Dantai Jin was also of the Violet Palace direct line. The Si family lacked sufficient scions; to downplay the marks of their usurpation of the sect, after Si Yuanli entered seclusion, sect affairs were left to Dantai Jin to manage. Though on the surface he seemed chosen on merit, he was in truth simply another member of the Si family.
Li Xizhi ushered him to a seat. Dantai Jin took the offered tea, drank, and savored it for a moment before smiling.
"Fine tea."
Now that Li Xizhi was the elder brother of a Violet Palace Real Person, he was well qualified to sit and share tea with Dantai Jin, who hailed from the Violet Palace lineage. Si Tongyi's cultivation was lackluster, but he was already the most outstanding among the Si family juniors; by rights, he too was entitled to sit and join them for tea. Yet he had always known how to cast aside pride, choosing to stand respectfully to the side in the posture of a junior.
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xizhi asked, "Your Excellency graces my Jiutian Pavilion with your presence. Do you have instructions for me?"
Dantai Jin repeatedly demurred and shook his head, replying, "I wouldn't dare claim to give instructions. There are merely one or two matters with which I must trouble Pavilion Master."
Setting down his teacup, he adopted a serious expression. "The Si family has a talented youth who has only just entered Qi Cultivation. His gifts are exceptional, and his grasp of spells far surpasses his peers. Tongyi examined him carefully and feared our family might ruin such an unpolished jade in teaching him. Thus, he hoped to have him study under Pavilion Master... If you do not find him unworthy, Xizhi, would you please grant him an audience?"
As soon as Dantai Jin finished speaking, Si Tongyi produced a wooden box and presented it with both hands, saying, "Pavilion Master's spellcraft is godlike. Our family would never presume to seek your lineage's teachings. This Five Colors Chenguang Sword Art of the Rosy Dawn lineage is a fourth-rank ancient spell our family's Real Person obtained in the north in his early years. For a century, no one has managed to master it. Only Pavilion Master is worthy of it."
Si Tongyi's line about "Pavilion Master's spellcraft is godlike, our family would never presume to seek your lineage's teachings" momentarily stunned Li Wushao standing nearby, nearly making him miss what followed. The old snake could not help but sigh inwardly:
Damn, so this is the Si family's direct line... Having a Violet Palace backing really does make things easier.
Li Xizhi felt rather strange inside.
To think they've come to apprentice at my mountain gate.
It had to be said that this Five Colors Chenguang Sword Art was truly tempting. It was not a sword style, but a spell, merely linked to one's attainment in the sword. The Li family also possessed a Jiazi Po-Refining Halberd Art, which leaned even more purely toward spellcraft than this.
Li Xizhi had been searching for this sort of spell for a long time. His Caiche Yunqu could directly enhance his spellcraft attainments, and his talent in the sword was far from weak; in his hands, such a spell would produce an entirely different result.
Yet however tempted he was, Li Xizhi showed little longing on his face. Accepting this disciple would undoubtedly deepen his ties with the Si family, and he did not yet know his younger brother's stance, so he could not agree immediately. He merely replied:
"Tongyi, you are too polite. But when it comes to taking a disciple, the key lies in the affinity between master and student; we must not ruin an exceptional talent of your noble clan! It is not something to be settled with a simple nod. We must choose an auspicious day, take a look at him, and test him..."
Hearing this, Dantai Jin nodded, understanding that he needed to consult Li Ximing first. "What are Pavilion Master's arrangements?"
Li Xizhi replied, "Send the child over first so I can see if we take a liking to each other. I will fetch a couple of Daoist texts to test him, and we will see whether the affinity is meant to be."
Both knew full well what this "affinity" truly meant. After a brief discussion, they dropped the subject. Dantai Jin said:
"Senior Changxi has fallen, and great chaos has erupted across Xuanyue's lands. Shanji Commandery is besieged by enemies on all sides, and demonic cultivators have grown considerably in number. We hear the Xuanyue successors have arrived in the wilderness. Without protection over that stretch of riverbank territory, demonic cultivators from the Eastern Sea can easily slip in.
