Chapter 535: Father and Son

The two landed back in Qingdu, throwing the two cultivators onto the ground. They first sealed the six senses of the white-robed old Daoist, tossing him aside like a piece of decaying wood, then unsealed the black-robed cultivator.

The black-robed cultivator immediately prostrated himself and respectfully said:

"Greetings, honored sirs. I am He Yitao, a cultivator from Xu. I cultivate at Bianyan Mountain. As Buddhist cultivators advanced south, we had no foothold and thus had to cross the border into Yue. If I have caused any offense, this junior is willing to make amends with all my might!"

Li Xijun simply waved his hand and asked:

"What is the situation like in Xu now?"

The black-robed cultivator quickly replied:

"The Buddhists advanced all the way south, reaching southern Xu. Using Bianyan Mountain as a boundary, they engaged in fierce battle. Even Lord San, the great demon of Bianyan Mountain, couldn't sit still. His demon generals were captured and eaten by others, and the great demon himself fled to Dali Mountain on the wind, leaving behind a trail of chaos…"

"Did the Zifu or Mahasattva make a move?"

Li Xijun questioned him carefully, and the black-robed youth replied:

"I haven't seen them. Only two Lianmin (compassionate ones) were overseeing the battle. Jinyu and Qingchi sent a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators. And no Mahasattva was seen taking action in the north either."

He lowered his gaze submissively, observed silently, and said softly:

"It's just that there are many strange occurrences throughout Xu, with mountains collapsing and the earth cracking. I heard that a huge rock, a thousand zhang tall, fell in northern Xu. The rivers in the east dried up, and fish and shrimp sang at the bottom… Such strange things are countless."

Li Xijun asked him twice, and then asked again:

"Which Buddhist path is dominant?"

He Yitao, standing before him, was stunned. He bit his lip, recalling for a moment, and could only say:

"I only heard of the Benevolent Aspect and the Great Desire Path… and also the Empty-Void Aspect. As for which lineage the two Lianmin belong to, this humble one's status is low, so I truly do not know."

Li Xijun nodded. Li Xuanxuan, stroking his beard nearby, asked uneasily:

"Are there any traces of the Wrathful Aspect?"

He Yitao paused for a moment and said with some uncertainty:

"Sir, you might not know, the Wrathful Aspect once reincarnated. His body was severed by Li Tongya's sword from Moon Gate back then, and his true form was besieged and killed by various Zifu cultivators. His lineage suffered great damage, and his teachings no longer evoked a response. He is very rarely seen now."

Li Xijun nodded slightly, glanced at him, and then asked three more times. He channeled spiritual power into the man's body; indeed, this person was a demonic cultivator.

Without waiting for him to speak, Li Xijun casually tossed him aside again. He then released the old Daoist's restrictions. Seeing the old Daoist fall to his knees with a thud, he said tremblingly:

"Sir…"

The wind and snow around Li Xijun were sharp, but he spoke softly:

"Elder, where are you from, and why are you here?"

"Xu… an itinerant cultivator from Misty Cloud Cave on Xiaoshi Mountain…"

He lamented:

"The Five-Eyed Lianmin of the Empty-Void Aspect and their various Buddhist masters… landed near Xiaoshi Mountain. All sixteen of our families scattered in disarray. Those who were slow… committed suicide, or cut off their hands, legs, ears, and noses, then jumped off the cliff…"

"This old Daoist has cultivated for over a hundred years. I just ran a bit faster and escaped death from the hands of the Xu Mu Buddhist Master… until I reached this place."

Li Xijun held his sword, frowning slightly. Doubts arose in his mind. Before he could speak, the man repeatedly said:

"Wait, sir! Wait, sir!"

He slowly raised his head, with one eye cocked upwards, trying to gauge their expressions. His body hunched, his words tumbled out like pearls as he said urgently:

"My martial uncle has also cultivated by this lake for many years! This time, I came here to seek refuge with him! Sir, please hold on a moment… perhaps we are still on the same side!"

