Chapter 535: Sect Hostage

Li Ku said this, grabbed a handful of black chess pieces, and scattered them onto the chessboard. With a clatter, the board was in a mess. He said, "Like this, who could possibly see the old man's losing position?"

Lv Yinlin smiled faintly and said, "Old rascal, aren't you just playing dirty?"

Li Ku said, "One can play dirty in chess. But in this alliance, one certainly cannot!"

Upon hearing this, Lv Yinlin merely sat there, his eyelids drooping, and did not respond.

Li Ku continued, "If one is not to play dirty, there must be some chips and a gesture. Don't you agree?"

Lv Yinlin raised his head, looked steadily at Li Ku, and asked, "What gesture do you have in mind?"

Li Ku said, "The young man who came with me, did you see him?"

Lv Yinlin nodded slightly and said, "He looks quite well-behaved."

Li Ku said, "His name is Li Ruojian, and he is the second son of the Tianyan Sect's Sect Leader, Li Yunjing."

"Oh." Lv Yinlin's brows twitched.

The Tianyan Sect is different from the Taiyi Sect. The successive Sect Leaders of the Tianyan Sect are all descendants of the Li surname, and Li Ku's lineage is so prosperous that there are hundreds of Li descendants alive today.

With such a prosperous lineage, to avoid internal strife, there is naturally a strict succession system.

And the position of Sect Leader is established by seniority and legitimacy.

The current Sect Leader of the Tianyan Sect, Li Yunjing, has two legitimate sons: the eldest, Li Ruozhou, and the second, Li Ruojian.

If there are no accidents, after Li Yunjing passes on, it will be his eldest son, Li Ruozhou, who inherits the position of Sect Leader; hence, Li Ruozhou is also known as the Young Sect Master within the Tianyan Sect.

But if there were some accidents, such as Li Ruozhou dying prematurely, then according to the succession system, it would be the second son, Li Ruojian, who inherits the position of Sect Leader.

Therefore, Li Ruojian's status within the Tianyan Sect also has its special aspects.

Li Ku said, "He will stay here with you from now on. I hope Brother Lv can look after him."

Lv Yinlin glanced at Li Ruojian, who was standing before the cliff face with an expression that said 'strangers keep away,' and said faintly, "Since he is of your direct lineage, I will naturally look after him."

Lv Yinlin naturally understood that Li Ku was placing Li Ruojian with him as a hostage for the alliance between the two sects.

This was the gesture and the chip he spoke of!

Speaking of Li Ruojian, Li Ku's expression seemed somewhat grave.

In recent years, he had not seen these little ones much. This time, bringing Li Ruojian all the way from You Province, he discovered on the road that Li Ruojian was not only quite well-behaved but also had excellent talent. Coupled with him being his own blood relative, he could not help but feel a touch of reluctance in his heart at this moment.

Once one becomes a hostage, one becomes a chip in the changing situation of this world. If the situation changes, life and death are unpredictable.

Li Ku picked up the Bamboo Tube, took a sip of clear water, and said, "Li Yunjing will set off with the alliance negotiation team in a few days."

"Mm." Lv Yinlin nodded. The Taiyi Sect and the Tianyan Sect have actually had many conflicts of interest over the years. Agreeing to an alliance is easy, but actually implementing it in black and white is likely a laborious and exhausting matter; however, that is a matter for Chu Qiushan and the Elder Council.

"There is one more thing." Li Ku looked at Lv Yinlin and said.

"What thing?"

Li Ku said, "Li Yunjing's eldest son, Li Ruozhou, will come along with the negotiation team. I was thinking, if you and I become in-laws, this alliance will be even more secure!"

Lv Yinlin chuckled and said, "Old thing, you have a good Abacus!"

Li Ku said, "I have placed the Sect's second son with you. You are marrying off one of your girls, so what? Are you still complaining about being at a loss?"

A faint smile hung on Lv Yinlin's face, and he remained noncommittal.

He knew that Li Ku had placed a hostage at the Taiyi Sect, and the Taiyi Sect also had to make some gesture. An alliance is a transaction, and all transactions require give and take; only by being fair and reasonable can things remain peaceful.

