"Rest assured, Uncle!" Li Chenghui replied warmly, "After all, it’s not far. Once the Azure Pond Sect matter is settled, the journey there will be quite safe."
Li Ximing frowned at that and asked, "How is Azure Pond Sect? Has Si Yuanli taken action?"
Li Chenghui replied with a smile, "That’s right. Chi Buhua was in the Reef Sea, but he was killed by the master of Changtian Peak, the Rosy Glows of the Celestial Pavilion[1]. My lord rode the Dawn Rayfish away at leisure, and the remaining six couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him.
"The Raozi Scorpion, Lingu Rao, then stormed Green Pine Island. Fei Luoya activated the grand formation; Ning Hejing was defeated and killed; and the Sword of the Fleeting Azure, Si Yuanli appeared in the main hall, capturing Chi Fubo and the others who had seized control of sect affairs and slighted the various families, and rescued the sect master..."
He paused, then explained, "The sect master is now in seclusion for a breakthrough, and Si Yuanli is the one managing the sect."
"Oh..." That was an enormous amount of information. Li Ximing took more than a dozen seconds to digest it before asking, "And what about Little Uncle[2]?"
Li Chenghui understood and replied quietly, "My lord endured humiliation, feigning compliance with the Ning Family and Chi Fubo, and gained Si Yuanli’s favor. He is now also in seclusion, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Good!" Li Ximing finally breathed a sigh of relief, paused for a few seconds, and said with a smile, "Brother Xizhi is truly formidable now!"
"Indeed!" Li Chenghui said softly, "I’ve heard my lord’s spell arts are extremely profound, and even surpass Lingu Xia of old. He’s known as the foremost master of spell arts in the Azure Pond Sect, and now that he leads Jiutian Pavilion in charge of spell arts, he’s truly among the top figures.
"I’ve also heard he carries a long sword but never draws it, relying solely on spell arts in battle. However, rumor has it his swordsmanship far surpasses his spell arts, and if anyone could force him to draw his sword, it would cleave the skies, revealing the true elegance of a sword immortal family."
As Li Chenghui spoke, a proud expression appeared on his face, his eyes brimming with joy.
"So that’s how it is!" Li Ximing was half-convinced, mulling over the thought in his heart, In the past, I always heard him say that Xijun’s swordsmanship was even stronger, yet I never imagined his sword and spell arts would now advance together to this degree! He has already far surpassed me!
For now, he chose to believe it and said with a smile, "Good! Third Brother now has great prestige, if anything happens in the future, he’ll be able to uphold the family."
Li Chenghui responded, then heard footsteps coming from the front of the hall. Li Xuanxuan hurried in from outside. The elderly man was wearing a pale-blue long robe, and his white beard was flowing in the breeze. A talisman brush that had been in use for nearly a century hung at his waist, and his gaze was earnest.
"Ming’er."
"Grandfather!"
Li Ximing rose to greet him, glancing at the two behind him, one boy and one girl, both just over ten years old. The boy’s chin was slightly pointed, his smile warm and inviting, while the girl was very polite, bowing her head and greeting everyone repeatedly.
Though he had spent most years in seclusion, Li Ximing still recognized Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan. Smiling faintly, he asked softly, "Has Aunt’s life jade shown any signs?"
"None." Li Xuanxuan had been checking it day after day, almost living in the ancestral hall. He said hoarsely, "It has been years since she left. The jade’s luster shifts between bright and dim, but there are no signs of cracking. It is smooth and glowing now, so there seems to be no major problem."
"Good..." replied Li Ximing.
In truth, both Li Ximing and his grandfather knew that this life jade was almost certainly of no real use if she was by the Dragon Monarch’s side, but it was at least some comfort and something to hold onto.
Li Ximing sat quietly, listening as they recounted the events of recent years one by one, until the sun had set, the daylight in the hall dimmed, and mana lamps flickered to life, casting bright light all around.
When they had finished speaking, Li Ximing chuckled, took the old man’s hand, and spoke gently, "Grandfather, my cultivation has reached a bottleneck, and the family is flourishing. I will enter seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm."
Li Xuanxuan paused, gazing at the young man before him in Daoist robes. The old man lowered his brows and eyes, unable to speak for a moment, and finally said softly, "You all may leave."
