Chapter 153: I Want You to Become a Homeless Dog

"He seems like an interesting guy." Upon hearing about Sun Qing's exploits, Li Nianlong admired his fierce determination, though his tone was less than polite. "If possible, I'll teach him a lesson at the martial arts tournament."

Li Nianlong's confident, even arrogant demeanor, caused Old Master Liu some concern. "Menglong, remember, there's always someone better out there. Confidence is good, but don't become overconfident."

Li Nianlong smiled faintly. "Grandfather, I'm just confident. You think I'm overconfident only because you don't understand my true strength."

"Oh?" Old Master Liu stroked his long beard as he looked at his grandson. "It seems I have never seen you at full strength. Menglong, what is your true power?"

Li Nianlong smiled faintly, plucking a pine needle and aiming it at a rockery several dozen meters away. The pine needle shot out like lightning, and the next moment, there was a faint sound of 'sii,' followed by a 'thud.' Old Master Liu was instantly shocked.

He saw the thin pine needle pierce through the over two-meter-thick rockery and still had enough force to hit a pine tree on the other side.

Old Master Liu quickly walked over to inspect the rockery and indeed saw a thin hole. Running to the pine tree twenty meters away, he saw the other half of the pine needle dangling from the trunk, swaying in the wind.

Old Master Liu was almost scared out of his wits. A tiny pine needle had pierced through the rockery several dozen meters away and nearly penetrated the thick trunk twenty meters beyond. Such power… could a human achieve this?

"Grandfather, how is it?"

Seeing Li Nianlong approach with a confident smile, Old Master Liu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, and sighed. "There is hope for the revival of our Liu family!"

Excitement was inevitable, but before anything else, Old Master Liu brought up another matter. "The girl from the Xiang family mentioned that an international assassin organization has placed a high bounty on your head. What do you think?"

A cold gleam flashed in Li Nianlong's eyes as he spoke solemnly. "This must be the work of Long Zongheng!"

Old Master Liu was well aware of the enmity between Li Nianlong and Long Zongheng. Hearing this, his face darkened. "That wretch from the Long family dares to hire assassins to harm the head of our Liu family. I will not let him get away with this!"

The hatred between Li Nianlong and Long Zongheng was an irreconcilable conflict between the Liu and Long families. Although Uncle Guan was killed by Nalan Rugang, Li Nianlong didn't know Nalan Rugang and only saw him as Long Zongheng's lackey. If he ever met Nalan Rugang, Li Nianlong wouldn't mind killing him, but the true culprit, Long Zongheng, had to be eliminated.

Nalan Rugang was lucky. When Li Nianlong tried to assassinate Long Zongheng, Nalan Rugang was sitting in the front row, which had black glass that obscured visibility from the outside. Moreover, Long Jingtian's intervention allowed Nalan Rugang to escape death. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived that day.

Li Nianlong had assumed the position of head of the Liu family, which would inevitably alarm Long Zongheng. If Li Nianlong revealed the events of that day, although Long Zongheng could deny and counter-accuse, saying Li Nianlong was fabricating lies to frame him, rumors would still harm Long Zongheng's reputation. Additionally, the fact that Li Nianlong was Long Qingyun's illegitimate son would be a huge scandal for the Long family. For the sake of the Long family's century-old reputation, Long Zongheng couldn't allow Li Nianlong to live. Furthermore, Long Jingtian had died at Li Nianlong's hands, known only to Old Master Liu and Shao Meiyun.

Li Nianlong said, "Grandfather, there's no need to worry. If Long Zongheng wants to play, I'll play with him."

"Oh?" Old Master Liu looked at Li Nianlong, whose eyes were flickering with determination. "What are your plans, Menglong?"

"Plans? Yes, I have plans." Li Nianlong sneered. "I initially wanted to kill Long Zongheng and then retreat from the world to live out my life in peace. But since Long Zongheng is pushing me so hard, just killing him would be too easy!"

"You mean…" Old Master Liu's face lit up with excitement.

Li Nianlong said gravely, "I want to strip the Long family of its royal honor. I want Long Zongheng to become a homeless dog!"

Old Master Liu was overjoyed, trembling with excitement. "Meng… Menglong, do you intend to become the King of China?"

"King of China?" Li Nianlong was taken aback. "Why would I want to be that? Dealing with endless state affairs every day would be exhausting."

Old Master Liu nearly bit his tongue. "Then what do you mean by making Long Zongheng a homeless dog…"

"Hasn't the Xiang family always been dissatisfied with the Long family!" Li Nianlong said calmly. "The Xiang family has been trying to win over our Liu family, and Yuanyuan and I are sworn siblings. Since the Xiang family has ambitions of their own, I'll help them achieve their wish."

