Chapter 32: Come Someone

Wan Tiancang, weeping profusely, described the brutality of the Ji family, the precariousness of the Wan family's situation, and how the two families, Wan and Li, would either flourish together or fall together.

Even Li Yesheng, who was serving nearby, couldn't help but be moved. Li Mutian, however, with lowered brows, calmly sipped his tea, unmoved, and then spoke.

"Has the Wan family's situation truly become this difficult?"

"Indeed!"

Wan Tiancang looked at Li Mutian, gritting his teeth. He understood that the man before him was someone who wouldn't act without seeing concrete results. He pulled a roll of animal hide from his robes and said:

"Before I left, my clan elder specifically instructed me, his junior, that since we would be relying on the Li family for our sustenance and shelter from now on, I should bring a scroll of formation diagrams to repay your esteemed family's kindness."

Li Mutian waved his hand. Li Tongya stepped forward and took it, as Wan Tiancang explained:

"This formation is called the Misty Barrier Formation. My grandfather bought it a hundred years ago at a market. Once you have refined the formation flags, you can set it up. My grandfather loved formations, and the mountain formation at our home was set up by him."

"He originally bought this formation to verify his own understanding of formation arts. After his passing, there was no one left in our clan skilled in formations."

Wan Tiancang sighed deeply. With reluctance, he respectfully handed the animal hide scroll to Li Tongya with both hands.

Li Mutian saw Li Tongya nod slightly. Only then did he smile and say:

"That's very kind of you. The Wan and Li families are both under the rule of Qingchi, so naturally, we should help each other. Now that the Wan family is in trouble, how could the Li family take advantage of your misfortune? Therefore, our Li family will only take one and a half tenths of the harvest!"

What else could Wan Tiancang say? He let out a low, bitter laugh and replied:

"Thank you, Senior!"

Li Mutian gently acknowledged. Then Li Tongya led Wan Tiancang, Li Yesheng, and the others out.

Just outside the courtyard gate, Wan Tiancang looked at Li Tongya and asked with a hint of hope:

"May I ask where your esteemed family has arranged the spiritual fields? Please take me, Tiancang, to see their quality."

"Certainly."

Li Tongya nodded. He began to speak as they walked along the bluestone path:

"Our Li family has two villages along the ancient Li Road. One is called Lidaokou, which is the direction Brother Tiancang came from. The other is called Lichuankou, located by Moon-Gazing Lake."

"The spiritual fields that we are renting out are located in Lichuankou. I have already instructed people to build a small courtyard there. The fields are fairly complete, with an annual yield of about seventy catties."

Wan Tiancang nodded, indicating his understanding. He then turned his head to comment on the scenery of Lijing Village along the way:

"The road here is well-maintained. With common folk constantly coming and going, it's truly rare for the road to remain so clean and tidy."

"Brother Tiancang, you flatter me."

Li Tongya chuckled softly. He then continued:

"I hear there's an immortal market nearby. Our Li family is newly established, so we don't know much about it."

"Brother Tongya always manages to dig for more information from us!"

Wan Tiancang let out a hearty laugh. He playfully teased Li Tongya, then sobered and said:

"I have only cultivated to the Profound View Wheel stage and have never been to the market myself. My clan elder and the family head went together and spoke quite a bit about it."

"The market is located on a small islet in Moon-Gazing Lake. It was opened by a rogue cultivator at the peak of Qi Condensation. During the full moon, large boats travel to and from the shore, picking up rogue cultivators or immortal cultivators from small families like ours to go to the islet."

"According to our family head, it's best to reach the Jade Capital Wheel stage before going to that islet, to prevent any incidents along the way."

Wan Tiancang was afraid that if the Li family sent people to their deaths, they would blame his Wan family, so he quickly tried to dissuade them.

"We naturally understand."

Li Tongya nodded. He registered this important information in his mind, then casually continued chatting with Wan Tiancang.

