A Plea

"Oh, oh, oh." Li Xuanxuan responded somewhat forlornly. Smoothing his sleeves, he sat on the mountain for a while, watching the two juniors chat. Feeling rather at a loss for what to do with himself, he had no choice but to head back down to draw talismans. The two juniors saw him off down the mountain, and Li Ximing remarked with feeling, "Grandfather's spirits have improved quite a bit lately!" Li Xijun nodded and said softly, "Though the old man's cultivation isn't high, he has lived through so much. Answers to many things buried in the past can be found through him. Seeing him in good spirits puts us at ease, too." Walking side by side, Li Ximing was clad in a magnificent golden Daoist robe. He paused, then said in a low voice, "I've only heard that this Second Grand-Uncle has godlike archery, rarely matched in this era, and that with a golden bow he triumphs wherever he goes. If he could return home, our clan would truly have a pillar of stability." "I doubt it will be easy. Once someone enters the Southern Border, there's never been a precedent of leaving so easily," Li Xijun replied, seemingly pondering something. When the two of them were born, Li Xuanfeng had long since departed for the Southern Border. In truth, Li Xijun had never met him, having only heard of him from records and the mouths of elders. Most of his joy stemmed simply from the fact that the family would gain an elder in mid Foundation Establishment, utterly unlike Li Xuanxuan's personal sentiment. Now that he had calmed down, he began to assess the broader situation. Sure enough, Li Ximing asked in confusion beside him, "Since Second Grand-Uncle has left the Southern Border, why hasn't he found time to visit home...? Could he have a mission to carry out?" "Most likely." Li Xijun paused, then hesitated before adding, "I've heard... someone from the Ning family married him. After all these years, he might already have offspring... Perhaps there are even a few children in the Southern Border who are our elders..." "As for why he hasn't returned home... that senior must have his own arrangements. Perhaps his family is being held over him, forcing him to comply with Qingchi's orders." Li Ximing nodded and replied, "That makes sense." The two pondered it for a time. Li Ximing then returned to Wutu Peak to study that pill, while Li Xijun wrote a letter to his aunt Li Qinghong, who was in secluded cultivation, and another letter instructing someone to deliver it to Zongquan Island. Afterwards, he quietly went off to cultivate as well. *** Fenkuai Island, Qingchi Market. Li Xuanfeng made a round of the surrounding sea, familiarizing himself with the terrain and learning the details about Fenkuai Island before descending back into the market. Fenkuai Island's subterranean spiritual veins were peculiar, making it impossible to set up formations on the island itself. Thus, Qingchi's market was established on the nearby seabed. Li Xuanfeng inspected it briefly and found that the spiritual veins here were not much better; it relied entirely on the high grade of its formations. The island itself was rich in spiritual energy and abounded with treasures, featuring all kinds of bizarre terrains. There were many chasms on the island plunging deep into the subterranean depths, pitch-black and fathomless, spanning vast and boundless spaces within—reputedly left behind when Immortals clashed in battle. The entire Fenkuai Island was more like a massive entrance connecting the layers of subterranean fissures and gorges below. Many cultivators gathered Qi here, while demonic cultivators murdered and looted within the depths; the deeper one went, the more chaotic it became. He had strolled around the island without venturing deep into it. When he returned quietly to the market, a Qingchi cultivator had actually been waiting beside his cave dwelling all this time. "Greetings, Daoist... My lord invites you over and has been waiting for quite a while." Li Xuanfeng recognized him at a glance as one of Ning Heyuan's men. He nodded and followed him to Ning Heyuan's cave dwelling. The doors were wide open, rich spiritual energy flowing forth. Inside, Ning Heyuan was pouring and drinking by himself. "Brother-in-law, you're here!" Ning Heyuan welcomed him to take a seat, his face slightly flushed, looking as though he had already drunk a good deal. Pouring Li Xuanfeng a full cup of wine, the young man said, "Speaking of which, I share quite a bit of history with the Li family..." Li Xuanfeng nodded, thinking to himself, *Why is he suddenly trying to get close to me? Could he need something from me?