Subordination

Li Xuanxuan descended the mountain and strode into the large compound at its foot. He waved his hand, and Li Xiewen hurried forward from behind. Li Xuanxuan instructed in a low voice: “Tell that Mu Yalu that we agree. Find a place in the manor for her to stay, teach her the rules, and send men to investigate how many sons and daughters Mu Jiaoman has.” “Yes.” Having given his orders, Li Xuanxuan waved Li Xiewen away, lowered his head, and resumed reading the Lingzhong Talisman Art in his hands. Leaving the compound, Li Xiewen dispatched men on their task before heading toward the town. Mu Yalu had been waiting in the town for some time. Her clansmen sat empty-handed on the ground behind her, looking indignant; even their leather armor and weapons had been stripped away. At last, she saw the shrewd-looking youth approach. He cupped his hands and said: “My lady… my lord has agreed. Please dismiss your retinue and follow me to the residence. As for the daughter of our allied houses being sent to the Shanyue, she will travel along with the merchant caravan.” Mu Yalu’s face brightened with joy, and the tension on her followers’ faces eased considerably. She hurriedly expressed her thanks, then turned to her clansmen and said: “Everyone, disperse. Return and report to the chieftain that Lu’er has fulfilled his instructions.” The dozen or so Shanyue men nodded in agreement and set off toward the outskirts of the town. Fearing he might arouse the Li family’s suspicion, Mu Jiaoman had not provided Mu Yalu with a single servant. In an instant, she was left entirely alone in the courtyard, desolate and forlorn. “Seventh Mistress, please follow me.” Li Xiewen had already changed his form of address, bowing respectfully. Hearing herself called “Seventh Mistress,” Mu Yalu was jolted to the core, knowing full well that her future days would likely not be easy. She followed Li Xiewen through the streets for a while until a large compound appeared before them. It featured blue bricks and dark tiles, upturned eaves, and flying rafters, with the sloped stones before the gate polished spotless—a truly imposing sight. She followed Li Xiewen into the courtyard, where several children aged three to five were playing. Li Xiewen said in a low voice: “These are all children of the Yuan generation. If you bear any offspring in the future, they will also belong to the Yuan generation.” Mu Yalu nodded blankly. Recalling what she had been taught before leaving home, she hurriedly asked: “Which one is the son of the primary wife?” Li Xiewen glanced at her sideways and said sternly: “The legitimate sons are all on the mountain. Even these concubine-born sons must go up the mountain once their spirit apertures are detected after turning seven. Mistress, do not harbor any crooked thoughts—the methods of cultivators are far beyond your imagination!” Mu Yalu froze, realizing Li Xiewen had misunderstood her. She parted her lips, yet found no way to explain herself. Feeling wronged, she thought to herself: “My clan has been shamans for generations, with blood pure and noble. So long as that Li Xuanxuan is willing to be intimate with me, how could I fail to bear children blessed with shamanic apertures… spirit apertures? Now that I have married into the east, what crooked thoughts could I possibly harbor…?” Li Xiewen took no notice. Leading Mu Yalu to an empty room, he said in a low voice: “The servants in the room have been arranged. Mistress, please make yourself at home.” With that, he took his leave, leaving Mu Yalu staring blankly at the narrow patch of sky above the courtyard, a tumult of emotions churning in her chest. Pushing open the spotless door, she sat upon the bed couch. “From now on, I will live within this Li family. Who knows where the rest of my life will lead.” *** Meanwhile, as Li Xiewen left the courtyard, someone came forward to report to him. He listened intently for a moment, then hurriedly walked toward the compound at the foot of the mountain. Entering the door, he saw Li Xuanxuan still reading with the book in his arms, and said respectfully: “Reporting to the Family Head, Mu Yalu has been settled, and word regarding Mu Jiaoman has arrived as well.” Li Xuanxuan raised his brows, somewhat surprised. “So quickly?” “To report to the Family Head: that Mu Jiaoman is utterly extravagant and self-indulgent, keeping several thousand servants in his household. Among the Shanyue refugees who fled here in recent years, some previously served as his servants. A brief inquiry was all it took.” As Li Xiewen finished speaking, Li Xuanxuan set down the wooden slips in his hand and laughed. “I