Xunlin

Before him, Qi Lanyan merely toyed with the bone slips, tossing them lightly in his palm with a smile. "Then Fellow Daoist Murong... has come here to?" Murong Yan stood in the courtyard with a grim expression. Those figures within the Release Land were bound to have some scheme cooking, putting him forward as their pawn. Yet the smiling Qi Lanyan before him was just as foul a wretch! 'Those old bastards in the Release Land wanted to push me forward. But my surname is Murong—even if I'm not of the royal line, I belong to the main lineage. At most, they will use me, or at worst drag me into the Release Land... But this thing Qi Lanyan genuinely hopes I fall!' The Murong clan and the Guanxie faction were on terrible terms; their enmity was not something that froze overnight. Back when the Great Liang crumbled and rival warlords arose, the Qi clan had been broken at the hands of the Murong clan. The Qi clan's ancestor, Qi Wang, had even been captured by Murong Dechang and forced to serve him for the rest of his life... The Qi clan had always prided itself as an eminent lineage of Yincheng, ennobled by the Zhou dynasty and bearing noble blood. Looking down on barbarians from the start, how could they stomach such humiliation? Back then, the entire Qi family had striven with all their might, swearing with blood and tears that the Murong barbarians were their sworn enemies. As time passed, things appeared far better on the surface. With the Murong clan growing so formidable, the Qi family had kept their voices down. But who could tell what they harbored in their hearts? The moment Murong Yan saw him, he knew nothing good would come of it. Today, it was clearer than ever that although his rear was unstable, bowing to Qi Lanyan would only bring him humiliation! Thus, with a cool demeanor, he casually said, "Naturally, I am here to follow Lord Qi's assignments." Qi Lanyan stood up with a smile, appearing exceedingly polite. "What assignments could there be? I only ask Fellow Daoist Murong to garrison outside the mountains. Once the grotto-heaven produces a result, please enter alongside us... Oh, right, there is also Lord Gao... Is he willing to enter? I only fear a clash with the Li clan might chill his heart!" Shilou Yingge had always called himself by the surname Shilou. Qi Lanyan was playing dumb, deliberately using "Gao" to mock him—while he smiled on the surface, the ridicule was unmistakable. Murong Yan merely replied in a cold voice, "Fellow Daoist Shilou has always complied with your arrangements, my lord. I have no idea who Lord Gao might be. As for Tuoba—" "Enough!" He had only uttered the name "Tuoba" when a cool, sharp rebuke drifted out from behind the palace doors behind Qi Lanyan, cutting him off with decisive firmness. Murong Yan instantly broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly bowed to the side. "I truly did not know Lord Wei was here!" Murong Yan did not even need to think to know that Qi Lanyan was certainly sneering behind his back. Presently, the palace doors opened softly, and a summons echoed out. Murong Yan stepped forward briskly, and as expected, he saw a man clad in white standing inside the hall, holding a small box as though admiring something, a faint golden radiance reflecting onto his face. Seeing him enter, Wei Xuanyin set the box down and said with a serious expression, "You have worked hard, Fellow Daoist Murong." Murong Yan shook his head cautiously. Wei Xuanyin swept a glance over him and said casually, "We originally believed the State of Yan would handle the matter on its own and had no wish to disturb the arrangements of the Great Virtues. We did not anticipate such a misunderstanding would arise. Perhaps the news was simply delayed, causing Fellow Daoist Murong undue alarm." Faced with such a direct question, could Murong Yan really say anything else? Could he complain about his own Release Land and expose his side's shortcomings? He had no choice but to swallow the bitterness and smile. "The Release Land gave hints long ago... It was entirely my own hastiness, misinterpreting their intentions!" Whether Wei Xuanyin believed him or not was unknown; he merely gave a faint nod and asked, "Both families suffered considerable casualties among their subordinate officers this time. Once inside the grotto-heaven, we can support each other and make ample amends... In