*It is probably tied to the provincial borders back then…*
When Li Ximing attained the Violet Palace years ago, Zhang Gui and Wang Long had arrived upon the lake. The most exalted purple-gold ledger in their grasp had clearly borne the record: *Five Directions Envoys of Jiao and Yang Provinces*.
*Those two, Zhang Gui and Wang Long, were definitely Judge Yang’s men.*
There had been lingering doubts early on, but the picture had gradually cleared with time. After all, when Li Ximing attained his breakthrough, Qingchi was already tumbling swiftly into decline. The Yang family knew that the Sun lineage was destined to wither. Had the Li clan acted without restraint, they could very well have encroached upon the Yang family’s interests.
Judge Yang dispatching those two Five Directions Envoys to reveal that the Yang family possessed a Violet Palace cultivator served first to stabilize relations between the two families, and second to avert any conflicts that might arise down the road.
Beyond this, during the Li family’s century in Jiangnan, they had gathered no small amount of intelligence. Linked to this Judge Yang—Yang Jinxin—was yet another title.
The Zhenan Office.
According to circulating rumors, Judge Yang was the master of the Zhenan Office, also in charge of disposing of the anomalies and golden natures left behind whenever Violet Palace cultivators fell across Jiangnan. In the words of those rumors, he was the one who *governed the golden affairs of divine abilities*.
*Who knows what standing an entity at the Office level holds within the Nether Office, or what purpose it serves? Yet one thing is unmistakably clear: it must be a position of genuine authority. To them, Jiangnan is merely something in their pocket.*
Whatever the case, the Yang family before him was by no means a simple force, and they certainly could not be called "weak."
"Your noble clan descends from an imperial line, standing foremost in Jiangnan, unmatched by anyone near or far. Now with the pursuit of truth underway… Fellow Daoist, you are being overly modest…"
Yang Ruiyi laughed heartily, then said solemnly, "Calling us imperial scions is undue praise. There are few families under heaven who dare call themselves imperial scions before you, Fellow Daoist."
He spoke with utter sincerity. Regardless of Li Zhouwei’s current circumstances, given time, he was destined to wield a first-rate divine ability under heaven. With the blood of the Qilin flowing in his veins, unless Emperor Zhao Zhaowu were reborn or the Zhao Emperor hailing from the house of paternal kinsmen in the Zhao Palace received empowerment, who could possibly claim imperial descent before Li Zhouwei?
After their exchange of pleasantries, the old man who had sat quietly by the window had vanished without a trace. Both Yang Ruiyi and Li Zhouwei breathed a deep inward sigh of relief, the rigid, stifling tension immediately slackening.
Li Zhouwei raised his brows, seizing the moment to ask thoughtfully, "I have heard… that the great figure behind you belongs to the Zhenan Office? Might I ask what kind of immortal office that is?"
Yang Ruiyi’s focus had clearly remained fixed upon the old man the entire time. Host though he was, he had been even more nervous than Li Zhouwei, terrified of uttering a single wrong word. Now that the old man had departed, he seemed to come alive again. His tone relaxed, and leaning back against his seat, he smiled.
"My master’s true post is not down here, but up in the palace halls. Official positions in the palace often carry rank without specific duties. He oversees this Office as a concurrent assignment, which is why the world has a title to address him by."
He tilted his chin, remarking offhandedly, "After all, the halls reside in the profound exile of the Netherworld; people usually refrain from speaking those nether titles aloud."
The terrifying spectacle of the old man’s true form had left an indelible impression upon Li Zhouwei—one he dared not consciously dwell on. He merely nodded in acknowledgment. Yang Ruiyi offered no further elaboration, waving it aside casually.
"The Zhenan Office has an ancient origin. In antiquity, it held jurisdiction over this region. Nowadays, order has broken down, and the various offices keep a low profile. Many affairs have been streamlined and consolidated under the Zhenan Office. Neither the Beijiang Office nor the Lingjian Office wields as much power as ours…"
Li Zhouwei could tell his words were guarded and evasive, so he remarked offhandedly, "Truly a great figure of the Netherworld!"
