Chapter 157: Deep Clear Lineage

In August, the Tangjin Gate once again marched south, massacring Lixia Commandery. The people of the commandery either perished behind closed doors or saw their entire clans wiped out. The city was filled with skeletons, with no one left to bury them. The roads were deserted, and the surrounding areas reeked. Even the remnants of the numerous families within the city perished.

Li Jingtian put down her brush, having lightly depicted the tragedy of countless families in just a few dozen characters. She dipped her brush in ink before continuing to write:

"Young Master Feng's wife and children were all slaughtered. His eyes widened with rage, as if they would split open. He rode the wind eastward, and from a distance, he spotted members of the Tangjin Gate and shot them down."

"Auntie!" Li Xuanling's two children playfully entered the courtyard. Li Qinghong, the elder sister, was a fast-growing girl already up to Li Jingtian's waist. With her long hair tied up, she was lively and burst into the courtyard with a laugh.

The younger son, Li Yuanyun, was much quieter. He cautiously followed behind his sister and respectfully bowed to Li Jingtian, while Li Qinghong had already sat down by the table, staring at her clothes.

The two children were only six or seven years old, not yet old enough to go down the mountain. They often visited Li Jingtian to chat with their aunt and ask for snacks. Last year, Li Yuanjiao was found to possess a spiritual aperture and went up the mountain. After school, these two children would wander around, often calling out for "Brother Yuanjiao," and when they grew tired of playing, they would come to Li Jingtian's place.

Li Jingtian put down her brush and covered the unfinished scroll on the table. She smiled and hugged Li Qinghong. Just then, footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a soft voice.

"Yuanjiao greets Auntie." A boy in black walked in through the doorway. His long hair was tied up, a sword hung at his waist, and his bright, spirited eyes looked at Li Jingtian. After going up the mountain, Li Yuanjiao remembered his mother Mu Yalu's instructions and often visited Li Jingtian to borrow books from her.

"Come and sit," Li Jingtian replied with a smile. Seeing the three children getting along so well, her heart immediately felt at ease. She then asked Li Yuanjiao, "Where is your father?"

At the mention of Li Xuanxuan, Li Yuanjiao lowered his gaze and replied somewhat sullenly, "If he's not handling matters down the mountain, he's in secluded cultivation. He only ever goes to these two places; where else could he be?"

Li Jingtian paused, then quickly ruffled his hair. She replied, "Your father manages such a large family; it's naturally difficult for him to always attend to you and your mother... You mustn't be angry with him."

"Yuanjiao wouldn't dare." Li Yuanjiao quickly nodded and said nothing, but he secretly thought, "Mother says so! Auntie says so too! But I'm not blind... How come Brother Xiu can attend to things every day, but he just can't attend to my mother and me?" His elder brother, Li Yuanxiu, was quiet and gentle, and Li Yuanjiao had a very good relationship with him. These grievances, however, made him feel very uncomfortable, so he pressed his lips together and remained silent. Li Jingtian saw this and was about to offer more comfort when two knocks sounded from outside the door.

Li Tongya shook his robes and strode into the room, followed by Li Xuanling in leather armor and Li Xuanxuan draped in a long robe. This immediately startled the children, who stood up one after another, speaking eagerly and all at once:

"Second Grand-Uncle! / Grandfather!"

"Hm," Li Tongya responded with a smile. A few months prior, on a whim, he had broken through to the eighth level of Qi refinement, which was truly an unexpected delight. This had made him very happy for the past two months. Seeing the children's joyful expressions, his usually serene face also beamed with happiness.

"Has Xuanfeng not come out of seclusion yet?"

"He has not." After burying his wife, Li Xuanfeng dutifully went into seclusion on the mountain. He no longer roamed outside and cultivated much more diligently than before. He had been in seclusion for over two years now.

Li Tongya stroked his beard, feeling somewhat relieved by the child's change. As an elder of the family, one always had to take a long-term view. "If not for the loss of a child in the commandery, this lesson could almost be considered a good thing," he mused, "It will make the child settle down and cultivate properly."

Glancing at the restrained children, Li Tongya calculated the time and said to Li Xuanxuan, "Have Yuanxiu come up the mountain... It's time; dragging it out further might delay the child's progress."

The two brothers exchanged a look, naturally understanding what Li Tongya was referring to. Li Xuanxuan nodded, and immediately, a clan guard went down the mountain to summon Li Yuanxiu. The boy was now fourteen and helping handle some matters down the mountain.

Li Tongya sat at the head, slowly sipping tea from his bowl, watching the children below. His gaze lingered on Li Yuanjiao, who was dressed in black, and he mused, "The children are all clever. Ling'er only has Yuanyun as a male descendant, but Xuanxuan has many offspring... There are four or five illegitimate ones too. One could be adopted to inherit Jing'er's lineage, and if it's someone with a spiritual aperture, then it would have to be Yuanjiao."

"However, this matter is significant, so it's best to first observe the child's talent and temperament." After a moment of thought, Li Yuanxiu quickly arrived in front of the house. The young man's features were still quite delicate, and he wore a white goose-feather cloak. He was quiet and polite, smiling gently, and carried a green longsword in his hand, exuding a certain graceful presence.

"Greetings, honored elders!" Li Yuanjiao and the other children all stood up upon seeing him, looking at him expectantly, eager to rush over and hug him.

Li Tongya nodded slightly. Li Xuanxuan, even more so, grinned, highly satisfied with this fourth-generation elder brother. Li Yuanxiu was excellent in every aspect—be it his demeanor, appearance, conduct, or talent. His siblings all respected him, and he was someone capable of carrying significant responsibilities.

Everyone took their seats. The children stood awkwardly in the middle of the courtyard, one after another hiding behind Li Yuanxiu. Li Xuanxuan glanced at his siblings beside him, then said gently to the children below, "It's rare for us all to gather today, and Second Uncle has also come out of seclusion. Don't be so shy, all of you, come forward."

Li Tongya glanced at the longsword at Li Yuanxiu's waist and said gently, "How is your sword art cultivation progressing? Have you thoroughly understood the 'Profound Water Sword Art'?"

"Replying to Second Grand-Uncle, Yuanxiu began studying the sword at age seven, and it has now been six years," Li Yuanxiu replied. "The 'Profound Water Sword Art' is etched in my heart, and I have already mastered the sword aura."

"Very good," Li Tongya nodded and replied, "Tomorrow, come to the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling, and I will teach you sword techniques."

Li Xuanxuan, standing by, was overjoyed. Everyone in Moon Lake knew of Li Tongya's superb swordsmanship, and being able to learn his sword techniques was naturally excellent. Li Yuanxiu nodded repeatedly, while those of the Yuanqing generation looked on with envy. Li Tongya smiled, looked at the children, and explained, "It's the same for all of you; whoever cultivates a sword aura before the age of fifteen may come to the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling and seek me."

After speaking, he nodded to Li Xuanxuan, stood up, and left. Li Jingtian also bid farewell. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan, the two brothers, exchanged a look. Li Xuanling quietly said, "Let's take the children to the backyard then: Yuanxiu, Yuanjiao, Yuanyun... As for Qinghong..."

"Let them all go." Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment, and Li Jingtian's face suddenly appeared in his mind. He remembered her bewildered and helpless gaze when he had asked her if she wanted to marry Chen Donghe years ago, and his heart tightened. He gritted his teeth and said softly, "Let them all go! If Second Uncle asks, I will explain."