Forming an incantation with his fingers, Li Yuanping bypassed the golden barrier of the Sun Dial Profound Light Formation and ascended Mount Lijing alone.
Ever since Li Tongya had entered secluded cultivation and Li Yuanjiao had departed for Mount Wutu, Li Yuanping had taken up the burden of the Li family. Often residing at the foot of the mountain for months at a time, he rarely left Mount Lijing with much human presence; barnyard grass grew wild from the cracks in the stone, lending the place a desolate, overgrown look.
Reaching the summit, Li Yuanping pushed open the wooden gate to the side courtyard. Inside, he saw a round-faced girl drying books in the sun. Dressed in simple clothes, she was spreading out strings of wooden slips. Her sleeves were sewn tight, making her look not like a direct daughter of a prominent clan, but rather like a busy servant girl.
"Qingxiao!"
A faint smile touched Li Yuanping's pale face as he called out to her with a chuckle. The girl looked up, surprise crossing her features before turning into delight.
"Brother?! What wind blew you up the mountain?"
The children of the Li family had all grown up together on the mountain and shared a warm camaraderie. Li Yuanping gave a hearty laugh and replied, "Can't I just come to see you?"
Li Qingxiao smiled faintly and teased, "I heard you've just taken a lovely wife. I thought this must be some pillow talk blowing in my direction!"
Li Yuanping's face flushed with deep embarrassment. Changing the subject, he said awkwardly, "It's quite something that you can endure staying up on this mountain. The place is eerily quiet."
The corners of Li Qingxiao's lips curved upward as she shook her head. "It's bearable enough. Eldest Sister often comes up to visit me, and reading during the day keeps me from feeling lonely."
Li Qingxiao's looks took mostly after Chen Donghe. None of her facial features stood out as particularly striking, and had it not been for the gentle air in her eyes and demeanor, she would have appeared even more ordinary. Now, as she smiled warmly, the harmony of her features broke, making her look somewhat less refined. Speaking candidly, she said, "Even though I stay on the mountain, I've still heard many rumors claiming the Dou clan is overbearing and keeping spirit fields in secret."
Li Yuanping nodded, his eyes widening slightly, glittering with sharp intelligence. He was exceedingly perceptive when it came to such matters; though the words came from Li Qingxiao's mouth, they immediately brought the Chen family and the various collateral branches to his mind. With a mild smile, he asked in turn, "What do you think of it?"
Li Qingxiao blinked and replied without hesitation, "I suspect the Dou clan has offended our collateral branches!"
"How do you figure that?"
Li Yuanping looked up with interest.
Li Qingxiao said, "I've met Lady Dou. She's a sensible woman with an iron wrist—how could she fail to keep her clan in check? The so-called overbearing conduct of the Dou clan is nothing more than having touched upon the interests of several families. Old Master Dou is short-sighted and not worth worrying about... As for keeping spirit fields in secret..."
"That matter can be as large or as small as one makes it. Which of the prominent families hasn't cleared some spirit fields in private? It was merely an unspoken understanding. To drag it into the open now—if thoroughly investigated, it wouldn't just be the Dou clan's problem. Several prominent families would be dragged in as well."
Li Qingxiao blinked and smiled. "To target the Dou family so aggressively without fearing offense to the prominent surnames, it could only be our family's clan elders and uncles! Most likely, seeing that you have just taken the helm of the family, they want to test you!"
The Li family had its own standards when dividing spirit fields. The fields with thin spiritual qi were beneath the Li family's notice, but the prominent surnames flocked to them like ducks to water. Without even needing to investigate, Li Qingxiao knew most of them had cleared spirit fields in secret, leading her to this deduction. Hearing this, Li Yuanping laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly.
"Well said, but you missed the Chen family."
Seeing Li Qingxiao frown in confusion, Li Yuanping smiled and said, "You live alone on the mountain. To hear such news, wasn't it the Chen family who spoke of it to your father? And seeing that none of it was favorable, it makes the Chen family's stance plain enough."
Li Qingxiao came to a sudden realization and clapped her hands in admiration. Li Yuanping's expression then turned solemn as he continued:
"Over the past five years, our family has swallowed Mount Yuting and Mount Huazhong. Mount Huazhong in particular boasts spiritual essence richer than several townships of Lijing combined. The bustling world gathers for profit, and the scrambling world scrambles for gain. Don't think the squabbles between the prominent families and the collateral branches are without cause—everything revolves around the benefits of those two lands."
Seeing Li Qingxiao nod thoughtfully, Li Yuanping went on, "For decades, the collateral branches were kept thoroughly suppressed by us. They were forbidden from becoming landlords or wealthy merchants, forced to conceal even their pursuit of pleasure. How could they truly accept that in their hearts? Naturally, they are seeking ways out, eager to speculate and profit in those two territories.