thought Lu Sisi of the Lu family was astonishing enough with over a hundred wives and concubines, yet this Mu Jiaoman actually keeps several thousand servants. He truly has no regard for the people’s toil. No wonder Shanyue people flee every year even though the rains have grown plentiful.” “Precisely!” Li Xiewen echoed hurriedly, adding, “Your subordinate made inquiries and learned that he has fathered three sons and four daughters, among whom one son and one daughter possess spirit apertures.” Li Xuanxuan nodded, stroking his chin. “I see.” “A few days ago, people from the Lu and An families came to discuss opening trade, and now we have also opened trade with the Shanyue. Men must be properly arranged on both fronts to provide protection, lest anything go awry on the road.” “Yes! Men from the two towns have already been assigned to handle it.” Li Xuanxuan then closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment before instructing: “Over these past few days, I have touched the threshold of the fifth layer of Embryonic Breathing and can attempt a breakthrough. In a few days, I will enter seclusion to break through. Pass the family’s various affairs to Xuanling and let him oversee them.” “Understood.” Li Xiewen respectfully complied, and Li Xuanxuan lowered his head to resume reading. *** Of the Li family’s four towns, the westernmost was Lichuankou, bordering the Shanyue; in the center lay the two towns of Jingyang and Lijing, surrounding Mount Lijing and Meichi Mountain. Lidaokou was the easternmost edge of the Li family’s domain, bordering the Lu family’s Mount Huaqian. With the gradual expansion of the Li family’s population, many villagers had already cleared wasteland right up to the border, creating a vibrant, thriving scene. Mount Huaqian had suffered repeated slaughter, and the Tangjin Sect had practically wiped out all the mortals there. Although the Ji family and later the Lu family had continuously migrated populations over, the area remained sparsely populated. Consequently, many Li family hunters crossed the border into Lu territory to gather firewood and hunt. Now, this lively settlement was visited by two uninvited guests. One had a shaved head and wore long robes, while the other had white hair and held a jade ruyi in his hand—none other than the two men from the An and Lu families who had joined Li Tongya in wiping out the Ji family. The two darted continuously through the woods, occasionally leaping aloft to observe the mountain ridges while speaking in low tones. Maintaining their Breath Concealment Art, they lingered for a full half-hour, seemingly searching for something. “Brother An, is the ore vein right here?” As Lu Sisi asked, the bald man looked down at his feet, formed a hand seal, and dropped to the ground. Scooping up a handful of yellow soil, he examined it and smiled: “No mistake. After searching for so many days, this narrow, winding Qingwu ore vein that spans several li lies right beneath our feet.” Delight bloomed across Lu Sisi’s face. He circled the area, leaping back and forth above the shivering villagers below, but then frowned and muttered to himself: “A large portion of it truly lies within the Li family’s domain… This is troublesome. I fear it will be hard to conceal it from them.” The bald man also showed a look of difficulty and spoke up: “Indeed! This relies on my An family’s vein-seeking art, and you agreed to grant me thirty percent, Brother Lu. But mining makes an immense commotion; there is simply no hiding it. We will inevitably have to give the Li family a share.” “Alas!” Lu Sisi sighed, muttering in a low voice, “Even though it is said to be a micro-vein, properly developed, this Qingwu ore could produce dozens of spirit stones a year. Giving away a share like this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth!” “And what of it? Can you destroy the Li family and swallow their four towns?” The bald man gave a wry smile and shook his head in reply. “Li Tongya is cautious and vigilant, and his swordsmanship is superb; killing him would be no easy feat. What is more, I have heard that the Li family shares a profound friendship with the Xiao family of Lixia Commandery, and they even have a green tassel disciple within the sect. Their backing is formidable indeed!” Lu Sisi chuckled softly, putting aside his unrealistic fantasies, and spoke with reluctance: “In a few days, I shall pay a visit to the Li family to discuss developing the ore vein! For now, let us thoroughly examine its layout.” The bald man surnamed An nodded. Forming a hand seal, he set about carefully discerning the precise course of the ore vein.