Lake Central Islet.
Clad in a black robe, Li Zhouluo bent over his desk, brush in hand. The lanterns in the palace were dim and few. Di Liguang stood below the dais in silence, not uttering a word.
An old man was ascending the steps, his back straight as an arrow. His features were regular, but his sunken cheeks made him look exceptionally frail and aged. His expression was somber, and at his waist hung a dark precious sword, inspiring awe and dread.
Li Zhouluo raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Seeing the man arrive before the hall, he hurriedly set down his brush, rose, and said in a hushed tone, "Elder Donghe, you've come... Why didn't you send word beforehand... to save you the journey?"
In recent years, Chen Donghe had withered rapidly and grown increasingly quiet, scarcely resembling his former self. His skin hung loosely over his bones. Standing in the hall, he finished offering his salutation and said in an aged, hoarse voice, "This old man is advanced in years, rigid and antiquated. I dare not babble on in the hall; I have only come to see the Family Head."
Li Zhouluo did not often wear the Family Head's official attire. Unless it was an extremely formal occasion where it was unavoidable, he rarely brought that robe out to wear—over the years, the times he had donned it could be counted on one hand. Normally, he remained accustomed to his black robes.
Chen Donghe needed only a single glance to discern the cut and style of this black robe clearly.
Li Yuanjiao.
The last person in the family to frequently wear a black robe was Li Yuanjiao, personally entrusted by Li Tongya on his deathbed, who could also barely be considered the founding patriarch of the Ji branch who managed the household. Although Li Yuanjiao also held the status of having been adopted into the Bo branch, at the time he could be counted among the Ji branch.
The young Family Head before him was likely displaying where his legitimacy lay, demonstrating a mind to emulate and learn from his forebear. As for how much capability he actually possessed, he likely could not compare to Li Yuanjiao.
Chen Donghe merely swept his gaze across him before Li Zhouluo already smiled and said, "Elder Donghe is too modest... The family is in dire need of capable hands right now. Chen Yang has repeatedly distinguished himself on the East Shore, repelling demonic cultivators several times. He even feigned a retreat to draw the enemy in, almost capturing a demonic cultivator alive. I must still congratulate you, Elder."
"It is Wangyue that deserves congratulations," the old man replied. Then he asked, "Over the past two days, I heard that Fei Qingyi of the Fei family intends to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. He came to the hall to pay his respects, hoping to receive a Suiyuan Pill. Is this true...?"
Li Zhouluo had a slight headache over this. The matter was indeed true, and over the past few days it had caused quite a commotion. He nodded and said, "Indeed. Every surname is watching this single pill. He has now taken up residence in the side hall, waiting to see me."
Chen Donghe enjoyed immense prestige within the family. Several years ago, he had stepped back from holding positions of real power and rarely met with people; had this news not caused such an uproar recently, he would not have been stirred into action. Yet the old man did not press for details regarding the Fei family. Instead, he said, "I hear... the lake is short on hands, and now Fei Qingyi is to enter seclusion. I could no longer sit idly by, so I hurried out to place myself at the lake's disposal."
Li Zhouluo was pleasantly surprised. After all, Qingdu was currently vacant without a suitable candidate, and Li Jiangxia had returned to the East Shore. Chen Donghe commanded immense prestige and would certainly put everyone's hearts at ease. Thus, he said, "Your righteousness is profound, Elder. I shall entrust the affairs of Qingdu to you, and I will draft the official documents right away. I must trouble you, Venerable Senior!"
Chen Donghe lowered his eyelids slightly, offered a respectful bow, and took his leave.
Managing Qingdu was a thankless task bound to offend people. Chen Donghe stepping up to support him in this way undoubtedly resolved Li Zhouluo's pressing crisis. He mused inwardly, 'I suspect it was the Old Master who personally persuaded him to come out and help me... *sigh*...'
Li Zhouluo had no time to ponder further; the Fei family's affairs still had him beside himself with worry. He retrieved a letter from the desk—it was from the Master of the Jiutian Pavilion in Qingchi, his paternal grandfather Li Xizhi.
The letter mentioned many people with heartfelt warmth and care. It also mentioned that he had gone to the South Sea to suppress demonic cultivators and could not visit home often, but offered some cautionary news.
"Fei Qingyi... has grown closer to Peak Master Qin Xian of Siyao Peak within the sect, and lately there seems to be talk of settling a marriage between them..."
Though Fei Qingyi seemed detached from worldly squabbles, she was by no means a simple figure. A few days earlier, she had sought out Li Xizhi, stating that both her parents were deceased and she had no elders in her family, expressing hope that Li Xizhi might act as her elder to accept Qin Xian's marriage proposal. Her words had been exceedingly sincere.
