Chapter 10: Marriage Alliance

Li Mutian had just reached the front of the Tian family’s courtyard with his hands behind his back when Tian Yun, who had been humming a tune while squatting to pick vegetables, looked up. Seeing it was Li Mutian, she smiled shyly and said

“Uncle Li!”

She set down the vegetables in her hand, stood up quickly, and called toward the house

“Dad! Uncle Mutian is here.”

“It’s me.”

Li Mutian responded with a smile, looking Tian Yun up and down.

Over the past three years, the girl had blossomed into a beauty. Her figure was curvaceous and exquisite; while she couldn't be called stunning, her features were regular, and there was a unique charm when she smiled.

“Not bad, not bad.” Li Mutian lifted the hand he had been holding behind his back, revealing a wild goose.

“Uncle Li, you are being too polite.”

Seeing Li Mutian arrive with a gift, Tian Yun was stunned for a moment. Upon closer inspection, she exclaimed in surprise

“Is this… a goose?”

The *Book of Rites: Etiquette for Marriage* states: “In the marriage ceremony, the first step is the proposal. Use a goose.”

In the Yue Kingdom, when a man wished to marry into a family, he would bring a wild goose to their door; this ritual was known as the *Nacai* (proposal).

As a small farming family, they were not accustomed to such elaborate rules. In Lijin Village, let alone a goose, many people came to propose empty-handed. This was the first time Tian Yun had ever seen a formal proposal, and it took her a moment to react.

“Do you fancy my Xiangping?”

Li Mutian laughed heartily, feeling a sudden urge to tease her.

Tian Yun’s ears and neck had already turned bright red. Out of modesty and shyness, she stammered, trying to hide her feelings, but fearing that Li Mutian might take her silence for a refusal, she finally blurted out

“I do!”

Tian Shoushui, who had just stepped out of the house, let out a long sigh of relief upon hearing this, the stone that had been weighing on his heart for so long finally falling to the ground.

As a father, how could he not see that his daughter’s heart had long been tethered to Li Xiangping?

It was just that the boy was usually so tight-lipped that no one could tell what he was thinking, and Tian Shoushui, fearing his daughter might face embarrassment, had kept his silence.

“Big Brother!” Tian Shoushui called out with a loud laugh.

Tian Shoushui had followed Li Mutian since he was five, and at twelve, they had both joined the army under Ren Ping'an. The three of them had clung to each other for survival in the military; they were more than brothers.

Later, after returning to the village, they had killed the wealthy Yuan family and washed their hands of violence to take up farming. Li Mutian had looked after him in every way, dividing land for him and acting as the matchmaker for his marriage.

Tian Shoushui’s fate was tied to the Li family; he had even helped raise Li Changhu, treating him with more affection than his own children.

How could his daughter suffer if she married into that family?

Tian Yun, unaware of the complex thoughts running through her father’s mind, fled as soon as she saw him emerge, which only made Li Mutian laugh even harder.

“Big Brother, besides this marriage, there is another urgent matter,” Tian Shoushui said, shaking his head helplessly as his expression turned serious.

“What is it?”

Li Mutian looked up, puzzled.

“A few days ago, while passing the Yuan family’s ancestral graves on the mountain, I heard some movement. But when I turned back to look, I saw nothing.”

“Are there still surviving members of the Yuan clan?” Li Mutian’s eyebrows arched, his voice turning gloomy.

“I suppose it’s just some distant relatives daring to pay their respects in secret,” Tian Shoushui said, feeling uneasy and quickly trying to reassure himself.

“True, you have a point.” Li Mutian relaxed slightly and nodded at Tian Shoushui. “We did check back then; there were five people in the Yuan family, and none were missed.”

“Big Brother, I shouldn't have brought up such bad luck on a happy day!” Tian Shoushui slapped himself, which made Li Mutian chuckle softly.

Stepping out of the Tian residence, Li Mutian walked along the dirt road with a calm expression, gazing thoughtfully at Mount Dali.

————

After finalizing the marriage arrangements, Li Mutian returned to his courtyard humming a tune. Crossing the front yard, he found his three sons chatting at a wooden table.

His youngest son, Li Chijing, was in his room with his eyes closed, practicing. Although the moonlight was thin during the day and progress was slow, Li Chijing practiced diligently day and night, wasting not a single moment.

In the courtyard, Li Xiangping was flipping through the *Guide to Induction* over and over. The cloth was worn and creased, and much of the ink had smudged.

“Third brother, take it easy on that,” Li Tongya said with a playful scold, his own hand moving steadily as he carved onto a wooden slip.

Eldest brother Li Changhu was busy calculating accounts on the land deeds nearby. He raised an eyebrow and said

“He’s been at it all morning.”

Li Mutian stepped over the threshold, picked up the tea from the wooden table, and sat down on the steps, saying nonchalantly

“I went to the Tian family to propose.”

At these words, Li Xiangping jumped up from his chair, staring at his father with an anxious face.

“What did the Tian family say?”

“Tian Yun said she fancies you.” Li Mutian took a slow sip of tea and sighed comfortably.

“Good, good, that’s great.” Li Xiangping nodded excitedly.

“Hahahaha…” his two brothers couldn't help but laugh.

“Listen to me,” Li Mutian said, thinking of other matters. He set down his teacup and spoke seriously

“Though the path of immortality is wondrous, who knows what terrors and crises lie in wait? Our Li family is small; if something happens to you, who will carry on the family line?”

Seeing the young men turn serious, Li Mutian waved his hand.

“This Dharma mirror is our family’s opportunity, but it could also be our ruin.”

“I rushed to arrange Changhu’s marriage and wedding, hoping he would produce an heir quickly, just in case something happens, so that the Li family might still have a glimmer of hope.”

“The same goes for you.” Li Mutian pointed at Li Xiangping, then looked at Li Tongya and sighed helplessly.

“As for Tongya, I’m old and can’t sway you anymore. You have no interest in the village girls, but you must still leave behind some descendants…”

Li Tongya nodded silently. After a few breaths, he spoke

“Don’t worry, Father. I have my own plans.”

“That is for the best.”

Li Mutian brushed his graying temples, his heart filled with worry.

He was nearly sixty. Although he was healthy and lacked for nothing, the world was unpredictable; it was better to arrange the family affairs sooner rather than later.

“Father!”

A crisp voice interrupted the oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard. Li Chijing rushed out of the room and stood before his brothers.

“I’m about to refine eighty-one strands of moonlight and condense the Xuanjing Wheel!” Li Chijing said, lifting his head proudly.

“Our Chijing is amazing.”

Li Mutian had long heard his youngest son prattling on about this "Gate of Fetal Breath" and the "Xuanjing Wheel." He couldn't help but embrace him happily, laughing as he looked at the child.

The brothers were infected by the joyful atmosphere and began to smile. Li Changhu even pinched Li Chijing’s cheeks until the boy cried out in protest, finally letting go.

“The next time for the Induction Talisman seed is the Summer Solstice.”

Li Tongya looked at the joyful courtyard and smiled, thinking to himself

“I missed the new moon, but the next opportunity is the Summer Solstice. I only need to wait a few more days.”

“The path of immortality—Li Tongya is coming.”

He continued to carve the *Guide to Induction* onto the wooden slip in silence, but his heart was surging with excitement.

(End of chapter)