a few days, the Master of Shengbai Dao will arrive, stopping first at Luoxia. The proper etiquette naturally cannot be neglected. We are not well-versed in such matters, so I must ask Fellow Daoist Murong to go and receive him." "Understood..." Murong Yan gave a low reply, drums pounding in his chest. Pleasing as Wei Xuanyin's words sounded, they brought him little peace of mind: 'The Guanxie faction may be lackeys of Luoxia nowadays, but Qi Lanyan cultivates Jiaomu, and Wei Xuanyin cultivates Jueyin. Neither of their paths has anything to do with Luoxia's orthodox tradition, nor do they possess Luoxia's tolerance and magnanimity toward immortal cultivators...' He was not as guarded against Wei Xuanyin as he was against Qi Lanyan, yet he felt little goodwill either. Smiling, he said, "I shall follow your lordships' instructions. However, I have heard that Fellow Daoists Zong Chang and Gongsun have already arrived at Mount Dayuan Guangyin, and they will be here soon as well..." With Wei Xuanyin present, his original desire to negotiate properly with Qi Lanyan and take advantage of the situation to pressure the State of Yan had dissipated. He could only leave empty-handed, walking away in dejection. Qi Lanyan did not even lift an eyelid. Only when Murong Yan had withdrawn did he drop his smile. "Murong Yan truly did not receive the slightest shred of news. Those few Compassion Phases in the Release Land are ruthless enough. Compassion is compassion, Murong is Murong... Yet it makes sense." Wei Xuanyin shook his head, looking somewhat displeased. "You acted too hastily in this matter!" Seeing Qi Lanyan's confusion, he said softly, "Do you know why Murong Yan met with this tribulation?" "Lord Xue has sent no word to this day, nor has the mountain offered any protection. As time dragged on, doubts inevitably crept into the northern ranks, gradually stoking designs on Li Zhouwei..." "The Compassion Path is no different. With the precedent of Bright King Shengming Jin before them, seeing no response from the mountain, how could they not grow covetous toward the White Qilin? Li Zhouwei cannot easily be converted into their fold, but if they could kill him and bind him in a great karmic bond, the benefit would be no smaller than swallowing Yan back in the day." "Thus, crooked schemes immediately took root in their minds. That is why they ignored Murong Yan, hoping he would run into trouble during this upheaval. They planned on letting the karmic entanglement swell ever larger, ultimately seeing if it could drag Compassion into the fray..." "Yet Murong Yan is an aspirant to immortality. Otherwise, he would never have steadfastly chosen the Female Water path. In his heart, he yearns for a golden seat and disdains crouching in a Release seat; he would only consider Release cultivation as a last resort... How could he ever be willing to serve as their sacrificial pawn? Hence the severing of news." Qi Lanyan remained silent for a moment as Wei Xuanyin continued quietly, "Yet the mountain's stance remains ambiguous, and the Compassion Path is clearly hesitating as well. Murong Yan is an extraordinary talent after all, whereas Li Zhouwei might end up being a futile gamble like drawing water with a wicker basket. They wished for Murong Yan to suffer injury and sow resentment to prepare for future variables, allowing them to enter the field at an opportune moment. Yet they did not wish for his absolute demise. Only then would they present such a contradictory posture—cutting off news, yet standing guard in the Great Void..." Qi Lanyan gradually came to understand. Wei Xuanyin murmured, "Unfortunately, someone slipped up and deliberately disgusted the Compassion Path—or perhaps the White Qilin's pair of golden pupils proved too sharp, secretly discerning the numerous figures lurking in the Great Void, so he stopped before things went too far and never fought with true fury. This scheme fell through, putting Murong Yan on guard. Henceforth, he is unlikely to risk his own life so easily." After a long silence, Qi Lanyan asked, "Martial Uncle... what are your thoughts?" Wei Xuanyin lowered his gaze and fell silent. After who knew how long, he finally lifted his brush. With his eyes still fixed on the desk, he said quietly, "Compassion is not the first to harbor such designs, nor will they be the last... Just wait and see." He rolled up the