Upon hearing these words, Ding Weizeng's eyes reddened, and he immediately prostrated himself, choking back sobs as he said, "Weizeng bows in deepest gratitude to the Master... In the early years, the Ding family cultivated under the rule of Tangjin Gate. Situ Chen was overbearing and tyrannical, repeatedly seeking our harm. It was entirely thanks to Senior Situ Ku pulling strings and greasing palms on our behalf that we managed to survive... When my parents were still alive, they repeatedly exhorted me... to remember this debt of gratitude.
"It is only that he failed to understand the grand situation and opposed the lake, eventually being captured by His Excellency. Weizeng could only quietly provide for him... The Master has fulfilled my Ding family's debt of gratitude... I know not how to repay this!"
The old man Situ Ku followed suit and kowtowed, his back drenched in cold sweat. In truth, as for pulling strings and smoothing things over, it had all been the Ding family bribing him with hefty gifts. It was just that among the many families back then, though the Ding family had not offered the most, they had acted the most honestly, which was why he had favored them.
Such matters naturally could not be spoken aloud. Situ Ku deferentially echoed his thanks, but the primary reason Li Ximing spared him was because of Ning Wan. Thus, Li Ximing said, "Say no more. That his life is spared can be considered his fortune. The Situ family has many enemies—watch over him well."
Ding Weizeng nodded respectfully, rose, and pulled the old man along. Situ Ku evidently had never imagined that after so many years in the Li family's custody he would actually have a way out; weeping with joy, he followed Ding Weizeng away.
Li Ximing looked toward Li Quewan and saw her stowing away her talismans. She reported, "Reporting to the Master, there are no direct descendants of the Violet Palace line here... Only one or two female dependents are relatively close in blood to the Violet Palace... The males were likely taken away or slaughtered to the last..."
"See to their arrangements," Li Ximing instructed Li Jiangqian casually.
The Li family Patriarch nodded, then reminded him, "Only... from what this junior sees, the techniques here are likely incomplete. The techniques that made Tangjin Gate famous in the past... were far more than just the *Tianxu Bright Gold Sutra*."
"Mm..." Li Ximing nodded, quietly gazing at the pile of jade slips. Though there were many cultivation manuals, their quality was uneven. "At the very least, the Crow Qi in Flames of yesteryear is absent. Even if that technique was not world-renowned, it was at least notorious. After all, Situ Tang did not merely obtain the Tianxu lineage; he had also visited Mount Douxuan in those days. Either those monks did not hand over everything in full, or these items were tampered with by the last sect master of Tangjin Gate, Situ Mo, and stashed elsewhere."
Li Jiangqian bowed and said, "Since it is a Douxuan lineage, it would be only natural for Jinyu to take it beforehand. Most likely, they were afraid that taking everything would leave them without justification, so they at least left behind the Tianxu lineage."
Li Ximing had witnessed the Douxuan lineage in Changxiao's hands; it could leave his own family and the Shakya cultivators in the dust. Although the might of a spell depended more on the person and their cultivation, a superior spell was likewise not to be underestimated.
"As for magical artifacts..."
Tangjin Gate's artifacts and elixir pills were not small in quantity. Still, for a declining sect like this, their pills certainly could not compare to the Li family, which boasted a Violet Palace alchemist. Fortunately, there were numerous artifacts. Most of them were suffused with residual magical power; naturally, he could not let the other two spend the time refining and inspecting them one by one. Li Ximing flicked a finger, and a brilliant radiance of bright sunlight swept through, in an instant refining every artifact on the ground.
"Merely ordinary..."
Whether Tangjin Gate's formidable artifacts had already been looted or sold off by Situ Tang's "filial scions," Li Ximing's standards were high, and he frowned repeatedly as he examined them. Fortunately, there were many feather robes. The two best Foundation Establishment-grade Metal Virtue feather robes were of no use to Li Jiangqian or Li Minggong; one was given to Li Quewan, while the other was stored in the clan treasury to be bestowed according to merit.
