Chapter 168

An Jiyan, sitting at the head, was using silver chopsticks to turn the bear paw in the plate. Hearing this, he raised his eyebrows. The leather hat he was wearing was pushed upward by his brow ridge, and the flesh on his face tightened. He said sternly:

"What kind of talk is this!"

An Jiyan's tone was still relatively gentle, with no intention of blame, which shows that An Jingming was truly the apple of An Jiyan's eye. If it were any other disciple in the clan who dared to say this, they would have been dragged away and beaten to death. Only when it came from An Jingming's mouth did An Jiyan take it seriously.

"The Yu family acts in a domineering and ambitious manner, while the Li family is restrained, low-key, united, and vicious. Our An family is caught in the middle of these two, unable to look after both ends. Is Father not afraid!"

An Jingming stood in the courtyard, the gold ring on his wrist reflecting light in the sun. The youth had his hair tied up, standing tall in the wind, staring straight at his father at the head.

"This..."

An Jiyan was speechless for a moment. After thinking for a while, he said:

"Haven't I already listened to you and led the Ding family to Wangyue Lake to maintain the three-legged balance? The Yu family has also promised not to attack families that pay tribute... If one day the Li family invades the north, the Yu family certainly won't sit by and watch the Li family expand. Naturally, there is nothing to fear. You just need to cultivate with peace of mind. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, our family will have a place on the lake. Isn't that wonderful!"

An Jingming gritted his teeth and shook his head. Looking at his father's satisfied face, he couldn't get angry. He flicked his sleeves and said softly:

"Father! How could the Yu family sit by and watch me achieve Foundation Establishment! Your son doesn't even dare to leave the family's grand array now. As my cultivation grows year by year, the Yu family will sooner or later lose their patience and will definitely find an excuse to kill your son!"

An Jiyan was stunned, his mouth moving without a word, unable to think of a rebuttal, so he had to say:

"You... what do you mean?"

An Jingming cleared his throat and said in a voice that was still somewhat immature:

"Our family's awkward situation today stems from our poor geography. Mount Huazhong is sandwiched between the Li family and the Yu family. The best strategy today is to sell Mount Huazhong to the Li family, letting the Li family face the pressure of the Yu family directly. The two families can sign a covenant, which in turn will make the Yu family feel the threat brought by the rise of the Li family."

"I heard that Li Tongya is already at the eighth level of Qi Refining, which is just enough to attract the attention of the Yu family. The two families can protect each other from east to west. Let me marry a daughter of the Li family and use the prestige of the Sword Immortal to deter the Yu family. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, if Li Tongya succeeds in his breakthrough, we will support the Li family against the Yu family. If Li Tongya fails, we will lead the two families, each taking what they need..."

While An Jingming was still talking, An Jiyan's lips were already trembling. With an ugly expression, he interrupted him, threw down the silver chopsticks in his hand, and called out hurriedly:

"No, absolutely not. How much spiritual land is there on Mount Huazhong, and how many of our clansmen does it support? We fought to the death to seize it; how can we give it to the Li family for nothing!"

An Jingming sighed softly, knowing that An Jiyan's personality would never allow him to cede land to avoid trouble, so he had to say in a deep voice:

"Since Father does not want to cede Mount Huazhong, your son has a secondary strategy. The key to the Li family lies in Li Tongya. This person is extremely cautious and stays in the south, focusing on cultivation, making him difficult to remove. But as long as we unite with the Yu family to target Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng, and remove one of them, how could Li Tongya possibly endure staying out of it?"

"And the Yu family is still relatively close to our family, with plenty of opportunities to be utilized. Yu Mugao is a gloomy and vicious person, difficult to deal with. As long as we unite with other families to surround and kill Yu Mugao, more than half of the threat from the Yu family will be gone."

An Jiyan listened in a daze. Seeing him wanting to surround and kill Yu Mugao on one hand, and remove Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng on the other, he couldn't keep up with the child's train of thought for a moment, and muttered:

"Then is our An family on the Yu family's side, or the Li family's side?"

"Both sides!"

An Jingming smiled softly, raised his head slightly, and said loudly:

"The Yu family and the Li family are wary of each other, so our An family has the opportunity to sow discord and play both sides. Regardless of which side loses people, or if neither side suffers casualties, the grudge between the Yu and Li families will have been formed."

An Jiyan was also quite tempted upon hearing this. After pondering for a few breaths, he said somewhat hesitantly:

"It's just... neither side is stupid. How could they do whatever you say?"

"Father, rest assured!"

An Jingming cupped his hands and replied:

"It is precisely because neither side is stupid that they fear each other. If they fear, they will have murderous intent. The struggle between the two families is destined; we are merely the fuse."

