Chapter 109: Seeking Attachment

"In a few years, we will have to go to the prefecture to pay tribute, and we must also report the news of our Li family's Qi Refining cultivator. At that time, it would be best to have saved up one hundred spirit stones so we can be sure to invite a formation master to set up the array."

The Ji family's 'Golden Radiance Proper Sharpness Art' is also a third-grade cultivation method, no worse than the 'River and Sea One Qi Art', and actually more suitable for Li Xuanfeng to use with his archery. Li Tongya handed it to him to break through, hoping that Li Xuanfeng could represent the Li family to go to Guanyun Peak the next time they pay tribute.

After all, although Li Tongya broke through to Qi Refining, he broke through consecutively when the 'Heavy Sea Long Whale Record' entered his body, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining. His cultivation speed was truly astonishing. The last time he went to pay tribute, he was still at the peak of Fetal Breathing, which would inevitably attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Li Tongya was a cautious person and naturally did not want to take such a risk. Although Li Xuanfeng's Qi Refining at fifteen would also be astonishing, if Li Tongya were to go, having spent thirty years slowly crawling and then breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining in five years, even a fool could see there was a problem.

"Has uncle gone into seclusion?"

Li Xuanxuan asked, and then saw Li Xiewen speak:

"Reporting to the family head, someone has been sent from Lichuankou. A group of Shanyue has come from the west, bringing a whole stretch of carts, goods, and slaves, saying that the East Shanyue has come to seek attachment."

"Seek attachment?!"

Li Xuanxuan was stunned and almost laughed out loud. He said coldly:

"We and the Shanyue belong to two major forces. Even if they have several villages seeking attachment, we wouldn't dare to accept them. What does this mean? It seems this Mu Jiaoman is terrified and really can't sit still anymore."

With Gani Xi dead, the entire Shanyue had fallen apart within a year, exploding into several small forces, with refugees and soldiers everywhere.

Li Xuanxuan's ears in the west had heard the news. Mu Jiaoman had integrated six or seven villages near the Li family, calling himself the hundred-thousand Shanyue, also known as the East Shanyue.

This hundred-thousand Shanyue only had Mu Jiaoman as a Qi Refining cultivator, and Li Tongya's current strength was far superior to his, which made Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan drool with envy. Several times they had wanted to cross the border to extort Mu Jiaoman.

After all, this Wushan never took the Shanyue at the foot of the mountain to heart. As long as the Li family did not openly annex territory, they would mostly not care at all.

It was just that the Shanyue territory was in a mess, and Li Tongya was cautious, so he had delayed moving west to meet Mu Jiaoman. He didn't want to gamble his life on the temperament of the people of Wushan. He didn't expect Mu Jiaoman to send someone to his door himself.

"That group of Shanyue said they are willing to marry, trade, and pay tribute, asking for only one thing."

"What are they asking for?"

Li Xuanxuan glanced down, already having a premonition in his heart.

"They ask that the Li family's Qi Refining cultivator does not cross the border."

Li Xuanxuan laughed out loud, the pent-up anger in his chest released, and he mocked:

"Truly arrogant before and humble after. We lived in fear under Gani Xi's threat for so many years, and now it's the Shanyue's turn to fear our family."

————

"Is this what the tribe of living people looks like?"

Mu Yalu led a large cart of animal skins and grain behind her, carefully taking a few steps forward. The clan soldiers from the year before gathered one after another, holding long spears and long knives, staring at them vigilantly.

"We are here to submit!"

The Shanyue tribesmen beside her stepped forward and shouted, but the Li family's clan soldiers didn't even look at them, their eyes filled with vigilance.

Mu Yalu sighed lightly. In her heart, there was not only the sorrow of leaving home but also a deep sense of envy.

"These living people are well-fed and clothed, their expressions are stable, and the clothes they wear are better than what the Shanyue nobles can wear. The knives and swords in their hands are sharp, and their armor is complete. It is truly unbelievable."

"Now that the locusts have swept through fifteen villages, even the Great Jueting has people starving to death. It is truly like heaven and earth."

The clan soldiers quickly separated, and a shrewd-looking youth wearing leather armor stepped forward. Mu Yalu hurriedly cupped her hands in the manner of the living people and said softly:

"Are you the head of the Li family?"

When Mu Yalu left home, she had put in the effort, washing away the patterns on her body and learning all the etiquette of the living people. She had been scolded several times before she learned to speak softly and walk with more restraint.

