Byway Brocade

Li Qinghong strolled alone across the mountaintop for a time, her white deerskin boots crunching crisply against the perennial snow packed upon the peak. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she wandered softly with her hands clasped behind her back. "Grandfather... I wonder how he is faring." Li Qinghong pursed her lips, turning the thought over in her mind. *It has only been three years. Grandfather must still be tempering his cultivation. Achieving Foundation Establishment is a matter of surviving against overwhelming odds—it cannot be that easy.* "Sister Qinghong!" Fei Tongxiao came trotting up behind her with hurried steps. Smiling, he was just about to speak when the grand array of Cold Cloud Peak began to slowly revolve. A deep, resonant voice echoed across the peak. "Rogue cultivator Wan comes to pay a visit. Senior, please open the mountain gate!" Those words brought a curve to the corners of Li Qinghong's lips. Her almond eyes widened slightly, breaking into a delighted smile as she murmured softly, "It's Grandfather!" Behind her, Fei Tongxiao jolted throughout his entire body. A sudden emptiness swept over his heart. Forcing a smile, he took a step forward and offered his congratulations: "Congratulations, Senior Sister!" *** Li Tongya rode the wind and landed before Cold Cloud Peak. Fei Wangbai came out to greet him, his face beaming with joy. Clad in a silver-white brocade robe, he appeared all the more handsome amidst the swirling snow. Cupping his hands, he said, "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist on breaking through, forging your immortal foundation, and transcending the mundane!" "Senior is far too polite!" Li Tongya presented a far simpler appearance. He wore grey robes with cloud patterns along the sleeves and carried a longsword upon his back. Not a trace of complacency showed on his face despite having broken through to Foundation Establishment. Cupping his hands in return with courteous humility, he said, "I have come to disturb you once more today, causing Senior trouble." Smiling, the two made their way to that elegant pavilion nestled in the mountain and took their seats upon the white jade terrace on the top floor. Only then did Fei Wangbai gather his sleeves and offer his congratulations amidst the drifting snowflakes: "Congratulations, Brother Tongya!" Li Tongya sat opposite him, accepted the served tea, and took a gentle sip before smiling. "Having been in seclusion for three years, only now have I witnessed Senior's methods. That unexpected strike truly threw the Yu family into complete disarray." "Ah." Fei Wangbai chuckled heartily and shook his head. "It was merely a precaution prepared long ago for a rainy day. The Yu family naturally never anticipated it and was forced to swallow that bitter loss. "That year, Yu Yufeng broke through to the mid Foundation Establishment stage. My father was managing the family at the time and had already sensed that something was amiss. Consequently, he traveled to the forested mountain ranges of those days, selected several nodes where earth veins converged, and spent several years secretly burying array anchors one by one, sealing nine talismans within each array. "When my father returned, he sought me out and told me, 'The Yu family grows ever more dominant. I have left behind this talisman array; it can destabilize the earth veins beneath the forested peaks and may prove useful in the future.' Not long after, he attempted a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, only for his body to perish and his Dao to dissolve. Who could have foreseen that the Yu family would later survey the earth veins and establish a market town on that very spot?" "So that was how it happened!" Li Tongya nodded and smiled. "Your esteemed father was truly farsighted." Fei Wangbai sighed and shook his head, continuing, "As for that rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator on the eastern shore, he is an old friend of mine, an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. He merely lingered here for a time to frighten Yu Mugao a bit." Setting down his teacup, Fei Wangbai offered a light laugh, a hint of curiosity entering his voice. "Back then, it took me five years before I managed a lucky breakthrough, and from what I know, Yu Xiaogui spent more than five years as well. Yet you, Brother Tongya, succeeded in merely three years. It was truly beyond all expectation! As anticipated of someone with such peerless talent." Li Tongya adopted a slightly solemn expression and cupped his hands. "Most of the credit belongs to that Suiyuan Pill. Senior's praise is too generous; I truly do not dare accept it." "Ah!" Fei Wangbai had never even seen a Suiyuan Pill, so he naturally took Li Tongya at his word. Waving his hand dismissively with a laugh, he said, "Everything about you is commendable, except that you are far too modest. You are still calling me Senior! According to etiquette, you should simply call me Wangbai. Calling me Senior at every turn only makes me feel old." Li Tongya chuckled and shook his head. Unable to sway him, he yielded to his preference and adopted a serious tone. "Brother Wangbai did not anticipate it, and Yu Xiaogui certainly will not have foreseen it either. Right now is an excellent opportunity to suppress the Yu family!" Fei Wangbai grew somewhat excited as well. Setting down his white jade teacup, he lowered his voice. "Fellow Daoist He on the western shore has long been wary of the Yu family. If we invite him along with my friend, that makes four Foundation Establishment cultivators in total—more than enough to inflict a heavy