Han Shihai went on with scattered and overly careful praise, wracking his brain to say the right things. But Li Qinghong, having spent so many years overseas, knew exactly what these outer-sea families were like. She simply nodded perfunctorily and instructed, “There’s one thing for you to take note of, I came here quietly. Aside from that steward, no one else saw me on the island. This conversation must be kept secret, no third party must know. Just act as if I was never here.”
Han Shihai immediately understood, a ruthless glint flashing across his face. He revealed the true nature of an outer-sea cultivator as he respectfully said, “Rest assured, Fairy. No third person will ever know.”
Li Qinghong saw it clearly, the steward’s fate was likely sealed. But it was another family’s affair and concerned the Han Family’s very survival. She cupped her hands slightly, a hint of urgency appeared on her face as she said, “I must hurry to find my nephew. I truly can’t linger here any longer!”
This excuse only made Han Shihai believe her more. He nodded repeatedly, but still felt uneasy. Then he noticed that Li Qinghong hadn’t yet left, she was watching him with a pleasant smile. At that moment, Han Shihai understood and thought, She’s still expecting something!
He thought for just a moment. The Demon Subduing Copper Rods from the Yuan Family had always felt too hot to hold. He quickly took them from his storage pouch and lied, “This item is a dharma artifact once belonging to Yuan Chengdun. It fell into the hands of a rogue cultivator, and we later acquired it. We hadn’t yet had the chance to present it to the Daoist, so we’ll entrust it to you, Fairy.”
Li Qinghong glanced at the rods and saw their brilliant glow. The twin rods had blue-gold hue with intricate patterns. A rare matched pair of Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts. She replied, “This was a relic of Elder Yuan. He had ties with our family. I’ll see to it this is returned to his eldest son. I won’t claim it for myself.”
Han Shihai stared at her blankly, watching her take her leave and vanish outside the formation. He stood there for several breaths before murmuring, “Virtue… truly the most extravagant of all things.”
He was faintly moved, his hand resting on his sword as he walked to the threshold. The steward was lurking nearby, peeking out nervously. Upon seeing him, the man quickly withdrew his head, bowing quietly, waiting at his side.
If not for his brother’s death, Han Shihai might have rewarded the man in a moment of ease. But now, he smiled pleasantly and said, “Come.”
The steward took a step forward. Then, Han Shihai drew his sword and brought it down in one swift stroke, beheading him. The blood hadn’t even begun to spurt before it was drawn into the small gourd at Han’s waist. Flesh was stripped and bones crushed. In a matter of a few seconds, the man had vanished completely.
Han Shihai shook the jade gourd, listening to the sounds inside as he silently calculated, I’ll still need a proper excuse… to conceal my brother’s death, so the nearby families don’t start getting ideas.
Milin Peak.
The items from the secret chamber of Milin Peak had all been brought out, filling the hall completely. Li Ximing, distracted, was fiddling with the Six Xin Unified Metal Token in his hand.
The token had a smooth, silver-gray surface. When exposed to sunlight, it would regain its silvery-white and purplish hue. But whatever had once been inside it had long been taken out. Only the notably sturdy shell remained.
Li Xijun was counting the treasures. He glanced briefly at Li Ximing and said gently, “Keep that Six Xin Unified Metal Token for now. When there’s a chance, send it to the southern border. Great uncle practices the Metal Dao, it would be better in his hands.”
“Understood.” Li Ximing replied, then muttered, “Merging Fire, Converging Water, Unified Metal… If the pattern holds, there should be five tokens. I wonder what they’re for. Converging Water… maybe it’s in the hands of the Dragon family.”
Li Xijun chuckled and simply said, “I’ve never heard of this Unified Metal. Perhaps it belongs to some Dao lineage in the north…”
He mentioned it in passing, then turned his attention back to the items before him. The Yu Family had suffered repeated setbacks in recent years and their foundation had been nearly exhausted. The only things truly worth taking were a few treasured panaceas.
Li Xijun was less knowledgeable in this area than Li Ximing, so he waited for him to take the jade box and lift the lid. Inside was a purple fruit that was the size of a fist. It was covered in countless tiny holes, with wisps of smoke drifting lazily from it.
Li Ximing examined it closely and replied, “Purple Lian Bodhi.”
He studied it carefully as it was his first time seeing such a thing. He spoke softly, “This is not something of the Immortal family.”
“Hmm?”
Li Xijun frowned, while Li Ximing, who had received instruction from Xiao Yuansi and was quite well-informed, explained softly, “It’s said that the Revered One wandered the nations, and wherever he paused in the face of mortal suffering, a strange fruit would appear. That fruit was the Purple Lian Bodhi. It is highly prized by Buddhist cultivators.”
“Indeed.” Li Xijun nodded and said in a low voice, “Kongheng has served our family in the Eastern Sea for decades. He was diligent, loyal and never asked for anything. We’ve never rewarded him properly… Let’s gift him this.”
Li Ximing naturally had no objection. He picked up two more jade boxes to examine. One of the remaining treasured panaceas was small and light. It was barely the size of an eyeball, pure white and crystal clear, as though it might float away at any moment. It was the healing Gorgecloud Vine.
The other emitted flickering flames that were bright yet hazy. Its long, slender body radiated intense heat. It was the rare fire-type treasured panacea, the Tai Fire Longfruit. Neither of them could identify the specific Fire Dao. It was clearly not Merging Fire, but the brilliance of the flames was unmistakable.
The two quickly packed everything away. Li Xijun summoned Li Chengliao and handed off the remaining matters to him, giving instructions, “Senior White Banyan is still waiting in town, I shouldn’t keep him waiting. I’ll head over now.”
Li Ximing nodded as well and went down to enter seclusion. Li Xijun rose with the wind, glancing across the southern and eastern shores, where his family’s banners now flew. Nearly half of the vast Moongaze Lake was under his family’s control.
He gazed quietly for a moment, recalling his conversation years ago with Li Yuanjiao about unifying Moongaze Lake and relocating the family to that land. That dream no longer felt so far away.
I need to work harder.
He drifted down on wind and snow, entering Lijing Town. As he landed nearby, he saw a bustling crowd. Many family men had gathered beneath a side hall, all looking up toward a specific spot.
Li Xijun was slightly taken aback. There was White Banyan, one leg crossed as he sat on the rooftop eaves, the other leg dangling and swaying atop the tiles. He held a bowl of purple fruits and he was grinning down at the crowd below.
As he ate, he casually tossed fruits down and prompted the crowd to reach up eagerly as his eyes gleamed in anticipation.
“Truly a fox’s nature.” Li Xijun chuckled. The crowd of family men immediately grew nervous and dropped to their knees. He descended for a closer look and saw that they were all mortals. He waved them off and took to the air once more.
White Banyan, looking a little guilty, hurriedly tucked away the bowl of fruit and quickly changed the subject, asking, “How did it go?”
Li Xijun bowed respectfully and said with a smile, “Reporting to the senior. It went smoothly, of course.”
“Ohhh, very good.” White Banyan nodded, and Li Xijun led him all the way to Mount Qingdu, explaining, “Our family has now relocated to this mountain. If the senior visits again, you can come directly to Mount Qingdu.”
White Banyan acknowledged with a quiet hum, then lowered his gaze and said, “No wonder. I searched all over that mountain and couldn’t find Li Tongya’s grave… So it was moved. Let me pay respects to the departed first!”