Lu Sisi froze, the ingratiating smile stiffening on his face. After sighing and stammering for a moment, and seeing the two men behind the young master glaring fiercely at him, he nodded with difficulty and could only comply:
"The young master speaks the truth! My Lu family shall do as you say..."
As soon as Lu Sisi gave his word, Young Master Yu smiled and nodded at him. Lu Sisi immediately understood the hint and retrieved several spirit stones from the brocade pouch at his waist. One of the men behind Young Master Yu stepped forward and took them. Lu Sisi said fawningly:
"Forgive the trouble of your long journey to notify our family, Young Master. These few spirit stones are a modest token of respect..."
"Mm."
Young Master Yu flicked his sleeve and turned away, saying in a low voice:
"Three days from now at Lake Central Islet, our Yu family will host a banquet for all the clans. Old elder, do remember to attend."
"Yes! Yes, certainly!"
The three rode the wind into the sky, leaving Lu Sisi on the mountaintop to lower his head in despair. Leaning against the stone steps, his lips trembled, unable to speak for a long time.
Once Young Master Yu and his companions flew away from Mount Huaqian, the fat man behind him chuckled aloud:
"Cousin, this really is a cushy errand! A single round of visits and each of us can pocket nearly ten spirit stones! That’s worth several years of clan stipends!"
On the other side, the tall, thin Yu clansman nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. With a stern and solemn expression, he said:
"Eldest Brother, that Lu family has no real vigor left. I looked closely: those seated below were all elderly folk in Embryonic Breathing. The only young Qi Refinement cultivator among them had a decadent, dissipated look—a complete fool. And Lu Sisi is near the end of his lifespan; he won't last much longer."
Young Master Yu also nodded, casting him an approving glance before swatting the fat man and saying in a deep voice:
"Learn something from him!"
Then he turned back and replied:
"Indeed. It's just that the Lu family still has some past goodwill with Moon Lake Peak, so we need not pay them much mind. With that idiot leading them, the Lu family's fortunes have already waned. They won't amount to anything for the next two hundred years!"
As they talked, they entered the territory of the Li family. Young Master Yu’s expression turned solemn, and he said seriously:
"All of you, be on your best behavior! Once we reach the Li family's mountain, do not speak out of turn. This Li family is unlike the others; they have deep backing, so do not go offending anyone!"
"Isn't it just that Sword Immortal Qingsui?"
The fat man pouted petulantly. Young Master Yu glared sharply at him and scolded:
"'Just'? Do you even know what a sword immortal is?! Among all artifacts, the sword is foremost in slaughter and combat, and he has comprehended sword intent! Even my father wouldn't last ten exchanges before him, and the old ancestor in our clan could probably do no more than protect himself against him!
"Not to mention that Li Chijing achieved Foundation Establishment in his early thirties—one could say he has hopes of reaching the Purple Palace! When the Li family has a Purple Palace backer in the sect, what room will there be for our Yu family to speak here at Lake Wangyue?!"
The tall, thin man observed carefully and murmured:
"Sword Immortal Qingsui... There certainly are many people in the Li family's domain. It seems they spent considerable effort governing mortals..."
"Doesn't look like much, though," the fat man chuckled after observing for a bit. "Just looks like a backward countryside, far inferior to our Yu family's dense forest. Can this kind of land really nurture a sword immortal?"
"Shut up!"
Young Master Yu flew a bit further until a translucent grand formation faintly shimmering with golden light appeared before their eyes. Rousing his magical power, he said softly:
"The Yu family of the Dense Forest has come to pay our respects! We invite the seniors of the Li family to come forth for a word!"
This manner was completely different from his uncouth voice transmission at the Lu family; here he acted with propriety and tact. After the three waited outside the formation for a moment, a youth bearing a pitch-black longbow rose on the wind and halted before them. It was none other than Li Xuanfeng.
"I am Li Xuanfeng of the Lijing Li family. May I ask if the three of you seek my elders on important business?"
Young Master Yu immediately changed his demeanor. His expression became animated and remarkably cordial, bearing no resemblance to his haughty nose-in-the-air attitude at the Lu family. He cupped his hands to Li Xuanfeng and said with a beaming smile:
"I am Yu Mugao of the Yu family of the Dense Forest. Greetings, Brother Xuanfeng. Our Yu family has a good matter to discuss with your senior! Might I trouble brother to lead me to meet Senior Tongya?"
Li Xuanfeng swept his spiritual sense across them and found that among the three before him, one was at the third level of Qi Refinement and two were at the second level. Posing no threat to himself or Li Tongya, he felt slightly relieved, cupped his hands, and said:
"You are too courteous, Daoist brother. Please follow me down!"
Guiding them into the formation, Li Xuanfeng led the three to take their seats in the courtyard. Before long, Li Tongya also emerged from seclusion in his cave abode and stepped into the yard.
