Chapter 748 531: Yuan Tuan's Aftermath (Part 2)

Ning Heyuan paused, then asked:

"Did Perfected Person leave any last oral instructions?"

Li Xuanfeng nodded quietly and said in a deep voice:

"One dares not harbor hatred."

...

Mushroom Forest Plain.

The clouds above Mushroom Forest Plain drifted leisurely past. Yuan Huyuan stood silently atop the forested mountain, watching the people beneath his feet crawl like ants as his hands, hidden within his sleeves, turned slightly pale.

A ray of rosy clouds approached from afar, dazzling across the sky, and Yuan Huyuan instinctively wanted to withdraw; however, as the radiance drew near, it took shape at the feet of a graceful young man.

"Senior Huyuan."

"Li Xizhi..."

The newcomer was indeed Li Xizhi. Upon returning to the Li Family, he immediately received a letter from the sect: the soul lamp of Yuan Tuan in the sect had extinguished—he had already fallen in the East Sea.

Once Li Xizhi received the news, Yuan Chengdun's two Demon-Subduing Rods had also been sent back to the Li Family, so he rode upon rosy clouds to seek out members of the Yuan Family.

Who could have known that after circling above, using his cultivated pupil technique to investigate, he quickly discovered Yuan Huyuan quietly hiding in the sky.

In name, Yuan Huyuan was no longer part of the Yuan Family, but in truth, it had all been a staged act by the brothers Yuan Huyuan and Yuan Hudu. Seeing Li Xizhi, Yuan Huyuan sighed inwardly—by now both families understood the situation well, and there was no need to hide. He cupped his hands and said:

"Well met, Taoist."

Li Xizhi returned the gesture with a quiet voice:

"My master has perished."

Yuan Huyuan's aged face drooped, brows knotting tightly together. He went rigid all over upon hearing this, and could only say:

"Ah... Tuan'er has perished."

Of course, Li Xizhi knew his own younger sister had been tricked by the Yuan Family, yet Family Head Yuan Hudu had likewise taken an arrow in the public eye—lost all face, and was now still nursing his wounds, so things had come full circle.

Li Xizhi simply asked:

"The Dragon Kind wanted Master to act as the key. Yuan Family's gaining of the Qingxuan lineage was by no means accidental. The Yuan ancestors were originally disciples of the Yan Yang Temple Palace—was it not so?"

Li Xizhi stood still for a breath. The old man fumbled with his sleeves repeatedly, his wrists faintly trembling, not looking at Li Xizhi, and replied in a quavering voice:

"It... it is so..."

The rosy clouds around Li Xizhi gradually dimmed as he asked:

"Did Master truly know? Did you all force her out—or did she go of her own will?"

Yuan Huyuan's form grew more hunched, and he said only:

"I don't know... Xizhi... I do not know... She was so clever, she must have known long ago."

Watching him like this, Li Xizhi sighed inwardly:

'Willful or unwilling, it makes no difference—the destined path, she was fated to tread it.'

Li Xizhi grew somewhat distracted, and in that moment Yuan Huyuan before him was sweating all over. Li Xizhi gazed at him silently, then said softly:

"Yuan Chengdun was deceived by you, wasn't he?"

Yuan Huyuan lowered his gaze and replied:

"Yes... He thought he was going to rescue Yuan Tuan, but in truth, because he too cultivated the Qingxuan path, the Dragon Kind believed one more Qingxuan disciple meant better odds..."

"I see."

Li Xizhi understood, and nodded in response, cupping his hands as if to leave. Yuan Huyuan, seeking to keep him, said:

"Xizhi... Years ago, it was I who sent Chi Jing back with Yuan Tuan; he still called me Senior then... Li Tongya treated me with great courtesy... And so did Li Yuanping and Li Yuanjiao..."

"I did not foresee things coming to this point."

Li Xizhi only returned the salute, saying in a gentle voice:

"Senior, the tides of the time gather and scatter—worldly affection cannot hinder fate."

From his sleeve, he withdrew the two Demon-Subduing Rods, and continued:

"Now returned to their rightful owner—please, treasure them well."

Having spoken, Li Xizhi rode the wind and departed. Yuan Huyuan's sleeves clasped together uneasily, and before he could collect himself, a burst of medicinal fragrance wafted up—incredibly, another figure appeared before him.

This man's face was broad, temples streaked with white, a string of medicine pouches at his waist; his kindly face ran with tears, usually gentle eyes now tinged red, regarding Yuan Huyuan in silence.

Yuan Huyuan could only bow and wail:

"Brother Yuansi!"

Xiao Yuansi could utter no sound, only waved his hand in silence. This honest, warm-hearted old man reflected that through Yuan Tuan's years of disappearance, not one person gave him warning.

"Surely this was by the design of our ever-calculating Perfected Person."