Li Chenghui led the two children out with a solemn expression.
Li Xuanxuan had lost his father at birth, and later sent off two elders. After Li Xuanfeng’s death, he had sent off those of his own generation as well. One by one, the Abyssal Clarity generation[3] passed away, and only Li Ximing remained among the Dawn Moon generation[4] in the family.
For a moment, he found it hard to speak. Silence fell over the hall, until Li Ximing spoke softly, "In my youth, I was ignorant and caused Grandfather, Father, and Uncle to worry... When my father passed, I did not even see him one last time. That was the height of unfilial conduct... Of all my failings, the root lies in my own cowardice.
"In sincerity and selflessness, I cannot compare to Eldest Brother; in decisiveness and bearing, I cannot compare to Third Brother; in intelligence and quickness, I cannot compare to Jun’er; even in calm courage and keen self-respect, I cannot compare to Yuexiang."
Now his expression held neither hesitation nor self-pity; he simply spoke quietly, "If any one of them had been in this position, there would not have been so many tragedies. If I could simply be an alchemist, practicing Qi Ingestion at dawn and resting in the mountains at dusk, that would be best. But back then, I accepted this duty."
Li Xuanxuan said softly, "How did it come to this?!"
Li Ximing gave a small laugh and said softly, "Grandfather, do you remember how, years ago, when I went to the Xiao Family, I was led astray by wine and women, and greatly disappointed my father?"
Li Xuanxuan only nodded silently. Such candid words from his grandson unsettled him, and he could not help but wonder if this breakthrough attempt was akin to suicide, yet the words he wanted to say stuck in his chest.
Li Ximing merely sipped his tea, speaking as if telling an after-meal anecdote, "That woman was actually a refined young lady. Every time I went to see her, my heart would burn hot, but each time I loosened my trousers, I would start to freeze up. My feet would go cold and fear would overwhelm me. I went in with high spirits and left in disappointment.
"Still, I kept going to her, but I was unable to go through with it each time. In the end, I simply stopped loosening my trousers and just touched her briefly before leaving. She grew unwilling to accept this and once gave me spirit wine to make me lose consciousness. When I awoke, I found things had gotten out of hand. So, when Brother Xijun asked me back then, I said I didn’t know.
"Later, after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, my old memories became clear again, and that day replayed in my mind. I was so terrified that, even in my drunkenness, I clutched my trousers tightly, not daring to let go. She tried more than once, but could not pry my hand open.
"The spirit cloth was tough, and she couldn’t cut it with scissors, so she had to undress herself to stage the scene. Whether someone was behind it or it was her own doing, nothing came of it, and no one bothered to pursue the matter later."
Now, though honored as a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, he spoke of this matter without the slightest fear, his voice low, "Grandfather, I no longer have the chance to explain it to him."
Li Xuanxuan was struck dumb by the revelation, staring blankly at him before finally speaking, "Why did you never tell me..."
"It no longer matters." Li Ximing glanced to the side and said softly, "I have been a man with the will but without the courage. I’ve been mediocre and cowardly for most of my life. But not anymore. I have nothing left to lose. No one in our family has yet perished attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. From today, that will begin with me."
The young man rose from his seat. Li Xuanxuan’s expression was complicated as he was escorted all the way to the front of the hall. Still not fully recovered from the moment, the old man’s voice trembled as he spoke, "Ximing... Ping’er... he never blamed you."
Li Ximing paused at the words but did not reply. Upon reaching the front of the hall, he respectfully bowed deeply to the old man, performing three bows and nine kowtows before saying in a respectful voice, "Grandfather, take good care of your health."
He rose and transformed into Radiant Light, not daring to cast another glance at the old man, and flew toward Mount Wu. Left behind, Li Xuanxuan sank down on the steps, his white beard trembling as he let out several long breaths before his body eased slightly.
The sky had grown late, and the old man began to feel the chill beneath the moonlight.
1. This title should be referring to Li Xizhi. ☜
2. I think this should be referring to Li Yuanqin, son of Li Xuanfeng. I'll correct the reference if I am wrong. ☜
3. This is the 2nd generation of the Li Family. ☜
4. This is the 4th generation of the Li Family. ☜