39: Chapter 39 Confession

"What did my father-in-law say?"

Just as Meng Li's question left his mouth, a servant's report came from outside the door: "Young Master, Alliance Leader Tie is here."

Meng Li and Tie Xinlan were both taken aback.

Immediately, Meng Li said, "Understood, I'll be there right away."

After speaking, he and Tie Xinlan tidied themselves up a bit and then headed to the front hall side by side.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived, Tie Ruyun raised his palm and attacked Meng Li.

This startled both Meng Li and Tie Xinlan.

Then, Meng Li reacted swiftly, using a clever force to push Tie Xinlan aside with one hand while raising his other palm to meet the attack.

The two palms collided, and the victor was decided after only a moment's stalemate.

Meng Li remained motionless, while Tie Ruyun retreated several steps.

Tie Xinlan was greatly surprised to see this, and then she looked at Tie Ruyun, wanting to ask why he was attacking Meng Li.

To her surprise, Tie Ruyun spoke first: "That mysterious expert really was you!"

Hearing this, Meng Li immediately understood the reason for Tie Ruyun's move. After a brief thought, he didn't deny it, but asked curiously, "How did you know, Father-in-law?"

Tie Ruyun didn't speak, but pulled a slip of paper and a volume of storybooks from his robe.

Meng Li understood; the issue was with the handwriting.

This was indeed an oversight on his part.

After Tie Ruyun returned, he told his daughter everything that had happened to him. Tie Xinlan wasn't foolish either; seeing this situation, she quickly realized what was going on.

She looked at Meng Li in shock: "You're the mysterious expert who repeatedly helped my father out of trouble in secret?"

Meng Li nodded.

Tie Xinlan's shock turned into joy, but then she asked in confusion, "Then why did you hide your identity and act so mysterious?"

Tie Ruyun had the same question, but seeing his daughter ask it, he remained silent.

Meng Li replied, "An expert of unknown origin is far more intimidating than a known opponent. The Eastern Depot's power is too great and they have many eyes and ears. If I didn't hide my identity, what if they targeted you, or the people of the Tie Family Village and Meng Family Village?"

"At that time, even if I teamed up with Father-in-law, it would be difficult to act without fear of harming the innocent."

Tie Xinlan nodded, then as if thinking of something, she huffed, "You mean my Martial Arts are poor and I'm a burden, then."

Meng Li looked up at the roof beams: "You said that yourself; I didn't say it."

Seeing this, how could Tie Xinlan not realize she had hit the mark? She immediately gave him a dissatisfied punch and said with feigned anger, "That's exactly what you meant!"

Tie Ruyun seeing this, cleared his throat awkwardly twice.

Tie Xinlan immediately stopped her flirting and lowered her head like an ostrich.

She had almost forgotten her father was still there.

Immediately, Tie Ruyun asked Meng Li, "Your Martial Arts..."

Meng Li replied, "Father-in-law, I remember telling you a few years ago that I had a chance encounter and practiced a top-tier martial art."

Tie Ruyun thought back for a moment and remembered; this was back when Meng Li came to propose marriage.

At that time, he only felt that the martial art the other party had switched to was not inferior to his own family's ultimate technique, the Lionheart Skill, so he didn't ask much. He never expected...

"Remote Energy Absorption Skill?"

Meng Li shook his head: "Besides this top-tier martial art, I also obtained an ancient book that recorded many Martial Arts secrets. I also read about Liu Xi practicing the Remote Energy Absorption Skill in there."

"According to that ancient book, Liu Xi's so-called Remote Energy Absorption Skill from the Absorbing Qi Technique doesn't exist."

"What can achieve the effect of the Remote Energy Absorption Skill is the Wedding Dress Divine Skill!"

"Wedding Dress Divine Skill?" Tie Ruyun was startled, then said, "Isn't that the martial art practiced by Yao Yue of Yihua Palace? How could it have been leaked?"

