Chapter 1452: Pavilion Viewing Faction (I)

Everyone agreed as soon as Li Zhouda spoke. Li Zhouluo threw off his black robe, pressed a hand to his sword, and strode forward, quickly pulling ahead and returning to the lakeside first. Beside him, Pang Yunqing turned to offer comfort, "People misspeak all the time. It wasn't aimed at anyone in particular."

In his haste, Li Zhoufang had said that none of the brothers cared about Li Chengqi aside from Li Minggong. But beneath that, he was clearly pointing at Li Chenghuai for ignoring family matters and going off to cultivate. There was no way Li Zhouluo would miss that.

What happened back then could not be called forgotten, only left unspoken. Now that Li Zhoufang had brought it up again, Li Zhouluo held his tongue out of consideration for the man's grief, but he was far from pleased.

He thought to himself,

My going out to cultivate was approved and decided by the elders. I know some people think it's unfair, and some are even jealous, but I never expected even elder brother to misunderstand it.

What is he trying to say? That my father didn't go to Mount Tangdao and doesn't care whether Li Chengqi lives or dies? My father is in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. This happened so suddenly; how could he have possibly intervened?

Pang Yunqing came from the long-established Pang Family of Bamboo Creek Island under the Chunyi Dao's domain. As a direct lineage genius, his perspective was far from narrow. He reassured Li Zhouluo, "These days, even parents and children lack real affection. Once you're past three generations, how many can truly be called brothers? What he said was inappropriate. Don't take it to heart."

"

Sigh

, it's hard to explain to you. The Li Family isn't the same as the Pang family..." Li Zhouluo shook his head. After a brief moment of hesitation, he said, "Thinking about it now, fifth brother is the only one I find likable. Yet, his aptitude barely meets the requirements for the Foundation Establishment Realm. We can't let anything happen to him..."

The two headed into the mountains together. Pang Yunqing shook his head with a smile and said, "Very different indeed. I've only heard he's a henpecked wastrel, yet you call him likable."

They soon arrived at a mountain covered in gardenias. After politely asking someone to announce them, they passed through the woods with due respect and saw a figure seated above, bathed in golden light.

The man leaned back in his seat, adorned in scaled armor and black boots. His golden eyes glowed faintly. A long, curved halberd rested across his knee. One hand ran along its shaft, holding a radiant light as if he were nurturing a dharma artifact.

At his side stood Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan, speaking to each other in low voices.

Li Zhouluo hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "Zhouluo greets the Daoist Master!"

Even Li Xizhi would bow and address Li Ximing as Daoist Master. As for Li Zhouluo and Li Zhouwei, they had never been close growing up. They were merely distant family cousins, so he naturally did not dare address him as elder brother.

He was at least able to lift his head and look. Pang Yunqing, however, did not dare raise his head at all. He simply bowed beside him and waited until the man above relaxed his expression and said, "Fourth brother is back. No need for formalities."

Li Zhouluo quickly replied, "I heard the Daoist Master has achieved great success in your divine ability, so I brought Yunqing to pay respects, elder brother."

Li Zhouwei nodded as a stir rose below. The crowd stepped forward one after another. The first was Li Zhoufang, his face streaked with tears. He knelt on the mountain and still offered his congratulations, "Congratulations, Daoist Master! Congratulations!"

Li Zhouwei loosened his grip, and the halberd in his hand vanished. Seeing his state, he helped him up and said softly, "Uncle Chengqi's children were all lost in family affairs, and now he too has died in battle. Matters of lineage incense will be handled within the first lineage... The family will provide compensation. Fei Chingyi fled on the battlefield and caused uncle's death. He colluded with devil cultivators and Buddhist cultivators and has already been sent to Supreme Yang for punishment. The rest have been sent to Huyi... There will be news soon."

Li Zhoufang could only remain kneeling, weeping as he gave thanks, "My thanks, Daoist Master... the Fei family deserves death. The Buddhist cultivators of Mount Xiaoshi also owe a blood debt..."

A cold light flashed in Li Zhouwei's eyes at the mention of the northern Buddhists. He said only, "Of course."

Li Zhoufang bowed again, still crying, and withdrew to handle matters behind him. Li Zhouwei glanced around in silence. Those present all wore uneasy expressions and did not dare speak. Whether it was Chen Yang or An Xuanxin, all lowered their heads. Cui Jueyin, as always, showed no reaction. The rest of the guest cultivators and Dharma Protectors were visibly worried.

