Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 460 375 Chong Jun_2

With Li Yuanping at home, all he needed to do was send those people over; naturally, they would be properly handled. These matters did not require Li Qinghong's attention, so he promptly departed, riding the winds away.

...

Lijing Town.

The small paths through the mountain forests were pitch-black, save for a few swift figures clad in white armor. Leading them, riding a spirit horse, was a man with a broad face and tall stature—Li Xihong.

Li Xihong rode past the edge of Lijing Town on a small path, surrounded by an all-encompassing gloom. In the dark forest path, fireflies floated amongst the leaves, hanging there silently.

Hearing neither the rustle of his heavy cloak nor hoof beats, he did not bring many people with him. Now in command of the Jade Courtyard Guards, naturally, he had to keep a distance from his comrades.

Chen Mufeng, as the highest ranking Palace Guard within the Jade Courtyard Guards, was trailing him, riding the winds. Chen Mufeng's talent was not much different from that of Chen Donghe's, only that he trained in a better Cultivation Technique during Fetal Breathing and broke through half a year earlier.

He was now at the Second Grade of Qi Cultivation, almost paralleling Li Xihong's Cultivation Level.

Li Xihong was the eldest among his siblings, about ten years older. His talent was the lowest among his brothers, but since he trained in a Third Grade Cultivation Technique during Fetal Breathing, he could cultivate Qi at the age of thirty.

It was a quiet night; one rode a horse, another the winds. Li Xihong, holding a Jade Slip in his hand, softly said,

"During this inspection, two people from Huaqian were caught hiding Spirit Rice. They have been seized according to the rules. What does the Clan Head Courtyard say?"

Chen Mufeng, who was about the same age and greatly trusted by Li Xihong, replied,

"They have been dealt with. However… one of them belongs to a minor branch… his eldest son is Li Chengmu, who is cultivating on the main peak of Qingdu Mountain, this…"

"This what…"

Li Xihong shook his head and whispered,

"Just follow the rules; the Family Head will take care of it. Most likely there will be a major warning followed by a minor punishment, and a change to a less significant position."

Chen Mufeng nodded, and they walked along the riverbank for a while. Li Xihong looked at the lush greenery and, for no apparent reason, began to smile warmly,

"Mufeng, our family is currently in a prosperous state, all branches are united, and there are rising Cultivators among the external families and minor branches, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain—truly a rare opportunity and a delightful prospect."

Chen Mufeng smiled broadly and responded,

"With a main family like this great mulberry tree, we are like the kudzu vines, inherently connected. Mufeng is very pleased in his heart!"

Li Xihong transferred the Jade Slip to his other hand and spoke gently,

"I still have an unmarried half-sister, Yunying, and I have been considering a promising Qi Cultivator for her. How about I match her with you? You two could meet in the coming days, and if you find each other agreeable, our two families could come together in marriage, wouldn't that be splendid?"

Chen Mufeng immediately looked elated. Hadn't he refrained from marrying all these years just for this opportunity? Now, he had finally set foot on the road to join the main branch. He nodded repeatedly and happily said,

"This subordinate thanks you greatly!"

After talking at length, Chen Mufeng was taken in as Li Xihong's protege and they grew closer. Loosening up in conversation, Chen Mufeng spoke in a low voice,

"Mufeng has followed you for many years, and there's always been one thing that has puzzled him."

"Speak."

Li Xihong nodded slightly, and Chen Mufeng raised his long eyebrows, whispering,

"My lord…"

Just as Chen Mufeng uttered those two words, a blast of cold wind suddenly descended from the sky. A young man in white, riding the wind with a sword at his waist and a piercing gaze, swept over Chen Mufeng's face and fell back onto Li Xihong,

"Elder brother!"

"Xijun! Come, come, come…"

Li Xihong promptly forgot about Chen Mufeng and stepped forward to grasp his brother's hand. Li Xijun chuckled and replied,

"This is not a place to talk. How about we go up the mountain together, brother?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Li Xihong joined him, rising with the winds and they landed on a small courtyard atop Qingdu Mountain.

Li Xijun pushed open the door and, with a flick of his sleeve, the room lit up with lights. He brought out two jugs of fresh wine, placed them on the table, and began pouring wine with one hand while softly saying with the other,

"Elder brother, you're quite imposing. I hear that the Jade Courtyard Guards enter and investigate the Six Peaks faster than the Clan Head Courtyard itself!"