Li Ku's meaning was clearly that he wanted Li Ruozhou to marry Lv Qingzhu, using the marriage between the two families to endorse the alliance between the two sects.

From the perspective of the alliance, Li Ku's proposal was excellent. It was just that... Lv Yinlin was a bit reluctant to part with Lv Qingzhu.

He was naturally indifferent to human sentiment, and now that he was over a thousand years old, he had long had no concerns regarding blood relations, but when Lv Qingzhu was three years old, she came to the deep valley to pay her respects to him for the first time.

He discovered that this little girl was exactly the same as his little daughter who had passed away a thousand years ago, as if she had been reborn.

From that time on, he had looked after Lv Qingzhu very much.

From the time Lv Qingzhu began to cultivate, Lv Yinlin personally guided her, which could be described as painstaking and exhausting, even going so far as to use the method of Divine Soul infusion to help her cultivate the Womb Treasury Sutra.

Lv Yinlin really could not bear to have her married off far away for the sake of a political marriage for the Sect's alliance, and it was said that the Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master, Li Ruozhou, had a very poor reputation in the streets.

Seeming to see the hesitation on Lv Yinlin's face, Li Ku said, "Li Ruojian is placed by your side. That girl marries into my Tianyan Sect. Brother Lv, you wouldn't disagree, would you?"

Lv Yinlin did not immediately give an answer.

Li Ku looked at him with a strange expression and said, "Could it be that my Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master is not worthy of your girl?!"

Lv Yinlin took a sip of clear water and said, "Of course that's not it..."

"Then that's good!" Li Ku said, "That boy Li Ruozhou will come along with the negotiation team. The birth dates of the two will be checked, and an auspicious day for the engagement and the wedding will be chosen. At that time, there will be a festive wedding procession to grandly welcome the girl to my Tianyan Sect."

"Moreover, I want to hold their wedding grandly and invite the Elders and Principals of the Nine Provinces Eight Sects to attend the ceremony and the banquet."

"Lv Yinlin, you should know the deep meaning of their marriage, right?!"

Lv Yinlin looked at Li Ku, his expression grave.

Li Ku said, "Their marriage is the union of our two families, and it is also a reflection of the alliance between our two sects! On the day of the wedding, the people of the Eight Sects will all be witnesses!"

"The grander the wedding, the more solid our alliance will be. This is not only a signal to the Nine Provinces Eight Sects, but also a signal to the Shenyi Sect. Let the people of the Shenyi Sect have some misgivings when they are preparing to attack."

Lv Yinlin already had a grasp of these stakes in his heart, but his feelings for Lv Qingzhu made it difficult for him to decide for a moment. But under Li Ku's relentless offensive, the balance in his heart finally tipped completely.

Lv Yinlin gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Li sees far! This matter shall be handled as Brother Li says!"

Seeing that Lv Yinlin had finally agreed, Li Ku smiled with relief and said, "That's more like it! Li Ruozhou and your girl tying the knot can be called a match made in heaven. It's a good thing for both of them, a good thing for you and me, a good thing for the Taiyi Sect, and a good thing for the Tianyan Sect. It's a good thing for the world situation as well. It can be said to be a great achievement! With such an obvious matter, I don't know what you were being so hesitant about just now?"

Lv Yinlin said, "I have heard that the boy Li Ruozhou has a rather poor reputation. You go back and tell him that if my Qingzhu suffers any grievances over there, this old man will personally go to the Tianyan Sect and strike him to death with a palm!"

The last few words Lv Yinlin spat out were like a thunderclap.

Upon hearing this, Li Ku's expression was a bit awkward, and he said, "Young people, there are bound to be some lapses in conduct. I will personally discipline him in the future regarding this matter. Don't worry, the girl will definitely not be wronged!"

Seeing Li Ku say this, Lv Yinlin's expression softened slightly.

Even though he cherished Lv Qingzhu, how could he let personal feelings interfere with the major affairs of the Sect?

Seeing that the two had discussed almost everything, Li Ku suddenly turned his head and waved at Li Ruojian, who was standing before the cliff face.

While the two were playing chess and talking under the ancient pine, Li Ruojian had stood before that cliff face, motionless, for nearly two hours.

