Chapter 237: Interstellar Deserted Star Farm Woman 44

Dai Lixing coldly swept his gaze over the few family elders present, a scornful smile playing on his lips.

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned and walked to the window, his back to the others, his gaze fixed on the distance.

In the courtyard of the Marshal Mansion, sunlight spilled onto the emerald lawn, creating a scene of peace and tranquility. Inside the living room, however, the atmosphere was as frigid as an icehouse.

“Let bygones be bygones?”

Dai Lixing finally spoke, his voice low and cold. “Second Uncle, and the rest of you elders, you make it sound so simple. If Song Song hadn’t arrived in time back then, I would have died on Wa Star long ago. Do you really think a few empty apologies can erase a debt of blood?”

Dai Weiyuan’s expression changed slightly, and cold sweat beaded on his temples once more.

He forced a smile, trying to ease the tension. “Li Xing, about what happened back then… we were truly muddle-headed for a moment. But now, the family needs you, and you need the family’s support. The young master’s talent is so astonishing. If he receives the family’s full backing and resources, his future will surely be limitless. We… we are willing to pay the price for this.”

“The price?” Dai Lixing turned around, his gaze as sharp as a knife. “So you’re admitting that what happened to me back then was your doing?”

Dai Lixing chuckled, not waiting for their reply. “Then tell me, what price are you prepared to pay?”

Dai Weiyuan was at a loss for words, clearly not expecting Dai Lixing to be so direct.

The few family elders behind him glanced at each other, not knowing what to say.

Dai Lixing sneered and continued, “Since you’re the ones who brought up paying a price, I’ll be blunt. You want to mend our relationship? Fine. But you must agree to three conditions.”

Dai Weiyuan nodded hastily. “Name them. As long as it’s something the family can do, we’ll do our utmost.”

“First,”

Dai Lixing raised one finger, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Everyone involved in the Wa Star incident must confess publicly and face a military tribunal. No matter who they are or what their status is, they will all be tried for treason.”

“That…”

Dai Weiyuan’s face changed drastically, and the other family elders also showed looks of terror.

The Wa Star incident had wide-reaching implications. If everyone involved was truly tried for treason, the Dai Family would suffer a devastating blow.

“Second,”

Dai Lixing ignored their reactions and continued, “All of the Dai Family’s private mines and energy stars in the East Star Domain must be turned over to the Federation for unified management. All illegal profits you have gained from them over the years must also be surrendered to the national treasury in full.”

The great families had long been sucking the blood of the common people, yet they were unwilling to share even a sliver of the resources in their hands.

Only by taking down these families one by one, with the Federation under his control, could more ordinary people be given a fighting chance.

“Li Xing, this… this is far too harsh!”

Dai Weiyuan couldn’t help but protest. “Those private mines and energy stars are the foundation of our family! If we hand them all over, how will the Dai Family survive?”

“Survive?”

Dai Lixing sneered. “When you moved against me back then, why didn’t you think about how the Dai Family would survive? So now you feel the sting? Too late.”

Dai Weiyuan’s face was ashen, but he didn’t dare to argue back.

He knew that Dai Lixing now wielded immense power. If they truly angered him, the Dai Family probably wouldn’t even have a chance to negotiate.

“Third,”

Dai Lixing held up a third finger, his gaze like a torch. “From now on, the Dai Family must completely withdraw from the military and political spheres. No family member is to hold any key military or government position ever again. You can choose to go into business or pursue other professions, but you are absolutely forbidden from interfering in Federation affairs.”

“Th-this is impossible!”

One of the family elders finally couldn’t take it anymore, slamming his hand on the table as he shot to his feet. “The Dai Family has served the Federation for generations! How can we just withdraw from the military and government? You’re trying to sever the Dai Family’s roots!”

Dai Lixing looked at him coldly, his voice devoid of any fluctuation. “‘Sever the Dai Family’s roots?’ When you moved against me back then, why didn’t you consider you might be severing your own roots? So now you’re scared? Too late.”

Dai Weiyuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He knew that the three conditions Dai Lixing had proposed were tantamount to completely stripping the Dai Family of its power and influence.

But he also understood that the Dai Lixing of today was no longer the young man they could easily manipulate.

He was the Federation’s Marshal, commanding a massive army, with power that could shake the heavens.

If the Dai Family refused these conditions, they likely wouldn’t get another chance at all.

“Li Xing,”

Dai Weiyuan spoke with difficulty. “These conditions… we can consider them. But you know, the Dai Family is a large and influential family, after all. If we really do as you say, it will likely cause considerable turmoil. Do you think… you could relax them a little?”

Dai Lixing gave a cold laugh. “Relax them? Second Uncle, do you really think you’re in any position to bargain? If it weren’t for the fact that we share the same blood, I wouldn’t have even given you this chance. You can choose to refuse. But the consequences… will be yours to bear.”

Dai Weiyuan’s face was pale. He knew Dai Lixing had just given his final ultimatum.

If they didn’t agree, what awaited the Dai Family was likely utter annihilation.

“Fine…”

Dai Weiyuan finally lowered his head, his voice hoarse. “We… accept your conditions.”

Dai Lixing nodded. There was no trace of joy on his face, only a cold severity. “Very good. I hope you remember the promise you made today. If you dare try any more tricks, don’t blame me for not holding back on account of old ties.”

With that, he turned to Ji Xiaosong, gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and said softly, “Song Song, let’s go. Sui An needs to rest.”

Ji Xiaosong nodded and stood up, holding Ji Sui’an.

Dai Weiyuan and the others remained where they were, watching Dai Lixing’s family leave.

Just then, 001 came over and escorted them all out.

After Dai Weiyuan’s group was politely “escorted” out of the Marshal Mansion by 001, the smiles on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by gloom and fury.

They hurried onto the levitating car. The moment the door shut, Dai Weiyuan slammed his fist on the armrest, grinding his teeth. “Dai Lixing! How dare he humiliate us like this! Does he really think becoming Marshal means he can do whatever he wants?”

The family elder with the salt-and-pepper beard snorted, a vicious glint in his eye. “Weiyuan, now is not the time to lose your temper. The conditions Dai Lixing proposed are clearly meant to uproot the Dai Family entirely. If we really do as he says, the Dai Family’s thousand-year foundation will be destroyed in an instant!”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

Dai Weiyuan suppressed his rage and asked in a low voice, “He wields immense power now. If we go head-to-head with him, we’ll only be courting our own destruction.”

“Going head-to-head is out of the question, of course,”

another, slightly plump elder said, his eyes narrowing and his tone sinister. “But no matter how powerful Dai Lixing is, he has a weakness. And isn’t his weakness that Ji Xiaosong and their son, Ji Sui’an?”

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Dai Weiyuan’s eyes. “You mean… we go after Ji Xiaosong and Ji Sui’an?”

“Precisely,”

the elder with the salt-and-pepper beard sneered. “No matter how formidable Dai Lixing is, he’s still just one man. As long as we have his wife and son in our grasp, would he still dare to drive us to extinction? Besides, Ji Xiaosong is just a farmer from some remote planet with no background whatsoever. Dealing with her will be as easy as flipping our hands.”

“But Dai Lixing values Ji Xiaosong immensely, and security at the Marshal Mansion is incredibly tight. How are we supposed to make a move?” Dai Weiyuan asked with a frown.