Chapter 1182: Rules (I)

Li Xinghan paused to silently remind herself to ask Li Xuanxuan later. She nodded in response and said, "The elders' orders are clear. I'll trouble you to take charge, brother."

Li Zhouluo was clad in black. Having cultivated a sharp gold aura, his very presence carried a stern, commanding air that naturally inspired confidence.

He cupped his hands respectfully and said solemnly, "You need not worry, little sister."

Standing nearby, Li Zhouming glanced between them, hesitating to speak. Li Zhouluo had once managed Qingdu and punished him several times, so he naturally feared him. His younger sister Li Xinghan might be young, but with the sword on her back and the killing intent she exuded, he feared her all the same and couldn't bring himself to say anything.

Li Xinghan didn't like this so-called direct descendant of the Purple Mansion Realm either. The Daoist Master had few offspring, and this one, though precious, was useless. Even though she lived away from home, she had heard the rumors about him.

They say he's greedy when sent out and incompetent at home. The Daoist Master holds him in little regard and has never gifted him any proper dharma artifacts. He performs poorly in duels, and almost lost to a minor family cultivator, disgracing the family. The elders fear he'll bring ruin to the bloodline, so they simply let him idle about all day, hoping he stays out of trouble.

Though Li Zhouming was indeed the Purple Mansion Realm's direct grandson and was kept around out of respect for the Daoist Master, Li Xinghan still found him insufferable. She turned to leave, and just as she reached the hall doors, she saw the brothers Li Zhoufang and Li Zhouyang following their fourth brother, speaking in low, pleading tones.

Their voices drifted faintly to her ears, "Our father toiled his whole life and died on the river. Now our younger brother has passed as well. We only hope the family might grant his child a protected position..."

Only then did Li Xinghan recall that the late Li Zhouken was actually the younger brother of Li Zhoufang and Li Zhouyang. He had been adopted years ago to continue another branch's incense line. The two brothers, who had been silent before their elders but protective of their kin, were clearly here to ask for an official post for their kin.

The resources one receives on the island are only as much as one's innate ability and effort deserve. Protection posts have always been reserved for outsiders; the family feared its descendants might grow complacent through inherited privilege, and thus such favors are rarely granted. What a pity!

Li Xinghan found her elder brothers admirable in every way, except for their stubborn obsession with hereditary favor. She hesitated mid-step, thinking to turn back and speak, when a voice called from behind her, "Little sister!"

It was Li Zhouming, chasing after her.

Forget it... Brother Zhouluo should be able to handle this.

Li Xinghan stopped reluctantly. As she turned to face the fan-wielding young man before her, she maintained a polite tone and asked, "What brings you here, fifth brother?"

Li Zhouming tucked his fan under his arm and grinned, "I heard you're leading a group west to the great desert to eliminate a band of wandering devil cultivators. They say there's a rare metal there called White Falcon Metal, something you can't buy at the lake markets. It can be forged into dharma artifacts. Could you bring some back for me? I'll compensate you with spirit resources."

Li Xinghan found it rather strange and said, "So you've begun studying dharma artifacts as well. That's good. I'll be sure to bring some back."

Relieved, Li Zhouming thanked her hastily and took his leave. The young woman rose into the wind, flying toward the central island, her mind turning over thoughts as she went,

How odd.

She pondered in silence, then detoured to her cave dwelling to gather a few things. She landed before a courtyard on the island as the sky darkened. The two pots of kumquat[1] trees that once flanked the gate had been replaced by stone lions standing atop carved pedestals.

Weighing the change for a moment, she hesitated and muttered, "How extravagant it's become!"

Pushing open the gate, a smile finally appeared on Li Xinghan's face as she called out, "Mother!"

Her mother looked up in delight and hurried over. The man sipping wine in the courtyard glanced their way, and her elder brother and sister-in-law rushed out from the inner room . In an instant, the courtyard was filled with cheerful noise as the family pulled her inside.

In truth, there had once been much discord in Li Xinghan's household. Her father's mediocre cultivation had left him unfulfilled, and her brother and sister-in-law had long entertained thoughts of splitting from the family. Whether she returned home or not had hardly mattered to anyone. But ever since she came down from Zhijing Mountain, her sister-in-law couldn't bear to part with her, and laughter filled the house day after day. It felt like a festival every time she returned.

She was pulled to sit beside her father as her beaming mother said with a laugh, "Han'er! Your uncle's long years of service have finally paid off. He's been promoted to Peak Manager of Wutu Peak!"

The position of Peak Manager within the Li Family was already quite respectable, and Wutu Peak was among the wealthiest of them. Li Xinghan brightened immediately and said with a smile, "So he's finally made it!"

Her joy quickly faded as she recalled that her uncle carried the taint of having once been connected to the remnants of the Yu Family and possessed only a modest cultivation. It should have been difficult for him to attain such a post.

Her smile disappeared as she asked, "When was the appointment made?"

Her mother replied cheerfully, "At noon. He was overjoyed. It's quite a grand position, they say. He still hasn't come home, even though it's already late."

At noon?

A jolt ran through Li Xinghan's heart,

I've barely left... and Brother Zhouluo already personally promoted him...

Her earlier delight faded into confusion. Holding her chopsticks, she found herself unable to decide whether to pick up the food before her. Silence fell over her.

Li Xinghan sank into thought. Her own cultivation of the Jade True Qi, the True Unison Treasured Qi, had come from her uncle Chee Tiaozong, who had forsaken his own path to spend years chanting sutras at the altar to harvest it. To be frank, half the credit for her being favored by the Daoist Master, and for her potential future Foundation Establishment Realm, belonged to him.

Even her early cultivation resources and guidance along the path had largely come from him. Though her current strength was mostly due to the family's support, it was her uncle who had truly helped her stand out.

She fell even quieter. When they caught sight of her expression, her family also grew silent. Her father glanced at her and said sternly, "Zhouluo is the one overseeing family affairs now, and you are among the top of the Zhouxing generation. Some things are best accepted as they are. Your uncle has toiled for decades; he deserves to be rewarded."

"Would you really be so ungrateful as to ask your fourth brother to revoke the order? Has your uncle done something wrong, or has Zhouluo promoted him unfairly? If so, give a reason!"

It was true that Chee Tiaozong was capable, but it was also true that Li Zhouluo's promotion carried a trace of personal favor in gratitude for her support. Her uncle had finally made a breakthrough in his career, and Li Xinghan truly had no way to refuse such goodwill.

She had always looked down on those who acted out of personal bias, yet at this moment she could not find the words. Setting down her chopsticks, she said quietly, "Cherish this while it lasts. I'm away most of the year, but let the household stay as it is. Don't be too extravagant. The senior has only just been buried; keep everything simple."

The middle-aged man beside them set down his cup and said, "Eldest, sell those stone lions at the gate tomorrow and put the two pots of kumquats back."

His elder brother sighed. "Father just picked them out a few days ago. He was so pleased, he'd go to the gate every day just to look at them. Why sell them already?"

But then his wife from the Chee Family hushed him, taking Li Xinghan's hand and whispering, "When it comes to your father's matters... you're someone of standing on the island now. Whatever happens, preserving your own life comes first. If anything were to happen to you, this family's hopes would all be gone."

Before Li Xinghan could reply, her father said gravely, "We understand... Serving the lake is important, but serving the lake while letting your kin share a bit of its light isn't a contradiction. Who in this world is a saint untouched by personal gain?"

"I understand, father."

1. A kumquat is a small, oval-shaped citrus fruit that can be eaten whole, including its sweet peel and tart flesh. ☜