Prostrate on the ground, Fei Tongyu turned countless thoughts over in his mind, quietly steeling himself to spill his life’s blood then and there. Yet to his surprise, Li Tongya spoke gently from the seat of honor:
"Brother Wangbai and I were friends for many years. His passing is truly a great pity. You two brothers must guard the clan well. If any lesser branch seeks to overturn heaven and earth and take advantage of your youth and shallow cultivation, you may send word to the south shore to seek me."
Spoken in the tone of an elder, the words seemed meant for Fei Wangjiang at the side. Li Tongya mentioned neither payment nor submission and tribute, offering only kind concern. The two brothers were visibly stunned.
Li Tongya rose directly to his feet and said in a mild voice, "Now that matters here are settled, I shall take my leave."
"This..."
Fei Tongyu listened in disbelief, freezing for a full breath. Seeing Li Tongya rise upon the wind, he dropped to his knees with a thud and cried out, "Respectfully sending off Old Ancestor! We thank Old Ancestor! The Fei family shall never forget your noble clan’s benevolence..."
The youth in white simply held his sword, gradually fading into the distance. Fei Tongyu remained kneeling, muttering for a time before turning with deep relief toward his younger brother, who hurried over. He sighed, "I measured the heart of a gentleman with the yardstick of a petty man!"
"Li Tongya..."
Fei Tongxiao's heart was filled with emotion, and he chimed in, "Cherishing old ties and refusing to kick a man when he is down—our family owes a massive debt of gratitude!"
Fei Tongyu stood, patted the dust from his knees, and the light of hope once again surfaced on his face. For the first time in months, a faint smile appeared. He lowered his voice and said, "Li Qinghong also wields a spear, yet back then she never learned our family's secret techniques. In a few days, I shall send over our Swimming Dragon's Returning Shadow. Consider it a fraction of repayment for this great debt..."
"Indeed."
A strange glint flickered in Fei Tongxiao's eyes. He nodded and replied, "It is just a pity that our family treads on such thin ice right now; we can only repay this debt slowly!"
Fei Wangjiang stood silently beside them like a pine tree, not uttering a word. Fei Tongxiao turned back and asked politely, "Granduncle, does the family still possess any Cold Pine Snow Qi?"
"One portion remains."
Fei Wangjiang looked at him deeply and replied in a gentle voice. Fei Tongyu, vaguely sensing something amiss, asked, "What are you doing? The six white jade wheels formed by the Embryonic Breathing chapter of the Long Brocade Heart-Inquiring Mantra are unique; you cannot simply switch to another cultivation method for Qi Refinement!"
Fei Tongxiao slowly shook his head, his gaze resolute, and said in a heavy voice, "I shall disperse my cultivation and start anew!"
* * *
Li Tongya rode the wind back to Mount Lijing. The night was thick, and lights flickered in the town below the mountain. His gaze swept over the gentle warmth of the mortal hearths before he turned back into his cave dwelling.
The stone doors of the cave dwelling were slightly ajar. Below the steps sat a youth in black robes, his legs crossed, waiting in silence. Li Tongya let out a soft cough that instantly startled him awake. Li Yuanjiao hastily opened his eyes, only to freeze on the spot.
The youth in white before him had handsome, sharply defined features and eyes bright as the stars, gazing intently at him. Startled by the youthful visage, Li Yuanjiao stared blankly for several breaths before hesitatingly asking, "You are...? Old Ancestor?"
Li Tongya gave a soft laugh and nodded. "I have already visited the north shore and delivered the Fei family. Yu Xiaogui's path has been severed by my hand, and his life hangs by a thread. With such deterrence in place, there is no need to worry in the days ahead."
"Old Ancestor! You... have recovered?!"
Overjoyed at the news, Li Yuanjiao looked eagerly at Li Tongya. But Li Tongya merely shook his head gently and continued, "After this battle, peace will return to the lake. The Fei brothers fall far short of Fei Wangbai. Having received such immense kindness, their hearts lean toward our family...
"Though Yu Mugao is sinister and suspicious, his talent is mediocre. With his prestige severely damaged and his conduct unsparingly harsh, without Yu Xiaogui to keep things under control, he will have plenty of headaches."
His black hair tumbled loosely in the air, bestowing upon him a remarkably uninhibited air.
"The Yu family has no worthy successors. With both you and Qinghong present, Foundation Establishment is within reach. Within sixty years, our family will be the undisputed hegemon of the lake."