"Father only needs to follow the script I taught you exactly, and we will definitely make the two families frame each other and both suffer!"

————

Lijing Town, the residence at the foot of the mountain.

Mu Yalu walked around the courtyard twice, sat down lightly on a stone stool, and the servant on the side hurriedly served tea.

"Madam, this is the tea sent over by the main branch yesterday. It has already been sent to the courtyard three times this month."

The maid on the side explained softly. This woman was a descendant of the Shanyue who had fled here and was already completely indistinguishable from the Easterners. Mu Yalu had brought her into the courtyard herself and trusted her quite a bit. Hearing this, she nodded slightly, and the maid whispered:

"Young Master Xiu has a good relationship with Jiao'er. The First Madam used to look down on us, but in the past few years, after Jiao'er was found to possess spiritual apertures, she started to show favor..."

Mu Yalu waved her hand to signal her to stop talking and said softly:

"The main branch has means. For so many years, she has managed the concubines in the courtyard perfectly, and Xiu'er has been taught well. She is someone who can manage a household and is by no means an ordinary person. She sees Jiao'er as a future capable right-hand man for Yuanxiu, so naturally, she wants to maintain a good relationship with me."

Placing the small teacup on the table, Mu Yalu said in a low voice:

"Have you found out clearly what I asked you to inquire about?"

"Reporting to Madam, that person is named Shamoli, the fourth son of Mu Jiaoman, and he currently lives on the east side of the town."

Mu Yalu smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly, and she said softly:

"It is truly a heaven-sent opportunity. The East Shanyue will become closer and closer to the Li family in the future, and Jiao'er will also be able to gain some support from the Mulü clan after he grows up!"

Although the maid didn't understand why Mu Yalu said it was a heaven-sent opportunity, seeing her Madam so happy, she became happy herself. But then the courtyard gate rang, and two light "knock-knock" sounds came.

"Mother, your child has returned!"

"It's the Young Master!"

The maid was overjoyed. Mu Yalu stood up hurriedly, walked quickly to the front of the courtyard, pushed the door lightly, and saw Li Yuanjiao standing at the door with a smile.

"Jiao'er!"

Mu Yalu stepped forward, hugged him in her arms, and said softly:

"Have you been living comfortably on the mountain this year?"

"It's fine. All the brothers and sisters have been quite good to me."

Li Yuanjiao chuckled, walked quickly into the courtyard, sat down by the stone table, took the teacup, and said in a low voice:

"Father is in closed-door cultivation on the mountain this year. Has Mother been bullied by anyone at home?"

"No."

Mu Yalu answered softly and added water to his cup. Seeing Li Yuanjiao breathe a sigh of relief, she smiled:

"The legal mother treats Mother quite well, and there are no such petty squabbles in the residence, which makes me feel relieved. My elder brother and I don't have to be sad because of this, which saves a lot of trouble."

Seeing Mu Yalu nodding and smiling, Li Yuanjiao paused and said solemnly:

Mu Yalu raised her eyebrows to look at him. Seeing Li Yuanjiao put down the teacup, he said in a low voice:

"Has Mother sent anyone to inquire about news of Shamoli!"

Mu Yalu was shocked, nodded slightly, and answered somewhat uneasily:

"Yes..."

Li Yuanjiao shook his head and instructed:

"Mother's identity is sensitive. Just entrust someone to ask me on the mountain for these things. Do not go out to inquire in the future. The Li family's territory is different from the East Shanyue. The Clan Justice Court has many eyes and ears. Mother doesn't know the ins and outs of this, so don't leave any handles."

Mu Yalu was shocked and afraid, and said hurriedly:

"What are the consequences of this? Did Mother drag you down?!"

"There is no major harm."

Li Yuanjiao drank some tea and smiled:

"It's not a big deal in itself. Besides, elder brother gave me that secret letter and told me to handle it myself. I only came to remind Mother."

"That's good."

Mu Yalu sighed low. The mother and son talked for a few sentences. Mu Yalu calmed down, let the maid retreat, and then said softly:

"Young Master Yuanxiu... treats you as he did before?"

"Not bad."

Li Yuanjiao's voice also lowered, and he replied:

"Only elder brother can cultivate among the legal sons in the family. The clan has few people, and for those with spiritual apertures in the main branch, they are treated equally regardless of whether they are legal or concubine-born, male or female. Your child hasn't suffered any grievances; on the contrary, I have gained tremendous benefits."

"That is very good."

Mu Yalu breathed a sigh of relief. Never did she expect Li Yuanjiao to say again:

"I heard that the family is considering that Fourth Grand-Uncle is in the Southern Wilderness and is focused on the Pure Yang Dao, with no intention of romantic affairs. The elders in the clan want to adopt me into Fourth Grand-Uncle's lineage as a legal grandson... This time I came back to ask for Mother's opinion."

