Chapter 1286: Precursor (I)

Moongaze Lake.

As the days passed one by one, the situation in Jiangbei gradually grew tense. Although the surface of the lake remained calm, the upper levels were still busy and strained, with more and more people entering and leaving the main hall. In particular, Qu Buzhi, who had recently risen rapidly in importance, was constantly on the move from dawn to dusk.

Li Jiangqian arranged for people to go down and waited in the main hall for a long time, before finally seeing Wang Quwan enter the hall. The man wore a blue gold treasured sword at his waist, with a steady and composed bearing. His posture was like pine and cypress, inspiring admiration at first sight.

Li Jiangqian said warmly, "How are your injuries? Have you had Guest Cultivator Sun take a look at them?"

Wang Quwan cupped his hands as he replied, "Family head, I have been recuperating according to Guest Sun's instructions. I have already had him examine me a few days ago, which is why I have come out of seclusion."

His injuries suffered in Jiangbei were not severe, so he was now almost fully recovered. Li Jiangqian nodded and asked, "Then is there any news of Daoist Shouding[1] of Jingyi?"

Wang Quwan felt rather awkward at the mention of this matter. Daoist Shouding had returned with him, but fearing an ambush along the way, did not dare return to Jingyi Mountain. Instead, he had slipped into a Li Family cave dwelling and entered seclusion in one stretch, stubbornly refusing to leave and not showing his face even once.

The Li Family certainly did not lack an extra cave dwelling, but Wang Quwan understood the proprieties well. The relationship between the two sides was not particularly good, and since he himself was staying under another's roof, he ought to be cautious in all things.

As the one who had brought him back, with the guest refusing to leave, he felt both anxious and embarrassed, and replied, "I have asked several times, and even borrowed his seal to write to Jingyi Mountain. At first there were some replies, discussing who might be sent to receive him, but who would have thought that contact would suddenly be cut off these past few months. Every letter sent has sunk without a trace...

"I have troubled the lakeside for too long. I feel deeply uneasy and am willing to rent this cave dwelling on his behalf..."

Li Jiangqian nodded in interest. Of course he knew why Jingyi Mountain had suddenly gone silent these past few months, and he thought to himself,

How would they dare reply...

As an Eastern Sea power, the Xuanyi Dao lineage was certainly not as well informed about Jiangbei as the Li Family. Most likely, they only knew that a True Monarch was about to arrive. Now a command token of the Mifan Dao lineage had suddenly appeared, and Daoist Shouding himself cultivated that lineage. The connection was clearly significant, and fear had already taken root in their hearts.

If Shouding were to leave Jiangbei openly right now, perhaps even the people of Chunyi Dao would not dare ambush him. Xuanyi might not even dare open the gates for him if he walked up to the foot of Jingyi Mountain.

After all, Luoxia still left the inland powers a measure of face and would at most send someone to read out a decree. But the outer-sea ones are devil cultivators, and the entirety of Jingyi Mountain Gate cultivates Earth Virtue. If the reincarnated True Monarch were to slap Xuanyi once, Xuanyi would have to offer up the other cheek to ensure they would be satisfied.

At the very least, Li Jiangqian felt that his family's Orthodox Dao reputation was still somewhat useful. At the very least, major powers cared about face and paid attention to pedigree.

But he smiled at Wang Quwan's slightly uneasy expression and said, "Why be so polite, Dharma Protector Wang? We are all one family. Guest Cultivator Sun was a capable assistant under Daoist Master Changxi of the Profound Peak Dao lineage back then. His medical skills are truly solid."

He steered the topic toward the Profound Peak Dao lineage, recounting it at length until he finished telling the story of the One Stick of Incense Clan. Wang Quwan listened in stunned disbelief, nearly thinking Li Jiangqian was toying with him until he heard Li Jiangqian say, "The Radiant Fire Spear back then later became Daoist Master Chu. It was the same kind of matter."

The Profound Peak Gate was once a lofty Purple Mansion Realm sect. Though fallen in recent times, it was still an honored guest among Daoist Masters. It felt far removed to Wang Quwan, but the Wang Family would have recorded when Radiant Fire Spear Chu Yi had headed north and passed through Jiangbei back then.

With sudden clarity, Wang Quwan replied, "So that is how it was. Daoist Master Chu was also a reincarnation of a True Monarch. No wonder he could break through to the Purple Mansion Realm in battle."

