Chen Donghe rode the wind down to the foot of Guanyun Peak. A cold wind blew, rustling the pines and cypresses. Taking a few steps forward, he saw a middle-aged man in grey robes sweeping the flagstone path, his broom gently brushing across the stones. Chen Donghe stepped up and said politely, "Please announce that Chen Donghe of the Li family has arrived to pay respects to Senior Xiao Yongling!"
The man straightened up with a smile, eyed Chen Donghe carefully, and replied, "Honored guest, please wait a moment. This humble one will report your arrival at once."
Before long, a small opening parted in the array. Chen Donghe hurriedly entered and climbed the stone steps to a small courtyard. Two potted dwarf pines stood before the gate. The middle-aged man bowed and withdrew. Pushing the door open gently, Chen Donghe saw Xiao Yongling dressed in a snow-white straight-collared robe bound with a crescent-patterned sash, both subtly radiating the opulent glow of magical power. The longsword at his waist gleamed with fine rays of light. He was coated in the dust of travel, looking as though he had just returned from afar.
Overawed by this attire, Chen Donghe was momentarily speechless. In the past, Xiao Yongling had never donned such magical robes, and his refined courtesy had never displayed the Xiao family's opulence. Now, draped in such magnificence, he evoked a touch of envy in Chen Donghe, who bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Senior!"
"So it is young friend Donghe." Xiao Yongling nodded slightly and replied courteously, "Does the Li family need my help with something?"
"No, not at all," Chen Donghe answered respectfully with a smile. "An elder of my family has broken through to Foundation Establishment, and so they sent me to deliver the joyous news!"
"What?! Tongya?" Xiao Yongling's expression shifted drastically in profound shock. The hand resting on his sword hilt clenched abruptly, his countenance shifting through a flurry of emotions. Only after more than a dozen breaths did he sigh, "Brother Tongya has bested me after all!"
Back then, when Xiao Yuansi returned home and told Xiao Yongling—who was at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement at the time—that Li Tongya had already reached the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, Xiao Yongling had marveled that Li Tongya had moved a step ahead of him, still entertaining thoughts of competing to see who would achieve Foundation Establishment first.
Now three years had passed. Xiao Yongling had consumed spiritual medicine to reach the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, yet still needed time to accumulate his strength before attempting a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Li Tongya, however, had already reached Foundation Establishment ahead of him. It stirred a whirlwind of emotions within him; whatever faint rivalry lingered in his heart finally dissolved, turning into deep admiration.
"The world speaks only of Li Chijing as a prodigy endowed by Heaven, while overlooking Brother Tongya. Taciturn and steadfast, silent and unassuming, he is just as much a dragon and phoenix among men!"
Xiao Yongling sighed. Unaware that Li Tongya had the aid of talisman qi and talisman pills, he assumed Li Tongya had cultivated all alone in those desolate mountains and yet advanced faster than he himself had after taking spiritual medicine on Guanyun Peak. With his competitive drive put to rest, Xiao Yongling's bearing grew noticeably more grounded and composed.
Chen Donghe waited quietly for Xiao Yongling to recover his composure. Only then did Xiao Yongling smile and say, "Offer my congratulations to Brother Tongya!"
Chen Donghe nodded with a smile and set the gifts on the table, explaining each item in detail. Xiao Yongling turned solemn and replied, "Please stay for a few days, young friend. For one, I must confer with our Ancestor regarding the marriage alliance between our two families. Furthermore, courtesy must be observed in full—Brother Tongya's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is an occasion of great celebration, and our Xiao family must certainly present our respects and gifts!"
"Senior is too polite!" Chen Donghe replied.
Xiao Yongling chatted with him a bit more about the Li family's recent circumstances, then waved the middle-aged man over to escort him to the guest quarters to rest.
Once Chen Donghe had departed, Xiao Yongling stroked his beard, nodding with a chuckle. "Chen Donghe... is quite capable as well."
***
The Xiao family had always received guests on Guanyun Peak, but their main peak lay over a hundred li to the east. Deep within Lixia Commandery rose a magnificent mountain, gentle yet imposing in its massive contours, called Mount Xianyou.
Mount Xianyou was divided into eastern and southern sections, between which ran a river called the Yue River. Its waters flowed swiftly, and boatmen often drifted down from the upper reaches, their singing echoing through the peaks with touching resonance.
Xiao Yongling rode the wind for half an hour before landing among the peaks. There atop the mountain lay a deep pool wreathed in chilling mist. Two old men sat facing each other on the cliff, each holding a rod as they fished in the pool.
Xiao Yongling stepped forward, ascended the stone steps, and walked up beside one of the old men, murmuring, "Ancestor, Li Tongya has reached Foundation Establishment."
"Oh?"
The old man raised an eyebrow, the fishing rod in his hand trembling faintly, and said softly, "A bit fast. The child must have had some fortunate encounter."
Xiao Yongling nodded gently and asked respectfully, "Then regarding the marriage alliance..."
Hearing this, the other old man by the pool also raised his head and chuckled, "Chuting, I've seen Li Tongya. He is indeed fine material. If you ask me, let us marry a daughter off to them and take a bride from them in return. Both families will benefit."
