Chapter 27: Chengfu

Tonight, Lijing Village was brightly lit, with laughter and joy echoing from every household. As is customary during the New Year, children ran about the village, playing and frolicking.

Liu Linfeng led his men to light a roaring bonfire in the village clearing. Everyone gathered around the flames, chatting and laughing while discussing that ferocious serpent. The men boasted proudly, their faces flushed red in the firelight.

In the evening, it took a full ten men to drag the serpent down from the mountain. After the arduous task of stripping away its scales, the village women were called to slice the meat finely. Three large basins were filled, seasoned with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine, and set aside by the bonfire. Each household brought their own meat and vegetables to the fire to chat.

Li Mutian had never cared for such lively affairs and was too lazy to step out of his courtyard. Thus, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya summoned men to watch over the spiritual root before descending the mountain.

"Our knowledge is shallow, and we do not recognize this spiritual root, nor do we know its effects or taboos. We should leave it for now and seek out a market in a few days to make some inquiries," Li Xiangping said, turning to his brother as he sat before the bonfire.

"Naturally," Li Tongya nodded. He looked up at the three wooden basins and picked up a slice of serpent meat with his fingers. Seeing that the meat was sliced as thin as a cicada's wing and seemed to glow with a white light, he smiled. "The *Secret Records of Lixia* state: 'Those of the scaled, furred, feathered, or insectoid varieties that become demons swallow the essence of the sun and moon; their flesh and blood are infused with spiritual qi. Consuming them strengthens the body and replenishes one's vital energy and blood.' We should let Father use more of it."

"It has already been sent to the courtyard," Li Xiangping replied. He skewered a piece of serpent meat with a stick, letting it sizzle over the fire, and continued, "The serpent gall was also about the size of two fists; it has been sent to the courtyard to soak in wine."

As the two chatted, Li Yesheng approached with Xu Wenshan. Li Tongya looked up, raising an eyebrow to signal them to speak.

"You intend to establish commerce along the Guli Road, buying up the surplus goods from the various villages?"

After listening to Xu Wenshan's confident description, Li Xiangping and Li Tongya exchanged a look, both appearing lost in thought. The plan Xu Wenshan proposed coincided perfectly with their own intentions.

After a few moments of deliberation, Li Tongya spoke. "Very well. You and Liu Linfeng will be responsible for this. Aside from your own workers, the rest of the manpower will be drawn from the Liu family for now."

Seeing Xu Wenshan's overwhelming joy, Li Xiangping said in a heavy tone, "There are several immortals along the Guli Road. If we are to engage in trade, we cannot avoid consulting them. Send people first to cautiously probe and make contact. Mark the inhabited areas along the Guli Road and produce a map first."

"Understood, subordinate!"

Having listened carefully, Xu Wenshan raised his head and beat his chest in a guarantee. "Rest assured, Master. I, Old Xu, have traveled the Lixia roads for over ten years; I know these routes like the back of my hand. If I had ever been to this Guli Road, I could have drawn that map instantly."

As Xu Wenshan hurried back to find his workers, Li Tongya ate his serpent meat and said in a low voice to Li Yesheng, "Uncle is idle at home; he might as well come out and do something. That Xu Wenshan is quite cunning. Although most of the Liu family has been planted within his ranks, you must still keep an eye on him, Yesheng. Do not let him become too powerful."

"I understand!" Li Yesheng replied quickly. Having followed the two brothers for so long, he had become accustomed to their ways, and he secretly grew wary of Xu Wenshan.

"Tomorrow, find some reliable people of our own to go up the mountain and enclose that banyan tree with a small courtyard, to prevent others from peeping..."

After Li Xiangping finished speaking, he waved his hand. Li Yesheng took the hint and withdrew. Li Tongya let out a soft sigh and said solemnly, "If our Li family weren't so short on manpower to hold the fort, we wouldn't need to be so calculating and defensive."

Li Xiangping ate his meat in silence, his hand tightening around his skewer. He replied, "We should have gone to the market; buying a map would have been easy. It is just that our cultivation is low, and we do not know the depths of that market. I fear we cannot afford to take risks."

"Don't worry!" Seeing Li Xiangping's dejected expression, Li Tongya laughed. "Now that Jing'er has entered a sect, the family's spiritual seedlings are growing well, a disciple with spiritual apertures has emerged from the clan, and we have discovered this spiritual root. Our Li family is in a period of flourishing prosperity. If we are too dissatisfied, we might instead invite calamity."

Li Xiangping was stunned by these words. He nodded thoughtfully and smiled. "I shall keep my brother's teachings in mind!"

***

Li Chengfu had moved near the main household, and his life had completely changed. Not only had he reclaimed his clan name, but throughout Lijing Village, anyone who spoke of Li Chengfu could not help but mention what true good fortune he possessed!

When he walked through the village, he wasn't exactly a tyrant, but he certainly carried himself with dignity. Who wouldn't greet him respectfully?

The elders of the Ye clan were naturally green with envy. Even Liu Linfeng, who usually wouldn't spare him a glance, now had to greet him with a smile, calling him "Chengfu."

To be fair, although Li Chengfu was quite proud, he still didn't dare to act high and mighty in front of Liu Linfeng. After all, the man was a direct maternal uncle; though he was currently in decline, who knew if he might rise again?

Sure enough, after Liu Linfeng had been in decline for only a few months, a single command from the main household had him managing dozens of people in the blink of an eye. Running back and forth between the front and back of the village, drawing maps—the smile on Liu Linfeng's face was practically dripping onto the ground!

Sitting in a small shop in the village, Li Chengfu tasted his wine with relish, watching Liu Linfeng busy as a spinning top day after day, and chuckled.

"I see your tasks aren't easy either, Liu Linfeng! I, Li Chengfu, certainly live more comfortably!"

"Brother Fu, Brother Fu! Tell me, what kind of magical tricks do these immortals have? Why do you all run up the mountain every single day?"

Looking at the idle men surrounding him, eagerly asking for gossip, Li Chengfu snorted, flicked his sleeves, and shouted, "Shut up! All of you, move aside!"

Li Chengfu wasn't a fool. The Li family's lineage was thin, and as a concubine-born member of the Li family, he was considered a confidant. He and the two children were currently building that small courtyard on the mountain. Li Yesheng had ordered that it must not be leaked; could Li Chengfu be so stupid as to sell out his own family just to attract attention?

The middle-aged man was calculating very clearly in his heart. His children possessed spiritual apertures and carried the Li bloodline. Aside from the three currently in charge—Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and Li Yesheng—the fourth seat was practically guaranteed! How could Liu Rouxuan, an outsider, interfere?

Now that he and the three children—one immortal and two mortals—had all changed their surnames to Li, the interests of the Li family were the interests of Li Qiuyang, and the interests of Li Chengfu. How could he sell out his own family?

"Back to work!"

Li Chengfu waved his hand, drained his cup of clear wine, and swaggered out from the crowd of idle men.

The courtyard on the mountain was large, and the construction period was short; Li Chengfu had no time to waste here.

(End of Chapter)