"Once Shanji Commandery falls into disorder, demonic cultivators and demon beasts might pass through our Qingchi territory. To bolster our guard, we may dispatch successive batches of men there. If you have disciples who need tempering, Xizhi, they may accompany the party."
Li Xizhi agreed offhandedly. With Dantai Jin having said all he came to say, the two of them finished another cup. Just as the visitors prepared to take their leave, Li Xizhi grew thoughtful and suddenly asked:
"May I ask the name, age, and cultivation lineage of your noble clan's young scion?"
"That slipped my mind!" Si Tongyi said seriously. "The child belongs to the Xun generation, named Hui. He is only eighteen this year and cultivates the Kongying Powder. His Immortal Foundation is naturally suited to practicing spells, and once he reaches Foundation Establishment, his spellcraft will rise to an even higher level."
Li Xizhi nodded thoughtfully, then had Li Wushao see them out. Though the old snake was of humble blood, his status was now far from low, and with his cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage, everyone had to give him some face. Si Tongyi also greeted him with a smile.
Once out of Jiutian Pavilion, Dantai Jin sighed. "Tongyi, Li Xizhi didn't seem particularly moved. It will still depend on Real Person Zhaojing's answer."
Si Tongyi nodded silently, his expression complicated. The situation was no longer what it had been when he and Li Xizhi called each other brothers. He replied:
"Years ago, when Yuan Tuan visited Lake Wangyue, I had just entered the peak to cultivate. I heard the entire Li family turned out to welcome him, and Li Xizhi was a mere nobody. Back then, even Yuan Tuan... had to greet me with a smiling face.
"Now that Zhaojing has achieved his stage, even when dealing with the juniors among juniors of the Li family—that Li Jiangqian, whatever his name is—I must be utterly courteous. Truly unpredictable..."
Dantai Jin merely shook his head. "Such is the way of the world. Never mind Yuan Tuan—how illustrious was the Yuan clan in those days? The venerable Yanyang lineage, and what has become of it now? Even Yuan Chengzhao must live by our grace and favor today. Does he feel aggrieved? And what good does it do him?"
The two fell silent and rode the wind away. Dantai Jin remarked with regret:
"Our Real Person had designs on Shanji Commandery as well. Unfortunately, Changxi died too soon, catching many Real Persons unprepared, and Real Person Ye Gui took the prize instead. As it looks now, that land can only be divided among the neighboring houses."
...
Lake Wangyue.
The small hall on the islet was brightly adorned, planted with numerous plum trees. Yet the season had not arrived, leaving bare branches stretching out into the courtyard, while cultivators came and went all around.
A cultivator in crimson robes paced down from the main hall. He had a tiger's beard and a swallow's jaw, a burly frame, and strikingly arresting eyes. Simply standing there, he possessed a commanding presence that made it impossible to look away.
Ding Weizeng's injuries were almost fully healed. He was someone the Real Person had singled out, having received a Xuanque Heart-Channeling Medicine. This medicinal pill possessed the power to overcome karmic hindrances, sharing an uncanny affinity with the dispelling of yin and crossing of karma of Ding Weizeng's Immortal Foundation, the Dianyang Tiger. The two complemented each other, drawing out its effects to their peak.
Consequently, while most around him still carried wounds—even Li Cheng, whose fighting strength had been preserved relatively intact during the battle, still needed to adjust his breath—Ding Weizeng, whose injuries were among the most severe, had emerged from the mountain early, his power already seventy to eighty percent restored.
As he reached the hall, a servant arrived to report:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Wang Quwan of Funan requests an audience."
Ding Weizeng showed no surprise. Taking the seat of honor, he said, "Show him in."
A moment later, the man with bound hair and a sword slung across his back entered the hall, bowing respectfully. "Junior Wang Quwan of the Funan Wang family greets Your Excellency."
