Since it was decided, Li Jiangxia reported to Li Zhouwei and took the talisman. He descended in high spirits to muster the troops bound for the eastern shore.
Raising his hand, Li Zhouwei asked, "Long'er, Profound Peak Gate has come to seek a marriage alliance. A girl may be married off, and another among your brothers must also be chosen. Excluding your youngest brother Jiangnian, who do you think would be suitable?"
Only then did Li Jianglong kneel and speak respectfully, "Father, I believe that the marriage alliance with Profound Peak Gate is nothing more than a gesture of goodwill. The future remains uncertain. It would be better to choose one of my younger brothers and delay the marriage. That way, if something happens later, there will still be room to maneuver, and we will not be placed in an awkward position. As for marrying off a daughter, we must still see how Profound Peak Gate proposes."
Li Zhouwei only said, "We cannot evade putting Profound Peak Gate at ease. We must not treat this lightly, for otherwise it will show a lack of sincerity."
Li Jianglong bowed again and replied respectfully, "As your direct son, I am willing to go to Profound Peak Gate to cultivate, in order to settle Profound Peak Gate's concerns. As for the marriage, I sincerely hope it can be arranged with one of my younger brothers instead. I am foolish, but I still fear that forcing the matter might breed calamity."
Li Jianglong's reasoning was not without merit. If Changxi died, Profound Peak Gate's fate was uncertain. If the worst came to pass and Profound Peak Gate perished, then would the heirs of a direct descendant such as Jianglong or Jiangxia in such a marriage not be burdened with an inherited enmity?
On the other hand, Jiangliang was still a child. Even if he were betrothed, it would take at least ten years before marriage could happen. Changxi might be long since perished, and Profound Peak Gate's situation would be clear, sparing them from being entangled too deeply.
What did catch Li Zhouwei somewhat off guard was his son's willingness to personally go to Profound Peak Gate to cultivate. Lifting his head, he looked at his third son and said in a deep voice, "After matters at the eastern shore are settled, I had planned to entrust Milin Mountain to you. You would stabilize the one hundred and eighteen households while your younger brother would take over the eastern shore. Yet you insist on going to Profound Peak Gate yourself. Have you truly thought this through?"
His sons were all talented in governance and descendants of Bright Yang bloodline. They each had their own ambitions and factions. Unlike the previous generations, where brothers yielded to one another, even the young Jiangliang harbored no small aspirations. How could Li Zhouwei not be aware of this?
Now that prosperity was flourishing, distancing oneself from the center of power could only bring harm and no benefits. Li Jianglong's sudden wish to leave was truly unexpected.
Li Zhouwei asked once more, and Li Jianglong bowed again and said, "After much thought, I believe that this journey to Profound Peak Gate will bring great benefits to our Moongaze Lake. I beg Father to grant his approval."
"Good." Li Zhouwei did not give him any chance to waver. He nodded and instructed, "Choose two companions to accompany you. I will explain matters to the Daoist Master myself. When you arrive at Profound Peak Gate, you must conduct yourself with humility and caution. Do not bring disgrace upon the family's reputation."
"Please rest assured, Father!" After giving his thanks, Li Jianglong withdrew. All the while, Li Quewan, dressed in a flowing cloud-patterned gown, had been listening quietly from the side. She found her regard for Jianglong growing even more.
She did not expect Li Zhouwei to suddenly turn to her. "Wan'er, in your view, who should be sent to govern the eastern shore?"
"I dare not speak rashly... it would be improper to overstep the rules." Li Quewan gave only a brief reply.
But Li Zhouwei replied, "Speak freely, it does not matter."
She had no choice but to bow and answer, "Reporting to the family head, several of the elders must remain to guard the northern bank and cannot be moved lightly. Now that Uncle Chenghuai has taken over Qingdu, Uncle Zhouluo is unoccupied, though his cultivation is of utmost importance. I wonder if this might delay his progress."
"Uncle Zhouming has just entered the Qi Cultivation Realm a few days ago, and there is also Aunt Xinghan. Both can contribute their strength as well."
After the devastating conflict between the northern and southern branches, the Chengming and Zhouxing generations had truly withered. Chenghuai, Minggong, and Chengbi each had their own assignments. In the Zhouxing generation, only Li Zhouluo's cultivation was decent, while the eldest branch's Li Xinghan was a silent cultivator who rarely showed herself, spending almost every day in seclusion.