Seeing Li Tongya suddenly speak so much, an ominous premonition stirred in Li Yuanjiao's heart. Li Tongya waved his hand gently, drew him down to sit before the steps, and said softly, "Though Fei Wangbai is dead, the Fei family still has nine Qi Refinement cultivators, far surpassing our clan. Their Cloud-Gathering Southern Sky Array is formidable as well. I feared that after my death, our family would be unable to suppress them, inadvertently driving them into the arms of the Yu family. That is why I left them a debt of gratitude, allowing us to remain allies.
"The balance of power on the lake is not determined by momentary strength; it is the culmination of maneuvering between multiple sides. If we are to push north in force in the future, we must flow with the tide. Otherwise, not only will matters go awry, but we will also make enemies."
Li Yuanjiao already possessed some understanding of these matters, having discussed them in detail with Li Tongya before. He immediately nodded and answered, "Jiao'er understands!"
Li Tongya paused, then continued, "There is the Fei family on the north shore and the Yu family on the east shore. On the west shore, however, dwells an itinerant Foundation Establishment cultivator named He, who is at the mid Foundation Establishment realm. Although he pursues only the Dao and has never involved himself in worldly affairs, you must remain cautious and attentive."
"Yes!"
Seeing Li Yuanjiao nod in acknowledgment, Li Tongya embraced his azure blade and walked slowly up the steps, saying softly, "For this period of secluded cultivation, the doors of the cave dwelling must be shut tight. Do not disturb me for five years."
As his words fell, the array of the cave dwelling activated on its own, and the moss-covered stone doors slowly began to close.
*Creak—*
Li Yuanjiao raised his head, watching him step into the cave dwelling. The stone doors shut themselves with a grinding rumble, yet Li Tongya's gentle voice floated down lightly:
"Never forget our clan's hatred and family grudges."
Li Yuanjiao flung back his sleeves and dropped abruptly to his knees, kowtowing with his forehead touching the ground. He bowed deeply three times, and only when the stone doors slammed shut with a heavy boom did Li Yuanjiao slowly straighten up. His expression was solemn and his eyes slightly reddened as he said in a low, heavy voice, "Jiao... shall never forget..."
Behind the doors, Li Tongya paused for a moment. Hearing Li Yuanjiao's earnest reply, he looked around the clean, tidy cave dwelling. He took his seat at the front, ground ink, took up a brush, and inscribed several lines upon the stone table. Only then did he return to the stone couch and sit cross-legged.
"It seems I have wasted the fox's efforts after all. That sword strike was far too absolute; it has already shattered my immortal foundation and severed my vitality."
Li Tongya looked up toward the north, a smile appearing on his handsome face. It was as though sixty years of time had left not a single trace upon him in this fleeting moment. He murmured softly, "In life, Tongya governed the clan, purged external threats, and subdued the Shanyue. For over seventy years, I fulfilled every human duty. In death, my robes and cap are tidy, and my heart is at peace. My life has been deeply gratifying; I harbor no lingering regrets."
He rested his chin upon his hand and exhaled softly. His black hair cascaded down, and his starlike eyes slowly dimmed. The Qingchi Sword in his embrace gave a low hum, and astral qi surged through the cave dwelling, weeping and howling.
A full three breaths later, a brilliant white orb emerged before him. It drifted through the cave dwelling for a breath, then vanished into the void.
His face remained youthful and handsome, frozen in the visage of his sixteen-year-old self. His white robes were neat, without a single wrinkle. His eyes were closed, a faint smile on his lips, looking as though he were merely lost in thought.
*Boom!*
A faint, resounding rumble of colliding rivers echoed from the void. Drops of dew seeped from the floor of the cave dwelling, giving off the rhythmic tinkling of spring water. The wail of northern winds grew louder and fiercer, yet remained sealed tightly within the depths of the cave.
*Whoosh...*
Stirred by the lingering aura of the Vast Sea atop Mount Lijing, the clear and cloudless sky suddenly filled with dark clouds. Thunder rumbled without end, and a rustling drizzle drifted down across the land.
"It’s raining."
A fine autumn rain enveloped the entirety of Lijing Town. Farmers drenched in sweat looked up toward the heavens, vendors raised umbrellas over their carts, and the carriages of prominent households slowly rolled onto the streets.
In the alleys below the mountain, the bluestone pavers grew slick with rainwater. Yellow hounds barked softly, children giggled and played, and a newly wedded bride pinched the copper coins in her hand, wondering whether to buy a foot of cloth to sew new clothes.
Silently he passed away within the cave dwelling, his immortal foundation shattered, his breath extinguished. Yet the world outside remained wholly unaware, feeling only that the weather had turned cool, the drizzle fine and gentle, and the air thoroughly pleasant.
What a rare, precious autumn rain.
Chapter 320