Chapter 288: Pingxiao

Since Li Li Tongya went into seclusion to cultivate and Li Li Yuanjiao went to Wutou Mountain, Li Brother Yuanping took over the burden of the Li family. He often lived under the mountain for several months, so there were few people on Mount Mount Lijing. The weeds in the stone crevices grew wildly, looking desolate.

Li Brother Yuanping went up the mountain and pushed open the wooden door of the side courtyard. He saw a round-faced girl drying books in the courtyard. Her clothing was simple, and she was spreading out the wooden slips. Her sleeves were sewn tightly, not like a daughter of a prominent family, but like a busy servant.

"Li Qingxiao!"

A faint smile appeared on Li Brother Yuanping's pale face, and he called out with a smile. The girl looked up, looked surprised, and said happily:

"Elder Brother?! What wind blew you up the mountain?"

The Li family children all grew up together on the mountain, and they were quite close. Li Brother Yuanping laughed and replied:

"Isn't this to come and see you?"

Li Li Qingxiao smiled slightly and teased:

"I heard you just married a beautiful wife. I thought it was someone blowing a pillow wind!"

Li Brother Yuanping was embarrassed, changed the subject, and said awkwardly:

"It's amazing that you can stay on the mountain. This place is terrifyingly quiet."

Li Li Qingxiao raised the corners of her mouth, shook her head, and replied:

Li Li Qingxiao's appearance was more inherited from Chen Donghe. Her features were not outstanding. If it weren't for a gentle temperament between her brows, she would look even more mediocre. Now that she was laughing warmly, it destroyed the coordination of her features, making her look less elegant. She said directly:

"Although I am on the mountain, I have heard many rumors, saying that the Dou family is domineering and privately owns spiritual fields."

Li Brother Yuanping nodded, his eyes widening, shining brightly. He was very sensitive to these aspects. Although these words came from Li Li Qingxiao's mouth, they immediately made him think of the Chen family and the various branch lineages. He asked with a smile:

"What do you think?"

Li Li Qingxiao blinked and said without thinking:

"I'm afraid the Dou family has offended our branch lineages!"

"Why do you say that?"

Li Brother Yuanping looked up with interest, and then heard Li Li Qingxiao say:

"I have seen Lady Dou. She is a sensible and firm woman. How could she not control the clan? The so-called domineering Dou family is just touching the interests of many families. Old Master Dou is a short-sighted person, not worth worrying about... As for privately owning spiritual fields..."

"This matter is not big, but not small. Which of the prominent families does not privately open up some spiritual fields? It is just tacit understanding. But they brought this matter out to talk about it. If they really investigate, it is definitely not just the Dou family's problem. Several prominent families will be implicated."

Li Li Qingxiao blinked and smiled:

"Targeting the Dou family so domineeringly without fear of offending the prominent families—naturally, it is our group of clan elders and uncles! I'm afraid they are testing you because you have just taken charge of the family!"

The Li family had its own standards for dividing spiritual fields. The prominent families coveted those with thin spiritual energy. Li Li Qingxiao knew without checking that these people probably opened up spiritual fields privately. She made such a deduction. Li Brother Yuanping laughed when he heard this and nodded repeatedly, replying:

"Not bad, but you missed the Chen family."

Seeing Li Li Qingxiao frown in confusion, Li Brother Yuanping smiled:

"You live alone on the mountain and can hear these news. Isn't it what the Chen family told your father? It just happens not to be good words, which shows the Chen family's attitude."

Li Li Qingxiao suddenly realized and sighed, clapping her hands. Li Brother Yuanping then said solemnly:

"In the past five years, our family has swallowed Mount Yuting Mountain and Mount Huazhong Mountain, especially Mount Huazhong, where the spiritual energy is even more abundant than in the towns of Mount Lijing. All the hustle and bustle in the world is for profit. Don't look at the prominent families and branch lineages fighting for no reason; it is all for the benefit of these two places."

Seeing Li Li Qingxiao nod thoughtfully, Li Brother Yuanping continued:

"The branch lineages have been suppressed by us for decades and are not allowed to be landlords or wealthy merchants. Even enjoying themselves has to be hidden. How can they be convinced? Naturally, they are looking for a way out and are busy speculating in these two places."

"I just took charge of the family and didn't see any cruel methods. These people are naturally eager to move. The Dou family looks arrogant and domineering, but they are a good dog, not on good terms with the branch lineages, and easy to use."

