Silver Light

Simin. The light of dawn scattered among the layered pavilions. The newly built official residences stood imposing, and several carriages hurried to a stop before the manor, where porters unloaded heavy trunks one by one into the house. “Master, we have arrived at Military Attendant Li’s residence.” The servant walking ahead of the carriage asked with lowered eyes. The carriage curtain opened at once, and a man stepped out at an easy pace. He wore blue-white attire, had handsome features, and bore a blue-purple mark on his brow overlaid with a purple-gold python design. Beholding him made one forget the mundane world. He nodded to the attendant at the door and said: “Please report to the master of the house that Li Jiangliang, Privy Envoy of the Fengwu Hall, requests an audience.” The attendant immediately went inside, taking three steps at a time. Soon a stalwart young man stepped out from within the manor and cupped his hands at the door in greeting. “Greetings, sir!” Li Jiangliang raised a brow. Their golden eyes met for an instant. Seeing him, Li Jiangliang smiled. “Long time no see, elder brother—you look the same as ever.” Li Jiangxia quietly regarded him for an instant, then grinned and replied, “Sir, please come inside.” Li Jiangliang dismissed his attendants and had them carry all the lavish gifts inside. He followed his elder brother forward, passing through the hall into the parlor. Once seated in the magnificent residence, he sighed. “Elder brother, you have grown distant.” “Oh?” Li Jiangxia laughed heartily at these words. His golden eyes bore a bold and open look. He shook his head. “I am not Li Jianglong, so I do not have such a small heart. You have grown quite capable, and I am proud of it. It is not distance, but a difference in position. You dare to act and charge ahead, possessing a divine ability, and truly deserve the title ‘sir.’” The blue-purple mark on this fourth younger brother Li Jiangliang’s brow grew even more intense, and his entire aura had clearly transcended Foundation Establishment, possessing the might of a divine ability! Emperor Yang Zhuo had ascended, and he was evidently among the first to receive such benefits. But Li Jiangliang did not agree with his words. He shook his head. “Elder brother, that is not right. There is no such principle as daring to act and charge ahead—it is simply that the times have need of me. I know my own capabilities.” Li Jiangxia was clearly only at Foundation Establishment, yet his presence seemed heavier still. He laughed once and replied. “The sovereign has bestowed great favor—official residences and manors, spirit resources and beauties—I truly cannot accept them.” Mentioning this, Li Jiangliang straightened his countenance. “The sovereign has spoken to me several times. Among the generals, he favors you most. There is talk of promoting you beyond rank, having you enter the hall to hold Xuan. Compared to that, this official residence and these spirit resources are nothing.” The position in the Zijin Hall was not achieved in a single step but was bestowed according to land and authority; the highest was holding Xuan, and Emperor Yang’s intent was clearly to make him chief of the martial officials. Seeing his elder brother remain noncommittal, Li Jiangliang sighed softly. Li Jiangxia, however, cared more about his divine ability. His eyes drooped slightly, and he asked, “You now… what state are you in?” Li Jiangliang raised his brow. “My current post is Privy Envoy of the Fengwu Hall, Envoy of the True Light Cloud, Founding Duke of Li Prefecture, Xuan-holder of the Zijin Hall, endowed with the Heavenly Martial divine ability. Though I have no specific divine ability, I possess the marvels of much True Qi, the rank of the Purple Mansion, and the ability to traverse the Great Void.” Li Jiangxia narrowed his eyes and asked, “Lianmin?” The fourth brother shook his head and said solemnly, “It should surpass Lianmin by a few degrees—it should be upon the Golden Lotus Seat, beneath Mohe.” This made Li Jiangxia’s expression turn solemn. He replied, “That is more than enough. What about your own divine ability? I vaguely recall that you cultivate Li Fire! Do you still have a chance at a divine ability? How confident are you?” Mentioning this, a flash of hesitation crossed Li Jiangliang’s brow, and he replied, “My immortal foundation is perfect, nurtured within the marvels of True Qi, growing day by day toward perfection. But I consider my cultivation not high enough. I estimate that charging toward a divine ability is at least ten years off.” Li Jiangxia set down his cup, a flash of doubt in his heart, and raised his brow. “You can still achieve a divine ability!” Li Jiangliang did not deny this. He nodded. “Indeed. It is even quite beneficial to my achieving a divine ability. Once my divine ability is accomplished, combined with the two, I will immediately possess power surpassing an ordinary single-divine-ability Purple Mansion!” Li Jiangxia remained silent for a long