Fei Tongyu, kneeling on the ground, was silently pondering, his mind racing with countless thoughts, preparing himself for a bloody outco. Unexpectedly, from the seat of honor, Li Tongya spoke softly:
"Brother Wangbai and I have been friends for many years; it is truly a pity. You brothers must protect the Clan well. If there are factions that belittle you for your youth and low cultivation levels, attempting to turn the world upside down, feel free to send soone to the South Shore to find ."
This statent, coming from an elder, seed to be addressed to Fei Wangjiang at his side, not ntioning any reward nor submission and tribute, but instead offering sincere care and concern, catching both brothers off guard.
Li Tongya then stood up and said warmly:
"Now that this matter is settled, I shall not tarry."
"This..."
Fei Tongyu listened incredulously, pausing for a full breath’s ti, and as he saw Li Tongya rise upon the wind, he suddenly knelt to the ground and shouted:
"My respects to the ancestor! Thank you, ancestor! The Yu family will forever rember this noble gesture..."
The young man in white, clasping his sword, gradually disappeared into the distance. Fei Tongyu knelt and murmured to himself for a while, then with a relieved look turned to face his approaching younger brother and sighed:
"I judged the heart of a gentleman by my own an asure!"
"Li Tongya..."
Filled with emotion, Fei Tongxiao echoed:
"Cherishing old bonds, not taking advantage in tis of peril, our family indeed owes a great debt of gratitude now!"
Fei Tongyu rose to his feet, dusted off his knees, and a hopeful glow returned to his face. It was the first ti in months that he had shown a smile, he spoke in a low voice:
"Li Qinghong also practices spear techniques. He never learned the secret manual when he was at our house. In a few days, I will send over our family’s ’Swimming Dragon’s Clear Shadow,’ to repay at least a fraction of this debt of gratitude..."
"Indeed."
Fei Tongxiao’s eyes flashed an unusual color, and he nodded, replying:
"It’s just a pity that our family is currently struggling every step of the way, and we can only repay this debt of gratitude slowly!"
Fei Wangjiang stood by, silent as a pine tree, saying nothing. Fei Tongxiao turned to him and courteously said:
"Uncle, does our family still have ’Cold Pine Snow Qi’?"
"There is one portion left."
Fei Wangjiang looked deeply into his eyes and responded warmly, while Fei Tongyu seed to sense sothing and asked:
"What are you planning to do? The white jade Six Wheels unique to the Long Brocade Heart-Questioning Technique’s Fetal Breathing section cannot be easily converted to other Qi Cultivation techniques!"
Fei Tongxiao shook his head slowly, his gaze determined, and he said in a deep voice:
"To abandon my Cultivation and start anew!"
────
Li Tongya landed back at Lijing Mountain as the night was deep. Lights twinkled in the town below the mountain. His gaze swept over the scene amidst the smoky atmosphere, then he turned back towards the Cave Mansion.
The stone door of the Cave Mansion was slightly ajar. A young man dressed in black was sitting cross-legged on the steps, waiting in silence. With a soft cough from Li Tongya, the youth was startled awake. Li Yuanjiao quickly opened his eyes and was briefly taken aback.
The young man in white in front of him had a handso face, with sharp and distinct features, his eyes bright like stars, staring intently at him. Li Yuanjiao, taken aback by his appearance, stared blankly for several breaths before hesitantly saying:
"Are you...? Ancestor?"
Li Tongya let out a light chuckle and nodded his head:
"I have been to the North Shore and rescued the Fei family. Yu Xiaogui’s journey was cut short by , and his life is in jeopardy. With this deterrence, you need not worry anymore."
"Ancestor! Are... you all right now?!"
Li Yuanjiao exclaid in joy, eagerly looking at Li Tongya, who gently shook his head and continued:
"After this battle, the Lake will return to peace. The Fei Tongyu brothers are no match for Fei Wangbai. Grateful for the great favor, their hearts align with our family..."
"Although Yu Mugao is cunning and suspicious by nature, he possesses only ordinary talent. Now with his influence greatly diminished and acting with excessive harshness, without Yu Xiaogui suppressing him, he’s indeed going to have a headache."
His black hair scattered freely in the air, giving him an air of unrestrained freedom:
"The Yu Family lacks competent successors, while you and Qinghong are present with hope for Foundation Establishnt. Within one Jiazi, our family will be the supre power on the lake."
