The Xiao Family's Schemes

"Senior speaks truly." Xiao Ruyu raised his hands and cupped them. Not wishing to incur a debt of gratitude over mere thousands of mortals, he shifted the topic and said respectfully, "However, before this junior departed, the elders of my clan specifically instructed that the closer two families are, the cleaner such minor details must be kept between them, lest estrangement arise. I took this to heart and dare not take advantage of your esteemed clan." Seeing how neat, clear, and measured his conduct was, Li Tongya thought rather more highly of him. In a mild voice, he asked, "Then what do you propose?" "For each batch of mortals delivered to Lixia Commandery, my Xiao family shall provide compensation: one spirit stone for every thousand mortals." The price Xiao Ruyu offered was considered generous. After all, the Qingchi Sect had set a terrible precedent. Every family took their cues from this suzerain sect. Left unsupervised, they treated the mortals under their rule as subjects to take from and demand of at will, never viewing them as a vital resource. A few cultivators with specialized needs might value them slightly more, but the rest looked down on them even further. "Then let it be settled this way," Li Tongya agreed. Xiao Ruyu nodded and spoke once more: "This junior has another matter to discuss. The Guli Road has fallen into disrepair for many years, swallowed in multiple places by wilderness and overrun with wolves, tigers, and demonic beasts. As a result, communication among the families along the route has been cut off; only those who have achieved Qi Refinement can travel across the commandery. It is truly most inconvenient. "Our Xiao family intends to rebuild the Guli Road, establishing relay stations at the front and back of each family's territory, with the Xiao family filling in any remaining gaps. This will allow the many Embryonic Breathing cultivators and mortal merchants to travel across the commandery as well... so that all the families along the Guli Road may benefit together." "Oh?" Li Tongya had not expected the Xiao family to take on such a thankless, laborious task. Pausing slightly, he said in a quiet voice, "If the Xiao family takes the lead in this endeavor, it will also greatly benefit my Li family. Naturally, there is no reason for us to object... Yet forgive my bluntness: this undertaking is strenuous and unrewarding. Why go to such trouble?" Li Tongya was not one to meddle in other people's affairs, but the two families had been on good terms for many years, and both Xiao Yuansi and Xiao Chuting had shown benevolence to the Li family, which was why he offered words of counsel. "Thank you for your concern, Senior." Xiao Ruyu had visited many families along the Guli Road. Every single one had agreed readily, and likely not a few had secretly sneered and mocked in their hearts. Only Li Tongya had offered words of considerate advice. Xiao Ruyu gave a slight shake of his head and explained, "The Xiao family's alchemy and artifact-crafting branches cooperate with many clans, supporting thirty percent of the cultivators within the sphere of Lixia Commandery. It is a vital business that funds our family's expenses. If our supply of spirit herbs and ore were cut off, our clan would naturally suffer greatly. My family has taken an interest in the spiritual materials along the Guli Road... As for anything further, it is inconvenient for Ruyu to disclose. I ask for Senior's understanding." Hearing these words, and factoring in how Xiao Chuting had quietly advanced to the Purple Palace, Li Tongya felt a sudden chill of shock in his heart. Certain conjectures formed in his mind. He said in a deep voice, "If it is inconvenient, there is no need to speak of it." Xiao Ruyu nodded slightly. They discussed the distribution of the relay stations and settled the arrangements one by one before he cupped his hands and took his leave. Li Xuanling saw him out of the courtyard and watched him ride the wind eastward before returning. Seeing Li Tongya seated at the head of the room, pressing a teacup in silence, he kept quiet for a moment before asking, "Father, the Xiao family has ties with families across the Xunlin Plain and Linghai Commandery, conducting trade with them year in and year out. Could they be afraid that someone might cut off the flow of goods from the east? But who could possess such immense power as to deter all those families from doing business with the Xiao family?" Li Tongya set down his teacup, shook his head, and replied, "The Xiao family is likely preparing to break away from the Qingchi Sect and stand on their own." "What?!" Li Xuanling was stunned. Utter shock seized him, and he said in a strained voice, "This... The Qingchi Sect currently has three early Purple Palace cultivators, one at the middle stage, and Chi Wei at the peak of the Purple Palace... H-how dare they?" "The Xiao family is waiting for Chi Wei to pass away." Li Tongya turned the thoughts over in his mind for a moment, now seventy or