Jiangqian and Jiangxia

Lake Wangyue. Brilliant sunlight bathed Pingya Islet. The shadows of pavilions fell across the stone steps, creeping upward level by level. Kong Guxi knelt before the hall doors, while the cultivators around him hurried past, paying him no mind. The mountain gate formation of Xuanyue had been breached with ease, their ancestral grounds lost, and Shanji fallen. Fu En, who was in secluded cultivation attempting a breakthrough, had died abruptly, and Gen Earth qi had surged into the sky. Ye Gui had personally appeared at the Xuanyue mountain gate, shaking the Wilderness and leaving every member of the Kong clan beating their chests and stomping their feet in grief. Xuanyue had treated the common folk and cultivators under its rule well, with ample integration and moral guidance. The five hundred thousand displaced kinsmen, in-laws, and commoners wept in unison; their wails of sorrow filled the wilderness, soaring straight into the clouds. Xuanyue could virtually be proclaimed extinguished. Kong Guxi had long prepared for this and was not surprised. Though grief-stricken to the utmost, he still set about stabilizing the situation. Only one reason had driven him to leave the Wilderness behind and rush here for an audience: Master Zhaojing, Li Ximing, had not shown himself for four months, while Master Ye Gui was safe and sound, having appeared in Shanji Commandery multiple times. Even more fatally, rumors circulating among the clans and sects held that Master Zhaojing, Li Ximing, had been harmed by a joint attack from Ye Gui and another Master. Whether he had fallen remained unknown, but he was at least gravely wounded in the East Sea. Kong Guxi's legs turned weak at the news. Having also heard that the Funan region to the north was under attack, and happening to have a pretext at hand, he came to the islet to seek an audience with Li Jiangqian. Now, none of the surrounding cultivators paid him any attention; some even cast cold glares his way and whispered among themselves. Kong Guxi grew increasingly unnerved the longer he watched, while behind him, Kong Qiuyan dared not even raise her head, remaining obediently on her knees. After a time, a summon came from above: "Lord Kong, the young master requests your audience." Kong Guxi hurriedly hitched up his robes and jogged up the steps. Passing through two hall doors, he saw a young man in dark crimson robes seated at the head—none other than Li Jiangqian, who currently managed family affairs. Standing beside him was a woman in a gown of cloud satin: Li Quewan. Li Jiangqian had sat in this hall without rest for five days straight. It was not just him; the Li family's upper echelons were constantly on the move, while the subordinates kept quiet as cicadas in winter. Frankly speaking, the entire Li family was cold and silent as ice. The current situation was truly fraught. Kong Guxi was not the Xuanyue Sect Master of old; everyone shunned him and ignored him. With no information, he could not see the full picture, yet even he had caught wind of something amiss—let alone others. Even though the young man before him was merely in Qi Refinement, Kong Guxi still bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Young Master." "Lord Kong is too courteous." Showing no outward sign of panic, Li Jiangqian responded calmly and asked, "Does my Lord have an urgent matter?" Seeing Li Jiangqian's composed demeanor, Kong Guxi felt slightly reassured. The sole purpose of his visit was to see the Li clan and Li Jiangqian, who held the reins, to gauge where his own clan stood. Daring not to probe further, he said respectfully, "We were guarding the Wilderness when a group arrived from the east. Calling themselves cultivators of Chijiao Island, they claim they have come to harvest qi. I did not dare stop them... so I came first to consult the Young Master." Li Jiangqian tightened his grip on his sleeve without letting it show, asking in a low voice, "What qi are they harvesting?" Kong Guxi answered, "The Guos claim they wish to harvest the qi of the populace's grief and lamentation. Over in Shanji Commandery... Master Ye Gui has already given his consent. My Wilderness still holds five hundred thousand people, all devoted believers who can each count for ten. The Guos hope to harvest qi here." 