He glanced at Yuan Huyuan. Xiao Yuansi had never been one for harsh words; he gently persuaded Yuan Huyuan to return, then alone rode the wind back to the Xiao Family, completely forgetting what intent had led him here in the first place.

But in his mind surfaced the scenes atop Qingdu Mountain in years past: Li Chijin, holding a sword and reading; Yuan Tuan, hair tied up, smiling sweetly and calling him senior brother.

"A blink of a century, and even the junior sister left behind—I am no longer fit to protect her."

Xiao Yuansi returned to Xianyou Peak, alone.

...

Qingdu Mountain.

Li Xijun sat cross-legged beneath the green pines. Snowflakes swirled and danced, settling on his white robe, when, after some time, someone approached and greeted with respect:

"My lord, someone has come from Xuan Yue."

"Let them come up."

After a short wait, an unfamiliar woman ascended. Sure enough, she was a Xuan Yue envoy come to pay respects for Li Xihong's passing—the only one out of the Three Sects and Seven Doors.

"Kong Qiuyan of Xuan Yue greets you, Taoist."

The woman carried herself with ease and confidence; her nose was straight, her skin delicate. After paying her respects, she said softly,

"I had long heard the Li Family possessed frosted pine and snowy grace. Now that I have seen you, Taoist, I know those tales were no exaggeration."

Li Xijun replied politely, praising her in turn, and inquired after the Xuan Yue Sect's recent affairs. Kong Qiuyan answered decorously and appropriately, making him nod slightly in approval.

In recent years, having broken through to Foundation Establishment, Li Xijun was gradually taking charge of Qingdu and making frequent appearances—so much so that neighboring families all knew his name. Yet what had spread ahead of his deeds was, unexpectedly, his appearance: now every major power across several counties who had come to call, knew the Li Family had a youth as ethereal as drifting snow and wind.

The envoy woman also studied him for a few moments before finally exchanging pleasantries and withdrawing. Li Xijun did not take it to heart and asked:

"Has Ximing left seclusion and come down the mountain yet?"

Seeing a nod, he mounted the wind and flew down the mountain road.

Li Xihong's funeral had lasted several months; mourning banners hung throughout the clan. Every branch of the Li Family from all towns hurried home, so that the gathering was vast. The Central Hall bustled with many more figures than usual, all of them trusted kin of the family.

Firstly, Li Xihong had aided many relatives and was deeply respected in the clan. Secondly, the Zhong branch was in ascendance, and Li Xihong was the head's own father, so everyone wished to pay their respects.

Within the Central Hall, white drapes also hung, stirring gently in the air. Stepping through wind and snow, Li Xijun landed in front of the hall, just in time to meet Li Zhouwei, holding the Long Halberd, walking slowly up the steps.

"Eighth Uncle!"

Li Zhouwei nodded and returned the greeting. Li Xijun helped him up, nodded lightly, and went inside together; several people had already arrived and were waiting silently.

Li Xuanfeng and Li Qinghong were not present; Li Xuanxuan was unwilling to take the central seat. Li Xizhi, who rarely returned, was present. Once Li Xijun took his seat, everyone looked at Li Xizhi—but to their surprise, after glancing around, he gently shook his head and said softly:

"I cultivate in Green Pond; it is inappropriate for me to preside. Best let Eighth Brother do it!"

Li Xijun had no choice but to nod and take the main seat. Fame for beauty had always attached to him, snowlight glimmering at his side; on either side sat Li Xizhi and Li Ximing—one dignified and graceful, clad in rainbow-like clouds, the other wreathed in pill fire, arms folded.

Li Ximing had just exited seclusion; his cultivation level was already at Foundation Establishment Late Stage. His cultivation advanced swiftly, and he had begun studying secret techniques and alchemy—they were now among the strongest in the family.

Aside from Li Xuanfeng, the family's Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators were Li Qinghong and Li Ximing, followed by Li Xizhi and Li Wushao at the middle stage, and Li Xijun at the early stage.

Counting Kongheng, the Li Family's current Foundation Establishment combat power could be considered very respectable.

Li Ximing had just learned of his elder brother's passing. Every time he emerged from seclusion, some great change awaited him; now, still somewhat dazed, he heard Li Xizhi softly say:

"According to the news I've received, Shangyuan succeeded in his breakthrough, has almost certainly attained the Jade True fruit, and has been besieged by Lu Shui, Taiyuan, and Taiyi—two at Golden Core Early Stage, one at Late Stage..."

He paused, and then continued in a low voice:

"But to attain the fruit is no simple matter of falling or perishing—years past, even Ying Ze slaying Shaoyang Demon Lord had to split his efforts in three. All the more so for those who came later…"

Having finished, Li Xizhi pulled a letter from within his robes, and spoke gently:

"My master... her soul lamp in the sect has gone out. Perhaps in a few days I must return to the sect, take up the post of Qing Sui Peak Master, and cannot remain for long."