Chengfu

Tonight, Lijing Village was ablaze with light. Laughter and cheer echoed from every household. Children ran back and forth through the village as though celebrating the New Year, shouting and playing in merriment. Liu Linfeng led a group of men in lighting a roaring bonfire in the village's open clearing. Everyone gathered around the flames, talking and laughing, animatedly discussing that ferocious serpent. The men boasted proudly, their faces lit crimson by the firelight. Earlier that evening, Li Yesheng had needed a full ten men to drag the serpent down the mountain. After laboring to strip away its scales, he called over the village women to slice the meat thinly. Three large basins were filled, marinated with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine, and set beside the bonfire. Each household brought out their own meats and vegetables, chatting warmly by the fire. Li Mutian had never cared for such bustling festivities and could not be bothered to step outside his courtyard. Thus, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya posted guards over the spirit root and descended the mountain first. "Our experience is shallow, and neither of us recognizes this spirit root. We don't know its effects or taboos, so it's best to leave it alone for now. In a few days, we can find a market fair and make some discreet inquiries." Li Xiangping sat before the bonfire, turning his head to speak to his brother. "Naturally." Li Tongya nodded. Glancing up at the three wooden basins, he pinched up a slice of snake meat. Seeing that it was cut as thin as a cicada's wing, shimmering with a faint white luster, he chuckled. "The *Secret Notes of Lixia* states: 'Scaled beasts, birds, and insects that transform into demons inhale and exhale the essence of sun and moon. Spiritual qi thrives within their flesh and blood; consuming it strengthens the body and enriches qi and blood.' We should have Father eat more of this." "A portion has already been sent to his courtyard." Li Xiangping skewered a slice of snake meat and roasted it over the fire, where it sizzled pleasantly. He continued, "The gall bladder was as big as two fists together. That was sent to his courtyard as well, to steep in wine." As the two brothers conversed, Li Yesheng approached with Xu Wenshan. Li Tongya looked up and raised an eyebrow, signaling them to speak. "You wish to open trade along Guli Road, selling off the surplus goods from the various villages?" After listening to Xu Wenshan's earnest proposal, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya exchanged a glance, both lost in thought. What Xu Wenshan planned happened to align perfectly with their own intentions. Li Tongya pondered for a few breaths, then said, "A fine idea. You and Liu Linfeng will oversee this matter together. Aside from your own men, the rest of the hands will be drawn from the Liu family for now." Seeing Xu Wenshan overjoyed, Li Xiangping said gravely, "There are still a few cultivator families along Guli Road. If we wish to conduct trade, we must consult them. First, send men to make careful inquiries and feel things out. Mark every inhabited place along Guli Road, and draft a map first." "This subordinate understands!" Xu Wenshan listened attentively, then looked up and patted his chest in reassurance. "Rest assured, Masters! I, Old Xu, have traveled Lixia Road for over a decade. The tricks of the road are etched into my bones. If not for the fact that I've never set foot on Guli Road before, I, Xu Wenshan, could draw the map right this instant." Xu Wenshan bustled off in high spirits to rally his men. Li Tongya chewed on a piece of snake meat and spoke in a low voice to Li Yesheng: "Uncle was growing idle at home anyway; it's better that he has something to do. That Xu Wenshan is as crafty as a ghost. Even though we placed mostly Liu men beneath him, you still need to keep a close eye on him, Yesheng. Don't let Xu Wenshan gain too much sway." "I understand!" Li Yesheng answered promptly. Having followed the two brothers for so long, he had gradually grown adept at managing affairs, and he secretly put his guard up against Xu Wenshan. "Tomorrow, gather some reliable men of our own. Go up the mountain and wall off the banyan tree with a small courtyard to keep prying eyes away..." Having said this, Li Xiangping waved a hand, and Li Yesheng tactfully withdrew. Li Tongya let out a soft sigh and remarked quietly, "If our Li family weren't so short of people who can hold down the fort, we wouldn't need to calculate and guard against others at every turn like this." Li Xiangping chewed his snake meat in silence, tightening his grip on the skewer. He replied, "We really ought to visit the market fair. Buying a map would be easy enough. But the two of us have such meager cultivation, and who knows what lurks in that fair? We can't afford to take unnecessary risks." "Do not fret!" Seeing Li Xiangping looking downcast, Li Tongya laughed heartily and said, "Now that Jing'er has entered a sect, the spiritual sprouts at home are flourishing, a disciple with a spirit aperture has emerged among our kin, and we have even discovered this spirit root. Our Li family is thriving. If we become too greedy and dissatisfied, it will only invite calamity upon us." Hearing this, Li Xiangping paused, then nodded thoughtfully and smiled. "I shall remember Elder Brother's teachings!" *** Li Chengfu had now relocated close to the main branch's residence, and his life had changed completely. Not only had he reclaimed his ancestral surname, but whenever anyone in Lijing Village spoke of Li Chengfu, who could help exclaiming that he was blessed with tremendous fortune? Walking through the village, though he didn't swagger about bullying people, he certainly carried himself with dignity and pride. Who, upon seeing Li Chengfu, wouldn't respectfully offer him a greeting? The elders of the Ye clan were naturally green with envy. Even Liu Linfeng, who normally wouldn't spare him a second glance, now forced a smile and called him Chengfu whenever they met. Yet to be fair, as smug as Li Chengfu felt, he still dared not put on airs before Liu Linfeng. After all, the man was the direct line's maternal uncle. Down on his luck though he was for now, who could say he wouldn't make a comeback one day? Sure enough, Liu Linfeng had only been down on his luck for a few months before an order came from the masters. In the blink of an eye, he was put in charge of dozens of men, running from one end of the village to the other to draft some damned map, grinning so broadly his smile practically dripped onto the ground! Sitting in the village tavern, Li Chengfu savored his liquor with relish. Watching Liu Linfeng spinning about day after day like a whipped top, he chuckled. "Seems your task isn't an easy one either, Liu Linfeng! How could it compare to the comfortable life I, Li Chengfu, am living?" "Brother Fu, Brother Fu, tell us, what kind of miraculous abilities do immortals have? Why do you folks keep running up the mountain every single day?" Looking at the idlers gathered eagerly around him to fish for gossip, Li Chengfu snorted coldly, gave his sleeves a flick, and shouted, "Shut up! Clear out, all of you!" Li Chengfu was no fool. The Li family had few hands, and as a member of a collateral branch, he was practically part of their inner circle now. He and his two children were currently helping build the courtyard on the mountain. Li Yesheng had explicitly ordered that word must not leak; would Li Chengfu be so stupid as to betray his own clan just for cheap attention? The middle-aged man had calculated everything clearly. His son possessed a spirit aperture and carried Li blood. Apart from the three currently in charge—Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and Li Yesheng—the fourth seat was practically guaranteed for his boy! Liu Rouxuan bore an outside surname; how could she ever meddle in this? Now, he and his three children—one an immortal cultivator and two mortals—had all taken the Li surname. The Li family's interests were Li Qiuyang's interests, which meant they were Li Chengfu's own interests. Would he ever sell out his own family? "Back to work!" Li Chengfu waved a dismissive hand, drained the clear liquor in his bowl, and swaggered out through the crowd of idlers. The courtyard on the mountain was large, and the deadline was tight. Li Chengfu had no time to squander here.