Li Jiangqian rummaged through the pile with considerable interest for a time and uncovered only a single fire token. Looking closely, it belonged to Joint Fire. Although this lineage was despised by many, it was remarkably potent in combat. Thus, he said, "Tangjin Gate specializes in Metal Virtue and never touches other side paths. As I see it, the extraneous methods from other paths were probably plundered. That 'Crow in Flames' also carries a flavor of Joint Fire; it must have been snatched from some Douxuan lineage."
"Jinyu is a True Monarch lineage of Metal Virtue, yet they still cultivate Dawn Qi, Fire Virtue, and Binggu. How could anyone walk only a single path!"
At the mention of Jinyu, Li Ximing's expression turned somewhat complex.
"The situation nowadays..."
Although the Shakya cultivators claimed to dominate the north, their Dharma Appearances were few, and they had always treated Mount Luoxia with deference. Even if Jinyu's actions were not directly instructed by Mount Luoxia, they had at least been reported to Luoxia, and Luoxia had undoubtedly acquiesced.
From the matter of the True Monarch, one could see that the Jinyu lineage was actually subordinate to Luoxia, possessing only a degree of autonomy by virtue of having a True Monarch. Yet now that this incident involving the monks had arisen, it was evident that the dynamic between Luoxia and Jinyu was far from harmonious above and deferential below...
*This was already an awkward matter, tacitly understood by all to be an internal dispute within the Luoxia faction. The Great Sun lineage has even less reason to intervene. After all, even when fighting the Shakya cultivators, neither side dares bring up Luoxia... Noble as the Great Sun lineage is, this is no longer the era of the Six Disciples of Qingsong...*
He felt that the title of "the Wei Li clan" could never be shaken off by his family, and he suddenly felt a heavy weight of pressure. As he sat quietly, a streak of bright light rose into the sky, prompting him to lift his brows and look up.
Li Quewan sensed it first. After discerning it for an instant, she smiled and said, "Jiangxia has exited seclusion!"
Li Ximing turned around, looked at the bright light in the sky, and nodded. "Send word to Jianglong... Let them all come to meet. I recall you have two other younger brothers, one cultivating Separating Fire... and one cultivating Jade Truth. How are they doing these days?"
Li Jiangqian instructed someone to invite him, then reported, "Fourth Brother Jiangliang has grown into a dashing young master, but he is restless by nature... In recent years, having learned most of the spells taught by Master Cui, I asked him to continue learning auxiliary crafts, but he refused. One cannot catch a glimpse of him for days on end. Since we forbid him from going north, he heads south, occasionally escorting spiritual goods from the lakeshore market to the various markets of Qingchi... He is nowhere to be seen for three to five days at a stretch."
He sighed heavily, looking quite guilty. "Fifth Brother Jiangnian, on the other hand, is the exact opposite... Year in and year out, he nests in his immortal cave without stepping out once. Whenever asked, he is always in seclusion and must not be disturbed... It is my failure as an elder brother for not teaching them well, unable to guide them into steady focus."
Li Ximing shook his head upon hearing this and replied, "Both cultivation and practical tempering are good things. In the past, we lacked the conditions, but nowadays Qingchi is relatively safe, so traveling about is also fine."
Beside them, Li Quewan said with a hint of regret, "It is just that younger brothers Jianglong and Jiangxia have never gotten along well since childhood. Fortunately, neither of them is the type to let it hinder affairs, but if you expect any displays of brotherly affection between them... you will not see it."
Li Ximing did not care much. Having already reached the Violet Palace, his perspective on things was quite different from Foundation Establishment cultivators. He said softly, "It does not matter if they do not get along. When a family grows large and its enterprise expands, how can there be harmony in every corner?"
Li Jiangqian cupped his hands. Above, the bright sunlight blazed brilliantly as a man descended.