scroll on the desk, tucked it into his sleeve, and then brought out the small box beside the table. It cast a faint golden radiance all around. Qi Lanyan stole a glance at it; nestled in the base seemed to be a small seal roughly two fingers wide, revealing only its flank. Wei Xuanyin shook his head with a chuckle. "I am going to the Eastern Sea... to see an old acquaintance." * * * The sky was bright as the morning glow rose along the horizon. Life brimmed across the vast plain, and soon, several streaks of magical light raced across the fertile soil along a stream. The young man at the lead possessed an imposing bearing and a scholarly elegance. Clad in feather garments with a jade belt around his waist, he clearly hailed from an illustrious, wealthy lineage. Beneath him trotted a magnificent steed with silver scales, shining brilliantly. The young woman beside him wore a plain white dress whose material subtly gave off a luminous glow. Her features were delicate and refined, imbued with an ethereal, unworldly grace. The young man smiled faintly and pointed to the territory ahead. "Tianyou, this is Fengxiang Commandery in the Xunlin Plain. It is quite a scenic, unique treasure land..." "Oh?" The young woman smiled and glanced at him, asking, "Brother Liang has been here before?" Li Jiangliang laughed. "When I traveled south years ago, I rested here. A travel companion told me that Shanyue tribes once occupied this land, worshipping a statue. Later, a cultivator named Yuan Chengdun wiped them out, seized the magical artifact, and settled in this commandery, which gave it this name." Yang Tianyou said softly, "So it was him." The two stopped in the commandery city, and a flurry of people immediately came forward to fawn upon them. "Young Master!" The youth waved his hand, furrowing his brow. "Who is in charge here?" The crowd instantly prostrated themselves in slight panic. After quite a bit of pushing and jostling, a middle-aged man finally stepped out from the group. His hair was entirely gray, showing noticeable age. Though his features retained an air of nobility, he was missing an eye, his beard was disheveled, and he stumbled forward before bowing deeply. Extremely terrified, he stepped forward to take the reins of Li Jiangliang's horse, humbly standing to the side as he said in a trembling voice, "This lowly one... this lowly one greets the young master." Li Jiangliang turned his head and smiled. "Which family are you from? Your cultivation is decent enough—lead the way and give us a tour." The man dropped to his knees with a thud and murmured, "This lowly one is but a servant; I fear my name would soil your noble ears!" Li Jiangliang's smile did not falter as he said, "Speak freely." A stir went through the people below, all looking up. The man bowed his head deeply, revealing the prominent, emaciated vertebrae of his neck. Trembling, he stammered, "This lowly one... this lowly one is... Yuan Fuyao." "Oh!" Li Jiangliang gently nudged the steed beneath him. The silver-scaled spirit steed snorted, pulling the reins from Yuan Fuyao's hands. He chuckled, "What a coincidence!" Having spoken, he dismounted. Another person hurried forward from the crowd, his hair snowy white as he abruptly yanked Yuan Fuyao aside and dragged him behind himself, a respectful smile plastered across his face. "This lowly one is Ding Xiding, greeting the young master!" Though his hair was gray, the old man had thick eyebrows and a trace of hearty frankness remaining in his countenance. Looking thoroughly excited, he stammered, "My lord... my lord... please!" Yang Tianyou also flew down from her spirit beast. The two walked inside together, surrounded by the crowd as everyone pressed forward amidst the bustle. Behind Li Jiangliang, a subordinate chuckled, seeming to recognize Ding Xiding, and teased, "Old Man Ding! I remember you boasting that you used to call Lord Yueque Sword your brother! How is it that now, with his descendant right before you, you've gone mute instead?" The old man's face flushed crimson, his thick eyebrows shooting up. Yet the boastful words that had come so easily back then could not cross his lips now. He could only stammer, "Back then... back then, we did meet..." Li Jiangliang smiled. "I know... the Ding family! You once had a presence along the lake... bordering the An clan." At these words, tears welled up in