Chapter 272

“Cloud Ship of Rosy Hues…”

Li Xuanxuan looked at the colorful rosy clouds in the sky, feeling a sense of unease. His uncle, Li Tongya, had disappeared after the ritual, and Foundation Establishment cultivators typically cultivated for years. Li Xuanxuan couldn’t find him quickly and could only wait silently.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before a figure in gray appeared before him. Li Tongya descended with a frown. He had originally intended to go into secluded cultivation, but his wife Liu Rouxuan’s health was deteriorating daily. Li Tongya had to put aside his original plans and happened to witness this scene.

“They must be summoning people to Yishan City in the Southern Reaches.”

Li Tongya stood in mid-air, sword in hand. He had heard some things at Xiao Chuting’s dharma assembly, and now, with a little thought, he could infer the purpose of the Cloud Ship of Rosy Hues. After waiting in the air for a while, he saw someone riding the wind, stepping on a flying shuttle. The person was originally dressed in a dashing robe, but their face was shifty and rat-like, with eyes constantly darting around, exuding a ruffian aura.

The ruffian landed in front of the formation and shouted:“You juniors of the Li family, quickly open the formation and let your grandpappy in!”

The people below showed anger, but Li Tongya, deep in thought, calmly opened the formation himself. He stepped forward to greet the visitor respectfully, saying:“The Li family of Lijing respectfully welcomes the envoy!”

Seeing a Foundation Establishment cultivator personally welcome him, the ruffian found it difficult to maintain his insolent demeanor. He merely grumbled begrudgingly:“Consider yourself sharp-eyed.”

Then he swaggered into the courtyard, looked at the Li family members who were fuming but dared not speak, impatiently waved his sleeves, and cursed:“All of you, get out! How can juniors listen while we talk?”

“You!”

Li Xuanxuan was visibly angered, but Li Xuanling shot the man a snake-like glance and pulled his brothers away.

The ruffian entered the courtyard with Li Tongya. He cast a spell to seal the surroundings, completely shedding his frivolous demeanor. He stood ramrod straight, with a dignified posture, and a slightly apologetic expression. He bowed deeply and said:“This humble one is Deng Yuzhi. What just transpired was out of necessity. Please forgive me, Senior.”

Li Tongya was also surprised by the sudden change in the man. He merely cupped his hands and replied:“Brother Deng, please rise. There’s no need for such formality. We didn’t take it to heart.”

Deng Yuzhi’s tone was urgent and quick; he didn’t waste time with formalities with Li Tongya. Straightening up, he said:“I am a descendant of the Deng family, a noble family under Qingchi Peak. My elder brother, Deng Qiuzhi, and the Sword Immortal were close friends. They both perished in the Southern Reaches, devoured by a demon king. Does Senior know about this?!”

“I know.”

Li Tongya saw Deng Yuzhi’s urgency and answered concisely. Deng Yuzhi merely nodded and said in a deep voice:“It’s good that Senior knows. The immortal sect disciple who has come this time is Chi Zhiyan of the Chi family. This person is harsh and treacherous. They already know about the Sword Immortal’s demise, and the Yu family has also heard about it. I hope Senior is prepared.”

Deng Yuzhi didn’t wait for Li Tongya’s response. His lips moved rapidly as he continued:“Although my family’s patriarch has never met Senior, he has heard many of your deeds and admired you for a long time. Our two families are in similar situations. If Senior doesn’t mind, we can have more interactions in the future.”

Li Tongya gripped his sword, his expression thoughtful. He spoke gently:“Let me ask you something: In the power struggles among the Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators in Jiangnan, what is the relationship between the Xiao family and the Qingchi Sect?”

“They share a common enemy. Xiao Chuting intends to cultivate the Jiazi Kanshui Qianne…”

Deng Yuzhi replied, but Li Tongya cut him off, stating directly:“I understand.”

Deng Yuzhi merely nodded and continued:“My Deng family also has businesses in Lixia Commandery. If Senior has important matters to discuss, you can send someone to find us. Senior is magnanimous and steady, so you should understand the intricacies of this.”

With that, he handed over a small letter. Li Tongya’s spiritual sense swept over it, revealing several alleyways in Lixia Commandery. Deng Yuzhi watched Li Tongya accept it, then let out a long breath and said in a deep voice:“In all four commanderies, people are proclaiming the strength of your Dao foundation and the excellence of your swordplay. This is likely intentional. Senior should act less often and avoid revealing your whereabouts.”

