Chapter 329: Trial of the Horse

After some discussion among the direct descendants, Li Tongya's funeral was kept secret. White silk was hung on the mountain, and a few direct descendants paid their respects privately before dispersing.

The direct descendants had already known about Li Tongya's passing, and the three years of mourning had long since concluded. Now, a slight sadness arose, and they quickly immersed themselves back into their duties.

Li Xuanxuan stayed at home for a few days, a rare opportunity to see Li Yuanping daily. Smiling, he held Li Ximing, teasing him for a while, and said gently:

"Ming'er, how much of the Dan Book have you read?"

"I can already summon the Dan Fire!"

Li Ximing nodded obediently, clasped his hands together, and summoned a handful of pure white fire. It was as warm and smooth as jade, yet as cool as water, quietly flickering between his palms.

Li Yuanping chuckled happily as he took Li Ximing, then looked at the smiling Li Xuanxuan and said softly:

"Father, it's rare for you to return. Please stay at home for a while longer; the market affairs can be handled by the family..."

"No."

Li Xuanxuan immediately became serious and replied:

"I am old, and I have long lost my ambition. Second Uncle saw this clearly, which is why he sent me to the market."

A hint of shame appeared on his usually solemn face, and he said softly:

"Your granduncle clearly understood that I, Li Xuanxuan, am not truly a great talent for managing a household. At best, I am a conservative manager. Managing the family for so many years, I've delayed many matters."

"It's just that at that time, the family had few members, and my father passed away early. My uncles always felt sorry for me, so the family's power and position were always placed upon me."

A trace of guilt appeared on his face, and he said gently:

"Xuanling is actually much more outstanding than I am. Second Uncle favored me, which meant he had to remain obscure. Yet, even my father, who died young, still had the great reputation of being loved by the village elders and respected by all households."

"And me... what about me...?"

Li Xuanxuan sighed distractedly, and said with a weary voice:

"A hundred years from now, how will people speak of me...?"

It was the first time Li Yuanping had seen his father in such a state, and his heart felt heavy. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Li Xuanxuan smile faintly and continue:

"Fortunately, throughout my journey, the family has prospered and remained orderly. You are stronger than I, your father. Work hard!"

With that, he smiled proudly, patted Li Ximing's head, stepped out of the courtyard, and rode the wind away.

Li Yuanping chuckled softly. He looked down just as Li Yuanjiao entered the hall, seemingly having waited outside for a while to avoid interrupting their conversation. As Li Yuanjiao took a seat nearby, a person approached from below, bowed, and said:

"Patriarch, Shamo Li, the Lord of Dongshanyue, has come alone, leading a horse. He claims to have broken through to the fourth level of Qi cultivation and wishes to cultivate on the mountain, no longer coveting power."

"Shamo Li?"

Li Yuanping raised an eyebrow, looked at Li Yuanjiao beside him, and whispered:

"I recall Shamo Li has a son who grew up in our household... He's a branch of our Li family, named Li Jiman. A few years ago, he went to Shanyue to govern a city."

"That's right."

Li Yuanjiao shifted his cup, evidently having considered this matter long ago. Li Yuanping rummaged through the desk, found a small letter, and frowned, saying:

"The Clan Administration's assessment describes him as humble, courteous, and possessing the demeanor of a good man."

"Brother, what do you think of this person?"

Li Yuanjiao, who often cultivated in Dongshanyue and was knowledgeable about such matters, heard the question and shook his head:

"This person is outwardly respectful but inwardly combative. He's far more restless than Shamo Li. Fortunately, the noble families of Dongshanyue have grown powerful, so using him as a tool would be a good idea."

"Oh."

Li Yuanping put away the small letter and took a sip of tea. Dou Yi, who was below him, finally found an opportunity to interject and said softly:

"Patriarch, Shamo Li has subjugated a demonic horse. It is at the fifth level of 'Fetal Respiration' cultivation, only a step below the one Gani Xi had back then. I hear it leaves no trace in the snow, like a phantom."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Li Yuanping looked up, exchanged a smiling glance with his brother beside him, and Li Yuanjiao said gently:

"Is it a good horse?"

"Naturally!"

Dou Yi eagerly flattered, agreeing, but saw Li Yuanping shake his head and say:

"Whether it's a good horse, one must always try riding it to know. A horse that's too fierce can easily injure its rider, while one too docile cannot travel a thousand li."

Dou Yi nodded, not fully understanding, while Li Yuanjiao beside him chuckled and replied:

"Then I'll leave it to Brother Ping."

"Brother, rest assured."

Li Yuanping lowered his gaze to the letter in his hand, nodded steadily, and said in a deep voice:

"Tell him to come in!"

The person below acknowledged and withdrew. Shortly after, a man in luxurious attire, wearing a jade crown, walked in. He bowed respectfully and said:

"Shamo Li greets the Patriarch!"

