Precious Elephant

Hanyun Peak. White snow drifted through the small courtyard, and a thick frost coated the stone steps. Outside the immortal cave knelt a crowd of white-robed cultivators. The man leading them was somewhat plump. Kneeling at the very front, his face a mixture of shock and delight, he pressed his forehead against the ground. "We respectfully welcome My Lord from secluded cultivation!" The wind and snow before him stirred slightly. A young man paced out from the courtyard, cloaked in falling snow. Bending down slightly, he helped the middle-aged man to his feet, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled. "On such a joyous day, Uncle Tongcai, there is no need for such formality. The struggle between north and south broke our family's vitality. Today only a few elders like you remain; we will still rely heavily on you to bear the burdens." Though Fei Tongcai was somewhat portly, he possessed a mature charm—after all, from top to bottom, none of the Fei family lacked good looks. Cultivating cold qi, Fei Qingyi carried an even more frigid, imposing air. Hearing this, Fei Tongcai nodded repeatedly and reminded him: "First thing... we must go to the main family..." "I understand." Fei Qingyi nodded and said in a low voice, "This matter cannot be delayed. The lake has a hundred, a thousand eyes watching. Were it not for our ancestors having been allies with the lake, we wouldn't even have secured this single mountain... The Old Lord cherishes old ties. Go fetch some spiritual items from the mountain and accompany me. "Of those who saw Li Qinghong back then, you are the only one left in our family. When we visit the lake together, using that topic, you can chat a bit with the Old Lord... That lord... can be considered our family's protective talisman." "Understood! Understood!" Fei Tongcai hurriedly prepared the items and followed along, listening as Fei Qingyi said coldly, "In any case, Fei Qingyi climbed to higher branches and prostrated herself beneath the Si family's feet. We cannot count on her for our own family's affairs; we can only rely on ourselves..." The two flew for a while. No sooner had they exited the grand array than they saw a black-clad man waiting quietly before the formation with arms crossed. Seeing Fei Qingyi, he lowered his head slightly and said quietly: "Fellow Daoist Fei, let us go to the isle together!" "So it is Lord Chen." Fei Qingyi hurriedly forced a smile and nodded. "We were just heading there... just heading there..." Chen Yang found him thoroughly distasteful. The new faction of elders led by him, An Xuanxin, and others had always viewed the Fei family as a thorn in their side and a prickle in their flesh. For a time, they could not tolerate this semi-autonomous family on the north bank, yet they had never managed to catch any handle against them. Furthermore, he had been dispatched to Funan to clean up traces, handling the matter alongside Li Jianglong back then. He possessed an understanding of what had unfolded in the north and understood the matter concerning the True Monarch even better. Given his cautious nature, at the time he had wished he could peel up the turf of all Funan. At this critical juncture, Chen Yang harbored even less goodwill toward Fei Qingyi. His hand resting on his sword tightened slightly, but a smile showed on his face as he escorted them along with cheerful chatter. Fei Qingyi followed behind Chen Yang, flying all the way into the lake. Seeing how dead silent the palace was, he stepped across the threshold. The man in crimson robes seated above had already waited for a long time, watching them with a smile. Fei Qingyi was actually terrified of this smile, feeling an instinctive chill from it. The Li clan had fought its way out from the remote, backward lands of the Shanyue to rule Wangyue, surviving that cruel crucible; from top to bottom, they inspired awe and dread in him. Even having achieved Foundation Establishment could not ease that fear. He bowed in the hall and offered respectful greetings. Li Jiangqian offered a few words of congratulations, which Fei Qingyi answered one by one, keeping his replies strictly focused on how loyal and honest the Fei family was, bearing no divided loyalty. Li Jiangqian, however, was dissatisfied with his answers, still harboring suspicions regarding his breakthrough. After watching him quietly for a while, he spoke: "The northern territory of Funan once had deep entanglements with the Fei clan. The lake sheltered the north bank for ten years, gradually weathering the storm. Now that the territory has been vacated to make room for several Violet Palace masters to conduct affairs, the Fei clan ought to pull back its hands. The lake instructed you on this once before, yet the results were less than satisfactory." The Fei clan likely did not dare to stretch its claws into Jiangbei, but unlike the Li family, they lacked the lake's decisive execution and efficiency. Li Jiangqian guessed that quite a few unintended ties remained. With Li Jiangqian asking this, Fei Qingyi did not even know where his family had fallen short, and could only answer: "It is your subordinate's incompetence. Upon returning, I will certainly clean it up thoroughly..." How could Li Jiangqian let him fumble around and clean things up blindly? A Fei family with a Foundation Establishment cultivator was vastly different from one without. He had specifically sent Chen Yang to intercept Fei Qingyi before the array precisely out of fear that once out of the array, he would head north. Now he simply said: "No need. For now, you will reside temporarily on the lake. All intelligence concerning the north must be sent to the isle for processing. If there is the slightest concealment..." Fei Qingyi nodded repeatedly, but Li Jiangqian's gaze suddenly locked onto Fei Tongcai, who stood to the side drenched in cold sweat. Li Jiangqian needed say nothing; Chen Yang stepped forward at once, drew his sword, and rested it against the middle-aged man's neck, barking: "Speak!" Fei Tongcai hurriedly glanced at his nephew, which frightened Fei Qingyi out of his wits as well. Were it not for having cultivated 'Snow upon Pine' and no longer sweating, he might well have been drenched in sweat too. Kneeling down alongside him, he threw a look and answered: "Your subordinate... your subordinate has only just exited seclusion... I do not know what news the family has received..." Li Jiangqian looked at the two quietly. Fei Tongcai began kowtowing, stammering timidly: "Reporting to My Lord... A few days ago we received a secret letter. A former clansman... cultivating in Baiku Commandery, sent a secret letter back a few days ago, hoping to receive resource assistance..." He claimed it was a former clansman, but Fei Qingyi knew it was a contingency bloodline left behind by the older generation. Dread rose in his heart. Chen Yang, holding the sword, caught a hint from Li Jiangqian's eyes above; his expression instantly turned terribly grim as he muttered in a low voice: "You were told long ago to pull back your hands, yet you concealed what you knew and made secret contact... Truly treacherous to the bone!" "This lowly one didn't know earlier either!" Fei Tongcai could only shiver on the ground. Li Jiangqian still wore a smile, but dark clouds gathered in his heart as he pondered: *Baiku Commandery... It really is Baiku Commandery. That Black Rat is in Baiku Commandery, and Wang Quwan and Wang He are in Baiku Commandery as well. The core clansmen of the Jiangbei Wang clan are also in the vicinity of Baiku Commandery...* Yet with someone from the Fei family in Baiku Commandery, the matter took on an entirely different weight. Li Jiangqian walked down quickly, helped Fei Qingyi to his feet, and said with slight reproach: "Protector Chen is being too harsh... The outcome of this matter remains to be seen; there is no need to rush." Only then did Fei Qingyi relax slightly, and Fei Tongcai stopped stammering. When Chen Yang questioned him, he answered in a low voice: "That person belongs to my generation as well. Early on, he committed an error and was expelled from the family, cutting off contact with us. He cultivated at Salt Lake for a time and later went to Baiku Commandery, where he found work running a teahouse. "Lately... it is heard that turmoil erupted in the commandery. The grand array of the mine destroyed itself, provoking the fury of Protector Black Rat. His livelihood was affected, and having arrived at a crucial juncture of breaking through to Qi Refinement... he sought help from the peak. "Rest assured, Family Head! Rest assured, Family Head! Our family will never contact this person again!" With both hands behind his back, Li Jiangqian listened as his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging. Wisps of Lihuo leaked from between his palms, flickering between bright and dim. This matter appeared harmless enough—after all, the person had been expelled by the Fei family. If he caught the True Monarch's favor, the Fei family would suffer; if he offended the True Monarch, the Fei family would still suffer. But with just a little thought, one knew this "expulsion" was laughably false. *What if this person was expelled out of necessity under my family's pressure, serving as a backup burrow for a crafty hare? Once he catches the True Monarch's favor, he will draw hatred toward my family!* He spoke in a rather gentle tone: "Why expel someone out of the blue? Still not telling the truth?" This remark carried a faint chill, and Chen Yang's face grew even gloomier as he stood quietly in place. Fei Tongcai finally could not hold out and gave in, kowtowing: "Reporting to My Lord... This was Fei Tongyu's doing... When he led our Fei family to submit to the lake back then, he made secret preparations, sending out four branches of clansmen. Fearing discovery, he barely dared contact them all these years... He said... so long as those outside know they belong to the Fei family, that is enough; there is no need for us to know where they are. If Hanyun's Fei family should one day fall silent and perish, they would have the opportunity to rebuild the clan and continue the incense of ancestry! "This branch... made contact only recently..." What kind of