Chapter 304: Return (Part 2)

The Yu Family, Misty Forest County.

“Li Tongya?”

Yu Xiaogui's face was grim. The stone door behind him slowly closed, and his aura surged, clearly showing recent progress. Yu Mugao, dressed in black, knelt before the stone door, his head bowed, his expression unreadable.

“In the north, a Mahā, reincarnated and re-cultivated at Duan Chen Temple, had already attained a Dharma Master's cultivation. Somehow, he killed Li Xuanling, but was then killed by Li Tongya.”

Yu Mugao answered respectfully. Yu Xiaogui frowned, then scoffed, waving his hand with a laugh.

“How is that possible!”

“I’ve sparred with Li Tongya too… he’s only slightly better than me. What level is a reincarnated Mahā? Forget Li Tongya, even if Sword Immortal Li Chijing himself came, he probably wouldn't be able to do anything!”

Yu Mugao nodded in agreement, replying, “There must be a trick involved.”

Observing Yu Xiaogui's furrowed brows, Yu Mugao bowed slightly and said gently, “Father, Yu Muxian has broken through to Foundation Establishment and solidified his Immortal Foundation. I heard that in a few years, he will personally come to the lake for the next tribute collection.”

“What? Xian’er has broken through Foundation Establishment!”

Yu Xiaogui was overjoyed, laughing heartily. Then he looked at Yu Mugao suspiciously, his voice turning cold. “We're family; why do you refer to your brother so formally?”

“Brother?” Yu Mugao looked up, gave a cold laugh, and replied, “You treat him like a son, but he doesn't treat you like a father! Father, you may not know this, but Yu Muxian is now Tang Yuanwu's prized son-in-law. He's willing to sell our own ancestor to gain the trust of the Azure Pond Sect. Who would still care about our small Yu Family?!”

Yu Xiaogui was instantly shocked and enraged. He yanked Yu Mugao by the collar and roared, “What did you say?!”

“Yu Muxian has long seen our Yu Family as nothing but a stepping stone! He knew about the ancestor's death all along! Our family nurtured him from a young age, spent great effort to send him to the sect, supported him for decades, letting him build connections within the sect…”

“But when the market collapsed and our family fell into decline, he wouldn't say a word! What's more, he colluded with the Azure Pond Sect to betray our ancestor, and even had Chi Zhiyan specifically warn me…”

Yu Mugao, always resourceful and far-sighted, had discerned from various signs that his younger brother was no longer the same. As he recounted each detail, Yu Xiaogui stood dumbfounded, unable to believe it.

“How could this be… how could this be… We treated Muxian with such sincere devotion, how could he do this…”

Yu Xiaogui's face was a mix of disbelief and indignation, showing deep pain. Yu Mugao, staring into his father's eyes, said harshly, “Father, you should no longer harbor any hope for that man!”

Yu Xiaogui slowly released him and stepped back, seemingly still processing Yu Mugao's words. After a long silence, he said, “Summon your Fourth Clan Uncle.”

“Fourth Clan Uncle is deceased.”

Yu Mugao replied softly. Yu Xiaogui's expression changed drastically. He looked up, exclaiming in shock, “He had a Qi Cultivation base and was barely over seventy; how could he have died?!”

“He embezzled family assets, and I killed him.”

Yu Mugao answered respectfully, yet his words left Yu Xiaogui feeling powerless. His face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth. After a long moment, he said, “Call your Sixth Clan Granduncle.”

“Sixth Clan Granduncle colluded with rogue cultivators and sold spirit rice cheaply; I also killed him.”

Yu Xiaogui looked up at him in disbelief, his lips trembling. He suddenly realized something was gravely wrong; things must have turned upside down outside while he was in seclusion. His face flushed, and he stammered, “How many people have you killed…?”

“Fifty-eight clan granduncles, sixty-seven clan uncles, and one hundred ninety-four clan brothers. All had conclusive evidence against them and were utterly wicked.”

Yu Mugao's expression remained respectful, but his words were chilling, causing Yu Xiaogui to take a step back and stare at him in disbelief.

“You… you… you beast! You!”

Yu Xiaogui raised his hand high and slapped Yu Mugao hard, sending him stumbling back several steps. Enraged, his eyes bloodshot, he cursed, “Animal! Animal! Is there anyone you wouldn’t dare to kill?!”

Yu Xiaogui's face was crimson, his aura surging, and he hissed, “Your Fourth Uncle carried you to Misty Forest County with his own hands, and personally sought a marriage for you. Your Sixth Clan Granduncle raised your father and me… You… you… these are all family bonds! Mugao! How could you be so foolish?!”

“This child understands.” Yu Mugao's one cheek was crimson. He slowly straightened up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Yet, his expression was calm as he softly said, “In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures. If not for this, our Yu Family would perish within three generations.”

***

Li Tongya rested for a while in the forest. Using his finger as a sword, he cut a piece of wood from a tree, hollowed it out with a wave of his hand, and placed Li Xuanling’s head inside. He then carved another piece to serve as a lid, carefully storing the box.

His eldest son’s death was tragic. Li Tongya spent half a day using his spiritual power to repair and mend the head, finally making it presentable.

Carrying the wooden box, Li Tongya flew and stopped along the way until he finally reached the Li family's territory. He dispelled the mud and dust from his body with a spell, concealed himself, and quietly entered Lijing Mountain.

The small courtyard on Lijing Mountain was spotless, clearly having been cleaned by someone in the past few days. Li Tongya placed the wooden box on the table, sent a spiritual message, then turned and went into the inner courtyard to change his clothes. After composing himself, he found a group of his juniors already gathered at the courtyard entrance, ready to pay their respects.

Li Tongya sat at the head of the gathering. Looking out, he saw Li Qinghong, who was the most grief-stricken, weeping with her face covered at the lower end of the seating arrangement. Her beautiful almond eyes were swollen red from crying, and she sobbed softly.

Li Xuanxuan had returned from the market. Years of commerce had given him a calculating demeanor, and strands of white hair mixed with his beard and hair, showing signs of age. He stood blankly at the lower end, staring distractedly at the wooden box, silent, his thoughts unknown.

Li Yuanping's pale face looked even worse, his eyes filled with deep resentment. Li Yuanjiao, in the middle, wore a sorrowful expression but his emotions were much more stable; his left hand tightly gripped the Jiaopanying, his lips pressed firmly together.

Li Tongya sighed, handing the wooden box to Li Qinghong. She wiped away her tears and silently accepted it, not uttering a word. Li Tongya's voice was slightly hoarse as he asked, “Has Yuan Yun not arrived yet?”

Li Yuanjiao stepped forward and replied, “We've already sent someone to Dongshan Yue to fetch him.”

Li Xuanling had one son and one daughter: Li Yuan Yun and Li Qinghong. However, Li Yuan Yun had no spiritual aperture and had always been rather insignificant. This was the first time Li Tongya had called him back to Lijing Mountain. Hearing the reply, he nodded and fell silent.

For a moment, only Li Qinghong's low sobs could be heard in the courtyard. The juniors remained silent, observing Li Tongya's tired and pale face, sensing a vague premonition.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, footsteps finally sounded from the lower end of the courtyard. The courtyard gate creaked open, and a middle-aged man tumbled and stumbled in. He was slightly plump, but his eye sockets were dark, and his lips trembled.

The middle-aged man knelt with a thud before Li Tongya, his voice laced with a sob, and he whispered, “Your unworthy descendant, Yuan Yun, pays respects to Grandfather…”