Li Zhouwei counted the days and left the main hall through the corridor. An Siwei was already waiting in the side hall and greeted him respectfully, "Your Highness, will you be seeing Madam Chen today..."
"Kongheng can guard her when he’s free. No need for daily visits. I’ll go see the young master instead," replied Li Zhouwei.
Madam Chen had gotten pregnant some time ago, which had prompted Li Zhouwei to visit more frequently. But by his calculations, it had been a while since he last saw Li Jiangqian. The child was six now, and almost of age to begin cultivation.
"The young master is still on the island, Your Highness, this way please..."
Li Zhouwei lifted his head slightly and asked softly, "What’s he doing on the island?"
"The various branches on the island are gradually settling down. The young master said he wanted to visit the clansmen before coming to pay respects to Your Highness."
Li Zhouwei nodded and made his way out of the hall. There, he saw a bustling group surrounding a child walking toward him. Behind them, attendants carried boxes of books and a large parasol.
Li Zhouwei looked back with a laugh and said, "You young ones are following him around every single day, aren’t you."
The casual remark made An Siwei’s back go cold. He quickly whispered, "Your Highness, the young master’s maternal family is the An family. They all take great pride in him. So when he comes to the island to enjoy himself, it’s only natural that people rush to welcome him..."
"Mm." Li Zhouwei bent down and picked up the approaching Li Jiangqian. Those who had been following immediately fell to their knees. The boy turned around in his arms, and Li Zhouwei asked, "Qian’er, how was the island?"
Li Jiangqian lifted his head, a lingering smile still on his face, and replied cheerfully, "There were plenty of people. Father took me to see the riverbank, but it wasn’t any different from the island. Once you leave the main hall, everything looks the same."
Holding him, Li Zhouwei walked back into the hall while An Siwei and the rest waited respectfully outside. As father and son entered the sunlit chamber, the child remarked, "Father talked about kinship, but I don’t see anything that close. They're just mortals who all look the same. As for the cultivators... we built the frame, and they hang on it."
Li Zhouwei glanced sidelong at him and said softly, "That’s order. People may be sentimental, but they still follow profit. This structure for distributing interests is order—be it grand or small, good or bad."
Li Jiangqian lowered his head in thought, then suddenly looked up and said, "I don’t understand. Can there really be a difference between good and bad?"
Li Zhouwei let out a soft laugh, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes as he replied gently, "For our Li Family, if this structure benefits the common people, then it is good. Other families take it as a warning that strict governance is our legal doctrine. Some families say we’re too harsh on mortal direct descendants, minor sects, and collateral branches, but that’s because their kind of order is built for cultivators alone."
Li Jiangqian stared blankly at him, a question on the tip of his tongue that he swallowed down. Something instinctive told him not to ask. He only murmured inwardly, But what good is being kind to them? Mortals are useless anyway...
He averted his gaze and listened as Li Zhouwei said softly, "This framework is built with profit as its bones, bound and polished by kinship and sentiment. Only then can it remain stable and unbroken."
Li Jiangqian nodded as he listened. After a few more words, Li Zhouwei waved for someone to take the child away. He sat alone on the steps, the setting sun casting its rays over his dark red robe.
Golden threadwork shimmered in the light. At last, Li Zhouwei retracted his gaze and rose to his feet. Chen Yang came hurrying from outside the hall, and he asked, "Still no news from the mountains?"
Chen Yang looked slightly disheveled and replied in a low voice, "No word yet..."
Li Zhouwei’s voice dropped, "Even if the fox tribe can’t be found, surely that deer demon, Luken, from the demon den should’ve left some trace... Is there not even a hint of that deer?"
Chen Yang cupped his fists and responded respectfully, "Your Highness, the demon den on the southern slope of Mount Dali is sealed shut. No minor demons have been seen coming or going. The white ape questioned several passing demonic creatures but none knew anything. Only recently did we discover that Luken left on a trip."
Li Zhouwei frowned and turned around, thinking to himself, Did he really go out? Or is it an excuse? Maybe the Dingjiao matter is too difficult. Did he catch wind of it early and choose to disappear?
It was a troublesome matter. Dingjiao had shown ample sincerity, and Li Zhouwei had responded cautiously, merely saying he would relay the message. But now, not even a shadow of a demonic creature could be found...
He paused to consider, then said, "Keep investigating."
Chen Yang acknowledged the order and left. Li Zhouwei continued pondering in silence, If no word comes in the next few years, then it likely means Luken is refusing to meet. I’ll have to report the truth. My family made no promises beforehand anyway, so it shouldn’t offend the Dragon Clan.
Li Zhouwei packed away the gifts in the jade box. He examined the five Essence Gathering Pills and sure enough, each one was dusky gray. Whether they were meant for humans or demonic creatures was unclear. He arranged the items neatly and ordered them delivered to Mount Wu for his seventh granduncle Li Ximing to appraise.
"It seems granduncle still has two Essence Gathering Pills from the Ning Family. Those can be used first."
According to Li Ximing, those two pills were almost certainly refined by the Xiao Family. They were filled with pure and serene qi. Li Zhouwei summoned An Siwei and sent him to Mount Wu to inquire, as he started to weigh the matter of distribution.
There were quite a few within the family who could make good use of these pills.
His father Li Chengliao and uncle Li Chenghuai were both at the stage where they could enter seclusion at any time. A step below them in cultivation were Aunt Li Minggong from the Great Desert, An Siwei who was around just moments ago, and Li Wen, who stood outside the hall with a golden hammer in hand...
Though they were technically a notch lower in cultivation, each could attempt the Foundation Establishment Realm with the help of a Talisman Pill. Yet Li Zhouwei only had two usable ones on hand.
He silently calculated, One must be reserved for Father and Uncle.
Li Zhouwei planned to keep at least one Essence Gathering Pill in reserve for an external surname. After careful consideration, he thought, The Essence Gathering Pill is a spirit pill that aids in Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, it's immensely desirable... Granting one is a gesture of favor; withholding it makes all the difference. Once I hand out just one... everyone else will wait eagerly for theirs.
Now that the Xiao Family could also refine Essence Gathering Pills, the Azure Pond Sect no longer held a monopoly. This gave Li Zhouwei peace of mind. If any of the five pills turned out flawed, the loss wouldn’t be too great. At worst, he could trade something to the Xiao Family for more.
After waiting a short while, An Siwei returned from outside the hall, holding a jade box. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, the items have been delivered. Lord Ximing is not in deep seclusion, and has already provided the two spirit pills."
Li Zhouwei casually accepted the box and dismissed him. He calculated the dates and decided to allocate the pills during the upcoming ancestral rites. He returned to reading spell arts in the hall.
After light and shadow chased each other for several rounds, Li Wen stepped into the hall, slightly anxious, and said in a rough voice, "Your Highness! The Shen Family from Jiangbei is here to visit!"