“Ah?” Han Shihai was completely dumbfounded. He had long been prepared for the Han Family to be absorbed into the Li Family. He had even behaved like a subordinate just now, yet Li Qinghong’s words shattered all those plans in an instant.
But—but why help my family for no reason?! thought Han Shihai.
A century’s worth of survival in the Eastern Sea failed him completely at this moment. He stared blankly at Li Qinghong and muttered, “Fairy, you first shielded us before the Immortal Sect, and now saved us from the fire and flood... How can my family simply turn and walk away?”
Li Qinghong gave a faint laugh and asked, “You’re a cultivator of the Eastern Sea, and you say something like that? I’m telling you to leave, and yet you won’t go. Do I need to carve off a piece of you to make you feel at ease?”
When she saw the abject confusion on his face, she adopted a more serious tone, “The deaths in your family do bear some connection to ours... Our ties remain, and your family’s sudden downfall is no more than a matter of lending a hand. Elder, say no more, take your people and go at once!”
Han Shihai heard the sincerity in her words. Choking up, he said, “Fairy, your kindness is as weighty as a mountain. My life is nearing its end; I may fall within days and cannot repay this grace... But the Han Family shall never forget this life-saving favor. If there is another life, we shall repay it, even if bound by grass and ring.”
Rescuing the Han Family was a matter of old ties, but Li Qinghong had no desire to be too entangled. She replied softly, “My family also walks on thin ice. I, Qinghong, likely won’t see that day. Go find another path to survive, and do not mention the Li Family, lest it bring misfortune to your esteemed family.”
Han Shihai was overwhelmed with grief. Covering his face, he took his leave, returning swiftly to the island. The spirit boats rose and fell, and his group departed in a flurry. Only after they disappeared from sight did Li Qinghong and Xi Zikang rise together upon lightning.
The youth seemed deeply shaken, flying in silence for a long while. Li Qinghong paused, then asked, “Fellow Daoist, have you heard about the Thunder Palace? The whole realm seems to be in an uproar...”
“Of course I have!” Xi Zikang replied absentmindedly, “The Immortal Lord left this world, and two cultivators attained Earth Virtue Fruition simultaneously. The sects and families have been bound for too long, so now that heaven and earth act in unity, the Twelve Thunder Palaces naturally collapsed. There’s really nothing more to say.”
Seeing Li Qinghong lost in thought, Xi Zikang seemed to intuit her unspoken doubts and casually added, “The common people have long suffered under the Thunder Palace. Earth Virtue represents the state and livelihood of the people. When the people hear, I hear; when they see, I see; my heart is the heart of all under heaven. Is it any surprise the world boiled over? All it takes is a single thought.
“I know what you want to say. I’ve heard how people denounce the Thunder Palace across the land, but I merely smile and stay silent.”
My heart is the heart of all under heaven... how terrifying that is! thought Li Qinghong.
Li Qinghong, having lived inland all this time, had rarely encountered true Earth Virtue cultivators in this age of upheaval. Even among Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, only Daoist Master Changxi, who merely practiced art-based techniques, was renowned for them.
This was the first time she had heard of Earth Virtue divine abilities, and she was inwardly shocked, If that’s the case... it’s no wonder Earth Virtue cultivators are reduced to mere spellcasters. If a single thought could sway the masses, what family could tolerate that?
Her heart grew heavy, and for a long while she said nothing, though other speculations stirred within her, Azure Manifestation is also Earth Virtue, but not the aspect related to state and livelihood. Perhaps only two of the Five Earths possess such divine force.
Among the Five Virtues; Five Waters, Five Fires, and Three Metals had manifested clearly. The rest remained obscure and unnamed. Li Qinghong tried probing subtly, but whether Xi Zikang truly didn’t know or simply didn’t wish to answer, he revealed nothing.
What technique had the Han Family ancestor been cultivating? Was the Falling Water Rising Storm anomaly that killed him intentional or not? Only people like Xi Zikang might know such secrets...