Clad in armor, the man was tall and burly, holding a short spear in each hand. With long brows and golden eyes, his countenance radiated a vibrant and open air. He touched down briskly in the courtyard, swept his gaze around, and prostrated himself:
"Jiangxia greets the Master!"
His stature was imposing; though not quite matching Ding Weizeng, he rivaled Li Wen. Li Ximing's eyes lit up with approval, and he nodded gently. Just then, an attendant announced an arrival from outside the courtyard. A man draped in a feather robe entered, wearing a jade crown and bearing a sword at his waist. While his appearance was not as striking as Li Jiangxia's, he bowed politely to Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan before prostrating himself.
Seeing the two exit seclusion one after another, Li Ximing smiled and said, "Now we have people to employ."
He then turned to Li Jiangqian. "You have stayed in the early Foundation Establishment stage long enough. With two brothers having exited seclusion and me personally holding the fort after emerging from seclusion, set aside the affairs at hand and focus on making your breakthrough. The clan's matters can be entrusted to Jianglong and Jiangxia for now."
Li Jiangqian seemed to have anticipated this and reported, "This junior obeys the Master's command."
He turned back with a smile. "Then I shall entrust things to my two younger brothers."
Li Jiangxia took a step forward, his voice resonant and powerful as he readily accepted. Li Jianglong was far more reserved, merely offering a bow. Seeing Li Jiangqian's response, Li Ximing added, "Jiangxia has spent years on the east bank and is far more familiar with it, so have him oversee that for now. The island will be entrusted to Jianglong."
Neither showed any change in expression, and both bowed in thanks one after another. Li Ximing examined their cultivation in their respective techniques and found their foundations quite solid. Li Jiangqian then said softly, "Since my two brothers are both present, I happen to have news to report."
Li Jiangqian drew a letter from his sleeve and said with a slightly somber expression, "Master, please look!"
Li Ximing took it and looked; it was a personal letter in Wang Quwan's own hand.
"Wang Quwan..."
Li Ximing faintly recalled Wang Quwan's appearance from years ago. He was now a renowned cultivator in Jiangbei. Unfolding the letter to read, the tone was still thoroughly respectful.
Within, it inquired after the lake's well-being and mentioned a woman:
*Wang Xiaoxiao of the Jiangbei Wang clan.*
Li Jiangqian waited for him to finish reading before speaking with measured deliberation. "This Wang Xiaoxiao is indeed a very close blood descendant of Wang Quwan. And according to what I have learned, she is not only one of His Excellency's women, but she even took His Excellency to meet Wang Quwan."
"Oh?"
"His Excellency gifted Wang Quwan several magical artifacts as betrothal gifts for Wang Xiaoxiao, all of which he accepted. Furthermore, this took place quite early on. Although the exact time is unknown, the letter states, 'having interacted over many years, I was held in awe and dared not speak carelessly, much less send word to the lake.' It was certainly not an affair of just a day or two."
Li Ximing reined in his expression, showing neither pleasure nor anger, and offered an ambiguous response. He passed the letter to the two young masters beside him. Both took it to read; Li Jianglong frowned, while Li Jiangxia's expression shifted. Li Jiangqian continued:
"That is one point. When the True Monarch departed, someone—who knows who—brought it up, and a territory bordering the north was temporarily demarcated for the Wang clan. Furthermore, Wang He's faction was nearly wiped out by the True Monarch... As for the most important point mentioned in the letter, that someone from the Wang clan accompanied the True Monarch across the river to the north, its veracity remains unknown."
Li Jiangqian and the others certainly could not receive news as fast as Ning Wan. Li Ximing had only learned of the True Monarch's departure from Ning Wan's words, and by the time he reached the shore, Li Jiangqian had already learned of it. The speed was undeniably swift; Wang Quwan had probably sent the letter the moment Lin Feng departed.
Li Ximing tucked the letter away and asked, "Who delivered it? Did they leave any message?"