'They came so fast...' Li Jiangqian fell silent for a moment. The relationship between the Li family and Chijiao Island was extremely strained. Although their respective Violet Palace figures had yet to meet face-to-face, there had been numerous grievances beneath that level. Chijiao was on friendly terms with Duxian Dao, so the arrival of this group made the situation immensely complicated. If Li Ximing were truly at home, waving a hand to drive Chijiao away would be effortless... The fear was that with Li Ximing absent, Duxian Dao and Chijiao Island were colluding, using this matter as a pretext to meddle in the East Bank... 'Master Ye Gui of Duxian Dao fought our Master directly; he can probably be certain our Master is not at the lake. This is trouble...' He nodded. "I understand. Please wait for a moment, Lord Kong. I shall consult my elders before giving you a reply." Kong Guxi nodded repeatedly and backed away with trepidation. Some things needed no asking; merely making the trip and taking in the atmosphere was enough to lay bare far too much. Once the man had departed, the great formation of the hall sealed shut and began running. Li Jiangqian slumped into his seat with exhaustion, speaking in a low voice: "Wan'er, I know practicing your techniques is paramount. Calling you out this time is truly because the matter is too grave." Li Quewan felt somewhat uneasy. "The Master..." "He has indeed not returned for months." Li Jiangqian rubbed his wrist and said, "Not returning for months is a small matter. It is Duxian Dao's reaction that is truly alarming. Situ Mo has crossed the mountains again, eyeing Funan like a hawk. Duxian Dao has already brought Shanji Commandery under control, leaving the East Bank increasingly destabilized. "Both Elders Minggong and Cheng have gone to Funan, while Ding Weizeng and the others have headed for the East Bank. With Father in seclusion, if fighting breaks out, we can only protect one between the Wilderness and Funan." Li Quewan asked, "What do the elders intend...?" "Protect Funan." Li Jiangqian's gaze was heavy as he replied, "In my view, with Duxian marching south, Ziyan Gate and Sword Sect cannot just sit by. For Duxian, Shanji Commandery is easy to attack but hard to defend; they cannot hold it for long. Once a compromise is reached and they withdraw, the Wilderness will become even more indefensible. "Furthermore, if the Wilderness is lost, the Xiao clan will be uneasy as well. Funan belongs solely to our family, but the Wilderness is not ours alone. The Wilderness is easy to reclaim once lost, but if Funan falls, it will be difficult to salvage." Li Quewan nodded in agreement, then said with concern, "Yet this matter with Chijiao Island..." She paused, glancing at Li Jiangqian with hesitation before continuing: "Right now, it is the Violet Palace figures and the sects who know something happened to our Master, so a veneer of calm can still be maintained. But one step back, and everyone inside and out will know our family is in trouble... Since Brother is preparing countermeasures, the Wilderness can be surrendered, but sooner or later, others will see through our strength." Li Jiangqian let out a breath and replied, "Kong Guxi made no fuss at all, nor did he shed a single tear. He is far too sensible. Had he been a stupider clan leader making a scene, our family would have the perfect excuse to abandon the Wilderness, let him rebuild Xuanyue to serve as a buffer beside us, and avoid losing the Wilderness directly by my hand, delaying the moment our reality is exposed..." Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment, then summoned an attendant and instructed, "Go and make it clear to Kong Guxi: Chijiao had better not harbor any designs on our family's territory. If they wish to harvest grievance and resentment, they can return to their overseas dominions where there is more than enough to go around; there is no need to come to our home." The attendant withdrew. Only then did Li Jiangqian pull out a piece of stationery, turning his head with a furrowed brow and a trace of impatience. "I shall write to Jiangxia at once. The Wilderness may be lost, so long as the Xuanyue people pull back... Tell that boy to keep himself alive. If he dies at the hands of Duxian or Chijiao, I, his elder brother, will have to avenge him." Li Quewan nodded silently. Down below, another figure emerged like wind from the shadows, clad in black dharmic robes with dark jade hanging at his waist, his expression grave. Li Jiangqian took a step back in haste and bowed respectfully. "Granduncle." Li Chenghuai nodded and replied, "I took a trip