Li Rongzhou's words weren't meant to reason with Li Dahu - reasoning with scoundrels was impossible anyway. His purpose was to expose the absurdity of the situation, clear his family's name, and claim the moral high ground.

He dissected the inconsistencies: "Your household has guards, Li Dahu. My son is barely twelve. How could he possibly sneak past your guards to 'steal' your ancestral centipede?"

Li Dahu sneered in response, "Outsiders might have all sorts of underhanded methods we don't know about. Now that the Blood Centipede is lost because of you, you'll compensate me with your land deed!"

With his son injured and the centipede gone, Li Rongzhou's land deed would barely cover the losses.

He was determined to drink their blood and eat their flesh!

Confident in his dominance and that no villager would dare speak up for Li Rongzhou, Li Dahu brazenly showed his true colors.

What a shameless bastard!

The villagers cursed Li Dahu silently in their hearts. Everyone had their own sense of justice, and who in Peach Blossom Village hadn't suffered under Li Dahu's oppression?

But curses aside, no one stepped forward to defend the Li family. First, they didn't want to offend Li Dahu, and second, the Li family's reputation wasn't much better than his.

Li Pingfu clenched his fists in anger, while Li Pingcan, who had been monitoring the situation from home, gnashed his teeth so hard he nearly bit through his chopsticks.

Compared to Li Dahu's shamelessness, Granny Wang's earlier antics seemed as gentle as a delicate white flower!

The training grounds fell silent.

Zhou Enxian frowned. Since his wife was distantly related to Li Dahu, speaking up for Li Rongzhou would be inappropriate.

Moreover, with Li Fang poisoned at the training grounds, his vengeful father had probably already added this to Zhou Enxian's tab of grievances.

'This is too tricky. I'll buy Brother Li some time first, then figure something out.'

Just as he was about to employ stalling tactics, an unexpected voice interrupted.

"Li Wang, Rongzhou has already reached the Bone Realm."

The old village chief spoke calmly with slightly closed eyes, but his words made Li Dahu's expression change.

A Bone Realm martial artist had potential to reach the Blood Qi Realm - someone qualified to speak to him as an equal.

His earlier bullying had only worked because the Li family lacked influence.

"So what? You think I'm afraid of you?"

Li Dahu flared his nostrils, pausing slightly before continuing, "My son Li Fang was severely poisoned! No amount of tonics can make up for that!"

Everyone understood his implied demand: money!

Zhou Enxian seized the moment to say, "I bear some responsibility for this. I'm willing to compensate ten taels of silver."

Li Rongzhou added calmly, "I'll also contribute ten taels to settle the young one's nerves."

Li Dahu's face twisted. Twenty taels? Was this charity for beggars?

The animal blood his ten-year-old Blood Centipede had consumed was worth more than that!

But with the old village chief backing Li Rongzhou, it signaled a shift in dynamics.

With a hateful spit, Li Dahu snatched the twenty taels before storming off with his entourage.

............

"Now I understand how Li Dahu got so rich."

Li Pingcan was speechless. Any normal person would find the "humanitarian compensation" insulting, yet Li Dahu still greedily took every last coin!

"The richer they are, the stingier they become?"

"Skitter skitter!"

The sound of insect legs scratching came from nearby as the centipede crawled up the table leg, affectionately rubbing against Li Pingcan's chubby, childlike arm.

"Good job, Centipede! From now on, you're part of our family!"

Having escaped in broad daylight and disappeared into the shadows, the Blood Centipede had successfully gone "undercover."

That vicious bite making the scheming Li Fang howl in pain was particularly satisfying.

Centipede venom caused stinging, itching, and heart-wrenching pain. Folk remedies used rooster saliva as antidote, but even with Li Fang's family's superior antidote pills, the decade-old centipede's venom would keep him suffering for ten to fifteen days!

Sweet revenge!

"Father said Centipede's venom can be used to make Blood Qi tonics. I wonder if I can try some."

Li Pingcan rested his chin on his hand, pondering.

Most Blood Qi herbs strengthened the strong rather than nourished the weak. Those with frail constitutions might suffer from over-supplementation.

Though healthy, he was still young. The centipede's potent venom might be too much for him.

"I'll ask Father later."

If he could take Blood Qi tonics, his slow "mana pool" growth wouldn't worry him anymore.

Actually, the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede itself was premium medicinal material. But bound by the [Insect Tribe Contract], Li Pingcan couldn't bear to exploit Centipede - that would be killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.

At least wait until Centipede died of old age.

Sensing its young master's reluctance, Centipede wiggled its antennae. [Insect Tribe Contract] proficiency +1!

Li Pingcan's eyes lit up.

"Does leveling up the 'Insect Tribe Contract' skill depend on intimacy?"

He hurriedly fed Centipede the pig blood prepared earlier. Sure enough, proficiency increased.

The mystery of leveling up [Insect Tribe Contract] was solved. Different skills apparently had slightly different upgrade mechanisms.

............

The tiled brick house occupying an acre of land in Peach Blossom Village looked quite impressive.

"Aaahhhh!"

Screams echoed inside.

Li Wang, panting, put down the broken stick and told the wailing Li Fang to "get lost."

This brat had gone too far, stealing the family's Purple-Gold Blood Centipede. His mother had spoiled him rotten - spare the rod, spoil the child.

Lying on the rocking chair, thinking about the escaped centipede, he showed none of the "devastating loss" act he'd put on earlier.

How could such precious Blood Qi medicine lack control measures?

His earlier outrage had just been performance to extort the Li family.

The only hitch was...

"He actually broke through to the Bone Realm, even got the old village chief to back him."

"Hmph! Lucky this time, but next time won't be so easy."

If Li Rongzhou's luck held and he reached the Blood Qi Realm... they'd become long-lost brothers from different mothers.

If not, then he couldn't blame Li Wang for seeking revenge.

As the village's wealthy man, Li Wang had flexible moral standards.

"Time to recall the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede. It's the foundation of our Li family."

Li Wang took a deep breath. After servants set up the ritual altar and lit incense, he used a fire-sterilized dagger to make a cut on his plump white arm, grimacing in pain.

Drops of blood fell onto the burnt incense ashes.

To become the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede's master required forty-nine days of feeding it palm blood, establishing a faint connection that made it obedient.

The ashes visibly darkened red, indicating successful connection.

Li Wang remained composed. He'd used this blood contract method for ten years without fail.

Sure enough, he sensed the centipede's emotional fluctuations.

"My precious, come home! I've got your favorite tiger blood waiting!"

The Purple-Gold Blood Centipede was startled by its former master's summons.

Then it sent back an icy message:

I was never happy with you.

With that, it coldly severed the blood contract. Goodbye!

The backlash made Li Wang spit out heart blood, his face turning ashen with shock.

Damn, there's a bull here!