Wan Xiaohua sat before the desk, unable to conceal his exhaustion. A cultivator of the Yujing Wheel had already condensed a spirit wheel within their Shengyang Mansion; by all rights, going three days and three nights without sleep should still leave them energetic and sharp. Yet so many vexing matters had piled up lately that even Wan Xiaohua felt on the verge of collapse.
"That letter sent by the Li family—Yuankai, what do you make of it?"
Rubbing his temples, Wan Xiaohua looked wearily toward the people gathered below.
Before Wan Yuankai could speak, a burly man beside him blurted out brashly, "What else is there to make of it? The Li family has little strength, yet their ambitions are grand! With just the two of them in that family, our patriarch could march to their doorstep alone and force them to hand over all those spirit fields to our Wan family!"
The man possessed thick brows and wide eyes, glaring boldly up at Wan Xiaohua with fierce, tiger-like eyes.
*Fool!* Wan Xiaohua cursed inwardly. Aloud, he countered, "The Li family has someone cultivating in the sect. If an inquiry comes down from above, where will that leave us?"
"This..."
Seeing that the burly man was struck dumb, Wan Yuankai stepped forward and said, "If this Li family wants thirty percent, then we give them thirty percent. Our family reserves dwindle year after year, to the point where we will soon be unable to pay our tribute. In everything, our survival must remain the foremost priority."
Wan Xiaohua nodded, adding softly, "Thirty percent is likely open to negotiation. The Ji family's influence is immense. Knowing that if the lips are gone the teeth will be cold, the Li family will not press us too harshly."
At the mention of the Ji family, Wan Xiaohua’s expression darkened. Gently setting down the letter in his hand, he continued, "Years ago, the border was Mount Yubu; now we have been pushed back all the way to Guli Road. That old scoundrel Ji Dengqi bullies us beyond measure. Lacking strength, we have yielded again and again over the years, left without even a moment to catch our breath."
Wan Yuankai ground his teeth and nodded, letting out a long sigh. "Fortunately, hope sprang from desperation. The spiritual ley lines on the northern slopes of Mount Dali have gradually revived, offering our Wan family a glimmer of life. It is only a pity that the land does not rest in our hands."
Wan Xiaohua gave a soft, cold laugh. "The way things stand now is actually for the best. Even if our Wan family took the northern slopes of Mount Dali, we would need men to defend it. If I dispatched you there, who would guard our ancestral home on Mount Huaqian? Furthermore, this is a matter of great consequence. If it alerted the Ji family, would Ji Dengqi just sit by and watch our Wan family expand?"
"Ji Dengqi has secretly sent people to contact the fools among our collateral branches, leaving them wavering between both sides. Reaching out to the Li family or sending people over must be handled with utmost secrecy. Under no circumstances must Ji Dengqi find out!"
Wan Yuankai nodded heavily and replied, "I have already arranged for a clansman to fake his death and slip away to Lidaokou. Ji Dengqi's spies are merely mortals; they will not notice anything."
"Tiancang is eloquent, calm, and prudent. Entrusting this matter to him puts my mind completely at ease."
With that, Wan Xiaohua raised his brush and lightly made a mark on the map before him. His gaze turned icy as he murmured, "He may be slicing away our flesh with a dull blade, but he had better beware of our Wan family biting back."
***
Li Tongya regulated his breath. Feeling the surging, ceaseless magic power within his body, he chuckled softly and murmured with emotion, "Circulating ceaselessly without end. Nearly four years, and it is finally done."
"Congratulations, Brother Ya, on taking another step forward and cultivating the Zhouxing Wheel!"
Beside him, Liu Rouxuan smilingly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her dark eyes gazed straight at Li Tongya as she offered her joyful congratulations.
"It is merely the minor cultivation of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, nothing worth celebrating!" Li Tongya turned his head slightly, subtly averting his eyes from hers as he answered with a hint of fluster.
"Tee-hee."