Yang Ruiyi chuckled and steered the topic away at once. "Since the White Qilin has graced us with a visit, I will dispense with idle pleasantries. The esteemed elders hold you in very high regard, calling you the foremost pillar supporting our realm. Moreover, your noble clan acts with propriety and restraint, earning no small amount of favor… Today’s primary purpose is to settle this matter."
Li Zhouwei watched him in silence. Yang Ruiyi sighed.
"If you are willing, out of deference to the Netherworld, to lend your strength to our dynasty… the Yang clan will naturally provide compensation!"
Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea, the answer already clear in his mind. "By submitting as vassals?"
Yang Ruiyi fell silent for a moment.
This was no simple affair. For the Chen clan or the Lingu family, bowing their heads to the Yang clan was a foregone conclusion, nor did they have the standing to negotiate here. The Li clan was in no better position, but the compensation Yang Ruiyi mentioned was directed at Li Zhouwei himself.
Li Zhouwei cultivated the Mingyang path, a lineage that never bowed to lower ranks. While ordinary people might compromise, Li Zhouwei was favored by Mingyang and bore an extraordinary karmic mandate. Ever since he was born, the Li clan had avoided calling him by his personal name, addressing him as the Heir and excusing him from kneeling or bowing, all to nurture and preserve his karmic mandate.
Now, with his ambition to strike for a divine throne, acting as a vassal might seem innocuous on the surface, but it would inevitably impair his ascent to a fruit of the Dao!
*Li Zhouwei is, after all, the Child of Mingyang. Even if he swallows his pride while in a lower station, ambition must burn in his breast. Taking advantage of the shifting currents under heaven, he is bound to strike for a throne.*
Severing someone’s path of cultivation was an irreconcilable blood feud, and putting stumbling blocks in another’s quest for gold or fruit was just as deeply hated. How could Yang Ruiyi not tread carefully?
*Furthermore, our family stands to benefit directly from this.*
The same held true for Yang Zhuo. Li Zhouwei possessed a unique identity and karmic mandate. If he bowed his head, it would not only bestow great fortune upon the new dynasty established by the Yang family, but also elevate Yang Zhuo’s own mandate!
Precisely because Yang Ruiyi understood these concerns, he watched Li Zhouwei’s expression attentively. Li Zhouwei said nothing, his golden eyes fixed upon him, seemingly waiting for what followed.
After a brief locking of eyes, Yang Ruiyi smiled and explained, "The White Qilin need not worry. We shall fully support your attempt to claim the seat of True Monarch. This matter is not as severe as it seems… We will ensure that any adverse impact is minimized.
"After all… the governance of the new dynasty is not harsh. Both the Chen and Lingu clans are internal vassals, invested as kings and retaining their lands across the commanderies as fiefdoms. Though subject to summons and deployment, they govern their fiefs autonomously. As for the Li clan… the terms will be even more lenient."
He smiled. "We shall do everything in our power to fulfill your status and satisfy you!"
Li Zhouwei was not surprised. In truth, neither the Yang nor the Li clan found this unexpected; the matter left no room for negotiation. The entanglement of three generations of the Li clan—Li Xizhi, Li Zhouluo, and Li Jiangliang—had been a clear hint from the start.
*The Yang family’s grand design requires a part played by the Li clan. Their faint shelter back then and their assistance to our forebears were idle moves on the board, but every one carried a price. Whether the exchange is fair, and whether the Li clan is willing or not, the time has come to pay the bill.*
His words made it abundantly clear. Viewed from another perspective, the Nether Office harbored an attitude toward Li Qianyuan quite similar to Luoxia’s—a dead, or at least half-dead, Li Qianyuan was precisely what the Nether Office wished to see. Hence the promise of "full support."
