Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 274 251 The Deed is Done

Having been covertly at odds with Fei Wangbai on the lake for so many years, Yu Xiaogui knew all too well that Fei Wangbai was a smiling tiger who held a dagger behind honeyed words. The mere attitude of Fei Wangbai revealed much, and Yu Xiaogui, suddenly alarmed, didn't pause for further talk. He fled like the wind, not even bothering to leave harsh words behind, only leaving behind a hasty silhouette for the two men.

The two didn't pursue but stood in midair, while the members of the Li family below cheered. Fei Wangbai clasped his hands together and laughed, saying:

"Congratulations to Brother Tongya, many thanks to Brother Tongya!"

Li Tongya, of course, understood the underlying meaning of his words. The Fei Clan had probably made a fortune in the markets of Secret Forest County. He returned the greeting and said:

"Brother Wangbai came at just the right time, thank you!"

Seeing Yu Xiaogui leave without looking back and without greeting him, Wu Shaoyun felt entirely embarrassed. Only now did he have the opportunity to butt in, he approached with an awkward laugh and said somewhat sheepishly:

"Wu Shaoyun of the Wu Family in the south of the county, I have seen both Taoist fellows!"

"We have seen the Taoist fellow!"

Wu Shaoyun had previously hesitated to take a stance or to come to Yu Xiaogui's aid, partly out of fear of Li Chijin's power. However, it was also a way to show respect. Li Tongya was naturally polite and responded in a soft voice.

Wu Shaoyun's awkward situation eased a lot thanks to Li Tongya's polite demeanor. For a moment not knowing how to start, he paused, then finally said with some dejection:

"To seize the chance, to snatch spiritual objects one must engage in a spell battle. If one loses one's life in the process, it's simply fate. I can blame no one but myself, but I received a message and ultimately, I had to come and ask to be at ease. I mean no ill will towards you..."

Wu Shaoyun's words were clever, even carrying some explanations and subtly suggesting the intention to clear up any grudge. Li Tongya didn't wish to make an enemy of him and simply nodded gently in acknowledgment. Li Tongya, in his life, rarely had the itch for advancement and would only retaliate when his family was threatened. However, in his sixty years, there were moments when he was driven by greed or anger. Wu Shaoyun's words thus gave him some relief, and he returned the gesture with a clasped fist.

The two spoke no more. Wu Shaoyun was polite in a few words, saying that if they ever passed by the Wu Family in the future, they must stop and be guests. He then left on the wind. Fei Wangbai also clasped his hands in farewell, and Li Tongya looked at him intently before finally speaking up:

"Although the noble clans have gained a bounty this time, reaping years of the Yu Family's savings, you've destroyed the market, killed Yu Family members, and made a powerful enemy of Yu Xiaogui. You must remain cautious to prevent retaliation."

Fei Wangbai, unaware of Yu Yufeng's death, nodded deeply moved by Li Tongya's words, and replied:

"Yu Yufeng was indeed too powerful, unmatched on this lake, truly terrifying. Wangbai will discipline his juniors, but..."

With a resolute expression, Fei Wangbai clasped his hands earnestly and said:

"Now that the feud with the Yu Family is as deep as the sea, and there is still Yu Muxian within the clan, we will need the Sword Immortal to look out for us..."

Li Tongya's heart skipped a beat and he could only reply:

"Tongya understands, Brother Wangbai just take care of your clan for now."

Fei Wangbai was still fearful of Yu Yufeng's potential revenge, but Li Tongya knew that the Yu Family's loss was extraordinary this time and it would likely take them decades to recover. It would be difficult to maintain their suppression over the families on the East Bank, let alone seek retaliation. He nodded in agreement on the surface and escorted Fei Wangbai a few miles away before riding the wind back to Huazhong Mountain.

Armored soldiers lined up on the mountain in silence, standing coldly in two rows. Li Tongya stopped in front of the hall, and instantly, there was a resounding clatter of kneeling figures. Li Xuanxuan, smiling, hurried forward, saying respectfully:

"Uncle, you've repelled the mighty enemy and protected the clan; your divine might is awe-inspiring. We cannot express our gratitude enough..."

Li Tongya couldn't help but laugh, waving off Li Xuanxuan's formality, and said:

"You lad, even you're speaking ceremoniously. Off you go."

