Outsiders all thought the Lu Ban descendants were penniless. In reality, they were merely short on cash; they had everything else.
However, in reality, money is just the most superficial measure of a person's wealth, utterly meaningless.
The gifts Yan Shouyi casually produced when proposing to Lin Ruofu were all peerless treasures.
This gave one a glimpse into the financial power of the Lu Ban descendants.
Therefore, in Yan Chou's eyes, someone like Li Peihua was worth nothing.
Now, Li Peihua deeply understood Yan Chou's formidable power. His heart pounded with fear, suspended precariously in his chest.
But he was hardly a formidable figure himself; how could he possibly redeem himself?
"I've given you a chance. Seize it," Yan Chou said calmly.
Li Peizong, standing beside them, could only feel a profound sense of helplessness.
Let alone the heinous crime Li Peihua had committed, even if the Li family dealt with him themselves, he would still face death. Even if Li Peizong wanted to help, he wouldn't dare act presumptuously before Yan Chou.
What if the disaster was redirected towards them?
It was best to let Li Peihua bear the consequences alone, lest they implicate the entire Li family.
Li Peihua trembled all over, unable to meet Yan Chou's gaze. He stammered, "What... what do you want me to do?"
"Killing you would be too easy," Yan Chou said. "Since you have nothing to offer in return for your crime, then obediently listen to me. I want you to forfeit all your property, sever ties with the Li family, cut off contact with your wife, children, and relatives, and live as a beggar for thirty years! You are forbidden to leave Rongcheng by even half a step! You are forbidden to accept any help from anyone!"
Since Li Peihua so craved wealth and status, Yan Chou decided to strip him of any opportunity to possess it.
For Li Peihua, accustomed to a life of affluence, this was undoubtedly more agonizing than death.
As Yan Chou spoke, he leaned forward, intensifying the oppressive aura to its peak.
"Although I will be leaving Rongcheng, my eyes will always be upon you. If you break your promise, I will send someone to take your life. I advise you not to harbor any illusions. Though my Lu Ban descendants have many enemies, we have far more friends."
Li Peihua, almost prostrate on the ground, like an animal submitting to the king of beasts, hesitated repeatedly before finally agreeing:
"I understand..."
"Repeat it to me."
"I will forfeit all my property, sever ties with my wife, children, and relatives, leave the Li family from now on, and live as a beggar in Rongcheng, never leaving its boundaries, nor accepting any help from anyone... only to contentedly... be a beggar..."
Having said this, Li Peihua seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he fainted on the spot.
Yan Chou nodded with satisfaction, leaning back relaxedly in his chair.
"Li Peizong, have your people take him out and dump him in some corner," Yan Chou instructed.
Li Peizong took a deep breath and gave a signal to a trusted subordinate from the Li family.
Several Li family members immediately emerged, dragging Li Peihua away.
Yan Shouyi witnessed this scene without uttering a word.
Though Yan Chou could be ruthless, Li Peihua, in his pursuit of wealth and status, had gambled with the lives of his ancestors and the future of the Li family. That was true ruthlessness.
If Yan Shouyi were to handle it himself, he likely wouldn't have let Li Peihua off lightly either.
After Li Peihua was dragged away, Li Peizong stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yan Chou:
"Mr. Yan, I once again apologize to you and Shouyi for everything Li Peihua has done. If there is nothing else, I believe we should take our leave."
Li Peihua was a clever man; he did not wish to associate with a tiger.
However, Yan Chou said softly, "Li Peihua's matter is resolved. Now it's time to settle the score between my Yan family and your Li family."
Li Peizong's expression changed: "What accounts could our two families possibly have?"
"Long ago, my father arranged a marriage engagement for my son, to marry your Li family's daughter. Do you still remember this marriage?"
"But it was your son who broke off the engagement back then..."
"That was my son's wisdom!" Yan Chou snorted. "Don't think I don't know how you treated my son with mockery and sarcasm when he approached your Li family. You clearly intended to go back on your word and drive my son out! Fortunately, my son was wise and divorced Li Qing'er in advance, otherwise wouldn't he have become a target of your Li family's bullying?"
Yan Chou's goal today was simple: to teach a lesson to everyone who had bullied Yan Shouyi!
Li Peizong said sternly, "I had already driven Li Qing'er out of the Li family. Yan Shouyi is also married now. What more do you want? Do you expect me to find that woman again and have Yan Shouyi take her as a concubine?"
"Regarding this matter."
Yan Chou glanced at Yan Shouyi and said, "Taking a concubine is out of the question. Your Li family's daughter is not worthy of my son. I only have one request. If you agree, all past grievances will be forgiven."
"What request?"
Li Peizong had a premonition that Yan Chou's request would not be simple, and might even threaten the very foundation of the Li family.
But Yan Chou today was simply too dominant, leaving Li Peizong with no room to negotiate.
Yan Chou then lightly uttered two words: "West Lake."
Li Peizong's face changed drastically: "You want our Li family's West Lake? This...!!"
The Li family members present also turned pale, anger clearly written on their faces.
West Lake was almost a landmark in Rongcheng. Its value was immeasurable; it was a symbol of status and the very foundation of the Li family's prosperity!
The Li family's business had flourished precisely because of their possession of West Lake!
To ask the Li family to abandon West Lake was more painful than killing their parents.
"This is impossible!" Li Peizong flatly refused.
As the head of the family, no matter how overbearing Yan Chou was, Li Peizong had to resist on this issue.
Otherwise, no one in the Li family would support him anymore.
Yan Chou seemed unhurried. He said,
"Your Li family no longer has the Ghost King ancestor, and is no longer a Ghost King family, possessing only a pile of useless money. Even if you possess West Lake now, can you guarantee you can keep it in the future? Without the Ghost King's protection, West Lake will only bring you disaster."
"My son, at the time, could break West Lake's flow with just one step. Do you think if I were to act, I could make West Lake dry up for years? Are you sure you want to contend with me for West Lake?"
Yan Chou's words were like sharp swords piercing the hearts of the Li family.
The Li family's Ghost King was dead, and they had directly fallen to the status of a second-rate family.
West Lake was the area with the best feng shui in all of Rongcheng, and other forces would surely covet it in the future.
The Li family truly couldn't defend it.
Especially under Yan Chou's threat, it filled Li Peizong with dread.
At this point, some Li family members, unable to bear the pressure, persuaded Li Peizong:
"Patriarch, perhaps... we should just concede."
"Yes, if we give up West Lake, we can still survive and thrive."
"Perhaps our Li family's fate has reached its end. If we must blame someone, it's that damned Li Peihua!"
"By ceding West Lake to Mr. Yan, we can still seek protection and live a stable life..."
"Patriarch, let's concede."
Facing everyone's persuasion, Li Peizong finally relented.
His spine could no longer stand straight; he hunched over like a shrimp.
"West Lake... I will give it to you. Mr. Yan, please... show us leniency."