The primary reason for choosing the Jingxin Teahouse was its proximity to the military headquarters; there was no other motive behind it.
As the two descended from the upper floor, they spotted Ye Longlin and Li Mingliang on the second floor.
A sudden silence fell, and the air seemed to freeze.
"Ye Longlin!"
Upon seeing Ye Longlin, Ye Shuangquan glared at him with clenched teeth, his eyes filled with venom. If it weren't for Ye Longlin, he wouldn't have lost his authority, nor would he have cooperated with the Shi family.
"Ye Shuangquan? What a coincidence, would you like to have some tea?" Ye Longlin said with a smile, his lips curving into a grin that seemed to hold no hostility. But to Ye Shuangquan, this smile was pure mockery, as if laughing at his overestimation of himself.
"Heh, no, your tea, Ye Longlin, I can't afford it, nor dare I drink it." Ye Shuangquan retorted sarcastically. As the saying goes, enemies meeting ignite greater fury, and they already had a score to settle.
"As expected, having the Ye family backing you makes all the difference. You even dare to disregard my presence. Impressive, impressive. It seems it's time for me to head north to the Ye family." His tone was casual, as if he were merely making small talk, but the shocking implication of his words made Ye Shuangquan's blood run cold. If he really went to the Ye family, countless people in the capital were waiting to witness their disgrace. Regardless of the consequences, he himself would surely face a dire fate. How frustrating, how utterly frustrating!
Ye Shuangquan glared fiercely at Ye Longlin, walked up to him, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and then slammed it heavily onto the table, shattering the cup! This was his way of venting his dissatisfaction with Ye Longlin.
Ye Longlin tapped the table and asked indifferently, "What's your attitude?"
Ye Shuangquan stared at Ye Longlin, his expression grim, and asked, "What do you mean?"
Ye Longlin chuckled, remaining silent and continuing to drink his tea, showing no intention of engaging him. As the foremost family among the Ten Elders, when had anyone ever dared to treat them with such indifference? It seemed that ever since Ye Shuangquan could remember, no one had ever dared to put on a hostile face towards a member of the Ye family. But now, in front of Ye Longlin, he had to restrain his temper and dared not overstep any boundaries. With the other's status, how could he afford to offend him?
"You are Ye Longlin?"
At this moment, Shi Hao, standing beside him, could no longer contain himself. The situation was clear: it was about taking sides. The Shi family stood with the Ye family, and the Li family was on Ye Longlin's side.
"This is Shi Hao. He arrived in Nan Province this morning, reported for duty, and came out this afternoon. It seems there are some loopholes in our military. They're already involved in disputes before even understanding the military. I'll call a meeting later about external affairs." Regardless of anything else, since the second master of the Li family had returned from the capital, it meant that the Nan Province military was under the Li family's command. What could Shi Hao do even if he came? He still had to abide by the rules, especially since the military was a place where orders were strictly enforced.
"Yes! But General Li, you should know why I'm in Nan Province. Are you going to shield the murderer of my sister like this? Or are you all in cahoots?" Li Mingliang's eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold laugh, "When did it become your turn to lecture me? This is Nan Province, not your Rong City. Since you've come to Nan Province, you have to follow Nan Province's rules. Otherwise, I guarantee you won't be able to move an inch in Nan Province! If you're a dragon, you have to coil up here; if you're a tiger, you have to lie down. Understand? Of course, if you're unhappy, you can go back to Rong City! Even the person beside you has lost his authority, do you think a mere Shi family can cause any upheaval? Or do you think we in Nan Province are all useless?"
As he finished speaking, his expression turned completely grim, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
Shi Hao's eyes narrowed. This was Li Mingliang's way of putting him in his place. While there was an element of taking sides in this, it wasn't without his own intentions. Nan Province was notoriously insular, and with his sudden arrival, many in Nan Province would surely be unable to accept it. Therefore, what was happening before him was within his expectations. However, there was an unexpected development: he had openly taken Ye Longlin's side, which made things more troublesome. If the families of Nan Province were to unite against a common enemy, it would indeed be quite problematic. Would these people unite against an enemy? It was truly uncertain, possibly, but also impossible. No one could say for sure.
"Regarding your sister's matter, I've looked into it. Take my advice, this is not something your Shi family can avenge. Even with the Ye family, it's impossible. If you insist on revenge, your Shi family might not last half a month before being wiped out like the Zhao family. I've said all I can, the choice is yours. It's not my problem to consider." Li Mingliang had offered this warning because he saw that Shi Hao was indeed exceptional. Of course, if he didn't heed it, then it would be of no concern to him. After all, ultimately, he had no relationship with Shi Hao, and whether he lived or died was irrelevant to him.
"Is that so? Then I'll have to try and see if it's really as you say. If the consequences are as you describe, I will have no complaints." Shi Hao's eyes fixed intently on Ye Longlin, and after a sinister laugh, he continued coldly, "I will thoroughly investigate my sister's death, no matter what. She is my sister, after all, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Ye?"
Ye Longlin was surprised that Shi Hao was speaking to him. Naturally, he nodded, "Of course, it's only natural. However, some things might not be as straightforward as you think. Just be prepared yourself." He didn't say much more, offering a similar word of caution.
Who knew that Shi Hao would let out a scoff? "History is always written by the victors. Tracing history is unnecessary. I only need to know who the killer is. The process is not important; the result is. We are all adults, and we should pay the price for our actions." These words were clearly directed at Ye Longlin, and he knew very well that Ye Longlin was the killer of his sister, hence these words.
But in the next moment, what Ye Longlin said stunned all three present, as no one had expected Ye Longlin to utter such words.
"Your sister is... Shi Yike, right? I remember she did die. I gave the order. Extermination, you can't let any of them go, can you?"