Before long, they arrived at Lichuankou. When Chen Erniu heard that Li Tongya had brought cultivators from another family to Lichuankou, he was startled and rushed with his people to welcome them. He cautiously followed behind Li Tongya, conversing quietly with Li Yesheng.

Wan Tiancang estimated the size of the fields and tested the spiritual energy and soil quality. He nodded towards Li Tongya, indicating his approval. Li Tongya then smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"Brother Wan, you must be tired from your journey. I, Tongya, still have family matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

After speaking, he instructed Li Yesheng and Chen Erniu to arrange all matters with Wan Tiancang. Then he turned and returned to Lijing Village.

***

The back mountain of Lijing Village was now much livelier. The villagers also called this mountain Lijing Mountain. Among the dense forests on the mountain, many small courtyards of blue brick had appeared. Their blue bricks and grey tiles dotted the landscape, creating a very pleasing sight.

A winding flagstone path stretched from the foot of the mountain to its peak. Village guards were stationed at the foot of the mountain. Upon seeing Li Tongya, they respectfully saluted him repeatedly:

"Welcome, Immortal Master."

He nodded casually. After walking up the flagstone path for about a quarter of an hour, a small courtyard came into view.

Mr. Han Wenxu was teaching there. The courtyard was filled with children; a rough count showed about fifty or sixty of them, each one sitting upright beneath the trees, listening to his lecture.

Not only from Lijing Village and Jingyang Village, but also children from the more distant Lidaokou and Lichuankou came to study. Only wealthy families with some savings could afford to send one or two children to study, and naturally, they could only send them to Lijing Village.

Looking at Li Xuanxuan, who was reading inside, Li Tongya mused to himself:

"In a few months, when the child is six or seven and his body has matured, we can test for spirit apertures. There are still three Profound Pearl Talisman Seeds from Jianzi, so I don't fear Xuan'er having no spirit apertures."

"By my calculations, Tian Yun's pregnancy will also be due in a few months."

For some reason, the image of Liu Rouxuan suddenly appeared in Li Tongya's mind. This startled him, and he shook his head repeatedly. He paused for a few seconds, frozen in place. Then, with a bitter smile, he continued walking up the mountain.

Past the schoolhouse, there was a staircase of one hundred and twenty-six steps. A large gate painted red stood on a platform, and an old man with half-white hair sat at the entrance.

"Uncle Tian!"

Li Tongya greeted him. He saw Tian Shoushui cheerfully holding a small hammer, with a half-finished wooden horse in his hands.

"Tongya is back."

Tian Shoushui smiled and nodded. He scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and pointed to the wooden horse in his hands.

"Yun'er is due soon, so I was thinking of making something for the child to play with…"

The old man had sustained many injuries when he was young. As he aged, he seemed to grow old quickly. Though he was the same age as Li Mutian, he looked more than ten years older.

"Alright, take your time with it."

Li Tongya deeply respected this father-like elder. After greeting him, he entered the courtyard.

Li Xiangping slowly awoke from his meditation. He exhaled a breath of stale air, then looked at Li Tongya and spoke:

"Second Brother has reached the Circulating Wheel stage?"

"Yes."

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and replied with a smile.

"Still one step faster than me."

Li Xiangping feigned a look of frustration, but couldn't help but smile. He then stood up and stretched.

After recounting Wan Tiancang's situation and placing the formation diagram on the table, Li Tongya picked up a teacup and drank from it. Seeing Li Xiangping deep in thought with lowered brows, Li Tongya asked in return:

"What is it?"

"Wan Tiancang is much harder to deal with than Wan Yuankai."

Li Xiangping looked up. His expression was calm as he spoke.

Li Tongya chuckled softly. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Tian Shoushui poke his head out and call:

"Lin Feng is here!"

The two exchanged a puzzled glance. They watched Liu Linfeng rush into the courtyard. He wiped sweat from his brow and, looking at them both, said:

"An immortal master has arrived from down the mountain, claiming to be from Qinghui Peak."