Rules

Li Xinghan pondered for a moment, silently noting to ask Li Xuanxuan about it later. Accepting verbally, she replied: "Since this is the elders' order, I must trouble Brother to undertake the burden." Li Zhouluo was dressed in black. He cultivated Mangjin Qi, which, regardless of his personal nature, naturally endowed him with an awe-inspiring presence that inspired trust. Cupping his hands in salute, he said solemnly: "Rest assured, Younger Sister." Beside them, Li Zhouming looked from one to the other, hesitating to speak. Li Zhouluo had once overseen Qingdu and punished Li Zhouming several times, so Zhouming naturally feared him. Although his younger sister Li Xinghan was young, she bore a sword on her back and carried heavy killing intent, so he feared her just as much and could hardly utter a word. Li Xinghan could not bring herself to like this direct grandson of a Violet Palace cultivator either. Real Persons had few offspring to begin with, yet the rare one born here proved utterly useless. Even though she spent much of her time away, Li Xinghan had heard rumors about him: *It is said... when sent to local domains, he reveals an avaricious nature; within the islet, he is plagued by incompetence. The Real Person doesn't hold him in high regard and gave him no decent magical artifacts. He fares miserably in fights outside, nearly losing to a cultivator of humble local origins, thoroughly disgracing the family. The old patriarch even fears getting this direct grandson killed... so he is left to wander about idly all day, as long as he stays out of trouble...* Ultimately, Li Zhouming was a direct grandson of a Violet Palace master; supporting him in leisure for the Real Person's sake was no burden on the clan. Yet Li Xinghan found him thoroughly displeasing. She turned and strode away. Reaching the hall entrance, she saw Li Zhoufang and his brother following Fourth Brother down the steps, speaking in humble, pleading tones. Faint fragments of speech drifted over: "The two of us... our father labored tirelessly and died on the river, and now our younger brother has perished as well... Regarding the clan's compensation, we only hope to secure an inherited office for his child..." Only then did Li Xinghan remember that the deceased Li Zhouken was actually a full blood brother of Li Zhoufang and his sibling, having been adopted into another branch back then to carry on their ancestral incense. While the two brothers were quiet and reserved before their elders, they cared deeply for the younger generation of their brethren. They had come to plead for an official post. *One should receive resources from the islet according to their talent and hard work... Hereditary privileges have always been reserved for external surnames. The clan has always dreaded its own scions resting on their laurels across generations, rarely permitting such things... Sigh!* Li Xinghan found that Eldest Brother and Second Brother were commendable in every other way, except for this fierce obsession with hereditary protection for their progeny. Unable to help herself, she halted her steps, intending to turn back and interject a word, but a shout came from behind: "Sister!" It turned out to be Li Zhouming running after her. *Never mind... Brother Zhouluo should be able to handle it.* Li Xinghan had no choice but to stop. Facing the youth holding a folding fan, she remained passably polite and asked: "Does Fifth Brother have something important?" Tucking his hands into his sleeves, Li Zhouming smiled: "I heard that Sister will lead people west to the great desert to eliminate a band of wandering demonic cultivators. I hear there is a kind of White Falcon Metal in the desert, something unavailable on the lake, which can be used to forge magical artifacts. Could I trouble Sister to bring some back for me? I'll reimburse you with spiritual resources." Li Xinghan felt a slight flicker of surprise and said: "You've started looking into magical artifacts too? That is indeed a good thing. I'll be sure to bring some back." Li Zhouming let out a sigh of relief, hastily thanked her, and took his leave. The young woman then rode the wind, flying into the islet while mulling over it: *Quite unusual indeed.* She pondered silently as she made a detour to her cave dwelling to pack her belongings. By the time dusk settled and the sky darkened, she finally landed before a courtyard on the islet. The two pots of kumquats that once stood before the courtyard gate had been replaced by stone lions treading upon gold-flecked stones. Weighing the sight for a moment, the woman hesitated: "It has become so much more extravagant!" Pushing the gate open, a smile finally appeared on Li Xinghan's face as she called out: "Mother!" The woman was instantly overwhelmed with joy and hurried over to welcome her. In the courtyard, a man who had been holding his chopsticks and sipping wine looked up as well. From the inner room, her elder brother and sister-in-law set aside their chores and rushed out. In an instant, the whole family bustled about, pulling her inside in high spirits. In truth, Li Xinghan's household had once suffered many conflicts. Her father possessed mediocre cultivation and was frustrated in his ambitions, while her elder brother and his wife harbored thoughts of dividing the family property. Back then, nobody cared whether she came home or not. But ever since she came down from Mount Zhijing, her brother and sister-in-law could not be driven away even if one tried, and the house was filled with nothing but laughter and cheerful chatter all day long. Every time she returned home, it felt as grand as a festive holiday. Pulled along to sit beside her father, she heard her mother beaming with delight, smiling: "Han'er! Your uncle accumulated merits for so long, and now he has finally been promoted to Fengmu of Wutu Peak!" A Fengmu of the Li family was an office of no small stature, strictly with one person per post, not to mention that Wutu Peak was considered an affluent domain. Li Xinghan was overjoyed at once and smiled: "His long years of hard work have finally paid off!" Yet once the initial joy passed, something felt amiss. Her uncle bore the stain of being a remnant of the Yu family, and his cultivation was not particularly high. Reasonably speaking, it was very difficult for him to qualify for such a position. Immediately wiping the smile from her face, she asked: "When was the appointment made?" Her mother smiled: "The appointment came at noon! He was overjoyed and completely taken by surprise. It's such a momentous post; I hear he still hasn't returned even though it's late into the night..." *Noon?