Chapter 274: 窦氏(上)

"Xiao Xian."

Li Yuanjiao rubbed the Jiaopanying sword at his waist, his brows furrowed tightly. Unlike Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan, and others who appeared unassuming but had deep thoughts, he was born with narrow-set eyebrows, which naturally made him look untrustworthy. Now, with his brows furrowed, he exuded even more of a serpentine, draconic aura.

"The Yushan branch of the Xiao family... for Qingxiao to marry into it would be a slight step down. However, Xiao Jiuqing is very worldly and has a promising future. If Xiao Xian is sincere and my sister is willing, it would still be a good choice."

"The Yushan branch is considered one of the top families among the collateral branches in my Xiao clan."

Xiao Guiluan took Li Yuanjiao's arm and said gently, "Xiao Xian's talent isn't exceptional, but he still has prospects for Qi Condensation. Qingxiao's talent is poor, but with the strength of the Yushan branch, it wouldn't be a problem for Xiao Xian to help her cultivate a basic level of qi. It's quite suitable."

As the two chatted and laughed, Lijing Mountain appeared beneath them. The couple descended into the courtyard, where clan guards immediately came forward and respectfully announced, "Patriarch, Matriarch, Young Master Yuanping is already waiting in the house."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, pushed open the door, and saw a boy in white holding a fan. He appeared to be twelve or thirteen years old, with a slightly pale face and a somewhat sickly demeanor. He was carefully examining the calligraphy and paintings on the wall. Hearing the sound, he turned his head, his eyes brightening as he smiled, "Brother, you're back."

"Yes."

Li Yuanping was born to Li Xuanxuan and the Matriarch, Lady Dou, during Li Xuanxuan's Qi Condensation cultivation. He was Li Yuanxiu's younger brother by the same mother. However, his birth coincided with Li Yuanxiu's passing, which affected his mother's pregnancy and resulted in his congenital weakness.

Fortunately, both his parents possessed cultivation. Li Yuanping had spiritual apertures, though his talent was not exceptional, placing him as an average individual. After five years of cultivation, he had reached the second level of Fetal Respiration, the Chengming Wheel stage.

Li Yuanjiao acknowledged him, and then Li Yuanping smiled, "I heard you broke through to the third level of Qi Condensation, congratulations!"

In truth, Li Yuanjiao had not been burdened by many mundane affairs over the years. Clan matters, including some Fetal Respiration affairs and secular business, were all handled by Xiao Guiluan. This woman conducted herself with magnanimity, administered rewards and punishments appropriately, and managed to keep everyone, from top to bottom, obedient.

With Xiao Guiluan's assistance, Li Yuanjiao's cultivation did not fall behind. Having received the "Qi Circulation Spirit Devourer Talisman," Li Yuanjiao's cultivation speed advanced by leaps and bounds, surpassing Li Qinghong. Within five years, he reached the third level of Qi Condensation, even exceeding his father, Li Xuanxuan.

Li Yuanjiao nodded gently, took two steps to the head seat, and sat down. He looked at his still-youthful younger brother and asked gently, "How is it? Are you still managing the Clan Enforcement Hall well?"

"It's going well," Li Yuanping nodded, smiling. "The Yuting Guards have already reached the fourth and fifth levels of Fetal Respiration. With five of them working together, there's nowhere we can't suppress. Usually, we only deal with minor thieves."

Li Yuanjiao originally had no intention of managing affairs. Seeing Li Yuanping grow older day by day, he quickly handed over the Clan Enforcement Hall to him. Now, seeing that he was managing it quite well, Li Yuanjiao nodded in satisfaction and said gently, "Clan laws are strict. No clan member should act arrogantly."

As the two brothers chatted, someone quickly approached from below, knelt in the courtyard, and respectfully reported, "Reporting to the Patriarch, a letter has arrived from Guanyun Peak."

"Present it." The person below, clad in armor, with a square face and thick eyebrows, looking honest, presented the letter. Li Yuanjiao took the envelope but did not open it. Instead, he stared at the armored guard.

The messenger from the peak had always been a member of the Liu family, and Li Yuanjiao was accustomed to it. But now, he felt this person was unfamiliar. After observing him for a moment, he asked in confusion, "Are you from the Dou clan?"

The armored guard immediately knelt before him with a thud, slightly flustered, and replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, my name is Dou Yi. Madam Dou is my aunt... The regular messenger is unwell, so I took his place."

"So, he's Mother's person." Madam Dou, of course, referred to Lady Dou, Li Xuanxuan's wife and Li Yuanping's mother. Strictly speaking, Li Yuanjiao should also address her as mother. Li Yuanjiao feigned enlightenment and smiled at Li Yuanping, "He can be considered your maternal cousin."