time, then asked, “How many positions do you currently hold?” Li Jiangliang replied, “The sovereign governs water and fire—water for civil officials, fire for military officials. The Fengwu Hall I belong to is fundamentally a martial hall for campaigning against enemies abroad. If reckoned strictly, I am today half a military official, with an additional hollow title of Founding Duke of a Commandery—reckoned as first among the hundred officials.” Li Jiangxia exhaled deeply and asked, “The sovereign sent you here—what matter has he entrusted?” Li Jiangliang straightened his countenance. “The sovereign wishes to welcome you to hold Xuan but lacks a pretext. Considering that the various witch-kingdoms of the Southern Border have yet to submit, the sovereign wishes to send troops forth, pacify the six neighboring states, and stabilize the rear for the Military Commissioner of Jinghai.” He swept his sleeve forward, holding it level, and said softly, “The tiger tally and seal are held outside. Elder brother holds them, and thus may hold Xuan and depart to guard a region. As long as the sovereign does not summon elder brother back, elder brother may hold this Xuan in my place, equal to us!” In Li Jiangliang’s view, Emperor Yang’s favor toward Li Jiangxia was extremely obvious—not merely fondness for his character and conduct, but involving much more… *The second brother was brought back by General Yang and is clearly taken as a confidant. I do not know what benefits General Yang promised him. The second brother’s actions are extremely cautious. Upon seeing the sovereign, he was soon ordered to lead troops abroad, meeting me only once, hastily.* Whether this second brother relied upon General Yang Ruiyi’s command, Li Jiangliang could not fathom. But the Song emperor clearly had little interest in him, favoring instead the third brother, who arrived in the capital later and had a forthright personality. Li Jiangliang dared not say there was contention between the Song emperor and the Yang clan, but at least… the Song emperor did not care for the Yang clan meddling too much. With this reason, Li Jiangliang had long been certain that the third brother, Li Jiangxia, would hold Xuan before the second brother. Yet upon receiving this order this morning, he was still greatly shocked: *This is too sudden…* His expression was complex. Facing the temptation thrown out by his fourth brother, Li Jiangxia did not show much wavering, but fixed his gaze on those golden eyes and said softly, “Liang’er, you now resemble a man of the Li family.” Li Jiangliang was caught off guard, but he reacted quickly, smiling faintly. “I thought elder brother would mention Guest Minister Cui.” Li Jiangxia laughed, stood up, and walked to the window, shaking his head. “Of our five brothers, only Jiangnian lacks distinction—merely a common sort. And the least capable is Li Jiangqian—you probably don’t know? Our eldest brother is very ruthless. He is the most unscrupulous. Once he turns vicious, he can sacrifice anything.” He stepped forward, emphasizing, “Anything at all.” Li Jiangliang showed a thoughtful expression, but Li Jiangxia laughed. “Li Jianglong, your second brother does not respect him in his heart, but he also understands that he is actually very much like this eldest brother. He values his life and is selfish, yet lacks a streak of ruthlessness, so I do not like him.” “And you and I are more alike. At least, from what I saw in the clan records, after the great army passed through, everything lay in ruins, and only you and I would consider ordinary mortals. The words you sent home to the family, our eldest brother scoffed at, but I believed them. You say you entered the Song for ambition, and I believe that too.” “I also know that you harbor guilt in your heart.” Li Jiangliang was struck as if by lightning, staring blankly at him. His elder brother smiled. “But there is no need for that.” “Today, as Heavenly Martial ascends to the world, rather than saying I came to Simin reluctantly under orders, I’d say I came with ambition. In this, we both resemble our father.” He pushed open the hall door, looking at the golden tiger tally and blue-and-purple ribbon seal held in the xuan official’s hands, quietly placed on a jade tray with a soft cushion. He said lightly, “You and I cannot sit idly by awaiting destruction beneath his wings. No one’s ambition is greater, more arrogant, or more in need of sacrifice than his.” … The setting sun slanted down. The white cloth before the hall fluttered, and in the shadow fell fragments of gold. Li Suining waited in the corridor for a while before seeing Li Zhoufang hurry out from the hall. Li Qiuyang carried weight, but to most members of the Li clan, his life or death was of no consequence, and no one cared. This funeral was actually conducted with great liveliness. Even Li Zhoufang, a direct scion of the Li clan, upon coming out from inside after paying respects, showed little sorrow on his face—only a trace or two of concern for Li