Madam

Snow flurried through the air. Her call of "Husband" sounded melodious and pleasant. Li Xuanfeng paused his gaze on the gentle, lovely woman, speaking with great courtesy: "Hemian, has the Real Person summoned me?" Ning Hemian responded briefly and shook her head, answering: "Someone has arrived from the grotto-heaven. The Real Person has already returned to Qingchi Peak to pay his respects." Ning Hemian had been married to him for five or six years now. Unable to decline the match at the time, Li Xuanfeng had wed her. In the blink of an eye, five or six years had passed, and they had always treated each other with mutual respect, like polite guests. Most of Ning Hemian's thoughts were devoted to cultivation, and the two had lived together rather harmoniously. Li Xuanfeng slung his bow onto his back and walked side by side with her. Ning Hemian was very polite toward him. Having shared a bed for years, it was naturally impossible to say he remained entirely unmoved, yet a knot always lingered in his heart. Li Xuanfeng harbored a deep hatred for the Qingchi Sect. The deaths of several close kin were inextricably tied to Qingchi, and his wife and child had died together in a trade between the Qingchi and Tangjin Sects. Originally, seeing Chi Wei perish and the external Violet Abode cultivators within Qingchi Sect growing too powerful to easily control, he had secretly taken heart. Yuansu also looked down on the Chi family, making it seem as if great opportunities lay ahead, and Li Xuanfeng had been quietly calculating his moves. Who could have foreseen that several months ago, Yuansu would summon him? Real Person Yuansu needed to leave Yishan City to pay respects to some Master Suiguan, who had supposedly arrived from the Qingchi Grotto-Heaven. *Of all times, another Violet Abode cultivator had to descend from the Qingchi Grotto-Heaven! What kind of nonsense is this!* Hearing that someone had come from the Qingchi Grotto-Heaven—and a late-stage Violet Abode at that, with perhaps even more within the grotto-heaven—left him profoundly dispirited. For ten days straight, he had vented his frustration on the monsters atop these city walls. Now, he walked in silence through the snow along the battlements. Many thoughts crossed his mind. Heavy snow drifted across the sky, and Ning Hemian quietly followed beside him. After waiting a moment, Li Xuanfeng decided to ask: "Hemian, do you know... what this grotto-heaven's origins are?" Ning Hemian nodded and said very politely: "My Ning family knows a little. Just listen, Husband, but do not spread it." Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod, Ning Hemian spoke in a soft, gentle voice: "My father once accompanied the Real Person inside. Outsiders call it the Qingchi Grotto-Heaven, but in truth, it is named 'Lüyu Heaven.' Very few enter it, and hardly anyone lives within." She hesitated slightly, as if pondering something, before continuing: "I do not know what the True Monarch who created this grotto-heaven was thinking back then. This grotto-heaven has no heaven and no earth, no sun and no moon—only surging green waters. Strictly speaking... it does not belong to the Qingchi Sect." "Oh?" Li Xuanfeng was quite surprised and asked: "Then whose dharma treasure is it?" Ning Hemian gave a forced smile and said in a low voice: "Whose? Perhaps some True Monarch's? This world knows no bounds, and Golden Cores already enjoy boundless longevity. Perhaps he is in some corner of the grotto-heaven, or perhaps he has traveled beyond the heavens into seclusion... In short, Qingchi cannot truly control Lüyu Heaven..." "Moreover, one cannot stay in Lüyu Heaven for long at all. Never mind mortals—even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would dissolve into a pool of blood after staying inside for a few days. A Violet Abode cultivator who stays for half a year to a year would also lose their sanity, have their divine abilities exhausted, and turn into a mortal." The worry in Ning Hemian's expression became even more apparent as she said softly: "Occasionally, Violet Abodes from within the sect enter and emerge bearing orders. My father went in once back then because of his unique cultivation technique... There was nobody inside." "Yet from such a grotto-heaven, someone suddenly stepped