Li Yuanping, sitting by the side, merely nodded upon hearing this, not even looking at Dou Yi, and continued to pour his own tea. Li Yuanjiao immediately understood, waved his hand dismissively, and said casually, "Since that's the case, you may go serve Yuanping. Find a position for yourself in the Clan Enforcement Hall."

Dou Yi nodded repeatedly and slowly retreated. Li Yuanping could only offer a wry smile and said, "This certainly isn't Mother's doing. It's most likely the Dou family acting on their own initiative..."

"I know," Li Yuanjiao nodded and sighed. "As the saying goes, 'When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down.' The Liu clan, after all, is the ancestor's wife's family. There still needs to be someone with the Liu surname at the peak, so that news of right and wrong can reach our ears, and the other influential clans will have some restraint, not going too far."

Li Yuanping nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Your younger brother has learned much..."

Li Yuanjiao laughed heartily. As the two brothers confided in each other, Li Yuanjiao's expression grew complex as he said, "This path was also taught to me by Eldest Brother. Although I have no desire for power or position, handing it over to you now would not be a betrayal."

The words naturally referred to Li Yuanxiu. Li Yuanping had heard various stories about this elder brother he had never met since childhood, and he nodded now. Li Yuanjiao then opened the letter, scanned a few lines, and smiled, "It's Father's letter."

Li Yuanping looked up in confusion as Li Yuanjiao continued, "The demonic plague is becoming more rampant. Now, it's not just Jiang Yan; dozens of people have fallen into the demonic path and are slaughtering everywhere. Consequently, talismans and magical artifacts, both inside and outside the sect, are becoming increasingly sought after, and this year's income has increased significantly."

"Father is thinking that since our family's cloud bamboo has been harvested, we can send another batch over to make talisman paper, which would greatly reduce costs."

Hearing this news, Li Yuanping lowered his head and said, "The demonic plague has been going on for over five years, yet we've never seen the Zifu-level cultivators of the Qingchi Sect take action. I wonder what Chi Zhiyoun is thinking."

Li Yuanjiao paused, put down his teacup, and replied, "The demonic plague... it's not simple. Jiang Yan, too, is an unknown figure, a pawn of who knows which family. You've read the clan history; you know how formidable Zifu cultivators are. For them to allow Jiang Yan to act so recklessly, it must be with Zifu authorization."

Li Yuanping mused silently. After the brothers chatted for a couple more sentences, Li Yuanping checked the time and, not wanting to disturb Li Yuanjiao further, took his leave.

After Li Yuanping left, an elegant woman in a magnificent feathered robe slowly emerged from the back of the hall. She curtsied at his side, her brows slightly furrowed, and said in a deep voice, "Husband, the Liu clan's decline has been too rapid. In just five short years, they've gone from an influential clan to having their descendants scattered everywhere... I'm afraid there's something strange going on."

"It's reasonable," Li Yuanjiao said, putting away the small letter and tucking it under a book slip, continuing as if recounting cherished possessions. "How could that Liu clan member suddenly fall ill? They went to great lengths to send this person to me, simply to test how much goodwill we still have towards the Liu clan."

"The Tian clan was sent to the Manyue region. The remaining Ren, Chen, Xu, and Dou families probably began plotting to push the Liu clan out of the influential surnames years ago. Only the Liu clan descendants themselves continued to indulge in pleasure. As soon as news came down from the mountain, these families began to act. The Liu clan didn't have any prominent figures to begin with, so lasting five years was already a result of the other influential clans acting cautiously."

Xiao Guiluan nodded and smiled, "Times change. Many things formerly belonging to the Liu clan should now belong to the Dou clan. I've met Mother many times; she has strong methods and a temperament."

Li Yuanjiao laughed heartily, understanding the hidden meaning in Xiao Guiluan's words. He said gently, "I've also spent many years with Mother. In her eyes, the Dou clan members combined are not worth Yuanping's little finger. The Dou clan is merely the next Liu clan; there's no need to worry too much."

He paused, then continued, "Yuanping's temperament is like Lady Dou's; he won't be easily deceived. In a couple of years, when I hand over the family affairs to him, you and I can go cultivate in Wutu Mountain and live as an immortal couple. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Xiao Guiluan nodded slightly. However, the Xiao clan she belonged to was a centuries-old aristocratic family, where the struggle for power and interests was quite perilous. Unlike the harmonious early days of the Li family, Xiao Guiluan had witnessed too much infighting among relatives. She felt uneasy about not having power in her hands. She herself didn't mind, but she feared her child, Li Xizhi, would suffer injustice.

Yet, this woman was intelligent and understood her husband Li Yuanjiao's nature. She did not immediately contradict him. Instead, she nodded with a smile, gazing at the flickering candlelight, contemplating how to secure more influence for Li Xizhi.