"No! Absolutely not!" At such a moment, Li Youran still managed a calm smile, "I would rather the entire Li family mansion burn down to ashes than make any rash moves!"

He smiled with an unusual gentleness mixed with cold ruthlessness: "As long as the people remain, the Li family still exists. But if you few were to step outside, never mind what those black-clad figures outside might do; one thing I can be certain of is that countless eyes will immediately focus here! Once your identities are exposed, or even without exposure—just your mere appearance—the Li family will inevitably struggle to move an inch from then on! Furthermore, the rumors about the Profound Elixir will immediately spread like wildfire. By then... everything will be lost."

"Senior Brother, you must stay inside this secret chamber and absolutely do not come out! Once the dust settles in the capital, I will immediately arrange for your departure from the city! If anything happens in the future, I will seek help from Master and Senior Brothers at any time." Li Youran smiled, his expression detached and dashing: "This time, not only will I not stop them, I'll send a few more people for them to kill! I want to see how Lord Jun can clean up this mess this time!"

"But, this is a capital offense punishable by death! Even if the court officials can tolerate it, can the Imperial Family tolerate it?!" It was rare for Li Youran to show a look of cold scorn on his face.

"Fine. Since you insist, I won't say anything more. Have it your way." The man in white showed dissatisfaction, yet nodded with a hint of helplessness, "Junior Brother, when you have time, go back and visit. Master... he worries about you immensely."

"Senior Brother, rest assured, I will." Li Youran smiled faintly and walked out.

Just then, a signal flare rocket suddenly exploded with a boom in the mid-air, bursting into a spectacle of vibrant, colorful fireworks, extraordinarily brilliant.

As the fireworks bloomed, all the black-clad figures suddenly retreated in unison, withdrawing from the battle circle as swiftly as the ebbing tide, vanishing from the area of conflict. In an instant, they scaled the walls, slipped past the main gate, and flickered out of sight into the vast, dim night...

Immediately following this, the thunderous sound of thousands of horses’ hooves roared forth—a torrent of iron cavalry, disciplined and utterly lethal, charging rapidly! In moments, they had gathered and halted before the gate of Grand Tutor Li's residence. A string of crisp commands rang out, and the cavalrymen separated with perfect order, fanning out and instantly encircling the Li family mansion so tightly no gap remained!

The main gate was smashed open with a deafening crash. Old Lord Jun Zhantian strode in, radiating sheer killing intent!

A sky-blue radiance flickered around his body, indicating he had activated his inherent Heavenly Profound Qi. Although given his status, the Li family wouldn't dare lay a hand on him, he still needed to guard against the slightest contingency; caution is the longest anchor for a voyage.

On either side, two squads of elite soldiers filed in, two perfect lines deep, swords gleaming.

"All personnel belonging to the Li family, come out now! Assassins have appeared in the capital; a city-wide search is underway!" Old Lord Jun roared, his voice carrying for miles.

"Heh heh, so it is Brother Jun himself who has arrived. This humble residence is truly honored," Grand Tutor Li Shang emerged from the main hall, smiling warmly. He took two steps at a time, approaching with an enthusiasm that suggested two long-lost twin brothers reuniting after years of separation in wartime.

Jun Zhantian’s face was grim, "Grand Tutor Li, please ensure your servants and relatives are under strict control. Princess Lingmeng was assassinated today. It is my duty to apprehend the rebellious assassins. Should any accidental injury occur, I bear no responsibility!" Saying this, he waved his hand: "Search!"

"Wait!" Li Shang’s white beard fluttered as he stepped forward. The gentle, cordial expression on his face vanished in an instant; his hair and beard bristled as he boomed, "Old Lord Jun, though you are the supreme commander of the military and a Duke of the Empire, I, the Grand Tutor, am also a First-Rank official and an Imperial Duke! Without an edict personally signed by the Emperor, who dares to act so presumptuously in my Li family residence?!"

Jun Zhantian sneered, a trace of barely concealed hysteria flickering in his eyes. He slowly said, "Does the Grand Tutor mean that holding the position of First-Rank official grants one the right to harbor assassins? Search! Anyone who obstructs the search will be executed without question!"

