The sun was setting over the western mountains and the sky was getting dark.
In the inner chamber of the Dragon Mansion , Li Feng was still sitting cross-legged in the center of the bright ever-burning candles setup, staring intently at the remaining a hundred-something lights.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew.
With two 'poofs', two more candle flames turned into green smoke and dispersed.
A bad feeling appeared in Li Feng's heart just as three light knocks suddenly came from the door behind him.
"Longling... come in."
Squeak---
"Yes, father."
Li Longling pushed open the door and looked at Li Feng's back. She frowned, biting her lower lip.
Standing at the door, she took a few deep breaths before mustering the courage to step over the threshold, then entered the room and closed the door.
After taking ten steps forward, Li Longling lifted her skirt slightly and plopped to her knees.
Hearing the thud, Li Feng was startled and turned his head to look behind him. Seeing her kneeling, he asked, "Longling, what are you doing?"
"Father." Li Longling lowered her eyes and was silent for a while. "Wu Yue... it was you who arranged for her to be by my side?"
"..."
Li Feng was completely unaware of this matter. He had been staying at home for the past few days, turning a deaf ear to what happened outside and practicing meditation.
But when he heard Li Longling mention Wu Yue's name and saw her kneeling behind him, no matter how muddle-headed he was, he could imagine that she probably already knew the whole story.
Maybe she had no evidence, but...
Puff puff puff--
Three ever-burning candles suddenly went out.
Li Feng closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, but soon he loosened them up.
"..."
Li Longling waited for her father's answer without speaking.
She waited until the afterglow of dusk shining through the window completely disappeared, leaving only the light of the ever-burning candles in the room.
"Father, she had the jade token you gave her and is your confidant, but she is a demonic cultivator."
"..."
"Father, don't you have anything to say?"
"Longling, what do you want to hear?"
Li Longling, who didn't expect to be questioned back, sniffed lightly. What she wanted to hear was her father's rebuttal, even if he would scold her.
But what he just said, undoubtedly showed that he acquiesced to everything.
"Huh--" Li Longling took a deep breath. "Why? I want to know why?"
"For you."
"..."
Puff puff puff--
More ever-burning candles went out quickly, one after another, but now, in Li Feng's eyes, it didn't matter anymore.
"Longling, you have been blind since you were born. I have tried countless ways for more than ten years, but I still couldn't find a cure for your eyes. Now, my lifespan will end in another month, and you will no longer have me to rely on."
Li Longling was stunned. She was completely unaware of the matter of Li Feng's lifespan.
"...So, you and the demonic cultivator..."
"I have no choice." Li Feng stated quietly. "I am a cultivator with four spiritual roots. I can count on one hand the four spiritual root Immortal cultivators who can reach the Nascent Soul stage. If I want to continue living, the only way is to use those means of demonic cultivators to force a breakthrough with the blood sacrifice method."
"Blood sacrifice?"
"This Dragons' Convention's purpose is to gather sacrifices. I used the Heavenly Splitting Sword as bait to attract the young masters and elders of hundreds of sects in the Western Regions . They will all become sacrifices."
Li Longling pursed her lips and mustered up the courage to interrupt. "Father, can you please stop? Have you forgotten that you drove the demonic cultivators to the Eastern Region with the Immortal Matriarch? Because of this, my mother also..."
Li Feng frowned and cut her off. "Then, should I wait for death? After I die, you will be all alone. Your cultivation is only at the Qi Refining perfection stage, and you cannot see. Can you support the Dragon House by yourself? Can you survive alone?"
"I..."
"Dad is supporting you now, but after Dad dies, how will those Immortal sects treat you, a blind woman? Do you think everyone in the Immortal Family is a saint and will lend you a helping hand? Do you think that old woman from the Black Star Sect will remember her old friendship with me and help take care of you? That won't happen!!!"
"..."
"That old woman has lived for thousands of years, and she has long since looked down on life and death. I will soon reach the end of my lifespan, and she is not even willing to personally come over to see me one last time."
"Father, you..." Li Longling frowned deeply. She felt as if her father had changed.
Li Feng interrupted again. "Longling, until you reach the Nascent Soul and until you find an eye cure, I will protect you, even if I have to go to the Eastern Region ."
Having said this, Li Feng waved his hand.
Several threads of spiritual energy flew out of his sleeves, surrounding Li Longling and confining her within a circle drawn on the ground.
Although Li Longling couldn't see it, she still felt the spiritual energy, and she asked fearfully, "Father, what are you doing?"
"You have to stay here for the next seven days. This is the only place that will not be affected by the formation spell."
Li Feng stood up, glanced at the hundred or so ever-burning candles left, and stepped around Li Longling before heading out.
Li Longling, who heard Li Feng's footsteps, quickly reached out to grab him, but she hit the restrictive barrier and was repelled back by an invisible force.
"Ah--"
"..."
Li Feng, who was at the door, looked back at her with a frown and hesitated for a while. Then, he walked out.
Walking down the corridor outside the room, he ran into a servant girl waiting a little further.
When she saw him coming out, the maid hastily came forward and greeted him. "Master Li."
Li Feng looked at her, pondered for a moment, and said, "Longling has been grounded for seven days. Keep her company."
"Ah? Grounded?" The maid was surprised. "What... why? Did Miss do something wrong?"
"Do you have the right to ask?"
"..."
The maid shrank her neck and peeked at Li Feng's face.
After working as a maid in the mansion for decades, this was the first time she saw Li Feng with such a serious expression, a little scary, even.
She gulped, lowered her head, and answered. "Yes... I understand."
Li Feng glanced at her and walked out.
The corridor opened into a garden.
Li Feng strode forward and went through the moon-shaped garden gate, but the moment he stepped over the threshold, he felt someone was looking at him. Immediately, he turned his head in the direction where he sensed something.
The silver-haired girl was hiding behind a nearby tree, holding two ginkgo leaves in her hand as a camouflage, and when she saw him looking over, she hurriedly withdrew her head back behind the tree.
Li Feng narrowed his eyes and instantly arrived behind her in one step, tilting his head to look at her. "Feng Yu Die?"
"Ah..."
Feng Yu Die didn't realize that she had been noticed at all. She felt that she was hiding well. Turning her head stiffly, she said with a foolish giggle. "Ahaha-- Master Li, I came to see Sister Li."
Li Feng sneered. "Your and Miss Xiao's cultivation levels are not enough to change anything. Let me give you a word of advice: take Miss Xiao out of the Dragon House immediately and return to your Black Star Sect. This is the last reminder."
Feng Yu Die straightened her head and blinked quickly in a daze. "Master Li, what are you saying?"
"Heh..."
Li Feng snorted disdainfully and walked forward into the depths of the garden.