person was Li Jiangqian? Hearing this, he understood at once. Though Fei Tongyu had led the clan to submit back then, a shadow of distrust toward the Li clan had clearly lingered in his heart. He had feared that his clan would be gradually worn down to extinction by the Li family, who would eventually seize the north bank... Thus, he had scattered bloodlines outward. As for barely daring to contact them all these years, who else would he be guarding against? The Li clan, naturally! Such was the reason behind this so-called "expulsion"! It had originally been a backup plan, but steered by Jiangbei's karmic mandate, one branch had ended up in Baiku Commandery—and might truly collide with the True Monarch! He swept a heavy glance toward Chen Yang and saw that Chen Yang looked grim, thoroughly disgusted with Fei Tongcai. Chen Yang was no simpleton either; he had likely thought of this as well. Holding his sword, he said sinisterly: "All these years, our lake has not treated your family shabbily, has it?" At those words, the two could only kneel and kowtow, having nothing to say. This had been Fei Tongyu's doing, intended merely as an escape route; no one could have anticipated such a development in the future, let alone that it would bring trouble in this manner. *Members of the Fei family are all extraordinarily attractive. Who can say if a daughter or two might offer their charms and catch the True Monarch's eye? If I really grant Fei Tongcai's request to sever ties, when trouble knocks on our door later, could it possibly be the Fei family's fault? Naturally, it would be blamed on Li Jiangqian forcing their hand...* Lost in thought, he returned to the seat of honor and sat down, gesturing for Chen Yang to sheath his sword. For now, wary of the True Monarch's methods, he maintained a pleasant countenance and said calmly: "This matter was simply the overthinking of a predecessor; there is no point in fussing over it now. Qingyi's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is a great, joyous occasion. There is no need to leave clansmen wandering abroad. Send someone to bring him back so he can make his breakthrough on the peak!" His intentions left the two from the Fei family completely baffled, unsure whether this boded ill or well, or why such an order had been given. They kowtowed in gratitude, and Chen Yang whispered: "I wonder who should be chosen..." This matter was critical and best handled by someone who knew the inside story. Were it not unfeasible for Li Jiangqian to go in person, he would have considered going himself, bearing the talisman seed. He shook his head in slight vexation, dismissed the two to wait outside, and only then answered: "Perhaps Protector Chen will need to make the trip. Fei Qingyi does not need to go. Take Fei Tongcai along to earn their trust, and select a few direct Fei descendants from the north bank who are close to our family and have been promoted to accompany you to fetch him. Using Fei Qingyi's breakthrough as a pretext to receive him, there shouldn't be major problems." Chen Yang nodded respectfully. Instead of seizing the chance to speak ill of the Fei family, he voiced his concern: "This turns out to be trouble; I do not know if we can make it in time... As for some mine having an accident, nine times out of ten there is something suspicious about it." Li Jiangqian understood the suspicious nature of the matter even better than Chen Yang, which was precisely why this Fei clansman had to be fetched. Shaking his head, he replied: "This cannot truly be called a bad thing. Jiangbei is vast; whether Duxian Dao or our family, our shadow here can no longer be erased. There must always be roles in the True Monarch's script; no matter how we try, we cannot hide, differing only in whether the role is good or bad. "If we can notice it in advance now, it is already a blessing amidst misfortune. Going to fetch him does not guarantee running into the person directly. The situation has only just begun to change, and none of their cultivation levels will be too high. A Foundation Establishment cultivator arriving at this time cannot be considered an enemy, so nothing too terrible will happen... But if we don't bring him back, disaster will strike in the end nine times out of ten." Chen Yang nodded heavily, bowing his head in thought. Li Jiangqian was actually rather reluctant to send him, but capable Foundation Establishment cultivators on hand were few, each with their own flaws. Cui Jueyin was adept at internal affairs and acted with grace, but asking him to perform deceitful, underhanded tasks was simply unviable. Ding Weizeng was strictly a martial general for combat. Qu Bushi, while astute, was elderly and cowardly, only ever wanting to keep his head down. Li Jianglong and Li Jiangxia had not yet broken through. A Foundation Establishment cultivator who was as steady as Chen Yang and capable of thriving in both light and shadow was truly nowhere to be found. *I will send him ostensibly, but it would be best for me to follow along as well, watching from the river... If anything truly happens, there will still be room to maneuver...