Deliberations

Li Jiangqian had waited for a little over a day when Cui Jueyin entered swiftly from outside the hall. His emotions had visibly settled, and after offering a salute, he resumed his composed demeanor and reported, “Patriarch, the second young master has arrived outside the hall.” “Please invite him in.” Li Jiangqian responded, and Cui Jueyin immediately withdrew. Before long, a figure walked up from outside the hall. The newcomer wore plain hemp robes and unadorned boots, with nothing on his person save for a single sword at his waist. Completely unassuming and already possessed of late Qi Refinement cultivation, his brow held an easy serenity, as though he were an independent cultivator newly emerged from a mountain hermitage. He stepped before Li Jiangqian, bowed, and respectfully greeted him, “Greetings, Patriarch!” Over the years, Li Jianglong had governed Funan with peace and prosperity, without a single disturbance from rogue or demonic cultivators. He had not only kept the turbulent situation of Jiangbei outside their borders—resolving troubles north of the Li clan—but had also brought in a considerable sum of spiritual materials. He could be called exceedingly capable. While Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei were away from home one after the other, he and their third brother, Li Jiangxia, had kept both fronts stable and secure. Without the three brothers holding the clan together, who knew how much chaos would have erupted. Li Jiangqian looked at him with a smile and gave a gentle wave of his hand. The court guards flanking the hall withdrew at once, shutting tight the main and side doors. Magic lamps glowed brightly, leaving only the two of them within. Li Jiangqian’s smile faded as he hurried down from his seat to help Li Jianglong up. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “The reason I summoned you back, Second Brother, is that we must abandon the territory of Funan.” Needless to say, Li Jianglong had poured immense blood and sweat into Funan. His composed poise was nearly shattered by those words. Forcing himself to steady his mind, he frowned and asked, “Patriarch, this is…” Li Jiangqian said, “A True Monarch is going to reincarnate in Jiangbei, right in the land of the Three Creeks.” Li Jianglong stared at him in a daze. Li Jiangqian shook his head and added, “It is a True Monarch of the northern superior sect. Zhang Duanyan of the Jinyu Sect came in person to deliver the decree.” With those three sentences spoken, all of Li Jianglong’s cultivated calm crumbled. His pupils dilated, and disbelief flooded his face. Only after several breaths did he manage to ask, “Like Chu Yi back then?” “Precisely.” Li Jiangqian nodded. Leading him forward, he spread a map across the desk and laid out the broad strokes of the Jinyu Sect’s orders. Li Jianglong’s expression grew entirely solemn, and he said, “If this matter isn't handled properly, it could bring disaster to millions and lead to the clan's utter ruin.” Li Jiangqian nodded in agreement. “Second Brother, you know Funan best. What the situation is like, and how to sever ties cleanly—that is the troublesome part.” Li Jianglong pondered for a while, studying the map. “When Fuyun Cave fell, its people were plundered by two other grottoes and have never recovered to this day. Our clan’s control over the Fuyun area revolves around the spirit fields and spirit veins, mostly garrisoned by cultivators from outside. Pulling out won't be difficult... Once we withdraw, the scarce local populace won't be able to muster many cultivators. Isolated and stranded, even self-governance will be out of the question for them. “If our family lets go of this land, Duxian Dao will have to abandon Midong as well. Over in Midong, the various aristocratic clans are deeply entrenched. Many sects from both north and south of the river have planted figures there, and the population is dense. They will definitely move swiftly to swallow Funan.” The fundamental difficulty in governing Midong stemmed from two factors: first, the enormous populations of its clans; second, the various sects taking direct disciples into their folds to prop up local despots, who then bought up Jiangbei's spiritual items at dirt-cheap prices or seized them by force. Li Jiangqian naturally understood this and asked, “With your knowledge of Jiangbei, how do you expect the situation in Midong to unfold? Will those clans receive word?” Li Jianglong thought deeply before answering, “They certainly will not. The sects will all withdraw their hands. A local despot is a local despot precisely because its