As for the specifically mentioned Li Zhouming, he was the direct grandson of a Daoist Master, yet his innate ability was far from remarkable. Even though he was past thirty, he had relied on the Three Aspects Breaking Realm Pill to break through, and his achievements were still inferior to those of the Zhoufang and Zhouyang brothers.
Li Zhouwei sighed inwardly. The talents of the Zhouxing generation were sufficient to match those of ordinary families, yet none of them stood out as truly remarkable. Their years of growth had coincided with the internecine conflict between north and south, leaving the Li Family in turmoil. Not only did they lack proper training, many had even lost their parents, returning with little more than a storage pouch or two.
"Since Uncle Chenghuai has already taken charge of Qingdu, it would not be fitting for Zhouluo to enter Milin again. For now, let the eldest elder oversee it, and have Zhouming and Xinghan follow him to gain experience."
Having given his orders, Li Zhouwei finally set down his brush and said softly, "In a few days, I will depart for Jiangbei. Let Qian'er take over the family's affairs, and you are to assist him. With Uncle Chenghuai present, there should not be much trouble."
Li Quewan bowed respectfully in agreement. Li Zhouwei then drew the talisman of the Mountain Ghost from his sleeve, placed it in her hand, and said, "This is the Mountain Ghost Talisman. It holds the might of Foundation Establishment Realm. Study it well, and it may also serve as protection."
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Sword Gate.
The Wanyu Sword Gate lay within Jingchuan Prefecture, where hills rose in clusters and vegetation thrived. Its gate stood on Yuchuan Sword Peak, a main summit that jutted into the heavens like a drawn blade. Only a hundred kilometers away, the Raising Sword Ferry stretched across the Eastern Sea, from which the boundless ocean could be seen at a single glance.
A singular tree grew atop the sword-sharp summit of Yuchuan Sword Peak, the Profound Horn Treasured Cluster Pine. Unlike ordinary pines that thrust straight upward, its trunk spread outward like a grand canopy. Each needle resembled a drooping tassel, shimmering with emerald luster. It was a Purple Mansion spirit pine aligned with the Horn Wood Dao, and was famous throughout Jiangnan.
The Sword Gate itself was tranquil and austere. Pavilions stood scattered across the peak, yet there were few figures in sight. Only one man came forward to welcome Li Ximing, Cheng Jinzhu, the same man who had offered congratulations the other day. Carrying his sword on his back, he led the way up the mountain. A southeastern wind rose, sweeping through the pine branches and scattering dazzling rays of light.
The heavenly light between Li Ximing's brows flickered faintly. He sensed that this wind was anything but ordinary. It carried the essence of Wood's growth, subtly resonating with the Horn Wood Dao.
He raised his brows and said, "What a marvelous spring breeze of Horn Wood."
The heavenly light at the center of his brows held the power to discern anomalies, and so he perceived the truth with just one glance.
Cheng Jinzhu hurriedly explained, "Daoist Master, your divine ability is indeed vast. This wind truly belongs to the Horn Wood Dao. It is called the Treasured Cluster Spring Breeze. Whenever the southeastern winds rise and pass through the branches of our gate's ancestral tree, they immediately transform into this breeze, carrying the power to nourish life and sustain the people.
"This breeze rises from the southeast and flows toward the northwest, all the way to Lake Xian. There it meets the daytime sea wind, shifts westward along with the river waters, and nourishes all of Jiangnan."
"Oh." Li Ximing let out a quiet sigh, "No matter how the Devil Plague or the Blood Calamity struck, the Azure Pond Sect's population always managed to recover swiftly. This Purple Mansion spirit tree must have played no small part in it!"
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a figure appeared beneath the tree. It was a middle-aged man in Daoist robes, his hair half white. He held a sword cradled in his arms.
A faint smile lingered on his face, tinged with a trace of surprise, as he spoke, "I am Ling Mei. I greet you, Zhaojing."
"I greet you, senior!" Li Ximing returned the courtesy with a bow. The cultivators of Sword Gate were formidable in combat, and few dared to offend them. Naturally, his tone was polite. As Daoist Master Ling Mei approached, he introduced, "This is Senior Tianjiao[1]."
Only then did Li Ximing realize that he was referring to the Profound Horn Treasured Cluster Pine before them. He quickly bowed again and said respectfully, "I pay my respects, senior."
1. 天(tiān) means heaven, sky and 角(jiǎo) means horn. Together it means Heavenly Horn. It refers to the Horn Mansion star, the first of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, symbolizing spring and the Wood element. ☜