* Chen Yang stepped out of the hall, and Qu Bushi brought the people forward. Having just received the good news, the Fei clansmen were all spirited. Fei Tongcai had gathered his emotions as well, waiting quietly outside the hall. Straightening his expression, Chen Yang apologized and sighed, looking as though he had simply been too impulsive earlier. This left Fei Tongcai sweating profusely, easing the tension somewhat. Leading the group with a beaming face, Chen Yang took Fei Tongcai by the arm and moved forward, speaking words of congratulation. Laughter and chatter immediately broke out among the Fei clansmen as they rode the wind toward the north. Upon reaching Jiangbei, the sun grew distinctly fiercer, devoid of any early-spring chill. Chen Yang smiled and said: "Duxian Dao is, after all, on poor terms with our family. Everyone, wait by the riverbank for now. Fellow Daoist Tongcai and I will go ahead to receive him." The sole purpose of bringing this group was to keep Fei Tongcai from having too much time alone with that Fei clansman, and once fetched, to expose him immediately to Fei clansmen who had prospered under the Li family's rule. Chen Yang could not be bothered to drag along such a flock of burdens, fearing they would stir up trouble, so he left them behind. By the time they reached Baiku Commandery at the southernmost edge of Baiye Stream's territory, their surroundings were already chaotic to the extreme. The governance of the Locust Soul Hall was worse than no governance at all. Cultivators flew to and fro across the entire city as though entering an empty land. Corpses lay scattered across the main road, yellow smoke billowed, and the stench of decay filled the air. There were virtually no pedestrians, though one or two knelt on the ground, groaning helplessly, whether from illness or starvation. Fei Tongcai frowned repeatedly at the sight. Chen Yang swept his spiritual sense across the area and murmured: "It seems that because Baiku Commandery's array was blown apart... spiritual ore dust from the mine has spread across the commandery area..." Metal evil and metal poison were lethal poisons to mortals. The former was present in magical artifacts, which the Li family would always stow away before meeting mortals. The latter was harsh and frigid, often found within mineral veins. Back then, when the Rui family mined Cuiyuan copper essence for the Xiao family, countless people had perished precisely due to this metal poison. *How could Protector Black Rat care about mortals?... He can only let those below die...* Following the information, Fei Tongcai located the teahouse. The surroundings were indeed bleak beyond measure, the courtyard dilapidated, and the adjacent street littered with corpses, leaving nowhere to set foot. Yet this teahouse was, after all, a gathering place for cultivators, appearing clean and orderly. Stopping at a distance, they heard a commotion and saw a crowd of people kneeling, while a man in opulent robes stood arrogantly in the courtyard. Among the ring of kneeling cultivators, a slender figure remained standing. His handsome face was filled with defiance as he listened to the man in opulent clothes shout: "Dog slave! I am the son of the commandery governor! How dare you not bow before me?!" The handsome youth before him merely replied coldly: "Why should I kneel to you? I, Lin Feng, kneel only to Heaven above and Earth below! A playboy who bullies others on his father's prestige... thinks he can make me kneel?" He threw his head back, an imposing aura surging from his thin frame. The playboy was instantly incensed. The retainer beside him glared in anger, stepped forward, and barked coldly: "Kneel!" The onlookers were shocked, seeing that the retainer's aura belonged to Qi Refinement. Beside the youth, a pair of charming sisters hurried to pull at him: "Brother Lin..." Yet the youth stood firm and motionless. Soon the crowd parted, and an old man stepped forward, whispering: "Do not take offense... do not take offense. This old man is delivering spiritual tribute to Protector Black Rat... please, give some face to the protector..." Hearing this, the retainer and the playboy hesitated slightly, seemingly inclined to relent. But the youth strode forward and shouted: "You with the surname Wang! Do you dare accept a duel against me?!" "Laughable!" The playboy surnamed Wang's eyes turned cold as he retorted: "A mere third layer of Embryonic Breathing dares to challenge me at the fifth layer? What is there not to dare?!" "Good! Three months from now, you and I shall fight to the death here—deciding both victory and demise!" Lin Feng's shout provoked the playboy to laugh in anger. Casting a cold glare at the old man who had stepped in to intervene, he flicked his sleeves and departed, leaving behind a flurry of chatter in the teahouse. Chen Yang frowned as he watched. He patted Fei Tongcai beside him, only to see Fei Tongcai shake his head: "This Baiku Commandery is truly interesting. The stage is set so convincingly... and that protagonist truly bears an awe-inspiring demeanor... It truly evokes admiration." Chen