Li Yuanjiao noticed that Li Tongya had suddenly beco talkative and felt an ominous feeling in his heart. He saw Li Tongya wave his hand gently, pulling him to sit down in front of the steps, and spoke softly:
"Although Fei Wangbai is dead, the Fei Clan still has nine Qi Cultivators, far surpassing our family, and their Vast Sea Northern Great Formation is formidable. I fear after my death it will be difficult to suppress them, and I may be forced to turn to the Yu Family, leaving them a favor that could be called upon for an alliance."
"The situation on the lake is not determined by transient strengths and weaknesses, but by the results of multiple parties’ strategic gas. If we were to make a major move northwards, we must follow the flow of the situation; otherwise, not only would it cause discord, but we would also offend others."
Li Yuanjiao had so understanding of these matters and had discussed them in detail with Li Tongya in the past. He imdiately nodded and replied:
"The younger generation understands!"
Li Tongya paused for a mont, then continued:
"The Fei Clan on the North Shore, the Yu Family on the East Bank, and yet there’s still a Foundation Establishnt Loose Cultivator on the West Bank, surnad He, at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishnt. Though he has always sought the Dao and stayed out of worldly affairs, we must still be wary of him."
"Understood!"
Seeing Li Yuanjiao nod in agreent, Li Tongya, with the Green Ruler Sword in his arms, walked leisurely up the steps, speaking warmly:
"This ti I enter seclusion, I must keep the doors of the Cave Mansion tightly closed for five years, not to be disturbed."
As his words fell, the Cave Mansion’s Formation began operating automatically, and the moss-covered stone doors slowly closed.
"Creak—"
Li Yuanjiao looked up as he watched Li Tongya enter the Cave Mansion and the stone doors close by themselves, producing creaking noises. Li Tongya’s gentle voice still drifted down:
"Never forget the family’s vengeance and clan’s hatred."
Li Yuanjiao flung his sleeves, suddenly knelt, and bowed his forehead to the ground three tis. He remained bowed until the stone doors thunderously shut. Only then did Li Yuanjiao slowly rise, his expression solemn, with a hint of red in his eyes, and spoke in a deep voice:
"Yuanjiao dares not forget..."
Li Tongya behind the doors paused for a mont, listening to Li Yuanjiao’s heartfelt response. He looked around the neat and tidy Cave Mansion, settled at the head seat, ground so ink, took up a brush, and wrote several lines of characters on the stone table. Then he returned to the couch, sat cross-legged, and began ditating.
"That fox wasted her scheming efforts; this sword strike was too decisive. My Immortal Foundation is now scattered, and my life force severed."
Li Tongya looked towards the North, a smile spreading across his handso face, as if the last sixty years had not left a single trace on him. He spoke softly:
"During life, I managed the Clan, eliminated external threats, and pacified Shanyue. After more than seventy years of duty, in death, I wear neat robes, serene and composed. I am greatly comforted by my life’s work, with no more expectations."
With his hand propping his chin, he exhaled softly, his black hair cascading down. His star-like eyes gradually dimd, and the Green Ruler Sword in his arms let out a low cry. The Gang Qi in the Cave Mansion surged and whimpered.
After three breaths, a bright white light in the form of a White Pill appeared in front of him, wandered around the Cave Mansion for a mont, and then disappeared into the void.
His face remained handso, keeping the visage of his sixteen-year-old self, the white clothes immaculately without a single wrinkle. Eyes closed with a slight smile, he seed to be deep in thought.
"Boom!"
Distant sounds of rivers clashing roared from the void; dew appeared on the ground of the Cave Mansion, creating a tinkling sound of spring water. The wailing of the north wind grew louder but remained tightly sealed within the Cave Mansion.
"Woo..."
Atop Lijing Mountain, the Qi from the Vast Sea stirred, the once clear skies quickly beca overcast with clouds, thundering incessantly as light rain began to fall across the land.
"It’s raining."
The fine autumn rain covered the entirety of Lijing Town. Farrs wiped sweat from their brows, vendors put up their carts’ umbrellas, and the carriages of wealthy households slowly rolled onto the streets.
The cobblestone alleys at the foot of the mountain beca slick with rain; a yellow dog barked lowly, children laughed and played, and a newlywed woman clutched her copper coin, pondering whether to buy a yard of fabric for a dress.
He passed away in silence within the Cave Mansion, his Immortal Foundation shattered, breath extinguished, yet the people remained unaware, only feeling the chill in the air, the fine, dense rain bringing comfort.
Such a rare autumn rain.
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