Having dealt with the Lu clansmen atop Mount Huaqian, Li Tongya knew time was pressing. Not daring to delay, he immediately rose upon the wind and sped toward the Lu family's lair to the east, Mount Tiaoyun.
"The Lu family's legacies shouldn't be limited to just these three either. Back then, when the Ji family annihilated the Wan family, even though Wan Xiaohua destroyed their array inheritance before dying, they still obtained quite a few array essentials. Later, when the Lu family breached the Ji family's Mount Huazhong, they must have obtained those things as well. It's just that breaking Mount Huaqian wasted quite some time; who knows what the situation is in the east right now."
Riding the wind for the time it took an incense stick to burn and passing through layer upon layer of dense forest, Li Tongya saw Mount Tiaoyun about to come into view, only for a youth to fly up to meet him.
The youth was clad in golden armor and held an axe of lustrous jade. Shrouded around him was a brilliant red shield of True Yuan qi, and his cultivation had reached the third level of Qi Refinement. Looking up to reveal a pair of spirited eyes, he appeared no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, staring quietly at Li Tongya as though he had been waiting for a long time.
"May I ask—"
"I am An Jingming of the An family! Greetings, Senior Tongya! I have been awaiting you here for quite some time."
The youth's voice was crisp and bright. Greeting him respectfully, his sharp gaze sized Li Tongya up as he thought to himself:
*So this man is Li Tongya. He looks upright and steady, though I wonder if the sword in his hand lives up to the rumors.*
Li Tongya scrutinized him closely. Seeing his tender features, he felt a shock of astonishment in his heart, musing inwardly:
*So this is the An family's rumored prodigy, An Jingming. He has such youthful features and looks no older than fourteen or fifteen, yet he already possesses cultivation at the third level of Qi Refinement. Truly astonishing!*
One had to know that once the coming winter passed, Li Xuanfeng would already be twenty years old, yet he was only at the third level of Qi Refinement—and that was even with the boost in cultivation gained during his register conferment.
Furthermore, the Li family's *Taiyin Qi-Nourishing Wheel Scripture* far surpassed those of other clans. Were it not for that, Li Xuanfeng would have taken another three to five years to achieve Qi Refinement. A fifteen-year-old at Qi Refinement level three—even Jing'er back then probably could not compare.
Li Tongya remained silent for a few breaths, but An Jingming spoke up first, saying courteously:
"It seems Senior Tongya has made a wasted trip. The elders of my family have already taken Mount Tiaoyun together with the Ding family from the Xunlin Plain. Since the remnants of the Wan family reside with your noble clan, Mount Huaqian naturally belongs to the Li family, and the An family would not presume to interfere. However, this Mount Tiaoyun has already been promised to the Ding family."
Li Tongya felt a touch of displeasure in his heart, but rather than addressing the subject directly, he smiled and said:
"Fellow Daoist is truly young and promising. Is An Zheyan not worried that you might venture out rashly and fall victim to the Yu family?"
"Of course he is! It is precisely out of fear that we invited the Ding family into Lake Wangyue."
An Jingming sighed softly, his youthful face showing a downcast expression unbefitting his age, and said respectfully:
"My An family has indeed acted unfairly in this matter. Junior is willing to offer the An family's share in the Qingwu ore vein as an apology, and I ask for Senior Tongya's understanding."
Li Tongya stared at him with a slight smile. Knowing that Mount Tiaoyun was out of reach, he thought to himself:
*The vein-seeking art is still in the An family's hands. If their share is gone and they withdraw all their personnel, wouldn't we have to turn around and invite them back later? At that point, we'd be completely at their mercy! What a cunning little rascal.*
Refusing to take the bait, Li Tongya waved his hand and smiled.
"Our two families are neighbors; there is no need to push things to such extremes. The An family may keep a twenty percent share. We can earn this money together."
An Jingming smiled and nodded gently. Just then, someone flew over from the west like a flash of lightning, the pitch-black longbow on his back seemingly blending into the night—it was Li Xuanfeng.
As soon as Li Xuanfeng steadied his figure, his gaze clashed straight with An Jingming's. Their eyes locked in the air for a moment before An Jingming quickly lowered his head with a smile. Li Xuanfeng, eager for a fight, saw the arrows in the quiver at his waist tremble one by one, giving off clinking chimes.
"Then it is settled. Jingming takes his leave!"
Fearing that Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya might join hands to keep him there, An Jingming hurried to bid farewell and turned north.
"He is so young, yet his strength is not weak at all!"
