Chapter 66

Li Xiangping was a year older than Li Yesheng, but because he cultivated, he looked younger. At this moment, he was holding a scroll of techniques, leaning on a stone chair and reading carefully.

Li Yesheng and his son stood respectfully to the side, their heads lowered, staring at the ground.

"Arrange Xuan'er however he likes. Old Man Xu can be considered a benefactor of our Li family; no amount of fuss is too much."

Li Xiangping read a few lines of the bamboo slip and said slowly:

"Anything else?"

"The Young Master has broken through, and Li Qiuyang has come up the mountain to pay a visit."

Li Yesheng answered respectfully with his head lowered. Behind him, Li Xiewen kept his head down, looking at the clean floor, not daring to look at the furnishings around him.

"Not bad."

Li Xiangping raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile appearing on his face as he asked nonchalantly:

"How long has Li Qiuyang been stuck at the third layer of Qi Condensation, the Cycle Wheel?"

"He hasn't broken through for three years."

Li Yesheng had done his homework before coming and answered without hesitation.

Hearing this, Li Xiangping raised his head and smiled:

"Well done. Go back and tell Li Qiuyang to cultivate diligently and not to be distracted."

"Yes."

Li Yesheng nodded and added:

"The Wan family has sent people to ask for help again this month, even requesting food and medicine for the wounded."

"Oh?"

Li Xiangping frowned and said softly:

"Last year they said Wan Xiaohua had broken through the Initial Wheel and reached the peak of Qi Condensation, yet they are still in such a sorry state? This Ji Dengqi is truly not simple."

"As long as it's not excessive, give it to them if they ask."

Li Xiewen, standing to the side, was listening intently. Li Xiangping glanced at him and said in a low voice:

"Xiewen has grown up now."

Li Xiewen hurriedly bowed and said:

"Greetings, Family Head."

"Go to Li Daokou tomorrow and assist Xu Wenshan. Hanging around the village all day isn't the way to go."

Li Xiangping smiled and said to Li Yesheng.

"It is Yesheng who has been too indulgent with him."

Li Yesheng hurriedly apologized. Seeing Li Xiangping wave his hand, he took Li Xiewen and withdrew.

The two walked silently along the mountain road. After descending Meichi Mountain, Li Yesheng said:

"You have a deep bond with Xuanxuan, and the Family Head is willing to use you. Once you are under Xu Wenshan, learn well and don't cause trouble with others. Xu Wenshan is a smart man; he won't make things difficult for you."

Li Xiewen responded gloomily and asked:

"The Family Head is sending me away—is he planning to make me a manager?"

Li Yesheng shook his head and replied:

"Five years at the shortest, seven at the longest. When I can no longer work and Li Xuanxuan takes charge of the family, he will transfer you back. You don't need to rush; just temper yourself well."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Father."

Meichi Mountain Cave Abode.

Li Xiangping frowned, feeling a bit troubled. For the past five years, he had still been polishing his cultivation at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation, the Green Origin Wheel, without touching the Jade Capital Wheel.

Li Tongya had wanted to find a dose of Spirit-Clarifying Powder for him, but hearing from Wan Tiancang that one dose was worth twenty spirit stones and that the medicine was snatched up the moment it appeared on the market, he was left speechless and retreated in frustration.

"Family Head!"

Just as Li Xiangping was thinking, a report came from outside the cave. An eleven or twelve-year-old child walked in—it was Chen Donghe, the youngest son of Chen Erniu. He had been found to have spiritual apertures a few years ago and was now cultivating with Li Xiangping in the Meichi Mountain cave.

Looking at the only child found to have spiritual apertures in the last decade, Li Xiangping asked with a smile:

"What is it?"

"Wan Tiancang of the Wan family requests an audience."

"Enter."

Li Xiangping took out his tea set and watched Wan Tiancang walk into the cave with a frown. Chen Donghe consciously withdrew, and Li Xiangping smiled:

"Brother Wan, what brings you here?"

"Only Brother Li could still smile."

Wan Tiancang gave a bitter laugh, bowed deeply, and said:

"My family intends to carry out an ambush. Everything will be delivered as agreed."

Li Xiangping frowned and asked with a puzzled expression.

Wan Tiancang's eyes were red as he explained through gritted teeth:

"My Wan family can no longer even produce the tribute due. We have reached the point of a last stand. My family has exhausted our foundation over these ten-plus years. If we don't fight to the death now, I fear we will have no strength left to fight in the future."

"Good."

Hearing this, Li Xiangping gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"Everything as agreed. Once your Huaqian Mountain formation rises, I will activate the talisman and attack Ji Dengqi from afar. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, this formation inheritance must be delivered to my Li family!"

After saying this, he frowned, sensing something was wrong, and said in a deep voice:

Wan Tiancang had also been overwhelmed by the news from his family, but now that he had calmed down, he also frowned and remained silent.

Li Xiangping had always been cautious and faintly sensed something wrong. Seeing Wan Tiancang silent, he secretly pondered:

"This Ji family must have something to rely on, having found a way to annihilate the Wan family. I fear Wan Xiaohua is also terrified and is hurriedly dragging my Li family into the water. But my Li family and the Wan family are as close as lips and teeth; how can I sit by and watch the Wan family be exterminated..."

"Brother Li!"

Wan Tiancang's face turned pale, and not knowing what he had thought of, he said with a tremor:

"This Ji Dengqi likely knows my Wan family has reinforcements behind us and is deliberately applying pressure bit by bit to force out the reinforcements. This, this is an open conspiracy!"

Li Xiangping's face looked ugly. He stared coldly at Wan Tiancang and scolded:

"Damn it, this isn't just Ji Dengqi's open conspiracy; it's also the open conspiracy of your family head, Wan Xiaohua!"

————

After sending off the pleading Wan Tiancang, Li Xiangping exhaled deeply, his heart in turmoil. Seeing Li Xuanxuan walk slowly into the cave, he whispered Wan Tiancang's words to him.

"Now they are letting the Wan family release the request for help; they must have a way to wipe out all reinforcements in one go."

Li Xuanxuan pondered for a while, his face full of worry, and shook his head with a bitter smile:

"And yet my family has no choice but to save them. There is only this one road to the prefecture. If the Wan family is destroyed, my Li family will be isolated in the mountains, not only cut off from everything outside but also subject to harassment and oppression by the Ji family."

"We must save them."

Li Xiangping shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"We don't seek to kill Ji Dengqi; just relieving the siege for the Wan family will suffice."

"We just need to see exactly what cards Ji Dengqi is holding that make him so arrogant." ===== CHAPTER 67 =====