This news surprised Li Tongya, prompting him to ponder slightly. He nodded, and Deng Yuzhi continued:“This time, for the conscription to Yishan City, Chi Zhiyan has chosen Li Xuanfeng. This matter is beyond our control; we can only take a noble’s descendant… I hope Senior can understand.”

Li Tongya slowly closed his eyes and let out a long breath. Li Xuanfeng was Li Xiangping’s only son and had not yet produced any offspring. If anything were to happen to him in Yishan City, that lineage would end. Naturally, Li Tongya was unwilling. He frowned and asked:“Xuanfeng is my brother’s only child. Tongya is willing to offer his own son in his stead, might that be possible…?”

Deng Yuzhi waved his hand, his refusal decisive and clear. He said bitterly:“This humble one merely lives by doing others’ bidding. Chi Zhiyan deeply resents the Sword Immortal. I had to feign my previous demeanor just to come here. How could I possibly have such authority?”

Li Tongya could only sigh, covering his face. He replied:“I understand.”

Deng Yuzhi didn’t stop but continued:“It’s not good for Yuzhi to stay long. I must leave with the person immediately. If there was any offense, please forgive me, Senior!”

With that, he flung his sleeves, casually kicked the door open, and shouted into the courtyard:“Where is Li Xuanfeng?!”

In the courtyard below, a group of people stood anxiously. Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan both looked up at him. Li Xuanfeng quietly stood with a golden bow on his back, his eyes fixed on Deng Yuzhi, and replied:“Here!”

Deng Yuzhi scoffed and declared:“Qingchi has commanded that you be conscripted to Yishan City in the Southern Reaches to resist the demon race. Depart immediately, without delay.”

Li Xuanfeng tightened the golden bow on his back, and a smile touched his unkempt bearded chin, as if he had heard something amusing. He burst out laughing and replied:“Good.”

Deng Yuzhi merely tugged at him and replied:“Follow closely.”

Li Xuanfeng looked at Li Tongya, who was slowly emerging from the courtyard. He bowed deeply and said to the brothers Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling:“Please take good care of family matters. Don’t worry about me.”

This middle-aged man, who had lost his parents young and his wife in his youth, spoke only these words. His eyes sparkled with vitality, as if the years since the Lixia massacre had left him indifferent, but now, facing slaughter and combat, with death and danger imminent, it instead filled him with anticipation and excitement.

“Brother.”

Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan in the courtyard were still reeling from the news. Li Xuanfeng had already ridden the wind to catch up with Deng Yuzhi and flown north.

Li Xuanxuan finally snapped back to reality and hastily exclaimed:“Uncle! This…!”

Li Tongya waved his sleeve, a pained expression on his face. He merely said softly:“Just go and cultivate…”

The others exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and dispersed. The wedding was already nearing its end, and the disturbance by the Cloud Ship of Rosy Hues completely dampened everyone’s spirits. Those who needed to bid farewell did so, and others simply left. After seeing Li Yuanjiao and Xiao Guiluan into the bridal chamber, Lijing Mountain returned to its quiet, desolate state, with only the scattered remnants of the celebration hinting at its recent festivities.

Not until the Cloud Ship of Rosy Hues had flown across the horizon and its brilliant rosy light vanished did the entire Moon-Gazing Lake fall back into darkness and silence.

“Reporting to the envoy, everyone is assembled!”

Deng Yuzhi knelt fawningly before Chi Zhiyan. Beside him, Yu Mugao looked dazed, as if lost in a nightmare. Chi Zhiyan’s words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

“Yu Mugao… Yu Yufeng was killed by our Qingchi Sect in collaboration with Xiao Chuting! And your brother personally agreed to this!”“Muxian… personally agreed to it…”

Yu Mugao’s expression was bewildered. He had exchanged dozens of letters with Yu Muxian, yet the latter had never mentioned a word of this. He wondered if it was out of fear of alerting others, or if his brother simply didn’t trust him enough to reveal it.

Yu Mugao suddenly felt that his own brother within the sect had become a stranger. He mumbled something unintelligibly. Chi Zhiyan looked at his distraught state and said impatiently:“Don’t bother cultivating the ‘White-Headed Court-Knocking Scripture’ anymore!”

The group rode the wind back onto the Cloud Ship of Rosy Hues. All the Yu family members knelt together, respectfully seeing them off with loud farewells. The intricate patterns on the ship brightened, and it unfurled wings of rosy light, flying southeast.

Yu Mugao watched the ship disappear between heaven and earth, then slowly stood up. He tilted his head, looking at the silent, bowed heads of those around him, feeling no shame at all for his recent subservient and humble posture. After a moment of silence, he spoke:“Jiang Heqian… So it was an old grudge. Call back all the people from the East Shore.”