Li Jiangqian replied respectfully, "It was Wang Quyu, who has already established his foundation. After delivering it to the shore, he withdrew."
Li Ximing took a seat in the courtyard. Without saying much, he replied, "His Excellency has already departed. Send a reply stating that our family is interested in the Dharma Swords; Wang Xiaoxiao might have seen them, so have him draw all the sword diagrams and send them over."
Li Jiangqian nodded repeatedly, yet still offered a reminder in a respectful tone: "Understood... However, regarding Wang Quwan, I fear we must make preparations early."
Li Ximing naturally knew that Li Jiangqian before him had likely been on guard for a long time. With a calm demeanor, he asked, "What do you all think?"
Li Jiangxia looked displeased. His personality was the most straightforward among the brothers, but also the most domineering; he could not bear the slightest slight. He replied coldly, "This junior has never met Wang Quwan, but I heard Master Ding speak of him with high praise. From the looks of it, he has no intention of remaining on the lake. He is a fellow who bows his head only on the surface; we must remain vigilant."
Li Jianglong's expression was somber, and he chimed in without hesitation, saying in a low voice, "Third Brother speaks truly. Wang Quwan has never harbored any loyalty toward our family; he was merely keeping a low profile, forced to bow his head out of prudence. He is not a man willing to remain subordinate to others, and our family has never underestimated him on this point. Yet he also cares for face. The Master has shown him genuine favor; although the Jiangbei Wang clan lies beyond our reach, he will still lower his head and must return to the lake sooner or later.
"Yet there is no telling what benefits he obtained—benefits granted by His Excellency. Even if he returns to the lake, it may not bode well for our family in the future.
"In this junior's view, a figure like him will never genuinely submit. Even if he returns to the lake and our family can suppress and placate him, that is only because he is at Foundation Establishment. If he truly breaks through to the Violet Palace, he will become nothing but a disaster... What need is there for that? It would amount to our family acting as his protective umbrella, cutting off our own flesh to feed the eagle, letting him nest temporarily beneath our eaves only to spread his wings and soar one day."
Li Jiangqian swept his eyes over his two younger brothers. With a respectful expression and an even tone, he said calmly:
"Indeed. The Jiangbei Wang clan has been divided for years and is already a pool of mud. Yet his heart remains tethered to his clansmen. Why not leave him in Jiangbei—leave him within the Jiangbei Wang clan—so that he is buffeted from left and right, plagued by encroachments, running about to flatter both Duxian Dao and Chengyun Gate? Let the harsh geopolitics grind down his fortunes and exhaust his mental energy, throwing his clan into disarray and internal discord, making him toss and turn night and day, unable to cultivate in peace.
"Meanwhile, our family's debt of gratitude still hangs above his head; how could he ever erase it? Even if a phoenix is born from the flames one day and a Violet Palace arises from that domain, when he meets the Master, he will still have to bow respectfully and call him 'Senior.' Compared to cultivating to the Violet Palace under our roof only for an inevitable parting, where the bloodline ties and favors that once bound him turn into bitter betrayal, would this not be far better?
"What is more, there is Wang Xiaoxiao. She is no ordinary woman either—how could she be underestimated?"
He smiled. "If Wang Quwan remains with our family, the entire Jiangbei Wang clan stands behind him, taking him as their backer, and everyone takes pride in him. But if he establishes a clan in Jiangbei and the fractured Jiangbei Wang clan seeks unification, that will be an entirely different story. Everyone might end up resenting him."
Li Ximing said nothing, quietly staring at the Wanling Flower trees not far to the east, his drifting gaze lingering on the horizon.
Standing behind Li Ximing, Li Quewan felt a chill in her heart as she listened to their discussion. Her almond eyes lifted along with Li Ximing's gaze, only to lower again like a flash of lightning as she heard the Master before her speak:
"This matter is already settled. On the day His Excellency returns to the mountain, I have other arrangements: I must first retrieve the Dharma Swords and cannot go receive Wang Xiaoxiao first. That woman will inevitably fall into the hands of others; there is no need to dwell on it."