Behind him, Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanling both laughed at his words. Li Xuanxuan straightened up, unable to hide the joy on his face. Li Xuanling stepped forward and began:

"We have already collected the An Family's possessions. The cultivation techniques and assets match exactly what An Zhiyan said they would be: thirty-seven spirit stones, six fetal breathing magical instruments, and five spiritual objects of fetal breathing level. We even obtained an array plate of Qi cultivation level, called the 'Returning Origin Five Qi Array.' It's not top quality, but it's still usable and can serve as our mountain protection array."

"Correct," Li Tongya nodded, instructing them,

"Jade Court Mountain's terrain is steep and towering, with a lackluster Spirit Vein. It need not be given much attention for now. Just set up a simple Formation there. This sort of Formation placed on the gentle and spiritually rich Earth Veins of Huazhong Mountain would... As for Huaqian Mountain—"

He waved his hand, gesturing toward Li Xuanfeng who was seated below, and said in a gentle voice,

"Xuanfeng, go to Lixia County and make inquiries. Invite Liu Changdie over to survey the Earth Veins and terrain of Huaqian Mountain and prepare to set up the Formation."

"Yes!"

Li Xuanfeng nodded, slung his longbow over his shoulder, and hurriedly rode the wind away. Li Tongya twirled his beard between his fingers and commanded,

"The news of attacking Huazhong Mountain hasn't spread yet. Send someone to Eastern Shanyue to order Shamo Li to come to Lijing Mountain for a meeting. I'd like to take a good look at that 'Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique' for Qinghong."

"As for An Zhiyan..."

Li Tongya paused for a moment, stepped onto the stone stairway, and entered the vast, empty hall. It was eerily quiet, with intricate patterns on the stone pillars. The air was thick with a pungent smell of blood, while the lamps flickered inconsistently. A low moaning sound, as faint as the hum of a mosquito, drifted through.

"Drip..."

Thick drops of blood fell slowly. An Zhiyan held a knife-shaped Magic Artifact and deftly sliced off a thin, almost transparent piece of flesh, which he lifted with the blade and gently placed into his own mouth, swallowing it in two gulps.

"Ahh..."

An Zheyu was unrecognizable, a human figure no more. Thin membranes clung to stark bones. He hung from the rafters, sculpted-like, with his organs, including a barely beating heart, enveloped in translucent flesh that hung feebly. Blood reached the feet of Li Tongya but was repulsed by the water-avoiding capacity of an artifact known as "Vast Sea."

Li Tongya watched the suspended An Zheyu, his dragon-serpent like brows betraying a chilling ferocity and an admiration akin to awe. It seemed to him as though the person hanging before him was the one he'd regretted and loathed day and night. He found himself at a loss for words.

Everyone fell into a hushed silence. Several younger family members looked uneasy, and while both Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan furrowed their brows, only Li Yuanjiao watched An Zheyu with bright, focused eyes.

Oblivious to the others, An Zhiyan continued his work, carefully slicing through the hair of An Zheyu, who could do nothing but make piteous whimpers. His sculpted body trembled slightly, his lids and cheeks gone, his bloodshot eyes nearly falling out.

Li Xuanxuan's face was grave, but seeing Li Tongya's thoughtful look, he dared not rebuke. Suddenly recalling something, he whispered to Li Tongya,

"We arranged for An Zhiyan to marry Li Feiruo. Feiruo is pregnant, and we were immediately notified. An Zhiyan may not know yet."

Li Tongya, jarred by Li Xuanxuan's interruption, shook himself awake and heaved a deep sigh. With a sweeping wave of his sleeve, he unleashed a surge of Mana directly at the abdomen of An Zhiyan, sending him flying. An Zhiyan tumbled three times on the ground and vomited a mess of blood and tissue, unsettling to all who witnessed it.

"This man is finished..."

An Zhiyan's lips and teeth were smeared with blood, he appeared dazed, descending into deep delirium. Li Xuanling muttered to himself but then saw his father, Li Tongya, shake his head. He stepped forward, lifted An Zhiyan by the collar, and boomed into his ear like a giant bell,

"An Zhiyan! Li Feiruo is with child!"

The voice, laden with Mana, made An Zhiyan tremble uncontrollably, blood trickling from his ears. Li Tongya released his grip gently, and An Zhiyan collapsed to the floor, vomiting and weeping, laughing and crying all at once. The cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation was now covered in filth, rolling on the ground.

With a flick of his finger, Li Tongya killed An Zheyu outright, leaving his tormented head to drop down solitarily, a large gush of dark-red blood flowing from the nasal bone, splattering on the ground with a drip, creating a spatter of blood.

The hall fell into a profound silence, the quiet was deep, the autumn winds breezing through, and everyone stood speechless, suffocated by the unspeakable heaviness in the air.