*That explains why Luoxia never intervened. The Li clan resides within the domain of the Nether Office, after all. Even if Luoxia held back, the Nether Office would naturally watch… They are in no rush to break my mandate… instead, they show every intention to help it along.*
*The attitudes of the foremost factions under heaven—this final corner is now filled. This Mingyang Sovereign Father… has brought Luoxia and the Nether Office into alignment, while the dragonkin half-yield, half-comply…*
Back when Qingyu invited Li Zhouwei into the mountains, recounting the history of the Wei-Li lineage with his own lips, he had remarked that Li Qianyuan had irreconcilable conflicts with fully half the orthodoxies under heaven… Seen today, "half" was an understatement of the most conservative sort! The remainder might not be irreconcilable, but they could hardly bear to see him rise either…
Li Zhouwei looked at him quietly with golden eyes and murmured, "The Li clan has received grace from the elder of the Heavenly Bureau. We should naturally contribute our share."
Yang Ruiyi smiled faintly and replied, "There is one more matter… concerning the Great Kindness Golden Lotuses."
"The Great Kindness Golden Lotuses…"
Li Zhouwei raised a brow. "Lord Yang has already fought his way back to Quanwu, has he not? Is there any reason it cannot be resolved?"
A trace of helplessness crossed Yang Ruiyi’s face. "The Great Kindness Golden Lotuses themselves are no trouble. The trouble lies with the countless cultivators and commoners influenced by them, spread throughout Lixia and Quanwu. If the lotuses are snapped, millions of corpses might litter the land."
Li Zhouwei remained noncommittal in his heart, merely adopting a look of realization and nodding slightly. He listened as the other shook his head.
"Fortunately, my master is divinely gifted by birth and possesses wondrous arts. For now, the gentlest and most convenient method is to lock down the Great Kindness Golden Lotuses and strip away their influence. Over eight or ten years, they will naturally dissolve.
"All of these Great Kindness Golden Lotuses are under our watch, save for… two blossoms in the Wilderness, which are awkward to handle."
Li Zhouwei understood at once. Yang Ruiyi spoke of the Great Kindness Golden Lotuses, but what he truly meant was the division and handover of the Wilderness. Setting down his cup, he asked, "How does your noble clan view this?"
Yang Ruiyi simply said, "My master’s thought… is to keep the Wilderness in our hands for the time being. Once everything has been settled, it will be delivered into your noble clan’s hands by another means."
The loss of personnel in the Wilderness was far lighter than expected, yet the Great Kindness Golden Lotuses had already poisoned the surroundings. As relics cast down from the Buddhist Land, they were troublesome to deal with. If the Li clan took possession right away, they would lack the means to handle them, whereas leaving them to the Yang family spared them an ordeal.
*By "another means," he means either an enfeoffment or a royal reward…*
Li Zhouwei nodded and replied, "We trouble your noble clan, then."
Yang Ruiyi smiled. "It is no trouble at all. Rather, I must thank your noble clan for your trust."
Having concluded the major discussions, Li Zhouwei assumed a grave, solemn expression. "Our family still has two kinsmen… First is my cousin Li Zhouluo, who received an investiture from your lord; second is our elder Li Yuanqin, who cultivates in Qingchi… How does your noble clan intend to handle them?"
Li Xuanxuan had pondered this matter for a long time. Now that Li Zhouwei was meeting Yang Ruiyi, he took the opportunity to inquire thoroughly.
Yang Ruiyi gave him a surprised look, his smile fading. "Li Zhouluo… carries the Yang family bloodline, after all. Keeping him with our Yang family ensures his complete safety, sparing any concern that someone might work schemes through him to drive a wedge between our two clans. This is good for him, and good for both our families."
Li Zhouwei looked at him with a heavy gaze. Yang Ruiyi added with a smile, "Still… there is no need to look into it too closely here. Once the new dynasty is established, he will naturally have the freedom to choose. You and I need only wait."
