Dawn was breaking dimly, but the great hall was brightly lit with lamps. Li Zhouluo placed several stacks of scrolls onto the desk and let out a sigh of relief. The lamplight cast a yellowish tint over his face as he turned sideways and said, "The clan dossiers and affairs of all sizes from these past few years are all recorded within. You need only read through them, Jiangqian."
Li Jiangqian, still clad in crimson robes, nodded at his words. He picked up the topmost volume and glanced through it, looking thoughtful. Li Zhouluo shook his head and said, "I have not done well these past few years. If there are any omissions or oversights, I must ask you to make up for them, Jiangqian. I'm afraid it will be quite troublesome..."
"What are you saying, Uncle!"
Li Jiangqian chuckled and shook his head, replying, "Fourth Uncle possesses a benevolent heart and loves the clan dearly. What talk can there be of omissions? Most of it was simply benevolent governance. The methods Uncle proposed were all good, and your nephew ought to ponder them carefully."
Li Zhouluo could only sigh and shake his head. He unfastened the black robe from his shoulders, stowed it into his storage bag, and replied, "Don't flatter me so. I am also on the verge of breaking through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and this just happens to be the right opportunity for me to enter seclusion."
He quickly withdrew. Li Jiangqian settled himself firmly back into the seat of honor, raised his brows, and looked at Di Liguang standing to the side. "Are the young masters all on their way?"
Di Liguang nodded and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Clan Head, Young Masters Jianglong and Jiangxia entered seclusion three months and half a year ago, respectively... The messages have already been dispatched, but in all likelihood they will not be received in time."
Li Jiangqian let out a laugh and replied, "No matter. Funan and the East Shore have always been managed by those two younger brothers, kept in fine order, so there is no need for them to make the journey. Where have Jiangliang and Jiangnian gotten to?"
Di Liguang hurried to answer, "The Fourth Young Master has been by Lord Cui Jueyin's side all along. As it happens, that lord has been on the islet these past few days, so he is already waiting in the side hall. Little Young Master Jiangnian has been cultivating on the islet lately, and he is ready and waiting as well."
"Send them in."
Having given the command, he lowered his head once more to read the dossier in his hands. Only a dozen-odd breaths passed before the jingling chime of pendants sounded outside the hall, and in strode a young gentleman cradling a sword. His golden pupils darted with lively brilliance as he called out clearly, "Eldest Brother!"
This was none other than the fourth brother, Li Jiangliang. Now fifteen years old, he possessed vivid expressions and bore a strong resemblance to Li Jiangqian, only appearing sunnier and gentler. He said warmly, "Congratulations, Eldest Brother! Some days ago I went to your manor to pay my respects, but your whereabouts were uncertain, so I wasn't able to see you... Truly, congratulations, Eldest Brother!"
Li Jiangliang was warm and enthusiastic, so Li Jiangqian naturally would not give him the cold shoulder either. Meeting him with an equally welcoming smile, he said, "I was busy with clan affairs these past few days and had no leisure. But the moment I had free time, didn't I send for you right away, Fourth Brother?"
After the two exchanged a few words, Li Jiangqian turned his eyes toward the youngest brother at the very rear, Li Jiangnian.
Li Zhouwei's other four sons were tall and well-built; even Li Jianglong, who was the plainest in looks, had a frame that was perfectly well-proportioned by ordinary standards. Yet the Li Jiangnian before him was short of stature, even looking somewhat dwarfish and gaunt.
What made Li Jiangqian frown even more was his face.
Most members of the Li clan were far from poor-looking, particularly the lineage descended from Li Tongya. Li Xijun was a renowned handsome man in his day, Li Qinghong was a stunning beauty, and in the years Li Zhouwei had presided over the household, not a few female cultivators throughout the lake had fallen for him... Even Li Jiangliang standing before him possessed first-rate poise and charm.
Yet Li Jiangnian had a sharp chin and hollow monkey-like cheeks, his eyes squinted and swollen, with several warts sprouting on the side of his cheek from which a few hairs poked out. Not only was his appearance utterly wretched, but his demeanor was cowering and timid—not just unsightly, but downright repulsive to look at.