Xuanxuan’s health. Behind the middle-aged man followed a youth who looked about distractedly. His robe was casually tucked into his belt, revealing a bit of white lining. It was Li Suiqing. Li Suining sighed inwardly. His son Li Jiangzong had become clan head, and Li Zhoufang was actually pleased—not about how esteemed he stood among his peers, but simply that his own child had promise and could ease the clan’s burdens. But Li Suining, after years in seclusion, saw that Li Zhoufang had clearly aged a great deal, showing nothing but deep exhaustion. He saw Li Suining and showed a few traces of delight, but the grandson behind him was obviously bored to the point of restlessness, about to turn and leave. Li Zhoufang glared back at him, but the child was not afraid, staring fixedly at him, about to speak up. Li Zhoufang gritted his teeth, feeling bitter within. *Child… Your brother is extraordinarily gifted. You, this useless fellow, must still rely on him in the future. If you do not draw close now, what will you have to stand on in the future!* But fearing to make too ugly a scene, he could only wave his hand to tell him to scram. He turned back to Li Suining with a smiling face and sighed, “I have made you laugh.” Li Suining shook his head. The elder immediately took his hand and walked forward, saying with worry, “These years, Suiqing’s uselessness and viciousness have only worsened. Your Uncle Jiangzong has only this one son, and I, the great-uncle, have managed and managed, only to find him more and more beyond cure…” Li Suining was about to speak when Li Zhoufang waved his hand. “Do not use Zhou Ming’s matter to console me. It is not the same. Zhou Ming might have been playful in his youth, but whenever he saw us, he always had a smile on his face. His nature was not bad.” “But Suiqing—who knows where he got this stubborn streak. His thoughts are devious, and the more you scold and beat him, the fiercer his temper becomes. Even if locked in the Clan Rectory, unless beaten to death in one breath, he still carries that fiendish, murderous air.” He stared blankly at Li Suining, his eyes glistening, and replied, “I and the Elder still thought he could be saved. Your Uncle Jiangzong scolds him every time he sees him and privately told me several times that he truly has a mind to strike him dead with one palm.” Li Suining actually knew this younger brother was good-for-nothing and had brought his family too much gossip and rumor, but he did not think a single slap could settle the matter. He returned the salute, “Just impose more restraint. Do not let Uncle see him.” Li Zhoufang shook his head with bitterness and replied, “My own talent is extremely poor; I cannot even touch the possibility of Foundation Establishment. Two years ago I tried to advance further, hastily took medicine, only caused my qi sea to shake and my qi and blood to be greatly damaged. I cannot avenge my blood feuds. Only the Prince of Wei remembers me and killed Nüxiao for me. I still hate, feeling it is not enough. I still hope for a great revenge. But Suiqing is like this now, making me feel ashamed, and my hatred is all the more helpless.” After a few words venting his emotion, he shook his head somewhat distantly and laughed. “You are trying to break through Foundation Establishment. I have already reported upward to the True Person. He specially instructed you to go once to Mount Zhijing. He should be preparing elixirs for you.” Li Suining felt some pity for him, but could find no words of comfort. He silently nodded and rode the wind toward Mount Zhijing. From afar he saw the mountain covered in white flowers. Li Suining had no heart to admire them, full of concern as he landed at the pavilion at the mountain’s foot, discovering someone had already stopped there. This person wore a blue-gold feather robe, a blue-black crown on his head. His garments were exceedingly mysterious and magnificent, lending a certain dignity even to his unremarkable features. His face was like white jade, his aura full, standing with hands behind his back. Li Suining was first startled, then, seeing those golden eyes, immediately understood. He hurriedly said, “Second Uncle!” This man was Li Jianglong, returned from the Song court. Li Suining only observed briefly before noticing his cultivation was extremely perfect, his might boundless, faintly connected to the Martial Cultivation Star in the heavens. Knowing he had entered the Zijin Hall—though he could not yet hold Xuan, possessing a divine ability was undoubtedly great news—he at once offered congratulations: “Congratulations, Second Uncle!” Li Jianglong’s expression shifted slightly, as if judging the intent behind these words. He nodded slightly and said, “Suining, you are thoughtful.” Li Suining first smiled at him, but the smile faded more and more, sensing a strangeness in his heart. Having earned merit and received heavy favor should be a time of spring breeze and swift horses, yet his own second uncle was not elated but even somewhat