"I dare not. I am Li Xiewen, the clan manager of the Li family. Please step forward."

Li Xiewen took Mu Yalu forward. Naturally, there were clan soldiers who stepped forward to confiscate their weapons to ensure she had no cultivation, only then letting her pass to Li Xuanxuan.

Li Xuanxuan touched his chin and looked at Mu Yalu. She did have a kind of wild beauty. He said quietly:

"Why has the East Shanyue sent someone here?"

Mu Yalu hurriedly lowered her head and said:

"I am Mu Yalu, sister of Mu Jiaoman. I have met the head of the Li family. We are willing to trade, pay tribute, and marry with your clan, asking only that the Li family does not cross the border to kill."

Mu Yalu's words caused an uproar among the surrounding clan soldiers. The Shanyue had only entered the border to plunder the year before, and this year they were offering wealth to curry favor. The contrast was naturally surprising.

"We have searched for a long time for the Easterners plundered by Gani Xi, and we have sent them all back. They are behind the convoy. We are sincerely seeking peace! If the family head agrees, we are willing to marry for generations. I, Mu Yalu, will be the beginning of this marriage."

Mu Yalu called the people of the Li family Easterners and did not use the slightly sarcastic term "living people," which showed her thorough preparation.

She offered a wooden box, in which lay a white, plump fruit. Mu Yalu said respectfully:

"My king offers this spirit fruit to express his apology for the eastward advance back then, hoping that the two families can resolve their grievances! This spirit fruit is also of great benefit to Qi Refining, and I hope the family head will accept it."

Li Xuanxuan glanced at her, and someone below stepped forward to take the fruit. Li Xuanxuan said in a deep voice:

"Please wait a moment, envoy. We still need to discuss this."

Seeing Mu Yalu nod and retreat, Li Xuanxuan whispered in Li Xiewen's ear:

"First send someone to untie the people."

After speaking, he turned and led the people toward Lijing Mountain.

The clan soldiers below stepped forward to untie the carts and the living people tied up behind. Immediately, some Shanyue tribesmen cursed:

"Your king hasn't said he agrees yet!"

Mu Yalu frowned slightly and wanted to stop them, but the Shanyue had already been beaten to the ground, his face covered in blood, and three teeth knocked out.

"You!"

Mu Yalu hurriedly stopped the crowd, shaking her head sadly, knowing that whether it succeeded or not, the wealth and slaves could not be taken back.

————

"Come in."

Li Xuanxuan pushed the door and entered, saying respectfully:

"Uncle, the Shanyue have sent someone to seek peace."

After stating the conditions one by one, Li Tongya listened carefully and said in a deep voice:

"Mu Jiaoman is now just a piece of goods that can be settled with one sword. This person is lustful and reckless; he can maintain the status quo but cannot make progress. He is far inferior to Gani Xi. It's not bad to have him watch the west for us."

"If we really get rid of him, the hundred-thousand Shanyue will collapse overnight. Although it would make them chaotic for a few years, who knows what kind of fierce person will be raised? It's better to keep this guy alive."

Li Xuanxuan nodded in agreement and said softly:

"The Shanyue do not understand craftsmanship, and their manual work and casting are extremely rough. As long as the Shanyue open up trade, it is equivalent to us having ten thousand tenant farmers out of thin air."

"Furthermore, uncle's talismans can also be sold at a high price, and there is no need to compete in the market. When our family has the inheritance of alchemy and weapon refining, we can use the East Shanyue as an entrance, just like the Qingchi Sect, to transform the hundreds of thousands of Shanyue into our dumping ground."

Li Tongya touched his chin and said in a deep voice:

"Not bad. Take that Mu Yalu as a concubine, and just send a girl from a minor branch to marry over. Remember to instruct them well; the people sent over must be carefully chosen."

"Yes."

Li Xuanxuan bowed and promised. Just as he was about to retreat, he saw Li Tongya turn his head and say:

"How many sons does Mu Jiaoman have?"

Li Xuanxuan pondered for a few breaths and said in a deep voice:

"That is not clear. My nephew will send someone to investigate immediately and report back to uncle."

Li Tongya nodded, waved his hand to let him retreat, lowered his head and pondered for a few breaths, dipped his brush in ink, and began to draw talismans.

Two updates 5000^

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 110 =====