Li Tongya saw Li Chijing off, only to turn and find Li Mutian emerging from the backyard with his hands behind his back. The old man said with a stern face and a raspy voice:
"Go take a look at that mirror."
Tian Shoushui had passed away the year before last, leaving behind an entire set of wooden toys he had crafted for his grandson Li Xuanfeng—everything from wooden horses and carts to wooden bows. Li Xuanfeng had barely grown big enough to lift the smallest pine doll when Tian Shoushui took a fall in the heavy snow while hauling timber; failing to pull through, he died that very night.
Tian Shoushui was buried by Li Mutian's own hands, after which Li Mutian and Ren Ping'an sat before the grave and talked through the night. Perhaps it was because the cold wind and heavy dew of that night had chilled him, but Li Mutian's voice had gradually grown raspy ever since.
Back then, three young men had set out high-spirited to enlist in the army: Tian Shoushui, daring and fierce in battle; Li Mutian, cautious and decisive; and Ren Ping'an, taciturn and reserved. Now, the daring fighter had departed early with a body full of scars; the cautious and decisive strategist was surrounded by children and grandchildren, yet his mind was slowly grinding to a halt; and the taciturn one was still looking after Jingyang Village for the Li family, turning over every copper of the annual land taxes without fail.
Shaken by this blow, Li Mutian had aged dramatically over the past few months. Fortunately, after being nourished by Li Chijing's spells and tonics, his complexion was no longer so withered, and his head of white hair had regained a healthy sheen. Yet a deep fatigue still lingered in his demeanor, and his straightened back could not conceal the slight sluggishness in his speech and movements.
Seeing the old man enter the front yard, Li Tongya hurried forward to support him, only to be shoved away grumpily as Li Mutian cursed under his breath:
"Your old man told you to go to the backyard and look at that mirror!"
Li Tongya gave an embarrassed smile and headed for the backyard. Only then did Li Mutian steady himself against the wall and shuffle slowly to the threshold of the inner door. Leaning against the doorframe, he sat down, reached out a withered hand to pinch his numb thigh, and muttered through gritted teeth:
"Damn it all, looks like I'll have to start using a cane too."
***
In the backyard.
Li Tongya gazed at the magical mirror floating gently amidst the moon essence. Seeing characters flitting across the surface like fleeting shadows, he hastily extended his spiritual sense and channeled it slowly into the mirror.
With a stir of his divine sense, Lu Jiangxian brought forth the formula he had carefully trimmed and revised the previous night based on the requirements for worshippers in the Sacrificial Extraction Primordial Seizing Method. After concocting a name for it, he projected it into the incoming spiritual sense.
Instantly, a vast torrent of information flowed along his spiritual sense. Li Tongya closed his eyes as a formula slowly surfaced in his mind.
The Sacrificial Beast Method.
This method required a beast marked for slaughter as an offering, butchered amidst the incense offerings of the entire clan. By offering incense, souls, essence-blood, and spiritual power to the magical mirror, one could obtain a wisp of talisman qi. The talisman qi was said to: solidify cultivation, sharpen the six senses, elevate bone structure, alter innate aptitudes, improve physical traits, mend deficiencies and flaws...
The Sacrificial Beast Method was quite extensive. Li Tongya kept his eyes closed for the time it took an incense stick to burn before finally opening them, his face filled with shock. He fetched a carving knife, ink brush, and blank wooden slips to record it meticulously. Writing in a single breath until dawn, he then rushed out to find Li Xiangping.
***
Inside his cave dwelling on Meichi Mountain, Li Xiangping was meditating and cultivating his breathing. He had only just entered the Qingyuan Wheel, the fourth layer of Embryonic Breathing, and his cultivation speed had slowed considerably. At his current pace, he would likely need six or seven years before he could even attempt to break through to the Yujing Wheel—not to mention having to wait another six or seven years should the attempt fail.
Yesterday, the Wan family had sent Wan Yuankai to discuss ambushing Ji Dengqi. That young man had already broken through to the fifth layer of Embryonic Breathing and achieved the Yujing Wheel.
"From the looks of it, the Wan family now has two Yujing Wheel cultivators. What is more, Wan Xiaohua, the head of the Wan family, was already at the Yujing Wheel five years ago; by now, he may well have broken through to the Lingchu Wheel and reached the peak of Embryonic Breathing."
