Chapter 143: Going to Huaqian

Lu Wanrong hurried into the room, took a piece of silk from the desk, and as her maid quickly ground ink, she dipped her brush and wrote furiously.

"Upon hearing of the Great Ancestor's passing, I am filled with extreme fear and worry. Our family has lost its pillar of support, and I fear we will be unable to protect Huaqian and Tiaoyun mountains. I urge you, my clan elder brother, to lead our entire clan east, towards the Mushroom Forest Plain or the county, and offer these two mountains to the Li family. Depart swiftly at dawn, and you may yet preserve your family's livelihood."

"If you hesitate or waver, disaster will strike immediately, and it will be too late for regrets!"

Her brush paused. Lu Wanrong looked at the tear stains on the face of the maid who had accompanied her as part of her dowry, and said tremblingly:

"The two families still share marital ties. If my clan elder brother can conciliate and offer both mountains entirely, it's possible he might still preserve his dignity and family property. But if blood is shed between the two families, that would mean the annihilation of our entire clan..."

She put down the brush, quickly rolled up the letter, and hurried out of the courtyard, only to suddenly bump into someone. Startled, she stumbled and was unable to speak.

The person, dressed in white with hair tied up, stood silently in the courtyard. The jade pendant on their body jingled in the wind. With bright eyes and brows, they looked at her gently, seemingly having stood there for a long time.

"Husband."

Lu Wanrong called out hoarsely. Li Xuanling hummed in response, then stretched out his hand and said softly:

"Give it to me, let me see."

Lu Wanrong handed over the letter, then knelt to the ground with a thud, choking out:

"Husband! Please give the Lu family a way out! All my clan brothers are mere pleasure-seekers; if they move the whole family to the county, they won't amount to anything. They truly pose no threat. Please spare them..."

After Li Xuanling finished reading the letter, he sighed softly and said gently:

"Today they are a bunch of good-for-nothings, but who knows what tomorrow holds? Lu Sisi was at least a notable figure, yet he begot a group of unworthy descendants. Who can say if these unworthy descendants might not produce a heaven-sent genius? There is absolutely no reason to let them go."

Handing the letter back to Lu Wanrong, Li Xuanling took her hand and continued:

"Moreover, with your clan elder brother's temperament, even if you showed him a way to survive, he wouldn't know how to take it. He would foolishly crash straight into a dead end. So how can we even talk about giving him a way out?"

Lu Wanrong immediately burst into tears, saying softly:

"The Lu family members are arrogant and extravagant by nature, without restraint. They bully and oppress, acting tyrannically. I, Wanrong, had long given up on them. Yet, my origin from the Lu family is an indelible mark. How can I simply sit by and do nothing?"

By the time she finished speaking, her face was covered in tears. Lu Wanrong continued softly:

"I was thinking... I was thinking, if our two families become blood enemies and one clan is annihilated, how will our children fare in the future? Husband, you must also consider what lies ahead..."

Li Xuanling paused slightly upon hearing this, looked at her intently for a moment, and then said:

"I have this matter under control. You can rest assured."

Watching Li Xuanling hurry out of the courtyard, Lu Wanrong wiped away her tears and placed the letter she held onto the desktop. The maid beside her quickly asked:

"Madam, should this letter still be sent?"

"No need."

Lu Wanrong shook her head mournfully, saying softly:

"No human or beast can travel as fast as a Qi Cultivation practitioner. There's no longer any need to send this letter. Also, let my clan junior brother stay here for now; he doesn't need to go back."

Li Xuanling left the courtyard and hurried up the mountain. After walking along the stone steps for a distance, he saw Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya standing in front of a courtyard, apparently discussing something.

"Feng, weren't you going to the county to forge magic artifacts?"

Li Xuanling asked doubtfully. Li Xuanfeng shook his head slightly and smiled:

"I passed through the Lu family territory and saw white mourning clothes all over the mountain. I suspected Lu Sisi had passed away, and feeling it was a great opportunity, I came back first."

Li Xuanling was torn between laughter and tears. He shook his head and said:

"He's truly afraid no one will know! What exactly is Lu Yuanlu thinking? The Lu family sent someone to inform Wanrong, and I also received the news, so I hurried up to report to Father."

Li Tongya nodded slightly upon hearing this, and said softly:

"While the Yu family hasn't reacted yet, let's swiftly deal with the Lu family. If the Yu family intervenes, it will only complicate matters. Xuanxuan has already gone down to organize the clan soldiers. Let's make our move."

Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling responded softly. Li Xuanling went down the mountain to find Li Xuanxuan, while Li Xuanfeng and Li Tongya, both Qi Cultivation practitioners, rode the wind and headed towards Huaqian Mountain.

After flying for about a li, Li Xuanfeng hesitated for a moment, then spoke:

"The Lu family, including its legitimate and illegitimate lines, comprises over two thousand people, and their marital relatives extend to tens of thousands. If not handled properly, this could be a troublesome affair!"

Li Tongya was also deep in thought. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said:

"It is indeed a difficult matter. This is the first time our Li family is annexing another clan, and it must set an example for future generations. If we hastily slaughter them all, it would first be a waste of their spiritual aperture bloodlines. Second, they are, after all, marital relatives, and the rumors would sound bad, displeasing the surrounding families."

"This matter concerning the Lu family is vexing; it must be handled gracefully and impressively, yet also without future repercussions."

After flying for a while, Huaqian Mountain appeared before them. Below, scattered small houses were adorned with white cloth and silk, while on the mountain, sounds of banquets and music filled the air – a rather ironic scene.

The Lu family's Tiaoyun Mountain was steep, humid, and infested with mosquitoes. Since acquiring Huaqian Mountain, the Lu family had moved their entire clan there, and now most of their population resided at the foot of Huaqian Mountain.

The formation on Huaqian Mountain was quite ordinary. Li Tongya waited until sporadic lights appeared on the other side of the mountain, knowing that Li Xuanxuan had arrived with his troops. Only then did he draw his sword and strike at the mountain's formation.

"Clang!"

The formation on Huaqian Mountain immediately rose, brightly enveloping the peak. The banquet below instantly erupted into chaos. Everyone looked up, hearing a loud shout:

"Who dares offend my Lu family!"

Lu Yuanlu rode the wind and ascended, his cheeks slightly flushed, appearing to have been drinking. Seeing Li Tongya, he was both surprised and enraged, and cursed loudly:

"Since the Li family and the Lu family are now bound by marriage, why are you setting your sights on my Huaqian Mountain?"

Li Tongya gave a cold laugh, his hand movements not stopping, and said coldly:

"Lu Sisi has only just passed away, and you, an unworthy descendant, are already singing, dancing, and feasting on the mountain. How dare you speak of marital ties? The Lu family's current strength cannot protect these two mountains. If you are sensible, open this formation yourself, and your life might still be spared."

"How arrogant!"

Lu Yuanlu was enraged upon hearing this, his eyes turning red. He drew his sword and charged forward. Li Tongya forced him back with a single sword stroke, and within a few breaths, they exchanged over a dozen moves. Lu Yuanlu's expression subtly changed, and he began to contemplate retreat.

"Impressive swordplay!"

Although Lu Yuanlu was arrogant and conceited, he did possess some skill, on par with Yu Mujian in combat. However, his cultivation was far inferior. He repeatedly retreated but still spoke stubbornly.

Li Tongya remained silent. In just a few dozen exchanges, he knocked the sword from Lu Yuanlu's hand, then rode the wind and pressed forward. Lu Yuanlu's face instantly changed dramatically. He tried to speak, but a brilliant white light flared before his eyes, and with one swift strike, Li Tongya severed his head.