The cultivators of the Jiangbei faction had newly entered the Li family and naturally huddled together for warmth. The Funan faction was larger, mostly trained under Qu Bushi, and all considered themselves of Funan origin.
The other group consisted of Midong cultivators, primarily surrendered generals and members of Midong clans drafted into Milin. Led by Miaoshui, they were few in number and their cultivation was modest. Since Miaoshui was on good terms with Qu Bushi, these people often gathered around the Funan cultivators under the banner of Jiangbei, though they were still inevitably treated as second-class.
Wang Quwan's Wang clan was the Jiangbei Wang family, strictly speaking still Midong cultivators, but fortunately they had relocated to Funan years ago. Clever as he was, no sooner had Wang Quwan emerged from Mount Zhijing a few months earlier than he immediately styled his clan the Funan Wang family. He first paid his respects to Qu Bushi, and his second visit was to Ding Weizeng.
Loyal and devoted, Ding Weizeng never paid heed to factions, but with his current standing, he had naturally become the tacitly acknowledged head of both Jiangbei factions. Thus, he was not surprised by Wang Quwan's visit.
Wang Quwan had come out of tact, but Ding Weizeng had wanted to see him for some time.
For no other reason than that the foremost object of Ding Weizeng's absolute allegiance was now Li Ximing. Wang Quwan was held in high regard by Li Ximing, and there was even an implicit promise of a Suiyuan Pill for him. Ding Weizeng's fondness for him naturally grew, and he merely asked:
"No need to be polite, Quwan. Have your resources and cultivation abode been settled?"
Wang Quwan hurriedly explained. Listening through it all, Ding Weizeng noted that it was of the highest tier within the clan. He nodded silently, even more certain of the favor the man enjoyed, and asked:
"Has Senior Qu briefed you on family affairs? Do you understand them all?"
Nowadays, the decline of the original Lijing clans was hard to conceal. The Huayu faction, once in its prime, had abruptly ground to a halt with An Siwei's capture. The Milin and Nanzhang factions were growing stronger, while the outsider Jiangbei faction found itself in a rather awkward position; without care, it was easy to cause offense.
Even if Qu Bushi had not told Wang Quwan these things, inquiring for a couple of days on his own would have given him an idea, but hearing it directly made things much clearer. He replied:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, I understand it all."
Ding Weizeng nodded and cautioned him nonetheless:
"Though the old retainers from Lijing are not as prominent now, you must still treat them with respect. As for the grievances between the Fei family and the Funan cultivators, there is no need for you to meddle; simply concentrate on your cultivation."
Wang Quwan knew what he was referring to. Over the past decade and more, the Fei family on the north shore had accrued deep blood debts with Funan. Many Funan cultivators had even belonged to small northern-shore families who had defected to Fuyun Cave. Though they now served the same master, blood grudges remained fresh in their minds, causing considerable friction.
Yet his Wang family had originally come from Midong and had never been involved in those matters, keeping themselves entirely clear. Once Ding Weizeng finished his advice, Wang Quwan answered:
"The Eldest Young Master and the Clan Master have instructed me not to leave the islet until I achieve Foundation Establishment."
At these words, Ding Weizeng caught on at once:
Wang Quwan is crucial to winning over the hearts of Funan; they fear he might be harmed by those from the north!
Li Jiangqian was indeed afraid that Wang Quwan might be harmed by Duxian Dao, as Wang Quwan was the only person currently usable for the matter of Mount Xiaoshi. If he were harmed, who knew how long they would have to wait for another opportunity. The two men had misunderstood each other's meaning, yet both found their conclusions perfectly reasonable.
The two chatted for a while, Ding Weizeng nodding repeatedly. From inside the islet to its shores, Wang Quwan had already arranged everything, far more thoroughly than Ding Weizeng himself could have envisioned.
Their conversation was so pleasant that Ding Weizeng could not resist standing up to see Wang Quwan out, brushing aside the other's polite demurs. He smiled and said:
"With a clan master like you, the Funan Wang family is truly blessed with immense fortune!"
"It is merely thanks to the Real Person's esteem!"