At this moment, he saw Li Ku beckoning to him and intended to go over, but he couldn't help but stagger, only then realizing his legs had become somewhat stiff.

Li Ruojian circulated his vital energy, and the Qi and blood in his legs, stiff from standing for so long, immediately recovered; he straightened his back and walked to the front of the ancient pine.

Li Ku looked at him and said, "Ruojian, this is the Ancestor of the Taiyi Sect, Senior Lv."

Li Ruojian cupped his hands and nodded, saying, "Junior Li Ruojian pays respects to Senior Lv!"

Lv Yinlin scanned Li Ruojian up and down, nodded, and said, "Not bad, a good piece of material!"

Li Ku said, "From now on, you will cultivate by Senior Lv's side. I hope you will be diligent in your practice and not bring shame to the reputation of my Tianyan Sect."

"Yes, Ancestor!" Li Ruojian cupped his hands and nodded, saying, "Ruojian will strictly follow your teachings!"

Li Ku felt somewhat unhappy in his heart; he turned his face away, looked at Lv Yinlin, and said, "Lv Yinlin, all matters are settled! This old man is leaving!"

After Li Ku finished speaking, he suddenly ascended into the sky!

Li Ruojian's expression froze, and he immediately knelt down with a thud toward Li Ku, who was flying into the void, kowtowed, and shouted, "Ruojian respectfully sends off the Ancestor!"

Lv Yinlin watched Li Ku's figure suddenly ascend into the sky, shook his head, and smiled bitterly, "This old brat, he leaves as soon as he says he will!"

The Symbol Array within this deep valley had no restrictions from the inside out. Unless Lv Yinlin cast a spell to cause trouble. However, since all matters had been settled, he did not want to make things difficult for Li Ku again. He let Li Ku fly out of the valley.

Li Ku darted into the clouds high above the deep valley before heaving a sigh of relief; the Symbol Array inside Lv Yinlin's deep valley was quite exquisite.

Having not seen him for over a hundred years, since he had come, he naturally had to test the depth of Lv Yinlin's abilities.

But he had come to discuss an alliance, so it would not do to fight with Lv Yinlin, hence he had charged straight into the deep valley's Symbol Array.

When entering the valley, this Symbol Array alone had forced his Seed Character out. The many intricacies of this Symbol Array left him greatly shocked!

Fortunately, when leaving the valley, Lv Yinlin had not made things difficult for him!

Li Ku flew into the clouds, and his figure disappeared from sight.

Inside the deep valley, under the ancient pine, after a while, Li Ruojian finally raised his head, his eyes staring blankly at the void in front of the cliff wall, where Li Ku's shadow was long gone.

Looking at the empty void, he unknowingly shed two lines of clear tears.

As a hostage living alone in this Changliu Mountain Range, with Li Ku leaving like this, he did not know in what year or month he would see his relatives from the Tianyan Sect again.

Lv Yinlin looked at him and said, "Li Ruojian, you may rise!"

"Yes!" Li Ruojian wiped the tear stains from his face and stood up.

Lv Yinlin said, "In the future, I will personally guide your cultivation. As for resources, you need not worry; they will certainly not be less than what you had in the Tianyan Sect. Although you are a hostage and under the control of others, as long as you cultivate diligently, if one day you achieve the Nascent Soul Realm, will the vast land of Jiuzhou not be yours to roam?"

Li Ruojian said, "Many thanks to Senior for your guidance! It is just that Ruojian is dull of aptitude, and I fear I lack that ability."

Li Ruojian was very clear that as a hostage, how could he possibly achieve the Nascent Soul Realm?

No one would sit by and watch the chess piece in their hand turn the tables, and Lv Yinlin even less so.

Lv Yinlin said, "You need not overthink it! You have traveled far and are weary; go and rest first."

"Yes!" Li Ruojian cupped his hands in a salute, and at this moment, he saw a figure walking over from his side.

Duan Rong walked to the ancient pine, glanced at Li Ruojian beside him, and cupped his hands toward Lv Yinlin, saying, "Ancestor!"

