The Wan Family

Atop the summit of Qingsui Peak stood a delicate pavilion with cloud-framed windows and mist-veiled eaves, adorned with carvings as intricate as sliced moonlight and clipped clouds. The gentle morning light flowed across the pavilion, bathing it in a warm golden sheen. Sitting upon a bluestone in front of the pavilion, Li Chijing slowly exhaled a breath of pure qi. Opening his eyes, he gazed out at the boundless sea of clouds before him. His handsome brows arched as he thought to himself, “I’ve finally formed the Qingyuan Wheel! “Our family’s cultivation art truly has an extraordinary origin. What I condensed isn't ordinary Qingyuan magic power, but Moon Essence Qingyuan. Not only is it remarkably dense, but its power also far surpasses that of common arts.” Standing up, he smoothed down his azure robe and stepped into the pavilion. Taking down a precious sword that gleamed with cold light from the wall, he flicked his wrist and blossomed a swirl of sword light. “I’ve also grasped the basics of the Mystic Water Sword Art Senior Brother gave me. Though a third-rank art usually requires at least the Qi Refinement realm to truly wield, fortunately the manual itself isn't difficult and is quite easy to learn. “I wonder if Father is in good health, and whether my older brothers have formed the Zhouxing Wheel yet. I heard that the Tangjin Sect to the west has been stirring with unrest lately. Our two territories share a border stretching thousands of li; I wonder if my Li family has been affected.” With such worries weighing on his mind, Li Chijing lost the mood to practice his sword. Leaning over the desk, he absentmindedly flipped through a jade slip, his thoughts already drifting thousands of li away to the Li family. “Junior Brother!” A cheerful shout broke the quiet. Outside the pavilion approached a man with thick brows and large eyes—his senior brother, Xiao Yuansi. Smiling at Li Chijing seated by the desk, he said, “Junior Brother, guess what good news I bring!” “Senior Brother, please stop teasing me.” Li Chijing shook his head with a rueful smile, put away the jade slip in his hands, and assumed an attentive posture. “Master has instructed me to go to Lixia Commandery on business!” Xiao Yuansi raised a brow, then asked, “Do you have a letter home you’d like me to deliver?” “Yes, yes! Thank you, Senior Brother! You're wonderful!” Li Chijing was overjoyed at once. Thanking him profusely, he fetched brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and immediately began writing. Xiao Yuansi chuckled and said softly, “Take your time. Just give it to me tonight.” *** As dawn began to break, Li Xiangping slowly awoke from his meditation. He pondered, “My sea of qi is filled. In another six months of cultivation, I can attempt to condense the Zhouxing Wheel.” Counting the time, he, Li Xiangping, had been stuck on this Zhouxing Wheel for nearly four years. His cultivation progress was outrageously slow; by now, Jing'er had probably already begun pushing toward the Qingyuan Wheel. Stepping out of the room, he saw Tian Yun basking in the sunlight by the door. Upon seeing Li Xiangping approach, she moved to stand up. “Wait, stay seated, stay seated.” Li Xiangping waved his hands repeatedly and gently supported Tian Yun by the arm, saying softly, “You're pregnant now, so you must be extra careful not to disturb the baby!” Tian Yun smiled gently and looked into Li Xiangping's eyes, replying in a soft voice, “Ever since I got pregnant, my body just feels clumsy and sluggish.” Yawning, she spoke with a touch of worry, “I hear young Qiuyang is making rapid progress in his cultivation. I often worry that if our child doesn't possess a spirit aperture, then a hundred years from now the main line will be weak while the branch grows strong. That might bring misfortune to our Li family.” Li Xiangping was taken aback for a moment. Then he affectionately stroked her head and laughed heartily, “Rest assured, our child will have a spirit aperture as well. I will see to the family's matters; there is no need for you to worry. “As for Li Qiuyang, he has only formed the Xuanjing Wheel a bit earlier, that's all. There's no need to dwell on it.” Seeing her husband Li Xiangping looking so full of confidence, Tian Yun leaned gently against his chest and murmured, “As long as you have a plan in mind, that's enough.” While the two shared this tender moment, Liu Linfeng rushed hurriedly into the front courtyard. Seeing them like this, he slammed on the brakes, his face flushing crimson, caught in an awkward position where he could neither advance nor retreat. Tian Yun smiled softly and withdrew, supported by Lady Ren. Li Xiangping looked at Liu Linfeng with some surprise and asked with a laugh, “Uncle, what has you in such a rush?” “One of the Liu boys under my command left Lidaokou and traveled dozens of li along Guli Road. By chance, he spotted a hunting farmer who was extremely vigilant—the moment he saw our man, he took off running! My lad didn't dare give chase, so he noted down the location and hurried back to report,” Liu Linfeng panted heavily as he quickly explained to Li Xiangping. Li Xiangping knitted his brows. Just as he was about to speak, another figure barged in from outside. Looking closely, they saw it was Li Yesheng. Li Yesheng was also red-faced and out of breath, having clearly sprinted all the way from the head of the village to the tail. Without daring to pause for breath, he blurted out, “Clan Head! Someone from Lichuankou came to report—an immortal cultivator claiming to be of the Wan family under Qingchi's domain has arrived to pay a visit!” “Damn it! He probably tracked that boy back here!” Liu Linfeng slapped his thigh and gave himself a hard slap across the face, filled with regret. Li Xiangping rubbed the space between his brows, let out a long sigh, and said in a heavy voice, “Don't panic yet. The visitor is also under Qingchi's rule; he won't resort to violence right off the bat.” Looking up at the gathering crowd around them, Li Xiangping called out, “Where is Second Brother?” “The Immortal Master went up the mountain early this morning and hasn't come down yet.” “Uncle, head up the mountain and explain everything to Second Brother. Tell him to stay on the back mountain and not come down. Yesheng, come with me to Lidaokou.” Liu Linfeng voiced his agreement and hurried up the mountain. Li Xiangping took Li Yesheng and, followed by several militia men from Lijing Village, hurried along the rural paths toward Lidaokou. Upon arriving at Lidaokou, they ran into one of Xu Wenshan's men. Li Yesheng asked the man as they walked, “What did he say?” “The Immortal Master is very quiet. He's sitting in the Boss's courtyard without saying much at all, just meditating with his eyes closed,” the man answered quite calmly. While speaking, Li Xiangping and his party reached the front door. He adjusted his clothes, strode forward, and looked toward the person sitting in the seat of honor. The boy looked quite young, only in his teens, with delicate and handsome facial features. Dressed in a moon-white robe, he opened his eyes at this moment and looked toward Li Xiangping. “Under Qingchi's domain, Li Xiangping.” Li Xiangping had not yet formed the Yujing Wheel and had not yet awakened divine sense, so he could not gauge the boy's strength. He cupped his hands in a modest salute. To his surprise, the boy seemed to heave a sigh of relief upon hearing those words. He quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, “Under Qingchi's domain, Wan Yuankai of the Wan family greets the Li Clan Head.” “You flatter me. I am merely a minor cultivator of the Li family. The head of our clan is my father.” Li Xiangping waved his hands repeatedly. Seeing how humble the other was, the heavy stone in his heart dropped, and a smile surfaced on his face. “A few days ago, my father heard that the venerable one on Qingsui Peak had dispatched people to guard west of Guli Road, and was thoroughly delighted. He sent me west to investigate and seek acquaintance with our new neighbors. I just happened to run into people from your village and came without prior notice. Please forgive my intrusion.” Wan Yuankai, on the contrary, was quite excited. After politely apologizing, he smiled faintly, “My father even bade me bring congratulatory gifts.”