As the two reached the outside of the hall, they suddenly saw a young man in a dark-red pleated robe waiting before the steps. Ding Weizeng paused slightly, then bowed. "Greetings, Young Master!"
Li Jiangqian approached with a smile, nodding politely to Wang Quwan. Sensible to the cue, the man tactfully withdrew. Ding Weizeng hurriedly invited Li Jiangqian inside, but the youth did not state his business. Instead, he smiled and asked:
"Lord Ding, what do you think of Wang Quwan?"
Ding Weizeng's expression turned solemn at once. In a deep voice, he replied:
"I fear this man is no creature of a mere pond."
"Oh?" Li Jiangqian prompted.
Ding Weizeng continued:
"Though getting on in years, his cultivation is solid and pure, his magical power clear and bright. He dresses frugally and carries himself with composure. The cord binding his magical sword is worn to tatters, and calluses have formed on his palms from forming incantation gestures. An ambition as noble as the clear breeze and bright moon radiates from between his brows, and even when bowing low in reverence, his dignified bearing never falters. If he is decisive in action, knows when to advance and retreat, and comes into good fortune, he will surely stand out from the multitude of cultivators."
Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment and said, "You think very highly of him, my lord."
Though surprised on the surface, he had already reached a judgment in his heart:
Good fortune? The Mount Xiaoshi lineage is an ironclad fortune. Could fate truly be at work here! It would be wise to bind him with resources, wealth, and female kin of the clan...
Yet the thought had barely crossed Li Jiangqian's mind when he was suddenly struck with a shock, pondering:
Yet how do I know that this thought of winning him over... isn't itself good fortune brought about by his fate? In the end, does fate make fools of men, or do men forge fate?
He mulled it over for merely an instant, but Wang Quwan was now etched deeply in his heart. A smile returned to his face as he said:
"I came today because there is a matter I must trouble Your Excellency with."
"Please give your orders, Young Master!"
Ding Weizeng nodded at once. Li Jiangqian took on a serious look and said:
"I previously received orders from the Real Person to build a pavilion tower, a jade court, and a market. Now the jade court is finished and the pavilion tower is nearly complete; only the market has yet to be settled.
"The Real Person returned briefly at midnight. I made a special trip to Mount Zhijing to consult him, and the elder selected a location. Between Mount Milin and the East Shore, within the former lands of Milin Commandery, he picked a spot where five earth veins converge to establish the market on the spot.
"However, the place lacks a Foundation Establishment cultivator to take charge. I inquired among the elders, and at present, only Your Excellency is free. Why not go to hold the fort, allocate manpower, and build this market?"
Ding Weizeng nodded immediately, replying, "I obey the Real Person's command!"
Li Jiangqian retrieved several jade slips from his sleeve along with a token, placing them together into Ding Weizeng's hands. He explained:
"The earth veins in that area are damaged. Over the years, they have largely repaired themselves with the passage of time, but there are still several flaws that need mending. Take my token, my lord, and have the disciples of Xuanyue repair them."
Damaged earth veins were actually quite rare, and Daoist canons and spells rarely recorded methods to repair them; most simply waited for time to heal them slowly. Fortunately, the Xuanyue sect members were now with the Li family, and this group was most adept at such work. Ding Weizeng found it strange and was slightly puzzled, so Li Jiangqian merely explained:
"That place was once the Yu family's market. The Yu family had a good eye; along the entire East Shore, that spot is the best suited for a market. In the past, during the contention between the various families, the market was destroyed and the Yuzhen formation shattered, injuring the earth veins in the process, which caused the trouble we see today."
He offered a serene smile and instructed:
"I will assemble the full crew for you, my lord, and the formation masters we hire will arrive on schedule. However, once you reach the East Shore, all the cultivators around those five peaks will naturally be placed under your command. Simply go to my younger brother. Tell him clearly that this is the Real Person's command, and with this token of mine, he will not refuse to release them."
Ding Weizeng said respectfully, "Subordinate obeys!"
Chapter 747