north. Duxian Dao made a move, sending Wang He over in an attempt to consolidate the forces of the Jiangbei Wang clan." The Funan Wang clan factored into their family's arrangements at Mount Xiaoshi in the north and was vital to Funan's stability, making this no small matter. Li Jiangqian asked, "How did things go? Our family is facing difficulties right now, and Wang Quwan is in seclusion on the lake. With the master of the Funan Wang clan absent, I fear they could not withstand Wang He's overbearing presence..." To his surprise, Li Chenghuai shook his head and answered, "The one in charge of the Wang clan... was Wang Quwan's younger brother, Wang Quyu. Overriding all opposition, he shut Wang He out, adamantly refusing to meet with him. Leading a contingent of clansmen, he departed from their home to meet your brother, and has now integrated into the various mountains to help defend them." Li Jiangqian nodded gently, pacing back and forth before his seat twice. After so long, this was the first piece of good news. Li Chenghuai also seemed rather pleased, saying, "I had thought that if trouble arose, Funan would be the first to waver... After all, the main branch and more than half of the Wang clansmen are still in Duxian. Yet they have offered help in our hour of need, steadying Funan... Though they still cannot shake the suspicion of hedging their bets, the Wang clan's actions have truly proven beneficial. Once this affair blows over, they should be commended." Li Jiangqian nodded. "The Wang clan is deeply rooted in Jiangbei to begin with and has the capital to hedge their bets. His elder brother is in seclusion on the lake, so he naturally could not meet Wang He. It can only be said that Wang Quyu has a firm grip on his branch." Li Chenghuai let out a sigh. When Li Jiangqian told him about Chijiao Island, the good mood that Li Chenghuai had barely managed to muster sank once again. He replied, "The cultivators of Chijiao are difficult to deal with. Their Combined Fire damages nature and harms life, being vile in the extreme. Better to go ask Elder Brother Cheng." ... The East Bank. The dense forest lay at the center of the East Bank. Traveling further east to the border between the Wilderness and the East Bank, there was a mountain. Not particularly grand, it nonetheless boasted numerous pavilions, with cultivators bustling in and out in lively fashion. In the great hall atop the mountain, a burly man with golden eyes exhaled and rose. Sunlight flowed around him as he stepped down, and several trusted aides immediately gathered around, greeting him respectfully: "Third Young Master!" Li Jiangxia lifted his chin and asked, "How many days have passed?" "Reporting to my Lord, two months have gone by." Li Jiangxia possessed extraordinary cultivation talent, second in the family only to his elder brother Li Jiangqian, and enjoyed top-tier resources. Whenever he cultivated, he never worried about bottlenecks, only that his cultivation might not be solid enough or that he lacked sufficient arts. Spending two months to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refinement had left him feeling quite at ease. Sinking into thought, he merely asked, "Has anyone seen the Master?" He oversaw the clans of the East Bank and was generous and openhearted by nature, naturally gathering a cohort of loyal followers beneath him. A host of minor officials from the East Bank had also come to pay their respects upon receiving word. Hearing his question, they all hesitated and shook their heads. Li Jiangxia's expression instantly darkened. He had the crowd recount recent developments, his eyelids twitching at what he heard. He asked again, "Where are the lords stationed?" The cultivators hung their heads and stammered. From their midst stepped forward a guest elder. He appeared to hail from the Wilderness and possessed an early Qi Refinement cultivation. Having joined their service only in recent years, he was surnamed Fu, having switched allegiances from Xuanyue early on. This man seemed rather clever, smiling as he said, "Reporting to Young Master, my family received word from Kong Guxi that both Lords Minggong and Cheng are in the Funan region." Li Jiangxia raised his eyes upon hearing this, taking note of the man. Looking around, he waved his sleeve and said, "Return to your posts, all of you. There is no need for so many here..." He paused, adding with a half-smile, "Guest Elder Fu, stay." The others scrambled to withdraw, leaving only a few confidants in the hall. Just then, a Jade Court Guard came forward to present a letter from below the hall. Unfolding and reading it, Li Jiangxia remarked, "You are quite well-informed." He scanned the letter twice, and seeing that his elders were indeed in Funan, he instantly understood: 'Chijiao Island is meddling as well... Li Jiangqian intends to abandon the Wilderness... It is not a bad strategy, and relocating the cultivators of Xuanyue Gate is easy enough. But Li Jiangqian, oh Li Jiangqian... have you spared a thought for the five hundred thousand commoners of the Wilderness?' 