"Menglong, that's foolish!" Old Master Liu was furious, pointing at Li Nianlong, trembling with anger. "With your abilities, our Liu family could restore its glory from over two thousand years ago. How could you give such a great opportunity to the Xiang family? You prodigal son! I… I…"

"Grandfather, please calm down!" Seeing Old Master Liu turn purple with anger, Li Nianlong was startled. He quickly tapped a few acupuncture points on Old Master Liu to stabilize his rushing blood and helped him sit on a rock. "Grandfather, although I am powerful, the Liu family has only me as a top martial artist. If we were to take that position, how would the other families react? The Xiang family has been planning for a hundred years, winning over the Sun family in Lingnan and the Jiang family in Tianhai. Now, they're trying their best to win over our Liu family. If we usurp their position, how would the Xiang family take it? Our Liu family has faced consecutive setbacks in recent months. Although the situation has improved, we still can't match the Xiang and Long families. A family's strength isn't just about a single top-tier leader but overall power!"

Resting on the rock, Old Master Liu gradually calmed down after listening to Li Nianlong's explanation, though he was still somewhat unwilling. "But Menglong, you're so powerful…"

"One missile could kill me."

"…"

Li Nianlong smiled. "Grandfather, throughout history, whenever dynasties changed, which royal family had a good end? How many royal families were exterminated? On the contrary, those families that stayed out of royal rule survived the chaos. Our Liu family lost its control over China eighteen hundred years ago. The fate of the Liu family was tragic then. If not for the last ruler feigning madness, our family wouldn't exist today. We've only managed to survive in a corner for eighteen hundred years. Grandfather, power is tempting but also a death sentence!"

Li Nianlong's persuasive words finally made Old Master Liu suppress his rising ambitions. With a wry smile, he shook his head. "Living foolishly for a lifetime, I'm not even as wise as you, a child. Truly, power is blinding."

Li Nianlong smiled. "Grandfather, you were involved in the situation, so it's natural to be deeply affected. I was just standing outside the situation, so I could see clearly."

Old Master Liu shook his head. "No need to comfort this old man. I thought I could lead the Liu family out of the mire and restore its glory, but I almost ruined the Liu family with one wrong thought."

He looked at Li Nianlong with relief. "Luckily, Menglong, you were alert. Otherwise, I would have become the Liu family's sinner, unable to face our ancestors after death."

"I'm glad you've come to terms with it, Grandfather." Li Nianlong smiled, helping Old Master Liu stand up. "Now, let's discuss how to help the Xiang family fight the Long family!"

Supported by Li Nianlong, Old Master Liu walked a few steps by the lotus pond. "What do you have in mind, Menglong?"

"I can only provide a rough idea. The specific arrangements will depend on you and the Xiang family head." Li Nianlong smiled. "As long as we can help the Xiang family overthrow the Long family's rule and make Long Zongheng a homeless dog, I will do anything within my power."

"Alright." Old Master Liu nodded. "That's good. You're not naturally lazy, but you lack ambition. This kind of thing is indeed not your strength."

Li Nianlong scratched his face. "Please don't laugh at me, Grandfather."

Old Master Liu shook his head, chuckling. "Enough, leave the schemes to us old folks. You just need to provide the necessary martial force."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

"You and I don't need such formalities," Old Master Liu said to Li Nianlong after discussing the details of their future actions. Li Nianlong nodded repeatedly, but when he heard the timing of the plan, he was puzzled. "Why wait until after the martial arts tournament?"

"You silly boy!" Old Master Liu smiled wryly. "It's to elevate your status, of course. Although our Liu family is one of the top ten families, the Xiang family doesn't regard us too highly. But if you win the championship at the martial arts tournament, the Xiang family will surely value us greatly and make significant efforts to win us over. Perhaps then... they might even marry their most beautiful daughter to you."

Li Nianlong chuckled, "I wonder how beautiful the Xiang family's girl is?"

"Don't worry!" Old Master Liu gave a somewhat strange smile. "She's definitely a beauty, no less than Ruyue."

"Oh?" Although he found Old Master Liu's smile a bit odd, Li Nianlong was more interested in the fact that the Xiang family girl was no less beautiful than Nalan Ruyue. "Grandfather, have you met her?"

"Hehe, I have." Old Master Liu stroked his beard with a smile. "The number one beauty of the Xiang family is among the top beauties in all of China. The current empress was once the most beautiful woman in China, but in my opinion, the Xiang family's girl is not inferior to her."

"Oh?" Li Nianlong was quite intrigued. "If there's a chance, I'd like to meet her. But what is her personality like?"

"The Xiang family has a tradition of martial prowess; they are all courageous and fierce. This girl is no exception. Although she can't be said to be belligerent, she does admire strength and is the top martial artist among the younger generation of the Xiang family," Old Master Liu chuckled. "If Menglong can conquer her with your strength, I guarantee she'll be utterly devoted to you. Such a fiery woman, once subdued, the experience would be... ahem, quite something."