He had just been cultivating in his Cave Abode when Lv Yinlin's voice suddenly rang in his ears, telling him to come over!

Lv Yinlin said, "His name is Li Ruojian; he will reside in the valley from now on. Take him to choose a Cave Abode. If there is anything he lacks in terms of supplies, look after him."

"Yes, Ancestor!" After Duan Rong finished speaking, he turned to Li Ruojian and said, "Brother Li, follow me!"

Li Ruojian immediately followed Duan Rong for a few steps and asked, "How should I address you, brother?"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "My name is Duan Rong! Brother Li, are you from the Tianyan Sect?"

Li Ruojian nodded and said, "Yes."

Duan Rong stood there, pointed out a few places to Li Ruojian, and said, "This Cave Abode is mine, this one is Lv Qingzhu's, and that one is the Ancestor's Cave Abode. The rest are all empty; you may choose any one you like."

Li Ruojian stood there, swept his gaze across, and said, "That one!"

Duan Rong glanced at the place Li Ruojian pointed to. The Cave Abode he chose was in a corner of the deep valley, quite remote, and very far from the few of them.

From this choice of Cave Abode, one could see Li Ruojian's personality.

Although he spoke gently and amiably, his heart was very reclusive.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "That place is fine. Next to that Cave Abode is a spring; it is convenient for getting water. We usually get our water from that spring."

Duan Rong appeared to be praising Li Ruojian's choice, but in reality, he was reminding him that although it seemed remote, they often went there to fetch water.

"Ah!" Upon hearing this, a flash of panic indeed appeared on Li Ruojian's face. "Brother Duan, would it be better if I chose that Cave Abode over there instead?"

Duan Rong glanced at it, smiled lightly, and said, "Of course you may!"

Li Ruojian chose a Cave Abode that was very far from Lv Qingzhu and the Ancestor, and also far from the spring, but closer to him.

After all, the three of them originally had their Cave Abodes in a triangular formation, and since Li Ruojian also wanted to avoid the spring, no matter how he chose, he would have to be close to one of them.

Therefore, he chose Duan Rong.

Duan Rong led Li Ruojian into the Cave Abode; the Cave Abode had not been lived in for a long time and was already covered in dust.

Duan Rong said, "The valley is simple and crude; please forgive me, Brother Li, for any lack of hospitality."

Li Ruojian said, "This is the secluded residence of your sect's Ancestor, so naturally, there is no disturbance from the mortal world. With a little cleaning, it will be a fine place to live."

Duan Rong said, "Where the heart is at peace, there is home. It is very good that Brother Li can think this way!"

Upon hearing "where the heart is at peace, there is home," Li Ruojian's expression shifted slightly.

Duan Rong said, "If Brother Li is lacking anything, you can make a list for me, and I will procure it for you."

Li Ruojian cupped his hands and said, "Then I will trouble you, Brother Duan."

"You are welcome!" Duan Rong smiled and said, "Brother Li, forgive my presumption! The Ancestor said Brother Li is to reside in this valley for a long time; I wonder how long this 'long time' is?"

Duan Rong knew Li Ruojian was from the Tianyan Sect and had been brought into the valley by the Tianyan Sect's Ancestor, Li Ku, but he did not understand why Li Ku would leave him alone in this deep valley upon his departure. Thus, he was probing to ask the question in his heart.

Li Ruojian smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Duan, as for how long 'long time' is, I do not know either!"

"You don't know either?"

Li Ruojian said, "I will not hide it from you, Brother Duan; I am the legitimate second son of the Tianyan Sect Leader, and I am staying here as a hostage."

"A hostage!?" Duan Rong looked at Li Ruojian with astonishment in his eyes.

Li Ruojian said with a bitter expression, "How can meat on a chopping block know when it will be served? It is merely waiting to be slaughtered."

Li Ruojian knew that although Duan Rong looked young, being able to live in this deep valley and stay by the side of the Taiyi Sect Ancestor meant he was definitely not simple! Therefore, the moment he first saw Duan Rong, he had the intention to befriend him.

The first principle of befriending someone is to meet with sincerity. Furthermore, the fact that he was a hostage was not a secret at all.

(End of chapter)