Watching Liu Rouxuan giggle foolishly to the side, Li Tongya shook his head helplessly. He glanced at the sky and said, "After spending a day and a night in secluded cultivation, I should go see Xiangping first."
"Yes," Liu Rouxuan nodded vigorously, smiling.
Leaving the small courtyard of Lijing, Li Tongya had just reached the front courtyard of the Li family residence when he faintly heard commotion from the main courtyard. He halted his steps.
"Mother! Why does everyone else have a father, but not me?"
Lady Ren was quietly sewing clothes in the courtyard. Li Xuanxuan knelt on the ground clutching Ren Ping'er's skirt, speaking with a tearful, aggrieved voice, "Even Li Xiewen has a father! Where did my father go?"
Hearing this, Lady Ren hurriedly knelt down to hug Li Xuanxuan, answering with a choked voice, "Your father went to a very, very far away place..."
"Mother is lying! Mother is lying!"
Li Xuanxuan struggled out of Ren Ping'er's embrace, crying out, "Who goes far away without ever writing letters home? Everyone says Father is dead!"
Ren Ping'er was struck dumb, looking at the crying, fussing child at a complete loss.
Listening to this, Li Tongya felt an ache in his heart. With a deep sigh, he stepped into the main courtyard and gently scooped up Li Xuanxuan.
Seeing Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan immediately wiped his tears and sobbed, "Second Uncle, where is my father?"
Li Tongya gently patted the boy's back, replying with a tinge of sorrow, "Your father was a good man, a warm and generous elder brother..."
"*Wuwuwu...*"
While he was comforting Li Xuanxuan, Li Yesheng knocked on the door and entered the front courtyard. Seeing him, Lady Ren quickly pulled the weeping Li Xuanxuan away, leaving only the two men behind.
"What is it?"
Collecting his emotions, Li Tongya asked in a low voice.
"A man dressed as a hunter is at the front gate seeking an audience. He claims to have come on behalf of the Wan family as agreed."
"Let him in."
Li Tongya was briefly taken aback. Rubbing his chin, he waved his hand to Li Yesheng.
Li Yesheng soon led the man inside. He had an ordinary appearance, wore leather armor, and carried a longbow across his back, though his eyes were remarkably bright. Stepping forward, he cupped his hands to Li Tongya.
"Wan Tiancang of the Wan family pays his respects to the Young Patriarch!"
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, privately judging that this man far surpassed Wan Yuankai and was likely not someone easy to deal with. He smiled and replied, "I hardly deserve the title of Young Patriarch. I merely manage mundane village affairs."
With that, he gestured with his hand. "Please."
Wan Tiancang’s brow twitched as he thought to himself, *I heard that Old Master Li rarely shows himself, and the two brothers manage the Li family jointly without one clearly above the other. Seeing him now, this Li Tongya speaks with great caution. I wonder what sort of person Li Xiangping is.*
Though his mind was racing, he maintained a pleasant smile. "You are too polite."
When Wan Tiancang entered the main courtyard, the old master was seated in the place of honor sipping tea. Looking down at Wan Tiancang, he gave only an indifferent nod.
Observing Li Mutian’s extraordinary bearing and composure, Wan Tiancang was secretly awed. *This must be the Li family's old master. Worthy of a senior who once reached Foundation Establishment—his demeanor is truly out of the ordinary.*
He hastened to bow in salute, but when he rose, his face was already covered in tears, his voice choked with emotion. "Junior pays respects to Senior."
Li Mutian set down his teacup and said in a heavy voice, "Why must it come to this?"
Wan Tiancang wiped away his tears and replied, "Seeing Senior's noble bearing, Junior could not help but think of my own father. The old man fell victim to Ji Dengqi's foul hands, which cost our clan nine hundred jin of spirit rice in succession. We are on the verge of failing to deliver our tribute the year after next!"
"Nine hundred jin?"
Li Tongya exchanged a glance with Li Mutian seated above, understanding dawning in both their eyes.
Li Tongya thought to himself, *This man wants to chip away at our family's thirty percent share of the harvest!*
Chapter 31