'Neither Chijiao Island nor Duxian Dao is here for anything less than a massive haul. Once we relinquish this place, neither will bother playing the game of relocating people to enrich Shanji... they will devour everything clean and carry off whoever is left!' Irritation surged within him as he waved the Jade Court Guard away. Flattered by the compliment, Guest Elder Fu stepped forward smugly. Seeing only Li Jiangxia's trusted confidants around, he cupped his hands and whispered, "Young Master, Duxian Dao watches greedily and will surely advance eastward. The Wilderness and East Bank have received Young Master's favor over the years and serve as your right-hand strength; they must not be lost... I implore Young Master to make preparations early." Hands behind his back, Li Jiangxia asked, "What preparations?" Guest Elder Fu said in a hushed tone, "When Duxian Dao attacks, first yield the outposts linking the banks. When the enemy touches Funan, their forces will split toward Second Young Master's flank, easing our pressure. When Xuanyue's formations can no longer hold Duxian back, it would be best to cede the Wilderness, pulling back and retreating to the East Bank. The lords will surely feel compelled to come to our rescue. Though the Wilderness is lost, Young Master's forces will be preserved intact." Li Jiangxia understood crystal clear and knew his angle immediately. He shot him a glance and said, "And instead, with the lords coming to rescue the East Bank, Funan will be caught in a pincer attack by Tangjin and Duxian, its retreat cut off by cultivators crossing the river. Second Brother's forces would be completely routed, losing both land and men." Guest Elder Fu smiled without speaking, only to see Li Jiangxia put the letter away and look up at him. Those golden eyes gleamed brightly as he lifted a foot, revealing a boot of black iron traced with gold patterns. Guest Elder Fu froze in confusion. "Young Master, what is..." *Bang!* He felt an immense force strike his chest—a heavy kick that shattered bone with a sickening crack. He flew backward through the air, slamming into a pillar with a deafening boom and snapping several pillars as he tumbled, coughing up a mouthful of blood. *Pfft!* Li Jiangxia's gaze was chillingly fierce, looking as if he would skin the man alive in the very next breath. Taking a step forward, he raised a hand and drew a subordinate's sword with a metallic *clang*. A streak of gleaming white, the blade pointed straight at Guest Elder Fu's brow. "You dog-spawned filth... We brothers may squabble and scrap on ordinary days, but if power is to be seized, it is the Li clan seizing power from the Li clan! What kind of creature are you to come here sowing discord and pulling such treacherous, backstabbing tricks?!" Guest Elder Fu could not fathom where Li Jiangxia got such terrifying strength. His chest was a burning sheet of agony. Opening his eyes, he saw those golden pupils glaring down at him with vicious fury. Not a shred of the youth's usual cheer and generosity remained; instead, there was a terrifying, ruthless severity. "Young Master!" Li Jiangxia rested the blade against his neck. The trusted confidants nearby had already known this man was courting disaster, but had not anticipated him committing such an abomination. One hurriedly pleaded in a low voice, "The Fu clan is an external surname from Xuanyue after all. In this critical hour... it would be ill-advised..." 'Xuanyue...' Li Jiangxia paused, grabbed the man's collar, and hoisted him up with one hand. The youth was heavily built to begin with, and cold sweat poured from Guest Elder Fu in agony. Yet the young man before him only said in a voice of ice: "If your words get out, every soul in Xuanyue will have to kneel on Pingya Islet, and Kong Guxi will flay your skin alive just to preserve his ancestors' orthodox lineage!"