At Li Jiangqian's shout, Qianli Zi beside him wavered slightly. Looking up as if awakening from a dream, her face pale, she halted in the wind and looked back, saying, "Someone has killed cultivators of Locust Soul Hall!"
Li Jiangqian had only feared that this Ziyan Sect Master would ride the wind straight to the north. Seeing that she was still lucid, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, grasping her words, he muttered in doubt, "Someone?"
Qianli Zi said "someone," not "His Excellency." Perhaps the cultivators of Locust Soul Hall were not killed by Lin Feng!
And among the cultivators of Locust Soul Hall today, who could kill them? Who dared kill them?
Li Jiangqian looked at her pale face. Qianli Zi replied, both terrified and shocked, "It shouldn't be this early... It's too early! Right now, Qi Refinement cultivators should be escaping from the hands of Foundation Establishment cultivators! How could they have fallen! And more than one... Someone has intervened..."
The stage in Jiangbei had been erected by the Great Sun lineage and the other powers on both banks. For such an incident to occur now, stirring up trouble while Tinglan was absent, was definitely bad news!
*Indeed, one ring links into the next. When they remain still, nothing stirs; but once they move, it is an earth-shattering wave.*
Li Jiangqian's expression turned exceedingly grim. He asked in a low voice, "Daring to strike at the cultivators of Locust Soul Hall... will the north... have any... dissatisfaction?"
Pale-faced, Qianli Zi shook her head, pursing her lips. "This... is hardly an issue to the north. Locust Soul Hall... was our arrangement. As long as His Excellency is present, there will never be a shortage of stages. It is merely a matter of whether the stage is in the east or the west, whether the clown is this one or that one... If other houses are dissatisfied with the stage we erected, they can come tear it down as well...
"After all, each time His Excellency's immortal carriage tours the mortal realm, grotto-heavens and mystic realms will always descend, to be divided among us for use. Benefits can be reaped both before and after. But right now... someone has fanned the flames and kicked out a corner of the stage."
Li Jiangqian looked at her with a somber gaze, understanding that the previous benefit had been the Dongli Mountain grotto-heaven. Raising his brows, he asked, "Senior Han... how should we respond for now?"
The affairs in Jiangbei were simply too momentous. With Tinglan gone, Li Jiangqian was extremely unwilling to have Qianli Zi meddle with everything. After all, nine times out of ten, she was a woman left behind by the True Monarch of the past; who knew what hidden dangers lurked within her? She was practically a ticking time bomb!
He had no idea what assurance Tinglan possessed to let Qianli Zi control Ziyan Gate. Dense clouds of suspicion rose within his heart:
*Strange. Master Tinglan is a scheming figure as well. Does she truly have the certainty that the True Monarch will never meet Qianli Zi?*
As he pondered, Qianli Zi before him quickly regained her composure and said in a low voice, "The urgent matter at hand is to ascertain what happened in the north. Please have your noble clan contact Duxian Dao; I shall go to Salt Lake to take a look."
Having uttered only this sentence, the woman shifted her magical winds and said softly, "As for the matter regarding the Master, I urge your noble clan to make a swift decision. After visiting Salt Lake, I must first return to the blessed land to confer with the elders. If there is news, send word to Ziyan Gate."
With that farewell, several Ziyan disciples on the island stepped forward as well and rode the winds eastward. Only then did the members of the Li clan gather around, finally seeing Qu Bushi arrive before them, bowing his head in slight dishevelment.
Li Jiangqian bade him rise and asked, "What news is there? Have you uncovered which figure in the north has fallen?"
Qu Bushi's expression was grave. Stepping forward, he whispered, "Not yet, but your subordinate has received other news: the monk Yaosa Chengmi under Chengyun's rule has already crossed Chengshui Marsh and arrived in Xuanmiao Temple's territory, wildly propagating the Shakya methods there.