Li Xiangping narrowed his eyes, musing inwardly:
'Over the years, our Li family's strength has grown considerably, but the Wan family has not remained stagnant either. Yet their requests for aid grow more urgent by the day. I fear the Ji family's strength must have advanced as well.
'Currently, all three families are biding their time. The Ji family is striving to digest the lands they seized, while the Wan family quietly gathers strength and seeks help on all sides. Our Li family is steadily growing into its proper size. Once the Ji family has finished assimilating those new territories and the Wan family bares its fangs, our Li family will also have the strength to take a seat at the table. A battle among the three families is inevitable; we must prepare early.'
As Li Xiangping was assessing the situation, he saw his second brother, Li Tongya, walk in from outside the cave dwelling, holding a wooden slip in his hands and smiling:
"Third Brother, take a look at this."
Puzzled, Li Xiangping took the slip, untied the white cord binding it, and murmured:
"The Sacrificial Beast Method?"
After reading it carefully for a while, the astonishment on Li Xiangping's face grew deeper. He asked, "The phrasing is quite similar to that of the Reception Method, and it uses the magical mirror as a medium as well. Could it be a technique bestowed by the magical mirror?"
Li Tongya nodded with a smile, walked over to a shelf, took down the transcribed Lunar Crescent Sword Arc, and began studying it attentively.
Li Xiangping read on for a bit, then said in a low voice, "The formula states: 'The incense offerings of a thousand people and a Qi Refinement beast yield one gray talisman; the incense offerings of ten thousand people and a Foundation Establishment beast yield one white talisman...' Isn't this a bit too difficult?"
Li Tongya's smile froze, and he replied somewhat awkwardly, "Tempting as it is, our family can hardly meet even the lowest requirements for the sacrificial rite right now."
Li Xiangping smiled, put away the wooden slip, and waved a hand. "No rush, either way. It's not as though Qi Refinement beasts can be found just anywhere. There is another matter I wanted to discuss with you."
At this thought, Li Xiangping glanced at Li Xuanxuan, who was sitting on a stone stool reading the sword technique, and said gravely:
"I wish to drill a clan militia across the four villages, freed from farming. One man will be drawn from every five households, dedicated solely to martial training and tactics, so we are prepared for any contingency."
Li Tongya nodded thoughtfully and asked seriously, "Did the Wan family come asking for aid again? Has the situation grown that tense?"
"More than that," Li Xiangping replied, shaking his head. "I am also worried about the Shanyue to the west. With the spiritual energy gradually recovering at the northern foothills of Mount Dali, no one can say for sure whether the western Shanyue might reach their hands over. Even though no Shanyue have been spotted in the mountains these past few years, being prepared prevents disaster. It is always best to be on guard."
"Indeed," Li Tongya nodded and said somberly. "If we wait until the day the Shanyue cross the border to mobilize the villagers, it will be too late. The Shanyue have not only shamans, but also fierce tribesmen with cropped hair and tattoos. They will not be easy to deal with."
Li Xiangping stood up, straightened his clothes and cap, and smiled. "Xuanxuan is still young and cannot command respect from the masses. Though Qiuyang possesses both age and prestige, he does not belong to the main branch. I wouldn't feel at ease entrusting this matter to anyone else. It must be Second Brother who oversees it in person."
"Rest assured, leave this matter to me."
Li Tongya smiled as well. The two walked out of the cave dwelling and chatted as they made their way back to Mount Lijing, where they saw Liu Rouxuan waiting early at the courtyard gate. Catching sight of them, she came forward to welcome them.
"Young Clan Leader,"
Liu Rouxuan curtsied gently toward Li Xiangping. Then, her face alight with joy, she stepped close to Li Tongya's side and said with a radiant smile:
"Husband, I am with child."
Li Tongya was instantly overjoyed. Letting out a couple of hearty laughs, he swept her up by the waist and laughed aloud:
"Truly?"
"What good would lying to you do?" Liu Rouxuan flushed, speaking softly.
Beside them, Li Xiangping chuckled as well and said gently:
"Congratulations, Second Brother."
Chapter 63