Chapter 32: The Arrival

Wan Tiancang spoke with tears and emotion, describing how brutal the Ji family was and how the Wan family was in dire straits, noting that the Wan and Li families shared a common destiny—prospering together and suffering together.

Even Li Yesheng, who was serving nearby, could not help but be moved, but Li Mutian kept his eyes lowered, remaining unmoved as he took a light sip of tea before speaking.

"Has the Wan family's situation truly reached such a desperate point?"

"Precisely!"

Wan Tiancang looked at Li Mutian and gritted his teeth. Realizing that the man before him was not one to give anything away without seeing a profit, he pulled a parchment scroll from his robe and spoke

"Before leaving, my clan brother specifically instructed the younger generation to be mindful of the Li family's needs regarding food, clothing, housing, and transportation. He requested that I bring this array scroll to repay the kindness of your noble family."

Li Mutian waved his hand, and Li Tongya stepped forward to take it. He listened as Wan Tiancang explained

"This array is called the Obscuring Mist Array. It was purchased by my grandfather from the market a hundred years ago. It can be deployed using array flags refined from spirit stones. My grandfather loved arrays; the mountain arrays in our home were all set up by him."

"This array was originally intended for him to test his own mastery of arrays. After he passed away, no one else in the clan has been proficient in array cultivation."

Wan Tiancang sighed with emotion, handing the parchment scroll to Li Tongya with both hands in a gesture of reluctance.

Seeing Li Tongya nod, Li Mutian smiled and said

"You are being too polite. The Wan and Li families both reside under the jurisdiction of Qingchi; it is only natural to help one another. Now that the Wan family is in trouble, how could the Li family take advantage of your plight? We shall only collect a fifteen percent harvest!"

Wan Tiancang could say nothing more. He felt that such a great figure of the Foundation Establishment stage likely looked down on his meager offering and was merely being polite. He gave a low, bitter smile and replied

"My thanks to Senior!"

Li Mutian gave a soft acknowledgment, and Li Tongya led Wan Tiancang, Li Yesheng, and the others out.

As soon as they exited the courtyard gate, Wan Tiancang looked at Li Tongya and asked with a hint of hope

"I wonder where your noble family has arranged the spirit fields? I would appreciate it if you could take me to see their quality."

"That is only natural."

Li Tongya nodded and spoke as they walked along the bluestone path

"Our Li family has two villages along the Guli Road. One is Lidaukou, which is the direction Brother Tiancang came from, and the other is Lichuankou, located by the banks of Moon-Watching Lake."

"The leased spirit fields are located in Lichuankou. I have already instructed people to build a small courtyard there. The plots are quite intact, with an annual yield of about seventy catties."

Wan Tiancang nodded to show he understood, then turned to comment on the scenery of Lijing Village along the way

"The road is quite well-maintained. Even with mortals coming and going, the path is remarkably clean and tidy. It is truly rare."

"Brother Tiancang overpraises us."

Li Tongya gave a low laugh and continued

"I heard there are immortal markets in this vicinity. Our Li family is newly established and does not know much about them."

"Brother Tongya always seems to dig information out of us!"

Wan Tiancang laughed heartily, teasing Li Tongya before turning serious

"I have only reached the Profound Landscape Wheel and have never visited a market. My clan brother and the Clan Head have been together, so they shared quite a bit of information."

"The market is located on a small islet in the middle of Moon-Watching Lake. It is run by a rogue cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement. During the full moon, large boats travel to the shore to pick up rogue cultivators or the practitioners from small families like ours to take us to that islet."

"According to the Clan Head, it is best to wait until one reaches the Jade Capital Wheel before heading to that islet, just to prevent anything from happening on the way."

Fearing that the Li family might send someone to their death and then blame the Wan family, Wan Tiancang hurriedly advised him.

"We naturally understand."

Li Tongya nodded, committing this important information to memory, and continued to chat casually with Wan Tiancang.

Before long, they arrived at Lichuankou. Upon hearing that Li Tongya had brought a cultivator from another family to Lichuankou, Chen Erniu was so startled that he rushed to welcome them with his men, following behind Li Tongya and Li Yesheng while whispering cautiously.

Wan Tiancang estimated the size of the fields and tested the spiritual energy and soil quality. He nodded to Li Tongya, signaling his approval. Li Tongya smiled and waved his hand

"Brother Wan must be tired from the journey. I still have family matters to attend to, so I must take my leave first."

With that, he instructed Li Yesheng and Chen Erniu to arrange the details for Wan Tiancang before turning back toward Lijing Village.

————

The back mountains of Lijing Village were much more bustling now. The villagers had begun calling this mountain Lijing Mountain. Among the dense forests, many small courtyards with blue bricks and grey tiles had appeared, dotting the landscape beautifully.

A winding stone path stretched from the foot of the mountain to the summit. At the base, a villager saw Li Tongya and greeted him respectfully

"Welcome, Immortal Master."

Li Tongya nodded casually and walked up the stone path for the duration of an incense stick's burn until a small courtyard came into view.

A teacher named Han Wenxu was teaching there. The courtyard was filled with children, roughly fifty or sixty in number, all sitting upright under the trees listening to his lectures.

Not only children from Lijing and Jingyang villages came to study, but even those from the more distant Lidaukou and Lichuankou. Only families with some savings could afford to educate one or two children, so they naturally sent them to Lijing Village.

Glancing at Li Xuanxuan, who was sitting inside reading, Li Tongya thought to himself

"In a few months, once the child's body reaches six or seven years old and takes shape, I can test his spiritual apertures. I still have three Black Pearl Talismans left; I need not fear Xuan'er lacking spiritual apertures."

"Counting the days, Tian Yun's pregnancy should also reach term in a few months."

For some reason, Liu Rouxuan's image suddenly flashed in Li Tongya's mind, startling him. He shook his head repeatedly, stood dazed for a few seconds, and continued up the mountain with a bitter smile.

Past the schoolhouse were one hundred and twenty-six steps. A large door painted red stood upon a platform, and an elderly man with half-white hair sat by the entrance.

"Uncle Tian!"

Li Tongya greeted him. He saw Tian Shoushui happily holding a small hammer, working on a half-finished wooden horse.

"Tongya is back."

Tian Shoushui nodded with a smile, scratched his head somewhat sheepishly, and pointed to the wooden horse.

"It's just that Yun'er is about to give birth, so I thought I'd make something for the child to play with..."

The old man had suffered many injuries in his youth, causing him to age rapidly. He was the same age as Li Mutian, yet he looked more than ten years older.

"Alright then, take your time."

Li Tongya held great respect for this elder, who was like a father to him. After greeting him, he entered the courtyard.

Li Xiangping was slowly waking from meditation. He exhaled a breath of turbid air and looked at Li Tongya, asking

"Has Second Brother reached the Zhou Xing Wheel?"

"Yes."

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and answered with a smile.

"One step ahead of me again."

Li Xiangping acted sulky, though he couldn't help but smile himself as he stood up to stretch.

After recounting the matter with Wan Tiancang and placing the array scroll on the table, Li Tongya picked up a teacup and took a drink. Seeing Li Xiangping looking pensive with lowered eyes, Li Tongya asked

"What is it?"

"Wan Tiancang is much harder to deal with than that Wan Kai."

Li Xiangping looked up, his expression calm.

Li Tongya smiled softly and was about to speak when he saw Tian Shoushui poke his head out and call out

"Lin Feng is here!"

The two exchanged a puzzled look. They saw Liu Linfeng rushing into the courtyard, wiping sweat from his brow, and looking at them

"An Immortal Master has come down from the mountain, claiming to be from Qing Sui Peak!"