loss upon the Yu family! To say nothing of whatever reinforcements Brother Tongya might be able to summon!" Li Tongya nodded as drifting snow fluttered past him. "This Fellow Daoist He... would that be Daoist He, the rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator on the western shore?" The clans on the western shore were mostly small Embryonic Breathing households scattered across the land like stars. Yet among them resided a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator known as Daoist He. Having no sons of his own, he had merely erected a small temple in the mountains, taken on six or seven disciples, and collected offerings from the surrounding clans. Backed by a close personal friend within the Qingchi Sect and possessing no great ambition, he was content to spend his days guarding over the clans of the western shore. "Precisely," Fei Wangbai affirmed with a smile. "This Daoist He holds a grudge against the Yu family's reclusive ancestor, Yu Yufeng. It is said that Yu Yufeng once snatched away his serendipity, leaving Daoist He to harbor bitter resentment ever since. He made things difficult for the Yu family on several occasions, until Yu Muxian entered the Qingchi Sect and someone was dispatched to mediate, which finally put an end to it." Realization dawned upon Li Tongya, and he nodded in silence. Fei Wangbai then raised a finger and lowered his voice further. "Yet we must not overlook this Yu Muxian. He is, after all, a disciple of the exalted sect, though we do not know whether he is held in high regard within it. I must trouble Brother Tongya to inquire with Master Sword Immortal, so that we may conduct ourselves in accordance with the circumstances." "I understand." Li Tongya nodded impassively, lightly tapping the white jade table before answering, "My fourth brother once cultivated within the peak as well. In truth, Qi Refinement disciples of the immortal sect wield no great authority; they merely serve to preserve their family's bloodline. So long as Yu Muxian has not reached Foundation Establishment, and provided we do not seek to wipe out the Yu family entirely, it should not pose much of an issue." Li Tongya was cautious by nature. After pondering for a few breaths, he shook his head once more. "Regardless, I will first entrust someone to inquire into the situation." Fei Wangbai nodded in satisfaction. Raising another finger, he asked in a low voice, "Shall we kill the old one... or the young one?" Li Tongya raised an eyebrow slightly, stroked his chin, and smiled. "Please wait a moment, Brother Wangbai. If we are certain of success, we might even slay that old forefather." Fei Wangbai nodded thoughtfully. After the two exchanged a few more words, the mountain wind and snow grew even fiercer, nearly blotting out the sky, though the flurry parted and slid aside around them. Fei Wangbai smiled warmly and remarked, "It has been many years since I last took action, and my hands are itching for a match. Brother Tongya, why not spar a round or two with me?" Li Tongya chuckled with an arched brow and replied softly, "Very well." The moment the words left his mouth, both soared into the air. Fei Wangbai's silver-white brocade robe fluttered in the swirling snow. Smiling, he said, "Since this is a friendly spar, I shall announce my immortal foundation first." Two snow-white ribbons trailed behind Fei Wangbai through the air. Handsome as polished jade and imposing in stature, he declared: "This is the 'Byway Brocade'!" With that, his silver-white robe flared outward in midair, and a crescent-patterned cloak fastened behind his back. Sweeping his spear across, a surging burst of sharp qi surged straight toward Li Tongya's face. "'Vast Sea.'" As soon as Li Tongya spoke, the waterfalls and mountain springs at the foot of the mountain thundered into motion. The clear river water leapt upward as though imbued with life, streaming straight toward the sky where Li Tongya hovered. *Clang, clang, clang, clang...* Before the silver-white qi blades cloaking Fei Wangbai's spear could draw near, the river water transformed into dozens of fierce water swords, swooping down upon his spear in relentless succession like a flock of falcons. Fei Wangbai chuckled softly. Pulling his spear back, he flipped his cloak and spun in midair, causing the flurry of water swords to miss their mark and vanish behind the fluttering fabric. Seeing this, Li Tongya raised an eyebrow slightly, resting his left hand upon the dharma sword at his waist. Seeing Fei Wangbai charge right before his eyes, he boldly drew his blade. A crescent-white arc of sword light leapt from the weapon in his hand. Fei Wangbai had long heard that Li Tongya possessed an extraordinarily formidable sword-drawing technique. Bringing his spear around to defend, he took the strike head-on. The impact forced him back a step, but with a ripple of his cloak, the force was effortlessly dispersed. Immediately following, the sword momentum poured down upon Fei Wangbai like a torrential downpour. Refusing to yield, he spun his spear like swirling pear blossoms, locking down every incoming strike. From time to time, a bizarre thrust would strike out from within his robes or behind his cloak, forcing Li Tongya to interrupt his sword sequences to defend and buying Fei Wangbai precious moments to regulate his breath. Down on the peaks below, onlookers were already poking their heads out to watch. The two clashed and parted in flashes. With the mountain storm raging fiercely, the Fei family disciples below could only sense the aura of Foundation Establishment, unable to make out their figures through the high-altitude blizzard.