang exchanged a look, cupped their fists toward Meng Li, and said in unison, "We offend you."

With that, they each took their weapons, gathered momentum, and simultaneously attacked Meng Li.

Seeing this, Meng Li lightly tapped the air with his finger.

Two streams of Mixed Finger Technique energy solidified into Protective Aura and shot out from his fingertips, their speed too fast for Yao Bodang and Sima Lin to react.

The moment they stepped forward, the invisible finger energy Protective Aura landed precisely on the acupoints blocking their movements, rendering them unable to Move.

In other words, despite having the initiative, the moment they stepped out, they were struck by Meng Li's faster counterattack.

Their Move was not yet executed before their bodies were immobilized!

Yao Bodang and Sima Lin's minds instantly froze.

Their subordinates who followed them were completely dumbfounded.

For a moment, the scene fell silent.

Seeing this, Meng Li spoke up to remind them, "Gentlemen, you have lost."

Hearing this, Sima Lin and Yao Bodang snapped back to reality, both wearing expressions of disbelief.

It was only after trying several times and finding that their acupoints were indeed struck and could not be broken open with Internal Energy that they were forced to believe it.

A moment later, Yao Bodang asked, "What Martial Arts is this?"

"Mixed Finger Technique," Meng Li replied, then asked, "Are the two of you convinced?"