lineage is vast, intertwined inside and out, boundless and unfading, leaving it a mixed bag of good and bad. While indeed difficult to eradicate, they are equally unable to extricate themselves. Even if they have clansmen cultivating in immortal sects... at best, those members will be stripped of their cultivation; at worst, crimes will be pinned on them and they will be executed...” Li Jiangqian weighed the thought. “To me, hounding them to death carries its own hazards. If a clan declines from that point and the karmic mandate happens to land on it, trouble would arise instead. Since the word is that the path leads toward Qilu, then let them head toward Qilu. The forces from the north are what we must fear most. The various immortal sects will cut ties cleanly, yet they shouldn't be overly ruthless; they will always leave themselves an out.” Li Jianglong observed his brother’s expression and replied, “I failed to think it through completely. In that case, there is no need to convict them. We need only send people to harm them quietly. Should something go wrong later, we can push out a scapegoat. Since they won't be heading south, it will be easy enough to brush off.” “That is the way of it.” The two brothers stared at the map. Li Jianglong mused, “Funan has few entanglements, but there are still several local clan cultivators who will be awkward to deal with. Excuses are easy enough to find, though. Bestow spiritual gifts and dismiss them back home. After some time, inform them in advance that our family is withdrawing and Duxian Dao is on its way; they will pack up their entire households and flee for their lives on their own. “There are also several cultivators who took up romantic pursuits locally and had children. Count these people among the Jiangbei rogue cultivators, and take them along with their entire villages—do not leave behind a single dog or duck.” The Li family had quite a few cultivators from Jiangbei. Fortunately, most were rogue cultivators and easy to handle. Li Jiangqian gave a subtle nod. Just then, a soft sound came from the palace doors, cutting off their conversation. Below, Qu Bushi entered to report, his face filled with shock and suspicion. “Reporting to the Patriarch, that utterly shameless Duxian Dao... has sent a demonic guest elder to pay a visit!” Li Jiangqian frowned and asked, “So soon? That shouldn't be... How many people did Daoist Guan bring? Word hasn't spread, has it?” Qu Bushi looked as though he had seen a ghost, nearly biting his tongue, and stammered hesitantly, “That demo—er... the man from Duxian... came alone. He appeared just outside the islet... and had someone secretly pass the message... This old servant understood that the matter was of grave importance and let no one see him.” Li Jiangqian felt relieved inside and answered, “Invite him up through the side hall. Do not let anyone spot him.” Qu Bushi hurriedly withdrew. Half an incense stick's time later, a middle-aged man walked in from outside the hall. Originally appearing dashing in white robes, his form shifted the moment he stepped inside: deep-set eyes beneath high brows, dressed in black Daoist robes with a silk sash tied at his waist. Reaching the center of the hall, his face was steeped in bitterness as he sighed, “Greetings, Patriarch!” Li Jiangqian nodded slightly and remarked in an indifferent tone, “So it is the Sect Master of Duxian himself.” It was none other than Guan Gongxiao, the Sect Master of Duxian Dao, who had come in person! Guan Gongxiao possessed not a shred of temper right now. He had always been good-natured to begin with, so he had no desire to mince words. Shaking his head, he replied, “With this catastrophe hanging over our heads, there are no prejudices left to speak of between our two houses. My sect arrived hastily from overseas and has never witnessed such an affair before. The moment I received the command, I immediately came to see the Patriarch.” Duxian Dao’s territory lay even further north of the Three Creeks, placing them in a far more wretched predicament than the Li clan. Guan Gongxiao naturally felt the fire singeing his eyebrows. And he was not the only one; the Xuanmiao Temple and Chengyun Gate were likely faring no better. Li Jiangqian was in no mood to squabble with him now and simply asked, “Does the Zhenren have any instructions?” Guan Gongxiao shook his head in silence, paused briefly, and replied, “Our Zhenren has been in secluded cultivation for many years and is not in Jiangbei.” Ye Gui’s absence from Jiangbei was hardly something that needed concealing. Across the sects, Violet Palace experts