eighty percent certain. Narrowing his eyes, he said softly, "Xiao Chuting has attained the Purple Palace and now has the standing to take the stage. Did not the Chen family back then also declare their independence on the spot as soon as a Purple Palace ancestor emerged? It is only that among the Qingchi Sect's Purple Palace masters, Chi Wei alone possesses the power to strike Xiao Chuting dead on the spot. Once Chi Wei dies, it will be entirely natural for the Xiao family to break away from the Qingchi Sect, claim this battered and ruined Lixia Commandery, and rest their back against the Xunlin Plain and Lake Wangyue. The Qingchi Sect might even have to offer congratulatory gifts." "The Purple Palace..." Li Xuanling murmured the words and let out a deep sigh. "The various families, the Three Sects and the Seven Gates—they are nothing more than tools in the hands of the Purple Palace masters..." "Yet once they break away from the Qingchi Sect, which family across the commanderies would dare cross borders to trade with the Xiao family? The Xiao family must naturally seek new sources of production and markets to offload their goods. That is why they are pushing westward, repairing the Guli Road, and setting their sights on the scattered clans of the Xunlin Plain and Lake Wangyue, where no major commandery seat holds sway." As Li Tongya finished speaking, his conviction grew even stronger. He pondered inwardly: *The question is how my Li family can preserve ourselves and seize benefits amid such massive upheaval... Perhaps by diverting the disaster eastward and overturning the Yu family's current unchallenged dominance over Lake Wangyue.* *** In the courtyard, Li Yuanjiao stood holding a sword. Before him stood a girl with bound hair, her almond eyes staring intently at the weapon in his hand. The two squared off and circled each other for a while. Seeing that her footing was nimble and light—likely favoring an agile, shifting style—Li Yuanjiao flicked the wooden practice sword in his hand and closed the distance, thrusting toward her face. With a flick and a sweep of her softwood spear, the girl stepped back several paces, using her left hand to parry Li Yuanjiao's wooden sword. She raised her brows with a smile: "Brother Jiao, you're so sly!" "Hmph." Li Yuanjiao gave a soft snort, withdrawing his sword and stepping back as well. "Sly or not, your spearmanship is fairly solid, Qinghong. You can actually hold off a few moves from me." Li Qinghong giggled, knowing she had actually been at a disadvantage just now. Pouting slightly, she said, "The family has an inheritance of sword techniques, so naturally it's easy to learn. As for my spearmanship, Father brought in the best spear master from down the mountain, yet learning it has been such a thankless slog..." "With the family's sword arts available to practice, why on earth did you pick up a spear? Spearmanship is easy to pick up but difficult to master. Without someone proper to teach you, you might not even grasp the basics in a lifetime." Li Yuanjiao curled his lip. Li Qinghong rested the butt of her spear on the ground and said in a childish voice, "Looking at that sword manual gave me a headache! So Father brought out all sorts of weapons for me to choose from. People say 'an inch longer is an inch stronger,' so I picked a spear. Who knew Father would be so delighted and tell me to practice hard? So I've had no choice but to keep at it." Seeing that it was Li Xuanling's decision, Li Yuanjiao abandoned the thought of telling her to switch back to the sword. He hung the wooden sword on the wall and straightened his robes. Li Qinghong propped her spear against the corner of the wall and let down her bound hair. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the vigorous exercise, giving her the pretty, charming look of a young girl. A sharp rap sounded at the courtyard gate—*knock, knock*—followed by a respectful voice: "Young Master, the Madam summons you!" "Understood," Li Yuanjiao called back. Outside the courtyard stood an old servant with his head bowed, someone who always served before his mother. Lowering his voice, Li Yuanjiao asked, "What happened?" "Reporting to the Young Master, people have arrived from Eastern Shanyue. They say... Mu Jiaoman... succumbed to his heavy injuries. He passed away the night before last." Li Yuanjiao's eyes lit up. He felt no grief over the death of this eldest maternal uncle whom he had never once met; instead, a surge of excitement stirred within him. Noticing Li Qinghong chuckling beside him, he turned his head and asked, "What is it?" Although Li Qinghong did not understand the intricate details, an innate instinct—or perhaps a sharp intuition for strategic situations—prompted her. She pursed her lips and smiled, "Nothing! Either way, it's a good thing!" "Heh-heh!" Li Yuanjiao strode swiftly out of the courtyard and dashed outside in high spirits, laughing as he said, "Nine towns and twenty-six tribes across Eastern Shanyue—before long, they shall all belong to our family!"