Chapter 169: Winter River Worries

The flagstone path on Mount Lijing had been laid decades ago and was now covered with faint bluish patterns. Li Qinghong heard it was built during the time Third Uncle Li Xiangping managed the family estate, and few of the craftsmen who laid it were still alive.

Li Qinghong ascended the mountain on the flagstone path. She looked around, realizing she hadn't seen her younger brother, Li Yuanyun, for several days. After searching the mountain, she finally found him in Aunt Li Jingtian's side courtyard.

The boy was sitting upright in the courtyard, carefully reading a wooden slip. Li Qinghong entered the courtyard, looked at him, and felt a touch of apprehension.

"Brother Yun..."

It had been almost a year since Li Qinghong received the talisman seed on the mountaintop. During this time, she had been busy cultivating and practicing spear fighting. As Li Yuanyun didn't often visit the main compound, Li Qinghong hadn't seen him much. Her brother's inability to cultivate always filled Li Qinghong with an inexplicable sense of guilt whenever she appeared before him.

"Sister, you're here."

Li Yuanyun's eyes lit up. He put down the wooden slip and smiled.

"It's been a while."

Li Qinghong smiled sweetly and glanced at the wooden slip on the table. When she saw "Annals of Linghai County: Two Hundred Years of Customs and Scenery - Annotated by Li Jingtian" written on it, she felt a little curious and chuckled.

"Didn't you used to dislike these long, tedious history books? Why are you reading one now?"

Li Yuanyun chuckled and explained,

"Since I can't cultivate and I know I'm nowhere near as good as Brother Xiu at managing the family, I have to find something I can do. I came to Aunt's place to study; perhaps I can help her in the future."

His words felt like a fierce blow, making Li Qinghong avert her gaze and instinctively step back a few paces. She quickly changed the subject, forcing a smile.

"Have you gained anything from reading this book?"

Li Yuanyun sighed softly, picked up the wooden slip, and said in a childlike voice,

"After reading it, I just feel... scared."

"Scared? What's there to be scared of?" Li Qinghong composed herself and asked, a little puzzled.

"The clan is united and harmonious, the Shan Yue people submitted long ago, and my parents love each other. I've never heard of anything cruel happening. I thought this was a peaceful and stable world."

Li Yuanyun gripped the wooden slip tightly, his expression somewhat alarmed, and he gritted his teeth as he spoke:

"It wasn't until I read this book that I learned the four borders are actually a place of constant turmoil and bloodshed. Conspiracies and schemes are endless; people backstab each other, and families are destroyed at the drop of a hat. My Li family looks stable now, but who knows how many hidden plots and schemes there are, how many people are calculating against each other. This world truly feels dirty."

"Sister, even though I live a life of luxury in the Li family, and even a mortal without spiritual apertures can enjoy a lifetime of pleasure, I am truly terrified. I'm afraid that one night I'll wake up to find our family's great array shattered, shimmering immortal swords falling from the sky, and I'll just die in my sleep, without understanding why."

Li Qinghong was speechless for a moment, silent for a few breaths. Staring at Li Yuanyun's slightly red eyes, she whispered,

"Father once said that the rules of this world were set by immortals. Would immortals care about mortal morality? Of course, they would use any means necessary..."

"Sister."

Li Yuanyun looked up, staring at her, and spoke softly:

"I read the clan history. Huacian Mountain was taken by our family from the Lu family. The Lu family was also Mother's maiden family, and they are now extinct... I once saw Mother secretly shedding tears; perhaps it was because of this."

Li Qinghong was silent for a while before she finally spoke.

"If our Li family hadn't taken it, the An family would have seized it overnight. The Li family did nothing wrong, nor did the Lu family. The situation reached a point where it was the only way out when there was no other path. If the Lu family head had been sensible, this matter could have ended gracefully. The fault can only lie with him."

"You're right, Sister."

Li Yuanyun put down the wooden slip, his expression relaxing significantly as he smiled.

"It's a pity I can't see that far, otherwise I would definitely write a book called 'Moon Lake: Two Hundred Years of Customs and Scenery.' Its twists and turns would surely be no less dramatic than those of Linghai County."

Li Qinghong chuckled softly, nodded, and was about to speak when the courtyard gate creaked open. A woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six walked in, her waterfall-like long hair pulled back. She put down the paper umbrella in her hand and said with a beaming smile,

"Qinghong's here!"

"Aunt."

Li Qinghong giggled, hurried forward, and hugged Li Jingtian. Unexpectedly, a refined-looking middle-aged man followed them in from outside the courtyard. He politely greeted her, and Li Qinghong quickly replied,

"Uncle, you're here too."

Chen Donghe nodded slightly. The two children followed the adults back into the courtyard, feeling uneasy. They didn't often see this uncle, who was a Qi Condensation cultivator, and found him stern and unfamiliar, so they quickly made an excuse to leave.

Li Jingtian nodded, smiling as she saw them off. Only then did she return to the courtyard, where she saw Chen Donghe staring at the rows of wooden slips on the table. "What are you looking at?" she asked softly.

Chen Donghe stroked his chin and remarked with admiration,

"The Li family's bloodline is truly extraordinary. Qinghong and Yuanjiao's speed in breaking through to the Profound Realm is simply astonishing. Back then, Xuanxuan and Xuanling were also remarkable. It seems they are naturally born with a bloodline suited for cultivation."

Li Jingtian lowered her brows, concealing an unusual glint in her eyes. She turned her head and chuckled.

"After all, it's the bloodline of Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators."

Chen Donghe nodded, not giving it much thought. His spiritual sense swept around, confirming there was no one nearby. Only then did he whisper,

"To be honest, my dear, I've made some discoveries these past few days that make me uneasy. I've been wondering whether to go up the mountain and speak with Second Uncle or Xuanling, and I also need your advice."

"What's wrong?"

Li Jingtian sat down beside him at the table, and Chen Donghe said with a serious expression,

"Currently, there are dozens of cultivators from outside families in the clan. While most are low-level cultivators at the first or second stage of Fetal Respiration, they shouldn't be underestimated. These individuals are assigned to various places to cultivate spiritual fields or serve as town guardians, responsible for important duties like monster extermination and healing."

"These people represent the voices of various forces outside the Li family. Factions abound among them, led by three cultivators at the fourth or fifth stage of Fetal Respiration, and there's much discord. The clan's Patriarchal Hall doesn't supervise them much, and I'm afraid problems will arise over time..."

Li Jingtian pondered for a few breaths. Her fair, slender hand picked up the wooden slips from the table and neatly arranged them one by one. Only then did she say softly,

"The Patriarchal Hall has eyes and ears everywhere. Do you think what you're saying would go unnoticed? It's probably already on Xiu'er's desk, or perhaps it has even been sent to the Meichi Peak cave. If the clan has been slow to deal with it, they likely have other considerations."

"These people don't just represent themselves; they also represent the interests of the branch families who married into the clan and the smaller sects behind them... Conflict is inevitable, and perhaps..."

Seeing Chen Donghe look up at her, Li Jingtian leaned in a little, close to his ear. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she whispered softly,

"Perhaps it's our Xiu'er who wants them to fight each other."