Li Xuanfeng praised. Li Tongya nodded as well and said in a gentle voice:
"This An Jingming is much harder to deal with than An Zheyan. He is by no means an easy opponent. Families like the Lu clan, lacking successors, are in the minority after all. Both the An and Yu families show signs of revival."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, yet he looked down upon Yu Mugao, keeping only An Jingming in mind. Flying westward alongside Li Tongya, he smiled and said:
"An Jingming is a worthy adversary, but Yu Mugao is hardly one! That fellow is utterly tedious, smiling all the time with sheer hypocrisy."
Li Tongya glanced back at him and said solemnly:
"Do not be careless! Yu Mugao is deep and vicious in his schemes; he is not easily dealt with. Facing An Jingming might even be preferable to facing Yu Mugao."
The two conversed for a while before landing on Mount Huaqian. Li Xuanling had just climbed up the stone steps, the green-hued sword at his waist still dripping blood that pattered onto the ground. Behind him followed Lu Anyu, who called out flatteringly:
"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! There are several more storehouses over here."
"Father, Brother Feng!"
Li Xuanling did not reply to him. Cupping his hands to greet the two, he explained:
"The Lu family had several more storehouses, guarded by some loyal servants. Xuanling has disposed of them all. Setting aside the mundane gold and silver, we recovered thirty-one spirit stones and eight hundred jin of spirit rice."
"Not bad."
Li Tongya nodded. Nearby, Li Xuanxuan finished assigning the personnel to guard Mount Huaqian, and together they all returned to Mount Lijing.
***
Lu Wanrong had waited in the courtyard throughout the night. Only now did she hear bustling sounds coming from outside. She told her maid to go out and look, and soon the maid entered with a beaming face, whispering:
"Miss, it's the people of our Lu family! At least their lives were spared."
"Cease this nonsense! What Lu family? Henceforth there won't even be a Lu clan. If you don't take heed, you will not only lose your own life, but drag me down with you as well."
Lu Wanrong sighed softly, some of her worry alleviated, and said with bitter resentment:
"I only resent that cousin of mine for being as stupid as a pig! Originally, both families could have settled this with dignity. The Lu family was doomed to be dismantled by the various clans anyway. As long as they offered up the mountains and departed before the Li family made a move, it would have preserved the Li family's face and protected the Lu family's core substance, sparing the Li family from being caught in a dilemma.
"Now look what happened! Not only is the clan wiped out and its people dead, but he has also put both the Li family and me in an awkward position... Detestable, truly detestable."
The maid beside her was struck speechless. Just then, Lu Wanrong abruptly raised her head and called softly:
"Husband."
The doors and windows creaked open, and Li Xuanling walked in nimbly. Dismissing the clan soldiers on either side, he smiled and said:
"Henceforth, there is no more Lu family. Those willing to stay have submitted to our family, and those unwilling, we have allowed to depart east."
"Congratulations, Husband."
Lu Wanrong offered a quiet word of congratulations. Brow furrowed, she asked tentatively:
"Did you truly let them go?"
Li Xuanling stroked her head, gathered her into his embrace, and smiled:
"It's a lie. But they believe it's true."
Lu Wanrong instantly froze, then sighed helplessly:
"Never mind, then."
Li Xuanling looked at her for a moment, but other matters occupied his mind as he thought:
*Brother Xuan's eldest son, Yuanxiu, is already five years old, yet only two talisman seeds remain in the family. Father also intends to have a son adopted into Youngest Uncle's lineage, adding another recipient for a talisman seed. If that is so, how could there be enough for the Yuan generation? What's more, if the eldest son has no spirit aperture, should we wait until a child with a spirit aperture is born before conferring the talisman seed, or should the eldest son of the primary wife take priority?
*It is not scarcity but inequality that brings trouble. Matters here are thorny and intricate. If not handled well, it will surely sow the seeds of brotherly strife... One must ponder deeply and tread with care!*
Losing his mood to celebrate, he smiled at Lu Wanrong and said softly:
"There is still business on the mountain, and I must make another trip up. Rest for now, and I will come see you again tomorrow."
Seeing Lu Wanrong nod in a daze, Li Xuanling turned and walked out. After a few steps, however, he paused, turned his head back, and asked in a low voice:
"I recall you still had a clan brother who came earlier to deliver news and stayed behind with the Li family. What of him?"
"A mere mortal."
Knowing what Li Xuanling was getting at, Lu Wanrong answered hastily. Only then was Li Xuanling relieved. Leaving the courtyard, he muttered under his breath:
"Even a mortal cannot be underestimated. I had better remind Brother Xuan."
Chapter 145