gloomy and despondent. Li Suining’s arrival did not divert much of his attention. His hand rested on his wrist, tapping lightly, revealing inner unease. Then the courtyard guards arrived at the pavilion, saluted, and invited the two inside. Li Ximing did not favor luxury. The mountains had quite an immortal air. This True Person sat quietly in the mountains, with a tall alchemy furnace placed to one side. Lively red-and-white flames leaped at the furnace’s base, occasionally revealing traces of terrifying fluctuations. And seated at the table was yet another True Person, dressed in blue-black, smiling on his face, seeming somewhat reserved. Upon seeing the two arrive, he carefully examined Li Jianglong. It was Guo Nanwu. Li Jianglong did not recognize him, but Li Suining suddenly grew sensitive, thinking: *It is True Person Nanwu. So he entered the Lake this early…* Among the various True Persons, the one closest to the Li clan was Distant-Change True Person Liu Changdie, but this True Person guarded the East Sea and never entered the inland sea. Among the True Persons who came to the Lake, this Nanwu True Person and another, Kuangyu True Person, came the most. But the True Person’s might was boundless, and he dared not ponder it deeply. He silently lowered his head to restrain his thoughts. Guo Nanwu was doing business for the Li clan, having just returned from Mount Potala. Naturally, this trip was to handle the delivery of a letter and to deal with the [Light-Red Ba Fire] that Li Ximing held, obtained from Minghui’s side! The [Light-Red Ba Fire] was originally a fine thing, but unfortunately tampered with by Buddhist cultivation for a hundred years, making it troublesome to handle. Li Ximing carefully asked the fire sparrow Huoyang, but received an answer of little interest. This was not hard to understand. Li Ximing wanted other spirit fires. Besides [Red Pheasant Chongli Flame], Huoyang surely possessed other spirit fires, perhaps not inferior to [Light-Red Ba Fire]. But for Huoyang, why go to the trouble of using a good spirit fire to exchange for a mottled flame tampered with by Buddhist cultivation for a hundred years? Even with Li Ximing’s methods, this thing was hard to dispose of, let alone others. This trip naturally ended without result, only taking Huoyang’s spirit object to refine elixirs for her. Tu Longjian had still not returned. Li Ximing thought it over and could only accept this result: *It is not easy to find a sucker. This thing will ultimately have to be disposed of by myself. Once cleaned up, I can use it myself, or wait for a buyer to come. It is always of some use, rather than remaining a lump in my hand as it is now.* Thus he entrusted Guo Nanwu to go to the East Sea to exchange for some spirit resources. Guo Nanwu agreed but delayed departure, instead asking after Li Jianglong’s whereabouts. The Song court still had many secrets before the various Purple Mansions. A group of True Persons in the South Sea were still restless. This True Person clearly wanted to see him especially. Li Ximing happened to want to see him too, so he casually invited him up, smiling, “This is Li Jianglong.” As he spoke and introduced him, he looked closely and only felt that within Li Jianglong’s bright yang qi, layers upon layers of marvelous True Qi faintly appeared, continually nurturing his cultivation. He touched with two fingers, and “Clear Illumination Heart” responded—indeed, a trace of formless light leaped at his fingertips. The fate divine ability was activated, and he finally noticed Li Jianglong’s strangeness: *The fate number is anomalous.* After Fate True Person Li Ximing achieved his divine ability, he had once secretly observed Li Zhouwei, feeling his divine ability was at its peak, like the sun in the human world, boiling hot. But the current Li Jianglong had a faint purple light on him, as if connected to some endlessly mysterious treasure trove. Li Ximing withdrew his fate divine ability and asked, “What does True Person Nanwu see?” Guo Nanwu nodded slightly. He cultivated “Forcing Evil to Seek” within the “Lesser Yang” path, possessing wondrous arts of observation and traversal, and the great marvel of transforming Lesser Yang into Yin. His vision was exceedingly high. With this one look, he actually sensed a vague crisis rising in Li Jianglong’s heart, and suddenly had a premonition. He sent a mental message: *If I kill him, calamity will surely befall me!