Yang glanced at him briefly and whispered: "Go take a closer look." Once Fei Tongcai reached the front of the hall, his smile grew broader. Staring at the youth, he shook his head: "My Lord... this Lin Feng is truly a rare talent... Looking at his bearing, he is practically an immortal figure." Chen Yang's expression shifted slightly. Stepping closer, he actually nodded and said: "He is indeed remarkable, rare even on the lake..." Fei Tongcai had completely shed his earlier caution and distress. Hurrying into the teahouse, he took the old man's hands and chuckled: "Oh! Second Cousin, long time no see!" The old man recognized Fei Tongcai as well. Astonishment painted across his face, he asked hurriedly: "How did you get here... What has happened at home?..." "Qingyi has broken through to Foundation Establishment! I've come to take you back to enjoy life!" The two sighed with emotion. Fei Tongcai showed not the slightest reservation, entirely immersed in the joy of reuniting with an old friend. Meanwhile, Chen Yang went over to look at Lin Feng, his face adopting a simple, honest warmth as he patted him on the shoulder and praised: "Good lad! I was watching from afar just now—this is what a genius of the immortal path should look like!" "A Foundation Establishment cultivator!" The courtyard erupted into chaos. The crowd of cultivators all dropped to their knees in terror. The governor's son had merely inspired fear of worldly authority, but facing this one, dread sprang from the depths of their hearts. The two charming women beside him also knelt. Only the youth stood proud and fearless, executing a salute: "Greetings, Senior!" Chen Yang nodded repeatedly, full of admiration. He sighed: "In my life, what I admire most are figures like you who will not bend to power! What I despise most are these playboys and deceitful, sinister schemers! Good lad! For Jiangbei to produce someone who remains fearless in the face of danger... it truly is a blessed land!" Pulling Lin Feng to sit at a table, he lowered his voice: "Yet in merely three months, how can you defeat him?" Lin Feng shook his head slowly, his eyes resolute, and replied: "This junior has his own ways!" "Good!" Chen Yang showered him with praise. Reaching into his sleeve, he took out a talisman and said softly: "Our meeting and delightful conversation have been truly exhilarating. If you encounter danger in the future, you may use this talisman to escape with your life—consider it preserving a kindred spirit for me!" "Thank you, Senior!" Chen Yang gave a hearty laugh and said: "I come from Lake Wangyue. A cultivator of the Fei family achieved Foundation Establishment, granting them higher status on the lake. I came to fetch this old man; he happens to be attempting a breakthrough to Qi Refinement... so he may cultivate on the lake." Hearing this, the two sisters gasped. Chen Yang smiled: "Judging by your appearances, you two sisters must also belong to the Fei family. Truly endowed with enchanting beauty... Do you possess spirit apertures? You may enter the mountain to cultivate together." The elder sister showed hesitation while the younger looked dejected, but they spoke in unison: "Brother Lin saved our lives; we only wish to cultivate by his side..." Lin Feng, however, shook his head quietly and replied: "Qingya possesses a spirit aperture, so it is naturally best for her to cultivate under the Wangyue gate... As for Qingfei... she can only suffer hardship and wander with me..." The three immediately fell into tender, affectionate banter. Chen Yang watched with a smile, yet beads of cold sweat rolled down his cheeks, sliding along his neck and into his collar. His lips trembled faintly, but he could utter no words, able only to maintain the stiff smile on his face. When Lin Feng turned his gaze back, the faint struggle on Chen Yang's face shattered instantly. A hearty smile surfaced once more as he beckoned Fei Tongcai over and laughed: "Time is about up. This is someone else's territory after all, and our family is not on friendly terms with their lineage. It is not wise to linger here..." Fei Tongcai led the elder sister over and nodded repeatedly. His old cousin followed along. Lin Feng sighed softly, embracing the younger sister as he escorted them out of the hall, saying with deep affection: "Rest easy, Qingya... wait for me for three years! In three years, I will achieve Foundation Establishment and come to Hanyun Peak in person to propose marriage!" The younger sister pouted with jealousy, while a blush swept over Fei Qingya's cheeks. His words were utterly preposterous, yet not a single person present found them strange; even Fei Tongcai nodded with a smile, looking gratified. Chen Yang rode the wind into the air, bearing the few southward. Lin Feng quietly put away the talisman, looked up, and said coldly: "Wang clan... covering the sky with one hand, abusing your power and terrorizing others—just you wait!" Yellow sand billowed, swirling past him. He stood proud and erect as his cultivation soared incessantly; in merely a few breaths, another wheel of Embryonic Breathing condensed within his body.