Li Zhiqing recounted all her actions in Yuezhou Province over the years to the three of them.
The trio were left speechless, looking at each other in astonishment. Even they hadn't expected Li Zhiqing to have accomplished so much in the past two decades.
After all—
The Jiang family were the rulers of Yuezhou Province.
"Aunt, you truly haven't idled for a moment. You live up to your reputation as the brilliant talent of the capital back then," Li Tiannan said, completely impressed.
Yu Mengzhi hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Chen Jinzhao chuckled, "No wonder the Jiang family is so anxious. So that's what it is. But Aunt, rest assured, as long as Li Tiannan and I are here, we won't let anyone from the Jiang family harm you."
It turned out that.
Over the past twenty years, Li Zhiqing hadn't completely isolated herself from the world. Instead, she had used Lingyin Temple as a starting point to weave a vast net across Yuezhou Province, aiming to firmly control the Jiang family of Yuezhou. After twenty years of effort, she had accumulated immense wealth through various overt means and had become the linchpin for many small and medium-sized forces.
As the saying goes, a single spark can start a prairie fire.
Li Zhiqing's actions were intended to overthrow the Jiang family's rule in Yuezhou, essentially uprooting them. Especially in recent years, many within the Jiang family had begun to lean towards this nun named Jingchen, which infuriated the Jiang family patriarch. This led him to decide to eliminate Li Zhiqing.
How could the leader of the martial arts alliance tolerate his subordinates breaking free from his control?
Even more so, how could he tolerate someone challenging his position as leader?
"Even so, the Jiang family has gone too far, haven't they? They could have settled this through a contest of strength. Why cross the line? Killing is wrong. Have the Jiang family lost their minds?" Li Tiannan still couldn't understand why the Jiang family would act this way, believing them to be unreasonable.
Li Zhiqing said lightly, "Over the past three years, I acquired three trillion-dollar conglomerates from the Jiang family through a 'snake swallowing an elephant' strategy, expelling their family members or their representatives from the board of directors. It's not entirely their fault for acting this way; after all, they couldn't compete with me in business. Desperate measures are understandable when cornered."
Li Tiannan: "..."
Now he finally understood why the Jiang family had to act.
Anyone in their position would have been forced to do something.
"Aunt, how did you achieve this? Even the Jiang family suffered such a huge loss under your hand, let alone those smaller families that depended on them," Li Tiannan said with a wry smile.
Chen Jinzhao also understood.
However, he also grasped a crucial point: if Li Zhiqing was vying for influence from the Jiang family, someone within the system would surely stand with her. Yet, the Jiang family's status as one of the three great families of the Yangtze River Delta, alongside the Su and Han families, stemmed from their absolute control over their territories!
This applied to both the economic and systemic realms.
If Li Zhiqing had garnered a large following purely through personal capability, it indicated her strong management skills.
Even more terrifyingly, Chen Jinzhao suspected the involvement of the Li family from the capital. Though Li Buyan and Li Zhiqing, father and daughter, hadn't communicated for twenty years, they might have been subtly coordinating their efforts to undermine the Jiang family, developing a tacit understanding.
This was likely why the Jiang family was driven to such desperate actions.
Of course.
The part about the Li family from the capital was Chen Jinzhao's speculation, and the reality might differ slightly.
Li Zhiqing said with a wry smile, "That's why I said this matter has nothing to do with you. You should all descend the mountain and extricate yourselves from this vortex as soon as possible. After today, it's likely only one side between the Jiang family and myself will remain."
Yu Mengzhi pursed her lips and gripped Li Zhiqing's arm tightly, signaling her resolve.
Li Tiannan and Chen Jinzhao also declared they would not leave.
Li Zhiqing said with relief, "You are all good children. It's just that I don't want to implicate you. Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Tiannan said heartily, "Aunt, that's where you're wrong. As your nephew, I naturally have to protect you. And Chen Jinzhao is your future son-in-law, a formidable force unmatched in combat. Together, we can surely sweep through the enemy ranks. Aunt, you don't need to say more. We won't be deserters."
Chen Jinzhao nodded, "Li Tiannan is right."
Li Zhiqing wanted to say something but finally fell silent.
Just then, Li Tianze emerged from the lounge. After understanding the situation, he also lamented that Li Zhiqing had gone too far. Li Zhiqing smiled calmly, "This is the dowry I'm leaving for Mengzhi. The Jiang family will never take it from my hands."
Yu Mengzhi's heart trembled. It turned out her mother had done all this for her.
Li Tiannan said to Li Tianze, "Brother, contact the family immediately. The Jiang family has gone too far with this."
Li Tianze said gravely, "Once the Jiang family is determined to act, they will surely block all signals. If you don't believe me, take out your phone and check."
Li Tiannan naturally didn't believe him. He took out his phone and, after checking, cursed, "Damn it, the Jiang family is truly excessive. They've blocked all signals!"
In other words, they were now isolated and helpless.
Li Tiannan and Chen Jinzhao exchanged glances. Although their individual abilities were formidable, escaping a siege by dozens of people would be their limit, let alone protecting so many.
This was an impossible task.
"If necessary, I will be the one to delay them. My abilities are the strongest and best suited for stalling," Chen Jinzhao said, causing everyone's expression to change slightly.
Yu Mengzhi opened her mouth, clearly wanting to dissuade Chen Jinzhao.
Li Tiannan immediately retorted, "No, your abilities are the strongest, so you absolutely cannot stay behind to cover our retreat. If something happens to you, how can we explain ourselves to Elder Xu?"
"Let me do it. Even if I die, the Li family still has my brother," Li Tiannan offered.
Chen Jinzhao shook his head, insistent on staying as the rearguard. This was because Chen Jinzhao knew that his physical condition only appeared good; he didn't have much time left in his life.
It would be better for him to die and carve out a path to survival for these people.
Yu Mengzhi looked at Chen Jinzhao with concern. Chen Jinzhao smiled, trying to ease the atmosphere, "Don't worry, this isn't a suicide mission. The stronger the ability, the higher the chance of survival."
Li Tiannan was about to say something more, but Chen Jinzhao interrupted, "Li Tiannan, although I and you are not from the same military branch, my rank is higher than yours. On the battlefield, you must fully obey your superior's orders!"
Li Zhiqing's eyes sparkled.
In her memory, Chen Yangfu was a righteous man who would go through fire and water for his brothers. Chen Jinzhao had indeed inherited his excellent qualities well.
This son-in-law, she had decided, was hers.
Just as Li Zhiqing was about to say something, an elder with white hair, flanked by ten young men in suits, entered the temple gates and approached Chen Jinzhao and the others.
The elder was none other than the Jiang family patriarch, Jiang Chengxi. He immediately cast a sharp gaze at Li Zhiqing.
"Jingchen, will you do it yourself, or shall I help you?"