* “So formidable… no wonder they are not worried about Buddhist cultivators making a move. Let alone converting him… even harboring killing intent is extremely inappropriate.” Li Ximing narrowed his eyes slightly, already discerning quite a lot. Guo Nanwu also sensed the pressure of the Martial Cultivation Star, but this made him feel genuinely strange—for the so-called threat of the Martial Cultivation Star, he felt nothing at all. Li Ximing looked for a long time without speaking. But after Guo Nanwu looked for a while, he already had his answer. He rose and took his leave. Li Ximing’s expression remained unchanged. He smiled and asked a question, showing no anomaly. Li Jianglong bowed in the mountains and said respectfully once more, “Congratulations, True Person, on your seclusion ending and your divine ability being fully accomplished!” Li Ximing’s smile grew richer. He asked, “I should be congratulating you! Tell me, how much marvelous power do you have?” Li Jianglong remained composed, saying respectfully, “Reporting to True Person, this junior has only just entered court. The sovereign has appointed me as an officer of the Fengwu Hall, a minor cultivator of the Zijin Hall, overseeing affairs of Jiangjun Commandery, leading the Great Song troops to garrison and respond to Ting Prefecture, awaiting orders from my father and the General-in-Chief!” Jiangjun Commandery lay in the current wilderness. Saying it was responding to Lake Wangyue was not an overstatement. Li Ximing quickly understood the southern court’s intent. Listening to Li Jianglong continue: “As for marvels… I cannot compare with the fourth brother. I only govern one or two True Qi arts, increasing some cultivation. I still need to establish further merit before advancing.” Li Ximing said with interest, “And Jiangliang?” Li Jianglong said quietly, “The fourth brother today is first among the hundred officials, Xuan-holder of the Zijin Hall, wielding the Heavenly Martial divine ability! He is already a Purple Mansion!” Li Ximing held his breath, his heart extremely complex, sighing inwardly: *Seeking the Dao, seeking the Dao—it is nothing but nature and fate. Nature and fate are not cultivated by oneself, but bestowed by others. How are they different from Lianmin and Mohe!* *But… it comes so easily! It will surely make the whole world clamor for it.* His gaze was complex. Li Jianglong looked somewhat fearful and replied, “As for these marvels… I am afraid I cannot demonstrate them for True Person.” Li Ximing frowned and asked, “Why?” Li Jianglong smiled helplessly and shook his head. “My father bears the mandate of heaven and is enfeoffed by the sovereign. Within a kingdom, he governs independently; martial cultivation is not involved. Even the first immortal official of the court, upon coming to our Wei state, would be struck back to his original form. Not only is holding Xuan impossible, but even those auxiliary arts of cultivation are lost!” “Oh?” Li Ximing’s earlier guess was suddenly confirmed. He slowly came to understand, though still half-believing: *Is there really such a thing? Is it truly so verified? Even the north can be illuminated by the Martial Cultivation Star, and the matter of enfeoffment has such a wondrous effect. Is it only because one is granted territory and borders that such influence exists?* He was doubtful in his heart, but calm on his face, putting on a look of sudden realization and smiling, “Is that so… It seems your brothers are not suited to remain by the Lake.” Li Jianglong lowered his head slightly and replied, “True Person sees clearly. The General-in-Chief recommending me to oversee Jiangjun Commandery also arises from such considerations—both receiving the illumination of the Martial Cultivation Star and guarding the Lake, a perfect solution.” Li Ximing listened for a while, then turned to look at the furnace, as if adjusting the fire within. He left Li Jianglong kneeling, pondering long in his heart, secretly resolving: *I must still request an immortal artifact to inspect!* His mind stirred. He shifted his gaze slightly, gathered his spiritual sense, and responded to an immortal artifact! Everything before his eyes suddenly became clear. The purple light on Li Jianglong’s body faintly thinned, and he saw cluster after cluster of purple, like silk threads, spraying forth from his Shengyang Mansion, like broken strings, drifting lonely and scattered in the air. *It seems that upon arriving here, the power of the Martial Cultivation Star is like water without roots, unable to connect to that star in the heavens. Is it truly as he said, because this is a feudal lord’s domain?* He felt no joy in his heart, but suddenly tensed. *If so, can the rules of the Martial Cultivation Star still take effect by the Lake?* *If the rules by which the Martial Cultivation Star unleashes killing intent likewise could not take effect by the Lake, then it would mean the North could massacre Lake Wangyue at will.* His heart sank, but he did not ask further. He slowly moved his gaze away. Unexpectedly, a silver light suddenly shot into his vision! Li Suining, kneeling at the side as if nothing were the matter, had a dense silver light flickering on his body—a hundred times denser than the bit of martial light on Li Jianglong, nearly dazzling! In that instant, Li Ximing was no different from discovering a demonic fiend beside his own bed. His hairs stood on end, countless terrifying conjectures arose in his mind, and a dense sense of crisis rushed straight to his face, nearly making him jump up from where he stood. *What?!*