Chapter 1118: Pear Garden

"West Sea."

Li Suining was no stranger to the name; in fact, it brought back a sense of déjà vu. In his second life, Li Zhouwei had also inquired about it. However, that time, Li Suining hadn't been in a coma for a year. Instead, he had already met Li Xuanxuan and dealt with the matters of the West Bank. When Prince Wei came to him then, Li Suining felt genuinely awkward. This was because in their first life, Li Zhouwei and he had never actually been to the West Sea. If anything, only Li Ximing had suffered a significant loss there early on, failing to reach it due to a twist of fate. Li Zhouwei hadn't slain Guangchan and was still recovering from injuries at that time.

The current situation, however, was entirely different. After much consideration, Li Suining had given his approval. "The conflict between Western Shu and Xiangxiong Kingdom is intense. Whether it's the West Sea, Boruoduo, or even Longdi and Moxi, all are seeing increased activity and unrest. However, there are also opportunities to profit from the chaos."

So, to acquire the "Wall-Sinking Water," Li Ximing and his companion went to the West Sea. Although Li Suining didn't possess the Cavern at that time and only had Li Zhouwei's trust, he wasn't privy to the details but hadn't heard of Li Zhouwei or his companions sustaining any injuries. "With the combined abilities of True Master Zhaojing and Prince Wei, they might not be able to act unrestrainedly in the lands teeming with prodigies, but in that remote area, few can truly challenge them!"

After all, the West Sea wasn't large, and navigating the winds was difficult; it wasn't a suitable place for younger cultivators. It was only slightly better than the outer seas. Who settled in the West Sea? They were either cultivators of the Yangya type—those with no ambition for the Way, no desire for sects, only wishing to rule as local tyrants—or cultivators of the Qingyan type—those who had offended powerful figures, cultivated forbidden arts, and dared not show themselves. As for lower-ranked cultivators, they were scattered and mostly demonic practitioners. This meant that Li Suining could now definitively tell Li Zhouwei that the trip to the West Sea had been successful!

Moreover, many years later, Li Suining saw Li Quewan retrieve the "Mysterious Coffin Crimson Water" from a secret realm to practice a technique to suppress her injuries. He once heard her lament: "This water was refined by the True Master in the West Sea. It's a pity I hadn't emerged from seclusion then and couldn't assist. A crucial portion of 'precious earth' was omitted, which would have balanced the water and wood elements. If that 'precious earth' had been added, I could have corrected this item... Alas, the very foundation is flawed."

Li Suining had asked at the time: "Refined in the West Sea... was it with Aunt's Biting Qingyuan Treasure Cauldron?"

Li Quewan nodded and replied: "That Rogue Cultivator Yinxin is so devious. He took a spiritual item back, promising the 'Shining Shore White Flower,' but to this day, he's only sent back one, claiming the spiritual aura has changed and that he should be distinguished from it. It's truly impossible to reason with him. It would be better to just cut down that spiritual root!" Li Suining had some understanding of the latter situation. It was initially an agreement with a West Sea cultivator. However, later, the West Sea experienced changes in its spiritual aura, and this person started making excuses, not sending the item to the lake. It was unclear whether this was true or false. By then, the north-south conflict was as tense as a drawn bow, leaving no time to deal with that West Sea cultivator. "Perhaps that rogue cultivator simply saw that our family was in no position to go to the West Sea to demand it... That's why he's been evasive, making excuses and not sending anyone."

He carefully organized his thoughts and replied: "This matter is auspicious, but it lacks 'earth.' From a mystical perspective, there should be a refinement of spiritual items, and it would be better to add a portion of 'precious earth' to it."

Seeing how precise Li Suining's words were, Li Zhouwei looked thoughtful and said, "A portion of precious earth..."

Li Suining immediately understood his implication. He instantly regretted not having asked Li Quewan exactly how much "a portion of precious earth" was. *It seems I need to clarify everything from now on... to avoid such difficulties again...*

Li Zhouwei, however, quickly grasped the situation and replied, "I understand. So, there's this consideration involved; it's not just about adding spiritual items. How about this... if there's a need to refine spiritual items, we should postpone it if possible, ideally until Quewan comes out of seclusion. If it truly can't be postponed, I will carefully consider adding the precious earth."

Li Suining's eyes lit up. He moved the official documents off the desk, picked up the teapot, and poured tea for Li Zhouwei, saying, "That's one thing... The second is that there might be a matter of dividing spiritual roots, and there's a possibility of changes due to shifts in the spiritual aura. I hope the True Master can resolve it in one go, even if it means being a bit extravagant in harvesting materials."

"Good," Li Zhouwei said, his eyes now showing clearer understanding. He accepted the tea, nodded slightly, and after a long pause, added, "Tiansu's abilities are quite formidable... No wonder Senior Changdie, as a mere rogue cultivator back then, managed to thrive so well..."

