Confronted by her questioning, Yang Ruiyi remained silent for a long time. With his hands clasped behind his back, he paced around the pavilion, seemingly finding it hard to speak.
After a prolonged silence, Yang Xiao'er said, “I was completely in the dark about these matters in the beginning. Even when you told me Mount Xiashan held an opportunity with the rainbow clouds, I said nothing, silently accepting it and arranging for him to come to Mount Xiashan…
“Day after day he sits in the mountains, not taking a single step outside. And now you come looking for me again—what other instructions do you have?”
Her words pained Yang Ruiyi. Moved, he said, “You… if you resent Father because of your present circumstances, that is unjust. Choosing a lineage for him was originally meant to protect him. From beginning to end, this marriage was arranged entirely with you and Xizhi in mind…
“Even having reached this stage, Father still made concessions for your sake. The position at Mount Xiashan… was not easy to obtain!”
Yang Xiao'er lowered her head with a faint smile and replied, “What nonsense is that? I chose this path myself. Even if I had to do it all over again, I would still go to Qingsui Peak. As for resenting Father…”
She shook her head. “There is nothing to resent. Since he entered the Netherworld to preside over the dead, he is merely someone cloaked in Father’s former appearance. Just like… just like the Old Ancestor… attaining a divine ability overnight… becoming a figure one cannot even look upon directly.”
When his sister brought up their father presiding over the dead in the Netherworld, Yang Ruiyi fell silent. He seemed at a loss to refute her—or perhaps agreed deep within his heart. And hearing her mention Yang Tianya, a trace of genuine awe flickered in Yang Ruiyi’s eyes. He cast his gaze down and said, “We must not speak much of this. That the Old Ancestor could attain the Violet Palace and humbly serve as the dwelling of the Exalted Lord is inherently a great blessing. If not for him and the Exalted Lord fighting with all their might, how could Father have come to preside over the Nether… and how could our family have secured such splendid fortune?”
He raised his cup, and his plain face took on a resplendent nobility. Looking at Yang Xiao'er, he said, “A few days ago, the Exalted Lord arrived from the Netherworld, met with Bai Lin, and soon returned. His divine words were sparse… Tianyou was fortunate enough to hear a few sentences, and she and I have been pondering them deeply…”
This news was clearly shocking. Yang Xiao'er raised her brows, her expression turning solemn. “This… does this conform to the rules? How could it be so early?”
Yang Ruiyi smiled wryly and answered, “You must understand, back in the day, this exalted being was someone who could share drinks and cheerful talk with True Monarch Cui. After the fall of Wei, His nether titles rose higher and higher. Today, He can ascend the steps into the hall to deliberate on underworld affairs. If He truly pays a single visit to the mortal realm without taking action, who would dare say anything…
“Even Judge Jiang… must lower his head before Him now.”
Partly anxious and partly glad, Yang Xiao'er paced around the pavilion and asked, “What did Tianyou say?”
Yang Ruiyi spoke solemnly, “First: saving a person cannot save their lineage; saving the dead cannot save the living.”
Yang Xiao'er was momentarily at a loss for words. A pensive look crossed her face, and she lowered her eyes. “That is not entirely unexpected.”
Yang Ruiyi paused, then continued, “Second… concerns the matters in the north. This is not the place to talk, so I can only put it this way… Now that the grand momentum has risen and Father is not here, I cannot watch over him at all times… The Yang clan will not restrict your husband, but if he leaves Mount Xiashan, the outcome will certainly be grim, and he must bear it himself.”
Yang Xiao'er looked up abruptly, falling silent for a long time. Yang Ruiyi met her gaze with an open, solemn sincerity. “Xiao'er… you are my only sister. This is the only thing your elder brother can do.”
Having been kept in the dark for so long, Yang Xiao'er seemed to be gauging the truth of his words. She suddenly asked, “The Exalted Lord was actually willing to tell Tianyou this much?”
Yang Ruiyi shook his head. “Mingyang is Mingyang after all. In the past, the Zhaoyuan Immortal Abode also had ties to the Netherworld. It is just that…”
He paused and put it tactfully, “When the Grand Ancestor of Wei ascended the throne as sovereign, he chose not to set foot in the Netherworld or concern himself with affairs of the dead, leaving it all to Shangyao to manage. Thus, the Exalted Lord had frequent dealings with True Monarch Cui… There was sentiment between them. That is why the Exalted Lord turned a blind eye when Father aided the Ning and Li clans… and why He spoke a few extra words to Tianyou.”
Her final doubt resolved, Yang Xiao'er bowed slightly and said, “Thank you, Zhenren!”
Yang Ruiyi choked on his breath. He looked at her deeply, a plea creeping into his tone. “Xiao'er, your brother’s… your brother’s opportunity and tribulation lie within these very years. In terms of cultivation and scheming, I am inferior to Father. Even he failed—how could I fare any better? I have cultivated a Dharma Body since childhood, but in the end, I am just a general… If I seek the Gold and fall overnight, just as you said, the one in the Netherworld will no longer be me…
“The days left for us brother and sister to meet are few and far between… I will no longer hear you call me brother.”