"What?!"

Mu Yalu was stunned, feeling as if she had been hit by a pie falling from the sky, and said hoarsely:

"But... but that Green Spike Sword Immortal?!"

"Exactly."

Li Yuanjiao was also quite shocked when he heard Li Xuanling secretly reveal this intention. Looking at his mother's incredulous expression, he said softly:

"He... Father also agreed. If this happens, I will become the eldest son of the fourth lineage's legal line, which will be of great benefit in the future."

"Not bad."

Mu Yalu nodded. She was focused on her child, so naturally, she nodded in agreement. After pondering for a few breaths, she said in a low voice:

"In this way, you can compete with Yuanxiu for the position of Young Clan Leader..."

"Mother, stop talking nonsense!"

Li Yuanjiao shook his head and said solemnly:

"I admire elder brother the most. Only he can be the Young Clan Leader. Jiao'er only wishes to assist elder brother well in this life, and has no other intentions."

"That is also good."

Mu Yalu smiled upon hearing this, thinking about how to pass these words exactly to the main branch.

"As for that Shamoli, he has a hedonistic personality."

The two chatted for a while, and Li Yuanjiao described Shamoli's temperament in detail. Mu Yalu smiled:

"It's not like everyone is well-versed in human affairs. Your Li family is only relatively good to your own people and the commoners under your rule. That Shamoli falling into your and your elder brother's hands can be considered pitiful."

"He was given the throne to sit on, what is there to be pitiful about!"

Li Yuanjiao disagreed and laughed loudly. Mu Yalu watched him with a smile on the side, counting from Li Xuanxuan to Li Yuanxiu in her heart, and found that none of them were easy to deal with. She thought to herself:

"The Li family are all bad seeds, both shrewd and bad. It's fine if they are focused outward. When the kinship becomes distant after six or eight generations, there will truly be a good show of dragon-fighting and tiger-fighting to watch. Fortunately, my child was born early and doesn't have to fight with equally shrewd and cunning characters!"

————

Top of Mount Lijing.

Li Tongya took a few steps through the air, his figure moving horizontally like a ghost. Several water-like shadows manifested around his body, floating around his figure for a while before disappearing with a 'poof'.

"'Crossing River Rushing Stream Steps'! It is finally done. From now on, I have more security when facing enemies. Unless I encounter a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if I can't win, I can leave calmly."

The "Crossing River Rushing Stream Steps" has three levels. The difficulty is manageable when first practicing, but it becomes much harder later on. Li Tongya spent seven or eight years to complete the first level.

The "River One Qi Technique" that Li Tongya cultivates is the foundational technique of the Lingyu Gate, and it shares the same origin as this footwork, so it should have been practiced quickly. It was just that his main energy in recent years had been focused on cultivation, hoping to break through to Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty, so he only took it out to look at and practice when he encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation. What should have taken three or four years dragged on for seven or eight years before he succeeded.

In the family, only Li Xuanling had a talent for footwork and had long since mastered this footwork. It was not heard that any other clansmen had mastered it.

"It's a pity about that Dan Fire Heart Technique. In such a large Li family, not a single person can be found who can catalyze Dan Fire..."

Li Tongya thought about it again. The Xiao family clansmen far exceeded the Li family, and in the entire Xiao family, only Xiao Chuting and Xiao Yuansi could catalyze Dan Fire, so he felt much more relieved.

"No wonder Yu Muxian, who joined the Qingchi Sect from the Yu family, is so valued. Being able to refine tools must also satisfy special technique conditions."

Just as Li Tongya landed on the mountain, a magic power transmission flew into the array and echoed in the cave dwelling.

"An Jiyan of the An family has come to visit. I ask Brother Tongya to open the grand array!"

"An Jiyan?"

Opening the magic array, Li Tongya sat in the courtyard for a few breaths. Li Xuanling had already led An Jiyan inside. Li Tongya glanced at him and said politely:

"Li Tongya greets Brother Jiyan."

"Brother, you are too polite!"

An Jiyan grinned and cupped his hands toward Li Tongya. His originally shiny bald head was now wearing a gray-white leather hat, and he finally didn't look like a butcher from the secular world, but rather like a wealthy landlord.

"I heard that Brother Tongya has already broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining. It is truly lightning fast!"

An Jiyan took the teacup and nodded with a smile. The two hadn't seen each other for decades. Back then, their cultivation levels were similar, but now An Jiyan had broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, while Li Tongya was already at the eighth level.

"Brother Jiyan, you flatter me."

Li Tongya didn't waste words with him and asked straight to the point:

"Brother Jiyan, what brings you here?"

Three chapters yesterday, so there were no drafts today, a bit late.

(End of chapter)