out. Dressed in brand-new attire, he called himself Master Suiguan, with the surname Chi." Li Xuanfeng pondered this carefully, feeling a chill run down his spine. Ning Hemian whispered: "My cousin has seen that Master Suiguan too. No one can tell which lineage or branch he comes from, nor does he say which Dao's ancestor he is. He says his surname is Chi, so his surname is Chi. How would Chi Zhiyun dare utter a word of objection?" Li Xuanfeng stared at her blankly: "You mean..." Her smile seemed hollow: "Every move Qingchi makes is on orders brought back by Violet Abodes from the grotto-heaven. I used to think they couldn't come out; it turns out they were simply disinclined to." Ning Hemian said dejectedly: "Perhaps the grotto-heaven is not a possession of the Qingchi Sect, but rather... the Qingchi Sect is a possession of the grotto-heaven." Li Xuanfeng opened his mouth. Ning Hemian had already pulled him into the room and shut the door tight. The screening formation activated automatically. As she unfastened his clothes, she whispered: "I had selfish motives in secretly telling you all this..." "Husband, sharing a bed with you, I can sense certain things... The Qingchi Sect is a colossal monster that drives people to despair, clinging to that entity within the Void... Do not hate it... Do not hate it..." Li Xuanfeng sat back onto the couch. Ning Hemian nestled into his embrace, loosening her garments, tears welling in her eyes: "I know you hate it... In earlier years, my Ning family did not have an easy time either. If our Real Person had not achieved his realm, who knows how wretched our plight would be today." "Did the Yang family not hate? Did the Deng family not hate? Did the Yu family not hate? Originally, Qingchi had only sixteen peaks... Now it has thirty-six. The later descendants of these families are all proud, considering themselves Qingchi through and through." Ning Hemian looked at his expression, guessed some of his thoughts, and continued: "Even after enduring such torment, only a few members of the Deng family's direct line still harbor hatred. Does Chi Zhiyun not know? He simply doesn't care... Below the direct line of the Deng family, who among them does not consider themselves Qingchi? Who truly represents the Deng family?" Li Xuanfeng gritted his teeth and held her, watching a flush rise across her tender face. Ning Hemian's eyes narrowed with emotion as she looked at him, her voice gentle: "Husband, do you think the offspring of Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao'er will harbor resentment against Qingchi for the sake of Li Chijing, who lived several generations ago? Though I do not know how you deceived the ancestor, Husband, I imagine not everyone in the Li family possesses such means..." "The Yang and Yu families of today are the Li family of tomorrow, or at worst another Deng family. This scheme of Qingchi can dissolve blood ties, turn enemies into friends, and assimilate them into the sect..." Li Xuanfeng's palms grew hot, flushing her fair, tender arms. Ning Hemian looked at him passionately. The man's sharp brows and eyes shone brightly as he stared at her: "Those within the sect are not necessarily friends; those outside are not necessarily enemies." Ning Hemian gave a soft laugh, pressed against his chest, and whispered: "My Ning family is a friend to your noble clan. As for who the enemy is, you and I know well in our hearts." Li Xuanfeng had let her stir in his arms for so long that a fire had long since ignited within him. Scooping her up horizontally, he said fiercely: "Why are you still talking about 'my Ning family'? You're already married to me; you and I are one! Why speak as if we belong to two families!" "Mm!" Ning Hemian gave a melodious assent. For the first time, the guest-like distance between them vanished. The woman held her head high and smiled tenderly. ... Mount Qingdu. Mount Qingdu had once been covered in duruo grass. Now in the depth of winter, following a heavy snowfall, it had turned pure white once more. The rain and snow had ceased, and the sun grew bright. Xiao Guiluan was cultivating in her quiet chamber. Her phoenix eyes were charming, and she wore a simple black sash-dress. Xiao Guiluan had now reached the fifth tier of Qi Refinement. Her talent was decent, and over