Tears welled in Yang Xiao'er’s eyes, yet she smiled. “Then you must visit Mount Xiashan a few more times.”
Leaving Yang Ruiyi standing in silence within the pavilion, she turned and departed. Riding the wind downward, her expression had already returned to an unruffled calm. Ascending from the flank of the mountain, she arrived at a minor peak.
The peak was secluded and rugged, devoid of magnificent palaces or pavilions. There was only a small pond, by which stood a thatched hut, a stone table, and several stone stools.
A middle-aged man wearing a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat, his sleeves rolled up, was washing a sword by the pond. His back was turned to her, revealing nothing of his emotions, but the hand holding the blade was exceedingly steady, without the slightest tremor.
The sound of water was pleasant to the ear. The snow-white blade rippled in the pond, casting bursts of white swordlight across his face, illuminating a pair of gray-black eyes with concealed sharpness.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, the middle-aged man looked up, revealing a gentle, elegant, and refined face. A smile lingered at the corners of his eyes as he raised his brows. “Xiao'er.”
“Husband!”
Yang Xiao'er’s face instantly brightened. With smiling eyes, she looked at the cold blade gleaming in the water and asked, “Done with your sword so early today?”
Li Xizhi helped her sit down and said softly, “It is not that early. Fellow Daoist Xi She did not come today, so I practiced two sets of sword forms alone before sheathing the edge, just in time to see you come in.”
His wife smiled. “Xi She certainly visits frequently. A few days ago, he even brought spiritual materials over. While not overly precious, to him they were already significant treasures, showing how attentive he is.”
Li Xizhi chuckled. Taking a cloth from his sleeve, he laid the gleaming blade on it to wipe it down as he answered, “He is devoted entirely to the sword and does not bother with much else. He comes simply because he can learn things from me to cross-reference with his Chunyi Dao sword techniques.
“I have no fear of him learning them… After all, I cultivate on the mountain and cannot easily travel outside. If I can earn a measure of goodwill from him to help our clan’s descendants and those clumsy disciples of mine… it will be a good thing.”
The man looked up, his eyes gentle. “Did you go out?”
Yang Xiao'er fell silent for a brief moment, then sighed. “An elder brother came to visit.”
“Oh?”
Li Xizhi stood up and unrolled his sleeves, a trace of doubt on his face. “Since my brother-in-law came to visit, why leave him standing outside? You should have invited him in for a cup of tea.”
He raised his brows and asked, “An elder brother… not Ruizao? I have never heard you mention him before.”
Yang Xiao'er rarely spoke of the Yang family. Even toward Yang Ruizao, that Foundation Establishment cultivator of Qingchi, she had always seemed indifferent. Hearing news of someone from the Yang family was rare, and Li Xizhi found himself quite interested.
Yang Xiao'er looked somewhat awkward and shook her head. “He… I am not very familiar with him. He was merely passing by and stopped for a word or two. He was also in a rush on business and could not stay…”
Li Xizhi nodded, his eyes half-closing without pressing further. He smiled and said, “What a pity, then.”
Returning to the stone table, he poured tea into a cup on the table and remarked casually, “Any news of the children?”
Yang Xiao'er smiled faintly and replied, “Chenghuai is gaining experience alongside my clan members… Our family has quite a foundation in the Shangwu path. It is just that this lineage must complement his ‘Do Not Investigate Me,’ so it is not suited for making a scene or seeking fame. You need not worry, husband…
“As for Zhou Luo…”
She smiled and took the tea from her husband’s hands. “With your clan’s heir around, he will not suffer in the State of Yue! That brother of mine arranged plenty of benefits for him—lineage methods… even spiritual materials are all prepared.”
“That certainly put my brother-in-law to a lot of trouble,” Li Xizhi said, raising a brow in reminder. “However, resources alone are not enough for everything. Zhou Luo’s talent and aptitude are not high, so the matter of a divine ability remains to be seen…”
These were candid words, and Yang Xiao'er understood them just as well. She smiled and said, “Rest assured… this opportunity was prepared specifically for him. With them keeping watch, taking it day by day… even if it takes fifty or a hundred years, they will only attempt the divine ability once everything is fully prepared.”
“Good!”
Li Xizhi’s expression was relaxed. He turned around at ease, his back to his wife, and naturally hung the precious sword inside the hut. The sharpness in his gray-black eyes was completely restrained, as if he had seen through the ways of the world, brimmed with tranquility.
The man said softly, “You have worked hard.”
***
Lotus Temple.
Lantern light flooded the halls, glittering with gold and jade. Misty white vapors poured down between the steps and windows like a waterfall. In the center of the hall, pale white ripples swayed within a large pool, giving off wave after wave of a raw, milky scent.
A row of young, beautiful women, their chests bared, knelt beside the pool. Amid the mingled scents of grease and incense, they pressed their breasts, adding their milk to the pool at the center. Lying within the undulating milk was a man, completely naked, his face brimming with malevolence as he exhaled leisurely.
Yet midway through, a monk wearing a simple robe came up the steps, kneeling timidly and whispering, “My Lord… My Lord… someone from the Damu Dharma Realm has arrived!”