"Duxian Dao did not stop them, allowing this band of Shakya cultivators to pass through their territory toward Baihai Creek. There seems to be some chaos in that region."
The last glimmer of wishful thinking in Li Jiangqian's heart was extinguished. If Yaosa Chengmi had reached Xuanmiao Temple's domain, an entire Duxian Dao separated him from Locust Soul Hall; naturally, the clash could not have been between those two factions.
*It is most likely that someone else has intervened.*
Li Jiangqian waved a hand to dismiss him, returning in silence to the hall. Once he recounted the news, silence fell over the gathered clan members on both sides. Surprisingly, it was Li Minggong who spoke first, saying in a low voice:
"The two Masters clashed in the north, an affair of which our family knew nothing, yet Chijiao Island could deliberately mount a sneak attack against us as a probe. This reveals where their allegiance lies. And since Master Zhugong traveled north to the rescue, it was not necessarily her intention to let them through."
"Chijiao Island..."
Li Jiangqian shook his head and replied, "Guo Hongjian cultivates Joint Fire; one cannot view him through ordinary perspectives. Without the impetus of a Violet Palace divine ability, Guo Hongjian was merely an unexpected probing opportunity that presented itself to the various factions...
"As for Muquan Gate, even if Master Zhugong stands on Ziyan Gate's side, letting Guo Hongjian through to test for traces of our family's Master is understandable... This matter... is far too troublesome. Mount Luoxia, the Great Sun lineage, and Zhao Shakya are all involved, with an array of Violet Palace powers below layered one upon another. Without substantial backing, one cannot see through it clearly. I do not think it advisable for our Master to return."
Although Li Xuanxuan was full of worry, he understood the gravity of the situation. Having listened to this, he stroked his beard and said:
"Indeed. Originally, it was Master Tinglan presiding over the overall situation. A figure of the noble Great Sun lineage from Ziyan Blessed Land, yet even she was plotted against and vanished. When the various powers refused to sit in that seat, they turned their thoughts to our family.
"As for the affairs in the north, though exceedingly dangerous, our family currently still holds the upper hand of initiative..."
The northern sky was already pouring torrents of rain, and heavy rain also fell over Lake Wangyue. Li Jiangqian had already caught the scent of danger. Beside him, Li Quewan said softly:
"I fear this is a clash between titans. Whether it is the Great Sun lineage or the forces targeting it, neither is something our family can touch. Giving her an answer will suffice."
"Indeed."
Li Jiangqian seemed to have drifted in thought for a moment before gathering himself to speak, pondering:
"Let us observe the situation first. I shall dispatch someone to reply to Ziyan, saying our family has already sent a warning, but when our Master can arrive and whether he will be intercepted along the way by Changxiao Gate is another matter entirely.
"That is the first point. As for the second... with the Master away, news of Jiangbei remains shrouded in thick fog. The north changes in the blink of an eye, and waiting for news to reach us could take an eternity. We must appease Duxian Dao and observe Jiangbei through them. After all, Ye Gui was so selfish that he dared not leave behind a single shred of intelligence... Duxian Dao currently places immense trust and reliance on our family."
"Yet the matter of Chijiao Island..."
"No matter."
Li Jiangqian took up a brush, thought for a moment, and wrote:
"The earlier incident has been clarified. It was done at the hands of Guo Hongjian of the Guo clan, meant to sow discord between our two families and plot against the north bank. Thus, we fear unexpected turns may arise regarding Locust Soul Hall. If you receive any news, please reply by letter."
Li Jiangqian read it through twice to ensure that anyone who obtained the letter would not deduce his family's internal affairs. Only then did he say:
"Duxian Dao has been on good terms with Chijiao Island for many years. We cannot state things too bluntly, lest they suspect us of sowing discord and become unnecessarily wary. I shall merely tie the two matters together and let Guan Gongxiao draw his own conclusions..."