"I cannot compare to Senior," Li Suining replied, lowering his head, his thoughts truly complex. He then noticed Li Zhouwei gazing at him, a glimmer in his golden eyes.

"Are you injured?"

Li Zhouwei's eyes were exceptionally sharp; with just a glance, he discerned that Li Suining's foundation was damaged and his lifespan reduced—this was no ordinary matter! For a Purple Mansion cultivator, it meant their very life. For cultivators below Purple Mansion, the term "foundation" was more familiar, typically occurring when escaping a life-or-death battle or suffering excessive severe trauma. Once this happened, it was not only difficult to compensate for but also highly likely to affect future cultivation and breakthroughs!

The injuries Li Xuanxuan sustained in the market back then had damaged his lifespan, causing endless harm. However, Li Suining's current condition was even more peculiar. To Li Zhouwei, it seemed as though a significant portion of his life essence had been depleted, but the greater price that should have been paid by his physical body seemed to have been largely offset by Tiansu's favor upon him. Matters of life essence were serious and irreversible. For those practicing the Purple Gold Demonic Way, unless they surrendered their true spirit to the Shitu and became a vassal, converting to another path, there was generally no cure. Only a few specific divine abilities could slightly extend it, but these were rare.

*Although severe, at least the impact on cultivation isn't significant... I wonder if Senior Changdie had something similar, but given his ability to break through to Purple Mansion, if he did, it must have been this type, with minimal impact...* In that brief moment, his mind raced. Li Suining, upon hearing the question, was first stunned, then remembered the blood he had coughed up upon waking. He quickly shook his head with a smile.

"It's not really an injury! Just a slight mishap in cultivation..."

What kind of mishap would injure one's life essence and reduce lifespan? Li Zhouwei frowned, quickly connecting it to Li Suining's year of seclusion and his natural mention of Liu Changdie. He already had an answer in his mind. *When I asked him about Tiansu then, he seemed clueless, but now he looks like he knows it inside out...* Yet, Li Zhouwei did not expose him. Instead, he said softly, "Do not be too eager for quick success... This matter... take your time with it."

Li Suining's heart trembled as he gazed into those golden eyes, unsure how to respond. Li Zhouwei's tone carried an inexplicable meaning, and he smiled. "The Way of Celestial Divination is heavenly calculation, while you and I are human calculation. We'll only know which is superior after we test it."

The night was deep, yet the courtyard was exceptionally quiet. A sorrowful aria swelled and faded, its lingering notes winding through the beams, never ceasing. "A lineage of blood, year-long hatred—knocking on ancestral doors, yet no news? Perhaps the stars and moon have turned to naught... The loyal perished, the treacherous thrived; following the karma, it's dark waters submerging the prison gate!"

In the Pear Garden, people stood shoulder to shoulder, looking up in silent contemplation. Outside the courtyard, firelight flickered, and medicine simmered in a roaring stove. An old man, though his hair was silver, remained robust. He gently fanned the flames, waiting for the right moment to add the pills. He then poured the medicine out in three portions, let it cool, lifted the tray, and headed upstairs. "How laughable! How laughable! Before the ancestral tablets, before the ancestral tablets, a land of smoke and fire, all mountains and ridges traversed, only to find sleepless nights..."

The magical lamp in the pavilion was dim, and there weren't many spectators, only a table placed by the railing. A person lay sprawled on the table, while a young master stood by the railing. Several opera robes hung on the wall, their dark red sleeves gently swaying in the breeze. The old man, carrying the tray, said, "Elder Ancestor..."

Only then did the person at the table shift their gaze from the stage below. Their hair was completely white, looking somewhat withered, and they said, "Shuya... just put it down for now."

"Yes."

Li Xuanxuan's cloudy old eyes looked at him and said, "These things can be handled by the servants... You're getting old; don't overexert yourself."

Li Shuya, Li Quewan's elder brother, had been sent to serve Li Xuanxuan years ago after some turmoil. Decades had passed in a blink, and the youth had become an old man, yet he remained meticulously diligent. The old man's health was poor, a fact Li Shuya felt most directly. He glanced at the cup, then silently stood by, waiting.

Li Xuanxuan had no choice but to pick up the cup, hastily drink, and then put down his manuscript, saying, "However good the elixir, it has its limits. It's no longer beneficial. Inform the Crimson Sect that they don't need to send any more here."

"Yes."

Li Shuya silently took the cup and left. Not long after, he heard the persistent sound of medicine boiling and porcelain clinking from outside amidst the lingering arias. Li Xuanxuan could only sigh, his gaze quietly resting on the opera robe hanging in the room.