Upon seeing Li Tongya, Yu Mugao hastily stood up, cupped his hands, and said:
"Junior Yu Mugao pays his respects to Senior Tongya!"
Li Tongya was slightly surprised by his courteous demeanor, but his face remained placid and undisturbed. He said softly:
"Young Master Yu is too polite!"
"The Lijing Li family truly lives up to its reputation as the birthplace of a sword immortal! I have heard that Senior Tongya's sword skills are likewise superb. Mugao admires you greatly!"
After trading pleasantries for a while, they finally got down to business. Yu Mugao said with a radiant smile:
"Several years ago, our Yu family was new to Qingchi and unfamiliar with the local customs. Now that one of our clan members has entered Yuanwu Peak in the Qingchi Sect, my father felt that the various families around Lake Wangyue are in complete disarray. A blessed place like Lake Wangyue is entered and exited by anyone at will, and the disciples of the families frequently suffer slaughter. Thus, my father wished to meet with the clans along the lake, and with our Yu family's Foundation Establishment cultivators taking the lead, pool resources and rebuild the market town..."
Yu Mugao spoke at length. First, he brought up his family's backing, clearly laid out the pretext the Yu family had found, and subtly hinted at the Yu family's aristocratic status. His words were completely unyielding beneath their polite veneer, spoken with utmost courtesy.
Li Tongya listened for a while and discerned that the Yu family intended to take the lead as the head of Lake Wangyue. He thought to himself:
The Yu family has two Foundation Establishment cultivators and formidable strength; taking the lead to consolidate Lake Wangyue is not out of line. Their courtesy toward my Li family is solely out of consideration for Jing'er, thinking our family has the protection of a sword immortal.
Jing'er's situation can still be concealed for at least a few decades. During these decades, my Li family has a protective talisman, and ordinary families will not dare provoke us...
Nodding, Li Tongya smiled and said:
"This is naturally a wonderful thing. That the Yu family is willing to step forward to do this, my Li family approves as well."
Hearing this, Yu Mugao's eyes immediately lit up. Li Tongya paused slightly as if he had more to say, but lowered his head to sip his tea instead. Yu Mugao looked at him closely and said with a smile:
"If the various families of Lake Wangyue entrust our Yu family with this matter, there will naturally be benefits to share. Once this market town is rebuilt, a share of the profit margin will certainly go to your esteemed clan!"
Li Tongya frowned slightly. Seeing him make empty promises with nothing concrete, he set down his teacup and said in a low voice:
"With the various families honoring your esteemed clan as the leader, I imagine your esteemed clan has already partaken fully in their benefits and tributes!"
Yu Mugao's smile froze, and he let out a chuckle to cover his awkwardness, smiling as he said:
"What makes you say that, Senior? Those were merely voluntary gifts offered to the Yu family by the clans in gratitude for our protection..."
Glancing at Li Tongya, Yu Mugao quickly added:
"The Li family naturally has no need for that! Our Yu family may be the head of Lake Wangyue, but the Li family will hold the second seat. My father admires Sword Immortal Qingsui immensely, and the Yu family would never harbor any inappropriate intentions toward the Li family."
Li Tongya shook his head and replied:
"There is no need for your esteemed clan to arrange a second seat for our Li family. My Li family's strength is shallow; we could not hold such a seat anyway. Since the Yu family is willing to step forward to build this market town, the Li family supports it. There is no need to ask about the rest."
With Li Tongya's words, Yu Mugao considered this trip a complete success. He let out a breath of relief. What he had thought would be the most difficult clan turned out to be quite easy. A smile surfaced on his face. Seeing that Li Tongya was about to see his guests out, he quickly spoke:
"Three days from now, our Yu family will meet with the clans at Lake Central Islet. We invite Senior to grace us with your presence!"
With that, he handed over an invitation. Li Xuanfeng stepped forward to receive it. After exchanging a few more words, Yu Mugao took his leave somewhat awkwardly. Li Tongya saw the three off before turning back into the courtyard.
Li Xuanfeng dropped back before the courtyard, flicked his sleeves, raised his head slightly, and chuckled:
"This Yu family was quite polite. Most likely it was out of consideration for Youngest Uncle; otherwise, they might have demanded some tribute from our family just like they did from the surrounding clans..."
Li Tongya did not agree. He explained to Li Xuanfeng:
"The Yu family has strength, but their clan head is too impatient and behaves too overbearingly. The clans have cultivated deep roots at Lake Wangyue for many years, their connections tangled and intricate. Which peak doesn't have some ties to them? To set up a market town on the lake and even collect tribute from every clan—what kind of logic is that!
"By acting so rashly, the Yu family has already stirred up public outrage. Just you watch; let us see how he manages to clean up this mess!"
Chapter 132