Jade Court Guard

Li Xuanxuan paused, letting Li Tongya take in the good news, before continuing: "With this jade well, there is no need to launch massive construction to build another. Now that Second Uncle has attained Foundation Establishment, yet our clan's foundation is shallow and our Qi Refinement cultivators are far too few—scarcely enough to watch over our territory—might the Court-Knocking Palace Guard Incantation also be distributed to nurture some cultivators of reliable background?" "Indeed!" Li Tongya's eyes lit up. A jade well for refining sub-court cold armor qi was not something that could be casually built; it required immense deliberation and meticulous arrangements, coupled with an array of runes. Mount Yuting already having such a well spared him a great deal of effort. Li Tongya pondered for a breath and replied: "Select some spirit aperture bearers who are loyal and of blameless origins. This cultivation method can rapidly condense the six chakras and nurture Qi Refinement cultivators, but it must not be bestowed lightly, lest we fail to keep them under control." Li Xuanxuan nodded and answered: "Your nephew intends to select six loyal men to begin cultivation first. Normally, they will be organized as a division under the Clan Rectory to carry out law enforcement. It is just that I have not yet settled on a name for this division." Having held authority for decades, Li Xuanxuan naturally understood the subtleties. With a genial smile, he stepped forward, fetched brush and ink, and presented them with both hands. Li Tongya let out a soft laugh, picked up the brush, and said: "As if you haven't thought of one! You were just waiting to spring this on me." Thinking for a breath, Li Tongya set brush to paper and wrote three characters with bold, crisp strokes like silver carvings and golden hooks. He explained: "I have read both the Classic of the White-Headed Court Knocker and the Court-Knocking Palace Guard Incantation. The Dao foundation of the former is called 'Jade Court General', while the Dao foundation of the latter is called 'Court Guard'. Let them be named the Jade Court Guard!" *** Eastern Shanyue. The radiant morning sun rose from the east, creeping over countless thatched cottages and wicker fences. The common folk had just awakened from sleep, some heading out to hunt, others to till the fields. In earlier years, Eastern Shanyue had suffered terribly from the ravages of war, with corpses strewn across the land. Over recent years, the Li family personnel dispatched here had collaborated with Shamoli, working vigorously to govern well. They had also brought over many Eastlanders and proper systems and etiquette to constrain officials and nobles, finally bringing some ease and prosperity to these recent years. A swaying carriage rumbled across the muddy road, drawing the gazes of a crowd of Shanyue tribesmen. Shamoli sat steadily inside the compartment. A singing girl perched upon each of his splayed legs, leaning into his chest. His large hand caressed a woman's shoulder for a time, but his thoughts had flown far away. 'Those horned serpents... the commotion was truly immense...' Though the Li family held complete sway over Eastern Shanyue, Shamoli was a Qi Refinement cultivator after all, and he was well aware that a great disturbance had erupted from the Li family the previous night. He had seen magical radiance surging in the east, with two spells shaped like horned serpents churning up and down, which left him deeply uneasy. 'Could it be that they came to blows with the An family? Li Tongya is a sword cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement, after all; knocking down An Zheyan shouldn't be a problem. As long as they haven't tangled with the Yu family...' To Shamoli's mind, both the Yu family and the Li family had backing within the sect, yet the Yu family boasted two more Foundation Establishment cultivators and far surpassed the Li family in strength. If war broke out between them, the Li family would likely be unable to withstand it. 