"Having only recently taken charge of the family, I haven't resorted to harsh methods, so these people are naturally stirring with ambition. The Dou clan might seem arrogant and domineering, but they make a useful hound. They are at odds with the collateral branches, making them convenient to use."
Li Yuanping picked up a wooden slip from the table, gently turned it over, and continued, "Once all of our Jade Court Guards break through to the Yujing realm and develop spiritual sense, allowing them to easily surveil the affairs of Huazhong and Yuting, and once I have brought the entire clan firmly under control so the collateral branches have no loopholes to exploit, then the time will be ripe."
Li Qingxiao nodded in quiet understanding. "The various families around the lake have always guarded against external surnames while placing heavy trust in their collateral branches. You are doing the exact opposite, Brother—you seem to guard most against our own branches."
Li Yuanping smiled. "There are indeed loyal cultivators among the collateral branches, and they naturally ought to be promoted. But the majority are parasites and profligates. What's worse, they share blood ties with us. If I don't set things in order now, the next generation will have lower seniority, making it all the harder to deal with them. The Lu and Yu families are clear warnings before us; we cannot afford not to be cautious."
The two looked at each other and smiled. Only then did Li Yuanping remember the original purpose of his visit. He asked abruptly, "What do you think of Xiao Xian of Yushan?"
They had just been discussing major clan affairs, and Li Yuanping's abrupt shift caught Li Qingxiao completely off guard. She let out a small "Ah!" and lowered her head. Li Yuanping studied her closely, chuckling.
"When it comes to matters of the heart, words are hardly needed."
Li Qingxiao quickly looked up, her cheeks tinged with red as she chided him, "What nonsense are you saying, Brother? That man is utterly frivolous, running to our Li family day in and day out. Everyone from top to bottom knows how enamored he is, which leaves me terribly embarrassed!"
"Hahahaha."
Li Yuanping chuckled and said, "He is certainly devoted. Given his status in the Yushan branch, he has lowered his posture quite considerably."
"That's true."
Li Qingxiao smiled, calming herself. After a quiet moment, she said in a composed voice, "He puts on a display of deep affection, but I am no sheltered girl ignorant of books who assumes a man is a good match just because he shows a bit of attentiveness. In the end, we've only shared a carriage once and met a few times. One can know a person's face but not their heart. This must still be referred to the elders."
Li Yuanping gave a gentle nod. "He is gentle in temperament, comes from a distinguished family, and is decent in both looks and wit. Moreover, he is earnest and honest—it would be hard to find a better match. I have already sent people to consult Uncle and Brother."
"Very well," Li Qingxiao answered softly, gathering up her long hair. In a low voice, she added, "I've also looked into those young men of external surnames in the clan. None of them seem particularly capable, and their temperaments are each more unhinged than the last. If a match can be found with an established clan outside, it is certainly better than one of the prominent surnames."
With his pale face, Li Yuanping nodded and smiled. "Brother Yuanyun's children are also up on the mountain. You spend your days with them—what do you think of them?"
At the mention of this, Li Qingxiao hesitated. She searched for the right words in her mind, but in the end found herself unable to say them. She merely shook her head, an expression of regret and desolation on her face.
Li Yuanping paused, looking somewhat baffled. Opening his mouth, he murmured, "The Ancestor and Uncle Ling both possessed sterling character. How did it come to this in the next generation..."
Li Qingxiao shot him a meaningful glance, signaling him to hold his tongue, and said pointedly, "Years ago, Brother Yuanyun went down the mountain to the Eastern Shanyue, saying he wanted to seek an aperture-opening method among their shamanic arts. It's been several years since he last returned..."
Both fell silent. It was common knowledge that Li Yuanyun possessed no spirit apertures, yet no one dared mention it; the matter had always been kept locked away like a taboo. Among the direct sons and daughters, his life was the most muddled and aimless.
Yet everyone knew clearly in their hearts that if an aperture-opening technique truly existed in this world, it could never be found in a petty backwater like the Eastern Shanyue, nor would it be something within ordinary reach. Li Yuanping could only let out a sigh and say:
"Uncle Xuanling has already set off to travel in the State of Xu, and Eldest Sister is in secluded cultivation. The elders feel a debt of guilt toward him, so they never place any restrictions on him, always letting him do as he pleases. You and I can hardly say anything either...
"I also asked Brother about it, and his thought was to let him be. Collecting some shamanic arts in the Eastern Shanyue is fine as long as he doesn't commit atrocities or harm people through blood sacrifice. If it can dispel the indignation and gloom pent up in his chest, then that too is a good thing!"
Li Qingxiao let out a soft sigh and murmured, "That is fine... that is fine."
Chapter 287