Immediately, the hundreds of soldiers behind him surged forward, preparing to storm into the various courtyards of the Li family. Li Shang trembled with rage, shouting, "Jun Zhantian, are you truly attempting rebellion with such blatant overreach and insolence!?"

Jun Zhantian laughed heartily. "The Grand Tutor’s words are truly strange. My purpose here is merely to search for the assassins who attacked the Princess. Where is the overreach? How is this insolent? And how does it imply rebellion? For the Grand Tutor to obstruct my search time and time again—is it possible you truly have some connection with those assassins?!" He completely ignored him then, waving for the soldiers to hurry the search.

It was precisely at this juncture that a young man in white stepped out, smiling—it was the eldest young master, Li Youran. He bowed deeply to Jun Zhantian. "If Old Lord Jun is conducting a search under imperial decree, the Li family certainly dares not disobey; however, if there is no Imperial Edict, for Old Lord Jun to forcibly enter the residence of a First-Rank official and conduct such a sweeping search... Heh heh, even if Old Lord Jun is upright and fears no shadow, the reputation of my Li family must be considered. If this news spreads, it seems unfavorable for everyone, does it not?!"

Jun Zhantian stared coldly at the refined and gentle young man before him, yet his mind could not help but recall his grandson, Mo Ye. He thought of how his grandson could have surpassed Li Youran, yet met such a vile end! With this thought, his rage surged fiercely, and he asked coldly, "What do you intend?"

"This junior merely wishes to ask Old Lord Jun a very simple question. Old Lord Jun repeatedly claims to search this residence for assassins; well, never mind where the Old Lord obtained intelligence suggesting my Li family harbors assassins, but if no assassins are found in my Li family, then what becomes of Old Lord Jun?" Li Youran smiled warmly, yet pressed forward one step. "In that case, will Old Lord Jun offer my Li family an explanation!"

Old Lord Jun let out a great laugh, suddenly stepping forward and landing a vicious slap across Li Youran's face with a sharp crack. He immediately followed with a kick to Li Youran’s lower abdomen, sending him sprawling to the ground, and roared in fury, "I am searching for assassins, and even your grandfather, Li Shang, dares not utter half a word against me! What right do you have, you little whelp, to come out here yapping and pointing fingers? Demanding an explanation from me? This is your explanation!"

"Pah," he spat a mouthful of saliva. "What a joke. If no assassins are found, it naturally proves your Li family is innocent. If we can’t catch the assassins, we must continue searching, what else? I should be asking you people, from old to young, why you are desperately obstructing my capture of the assassins and wasting so much time. What are your intentions? Are you Li family rebels, and the masterminds behind this assassination attempt on the Princess?! If you delay us long enough for the assassin to escape, how many heads in your Li family will take responsibility for that crime?!"

These words were clearly directed at Li Shang, showing that in the old lord’s eyes, Li Youran didn't even qualify for an equal conversation.

Even in armed confrontation, hierarchy matters. If one's standing isn't sufficient, engaging is simply courting death and suffering. Li Youran understood this, but seeing his grandfather humiliated, and knowing there were several individuals inside the secret chamber who absolutely could not be exposed, if they were truly found, it would be like mud falling into one's trousers—damned no matter what. He had no choice but to step up, hoping Jun Zhantian might retain a shred of the demeanor befitting the foremost military leader, so that he could stall the situation and let it pass.

Who knew that today, Jun Zhantian had discarded not just his demeanor, but seemingly his very reputation. The slap and the kick were delivered swiftly and brutally. Although Li Youran was a martial arts prodigy, limited by his youth, he had only reached the initial stage of Golden Profound realm—a vast chasm separated him from Old Lord Jun’s Heavenly Profound level. Furthermore, caught completely by surprise, he took the full force of the slap and the kick, feeling a roaring thunder in his head and seeing stars erupt before his eyes!

Although Old Lord Jun had not truly unleashed his Profound Qi, that crisp slap, delivered under the gaze of nearly a thousand people, struck Li Youran as if it had hit him right in the heart!