Duxian Dao maintained envoys with the Li clan; it would suffice to have them deliver it back. Folding the letter, Li Jiangqian promptly had someone take it away. Looking toward the several people beside him, he said solemnly:
"I must ask everyone to keep a close watch on all four shores. Now is least of all the time for carelessness. If some figure appears on the banks driven by the machinations of destiny, we must snuff them out early!
"Especially the east bank and the wilderness."
Since someone in Jiangbei was dismantling the stage, there was no telling what else might occur next. The lake was relatively safe, but the east bank was far more prone to trouble.
The others nodded. After nearly half a day, Li Jiangqian finally saw the belated emissary from Duxian Dao. Footsteps sounded outside the hall, and the courier arrived inside. Dispelling the concealment over his face, he said in a low voice:
"Greetings to the Patriarch!"
Li Jiangqian lifted his brows. "Rise."
The man had thick brows and large eyes, with a mature bearing and a blade at his waist—it was none other than Gongsun Baifan of Duxian Dao!
He dutifully dropped to one knee and bowed. "My master has already received the Patriarch's letter and is deeply sensible of Guo Hongjian's treachery... He despises him to the bone..."
He rattled off a string of pleasantries, but they were mere lip service. Li Jiangqian remained noncommittal, instead closely observing the man before him.
His eyes were dim and his face pale; faint scars on his face and neck seeped with a grayish hue, as if he had just engaged in a life-and-death struggle and nearly lost his life.
Li Jiangqian inwardly thought, *Not good,* and said gravely, "Guest Elder Gongsun... what happened to you!"
Gongsun Baifan had suffered such severe injuries, yet instead of letting him recuperate, Duxian Dao had dispatched him to the lake to deliver a letter. This instantly gave Li Jiangqian a profound sense of foreboding. Sure enough, the bladesman's face was full of bitterness as he replied:
"Wounded by another...
"Reporting to Your Honor, regarding what you inquired about, my master is also deeply bewildered. The slaying of Locust Soul Hall's cultivators was exceedingly abrupt, taking place right in Locust Soul Hall's heartland. Our sect is at its wits' end and has no energy left to investigate.
"As for the river... there are hardly any men left stationed there. We ask that your noble clan refrain from challenging us to battle, lest an awkward situation arise."
Feigning shock and fury, Li Jiangqian asked, "How could it come to this?!"
Gongsun Baifan had always been a steady figure, once even receiving praise from Li Zhouwei. Yet as calm as he usually was, speaking of this now brought dread and lingering fear to his voice as he replied:
"Reporting to the Patriarch, within our territory... a demonic disciple emerged. Having somehow stumbled upon some legacy, he arose from an obscure, humble background and suddenly broke through to Foundation Establishment. First he slew a city lord, slaughtered the guards, and plundered spiritual items...
"Our cultivators were not all stationed on the river; several were guarding our lands. When the array shattered and the talismans flared, they immediately rushed to reinforce. Who could have thought... that they would be slain... by this demonic disciple who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment!"
Listening clearly, Li Jiangqian could not help but be taken aback. He asked, "And then?"
Gongsun Baifan shook his head with lingering terror and whispered:
"I was the first to arrive... Never did I imagine he would hurl three talismans right at my face, their power terrifyingly immense! Had I not practiced spells diligently over the years with refined cultivation, I fear I would have lost my life!
"Such ancient talismans are considered heirloom treasures even by my master's family, yet he tossed all three as if they were ordinary trinkets, showing not the slightest reluctance... allowing him to escape.
"Right now, our cultivators have dispersed, digging three feet into the earth across all of Baiye Creek just to ferret him out. Our Sect Master is short on hands, so he sent me here."