the years she had progressed step by step. Though she could not catch up to her husband Li Yuanjiao, her progress was considered very rapid. Xiao Guiluan originally did not care much for black, but Li Yuanjiao favored dark patterns and black cloth, so she followed his preference. She had always kept a low profile in the Li family. If Li Yuanjiao had been the clan patriarch, her influence and presence today would certainly have been very different. Knowing he disliked such displays, however, she obediently cultivated on the mountain. Exhaling a mouthful of clear qi, she saw Li Yuexiang enter from the courtyard. The girl looked at her and asked: "Mother, where is Father?" Since Li Yuexiang had grown old enough to understand things, her opportunities to spend time with Li Yuanjiao had been few and far between. While this should not have been the case, Xiao Guiluan understood his hardships and raised Li Yuexiang on her own. Just as she was chatting and laughing with Li Yuexiang, the entrance of the cave dwelling rumbled and creaked open. Li Yuanjiao strolled out, his expression relatively relaxed, appearing to have made some progress in his cultivation. "Husband!" Xiao Guiluan went forward to welcome him with joy. Li Yuanjiao embraced her, equally delighted after their long separation, yet his first question was still: "How are things at home?" Xiao Guiluan replied: "Kong Tingyun arrived as promised and opened a fire vein at Mount Wutu. She left a Xuanyue disciple behind to tend it, and the array disc was also retrieved." Though Li Yuanjiao had been mentally prepared, he still felt a touch of regret. Inquiring carefully about the dates, he said: "A pity! If I hadn't been injured by that Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivator, going to the Eastern Sea to capture another monster wouldn't have been an issue! The timing would have been just right." This had all been within Li Yuanjiao's expectations, so he asked again: "What else has happened?" Some events had occurred during Li Yuanjiao's two years of secluded cultivation, and strictly speaking, they were major affairs. Xiao Guiluan said in a low voice: "Back then, Lady Lu failed her breakthrough to Qi Refinement, damaging her lifespan... She was nearly seventy... With no further chance of breaking through, she stopped there. Word arrived just days ago that the elder has passed away." "When she died, she was lying on her couch, holding a food box and two jade chopsticks in her arms. She lived in seclusion in the forest to cultivate, with only two old maidservants by her side." "Lady Lu?" Li Yuanjiao paused momentarily before remembering. Lady Lu's name was Lu Wanrong, the widow of Li Xuanling, who had lived alone in the mountain forests for many years. When Li Xuanling was killed by the Mahasattva back then, Lu Wanrong had been overwhelmed by grief and nearly taken her own life, remaining stuck at the fourth circulation of Qingyuan in Embryonic Breathing for a full ten years. A talent that had originally held hope for breaking through to Qi Refinement was delayed for ten years, severing her path of cultivation. Later, when her youngest son Li Yuanyun died in the market, Lu Wanrong sank into utter despair. Although her daughter Li Qinghong had done well, Lu Wanrong had lost all motivation. She retired to the mountain forests, merely awaiting the end of her days. Hearing this news now, Li Yuanjiao could only let out a low sigh: "Qinghong probably won't break through until next year. I fear... she won't make it in time. Have Xijun and Xicheng see her off." Xiao Guiluan nodded. After composing her thoughts, she said gently: "Mother... probably doesn't have many days left either." The "Mother" spoken of here naturally did not refer to Lady Dou, but Li Yuanjiao's birth mother—Mu Yalu. She was Li Xuanxuan's concubine, married over from the Shanyue in those years, and was now nearly seventy. "What?!" This news struck Li Yuanjiao's heart like a bolt from the blue. Unable to restrain himself, his face turned pale. He immediately mounted the wind and took to the air, speeding toward the town. Xiao Guiluan followed behind, offering a few comforting words, but Li Yuanjiao naturally had no mind to listen. He touched down instantly in the grand compound within the town. Below, an old maidservant