Chapter 1177: Thunder Rain (I)

After resting and tending to her wounds for some time, Li Minggong finally stirred from her daze. At that moment, Li Chenghuai entered from outside the hall.

His expression was heavy, tinged with both joy and worry, as he spoke in a low voice, "Elder Sister, Situ Mo has fallen. I heard that the family head made his move on Lake Xian, first killing Situ Mo to avenge our family, then facing six cultivators of Changxiao Gate head-on and slaying Master Yunan as well. Finally, he forced the Changxiao Gate cultivators to retreat."

Li Minggong immediately looked up, a flash of satisfaction crossing her face, but worry soon followed as she asked, "What happened afterward?"

Li Chenghuai replied, "I heard he was received by the Cheng Family and has retreated to Wanyu."

Li Minggong let out a long breath of relief, much of her tension easing as she said, "As long as he escaped, that's what matters. Both sides are safe now... tell him to stay out there and preserve his life."

Li Chenghuai nodded. Li Minggong coughed lightly and said, "I won't hold on for long; I'll have to enter seclusion soon. Take care of your elder brother's funeral first; spare the elders from too much strain. After that, I hope you can look after the household and advise them where needed. Tell me... what are your plans?"

Li Chenghuai hesitated before replying, "I do wish to share the family's burdens, but my father is the master of Jiutian Pavilion, and my mother is an immortal descendant of the Azure Pond Sect. If I were to take the lead, it might not sit well with others... The side branch has always cultivated in the Azure Pond Sect, and my appointment to Qingdu was already an exception. There's never been a precedent for someone like me to preside over the island or act as head of the family."

Li Xizhi, the master of Jiutian Pavilion, had long been favored by the Si Family and was clearly a cultivator of the Azure Pond Sect. The Yang Family too was an imperial family aligned with the Azure Pond Sect.

Li Chenghuai's background was indeed a delicate matter, yet with no one else to rely on, Li Minggong could only sigh and say, "Just keep a low profile; there's no need to show yourself. Things have quieted down for now, and none of the families will act rashly. What I fear is that someone may try to use you to drag third uncle into the mess, giving the Azure Pond Sect an excuse to interfere. With our Purple Mansion Realm cultivator away, we'd be powerless to resist and might end up in a disastrous situation."

Li Chenghuai spoke softly, "My father was too deeply involved in the fall of the Chi Family. The True Monarch has yet to return, and Chi Buzi remains abroad; no one knows his fate. Back then, my father and the Daoist Master decided not to return to the family for this very reason... we'd best remain cautious."

Li Minggong nodded. "This matter isn't too troublesome. After all, there's Cui Jueyin. His cultivation is profound, his Dao attainment deep, and both his character and ability are exemplary. With him watching over the family, nothing major will go wrong."

After finishing their discussion, Li Minggong saw Qu Buzhi entering the hall to pay his respects. She quickly asked, "Have you found Ding Weizeng?"

Qu Buzhi's expression was strange as he repeatedly shook his head and replied, "Guan Lingdie of the Capital Immortal Dao has come to see you."

Li Minggong froze for a moment, hesitated briefly, and then said, "Then... let her come up first."

Li Chenghuai frowned, stepping forward to stand beside his elder sister. Li Wen quickly retreated as well, the two positioning themselves on either side to guard her. Only then did the woman in colorful robes enter the hall.

Guan Lingdie was not alone; several guest cultivators who escorted her remained outside the hall. Only Gongsun Baifan, wearing a straw raincoat, followed her inside.

For once, the woman showed restraint; she halted at a respectful distance, her expression uneasy, and spoke with a mix of stiffness and politeness, "Greetings, Daoist Li."

Suppressing the weariness on her face, Li Minggong responded courteously as usual, "And you are here for...?"

Which, in turn prompted Guan Lingdie to say, "Our gate's Capital Dao Bell is currently in your family's possession. I've come to reclaim it."

Although the Capital Immortal Dao was known for its capricious and unpredictable ways, Li Minggong had no intention of offending them now.

She could only respond gently, "Please, speak."

At those words, the childlike Guan Lingdie immediately dropped her airs, her tense posture easing as she replied, "Years ago, during an exchange, Situ Mo sent one of your family's guest cultivators to us. We of the Capital Immortal Dao have hosted him generously ever since. Now, we intend to return him as a token of gratitude for your family's returning of the Capital Dao Bell."

An Siwei...

Li Minggong's heart suddenly lightened. Hope flared in her eyes as she asked, "Is that true?"

Guan Lingdie paused briefly, then spoke smoothly, "Many of the conflicts and misunderstandings in the past were mostly stirred up by Profound Peak Gate or forced upon us by Changxiao. We had no choice at the time..."

She went on for some time. Li Minggong quickly noticed how fluent her words were. It was too fluent for someone like her, and Li Minggong suspected that she was reciting something taught by Guan Gongxiao.

Once she had finished, Li Minggong drew a pitch-black bell from her sleeve and said softly, "The dharma artifact is here. Daoist friend, please take it."

Guan Lingdie's face lit up with joy. After giving Gongsun Baifan a few instructions and sending him off, Qu Buzhi soon returned.

The old man circled Guan Lingdie and came to Li Minggong's side, speaking softly, "The people of the Capital Immortal Dao below have released Master An. His aura is steady, and he's unharmed. The injuries he suffered before have all been healed."

Li Minggong handed the dharma artifact back. Guan Lingdie examined it briefly, exhaled in relief, and without further ado, departed on the wind. After a few breaths, An Siwei finally entered from the hall.

An Siwei's aura was steady, and his robes were clean. The long spear on his back was the same as when he had left, yet his eyes were rimmed red, and his face, though still dark-haired, had aged noticeably in just over a year. The vigor in his bearing had faded, leaving behind a weariness that was difficult to conceal.

In truth, the Capital Immortal Dao cared little for An Siwei. To Guan Gongxiao, he was merely a mediocre cultivator who had relied on borrowed spiritual aura and Jade True's guidance to stumble into Foundation Establishment. He had been nearly forgotten in the dungeon. Yet struggle and guilt had long taken root within An Siwei's heart and tormented him day by day.

That the Li Family had used a supreme-grade dharma artifact to exchange for his release had come far too suddenly. Freed without warning, An Siwei still felt uneasy and bowed deeply, saying, "My thanks, my lady."

Though old enough to be treated as an elder, Li Minggong addressed An Siwei with respect. She gently urged him to rise and said softly, "Please take some rest. I still have matters to attend to and cannot keep you here long, Dharma Protector. The elder[1] has been worried; this will be good news for him to hear."

An Siwei bowed again and withdrew quickly. Li Minggong forced herself up from the main seat, glanced blankly toward the thunder in the heavens, and murmured, "Brother Chenghuai, go catch a few bolts of lightning... seal them in a bottle, so that they can be buried with him in the ancestral tomb."

Li Chenghuai drew a dark bronze bottle from his sleeve and replied, "I already caught them yesterday..."

Li Minggong sighed and followed him out of the hall. A young man with ordinary features, golden eyes, and black hair waited at the main entrance; he was the second young master, Li Jianglong.

Li Jiangqian had issued arrangements earlier, so the household affairs were already in order. The group silently rode the wind toward the lake. When they crossed the river, they saw white mourning silks hanging over the Fei Family estate on the northern shore.

1. Should be referring to Li Xuanxuan. ☜