Hearing old Master Zhao's instructions, Zhao Tianlong immediately became anxious. Li Xiaotian was just a freeloader, how could he possibly have any background?
"Father! Li Xiaotian is just an unemployed bum, a good-for-nothing freeloader. What kind of influential background could he possibly have?" Zhao Tianlong said.
"A good-for-nothing freeloader? Could a freeloader possess such formidable strength, leaving over a hundred of our Zhao family's bodyguards helpless?" Old Master Zhao glared at Zhao Tianlong.
Zhao Tianlong wanted to say more, but Old Master Zhao waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Don't forget about Long Batian. When he first returned, neither the Long family nor the Lin family paid him any mind. But what happened in the end?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianlong immediately calmed down, and the other members of the Zhao family also fell into deep thought.
The God of War, Long Batian, was looked down upon and targeted by everyone when he was released from prison and returned to the Long family.
However, Long Batian acted recklessly, striking his opponents at the slightest disagreement, which provoked both the Long family and the Lin family to gang up against him.
But who would have thought that Long Batian was actually a God of War of the Great Qin Dynasty's War Department, forcefully suppressing the Long and Lin families, much to the astonishment of many prominent families in the capital.
When Old Master Zhao uttered these words, the members of the Zhao family began to wonder if Li Xiaotian was also a God of War, which was why he acted so arrogantly.
If the other party's true identity was indeed a God of War, then for the Zhao family to continue antagonizing Li Xiaotian would be tantamount to seeking their own demise.
At this thought, several members of the Zhao family suddenly turned pale.
"First, investigate Li Xiaotian's background. After all, the number of Great Qin's War Gods is very limited, and not every War God acts like Long Batian," Old Master Zhao instructed, feeling he might be overthinking things.
If Li Xiaotian was truly a Great Qin War God, then the events of today would not end so simply.
Had their Zhao family angered a War God, would they be so easily forgiven?
In any case, Old Master Zhao felt that it was more likely that Li Xiaotian was not a War God; at most, he was someone from the Great Qin War Department.
With this thought, Old Master Zhao sneered. As long as the other party was not a War God, even if he was from the War Department, if their Zhao family wanted him dead, he would not live!
After Li Xiaotian and his entourage left the Zhao family, Ye Qingmei took the children and Fang Yuan to shop at some malls in the capital. Li Xiaotian, having matters to attend to, left in advance.
Long Yi, driving the car, picked up Li Xiaotian. The moment Li Xiaotian got into the car, Long Yi spoke.
"Big Brother, I've found that person."
"Let's go, take me to see him," Li Xiaotian said with a complex expression. Before Long Yi came to the capital, Li Xiaotian had instructed him to find someone.
A middle-aged man named Tian Fu. This man was formerly the steward of the Li family, and he had practically grown up with Li Xiaotian's father, Li Zhen.
When Li Zhen inherited the position of Li family patriarch, he had driven Tian Fu out of the Li family.
On the surface, in the eyes of outsiders, Li Zhen's actions seemed heartless.
But perhaps only Li Zhen and Tian Fu knew that Li Zhen driving Tian Fu out of the Li family was actually to protect him.
When Li Zhen became the patriarch, he sensed the undercurrents within the family. At that time, unwilling to let his good friend die with him, he simply found an excuse to drive Tian Fu out of the Li family.
A trace of guilt flickered across Li Xiaotian's face. After Tian Fu left the Li family, he got married and had a son and a daughter.
His son was born in the same year as Li Xiaotian, and their heights and builds were similar.
When they were young, Li Zhen would occasionally take Li Xiaotian to Tian Fu's house. Li Xiaotian and Tian Fu's son, Tian Meng, were very close friends.
However, ten years ago, Tian Meng passed away after a severe illness.
"Uncle Fu, Tian Meng," Li Xiaotian murmured. When he was young and ignorant, he would never have let his father and Uncle Fu have Tian Meng impersonate him.
Tian Meng had not died of illness but was arranged by Tian Fu to take Li Xiaotian's place ten years ago.
It could be said that Li Xiaotian owed his current life to Tian Fu, who had sacrificed his own son for him. The man was Li Xiaotian's life-saving benefactor.
Long Yi drove to a bustling area.
The sky was gradually darkening. At a roadside barbecue stall, a middle-aged couple was busy serving customers.
The man grilled the meat, while the woman was responsible for greeting guests.
Li Xiaotian and Long Yi got out of the car and walked quietly towards the barbecue stall.
"Customers, feel free to order whatever you'd like to eat," the middle-aged woman greeted them warmly. She carefully observed Li Xiaotian and Long Yi. These two were dressed cleanly and clearly had status; why would they come to such a humble place to eat?
However, they were guests after all. The middle-aged woman, Wang Rong, took a glance and then withdrew her gaze, before bringing over a plate of small dishes.
"Please try the appetizers first. Call me when you've decided on your order," Wang Rong said before going to attend to other tables.
Li Xiaotian opened his mouth, looking at Wang Rong's familiar appearance. He almost blurted out "Auntie."
Li Xiaotian casually ordered a few dishes and ate slowly, but his mind was occupied with how to reveal himself to Uncle Fu and his wife later.
Ultimately, Li Xiaotian felt a deep sense of guilt, as his friend Tian Meng had died in his place. This was equivalent to him indirectly causing Tian Meng's death.
If he suddenly appeared before them, would they be happy or resentful?
Just as Li Xiaotian was hesitating, a commotion reached his ears.
"What are you all eating for? Get out of the way! Make room for us!" A group of people dressed in gaudy clothes arrived at the barbecue stall, their attitudes extremely arrogant. They deliberately kicked several stools as they walked.
Upon seeing this situation, the customers who were eating barbecue were almost all frightened and quickly paid their bills and left.
"Old Man Tian, business is good! Did you think my words from the day before yesterday were nonsense? Didn't I tell you not to set up your stall these few days? Who gave you the courage to disobey my orders?" a sturdy, middle-aged胖子 (pàng zi - fatty) shouted boisterously, standing in front of the barbecue stall with a group of his underlings. The group wasn't eating; they were deliberately there to cause trouble.
Tian Fu, who had stopped grilling, saw this and quickly ran up with a smile, his attitude extremely humble and cautious.
"Brother Niu, please don't be angry. I know I was wrong. You see, it's to pay you the protection fee. If I stop my business and lose my income, I won't be able to gather the protection fee."
Unexpectedly, the middle-aged fatty's face immediately darkened upon hearing Tian Fu's words. He slapped Tian Fu directly.
"Slap!" Tian Fu was instantly knocked to the ground.
"Don't talk such crap! What the hell are you saying? Protection fee? I'm collecting property management fees! How dare you ruin my reputation?" the middle-aged fatty cursed, while simultaneously ordering his underlings.
"Smash it for me!"
"Yes, Brother Niu!" Immediately, the middle-aged fatty's subordinates all sprang into action, starting to smash and vandalize everything.