Chapter 281: Branch (Part 2)

Madam Dou was now over forty, but years of cultivation and meticulous care made her appear thirty. Her jade-like fingernails were dyed with balsam flowers. Dignified and graceful, she slowly entered the hall. Li Yuanping quickly descended to greet her, smiling, "Mother, it's rare for you to visit."

Madam Dou nodded slightly and took a seat to the side. She cast a glance at Dou Yi, who was trying his best to remain inconspicuous nearby, then turned to Li Yuanping and said, "Managing the household is not an easy task. Have you met with the branch families yet?"

"Of course, I have," Li Yuanping replied. "Li Qiuyang is away, so I sought out Li Xiewen. He had just left when you arrived, Mother."

Madam Dou picked up her teacup. Upon hearing the name Li Xiewen, she sneered, "When Li Xiewen served your father, he was fiercely loyal, standing above all other branch families and never contacting them. The moment Li Pingyi died, that old man knew his path was gone, so he immediately cozied up to all the other branch families. In recent years, he has subtly become the representative of the Li family's branch interests... It seems Li Yesheng taught him well; this ability to completely change his stance and play both sides is truly impressive!"

Madam Dou was a strong-willed woman with a sharp tongue; in just a few sentences, she clearly laid bare his faults. Li Yuanping naturally understood the underlying implications, having specifically sought out Li Xiewen earlier to learn the opinions of the clan elders and uncles from the Li family's branch lines. He then responded:

"Li Xiewen has done so much and offended quite a few people," Li Yuanping explained. "He's unwilling to place his hopes on our sentimentality. Naturally, he has to change his stance; he has to find a way to survive..."

Madam Dou's personality was much stronger. She simply stated, "I just can't stand that old scoundrel."

Mother and son exchanged a glance. Li Yuanping took a sip of tea and replied, "The Liu clan was originally friendly with our various branch families, but it was the Dou clan who led the charge to overthrow them. Most of the clan's assets ended up in the Dou clan's hands. According to the branch families, the rise of the Dou clan harmed their interests, so they are very dissatisfied. Li Xiewen's words were barbed, and his underlying meaning was quite clear."

"The Li family's branch clans, including the Ye clan, now number over ten thousand people. They've produced many cultivators and are all related by blood or marriage, making them quite difficult to handle. Mother, you might need to rein in the Dou clan."

Madam Dou rubbed the jade cup in her hand. She glared fiercely at Dou Yi, who shrank back, too frightened to speak. Madam Dou replied, "I've always kept them in check; otherwise, the Dou clan would have gotten completely out of control long ago. I'm just afraid that with your father away, these clan elders will bully you and me, a mother and son alone."

Li Yuanping chuckled softly and replied, "Elder Brother is still on Wutu Mountain, and the Patriarch is on Lijing Mountain. Where would they get the courage? They're just pushing him out to test the waters. The Old Madam's dying wish was for us not to protect the Liu clan. They can't figure out what the Patriarch is thinking, so they dare not say more."

He paused, then continued, "From Li Xiewen's words, the Chen clan is on good terms with the various branch families. That Chen Mufeng is Li Qiuyang's disciple and has a childhood engagement. He's also a rare genius, having reached the fourth level of Fetal Breath at seventeen. Perhaps we can recall him from Huaqian Mountain to utilize him."

Madam Dou nodded absentmindedly. She then looked up, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "The Chen clan... are they truly from a farming background? One of them, Chen Donghe, is already at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, and now there's Chen Mufeng. What's more, Chen Mufeng isn't even a direct descendant of Chen Donghe, yet he managed to cultivate all the way to the fourth level of Fetal Breath with this tattered cultivation method!"

Li Yuanping shook his head and replied, "I looked into it. The Chen family's progenitor was named Chen Erniu, originally our tenant farmer. He fled from Licuan Pass back then. Their origins are clear, and they are indeed from a farming background. However, according to clan records of his words and deeds, he was quite intelligent..."

Madam Dou nodded, examining Li Yuanping's pale complexion. A look of worry appeared between her brows as she gently said, "Ping'er, there's something we need to put on the agenda."

Li Yuanping frowned and looked at his mother in confusion. Madam Dou whispered, "Marry early and have children... This isn't just my idea. I've written to Guanyun Peak, and your father feels the same way."

Li Yuanxiu's death had taught Li Xuanxuan and his wife a profound lesson, and with Li Yuanping's weak constitution, Madam Dou and Li Xuanxuan had made early plans. To their surprise, Li Yuanping froze upon hearing this, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant. He replied, "Elder Brother was engaged at eighteen, and I'm only twelve. Why such urgency?!"

Madam Dou's thoughts were unpleasant and unspoken, so she could only manage a forced smile. Li Yuanping saw his mother's expression and immediately understood. With a hint of sadness, he replied, "Are you afraid that my talent is not high, and my foundation is damaged, so I might die young...?"

Madam Dou fell silent upon hearing this. She had a strong personality and couldn't bring herself to offer soft words of comfort. Mother and son exchanged a glance. Li Yuanping composed himself and replied, "There are so many family matters to handle. Dealing with financial deficits and affairs involving other clans already keeps me too busy. Let's postpone this for now."

Madam Dou didn't want to push too hard, so she quickly agreed. After sitting in the hall for a while, she found an excuse to leave. Li Yuanping respectfully escorted her out of the hall, then quietly returned to his seat of honor.

The hall was quiet and deserted. Guards stood silently on either side. Dou Yi remained at the lower end, head bowed and silent. Li Yuanping looked up, raising his jade cup, and gazed into the clear tea. He saw a pale face utterly devoid of color and greyish-red lips. He narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

Although Li Yuanping had worked hard since childhood, engaging in long talks with Li Yuanjiao night after night, and was far more sensible than an ordinary youth, he was still only twelve or thirteen. Born with a shortened lifespan and a damaged foundation, how could he not resent it? He usually pretended not to care, but after Madam Dou's words, and with no one else around, the resentment in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

Setting down the jade cup, Li Yuanping looked at his wrist, as slender as a woman's. An unnamed fury surged in his chest, burning hotly in his heart and lungs. He extended his delicate fingers, using his thumb and forefinger to powerfully pinch his own wrist.

His skin, however, was like a dead person's, pale and lifeless. It took a long time for a faint red to appear, which quickly turned purple and then black, until it broke, oozing blood that stained the desk crimson. Li Yuanping grimly shook his hand, and his emotions gradually calmed.

Li Yuanping had heard that when he was born, Patriarch Li Tongya had made a calculation for him: he was born with an inherent deficiency, his cultivation would be slow, and his lifespan would be just over half of others'. Calculating the days, a quarter of his life had already passed. He dared not waste any more time. He quickly wiped away the bloodstains from the desk, picked up a vermilion brush, and silently wrote: "To my esteemed brother... I am of age now, and it is time to marry and have children. Are there any suitable spiritual aperture cultivators among the renowned clans or the various towns? ... If you find any, please reply to me..."

Folding the letter, Li Yuanping called out, "Someone!"

A person quickly came up from below. He looked up at Li Yuanping; it was the young man from the Liu family. He had originally been forced out of this messenger position by the Dou family, but Li Yuanping had personally reassigned him, and his eyes were full of gratitude.

"Deliver this to Elder Brother on Wutu Mountain."