The old man had seen much. Li Xuanxuan's interest was immediately piqued upon hearing this, and he just asked:

"When… and what is his Daoist name?"

Seeing their reaction, the old Daoist's mind worked quickly. A fawning smile appeared on his face as he said:

"I am Fu Yuan. My martial uncle's Daoist name is Ling Guizi… He broke through to Qi Cultivation about 130 years ago and came to this lake to seek opportunities. I don't know if he has broken through to Foundation Establishment yet…"

Li Xuanxuan found this strange. The smile on his face instantly faded. He quietly looked at the old Daoist and simply said:

"I think you've lost your mind. How dare you spout nonsense here… Doesn't it take itinerant cultivators sixty years to break through to Qi Cultivation? He came to this place 130 years ago! He's probably dead in some unknown corner by now, isn't he?"

"It's not as if everyone who's cultivated in one place shares some sort of destiny!"

Daoist Fu Yuan was extremely frightened. He shook his head repeatedly and hurriedly said:

"Sir! Sir! My martial uncle possesses a great opportunity! It's absolutely extraordinary!"

Li Xuanxuan, however, no longer believed him. He simply asked:

"What kind of opportunity?"

Daoist Fu Yuan still couldn't explain clearly. He just stammered:

"My master was still thinking of him when he died. He said that our grandmaster passed an opportunity to him before his death…"

He couldn't explain it clearly. But how good could an opportunity for an itinerant Qi Cultivation cultivator truly be? Daoist Fu Yuan himself understood this and could only keep kowtowing, unable to speak.

Li Xuanxuan noticed that the pure Qi within him wasn't too turbid, which was already quite rare in a place like Xu. He had no intention of making things difficult for him and was about to speak.

"Wait…"

Li Xijun, however, suddenly stopped him, frowning and shaking his head.

Daoist Fu Yuan grew more fearful. He looked up, a mix of fear and dread on his face, thinking to himself:

"The elder is kind-hearted, but this handsome young man is more ruthless."

Li Xijun simply looked at him quietly and asked softly:

"Elder, how did you escape from the Lianmin and the Buddhist masters?"

Daoist Fu Yuan stared blankly at him, seemingly recalling. After several breaths, he said in surprise:

"Oh dear… I completely forgot!"

Blood seeped from his mouth and nose. He cried out in pain, and his body, like a fallen bundle of firewood, crashed to the ground with a thud. He made no sound and had already lost all signs of life.

Li Xijun first stepped back. He used his spiritual power to flip the body over. Daoist Fu Yuan's face was pale and his skin was cold. Li Xijun used two fingers as a sword and cut open his abdomen.

Inside, it was a dark, empty cavity. His internal organs were gone, and only a shriveled, dead maggot remained.

Li Xuanxuan stared in astonishment. On the other side, Li Zhouwei held his halberd, deep in thought. Li Xijun conjured fire between two fingers, gently let it fall onto the skin-sack, igniting it. A crackling sound followed:

"Whoosh…"

The flesh had long since withered and was easily ignited. It flared brightly for an instant, then instantly turned to ash.

Seeing this, He Yitao was terrified to his core. Tears and snot flowed freely as he whispered:

"I possess nothing of value, and sirs, you disdain such trifles. But for the sake of not having offended you, please spare my life. I will only obey your commands and will harbor no second thoughts."

He feared Li Xijun would ask something that would cause his instant death. But he saw the man take off his storage bag, examine it carefully for a moment, and, seeing it was full of bloody Qi rice and meat, shake his head.

Before He Yitao could even react, he felt a burning pain in his chest, a hot sensation filling his abdomen, and then it surged out from his nostrils. A long halberd had already pierced through his chest, its end held in the young man's hand.

The demonic fetus He Yitao nurtured in his abdomen immediately awakened. The small, mouse-like fleshy creature struggled a few times inside his belly. Before it could break out or conceal its aura, a hand reached back into his abdomen.