The young man lying in the milk pool snapped his eyes open, his gaze chillingly cold.
This was not good news. It was no wonder the monk trembled violently, pressed flat against the steps, not daring to draw a loud breath.
Yet the young man clearly had no desire to take it out on him. Lazily sitting up in the pool of milk, he said casually, “Let him come up.”
Thudding footsteps echoed as a plainly dressed monk ascended the stairs, stopping before the grand pool. Seeing this foul scene, he frowned in silence.
The young man merely lifted his eyelids, his legs swaying lazily in the milk pool, pointing his manhood straight at the visitor, and scoffed, “So it is Maha Fachang…”
He smiled faintly and asked, “It seems the Dharma Realm is quite lenient. After being thoroughly denounced at Mount Dayang, Fellow Daoist did not receive the slightest punishment, yet you have the leisure to visit my humble domain.”
Seeing that organ pointing straight at him, Fachang felt intensely uncomfortable. Yet he possessed an exceptionally good temperament, and his cultivation of the mind was second to none. Bringing his palms together, he closed his eyes to shut out the sight and answered, “I have come to invite the Maha to head south!”
Hearing this, the young man’s face froze in disbelief before he burst into loud laughter. “Am I hearing a joke? The most merciful Maha Fachang, the Maha Fachang who sits idly in Jiangbei without stirring up the slightest conflict… has actually come to invite me south! Are you no longer afraid of creating karmic debt?”
Fachang kept his palms joined, his expression placid, unmoved by the laughter. He replied, “I hear that a new dynasty is about to be established in the south, the riverbanks are fraught with perils, and Peacock has gone for his own selfish desires… Word arrived from Mount Dayang instructing our Dharma Realm to find one or two Mahas to go together and guard the region.
“Among the Seven Aspects, Precept Walker is silent, Wrath is languishing and weak, while Lust, Void, and Compassion are all in cahoots. Aside from my Dharma Realm, only the Shanle path… incurs less slaughter.
“I have also heard that for the past hundred years, Fellow Daoist has allowed the common people to rest and rarely engaged in killing. Although you indulge in pleasures, you possess kindness and beauty, and are loved by all. After much thought, approaching Fellow Daoist is the most fitting…”
These words sounded like an insult in the young man’s ears, causing his face to flush slightly. With a splash, he rose from the pool of milk and cursed, “Stinking dog shit! What I am cultivating in this life is the Fierce Dread Shame-Shedding Body! Who the fuck are you calling… calling someone who indulges in pleasures! Who are you calling someone who rarely kills and is widely loved?!”
Glancing around, his fury boiled over. Stepping out of the milk pool, trailing milk across the floor, he kicked one of the Lianmin kneeling nearby and roared, “Dog slave! Are you the one who loves me?!”
The Lianmin trembled in terror. While Jinlian had indeed engaged in little slaughter in recent years, that was only toward the common folk under his rule! The positions in the Shanle path were packed full, with hordes of Masters waiting to fill vacancies; he did not care in the slightest about killing a Lianmin or two, and had killed plenty of subordinates!
The Lianmin could only shake his head frantically. But meeting Jinlian’s eyes full of malicious intent, he seemed to realize something and began nodding instead. After two nods, he shook his head again, utterly at a loss, kneeling on the ground and knocking his head against the stone with loud thuds.
“Knocking for your dead mother?!”
Jinlian lashed out with a kick, sending the Lianmin’s head flying tens of paces away, tumbling down the steps with loud thumps. Yet his anger remained unappeased. Fachang, seeing the man’s member swinging with his movements, truly could not bear the sight any longer and sighed, “Fellow Daoist!!”
Jinlian lowered his leg. The headless Lianmin hastily scrambled up, picked up a cloth from the floor, and began wiping his body. Jinlian’s expression abruptly turned cold as he said chillingly, “What a fine scheme you people have hatched, insisting on dragging my Shanle path into the fray! It seems that because I have been cultivating for so long, you have all forgotten what I am capable of… You dare ask me to go south? If I paint Jiangbei with rolling heads, I wonder whose head that karmic debt will fall upon!”
Fachang’s face remained tranquil as he replied, “No matter whom Fachang invites, this karmic debt will be counted against me… But I do not cultivate to seek benefit and avoid harm. By taking on this task, I can at least choose someone who will cause less slaughter. Regardless of how much karmic debt falls upon me, if fewer people die in Jiangbei, that is a tangible reality.”
These words made Jinlian stop in his tracks. His voice cut off abruptly, and he stared at Fachang in disbelief. “There is actually a stubborn monk like you in this world! You are determined to ruin your own cultivation!”
Fachang’s expression did not change, and he said nothing. Just then, a monk came up the steps, his golden body radiant and his skin translucent as jade. He bowed before the stairs with a cheerful smile and greeted them, “Greetings, Master! Greetings, Senior Fachang!”
Fachang turned, swept a glance over him, and asked, “This is…”
The monk looked up, offering an amiable smile. “This humble monk is Minghui! Unworthily serving as a Maha under Master’s seat… My humble greetings!”
Chapter 1013