'Never mind that he failed to inherit Father's golden pupils... but to think he would look so utterly pathetic!'
Li Jiangqian's brows knit tightly. Compared to the natural magnetism of the other brothers, this little brother possessed an aura that was practically born to inspire disgust. Li Jiangqian watched him in silence, finding it hard to believe:
'Is he truly... Father's own flesh and blood?!'
He was momentarily at a loss for words. Stepping down from the seat of honor, he observed him closely for a moment and murmured in doubt, "You are already a cultivator on the verge of Qi Refinement... how could you still grow such things..."
Li Jiangqian was naturally referring to the blemishes on his face. The clumsy Li Jiangnian, however, seemed accustomed to being asked this question and muttered submissively, "I was born with it. Lord Cui examined it and said that as my cultivation increases, it will naturally fade away on its own, so there is no need to make a fuss over it."
Li Jiangqian had no choice but to take a step back. His original intention to test his two younger brothers had vanished completely. Returning to the main seat, he averted his gaze so as not to look at him, and said, "Jiangnian, since you are on the verge of Qi Refinement, have you come to collect the Court Red Dust? I shall give you an order token; you may go to Milin to retrieve it yourself."
Li Jiangnian nodded hastily, took the token handed down by Li Jiangqian, and departed in great delight.
The moment he pushed open the door and stepped outside, both elder brothers in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. Li Jiangqian let out a heavy breath, at a complete loss for words, and merely rubbed the space between his brows.
Li Jiangliang bowed his head slightly and said softly, "In past years, Little Brother rarely emerged from his cave dwelling. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he ate and slept inside... Tonight, he only came to ask for the spiritual qi, leaving him no other choice."
"It is just as well that he stays out of sight," Li Jiangqian sighed. "Wherever one goes in this world, one cannot avoid showing one's face. If one is born handsome, others look upon him favorably at first glance; if one is born ugly, he gets cursed just walking down the road... As for concealing it with spells, it inevitably makes people suspect one is acting suspiciously, harboring ill intent... At most, let him wear a mask in the future to cover his face. Though he still won't escape sideways glances, at least it will be bearable to look at."
Li Jiangliang nodded repeatedly. Li Jiangqian merely glanced at him and could tell that he did not particularly care whether Li Jiangnian masked himself or not. Smiling now, he said, "I heard Uncle Zhouluo mention... the essence you consumed was that portion of Mingli Blazing Essence from years ago. You belong to the same lineage of Dao as I do, also cultivating the Scripture of Tianli Rize. You may come to ask for guidance often in the future."
"Thank you, Eldest Brother!"
Li Jiangliang cupped his hands and withdrew. Li Jiangqian stood up, lifted a brush from the desk, dipped it in ink, wrote a few words, and retrieved a stack of small letters from his sleeve. Glancing at Di Liguang, he instructed, "Go summon everyone from Qingdu and Mount Yuting."
He raised his brows and smiled. "It matters not if it causes a commotion—the bigger the stir, the better. Make sure the entire islet hears it loud and clear!"
Di Liguang understood, nodded, and withdrew. Sure enough, countless footsteps suddenly echoed throughout the great hall. Soldiers in white armor filed in from both side halls, guarding every door tight. For a time, shadows flitted about, and the clattering of weapons against armor filled the air in a noisy bustle.
*Clang—*
Li Jiangqian remained seated in the place of honor. Chen Yang, clad in black armor, strode in briskly from a side door, cupping his fists in salute. "Reporting to the Clan Head, Li Xixuan is indeed at Mount Qingdu. He is in the Old Master's courtyard pleading bitterly, and has already been kneeling for two hours."
"Only two hours!"
Li Jiangqian gave an amused smile and replied, "He is a mortal after all, and taking a boat to Qingdu takes quite some time... Fortunately, I waited for him until the middle of the night."
He drew out a command token and said with a smile, "Di Liguang has already gone to summon the forces from Qingdu. Take your men, and the moment the Qingdu contingent departs the mountain, seal off Qingdu immediately. No one is permitted to enter or leave."
"The bigger the stir, the better... Just say... I've caught someone in wrongdoing, and now I'm out to take lives!"
Chapter 805