Li Zhouwei held the halberd with one hand. With the other, he rummaged around in He Yitao's abdomen, pulled out the demonic fetus, examined it carefully for two breaths, and gently crushed it.

He Yitao was, after all, a demonic cultivator at the early Qi Cultivation stage, yet he had no time to react. The next second, his head was taken off.

Golden flames flowed from Li Zhouwei's hands, drifting with black smoke as they landed on the corpse. The golden specks instantly incinerated it completely. The young lord put away his halberd, and Li Xijun nodded and said:

"The Bright Yang path also dispels demonic cultivators… Although it's not as potent as the Sun or Dark Thunder arts, it's still quite formidable."

Li Xuanxuan, who was nearby, was still staring blankly at Daoist Fu Yuan's corpse. Li Xijun turned to look, and seeing the elder lost in thought, he said with some concern:

"Great Uncle…"

Li Xuanxuan slowly stepped forward. He took the storage bag from Daoist Fu Yuan's waist, examined it carefully, and murmured:

"How familiar!"

This small brocade pouch was different from the popular style in Yue. It looked very small and delicate. Li Xuanxuan observed it for a while, and a nostalgic look appeared on his face as he said softly:

"My family's… first storage bag… was also like this!"

After saying this, Li Xuanxuan became even more certain. He turned it over and over, examining it twice, his voice wistful:

"Back then, Uncle Xiang Ping went to rescue the Wan family. Unexpectedly, the Ji family, leveraging the power of Tangjin Gate, decimated the Wan family with overwhelming force… But my uncle encountered an old Daoist who tried to take his life."

"This old Daoist had waited in the lake for thirty years… seeking an opportunity, but was killed by my uncle, who took his storage bag and returned… It seems… he was the martial uncle this man spoke of."

Li Xuanxuan pondered for a moment and said softly:

"If there's an opportunity, we could go and see Misty Cloud Cave on Xiaoshi Mountain."

Li Xijun naturally understood what he was saying. He silently agreed and said softly:

"The situation in Xu is ultimately chaotic. The Fei family is at the forefront of the resistance; we can discuss it carefully. After all, it's a rare Foundation Establishment grand formation, and if used well, our own losses can be greatly reduced."

Li Xuanxuan put away the storage bag. His expression was slightly displeased as he simply said:

"It has come to this point, and they still refuse to send people to ask for help."

Li Xijun let out a laugh. Li Zhouwei stood motionless and said softly:

"Qingchi Sect is thousands of miles away, far on the horizon. A round trip takes over a month. Our family is only a lake away, right here. Travel takes less than half a tea-time. Distant water cannot quench nearby fire. They will see clearly sooner or later."

Both elders nodded. The group arranged for defensive postings, and Li Zhouwei soon excused himself. He rode the wind out of Qingdu and gracefully descended into the side courtyard of the central hall.

Chen Yang followed all the way and said respectfully:

"Your Highness, Father has been waiting in the hall for quite some time."

Li Zhouwei nodded upon hearing this and then landed. As expected, he saw the middle-aged Chen Mufeng waiting in the main hall, looking very respectful and leading a woman by the hand.

Chen Mufeng was now at the late Qi Cultivation stage. Although he had made mistakes in the Xu Xiao affair back then and was heavily punished, the Chen family was still a major clan, and Chen Donghe was highly regarded, so he still held some status.

Chen Mufeng, who had married Li Xicheng's sister and was thus Li Chengliao's paternal aunt's husband, approached with a smile and began:

"Your Highness, this is my youngest daughter, Chen Shao… She is born of my concubine… She is growing older now, so I brought her for Your Highness to see…"

Li Zhouwei naturally understood his intentions. He looked at the girl with downcast eyes, deliberately avoiding eye contact, then flung his robe open and entered the room, leaving only a voice echoing in the courtyard:

"Go ask my father!"

Chen Mufeng was thoroughly rebuffed by him. He exchanged a glance with Chen Yang and could only quietly excuse himself.