Li Brother Yuanping picked up a wooden slip on the desk, turned it over gently, and replied:

"Wait until our Mount Yuting Guards all break through to Yujing and have spiritual sense, and can easily investigate the affairs of Mount Huazhong and Mount Yuting. I will also control the clan, and these branch lineages will have no loopholes to drill. That will be the time."

Li Li Qingxiao nodded silently and replied:

"The families on the lake have always guarded against those with different surnames and reused branch lineages. Elder Brother goes against the grain, looking like he is guarding against branch lineages the most."

Li Brother Yuanping smiled:

"Branch lineages have loyal cultivators, so they should naturally be promoted. More are parasites and dandies, but they have blood relations. If I don't settle them well, the next generation will have lower seniority, making it even harder to deal with them. The Lu and Yu families are lessons from the past, so we must be cautious."

The two looked at each other and smiled. Li Brother Yuanping then remembered his intention and suddenly asked:

"What do you think of Xiao Xiao Xian of Yushan?"

The two were chatting about the clan's major affairs, but Li Brother Yuanping changed the subject quickly, which caught Li Li Qingxiao off guard. She let out an "ah," lowered her head, and Li Brother Yuanping looked at her carefully and smiled:

"Matters between men and women are understood without words."

Li Li Qingxiao hurriedly raised her head, her cheeks slightly red, and scolded:

"What is Elder Brother saying? This person is frivolous, running to our Li family day after day. Everyone knows how much he admires me, which makes me very embarrassed!"

"Hahahaha."

Li Brother Yuanping laughed a few times and just said:

"He is sincere. With his status as the Yushan lineage, this posture is low enough."

"Not bad."

Li Li Qingxiao smiled, calmed down, and after a moment of calmness, said in a deep voice:

"He has a deep affection, but I am not a woman who doesn't know books in the deep boudoir. I won't think he is a good man just because he showed some favor. After all, we just rode in the same sedan chair and met a few times. Knowing the face but not the heart, I still have to ask the elders."

Li Brother Yuanping nodded gently and replied:

"His temperament is gentle, his family background is prominent, his appearance and intelligence are not bad, and he is sincere and honest. It is hard to find a better one. I have already sent someone to invite my uncle and elder brother."

"Good."

Li Li Qingxiao replied softly, lifted her long hair, and said in a low voice:

"I have also understood the disciples with different surnames in the clan one by one. They don't look like capable people, and their personalities are one more extreme than the other. If I can find a prominent family outside, it must be better than a prominent family."

Li Brother Yuanping nodded with a pale face and smiled:

"The children of Brother Li Yuanyun are also on the mountain. You live with them day and night, how do you feel?"

Mentioning this, Li Li Qingxiao hesitated immediately. She organized her language in her heart, but couldn't say it out loud, so she just shook her head, her expression regretful and desolate.

Li Brother Yuanping paused, his expression puzzled. He opened his mouth and said in a low voice:

"Old Ancestor and Uncle Ling are both top-notch temperaments, how come the later generations..."

Li Li Qingxiao gave him a look, told him to shut up, and said pointedly:

"Brother Li Yuanyun went down the mountain early in his years and went to the land of Dongshan Yue, saying he wanted to find the method of opening orifices in witchcraft. He hasn't returned to the mountain for several years..."

Both were silent for a moment. Everyone knew Li Li Yuanyun had no spiritual apertures, but no one dared to mention it; it had always been kept hidden like a taboo, and among all the legitimate sons and daughters, he had lived the most muddled life.

But everyone in their hearts was clear. If there really was any method of opening orifices in this world, it was definitely not something that could be found in a small place like Dongshan Yue, and it was definitely not something that could be used easily. Li Brother Yuanping just sighed and said:

"Uncle Li Xuanling has already gone to Xu Kingdom to travel, and Elder Sister is in seclusion to cultivate. The elders in the clan also feel guilty for him, so they never restrict him. They have always let him go. You and I are embarrassed to say anything..."

"I also asked my elder brother, and his meaning is to let him go. Collecting some witchcraft in that place of Dongshan Yue, as long as it is not something that harms the world, blood sacrifice and hurting people, if it can relieve the resentment and depression in his heart, it can be considered a good thing!"

Li Li Qingxiao sighed softly and said in a low voice:

"That's good... That's good."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 289 =====