Chapter 31: Wantian Warehouse

Wan Xiaohua sat at the table, his face betraying his exhaustion. As a Jade Wheel cultivator who had condensed a spiritual wheel in Sunward Prefecture, he should have been energetic even after three days and nights without sleep. However, too many troubling matters recently had left Wan Xiaohua feeling as if he could barely hold on.

"Yuan Kai, what do you make of the letter sent by the Li family?"

Rubbing his temples, Wan Xiaohua wearily looked at the people seated below him.

Before Wan Yuankai could speak, a burly man beside him blurted out boorishly:

"What else is there to see? This Li family isn't strong, and they're dreaming. With just two people from their family, if our family head goes there alone, we can force them to hand over all those spiritual fields to our Wan family!"

The man had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his tiger-like gaze defiantly fixed on Wan Xiaohua at the head of the table.

"Idiot!" Wan Xiaohua cursed inwardly, then retorted:

"Someone from the Li family cultivates in the sect. If they inquire about this, how are we to explain ourselves?"

"This..."

Seeing the burly man speechless, Wan Yuankai then stepped forward and said:

"The Li family wants thirty percent, so we'll give them thirty percent. Our family's reserves are dwindling year by year, and it looks like we won't be able to pay the tribute soon. Everything must prioritize our survival."

Wan Xiaohua nodded and said softly:

"Thirty percent is probably negotiable. The Ji family is powerful, and in a situation where one's demise affects others, the Li family wouldn't push us too hard."

When the Ji family was mentioned, Wan Xiaohua's expression turned grim. He gently put down the letter in his hand and continued:

"A few years ago, our boundary was Yubu Mountain; now we've retreated to Guli Dao. That old scoundrel Ji Dengqi is too overbearing. We aren't strong enough, and after repeatedly yielding these past years, we haven't even had a moment to catch our breath."

Wan Yuankai nodded through gritted teeth and sighed:

"Fortunately, at the brink of despair, we found a glimmer of hope. The spiritual energy ley lines on the northern slope of Mount Dali are gradually recovering. This gives our Wan family a ray of hope, though it's a pity it's not in our family's hands."

Wan Xiaohua, however, let out a light laugh and said coldly:

"This is already the best outcome. If our Wan family occupied the northern slope of Mount Dali, we would need people to guard it. Who would then guard our Huaqian Mountain family home if you all were sent there? Moreover, this matter is significant. If it alarmed the Ji family, could Ji Dengqi just watch our Wan family expand?"

"Ji Dengqi secretly sends people to contact the foolish collateral branches under our rule, causing them to waver. Contacting the Li family or sending someone there must be done secretly; we absolutely cannot let Ji Dengqi know!"

Wan Yuankai nodded heavily and replied:

"I've had my clan brother fake his death to escape to Lidao Pass. Ji Dengqi's informants are just mortals; they won't see anything."

"Tiancang is articulate and eloquent, as well as calm and cautious. I'm most at ease entrusting this matter to him."

After Wan Xiaohua finished speaking, he picked up a brush and lightly marked on the map in front of him, his gaze cold. He said in a low voice:

"They are carving us up slowly, yet they should also be careful that our Wan family bites back."

---

Li Tongya adjusted his breathing, feeling the surging vital energy within him. He let out a light laugh and mused:

"Constant circulation, nearly four years. It's finally complete."

"Congratulations, Brother Ya, on taking another step forward and successfully cultivating the Circulation Wheel!"

Liu Rouxuan, by his side, smilingly tucked her stray hair behind her ear. Her dark eyes gazed directly at Li Tongya, and she congratulated him with a smile:

"It's just a minor cultivation in the Fetal Breath realm; there's nothing to celebrate!"

Li Tongya gently turned his head away, subtly avoiding Liu Rouxuan's gaze, and replied with a slight hint of fluster.

"Hehe."

Seeing Liu Rouxuan giggling foolishly beside him, Li Tongya helplessly shook his head, looked at the sky, and said:

"I've been in seclusion for a day and a night. I'll go see Xiang Ping first."