The father and son left the courtyard. Chen Shao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her steps much lighter. Chen Mufeng sighed softly, while Chen Yang wore a grim expression, slowly pacing back.

Upon arriving at the Chen Residence, Chen Shao bowed and retreated as if escaping. Chen Mufeng, however, was still composed. He simply led Chen Yang further inside.

The father and son walked in silence, quickly heading to the back courtyard. Madam Li was reading a book. She looked up and asked:

"It seems it didn't work out?"

Chen Yang replied coldly:

"Indeed!"

He gave a slight bow, flung his sleeves, and left.

Chen Mufeng stood awkwardly in the courtyard. Madam Li simply sighed:

"If it didn't work out, then it didn't work out! We just brought her to see if anyone would take a liking to her… I wasn't blaming you either."

Madam Li managed the household with generosity, a fact Chen Mufeng had always known. He nodded upon hearing her words. The couple exchanged a glance, and both surprisingly saw worry in each other's eyes.

Chen Mufeng's expression was not just awkward, but even a little annoyed. He thought it over and over, sitting and drinking several sips of tea. Finally, he couldn't restrain himself and said in a suppressed voice:

"He… he is truly full of suspicion and malice!"

Madam Li sighed. The middle-aged woman also grew helpless and whispered:

"I don't know who he takes after… The more we teach him, the more he calculates and uses people."

Chen Mufeng was overcome with anger. He gritted his teeth and said:

"How… how did he turn out this way!? As a child, I never saw him so cold-blooded, heartless, and ungrateful!"

Although he had the highest hopes for this eldest son, he was still a father after all and held affection for all his children. He said coldly:

"The way he is, it's as if if my younger sister doesn't marry the young lord, he'll draw his blade and threaten her!"

Madam Li lowered her gaze. For a moment, she didn't know how to console her husband.

"Creak…"

Then came a crisp creak. The courtyard gate was pushed open by a hand, revealing a fair, slender, and capable-looking arm. His eldest son, Chen Yang, entered with a smile, quietly stepping inside.

His face was sharp-featured and severe. Even though he was smiling, there was an eerie sense of cunning that made one shiver. The eldest son said softly:

"Father, tomorrow you and I will go see the family head."

Both the husband and wife felt the hairs on their necks stand up. For a moment, they couldn't speak. The courtyard gate could clearly seal them off, and Chen Yang, who had just left, surely couldn't have heard their conversation. Yet, Chen Mufeng felt a hollowness in his heart from his eldest son's gaze, cold as frost.

He unexpectedly nodded, as if by some eerie compulsion. The eldest son chuckled, placed both hands on the doorframe, stepped backward out of the room, and with two creaks, pulled the two doors tightly shut.

Chen Mufeng vaguely felt sweat on his forehead. He picked up his tea and took several large gulps, then looked at his wife again.

Madam Li was already stunned. She sat quietly in her seat. After a long moment, she finally whispered:

"I once thought that sending him to the main family… would temper his character well, making him humble and restrained, understanding that there are always people stronger than oneself…"

The woman's eyes were slightly lowered as she said softly:

"But now I feel… that sending him to the young lord's side, letting him lead troops to kill and suppress the mountain Yue, has only sharpened his fangs and claws even more… Before, he merely had a cunning demeanor, but now it has seeped into his very bones."

Chen Mufeng sat dumbfounded. After more than ten breaths, feeling a chill in his heart, he said coldly:

"He only values those few people in Qingdu… He only regards them as his own kind… He only obeys the young lord… As for you and me… we are merely tools he can rely on!"

Madam Li heard these words. Her heart filled with surprise and alarm. She abruptly looked up, staring at her husband, who had seemed foolish to her for most of their lives. A strange premonition suddenly arose within her:

"So… the son's cunning nature stems from a father who is also not so simple."

When she tried to question Chen Mufeng further, the man remained silent.

Thanks to 'Black Night 0522' for becoming an Alliance Leader!(End of chapter)