spent prolonged periods away from home, particularly those lacking the renown of the Pure Sun lineages. The fewer Violet Palace masters a sect had, the less likely they were to remain permanently stationed in one place. Master Xiao of the Xiao clan had not returned to Jiangnan for countless years, yet the Xiao clan remained as steady as Mount Tai. Upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian understood the full picture in his heart: *No wonder this fellow rushed over in such an anxious frenzy... It turns out their Zhenren went abroad into secluded cultivation, and once a Zhenren enters seclusion, who knows how many years it will last. This is no small matter. It's entirely possible Ye Gui might stay in seclusion for ten years, only to emerge and find not a single person surnamed Guan left in the Baiye region.* *Seen this way, Jinyu has effectively saved Duxian Dao’s lineage.* He then turned sideways, gestured for Guan Gongxiao to take a seat, and introduced, “This is Jianglong, my younger brother.” Guan Gongxiao shook his head and said, “I have long heard of your brother's reputation. When Wang He governed Midong earlier, he came to complain every three to five days, and later things grew so heated he could hardly step down gracefully.” Neither brother took the bait. Guan Gongxiao stood up and said, “My coming here is first and foremost to make things clear with your noble clan.” His expression turned solemn, and he said with utter gravity, “Our Zhenren has never harbored malice toward your noble clan. Regarding the matter of Changxiao, he mediated with all his might and helped in secret, seeking only to preserve your noble clan as best he could... Perhaps the Patriarch finds this absurd, but to speak candidly... “Even if it meant incurring your noble clan’s hatred for nothing, our Zhenren still wished for Changxiao to have another mortal enemy, and he was least willing to see your esteemed father meet with harm... Even when his own vital weakness was clutched in someone else's grip, he still risked giving a subtle warning—precisely for that reason.” He lowered his voice: “Regardless of the relations between our two houses, on the matter of the Changxiao Gate, our Zhenren earnestly hopes that we share a single stance.” Li Jiangqian remained silent for a moment. He was not Li Ximing himself and had no personal knowledge of what transpired back then. His best course was to offer no stance at all, saying only, “This matter is not mine to speak on. It must await the Zhenren to communicate directly. The matter before our eyes remains paramount.” Guan Gongxiao took his seat and nodded. Li Jiangqian continued, “Your noble sect must yield Midong, but leaving a swarm of fractured factions is ill-advised after all. First, there must be a figurehead at the lead so that everything can be settled upon him in the end. Second, having some demon or monster around will let that high and mighty one enjoy himself thoroughly, sparing other regions from suffering to make up for it. Third... our two sides must have a plausible pretext for withdrawing from this land, so that loose ends are neatly tied and outsiders aren't tipped off.” Guan Gongxiao nodded in agreement. “Monsters are not an urgent worry. So long as a territory sits vacant for a year or two, they will emerge naturally. To this day, the Fanyun territory still harbors several monster generals that can be cleaned up. A figurehead is easy to find as well; greedy people are the most plentiful thing under heaven. It is the third point that indeed presents a challenge. The clans of Midong are no fools. If both sides withdraw simultaneously, they will quickly sniff out that something is amiss.” Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, “This matter is not without a path forward. All we need is an excuse.” He transmitted an order through the formation, and Qu Bushi immediately entered from outside. Seeing Guan Gongxiao seated beside them and the three men chatting harmoniously with smiles on their faces, Qu Bushi was inwardly shaken. He bowed and said, “Greetings, Patriarch, Young Master, Sect Master.” Guan Gongxiao took a sip of tea and replied, “What Sect Master? I am Gong Xiao of Jiangbei.” Guan Gongxiao had not even changed out of his Sect Master robes, yet seeing all three men smiling, Qu Bushi nodded repeatedly and offered apologies. Li Jiangqian paused briefly before saying, “Daoist Gong brings word that there is a Mifan direct lineage token in Jiangbei. It is said that a high cultivator’s favor is tied to it; whoever holds the token may establish a lineage here. Furthermore, it involves