Xiao Chuting nodded. With a lift of his fishing rod, the frigid pool below erupted with a loud boom. Water white as snow surged upward, climbing along the lifted fishing line more than halfway up the cliff before an invisible force pressed it back down with a thunderous roar.
Rumble!
Xiao Chuting reeled in his line, bringing back a gleaming silver dagger. He raised a snow-white brow and laughed, "A fine catch."
Beside them, Xiao Yongling had already watched dumbfounded, but Xiao Chuting merely waved a hand and said in a low voice, "Leave this matter to Yuansi to handle!"
***
At the Fei family's Cold Cloud Peak.
Chilly moonlight spilled down. Li Qinghong sat atop a tree branch, swinging her bare feet idly. Bathed in the pale moonlight, her fair, translucent skin looked delicate enough to break at a touch.
"Sister Qinghong!"
Fei Tongxiao bounded twice through the woods and leapt onto the bough. Standing eagerly atop the treetop with a grin, he exclaimed, "Sister Qinghong, what fine spirits you're in today, coming out to gaze at the moon!"
"Junior Brother," Li Qinghong replied politely with a nod. "Have you come looking to spar with spears?"
Fei Tongxiao choked slightly on his words and answered, "No spearmanship, definitely no spearmanship! Just admiring the moon... admiring the moon..."
Seeing his flustered look, Li Qinghong couldn't help letting out a giggle. The sight left Fei Tongxiao in a slight daze, his breath catching and his face reddening. He murmured, "Sister Qinghong, I..."
"Junior Brother." Li Qinghong rose to her feet on the branch, shook her head, and smiled. "That won't do. Life is fleeting; how can we have so much time to admire the moon? You and I should spar instead. I have made more progress this month, and I fear you're still no match for me."
Cut off mid-sentence, Fei Tongxiao turned pale, looking visibly dejected. His expression was conflicted as he hesitated, gritting his teeth to speak, but Li Qinghong had already leapt down from the treetop. Her clear voice echoed through the woods:
"Junior Brother, let's head up the mountain to spar!"
Watching her disappear into the woods, Fei Tongxiao gritted his teeth in dejection and hopped down to the ground. There sat a group of Fei family disciples gathered below. One poked his head out and remarked with sour envy, "This rogue cultivator's daughter, Ye Qinghong, truly is handsome and spirited, with a lovely figure, not to mention her cultivation is already at the fifth layer of Embryonic Breathing. Brother Xiao, you've got good eyes!"
Fei Tongxiao glared at him in embarrassed irritation and shook a fist. The crowd of youths promptly scattered in all directions, leaving only a white-robed young man leaning against a tree, looking down at him.
Fei Tongxiao murmured, "Brother Yu."
Fei Tongyu stood with folded arms and let out a soft chuckle. "That boy Fei Tongcai had ill intentions, bringing a crowd to watch you make a fool of yourself. Li Qinghong spared your dignity; don't go bothering her anymore in the future."
Fei Tongxiao raised his head indignantly and protested, "I hadn't even said it out loud!"
Fei Tongyu shook his head, his eyes bright with open appreciation for Li Qinghong. He explained, "Some words are asked without being spoken, and other words are answered without being uttered. Li Qinghong is only sixteen. On one hand, she is bright, open, and cheerful; on the other, she knows when to advance and retreat with gentle tact. No wonder you cannot let her go."
Tormented by both sorrow and frustration, Fei Tongxiao wrung his hands together.
Fei Tongyu glanced at him and smiled, "Li Qinghong has a stubborn and independent nature. If you can't even beat her, how can you expect her to think highly of you? Cultivate diligently. We men of the Fei family are all dashing and graceful; once you mature in a few years, what female cultivator wouldn't be smitten?"
Fei Tongxiao froze, struck by sudden enlightenment. Joy flashed across his face, and he nodded with a grin. "I understand!"
With that, he dashed up the mountain, leaping through the woods in pursuit of Li Qinghong.
Fei Tongyu watched him vanish from sight, shaking his head with an amused smile. Unexpectedly, a middle-aged man stepped out from behind a tree, swaying a folding fan with graceful elegance—none other than their father, Fei Yihe.
"You always know how to handle him!"
Fei Yihe praised him, but received no response for a long time. Glancing sideways, he saw Fei Tongyu lost in thought, looking down. Sensing his father's gaze, Fei Tongyu looked up as if snapping out of a reverie and asked, "What is it, Father?"
Fei Yihe felt an inkling of unease. Seeing his eldest son so deeply engrossed, he feared he had missed something, and hurriedly asked in a low voice, "What are you pondering so intently? Has something happened?"
Fei Tongyu chuckled and shook his head. "Li Qinghong truly is remarkable, and she's a direct daughter of the Li family..."
Fei Yihe gritted his teeth and pressed a hand to his forehead with a low groan. He kicked Fei Tongyu in the shin, drawing a cry of pain from him, before snapping in exasperation, "Both of you put that thought completely out of your minds!"
Chapter 216