Only Li Zhouda stood grinding his teeth, his anger evident from the lightning flickering in his eyes as he muttered, "Those damned bald monks."

Li Zhouwei turned and took his seat again as Li Zhouluo spoke in a low voice, "Now that the Daoist Master has achieved this, there should be a banquet as in previous years, but..."

"No need." Leaving aside whether the cultivators of Jiangnan had any mood to celebrate, Li Zhouwei himself had none. If this had been their first Purple Mansion cultivator, a banquet would have been inevitable. But the Li Family was already a Purple Mansion Realm Immortal Family, and there was no need to make a display. He continued softly, "The north has fallen. The riverbanks must be guarded. Deploy your people and secure the northern front. As for Glacial Cloud Peak..."

He paused, and Li Jiangqian immediately took over, "It's already arranged. The peak offices have been reestablished, and personnel are being assigned accordingly."

At these words, Li Zhouwei slowly raised his gaze and swept it across members of the An Family and Chen Family. He lifted a hand and instructed, "You all may go."

The crowd dispersed in an orderly manner, turning into streams of light outside the mountain. Li Jiangqian's expression grew colder. Li Quewan said softly, "The fall of Mount Tangdao dealt a heavy blow while Fei Chingyi set a terrible example. It's only natural they feel uneasy. Once the Buddhist cultivators reach the Three Streams region, what happened with Fei Chingyi may very well happen again."

The Li Family had not established peak offices for many years. In the past, news like this would have been met with excitement. New positions meant new benefits to divide, which was why the other families had eagerly piled onto the Fei Family's downfall.

But while the Fei Family had fallen, no one had expected Mount Tangdao to be breached. The White River Stream region had fallen into the hands of Buddhist cultivators, and the northern bank suddenly became a burden no one wanted. Though the north was unlikely to launch a full invasion, clashes and conflicts were inevitable. Thus the families and lineages all lost their enthusiasm.

Li Jiangqian replied coldly, "Exactly. They were the ones eager for positions on the northern bank in an attempt to grind the Fei Family to dust. Now they're the same people shrinking back, afraid to act. First, they might lose their lives in battle. Second, they fear they or their descendants might end up like Fei Chingyi.

"The various clans have families to worry about, so they hesitate. As for the guest cultivators, many have no heirs. At most, they keep a wife or concubine by the lake and a small bit of property. They have nothing holding them back...

"And this is after the Fei Family was severely punished. If only the ringleaders had been executed back then, they'd be celebrating now, thinking they'd still have a way out even if they went north!"

Even Li Quewan could see the situation clearly. Someone like Li Jiangqian, who always assumed the worst and trusted none of his subordinates, saw it all the more plainly.

How could Li Zhouwei not know? His golden eyes were filled with gravity as he slowly rotated the jade cup on the table and said, "The An and Chen Families are not like the Fei. Even if the situation collapses and someone defects to the north, we cannot touch them. As for the other families, they amount to nothing. There's no need to worry."

Seeing him state it so plainly, Li Jiangqian and the other fell silent.

The Chen Family and An Family had long been the Li Family's closest pillars, deeply tied to the four lineages. The Li Family rarely married outside, with most unions happening within the lake. The old families, Tian, Xu, Liu, Chen, and Dou had declined one after another. Only the Chen Family and later the An Family remained prosperous and inseparable.

Part of it was because their elders still lived, but more importantly, each generation produced geniuses and children with spiritual orifices, binding them firmly into the bloodline. To put it bluntly, even if Chen Yang were converted by Buddhist cultivators, what could the lake really do? His mother was Li Xicheng's sister, and Li Jianglong even had to call him uncle!

Li Jiangqian's own mother was from the An Family, so what could he do but remain silent? As for Li Quewan, faced with such a sensitive issue, she kept her head down. There were already whispers about her low birth within the lake. Normally she could shut herself away to cultivate, but now even a single word could stir rumors.

Seeing them silent, Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea and said calmly, "As long as you understand, there's no need for me to say more. The Fei Family can be dealt with harshly, but the remaining families must be handled with appeasement. The situation is still unclear. We'll see what the north does. You guys may leave."

The two acknowledged and withdrew. Li Zhouwei rose, his expression slightly dark, and stepped through the great void, reappearing by the lakeside as he looked into the distance.