a Violet Palace spirit treasury that neither we nor Duxian Dao can obstruct. Dispatch men at once to search for it. Dig three feet into the earth if you must, but find that item.” Wiping sweat from his brow, Qu Bushi nodded. Guan Gongxiao offered a faint smile and added, “I hear this rumor has spread like wildfire—supposedly leaked by a direct disciple of Duxian Dao while drunk. That disciple has already been locked away. Not a soul across the Three Rivers remains ignorant of this, and the lake is already late to hear of it. Waste no time.” Qu Bushi was a veteran who had mingled in Jiangbei for years. He had never heard of such a thing, but connecting it with Li Jiangqian’s earlier intent, he understood immediately. He answered, “This old servant will ensure the matter is carried out to the fullest!” He hastily withdrew, while Li Jiangqian continued, “Your noble sect will first stage a clash against my clan in Funan. We will pull our people back, clearing the land. On the other end, launch a cross-river conflict, forcing your clan's forces to rush reinforcements from that side. Both sides will stand in confrontation, feigning a great war. “By then, Funan will have been abandoned by my clan. At that point, all we need is an ambitious Foundation Establishment cultivator from the East Sea, arrange for him to obtain some sect master token of the Mifan lineage—with the path to the Violet Palace lying before him, how could his heart fail to be tempted? “The moment he dares to try... my clan will instantly send congratulatory gifts, while your noble sect sends the Midong clans south to offer up their lands. A perfect match.” Guan Gongxiao nodded repeatedly, praising, “An excellent idea, a truly excellent idea! My sect possesses extensive connections in the East Sea, making it convenient to gather intelligence. I already have several candidates in mind.” Li Jiangqian smiled and nodded, finding the man far more agreeable now. He replied, “Luring the ambitious schemers over will depend on your noble sect.” As for spreading rumors and locking away some direct disciple of Duxian Dao, there was no need to discuss the details; Guan Gongxiao would handle them smoothly. Li Jianglong thought it over for a while, feeling uneasy after all. Looking at his elder brother, he asked, “It is just that the Zhenren is absent, so matters might not unfold entirely as we anticipate... If whoever obtains the token acts with a little caution, the delay could become troublesome.” Li Jiangqian shook his head and said in a distant, murmuring tone, “There is no need for us to worry about that... Someone will see it through. The rumor will undoubtedly sound truer than truth itself. One scapegoat, two scapegoats, or even more—everyone will be only too pleased to see it.” The other two nodded in turn. Guan Gongxiao then said, “In any case, in my humble opinion, we likely need to pay a visit to the King of Beijin River.” At the mention of this dragon adherent, both brothers frowned. Li Jiangqian took on a thoughtful look and said, “He probably harbors thoughts of transferring away as well. He must under no circumstances remain here. Leave the matter of this monster king to us.” “Splendid!” Guan Gongxiao beamed, raising his cup toward the two. Two lineages viewed by the outside world as mortal enemies now drank tea together like old friends of many years. Guan Gongxiao said in a low voice, “We will need to communicate frequently regarding this matter in the days ahead. It won't be convenient for me to come often, as that could easily expose my identity. I shall send disciples in disguise, bearing tokens, to convey my words. The same applies to the lake.” Li Jiangqian nodded. Dispensing with the customary courtesies of seeing a guest off, the brothers simply cupped their hands toward him. Guan Gongxiao stepped out the door, his appearance already completely transformed, and was escorted out by servants. Li Jianglong watched him leave, his expression shifting with uncertainty. Li Jiangqian was equally gripped by doubt: *During the unrest on the East Shore back then, Duxian Dao indeed showed a marked restraint... Later, they also took the initiative to send people to ease tensions and returned Protector An. Who knows how much truth there is in his words?* His eyes fixed upon the map on the table, and he suddenly recalled something: “Zhang Duanyan held back in her speech. When mentioning subordinate affiliations, she seemed not to mention Duxian Dao at all... She listed them in sequence, yet bypassed this single lineage. Moreover, the Duxian lineage does not begin with the character Xuan...”