This man was indeed Shamo Li, the Lord of Shanyue. He was currently at the fourth level of Qi cultivation. Although he cultivated mixed Qi, his profound techniques meant he was not much inferior to ordinary righteous Qi cultivators. Li Yuanping glanced at him and said gently:

"Since you wish to relinquish power and cultivate on the mountain, are you willing to go with my elder brother to Wutu Mountain?"

"This humble one could not wish for anything more!"

Shamo Li knelt on one knee, responded respectfully, and after completing this formality, Li Yuanjiao, who was standing nearby, rose and smiled:

"Then I shall return to the mountain first!"

"Good!"

Li Yuanping nodded, watching his elder brother Li Yuanjiao and Shamo Li depart. He waved to Li Ximing, who was squatting by a small table, quietly observing everyone, and smiled:

"Go change into your military attire."

Li Ximing's eyes immediately lit up, and he asked:

"Father, where are we going?"

Li Yuanping unfastened his cloak and said gently:

"To test a horse!"

The climate over Moon-Gazing Lake had always been stable, rarely experiencing severe droughts or floods for decades. This year's rain arrived as scheduled, falling steadily. High summer was over, and the evening breeze turned cool.

Li Yuanping had been in high spirits recently. Dressed in military attire, he rode swiftly, his pale complexion, for once, flushed with color. Li Ximing, nestled against his chest, giggled incessantly.

"Giddy up!"

He pulled the reins, galloping along the road. The convoy with waving black flags was left far behind. He, who usually reclined languidly on a soft couch, now showed vigorous heroic spirit, a rare display, and laughed unrestrainedly.

The Li family was now much wealthier. The horse Li Yuanping rode was a tribute from Shanyue, named "Chongsha." It trod on snow silently, moving like a phantom. It was at the fifth level of 'Fetal Respiration' cultivation, personally subjugated by Shamo Li and led to Lijing Mountain as an offering.

Li Yuanping had acquired a fine horse and rode it with exhilaration, galloping in one breath from the outskirts of Lijing Town to the outskirts of Wutu City in Dongshanyue. Li Ximing in his arms was overjoyed, his dark hair fluttering in the wind, and he said in a childlike voice:

"Father! Where is this?!"

"Dongshanyue."

Li Yuanping's spirits soared. He suppressed a cough in his throat, abruptly reined in his horse, raised his whip, pointed to the continuous mountain range in the north, and smiled:

"North of this mountain is Wutu. Legend has it that Duke Xiangping once led his troops through here, only two li from Mujiao Man's army. Duke Xiangping made his men bite on gags and reined in his horse, thus escaping disaster."

Li Ximing listened attentively, and then saw Li Yuanping say gently:

"Below this mountain is Wutu City, a border town of Dongshanyue. It's quite prosperous. Li Jiman has been governing this city for ten years now."

"Li Jiman."

Li Ximing pondered for a moment and replied:

"Shamo Li's son, the Crown Prince of Shanyue... He will soon inherit the throne of Shanyue."

"That's right."

Li Yuanping acknowledged his child's words. He glanced left and right, seeing raindrops pattering down from the leaves. Knowing that the Jade Court Guards and several guest elders were providing close protection, he let his horse have its head and followed the road.

He rode his horse idly, his ear twitching slightly, and said with amusement:

"Li Jiman is a clever man, but he is belligerent and bloodthirsty, outwardly respectful but inwardly cunning."

Chongsha snorted and walked up the high slope. The scenery on the mountain was unobstructed, and screams and roars rose and fell. The ground was covered in bloodstains.

Below the mountain lay a plain, and the city walls of Wutu City were visible in the distance. A group of emaciated Shanyue commoners were trembling as they held up hoes and pitchforks, surrounding a grey wolf. The wolf appeared to have some shallow cultivation and roared incessantly.

On a nearby small hill, brown carriages and banners swayed, and long halberds stood menacingly. A group of soldiers watched from the sidelines, playing and laughing. At the very top sat a young man, holding fruit and laughing heartily.

"That is Li Jiman!"

Li Yuanping uttered a casual remark. Li Ximing in his arms frowned and whispered:

"Father, what is he doing?"

"Watching a show."

Li Yuanping uttered two words coldly. Then he saw a nobleman below burst into laughter, throw a piece of fruit, hitting the wolf demon precisely on the head. This enraged the wolf, which roared and tore a person to shreds with one bite.

The farmer was small and thin, and in moments, was torn into scattered fragments on the ground. This further incited the wolf's ferocity, making it howl continuously.

The Shanyue princes and nobles, along with Li Jiman, watched intently from the small hill. They burst into loud laughter. The corpse fell, with intestines and blood staining the ground everywhere. Li Ximing couldn't help but turn his head away, unable to bear the sight.

"Watch carefully."

Li Yuanping gently patted his shoulder and said gently:

"Remember this scene clearly... Only then will you understand what kind of things the profligates below can do behind your back if laws are not strictly enforced."

He paused slightly and said:

"With cultivation stagnant and no path forward, tired of dogs and horses, and weary of delicacies, holding power and strength far beyond mortals, they will always come up with new ways to entertain themselves."

Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully. Then he saw Li Yuanping sneer:

"Bring the bow!"