Ding Xiding's eyes, and he nodded repeatedly. "Young Master is truly extraordinary... Well-versed in history to actually remember matters from so long ago... This lowly one is endlessly grateful!" Back when Li Tongya achieved Foundation Establishment, Ding Xiding had sighed with inward jealousy and refused to mention it. But as Li Tongya's fame spread and more Foundation Establishment cultivators arose from the Li clan, he gradually began boasting of it. Once the Li clan produced a Violet Palace master, however, Ding Xiding had not dared to utter a single word about it anymore. Now, to have a junior of a junior from that family mention it in passing made him feel bathed in reflected glory, bringing tears streaming down his face on the spot. Meanwhile, Yuan Fuyao—whom he had once addressed as 'Young Master' at every turn, fawning over him with every ounce of diligence—had long since been cast aside like a burdensome nuisance, standing all alone in fearful shrinking. Crowded by the throng, they entered the main hall of the commandery. With a wave of Li Jiangliang's sleeve, the crowd dispersed like the wind. Yang Tianyou smiled and remarked, "This place is simply too close to Lake Wangyue; everyone knows the Li family. The rumors circulating below all revolve around the lake. The matter concerning Yuan Fuyao... is probably known to everyone." Li Jiangliang shook his head with a laugh. "There is no need to make things difficult for him... After all, we must still win over the people's hearts. Your elder brother only just settled the Yuan clan; if I go and give him trouble, it would look unseemly... Besides... I actually think we ought to thank him." Yang Tianyou clearly understood his meaning and shook her head with a laugh. Li Jiangliang strolled with her around the commandery for a while, observing carefully before saying in a low voice, "The few small local clans still need to be dealt with, though that is easy enough. It is just that we have far too few people of our own right now, and not all of them are exceptional. Once they spread across the vast Xunlin Plain, it will become even more troublesome..." Yang Tianyou sighed helplessly, frowning slightly, which only accentuated her striking beauty. She replied, "Our family simply has few people... The few who could be brought along have all been brought, and they are busy all over the place; they cannot all stay in this single commandery..." Shifting her tone, she looked at him with a glimmer of hope. "However, the lake has plenty of cultivators, and every one of them is capable... Could you borrow a few dependable ones from your family? They do not even need to be at Foundation Establishment; a few at Qi Refinement would suffice. What we lack are trusted confidants." Li Jiangliang suddenly felt a wave of awkwardness. He truly was not keen on borrowing men from the lake. Although the clan elder sister managing family affairs, Li Quewan, and his second brother, Li Jianglong, would certainly not make things difficult for him, every one of his brothers and sisters was working for the family. It was bad enough that he could not help out, yet now he would have to ask the family for assistance! What was more, this matter was not for the sake of his own cultivation, but for someone else, which inevitably felt awkward. He hesitated, "This..." As he pondered how to broach the subject, he raised his head. They had already arrived at the bustling marketplace of the commandery, filled with clamor. Scanning about casually, he suddenly felt the jade talisman at his waist warm up. The expression on his face froze instantly, turning into a mix of suspicion and delight. Li Jiangliang's gaze rapidly swept over the surroundings. Standing with hands clasped behind his back beside a stall ahead was a man in crimson robes. This man was tall and slender, with striking features. Standing quietly amidst the crowd, he exuded an extraordinary presence. Though his eyes brimmed with amusement, the narrow gap between his brows and eyes lent him a severe, sharp cast. His eyes were slightly narrowed, his pupils gleaming like pure gold. The man seemed to turn his head inadvertently, flashing him a brilliant smile. Li Jiangliang turned to look at Yang Tianyou, who was smiling at him warmly. A sudden bitter helpless sensation welled in his heart, and he sighed: "You'er... come greet my eldest brother!"