"Oh, not at all…"

Li Xihong laughed heartily, flattered by the praise, and Li Xijun continued in a soft voice,

"I've also heard that the destitute families and side branches you helped in the past now have capable men who have entered the mountains to serve; some have even joined the Clan Head Courtyard and Jade Courtyard Guards. They all speak highly of you, elder brother."

"You exaggerate!"

The incident was indeed the talk of the Li Family. Li Xihong had privately taken pride in his own foresight, but now that his brother had brought it up, he quickly became modest. Li Xijun waved his hand, continuing:

"My branch has always been full of talent, holding important positions across the peaks... I've been cultivating on the mountain for many years, seldom involving myself in family affairs. These people couldn't have done it without my brother's cultivation and promotion..."

Li Xihong frowned slightly, sipped the drink Li Xijun had passed him, and with a growing inkling of something, he said in a heavy voice:

"I have never harbored a trace of nepotism! These people have all relied on their own talents and efforts. If my younger brother uses these words to blame me, it would be greatly undervaluing me!"

"What brother did wasn't wrong in itself."

Li Xijun seemed to anticipate his reaction, shaking his head:

"If that were not the case, I would not be speaking to my brother with such courtesy."

He slowly raised his eyebrows, his voice gradually growing colder as he said in a low tone:

"But promoting talent, forming alliances with prestigious families, reaching into the Jade Court, holding sway over both divisions of the Clan Head Courtyard, and fostering loyalists among the peaks..."

Li Xijun paused, staring into his brother's eyes:

"These are not the actions that a direct descendant of my branch should take... nor should the elder brother of Ximing do such things."

He set down the jade cup and narrowed his eyes, stating:

"Do you know what you're doing, brother? You're building a faction, placating the various surnames, you're proving yourself to be better than Ming'er, forcing the Family Head to give Ming'er's position to you..."

Having said so much, even the always gentle Li Xihong's face slowly turned serious as he replied slowly:

"There is no question of giving up or taking over. Ming'er has no interest here; it's just you all pressuring him... I have no such intentions; I only want what's best for the family."

"The matter of bloodline succession is not yet decided!"

Li Xijun's face grew tense as he said in a low voice:

"Ximing may still have offspring! Even if he has no interest in these matters, his children could still take over the family affairs!"

Li Xihong sighed softly, speaking warmly:

"Then what would you suggest, my brother?"

At this statement, Li Xijun was momentarily speechless. Caught between his brother stripped of authority by a single sentence and his elder brother ready to unfold his ambitions, Li Xijun could only close his eyes, unable to speak further.

'The current situation must also be tacitly approved by the family elders...' he thought to himself, feeling stifled and at a loss for words, he said gruffly:

"I am also to blame for Ximing's situation. Since Ximing's confinement, the entire branch has been pushing you forward, brother. With so many people behind you, you had no choice but to go along with it. I have no right to judge you, brother."

Li Xihong nodded thoughtfully. Li Xijun's brows relaxed as he continued:

"However, the people that brother has promoted, many of them are shining merely because they have received your favor, borrowed your might, and are supported by our branch; you must be careful with them."

"Alright."

Li Xihong responded briefly, and Li Xijun could only bow, saying warmly:

"After this, the affairs of the Ximing generation will be in the hands of the two of us brothers. I hope the elder brother will proceed cautiously."

He strode to the door with his white robe flowing, as Li Xihong intently watched his upright figure, whispering indiscernibly:

"Why doesn't my brother ask... if uncle Yuanjiao instructed me to do these things?"

Li Xijun hesitated for a moment and then left on the wind.

...

Li Qinghong completed a three-year seclusion at Qingdu Peak and emerged with his Qi Cultivation reaching the Eighth Layer. After solidifying his cultivation level for a time, he planned to take an elixir on the New Moon to break through to the Ninth Layer.

Unexpectedly, Li Yuanping personally made the journey to Qingdu Mountain, reporting that the cloud qi in the Wutu Mountain Cave Mansion had been surging for years, filling the cave with mists and the sound of running water, while clear springs emerged from the ground.

The weather in the Shanyue Region was becoming increasingly abnormal; torrential rains would often pour down for merely half an incense stick's time, and then skies would clear at a moment's notice, with amphibious creatures scrambling towards the shores.

Having experienced Li Tongya's breakthrough, Qinghong realized upon hearing this that his elder brother Li Yuanjiao's years of seclusion and cultivation were approaching a critical moment in his attempt at Foundation Establishment.

"Brother is so... preparing for such a crucial life-and-death event of Foundation Establishment without a word... he didn't even inform anyone."

Despite his complaints, Li Qinghong hurried on the wind to Wutu Mountain, standing guard in front of the cave mansion personally.