Yet Li Xizhi specifically mentioned in his letter that Qin Xian was a confidant of Dantai Jin and on intimate terms with him, while Dantai Jin had always represented the interests of the Si family. Just how much emotion and sincerity lay within was difficult to tell.
Against this backdrop, Fei Qingyi's breakthrough took on an intriguing cast. With Fei Qingyi climbing to such high branches, the entire Fei family acquired a somewhat different flavor. Should Fei Qingyi also attain Foundation Establishment, it left Li Zhouluo somewhat uneasy.
After mulling it over, he finally instructed, "Let Fei Qingyi enter!"
Di Liguang withdrew immediately. Before long, a white-robed young man entered the hall. His countenance was handsome and refined, his face plump and smooth, with very little space between his eyebrows and eyes. With his red lips and white teeth, he was a sight that inspired admiration. He bowed and said, "Qingyi greets the Family Head!"
It was Li Zhouluo's first time seeing him, and he could not help but remark, "You have fine looks, Qingyi. It is often said that the men of the North Shore Fei clan are the most handsome, and it is indeed true."
Fei Qingyi answered respectfully. Li Zhouluo then inquired about the recent conditions of the Fei family, the spirit rice harvests, and whether the cultivators sent by the family elders to oversee the prefecture and peaks were fulfilling their duties diligently.
The Fei clan had submitted only a generation ago. The Li family treated the Fei clan gently; those dispatched there were either Fei members themselves or individuals amicable to them. From Fei Qingyi's lips, everything naturally sounded flawless. After circling the topic for a while, Li Zhouluo took on a solemn expression and said, "Breaking through to Foundation Establishment is a matter of life and death. Since you are preparing to break through, your family should be informed. Have you sent word to Qingchi? What was her reply?"
At the mention of Fei Qingyi, the young man hesitated visibly for a moment before replying, "I have already written to her. My elder sister's intention was... there is no need for letters from home. Everything must follow procedure—first report to the lake, and then forward the matter to Qingchi. As for the Suiyuan Pill... it is also to follow the lake's rules."
Evidently, whether Fei Qingyi could produce this pill or not, she at least dared not bring it out directly, maintaining a strictly official attitude toward the Fei family. Hearing this, Li Zhouluo said, "Qingyi's joyous occasion is drawing near, so it is indeed best not to disturb her. The lake will make arrangements for this matter. You cultivate Cold Qi, Qingyi, and this Suiyuan Pill must be deducted according to merits, while the quota must also be discussed on the peak. It is not something I alone can decide arbitrarily. You should first pay a visit to the Old Master and hear his thoughts."
Fei Qingyi nodded repeatedly, then hesitated and asked, "Joyous occasion?"
The young man's eyes were wide with astonishment—genuine, utter shock. That look of surprise and bewilderment did not seem feigned in the slightest, sending a jolt through Li Zhouluo's heart.
'Fei Qingyi hasn't mentioned her marriage to the Fei family at all! This...'
Now Fei Qingyi stood staring blankly at the ground, pupils dilated. Li Zhouluo felt a bit awkward. He realized at once that Fei Qingyi's distance and cautious detachment from the Fei clan was not entirely a facade, nor was she avoiding suspicion only for the sake of the Li family. Passing the small slip on the desk requesting an audience from Ding Weizeng to Di Liguang, he hesitated and said, "It seems our family received word a step sooner. I heard it is a great joyous occasion, though what I heard was rather vague—Fellow Daoist Qingyi has formed an affection with a peak master within the sect, and their love is deep."
When he said this, Fei Qingyi was both startled and delighted. Just as he was about to ask more, Di Liguang stepped forward to report, interrupting respectfully, "Family Head, Guest Elder Ding has an urgent report."
"Good! Please invite him in quickly!"
Li Zhouluo replied with great joy. Fei Qingyi was discerning enough after all; despite having a belly full of doubts, he could only bow out upon hearing this. Only after Fei Qingyi hurriedly vanished down the corridor of the side hall did Li Zhouluo's joy fade. He said in a low voice, "Please bring Ding Weizeng up."
Di Liguang withdrew. Yet a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded, and it was Chen Yang who charged into the hall first in high spirits. His Dharma robes were in disarray, and a faint red scratch marked his neck, but his expression was full of pleasant surprise. He bowed and said, "Family Head, the Duxian Dao has retreated!"
Li Zhouluo abruptly rose from the main seat, his spirits surging with excitement. He exclaimed joyfully, "What?! ... Where are the people from Xuanyue? What of the territory?"
Li Xuanxuan arrived at the main hall. Inside, the lamps blazed brightly. Li Zhouluo was still in the hall; having apparently just finished handling clan affairs, he was practicing techniques. Forming an incantation gesture with his hand, five or six brilliant golden sharp edges swirled above his fingers, emitting shrill, piercing shrieks.
The moment the elder came up, the young man immediately opened his eyes and halted the technique in his hand...
Chapter 786