Chapter 39: Battle Plan

  (Third update, continue to sprint. Looks like the first two are hopeless. The top three still have a chance. Rush to the top three, today must be updated five times! It depends on everyone's votes and member clicks!)

  The door creaked open and Father Qin Lianshan walked in.

  Qin Wushuang was sitting cross-legged on the bed, saw his father, smiled and got down from the bed, pulled a chair for his father.

  In these few days, Qin Lianshan's days were obviously not easy either. The challenge of the powerful Xie family brought him unprecedented pressure. No matter how they pushed forward, they always felt that it was difficult to win with the thin forces of the humble Qin family.

  "Dad, there are still a few days before the fight for the Hao Gate, you should rest well and don't think too much. As the saying goes, when the boat reaches the bridgehead, it will naturally go through."

  Qin Wushuang saw that his father had faint bloodshot eyes, obviously due to overwork, and couldn't help but comfort him.

  "Invincible, I'd say... let's just give up this time." Qin Lianshan said these words with a bad taste in his mouth. For most of his life, he had been strong-willed and competitive, never willing to back down even an inch on Knife Mountain, so saying such words now was undoubtedly the result of much deliberation.

  "Give up? Father, in the world of nobles, taking a step back is easy, but wanting to take another step forward is a thousand times more difficult. If we give up now, we'll be directly demoted to commoners, how can we give up? Moreover, I, your child, cannot find any reason to give up!"

  Qin Wushuang's spirit was high, his momentum unstoppable. This time, he must let the Qin family return to its position of power in Lujiang County and re-enter the mainstream aristocratic circle.

  Qin Lian Shan sighed and said: "Wu Shuang, your father knows that you've had some strange encounters, but he still advises you to give up. Do you know why?"

  "Why?"

  "That wealthy and influential Xushi family is very good at socializing, it's said that their influence has already reached the city of Nanyun State, and they've even managed to curry favor with the most powerful person in Nanyun State - the Western Gate magnate! Wú Shuāng, you're still young now, even if you have some extraordinary encounters, after all, it's still early days, why not wait another twenty years..."

  "Father, I've only heard that the waters of rivers and streams push forward with each wave, constantly competing to be first. This is the trend of the times. Now that the national competition has begun, the trend is already set, and it's exactly the time for our Qin family to show off their skills. If we retreat now, I'm afraid what awaits us next is a steep cliff and an abyss thousands of feet deep. Haven't you heard what Gou Sheng said? He's waiting for our Qin family to lose its noble status before he strikes the final blow. I believe that within the borders of Luojiang County, there are more than just one or two families with such intentions."

  These principles, Qin Lianshan is not ignorant of, nor has he not considered them. But the Ximen family is an existence that is as lofty and unattainable as a high mountain. They can make any humble family instantly disappear with just a flick of their finger.

  Just thinking of the mighty power of the great valve being high and above, even the proud Qin Lianshan is also inevitable to lose fighting spirit.

  "Father, what about the Ximen clan? Can they surpass the True Martial Sacred Land? In the Baiyue Kingdom, as long as the True Martial Sacred Land has not declared the extinction of the Qin family, we still have room to maneuver. Moreover, getting close to the Ximen clan is one thing, but whether they can get the Ximen clan to help them is another matter. Even if the Ximen clan is willing to help, can they directly take action?"

  Of course, there are some things that Qin Wushuang cannot say too directly for the time being. If he were to follow his true intentions, even if Ximen Dajie were to intervene, what would it matter? As long as he becomes an obstacle to the rise of the Qin clan, he will not hesitate to crush him with one foot!

  "The family's martial arts, can only be represented by the direct descendants of our clan." Qin Lianshan was very clear about this rule, but suddenly his eyes gleamed brightly and he asked in a low voice, "Wu Shuang, has Xiao Jie been getting close to Da Xia recently?"

  Qin Wushuang smiled and said: "Father, sister rarely meets a young man who can talk to her like this, you should be happy for her too."

  Qin Lianshan's face showed a worried expression: "Wu Shuang, you're still young and don't know the depth of this matter. Let alone that the Daxi family is far superior to our humble Qin family, but Daxi Ming himself already has an engagement. Moreover, he is going to marry the daughter of the powerful Ximen family, which is a well-known fact in the noble circle of Luojing County. If Xiao'er offends the Ximen family in this matter, it would be adding insult to injury..."