Meng Li replied, "I'm not sure about that either, and it's also one of the reasons I hid my identity. You know the way Yihua Palace operates, Father-in-law. Once Yao Yue finds out I've practiced the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, even if I obtained it by accident, she won't let the matter rest."

Tie Ruyun nodded slightly.

Then, as if thinking of something, he sought confirmation: "Was it you who killed Liu Xi?"

After he returned, he originally intended to dismiss the servants according to plan and go into hiding with Tie Xinlan and Meng Li until the Seven Stars Align had passed. However, he learned from his daughter that Meng Li had started chasing after him not long after he left.

At first, Tie Ruyun was a bit bewildered.

Because he hadn't noticed Meng Li from beginning to end.

Did Meng Li fail to catch up, take the wrong path, or have an accident?

While he was making various guesses, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He thought of the mysterious expert who had helped him repeatedly and the handwriting that felt somewhat familiar, and then a bold conjecture emerged—Meng Li was that mysterious person!

Afterward, to verify this conjecture, Tie Ruyun took a volume of storybooks handwritten by Meng Li from his daughter.

After careful comparison, he confirmed that the writing on the slip of paper at that time was the same as the writing in the storybook.

In other words, it was highly likely that Meng Li was that mysterious person!

This way, the fact that Meng Li went to chase him but he never noticed could also be explained. Since Meng Li really was the mysterious person, his Martial Arts were undoubtedly stronger than his own. Coupled with one person intentionally hiding from someone unaware, it was normal not to be discovered along the way.

Thinking this way, Tie Ruyun's thoughts also underwent a change.

Go into hiding?

If Meng Li really was the mysterious person, he didn't need to hide at all.

If Liu Xi dared to come, he would team up with his son-in-law to leave him there forever.

As for offending the Imperial Court because of it... that was a matter for later. Besides, even if he didn't kill Liu Xi, Liu Xi wouldn't let him go for the sake of his cultivation. With the Eastern Depot's power and style, it wasn't much different from offending the Imperial Court anyway.

Since he would face the blade whether he stuck his neck out or pulled it back, he might as well behead Liu Xi first.

Thus, Tie Ruyun abandoned the idea of hiding and instead waited at home for Meng Li's return.

Unexpectedly, he waited for over a month. Just as he thought something had happened to Meng Li and could no longer bear to wait, news came that Liu Xi had been assassinated.

Now, he completely didn't need to hide anymore!

Shortly after, Meng Li returned.

Having received the news, Tie Ruyun decided to test him to verify the conjectures and doubts in his heart.

That was why the scene of the sudden attack just now occurred.

And Meng Li wasn't surprised that Tie Ruyun guessed he had killed Liu Xi; after all, it was an easy connection to make.

He nodded, "That's right."

"I felt that one can be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days, so I wanted to settle it once and for all. I originally expected it wouldn't take long, but I didn't expect Liu Xi to be scared out of his wits and hide in the Imperial Palace for a month after escaping. That's why I returned so late."

With the mystery in his heart resolved, Tie Ruyun stopped there and didn't press further. Instead, he stroked his beard and said, "The waves of the Yangtze River behind push those in front; each wave is stronger than the last."

"You did well in this matter, and your considerations were thorough."

"With Liu Xi's death, a great scourge has been removed from the Martial Forest."

Meng Li pursed his lips and asked, "Does Father-in-law still wish to preside over the affairs of the Martial Forest?"

Unexpectedly, Tie Ruyun shook his head: "No. The day before you returned, which was yesterday, this old man received news that the 'unmatched in benevolence and righteousness' Jiang Biehe and the various Sect Heads are preparing to hold a new Heroes Convention in the Huang Mountains four months from now to elect a new Wulin Alliance Leader."

"This old man should step down and make way for someone more capable."

As he reached the end, he couldn't help but show a look of self-mockery.

Pressuring all the heroes to be elected as the Wulin Alliance Leader? Heh, looking at it now, it's nothing but a joke.

Meng Li was stunned.

Jiang Biehe and the various Sect Heads are holding a new Heroes Convention in the Huang Mountains?