Chapter 326: Li Sect

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Liu Sisi smiled, “Mrs. Su is making a big deal out of it. Actually, the incident was just a coincidence. Sisi happened to be saved by a passing hero.”

Her eyes were particularly deep.

She knew what these people wanted to know. But how could she tell them things she didn’t know herself?

Mrs. Su half-covered her face with a handkerchief and laughed, “Miss from the Liu Family is joking! It seems that you are the only one who got the protection edict from the Leader of the Li Sect.”

Huh? Who is the Leader of the Li Sect?

Liu Sisi was completely in the dark and couldn’t understand what was going on.

“Sisi doesn’t know any Leader of the Li Sect, Madam must have mistaken me for someone else,” Liu Sisi said firmly.

Mrs. Su’s eyes flashed, and she laughed, “It’s good not to know. This is probably what people often say about ignorance being bliss.” Having said that, she immediately changed the topic and led the conversation elsewhere.

Everyone else laughed and started chatting casually.

Liu Sisi hardly spoke unless someone spoke to her, then she would say a few words. The rest of the time, she sat quietly and daydreamed.

Sitting next to Liu Sisi was a portly married woman with a beaming smile, her eyes almost closed when she laughed, making her look especially cheerful.

Seeing that Liu Sisi didn’t seem to like talking, she smiled at her, “I heard your name is Sisi? My husband’s family name is Ran, and we are salt merchants.”

This immediately caught Liu Sisi’s attention.

She remembered reading in books about how wealthy salt merchants were. Now that she had met a salt merchant’s wife, her interest was piqued.

“So, you are Mrs. Ran. Pleased to meet you,” she said.

“I see you don’t talk much, is this your first time at this kind of gathering? Actually, there’s nothing to be nervous about, you’ll get used to it once you come more often,” Mrs. Ran said casually.

It was clear that she was very talkative, and in a short time, she had chatted about various topics.

By the time the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet ended, she had already talked with Liu Sisi for a long time. As they chatted, and noticing that no one was paying attention, Liu Sisi quickly asked, “What was Mrs. Su talking about earlier? What’s the story with the Leader of the Li Sect?”

Mrs. Ran’s smile vanished, and she scanned Liu Sisi up and down, “You really don’t know?”

“I really don’t know. Is it strange that I should know?”

Liu Sisi was extremely curious, as she remembered the same expressions on people’s faces when she said she didn’t know the Leader of the Li Sect earlier.

“Ah! I just didn’t expect that you didn’t know,” she said.

Mrs. Ran took Liu Sisi’s hand and began to explain in detail, “To talk about the Leader of the Li Sect, we have to start with the Li Sect. The Li Sect suddenly appeared 30 years ago and quickly grew in strength. At first, they were only involved in a few industries, but in just three years, they had expanded to cover almost all profitable industries. It’s not an exaggeration to describe them as wealthy enough to rival a country.”

“The Li Sect’s industries are not only in the Great Zhao, but also in several neighboring countries. The only thing is that the Master of the Li Sect has never shown his face. Instead, he has five subordinates who are responsible for liaising for him. However, in the past ten years, these five have rarely appeared in public, gradually fading from people’s sight.”

“But the Li Sect’s industries have become a magnet for everyone! Everyone covets control of the Li Sect. As long as they obtain the Li Sect, they can have a fortune so huge that even the next three generations can squander.”

“Then what?” After waiting for a while without hearing her continue, Liu Sisi couldn’t help but urge her.

“And then? Well, everyone hopes to find or become the Leader of Li Sect,” Mrs.Ran said, puzzlingly.

Liu Sisi frowned, “I meant to ask, what does the Leader of the Li Sect have to do with me? Why did he give me a protection edict?”

Mrs. Ran looked around and then leaned in closer, “It’s because there were rumors 30 years ago that the Leader of the Li Sect was actually the former Crown Prince, who is now the bandit chief on the Black Dragon Mountain.”

What!

Liu Sisi was startled, and shivered!

Liu Sisi had heard about the former Crown Prince from Madam Gan Senior. Hearing Mrs. Ran talking about him now made her heart race.

She quickly shook her head though, “No! If the Leader of the Li Sect is the former Crown Prince, how old should he be now? Even if he’s young, he can’t be younger than 30! It wasn’t him. The person I saw was definitely not him!”

Mrs. Ran’s expression darkened, and she forced a smile, “It’s even better if it’s not him. However, there are also people guessing that this man is between 20 and 30 years old because the former Crown Prince fled to the Black Dragon Mountain carrying an infant with him. Think about it, if that child has grown up now, wouldn’t he be around 30 years old?”

Even if it was indeed that person and he was truly the former Crown Prince’s child, there was still no explanation for why he had spared her life!

As for men around 30 years old, she seemed to know only a few.

The closest in age to 30 seemed to be… Zuo Xingyu!

Liu Sisi took a deep breath! Suddenly remembering Zuo Xingyu’s words before he left today, her heart became uncertain.

She wandered aimlessly in the garden, lost in thought until her path was blocked by a figure in front of her.

“Huh? What are you doing here? Aren’t you going to drink with the others?” Liu Sisi couldn’t help but cheerfully exclaim.

The man, Nan Tianzong, smiled gently, “What’s so good about drinking? I saw someone standing here, not moving, so I came over to chat with you. What’s wrong? Are you encountering any difficult problems?”

Liu Sisi felt touched and smiled, “Brother Nan, you’re the best to Sisi! It’s not really a big problem, but yeah, it’s a problem that puzzles me!”

As they spoke, Liu Sisi told him about everything she had heard. The connections between the bandits on Black Dragon Mountain, the Li Sect, and the former Crown Prince.

And then she added, “I don’t know any bandits, nor do I know anything about the Li Sect, and I don’t know how it’s related to the former Crown Prince, I…”

She felt so wronged!

Nan Tianzong thought for a moment and shook his head, “Actually, it doesn’t matter what identity this person has, as long as they don’t harm you, you don’t have to be afraid.”

“You’re right, Brother Nan. The problem is just that. Living with a knife hanging over my head is really difficult. Like all the mysterious things that have happened recently.” There was no one else for her to share her woes with.

Nan Tianzong patted Liu Sisi, “Don’t worry! All of this will pass soon!”