Li Jiangqian could only shake his head helplessly and reply, "Breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm in battle are words that do not belong together. Even the greatest genius cannot do that. Only a True Monarch could treat it as play. I summoned you this time because a True Monarch will reincarnate in Jiangbei."

He paused and said, "It is a transmitted immortal decree from the north."

Dealing with Wang Quwan was an extremely troublesome matter. The Ding Family of Ding Weizeng had suffered persecution and was no longer prosperous, having already moved into the lake. Among those remaining in Jiangbei, the cultivator with the highest local prestige was Wang Quwan.

The Wang Family's direct descendants numbered in the tens of thousands, and were spread across Jiangbei. Many sects in Jiangbei had members of the Jiangbei Wang Family within them. Preserving the entire Jiangbei Wang Family was not realistic.

More fatally, the mortal descendants of the Jiangbei Wang Family were either landlords or local gentry within the region, key figures in maintaining stability. On ordinary days, they were the common people spoken of by the various immortal sects, but when a True Monarch reincarnated, this group would become the first stepping stone.

One could then trace cultivators from these people. Members of Wang Quwan's family were scattered to the east and north. Following the trail, it might very well lead back to Wang Quwan himself. A True Monarch's reincarnation would not stop to reason things out. Once the landlords connected to the Wang Family were overturned, it was likely the killings would carry all the way to the riverbanks, bringing great humiliation upon his family.

Li Jiangqian still hoped to preserve Wang Quwan. This was not out of consideration for the many resources the Li Family had spent on him over the years to keep him close, but solely because of that fragment within the secret treasury. However, the extent to which he could be preserved was limited. Li Jiangqian could not allow this person to endanger the survival of his own family.

He weighed matters as he looked at the other's shocked expression and said softly, "There are fewer than five people in the family who know of this matter. I am telling you because the Jiangbei Wang Family is entangled too deeply. If arrangements are not made early, calamity will surely follow."

Sweat immediately appeared on Wang Quwan's brow as Li Jiangqian continued, "The best choice to preserve yourself now is to relocate the family. It will not be too late to return to Jiangbei after the True Monarch departs."

Li Jiangqian hoped from the bottom of his heart that Wang Quwan would choose this path. Wang Quwan was different from the many guest cultivators and dharma protectors in the family. The Wang Family had answered his call throughout Jiangbei and possessed a vast lineage. It was inconvenient for the Li Family to cross the river, and Wang Quwan had never truly committed himself to the lake. As such, he could never become a true trusted core of the Li Family.

If they could use this matter to weaken Wang Quwan's ties to the Wang Family and have people like Wang Quyu move to the lake, the situation would be entirely different.

Yet after much consideration, Wang Quwan said quietly, "The Jiangbei Wang Family is tied to tens of thousands of people. I cannot simply stand by and ignore them. Moreover, if a True Monarch reincarnates, there is a possibility they could be of the Wang surname. If I abandon them today and enter the lake, hidden dangers may remain for the future.

"In my humble view, ties of blood cannot be cleanly severed even if one tries. It is impossible for all Wang Family descendants to move to the lake. If even a single one slips through and commits a wrong, in the eyes of a True Monarch, it becomes the fault of the entire family and disaster will follow."

Whether ties could be severed cleanly depended on the person, but given Wang Quwan's character, this would be harder than taking his life. Li Jiangqian felt his misgivings rise and sighed as he thought,

This man truly has good fortune...

Clearly, since Wang Quwan intended to share life and death with the Jiangbei Wang Family, the risks were enormous. Now, Li Jiangqian could not bind him even if he wanted to. There seemed to be no choice but to carefully arrange favors and connections.

So this is fate at work. Wang Quwan's fate likely became entangled with the True Monarch's reincarnation long ago. Now as the day draws nearer, it forces me to release him back to Jiangbei to play the role he is meant to play. Remarkable. Truly remarkable.

Li Jiangqian could only say, "Since your resolve is set, I will demote you and send you to Jiangbei. Whatever happens in Floating South is none of your concern. Go straight to your Wang Family. Do not say what should not be said, or there will be a catastrophic disaster. More than one Daoist Master is watching in the great void."

Wang Quwan bowed slightly as he said respectfully, "I will depart at once and go to Jiangbei to stand guard for six years. When the time is up, I will return to the lake to report."

1. Previously known as Daoist Guardian. Appeared in Chapter 1246 and 1247. ☜