'If the Li family falls, how could I keep my seat as the Shanyue King? Even saving my life would be difficult!' Although kept under the Li family's thumb, Shamoli lived a comfortable life. His greatest wish was merely for the Li family to weaken, not to perish. He had heard that the Yu family was ruthless in their methods; if the Yu family invaded, Shamoli could only pack his things and become a rogue cultivator. "Shamoli! Shamoli!" Just as Shamoli was lost in thought inside the carriage, the curtain was suddenly pulled open, and a young man with short eyebrows and narrow eyes slipped inside. Shamoli's expression soured for an instant before he forced a broad smile and answered: "Ah, Brother Tian Rong! What brings you looking for me?" Tian Rong's eyes lingered reluctantly over the singing girls, sweeping across them in a way that displeased Shamoli. Only then did Tian Rong pull his gaze away as if suddenly remembering himself, speaking up: "This Shanyue land is utterly boring. Except for your place, nothing has any flavor." Tian Rong was the son of Tian Youdao. When their kin were exiled to the Shanyue lands, Tian Rong, who had always been a debauched wastrel, naturally clung to Shamoli. At first, Shamoli thought he was connecting with the Tian family line and had been overjoyed, entertaining him with great hospitality. Yet after a mere three days, Shamoli realized the man was a complete good-for-nothing. Not only was he intractable, but he was also thoroughly restless and disorderly. The nonsense spewing from his mouth was astonishing even to a half-baked fellow like Shamoli, who came from Shanyue stock. Shamoli wished nothing more than to kick him out of his palace. Useless though Tian Rong was, he was the sole offspring of Tian Youdao. Unwilling to make an enemy for no reason, Shamoli could only ride around in his carriage to avoid him. Who would have thought Tian Rong was so blind to social cues that he had chased him all the way here, leaving Shamoli at a loss for what to think. "Sigh." Shamoli sighed inwardly. Listening to Tian Rong's endless stream of crude, nonsensical talk, he thought secretly: 'I heard that Tian Youdao is a capable man and a senior figure in the Li clan. How did he sire a son like this? Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable...' Just as Shamoli was listening drowsily, his ears twitched. Outside, a clear voice called out: "Tian Zhongqing pays respects to the Great King!" "Quickly, please come in!" Having finally found a chance to interrupt Tian Rong, Shamoli sat bolt upright. While Tian Zhongqing could not compare to the cultivators of the main clan, he was considered quite a talent among the collateral surnames. Shamoli was immediately overjoyed, cutting off Tian Rong without hesitation. *Whoosh!* The heavy curtain was pulled back, admitting the brilliant sunlight outside. Tian Zhongqing had regular features and a composed bearing. Although he did not think much of this barbarian in his heart, he still gave him plenty of face, greeting him politely: "Great King!" With a fleeting glance, Tian Rong's shifty, rat-like visage caught his eye from the corner. Tian Zhongqing was startled, and a searing rage flared in his chest as he blurted out: "Why are you here?!" Tian Rong shrank back his neck, saying nothing. Shamoli wore an awkward expression; he detested this man to the extreme and had no intention of providing Tian Rong an easy way out. Reading their expressions, Tian Zhongqing understood at once. Fury roared in his mind: 'I told him not to get too close to Shamoli... and he treated it completely as wind past his ears!' Tian Zhongqing's heart thumped violently. He wished he could slap this man to death. Yet Tian Rong was Tian Youdao's only son. Not only was Tian Youdao a great benefactor to Tian Zhongqing, but he was also the pillar of the Tian clan. Tian Zhongqing could only force down his rage, cupping his hands toward Shamoli: "The Clan Head has summoned you. The Great King is requested to make a trip to Mount Lijing for an audience!" Shamoli shot up in shock and terror, stammering: "May I ask, my lord, did he mention what this is about?" Tian Zhongqing shook his head and answered: "Merely an audience." With that, he cupped his hands, swept his sleeves, hopped off the carriage, and walked away. The more Tian Zhongqing thought about it, the angrier he grew, which then morphed from anger into dread. He thought to himself: 'My mistake caused the whole clan to be exiled west, but perhaps that isn't entirely a bad thing. With Tian Rong's disposition, he will cause trouble sooner or later...' Tian Zhongqing waited a moment, yet Tian Rong still did not come down. Listening intently, he could still hear Tian Rong's complaints and Shamoli's impatient responses from within the carriage. Overwhelming fury surged through Tian Zhongqing again as he muttered fiercely: "The one to bring disaster upon us in the future will definitely be this boy!"