She was somewhat distracted, while Xi Zikang was still lost in Han Shihai’s earlier words. After a long silence, he said quietly, “I always thought those who cultivated devil techniques were utterly unforgivable, yet he showed such devotion. He drained his entire lifespan to protect his family. My family practices the true art of Profound Thunder arts... but even so, it’s rare to find someone like him among us.”
Li Qinghong replied softly, “The Eastern Sea is rife with blood pills. Devil techniques and spells are everywhere, so even orthodox cultivation ends up tainted with blood. That’s why they all seem like villains to you.”
Xi Zikang paused, then showed a trace of pain as he murmured, “But taking blood pills means you’ve taken them. Cultivating devil techniques means you’ve cultivated them. No matter how noble or reluctant he may be, he still reeks of impure blood. I may respect the man, but if I met him in the Northern Sea, I’d still strike him down with thunder.
“My Daoist elder once said that their wrongs may not be their fault but their evil is still their own. Even if we lack the strength to purge all demons and right every wrong, we mustn’t turn a blind eye to the evil we can subdue.”
Li Qinghong wanted to respond, but held her tongue. Silence fell between them as a heavy weight settled in her chest, His ancestors belonged to the Thunder Palace Dao lineage. Perhaps they were not as cruel as described in the Shen Family’s records, but they were not exactly compassionate either. The entanglements of ancient history are impossible to sort, and even the names of Wei and Li aren’t much better... There’s really nothing more to say...
As she traveled through the Eastern Sea, she changed directions and headed for Yuezhou Island, where the Profound Peak Gate was located, This news is no small matter. I’ll use the Profound Peak Gate to send a letter home.
————
Moongaze Lake.
Li Zhouwei had just settled the matters at home and delegated everything accordingly. With his father, Li Chengliao, in seclusion, he had no choice but to entrust elders like Li Minggong and Li Chenghuai to oversee things for the time being.
He headed toward the main hall. White Banyan was wandering barefoot through the grand hall, with Li Xuanxuan following alongside. The two seemed to be in high spirits, chatting and laughing as they strolled.
There were truly few people Li Xuanxuan could open his heart to. He was an old man who preferred to speak of the past, but those who could truly engage with him were fewer still. Only a handful like Li Qiuyang, Chen Donghe, and An Zheyan could truly make him open up.
Li Qiuyang had been injured repeatedly and later scorched by Merging Fire. He had aged beyond recognition. When Li Xuanxuan visited, he could hardly speak much with him. Chen Donghe and An Zheyan, though respectful, were too reserved to speak freely.
But White Banyan, grumbling and muttering as he always did, somehow managed to get Li Xuanxuan to open up. Li Zhouwei could already imagine bursts of laughter once they left, and felt reluctant to interrupt.
Yet after just a few moments, White Banyan came darting out, said a few words of farewell to the elder, and Li Xuanxuan, never one to hold up the younger generation, saw him off with a smile.
The two of them rode the wind away from the lake, and only then did White Banyan mutter with a bit of discontent, “My white-fox tribe can read people’s hearts to some extent. That old man’s got a lot of knots in his heart. He’s not had an easy time in his twilight years.”
A rare hint of gloom passed across Li Zhouwei’s face. Meanwhile, White Banyan rummaged through his sleeve for a dharma artifact, still muttering, “You’d better cultivate properly. Don’t go out picking fights just to prove yourself; those who do always end up dead. Don’t be like your elders either, throwing away their lives for their own pride... Live longer, so the old man doesn’t have to mourn again.”
“I understand, Senior,” Li Zhouwei replied with heartfelt sincerity. White Banyan tossed a spirit boat into the air, which transformed into a plain wooden cart in an instant . Its two wheels were crooked and uneven, the bark clumsily peeled away with patches everywhere. There were even a few branches still stuck out.
White Banyan introduced it proudly, “This is my demon cart! Back in the northern foothills, I used it to ferry the younglings of my tribe! Later, after moving into the den, I casually refined it into a dharma chariot. You’re the very first White Qilin to ride it!”
“Right...” Li Zhouwei found it rather odd; this was his first time seeing someone travel in a pushcart. He sat cross-legged inside while White Banyan landed beside him, grinning broadly for some unknown reason.
He then summoned an azure gale gust.
“Let’s go!” shouted White Banyan.