Betrothal

Hands clasped behind his back, Li Mutian had only just reached the front of the Tian family courtyard when Tian Yun, who was squatting inside humming a tune while trimming vegetables, looked up. Seeing that it was Li Mutian, she gave a shy smile. "Uncle Li!" Setting down the vegetables in her hands, she hurried to her feet and called toward the house, "Father! Uncle Mutian is here." "It's me," Li Mutian replied with a smile, looking Tian Yun up and down. Over the past three years, the girl had blossomed into a fair and graceful young woman. Her figure had filled out into fine, womanly curves. While not a classic beauty, her features were neat and pleasant, and her smile held a charm all its own. "Good, very good." Li Mutian brought forward the hand he had kept behind his back, revealing a wild goose held by its legs. "Uncle Li, you're being far too polite." Tian Yun was startled to see him bringing gifts. Looking closer, she gasped, "Is that... a wild goose?" As recorded in the *Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial*: *In the rites of marriage, delivering the proposal requires a wild goose.* In the State of Yue, whenever a man sought to betroth a maiden, he would carry a wild goose to her household. This rite was known as *nacai*. Common farming folk had little need for such elaborate customs. In Lijing Village, ordinary families rarely bothered with a wild goose; many even proposed empty-handed. Having never seen anyone perform the rite of *nacai* before, it took Tian Yun a moment to realize what this meant. "Do you fancy our Xiangping?" Li Mutian asked with a hearty laugh, seized by the urge to tease her. A blush had already swept from Tian Yun's ears straight down to her neck. Out of modesty and maidenly embarrassment, she stammered, wanting to deflect, but feared Li Mutian might take her hesitation seriously. In the end, she could only blurt out: "I do!" Tian Shoushui had just stepped out the front door. Hearing her words, he let out a great sigh of relief, as if a heavy stone weighing on his heart for years had finally dropped away. How could a father fail to see that his daughter's heart had long been set on Li Xiangping? It was just that the lad was so shrewd and guarded in daily life that no one could read his thoughts. Tian Shoushui had feared his daughter might end up humiliated, and so had kept his silence all along. "Eldest Brother!" Tian Shoushui called out with a wide grin. Tian Shoushui had followed behind Li Mutian since he was five years old, and at twelve, both had enlisted in the army alongside Ren Ping'an. Banding together to survive in the ranks, they were closer than blood brothers. Later, they returned to the village, slaughtered the wealthy Yuan family, and washed their hands of blood to take up farming. Li Mutian had looked after him at every turn, sharing land with him and acting as matchmaker so he could take a wife. Tian Shoushui's fortunes were bound inextricably to the Li family. He had even raised Li Changhu with his own hands, doting on him more than on his own flesh and blood. If his daughter could marry into their household, how could she ever suffer? Tian Yun had no idea how many thoughts were spinning through her father's head. Seeing him emerge, she fled inside as if making an escape, drawing another burst of laughter from Li Mutian. "Eldest Brother, besides this marriage, there is another matter of import," Tian Shoushui said, shaking his head helplessly before turning solemn. "What is it?" Li Mutian looked up, somewhat puzzled. "A few days ago, I passed by the Yuan family ancestral graves while heading up the mountain and heard some rustling. When I turned back to look, I found nothing." "Could someone from the Yuan family have survived our purge?" Li Mutian's brows shot up, his tone turning grim. "I expect it was just some distant relation secretly daring to offer sacrifices," Tian Shoushui said, uneasy inside and trying to reassure himself. "Right, that makes sense." Li Mutian gradually relaxed and nodded. "We made thorough inquiries back then. All five members of the Yuan family were accounted for; there was no mistake." "Eldest Brother, on such an auspicious day, I shouldn't be spouting such unlucky words!" Tian Shoushui slapped his own cheek, which drew a quiet laugh from Li Mutian. Leaving the Tian household, Li Mutian walked calmly along the dirt road, gazing pensively toward Mount Dali. *** Having settled the betrothal, Li Mutian hummed contentedly as he returned to his courtyard. Crossing the front yard, he found only three of his sons chatting by the wooden table. His youngest, Li Chijing, was meditating in his room with eyes closed. Moon essence was sparse during the day and progress was sluggish, yet Li Chijing cultivated diligently day and night, refusing to waste a single breath of time. In the courtyard, Li Xiangping was flipping through the *Reception Method* again and again. The silk cloth was creased and crumpled from all the handling, and much of the ink had smudged. "Third Brother, be gentler with it," Li Tongya chided with a smile. The carving knife in his hand never paused as he transcribed the text onto wooden slips from memory. Their eldest brother, Li Changhu, was carefully going over the land deeds at the side. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and remarked, "He's been fretting over that cloth all morning." Stepping across the flagstones, Li Mutian picked up a cup of plain tea from the wooden table, sat directly on the steps, and said nonchalantly, "I went to the Tian house to propose." Li Xiangping sprang from his seat at once, staring anxiously at his father. "What did the Tian family say?" "Tian Yun said she fancies you." Li Mutian took a slow sip of tea and let out a comfortable sigh. "Good, good, that's wonderful!" Li Xiangping nodded, flushed with excitement. "Hahahahaha..." His two elder brothers could not help but laugh. "Listen to me, all of you." Li Mutian's thoughts turned elsewhere. Setting down his teacup, his expression grew stern. "The immortal path may be wondrous beyond compare, but who knows what horrors and perils lurk within it? Our Li family has few kin. If something happens to you boys, who will carry on our bloodline?" Seeing the young men sober up, Li Mutian waved his hand. "This magical mirror is both our family's great opportunity and a potential source of disaster. I hurried to arrange Changhu's betrothal and wedding so he could bear offspring quickly, all because I feared that if calamity struck one day, the Li family would still have a spark of hope. The same goes for you." Li Mutian pointed at Li Xiangping, then looked at Li Tongya with a helpless sigh. "As for you, Tongya... I am old, and I can no longer sway you. You have no interest in the village women, but you must still leave behind children of your own..." Li Tongya nodded in silence. After several breaths, he said softly, "Rest assured, Father. I know what must be done." "That is for the best." Li Mutian brushed the graying hair at his temples, filled with worry. He was nearing sixty. Though he was robust and free from want, life was fickle. It was far wiser to arrange the household affairs early! "Father!" A crisp shout shattered the heavy air in the courtyard. Li Chijing burst out of his room, planting his feet before his elder brothers. "I'm about to refine eighty-one wisps of moon essence and form my Xuanjing Wheel!" Li Chijing announced, lifting his chin proudly. "Our Chijing is truly impressive." Having heard his youngest prattle on about the Xuanjing Wheel as the gateway to Embryonic Breathing, Li Mutian scooped him into an affectionate embrace and laughed heartily. Infected by the joyous mood, the other brothers broke into smiles as well. Li Changhu even pinched Li Chijing's cheeks, only letting go when the boy squealed in protest. *The next chance to receive a talisman seed won't come until the Summer Solstice.* Watching the cheerful scene in the courtyard, Li Tongya smiled and reflected, *We missed the new moon because we weren't fully prepared. The next node is the Summer Solstice, just a few days away.* *The path to immortality... Li Tongya is coming.* Quietly carving the *Reception Method* onto the wooden slips, his heart surged like tempestuous waves, brimming with exhilaration.