Chapter 154: Thunderous Measures

Old Master Liu realized he had said something inappropriate and noticed Li Nianlong's peculiar expression. He coughed twice and said, "In any case, everything must wait until after the martial arts tournament. During this time, focus on your training. Your grandmother and cousin will handle everything else."

As he watched Old Master Liu retreat awkwardly, Li Nianlong stroked his chin and pondered, "Is it really that satisfying to conquer a fiery woman?"

When Li Nianlong returned to his room, he saw Shao Meiyun and Xiang Youyou keeping Nalan Ruyue company as she watched Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf.

Shao Meiyun had a smile on her face, albeit a stiff one, suggesting she had been holding that expression for a while. Xiang Youyou was yawning and occasionally sneaking peeks at her phone to read novels. Whenever Nalan Ruyue turned her head, Xiang Youyou would quickly put away her phone and pretend to be watching the show attentively.

Seeing this scene, Li Nianlong smiled faintly and deliberately made his footsteps louder, immediately alerting the three girls.

When they noticed Li Nianlong had returned, Shao Meiyun rubbed her face, and Xiang Youyou sighed in relief. "Brother, you're back!"

"Yes, I'm back." Li Nianlong glanced at the two girls and chuckled, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard at all," Xiang Youyou quickly said. "Just watching cartoons with Ruyue, it's very relaxing."

"Yeah!" Shao Meiyun squinted with a smile, "It's so relaxing I almost fell asleep."

Xiang Youyou immediately rolled her eyes, and Li Nianlong laughed softly, "It's easy to get sleepy after eating. Youyou, it's getting late, and you have classes in the afternoon. You should go now and come back here after school. I'll make you some hot dry noodles."

"Hot dry noodles?" Xiang Youyou was momentarily stunned. "Brother, can you really make hot dry noodles? Are they any good?"

As a native of Jingchu, her feelings for hot dry noodles were hard to put into words—it was a cultural sentiment of homesickness. Every Jingchu person loved hot dry noodles, but whether they could be made to taste authentic was something only a Jingchu person would know. Since Li Nianlong was from Tianfu, Xiang Youyou doubted he could replicate the taste of their hometown noodles.

"Can I do it? You'll know once you try." Li Nianlong patted her on the back. "Go on, work hard, and don't let those kids complain."

"They definitely won't." Xiang Youyou said, "I'll head out now and come back in the evening."

"Go on!" After sending Xiang Youyou off, Li Nianlong turned to Shao Meiyun. "Cousin, you're off the hook now. Go play somewhere."

Shao Meiyun immediately pretended to cry, "Boo-hoo, using me and then discarding me, hitting the monk after reading the scriptures, scolding the cook after a meal. Cousin's life is so hard!"

Cousin, have you considered a career in comedy?

Li Nianlong threw her a pill in an arc, "Detox and beautify. No need to buy whitening skincare products anymore."

Shao Meiyun caught the pill with her mouth and left, satisfied and wagging her imaginary tail.

"…"

With no one else around, Nalan Ruyue blushed slightly and smiled shyly, gesturing with her hands: Brother, what did you talk about with Grandpa Liu?

"Just some matters regarding the martial arts tournament," Li Nianlong smiled slightly, putting his arm around Nalan Ruyue's shoulder as they sat down. "Next March, the martial arts tournament will be held in Tianfu, at the Liu residence. There will be a lot of people, so don't wander off."

Nalan Ruyue nodded gently: Brother, have you decided to compete for the championship?

"I have no choice," Li Nianlong said softly. "For the Liu family to grow, we must seize every opportunity. Now, the chance to control the martial arts world is right in front of us. If I succeed, it will greatly benefit the long-term development of the Liu family. Although I am the head of the Liu family, I don't handle political or military affairs, only my martial arts skills are noteworthy. As a member of the Liu family, I must prioritize the family's interests."

Nalan Ruyue nodded slightly, her eyes showing a hint of worry: Brother, will it be dangerous?

"Don't worry!" His hand gently stroked her hair, and he smiled, "Brother is invincible."

Looking at Li Nianlong's face, Nalan Ruyue smiled slightly and leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes peacefully.

While Li Nianlong and Nalan Ruyue enjoyed a rare moment of peace, Old Master Liu sat with a grim expression, looking at a document. Shao Meiyun's face was equally stern. "Grandpa, the Liu family has too many parasites."

Old Master Liu nodded, setting the document on the desk and rubbing his temples. "Menglong just dealt with the assassin crisis, and now these collateral branches dare to challenge his legitimacy. They really don't see us, the elderly and women, as a threat!"

Shao Meiyun's eyes narrowed, concealing a flicker of cold light. She sneered, "Grandpa, it seems the collateral branches of the Liu family have grown too comfortable and forgotten the harsh realities of this world."