* He gazed at him quietly. Before him, Ning Heyuan instantly seemed like a junior, adopting a courteous tone. "Years ago, I accompanied my aunt to Lake Wangyue, originally hoping to ask for pointers on your esteemed clan's swordsmanship. On the mountain, I exchanged a few moves with Fellow Daoist Qinghong and exchanged names. I fell slightly short by a few moves, only then realizing how flourishing your clan's heritage is." These words were pitched far too humbly, leaving even Li Xuanfeng clicking his tongue. At the Qi Refinement stage, Li Qinghong could never have been a match for Ning Heyuan; at best, she might have held her ground briefly against his lightning arts. For him to say this was merely to flatter the Li family. Li Xuanfeng immediately said, "Worthy Brother, there is no need to be so modest. I know Qinghong's capabilities; she was no match for you." Ning Heyuan offered a polite word, and since Li Xuanfeng had put it that way, he did not dwell on the matter. Instead, he continued, "Brother-in-law! Even out here across the seas, I have heard of your renown... The Real Person places great trust in you... Over the past century, rare are those who have enjoyed such favor from him..." Li Xuanfeng naturally knew that Yuansu treated him well, and silently waited for what was to follow. Sure enough, Ning Heyuan hesitated before asking, "Once Brother-in-law returns, could you ask on my behalf... how much longer I must remain here in the Eastern Sea...?" Li Xuanfeng lowered his eyes without answering. Ning Heyuan grew anxious at once, speaking with polite urgency, "I've asked several times... but the Real Person refuses to see me. Heyuan has already learned his lesson... Back then, I was young and rash, assuming my Ning family was the Chi family's century-old ally and that we could demand whatever we pleased from the families under our charge... "Only after staying in the Eastern Sea for so many years do I understand that without the Real Person, our Ning family is nothing more than beasts of burden for the Chi family... Heyuan truly realizes his mistake... I beg the Daoist to ask on my behalf..." Li Xuanfeng observed his demeanor. Ning Heyuan truly possessed good talent and mastered various techniques, and ought to have been a figure on par with Ning Wan. Yet he had wasted ten years in the Eastern Sea; not only had he earned no renown, but his cultivation had also been held back. Now his face was sullen and worn, bearing an air of despondency utterly unlike his high-spirited self of the past. Li Xuanfeng said softly, "There is no rush on this matter. It will be another year or half a year before I return to report back. Once Fellow Daoist has settled on your phrasing, I will simply deliver a letter back on your behalf." Hearing this, Ning Heyuan was taken aback. A plea for intercession had been turned into simply delivering a letter. Ning Heyuan gave a bitter smile, realizing Li Xuanfeng was by no means an easy mark. He thought to himself, *I was too hasty. I must take things slowly, build good relations with him first, and touch his heart through my sister... A long-term plan is needed.* With that, Ning Heyuan excused himself, took a sip of wine, and nodded. "Indeed, there is no rush. If the Daoist needs anything in the market, please feel free to mention it to me." Li Xuanfeng nodded and said frankly, "I have only just emerged from the Southern Border, and certain things were hard to inquire about in that place. If I need assistance in the days ahead, I shall have to trouble Worthy Brother." Ning Heyuan nodded repeatedly and hurried to see him out. Only after returning to his cave dwelling did he sit blankly before the jade table. After quite a while, he murmured softly, "I thought he was merely a blade in the Real Person's hand... but I never imagined he was a hunting falcon tamed by the elder. No wonder... no wonder he could win the Real Person's favor despite hailing from a minor clan, having Sister Hemian wedded to him." Ning Heyuan recalled Li Xuanfeng's attire and bearing, and that Jin Geng longbow tempered countless times. Combining that with certain rumors he had heard lately, he could not help but let out a cold laugh. "Clad in armor and robe, eyes keen as a hawk's. It seems... someone is about to meet with misfortune!"