carrying a basin actually managed to recognize him and cried out: "Young Master!" Li Yuanjiao waved his hand and strode inside. The elderly woman was lying on the couch. Mu Yalu had been in the prime of her youth when she married into the Li family, but now she had aged beyond recognition. Though she was a mortal, her high status had ensured good care, allowing her to live ten-odd years longer than ordinary folk. She had been lying listlessly on the couch, but seeing Li Yuanjiao enter, her spirits lifted markedly. Straining to sit upright, she asked anxiously: "Jiao'er... I heard you were injured by the Shanyue... Are you alright?!" No matter how ruthless and grim Li Yuanjiao was to outsiders, hearing these words, he could no longer hold back. With a thud, he dropped to his knees before her and choked out: "Mother! Your son is fine!" Mu Yalu simply looked at him with a smile, taking in his expression and demeanor. In the eyes of others, Li Yuanjiao was always associated with suspicion and cruelty; even his expression and bearing were not those of a good man. Yet in Mu Yalu's eyes, he could not have been more outstanding. She simply held his hand, smiling incessantly. Xiao Guiluan dismissed the servants outside and closed the door. Only then did she notice another person sitting on a nearby chair. Terribly emaciated, draped in grey clothes like a piece of withered wood, he quietly leaned against the side. "Father." Li Xuanxuan kept his eyes open and nodded, his gaze resting on Li Yuanjiao. These years had been hardest on him, plagued by constant hallucinations. He squinted at Li Yuanjiao as if reminiscing about something. The atmosphere among the family of three was somber in the extreme. Li Yuanjiao was not one for warm words; he simply knelt on the floor, watching Mu Yalu draw breath. Mu Yalu just smiled at him, seeming to have nothing to say, yet having said it all. Toward the end, her lips and teeth turned cold, her hands and feet chilled, and her arms took on a purplish-black hue. Li Xuanxuan held a pipe, silently smoking. Fine white smoke drifted through the room. The three remained in silence, watching Mu Yalu draw fewer and fewer breaths, her vitality slipping away bit by bit. *Cough!* Li Xuanxuan coughed and stood up to say something, but Li Yuanjiao simply carried his mother in his arms and walked out on his own, leaving him alone in the room puffing smoke. The sun hung high, its glaring light piercing through the doors and windows to illuminate his haggard face. Li Xuanxuan's face bore no expression, yet his hands trembled, betraying his profound inner turmoil. He coughed twice, walked up to Xiao Guiluan, and retrieved three stacks of talismans from his storage bag. Intricate patterns, colorful and varied, representing all sorts of talismans. He spoke: "Guiluan! These are what I drew this year!" Xiao Guiluan took them in a daze. Li Xuanxuan muttered to himself and rode the wind away, heading to Mount Lijing to fetch blank talisman paper. For a time, Xiao Guiluan was left standing alone where she was. She could neither hold nor put away the talisman papers in her hands. With a heart full of grief and restless unease, she placed them on the table and went off in pursuit of Li Yuanjiao. ... Xiao Guiluan rode the wind, searching all around, until she finally found her husband. Li Yuanjiao was standing before Li Tongya's grave. His expression had already returned to calm, showing no outward sorrow. His hand rested on his sword, silent. Behind it was the grave of his elder brother, Li Yuanxiu. A few flecks of incense ash were scattered across it. From years of stroking, its edges appeared much smoother. The tomb was a cenotaph; more than half of the Li family graves were cenotaphs. Li Yuanjiao let out a breath, swept his gaze across Xiao Guiluan's face, and asked: "What else is happening at home?" Xiao Guiluan nodded. Unable to read his emotional state, she paused hesitantly before saying softly: "Monk Kongheng has departed." "Departed." Li Yuanjiao showed no surprise, merely asking: "Did he return to the north, or go to Tianlei Peak? Where is Li Xijun?" Xiao Guiluan whispered: "He went to Tianlei Peak." "Tianlei Peak." Li Yuanjiao's expression darkened slightly as he said in a low voice: "Let us go. Return to Mount Qingdu and ask Xijun."