Old Master Liu closed his eyes and nodded, sighing. "With a large family, there are bound to be some rotten apples. I'm old, and my heart isn't as ruthless as it once was. I'll leave this matter to you; don't disappoint me."

"Rest assured, Grandpa," Shao Meiyun smiled. "I will make those who obstruct Menglong pay the price."

That night, the heads of a dozen collateral branches of the Liu family were taken away by armed men and escorted to the Tianfu military base for trial. These families were also raided, and over a hundred formerly prominent figures became homeless dogs overnight, their assets all absorbed by the Liu family.

In the course of the investigation, Shao Meiyun received some troubling news.

"Once again, it's the Long family causing trouble!?" Old Master Liu's face turned livid upon hearing the news, and he slammed the table forcefully. "Despicable! The Long family! I won't rest until we've settled this!"

It turned out that Long Zongheng, besides hiring assassins a month ago, had also used a stratagem to sow discord within the Liu family. Over the course of a month, he bribed those who were eligible to replace Li Nianlong, inciting them to pressure the Liu family and oust Li Nianlong, making one of them the new family head.

The reason was simple: Li Nianlong was Old Master Liu's grandson and had no rightful claim to the Liu family headship. They, although collateral branches, were true Liu family members. Li Nianlong, though surnamed Liu, was an outsider. With the assassin crisis resolved, they saw no reason to be afraid.

The situation escalated with a dozen collateral branches jointly petitioning Old Master Liu, demanding he remove Li Nianlong from his position. They threatened to take action and resist the Liu family's orders to establish their independence if he refused.

However, their plan was foolish. Old Master Liu and Shao Meiyun had firmly chosen Li Nianlong as the family head, and they wouldn't allow these collateral branches to interfere. It was a direct challenge to their authority.

With the truth uncovered, Old Master Liu couldn't openly confront the Long family since it would reveal the Liu family's internal strife, making them a laughingstock among other families. 

Despite his anger, Old Master Liu had to endure. However, this incident strengthened his resolve to ally with the Xiang family: "The Long family dares to be so brazen! Menglong is right; only by making Long Zongheng a defeated dog will he stop biting."

After dealing with the traitors in the Liu family, Old Master Liu personally ordered the remaining collateral branches to stay in line, warning them of severe consequences if they dared to rebel again.

With this warning, the collateral branches dared not act rashly. They pledged to support the new family head and contribute to the long-term prosperity and stability of the Liu family.

This way, the hidden crisis within the Liu family was finally resolved. Although Long Zongheng didn't give up and tried to stir trouble, the collateral branches had learned their lesson. They captured the instigators and handed them over to the Liu family.

Their fate was predictable. All were beheaded by Old Master Liu, sending a clear message that the Liu family was united and ruthless against any underhanded schemes.

In Long City, at the Crown Prince's Palace.

Upon learning that his spies had been beheaded and their bodies discarded in the river, Long Zongheng shattered priceless porcelain in a fit of rage. Adding to his frustration, the bounty he had posted for over half a month remained unclaimed.

The assassins were no fools, and most were employed by the top fifteen American families. After suffering heavy losses in Tianfu, they were now wary of the region. The mere mention of 'Tianfu' frightened them, so they refused to send their assassins to their deaths. Thus, despite the billion-dollar bounty, no one dared to take on the task.

Unable to hire assassins and losing his spies, Long Zongheng finally snapped, venting his rage hysterically.

Hearing the sound of breaking porcelain from inside, the palace maids standing outside trembled with fear. Fortunately, Zhao Bingbing, upon hearing the commotion, came over quickly.

"You may leave now," Zhao Bingbing waved her hand. The palace maids, relieved, bowed repeatedly and retreated.

Zhao Bingbing pushed the door open and walked in. Long Zongheng was holding an inkstone, about to smash it on the ground, but when he saw Zhao Bingbing enter, he stopped and slumped into a chair.

Seeing the room in disarray, with fragments of various valuable porcelains scattered everywhere, Zhao Bingbing slowly walked up to Long Zongheng, "Zongheng, lift your head."

Long Zongheng lifted his head, his face full of dejection.

Smack—

A crisp sound echoed as Long Zongheng clutched his reddened cheek, "Mother…"

Smack—

Another slap followed, this time on the other cheek, leaving Long Zongheng's face swollen on both sides. However, he didn't utter a word this time, nor did he dare lower his head. He maintained eye contact with Zhao Bingbing.

"Do you know where you went wrong?" Zhao Bingbing asked calmly, looking at her son.

Long Zongheng's face showed a look of shame, "I, as the Crown Prince, acted so rashly. I am willing to accept any punishment from you, Mother."

"No, your biggest mistake was acting this way in front of the servants," Zhao Bingbing said sternly.