The robe was entirely vermilion, embroidered with touches of flowing gold, and adorned with a colorful crown. In the Pear Garden, an actor wearing this robe typically represented the ruling head of the Li clan, sometimes even carrying a bow and sword, as seen in recent tragedies like the Jiang and Yu families' "Near Usurpation" and the Li clan's rise in "Dispelling the Malignants." *After all, in recent years, the Crimson Sect, Crimson Migration, and Crimson Ridge all follow a unified family head system, so this custom is not surprising...*

Ever since the "Lament of Flowing Water" from years ago, whenever a new tune emerged from the common folk, Li Xuanxuan would attend. Now, with "Near Usurpation," a sorrowful tune, having such an opera robe hung on the wall held another layer of meaning: this piece was personally composed by a direct descendant of the Li family. It was this carefree young master, standing with his hands behind his back by the railing, who had remained silent all this time: Li Zhouming.

Li Xuanxuan always made it a point to see the younger generation. His declining health was no secret, and many felt a deep sympathy, even sorrow, for him. Yet, only this carefree young master visited him daily, kept him company every other day, and traveled and ate with him, showing an almost inseparable closeness. In his hand, he held an extremely simple bamboo tube containing tokens of various sizes, each about a finger's width, with song titles inscribed on them, appearing particularly ancient under the faint light.

As the music gradually intensified, Li Zhouming turned his head, only to find that in the deep shadows, the True Master was already standing beside him, a radiant light on his forehead, which caused Li Zhouming's expression to stiffen in surprise. Li Ximing, however, waved his hand, looking at the actor on the stage below.

"Behold! Behold! Tears of sorrow passed over the cursed water, taking lives one after another, yet claiming brothers are of the same blood. Lingering here and there, here and there, ultimately it was the brother who was slain—teaching the younger brother treachery!" The actor portraying the young master of the Jiang family then assumed a weeping posture. The two thin, short flags behind him, indicating low cultivation, were soon lifted away, marking the end of the first half of the performance.

As the tune faded, the old man rose from his seat and said, "The True Master has arrived..."

Li Xuanxuan habitually called him "True Master," not out of unfamiliarity, but more out of pride. After so many years, Li Ximing had grown accustomed to it. He smiled and said, "Seeing Grandfather enjoying such refined leisure, your grandson feels more at ease."

Li Xuanxuan merely shook his head and sighed, "The current situation is urgent. You must not worry about me. I've lived a long life; how could I not take care of myself?" The old man's gaze was somewhat anxious. "It's just that the True Master seeks me late at night; I wonder what the matter is..."

Li Ximing smiled, his gaze sweeping over the vermilion robe on the wall, and said, "Grandfather misunderstands. Your grandson is merely going on a trip to the East Sea; it's nothing urgent. I simply received a letter from Senior Liu and wish to bring Grandfather along to meet him. You can also see the An family members and Li clan disciples on the island; they miss you terribly."

The old man hesitated for a moment, saying, "This..."

But then Li Zhouming stepped forward, affectionately took the old man's hand, and said, "Didn't you just mention Senior Liu the other day, honored Elder? He has already achieved Purple Mansion cultivation but cannot come to the lake. It seems he truly misses you."

Li Xuanxuan sighed and chuckled, "I'm just afraid of causing a major stir and troubling the True Master."

Li Ximing shook his head and waved his hand slightly, and from his sleeve, a jade-green light leaped out. It landed and transformed into a handsome young boy, who warmly helped the old man stand, saying, "Honored Elder, do you remember me?"

Elderly people generally favored such child-like figures. Li Xuanxuan looked for a moment, then smiled. "The Persimmon Child has achieved the Way, yet is still so mischievous!"

Li Ximing couldn't help but smile. With a flick of his sleeve, a dense darkness spread, instantly soaring into the Great Void and speeding away. The old man, now steadied, sighed deeply. "Changdie truly is capable."

Li Ximing smiled but said nothing, his expression a little unusual. He then said, "Elder, you've recently shown quite an interest in these small plays... I also heard Zhouwei mention it once... something about 'Lament of Flowing Water'..."

The old man's smile faded slightly, as if he had something on his mind. Li Ximing, quite naturally, continued, "I also went to hear it once in private. The actors in the Pear Garden are excellent; there are those who sigh, those who pity, and those who rage among the audience. But from your grandson's perspective... the melody is a bit too sorrowful."

Li Xuanxuan remained silent, gazing fixedly at his grandson, who had long shed his mortal coil and achieved true master status, listening as he quietly said, "Ming'er is neglecting his proper duties because his heart isn't in this area, but he is actually a perceptive person. Even if Grandfather doesn't say it, he can figure out a lot, not to mention... I heard that the melody for 'Lament of Flowing Water' was originally composed by him. Now that the lyrics and music don't match, how could he not know?"

Li Xuanxuan said nothing, but listened as Li Ximing continued, "And... this melody, your grandson believes, should not be spread too far. Quewan is fine, but Jiangqian is a suspicious and distrustful person, and it might cause trouble."

The old man replied, "I understand."

In the Great Void, there was silence, an empty echo. After an unknown period, the True Master slowly shifted his gaze, closed his eyes tightly, and his lips parted, though no sound emerged: *A touch of immortality is the truest.*