A Jade Court Guard quickly handed him a long bow. Li Yuanping settled firmly on Chongsha, exhaled and spoke, then tilted his head, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow. He squinted, gazed at the crowd below the mountain, and said gently:

"Ming'er, watch closely."

"Whoosh––"

The long arrow shot through the air. The runes engraved on it emitted a dazzling white light, and it fell like a meteor, landing down the mountain.

Li Jiman, below the mountain, had his arm outstretched, holding fruit. He felt nothing about the scene before him, merely humoring the crowd. Tian Rong, beside him, stepped forward and smiled:

"Brother Man? How's this? Isn't it interesting?!"

"It is interesting!"

Li Jiman glanced at him, secretly disdainful. Breathing the air below the mountain, he thought to himself:

"The Tian family controls the government in Dongshanyue. With the old master about to abdicate, how can I be a puppet like Shamo Li? Yet Tian Zhongqing is cautious. I need to find their weaknesses and exchange benefits with the Tian family. And I must start with Tian Rong..."

He seemed to be watching the trapped wolf demon fight, but in his mind, he was still thinking about how to seize control of Dongshanyue's government. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as a white light descended from the sky.

"Bang!"

The wolf demon was only at the first level of 'Fetal Respiration'. It couldn't withstand this arrow. With a bang, it exploded into chunks of flesh, splattering blood everywhere. Tian Rong, who had been laughing foolishly nearby, looked as if he had been slapped. He jumped up in anger, cursing:

"Impudent! Who dares to disturb this young master's enjoyment!"

Li Jiman had already stood up and looked overhead. His peak 'Fetal Respiration' eyesight allowed him to instantly discern the face of the person on the mountain. For a moment, his mind went blank, and his liver and gall trembled in shock.

"Li Yuanping..."

He plopped to his knees, prostrating himself on the ground, his head pressed tightly against the earth. In an instant, he was both startled and terrified. His chest and back were drenched in sticky sweat, and his eyes were bloodshot:

"The Patriarch despises most the slaughter of commoners and deception of superiors... It's over now!"

"Who harmed me...? Tian Zhongqing... Yes, it must be the Tian family... Tian Zhongqing... Damn him! No wonder he called me to this border to feast. What a Tian Rong!"

A group of Shanyue nobles immediately felt something was wrong and one after another knelt on the ground. Tian Rong was stunned for several breaths, even trying to pull some people off the ground, before belatedly kneeling, utterly bewildered.

Li Yuanping, on the mountainside, dressed in military attire, held the delicate, jade-like Li Ximing in his arms. His expression was calm as he quietly watched them.

"Father... they are so afraid of you! Are you going to kill them?"

The boy's clear voice echoed through the mountain, making the hair of those below stand on end. Li Jiman, even more so, closed his eyes tightly, wishing he could slice Tian Rong and the Tian family beside him into a thousand pieces.

Li Yuanping steadily led the horse, leaned close to his eldest son's ear, and whispered:

"No."

"Li Jiman is a clever man, and the Tian family and Tian Zhongqing are even cleverer."

He handed the magic bow in his hand to a Jade Court Guard nearby. He didn't look at the people below, who were all kneeling on the ground with their foreheads pressed to the earth. Holding Li Ximing in his arms, he said in an almost imperceptible voice:

"Father will now teach you how a clever person controls a group of clever people."

"Okay!"

So he gave a cold smile, pulled the reins, turning the horse's head. Chongsha took light steps, its hooves making no sound, and slowly walked back into the dense forest they had come from.

The Jade Court Guards on both sides cast a cold glance at the people below and then disappeared with Chongsha. After more than ten breaths, Li Jiman, who was below, finally raised his head and shouted:

"Patriarch's insight is truly keen! Jiman is deeply grateful for your kindness!"

From above, only the whistling north wind could be heard, with no reply. The hatred in Li Jiman's eyes almost overflowed.

"The Tian family... The Tian family... I, Li Jiman, will never coexist with you all!"

He stood up, glared resentfully at Tian Rong, and cursed:

"You scoundrel, you're good at acting! You tricked me into watching this show, it must have taken you a lot of effort, didn't it? I knew it! I knew it!"

Li Jiman was convinced that Tian Rong, who was beside him, had received orders from Tian Zhongqing and had deliberately lured him here to be seen by Li Yuanping. With a clang, he drew the sword from his waist and cursed:

"You wretch! How dare you deceive me!"

Tian Rong was completely bewildered, unable to understand what had just happened. Li Jiman's expression shifted; he forcibly suppressed the urge to strike him down, then kicked Tian Rong on the shoulder, sending him flying several feet. Tian Rong cried out in pain, tumbling like a gourd.

"Get lost!"

Seeing Tian Rong flee in dismay, Li Jiman's face turned grim. Unlike the Shanyue nobles, he was of Li family blood and subject to the Clan Administration's oversight. Even if Li Yuanping didn't punish him, people from the Clan Administration would arrive to investigate in a moment...

Li Jiman thought about the troubles to come, and his heart turned cold:

"Damn it!"