  Qin Wushuang smiled and said, "Father, the eight characters are not even written yet, you're thinking too much. Since we have nothing to do now, let's discuss how to deal with the Xus as father and son. As for Simen Dajie, don't worry too much about him. As long as we can win the Haomen seat in the martial arts arena, even if it's Simen Dajie, he won't be able to change the situation in front of the trend. The noble seat is awarded by the Emperor himself through the Zhenwu Sacred Land. What does it have to do with him?"

  The more relaxed his tone, the heavier Qin Lianshan's heart became. He felt that his son's grasp of the situation was still not delicate enough and had not recognized the severity of the situation.

  "Father, the struggle for the Hegemony of the Powerful Families is about to begin. I plan to settle it in three battles. Among the Xus, the strongest should be the Patriarch Xu Sanli, followed by two Elders. These three people have at least reached the fourth stage of the True Martial Realm. As for the others, they are at most at the third stage of the True Martial Realm. Father, are you interested in a battle?"

  Qin Lianshan said: "Below four dan, I have a 90% chance of winning against my father."

  In recent years, Qin Lianshan has been tempered by the "Yi Jin Jing" to strengthen his muscles and bones, and his strength can be said to have made rapid progress, and he is no longer the Wu Xiaamon of those days.

  "Alright, it's settled then. If the other side sends a True Martial Realm third-stage expert, Father will take care of them. For anyone above three stages, I'll take them down myself. This time, we'll join forces as father and son and give the noble powers of Luo Jiang County a good show!"

  As for his son's abilities, Qin Lianshan still had some understanding. Seeing his son full of vigor and enthusiasm, he was greatly encouraged emotionally, just as he was about to speak, the sound of Qin Rou's footsteps came from outside the door.

  "Peerless." Qin Shou pushed open the door with a spring breeze on his face and saw that his father was also there, so he called out in embarrassment: "Dad."

  "Sleeves, what's so happy about?"

  Qin's face turned slightly red, holding an invitation card in her hand: "Father, Wushuang, just now, Daxi Gongzi sent over an invitation, inviting us to visit the Daxi Castle as guests."

  Qin Wushuang saw Qin Xiu's smiling face and guessed that the matter must be related to Da Xueming, but he didn't expect the prestigious Da family to invite the humble Qin family as guests, which was beyond his expectation.

  Qin Lianshan finished reading the invitation, his face was complex, feeling both proud and slightly worried.

  Three days later, Miss Daxi's twentieth birthday celebration is being held and I, Qin from a humble background, have been invited to attend.

  The Daxi family has set up a banquet and has never invited the humble aristocracy to attend. This time, they actually invited the humble Qin family to participate, saying that it's not an honor is false.

  It's just a humble family attending a banquet at a noble castle, but this matter of gift-giving is quite a brain-twister.

  "Dad, are we going?" Qin Xiu asked hesitantly.

  Qin Lianshan smiled bitterly and said, "When a noble family invites you, if you don't go, it's impolite."

  "Then go." Qin Wushuang had a pretty good impression of the two successors of the Da Xishijia.

  "Leaving is easy, but what gift to bring is a big question. Xiaorong, you're also a girl, the second miss of the Da family's birthday, what should we give her?"

  "Father, Miss Daxi's birthday is coming up and someone will be sending her expensive gifts. Let's just show our good intentions and not lose face, no need to rack our brains over this." Qin Wushuang was indeed a smooth talker.

  "These four words of courtesy are quite taxing on the brain." Qin Lianshan sighed.

  "Haha, if Father trusts us, then let me and sister handle this matter."

  Qin Wushuang thought it was unnecessary to be too deliberate, the Qin family was now just a humble door, as long as they sent out a roughly equivalent gift in this humble position, the intention and etiquette were enough. It's too intentional to pursue high-end luxury, which would give people the suspicion of flattering and fawning.

  In extremely difficult times, it is very important to keep a calm mind.

  Qin You hastily agreed and said: "Wu Shuang, let's go take a look on the street. I know there is a jewelry store in the county town, their accessories are very beautiful."

  As she spoke, she pulled Qin Wushuang and walked outwards.

  Qin Lianshan looked at his daughter's back, every move and gesture had the shadow of his late wife, and he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. He also thought of the matter between Qin Xiu and Da Xi Ming, and let out a low sigh, unable to help but secretly worry.