Li Jiangqian was inwardly alarmed:
*This must be a major figure drawn forth by the True Monarch, already at Foundation Establishment by the time he was discovered... Back then, Xu Xiao at merely Qi Refinement could cause our family endless grief; for this one to erupt only after reaching Foundation Establishment is truly lethal!*
*Moreover, whether this figure is good or ill is unknown. If he is destined to form a karmic bond with the True Monarch... Duxian Dao will suffer grievous losses and have quite a bitter cup to swallow!*
Seeing Gongsun Baifan's ashen countenance, Li Jiangqian clicked his tongue in secret. Though he knew Duxian Dao, being situated in Jiangbei, had far more trouble than his own family, he had not anticipated it to be this ferocious and humiliating. Thus he asked, "Then what does your master intend...?"
A hint of resolve surfaced on Gongsun Baifan's face, and he said darkly:
"My master says that this person will never flee far and must still be in Jiangbei. If there is an opportunity, he hopes your noble clan can provide timely assistance and lend us a hand!"
No wonder the message brought from Guan Gongxiao had denounced Guo Hongjian to pieces. As it turned out, Duxian Dao had run into such a precarious juncture themselves: a demonic disciple had emerged within, their riverfront was virtually undefended, yet on the other side Guo Hongjian was provoking the Li family on their behalf! Had the Li family truly flown into a rage and charged across the river in tandem with internal turmoil...
Only Guan Gongxiao, with his perennial composure, could still pen several letters. If Guan Gongxiao had a worse temper, he would have coughed up blood in fury!
As a result of this mess, Guan Gongxiao's plea for aid had become utterly awkward. How could Li Jiangqian ever want to wade into these murky waters? Feigning both wrath and disappointment, he sighed:
"I understand that when the lips are gone the teeth are cold, and that we must support one another. But your sect and Chijiao are joined at the hip—how could Guo Hongjian understand that! Now he holds a set of concealing magical artifacts; how could our family dare allow anyone to venture out!"
Gongsun Baifan was not thick-skinned to begin with, and looked rather ashamed. Giving him no opening to interject, Li Jiangqian lamented:
"When the Guo clan surfaced from the East Sea into the wilderness, I anticipated trouble in Jiangbei. My letter was meant as a warning, but who knew we would be a step too late after all!"
He shook his head and said:
"Rest assured, however. Our family also has a mountain of troubles weighing on us and will not take this chance to cross the river. Return for now, and let our correspondence regarding Jiangbei be frequent, so our two houses can render aid at any time."
Swayed by his words, Gongsun Baifan nodded repeatedly and bowed. "Many thanks for the Patriarch's understanding..."
With that, he departed.
Li Jiangqian saw him out of the hall and watched him disappear into the distance, turning matters over in his mind.
In fact, Guan Gongxiao had no real fear of the Li clan crossing the river to seize territory at this moment. Jiangbei right now was roasting over the flames; what benefit was there to gain? What he feared was Li Jiangqian launching an attack simply to vent his wrath. If casualties occurred on both sides, unpredictable changes might very well ensue.
*As for dispatching the heavily injured Gongsun Baifan to deliver the message... I doubt they were truly short on hands; rather, they used him running back and forth while badly wounded as bait to lure that fugitive demonic disciple... A clever calculation.*
*Fortunately... Duxian Dao still has Guan Gongxiao... a man who knows when to yield and can keep some control over the situation. Without Guan Gongxiao, both our families would be in dire straits right now.*
He had barely turned around when, amidst the torrential rain, a youth in black dropped down before the hall. With an unsightly expression, he knelt on one knee and reported:
"Patriarch, Locust Soul Hall has crossed the river."
Li Jiangqian jerked his head up, a heavy sigh sounding in his heart as he thought:
*As expected, there is no avoiding it! In just this short while, trouble has arrived!*
Raising his brows, he asked urgently, "How many men? Did Daoist Bai lead them across in person?"
Chen Yang nodded grimly. "Daoist Bai led them across the river in person. They are currently in the wilderness!"
Chapter 883