He appeared thoroughly confident, looking calmly at Li Zhouwei. "As for Li Yuanqin… the Ning clan will guard Yishan City and the Southern Border on my master’s behalf. This is a reward bestowed upon Ning Wan. If the Li clan truly has need of him, feel free to speak to the Ning clan; Ning Wan will surely not refuse.
"Only…" He laughed. "In my view… once a branch finally manages to step out into the world, not returning to the lake may well be a blessing."
Li Zhouwei regarded him thoughtfully.
*A reward… Ning Wan still has cards to play…*
Both men acted in service of their respective clans’ interests, so there was little left to discuss. Yang Ruiyi raised his teacup to see off his guest, smiling.
"Fellow Daoist, you need only wait. It will happen in the coming years. When the day comes that the stars appear in the sky, shimmering without cease, turning day and night into blazing light, Fengwu shall be founded as an empire, and golden carriages and jade steeds shall arrive at the lake to confer an exalted rank!"
With that, he rose from the seat of honor to escort the golden-eyed youth out, stepping forward to push open the pavilion door himself.
*Creeeak.*
The gentle morning light poured instantly into the pavilion, illuminating the stone steps one by one. A chill wind blew, and someone was waiting outside.
The man had handsome features and shimmering golden eyes. Clad in a robe patterned with swirling clouds under a brocade cloak adorned with paired beasts, he carried an air of refined elegance and the bearing of a scholar-general as he stood waiting beyond the pavilion.
Now that the doors swung open, he immediately dropped to his knees, offering a respectful greeting. "Greetings, My Lord… Greetings… Father!"
Li Zhouwei stood before the pavilion, his hands clasped behind his back as he faced the radiant sunlight. Yang Ruiyi’s laughter drifted out from behind.
"The Fourth Young Master has achieved distinguished immortal merit, often praised by my lord. Truly, a tiger father begets no dog son!"
Li Jiangliang remained prostrated before the pavilion, his emotions undisturbed by the praise. He waited with utmost care until his father’s voice finally sounded:
"Fellow Daoist praises him excessively."
Complex feelings surged within Li Jiangliang. He raised his head slightly and stepped to the side, only to see two hems of fabric sweep past. The black-robed man smiled.
"I shall not intrude, then."
His figure vanished in an instant, wiped entirely away as though he had never existed. Only the golden-eyed youth remained standing quietly in place. Li Jiangliang raised his gaze a few inches higher.
"Father."
"Walk with me."
"Yes."
Li Zhouwei raised a brow and began strolling along the corridor between the pavilions. Li Jiangliang followed close behind his steps, listening as Li Zhouwei asked, "What duties do you oversee in the court? What position do you hold?"
Li Jiangliang hastily replied, "For now, your son is formulating the rites for the new dynasty. Once the great affairs are settled, I should be tending to matters of the people’s livelihood."
Li Zhouwei paused, turning his head to look him over. "You are indeed different from your elder brothers. Cui Jueyin taught you for over ten years, and you took it all to heart, bringing no shame upon our clan’s teachings."
Li Jiangliang had never imagined his father would utter such words. For a moment, he was stunned. After several breaths of silence, he finally recovered his senses. "Father… thank you, Father."
Li Zhouwei turned to look out toward the clouds beyond the corridor, resting his hand upon the carved balustrade of white stone. He said quietly, "Back when your eldest brother returned from the Xunlin Plain, I heard the words you spoke. You said you would rather die than touch a single thing belonging to the clan…"
Li Jiangliang stood beside him, looking into those golden eyes with a complicated expression.
Yet his father’s tone gradually softened, and he murmured faintly, "In truth, you know as well as I that whether you draw upon the clan’s strength is beside the point. If a day comes when your own strength fails and you must draw upon it, no oath can push it away. There was no need to swear such a venomous vow…"
Li Jiangliang lowered his eyes and dropped to his knees on the ground. Li Zhouwei’s voice softened, fading into a murmur that lingered only in his heart.
*Remaining by the Yang clan’s side might bring about even greater turns of fortune.*
Chapter 1001