"Yes."

Liu Rouxuan nodded vigorously and smiled.

Li Tongya left Lijing Courtyard and had just reached the Li family's front courtyard when he faintly heard sounds from the main courtyard. He stopped in his tracks.

"Mama! Why does everyone else have a father, but I don't!"

Madam Ren was quietly sewing clothes in the courtyard when Li Xuanxuan, with a hint of a wail in his voice, knelt on the ground, hugging Ren Ping'er's skirt, and pitifully cried out:

"Even Li Xiewen has a father! Where did my father go?"

Hearing this, Madam Ren quickly crouched down to hug Li Xuanxuan, and replied, her voice a little choked:

"Father went to a very, very far away place..."

"Mama is lying to me! Mama is lying to me!"

Li Xuanxuan forcefully struggled out of Ren Ping'er's embrace and wailed:

"Who goes to a far-off place and doesn't send letters home! They all say father is dead!"

Ren Ping'er was instantly speechless, looking helplessly at the crying Li Xuanxuan.

Li Tongya felt a pang in his heart listening. He sighed deeply, stepped into the main courtyard, and gently picked up Li Xuanxuan.

Seeing Li Tongya, Li Xuanxuan immediately wiped away his tears and sobbed:

"Second Uncle, where's my father!"

Li Tongya gently patted Li Xuanxuan's back and replied with a hint of sorrow:

"Your father was a good man, a kind and generous elder brother..."

"Wuwuwuwu..."

While comforting Li Xuanxuan, Li Yesheng knocked and entered the front courtyard. Madam Ren, seeing him, quickly pulled the weeping Li Xuanxuan away, leaving only the two men in the courtyard.

"What's the matter?"

Li Tongya composed himself and said in a deep voice:

"A man dressed as a hunter is asking to see you at the gate. He claims to be someone from the Wan family, here by appointment."

"Let him in."

Li Tongya was momentarily taken aback, rubbed his chin, and waved his hand at Li Yesheng.

Li Yesheng then brought the man in. The man had an ordinary appearance, wore leather armor, and carried a long bow on his back. His eyes, however, were quite bright. He immediately looked at Li Tongya and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Wan Tiancang of the Wan family greets the Young Patriarch!"

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that this person was far superior to Wan Yuankai and likely not easy to deal with. He replied with a smile:

"I don't deserve the title of Young Patriarch. I merely manage the village's minor affairs."

After speaking, he gestured with his hand and said:

"Please."

Wan Tiancang's eyebrows immediately twitched. He mused inwardly:

"I heard that old Master Li rarely shows himself and that these two brothers jointly govern the Li family with no clear leader. Now it seems Li Tongya is quite cautious with his words. I wonder what kind of person Li Xiangping is."

He continuously pondered in his mind, but smiled and said:

"You are too kind."

Wan Tiancang entered the main courtyard. The old master was seated at the head, drinking tea, and merely lowered his brows to give Wan Tiancang a faint nod.

Wan Tiancang looked at Li Mutian, whose demeanor was extraordinary and exceptionally calm. He secretly marveled:

"This must be the old master of the Li family. As expected of a former Foundation Establishment elder, his presence is unlike that of ordinary people."

He quickly bowed down, but when he rose, his face was already covered in tears. He sobbed:

"Greetings, Elder."

Li Mutian put down the teacup in his hand and said in a deep voice:

"Why such a display?"

Wan Tiancang wiped away his tears and replied:

"Seeing your esteemed demeanor, I, your junior, was reminded of my own father. That old man suffered at the hands of Ji Dengqi, losing nine hundred catties of spiritual rice from our clan. We almost won't be able to pay the tribute for the year after next!"

"Nine hundred catties?"

Li Tongya exchanged glances with Li Mutian, who was seated at the head. Both their eyes showed understanding. Li Tongya mused inwardly:

"This person wants to touch our thirty percent share of the harvest!"