* Li Xinghan's heart jolted: *The moment I stepped out... Brother Zhouluo specifically promoted him...* The joy drained from Li Xinghan's face, replaced by a lingering confusion. Holding the bamboo chopsticks in her hand, she found herself unable to pick at the dishes before her or set them down, falling into silence. Li Xinghan asked herself honestly: the Yuzhen Qi for her Qi Refinement, the Harmonized True Treasure Qi, had been collected by her uncle Chi Tiaozong, who gave up his own cultivation and sat on the altar year after year chanting scriptures to harvest it for her. To put it bluntly, if she could catch the Real Person's favor and perhaps achieve Foundation Establishment in the future, nearly half the credit belonged to this uncle of hers. Even in her early days, her uncle had provided ample help with cultivation resources and guidance on the Dao. While her current cultivation was indeed mostly fostered by the clan, it was this uncle who had helped her stand out and make a name for herself in the first place. She fell deeper into silence. Seeing her like this, the family members in the courtyard abruptly went quiet. Her father glanced at her and said in a heavy voice: "Zhouluo is running the household now, and you are one of the foremost figures of the Zhouxing generation. Some things you just need to accept. Your uncle has worked hard for decades; it is time he received his due reward. "Are you going to be an ungrateful wretch and ask your fourth brother to revoke the decree? Did your uncle do something wrong, or was your fourth brother's merit-based promotion unjust? Give me a reason then!" It was a fact that Chi Tiaozong was capable, but it was also a fact that Li Zhouluo had promoted him as a personal favor in gratitude for her backing. Now that Chi Tiaozong had finally achieved a breakthrough in his official career, Li Xinghan truly lacked the heart to reject this kindness... In normal times, Li Xinghan looked down on those who practiced favoritism and personal connections. Yet pushed to this juncture, her lips parted and closed, unable to utter a single word. Setting down her bamboo chopsticks, she said quietly: "Just cherish it... I am away for most of the year. The family should remain as it always was. Do not be ostentatious, especially since funerals were just held for the clan masters. It is best to keep everything simple." The middle-aged man beside her set down his wine and replied: "Eldest Son, sell the stone lions in front of the gate tomorrow and put the two pots of kumquats back." "Father chose them so carefully just days ago and was so happy about it... always going to the front gate to admire them again and again... Why sell them now..." Her elder brother sighed with regret. Madam Chi shushed him, took Li Xinghan's hand, and whispered softly: "Speaking of what happened to the clan masters... you are an important figure on the islet now. Protecting your own life comes first above all else. If something happens to you, all hope for our household will be ruined." Before Li Xinghan could reply, she saw her father speak with earnest gravity: "We all understand... serving the lake is important, but while serving the lake, letting your kin and friends bask in reflected glory is hardly a conflict. How could everyone be a saint who touches not a single scrap of personal interest?" "Daughter understands." Li Xinghan picked at a couple of mouthfuls, unable to swallow, knowing that her father would next plead for an official post on her elder brother's behalf. She immediately took her leave and rose from the table. Her father said not a word; only her mother walked her out all the way. Leaving the courtyard, her spiritual sense could still perceive clearly: without her, the large table full of dishes suddenly looked desolate. Her mother wept softly, her father sighed, and her brother and sister-in-law exchanged glances amidst dead silence. Only after a long while did her father's voice drift out: "She thinks so highly of her own lofty principles... Even without her, there is still your uncle; you won't be denied an official post either way. It just doesn't look as proper and might easily draw the attention of the clan rectors at Qingdu. Tomorrow, you will accompany me on a trip..." Li Xinghan could not bear to listen any longer. She strode out swiftly, riding the wind into the sky, letting the chilly night wind lash her face as darkness shrouded her heart: *What lofty principles! If I were truly like Aunt Minggong and the others who think solely of the lake's greater good, Uncle would have no office to take either! It's nothing more than me trying to save face... In the end... it's just that his bond of kinship isn't strong enough to command me...* Li Xinghan had upheld a sword heart since childhood, maintaining righteousness and purging evil. Now she only felt clarity dawning upon her: "In the past, I thought the frequent favoritism on the islet was Qingdu's negligence. But looking at it now, I cannot even uphold righteousness myself." Riding the wind, she arrived at Qingdu. The side peak was draped in mourning white. An old man stood leaning on his staff, pacing upon the peak. Li Xinghan had never seen him rest, and this time was no exception. She simply bowed: "Venerable Patriarch!" Li Xuanxuan took just one look and said: "Xinghan has come! Is it about Zhouluo? Come, let us speak inside." Li Xuanxuan's seniority was truly immense, so Li Xinghan followed respectfully behind him. Entering the pavilion, Li Xinghan said respectfully: "The Venerable Patriarch's orders naturally have their wisdom, and this junior harbors no doubts. Within the family, only Fourth Brother is worthy of such great responsibility. It is just that this junior has only recently encountered clan affairs and is about to head abroad, leaving some unease in my heart..." She hesitated for several breaths, saying with considerable distress: "Upon the lake... favoritism is rife... and personal favors weigh heavily among cultivators... Xinghan... is guilty!" Li Xinghan recounted what had happened in her family. Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan halted what he was doing and nodded quietly. The old man sighed and replied: "Xinghan... how old is your father? What is his cultivation?" Li Xinghan hurriedly cupped her hands: "My father is forty-seven years old, at the fourth stage of Embryonic Breathing." Li Xuanxuan nodded slowly and answered: "That child... his path of cultivation in this lifetime has already reached its end. The time remaining to him is merely several decades. Xinghan... can you achieve Foundation Establishment?" Li Xinghan nodded slightly and replied: "This child will do her utmost; there is still hope." The old man let out a long sigh and asked: "And the Violet Palace?" Li Xinghan could only say: "I dare not entertain such extravagant hopes!" Li Xuanxuan said in a low voice: "The cultivation path of many people in this world comes to an early halt. Not only do you not dare think of the Violet Palace, but the clan's young masters rarely entertain such extravagant hopes either. For you all, reaching Foundation Establishment is virtually the end of cultivation, yet the remaining time of your lives is long. "On this lake, cultivators like your father are countless. Eighty percent of cultivators stop at Embryonic Breathing; a small portion refine miscellaneous qi, their Dao paths exhausted as well. The remainder halt at Qi Refinement, mostly unable to advance after a few stages, with only a final handful lingering at the peak of Qi Refinement." The old man seemed somewhat lost in thought as he said heavily: "They have no great spiritual attainment, and their cultivation in this life has ended right here. With decades or centuries left to them, what else could they do? If these cultivators who cannot advance an inch are left idle, who could keep them under control? No one could!" Li Xinghan remained silent. Li Xuanxuan said leisurely: "Do not underestimate them. Oppressing the common people, taking hundreds of wives and concubines, killing people to harvest blood, cultivating demonic arts—they are capable of every bit of it! For them to scheme for private favors today merely to secure peaceful lives for their descendants is already the best outcome under our moral teachings." The old man said in a low murmur: "Xijun established such a complex, distinctly hierarchical system of officialdom, social obligations, oversight, and incentives—it was not done without purpose... Han'er... sometimes we do not actually need them... but keeping them occupied is vital to both us and the common folk. Through merit alone, we cannot always keep them busy." Li Xinghan stared blankly at the old man before her. Li Xuanxuan continued: "Later, Zhouwei procured all sorts of precious medicines for breakthrough attempts. Some were not as effective as imagined, but cultivators only willingly enter seclusion to seek breakthroughs and gamble on that slim thread of opportunity once their descendants are settled... A certain degree of hereditary protection for descendants and relying on personal connections to seek offices is not necessarily an evil thing. "In today's world, blood qi is being refined everywhere outside. We cannot demand too much of them." Li Xinghan clutched her fists slightly, the treasured sword on her back casting ripples of cold light under the moon. Li Xinghan whispered: "Venerable Patriarch... but is this... truly in accordance with the righteous path..." The old man leaned against the high backrest, his snow-white beard resting against his wrinkled hand. Li Xuanxuan appeared somewhat weary. He spoke softly: "We cannot control a crowd of people who are endlessly greedy... We can only divert their greed elsewhere. Han'er, nothing is accomplished overnight. Perhaps your younger generation will find better ways, but to preserve peace for mortals, this is the only way for now." Li Xinghan's eyes gradually cleared, and she nodded in contemplation. "Xinghan, I already spoke to your fourth brother about this matter this morning; I only want you to understand one truth." The old man before her hunched in the high-backed mahogany chair, shrinking into the room's shadows. In that instant, he seemed weighed down by immense frailty and age. His voice was extraordinarily soft: "Many things that exist outside the rules are also within the rules." ... Within the islet. The night was thick, yet the grand hall remained brightly lit. Piles upon piles of documents and bamboo slips were stacked upon the desk. Li Zhouluo read through them carefully, one hand propping himself against the desk, deep in thought. This was his first time taking charge of the islet and the lake, leaving him somewhat uneasy. Having discussed matters with his brothers since early morning, he had been working at this desk straight through until now, learning many clan secrets only just recently. *So... so many cultivators of external surnames are actually subordinates of the islet. The family truly has no shortage of external geniuses—there are even two who failed their Foundation Establishment breakthroughs here on the islet...* He examined the records in detail. After more than half the night had passed, he heard a subordinate come up to report: "My lord, the Third Young Master has returned from the East Shore and is waiting outside the hall." Li Zhouluo hurriedly put down his brush and said: "Quickly, invite him in."