Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 283 249 Guiluan (Two in One)_2

"You're the lucky one! You have no idea the turmoil in my heart right now."

Li Qinghong, with a serious expression, lightly laughed and said,

"I heard that Xiao Guiluan also possesses Fetal Breathing at the fourth layer and is highly gifted. Since it's said that her character and appearance are both top-notch, what other doubts could Yuanjiao have? In this world, when seeking a wife, what else is there to consider beyond these three aspects?"

Li Yuanjiao heaved a sigh and replied,

"Which cultivator would have too poor a countenance? Moreover, after a hundred and eighty years, the whitened hair, even the fairest complexion will wither. In my view, appearance is the cheapest, not worth mentioning at all."

Li Yuanjiao drank some more wine and began to speak his mind, raising a finger as he continued,

"As for talent, being either too great or too poor separates immortals from mortals. You and I, being well-matched in strength, that is truly ideal."

Putting down one finger, a hint of doubt flashed across Li Yuanjiao's face as he replied,

"What worries me the most is her character. Elder Xiao Yuansi is a person of loyalty and integrity; but when they say 'excellent character,' who knows what that really means…"

Li Qinghong nodded thoughtfully and said,

"Are you afraid that Xiao Guiluan is too kind? Or perhaps too weak?"

Li Yuanjiao snorted with a laugh and replied,

"Kindness or cruelty, either is fine; but not understanding expressions, failing to grasp the situation, or being intolerant of human nature—if she has even one of these flaws, it's the path to misfortune!"

Li Qinghong fell silent for a while before nodding and said,

"Yuanjiao, you make sense… but I still have a doubt."

Seeing Li Yuanjiao raise an eyebrow, Li Qinghong's expression turned sorrowful as she asked,

"But could big brother… who clearly excelled in every aspect, how did he end up in such a state…"

Li Yuanjiao closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of frustration, answering,

"Excelling in every aspect is just enough to climb onto the chessboard and become an ant in this grand era of strife, a toy for Zifu powerhouses."

Li Qinghong was taken aback. She harbored dreams of chasing the Immortal Path and longing for eternal life, but detested the behavior of those Zifu Golden Core, staying silent, then saw Li Yuanjiao drink again and then he jovially said,

"Though that's the case, we'll still have to depend on you and me in the future."

Li Qinghong nodded, her eyes brimming with a smile as she said,

"Alright then, just so you know, I'm about to condense the last Wheel."

Li Yuanjiao suddenly stiffened, setting down his cup with a thud, and grumbled loudly,

"Damn it! Why am I still drinking... Time to cultivate!"

Li Qinghong laughed crisply and excused herself from the yard. Taking a few steps into the clear wind, she saw the lively scene below the mountain. Her delicate hand gripped the spear tightly, secretly thinking,

"Among all my brothers and sisters, my talent is the best. I must not slack in my duty to be the family's shield."

————

Xiao Family.

The Xiao Family is now an Immortal Clan of Zifu. The Green Pond Sect gifted nearly half of Li Xia County, and the Tang Jin Sect to the north indicated six towns as well. The territory was not small, but due to the Green Pond Sect's depletion of resources in the past, there were fewer people left. However, it was still sufficient to sustain the secular members of the Xiao Family.

Xianyou Mountain's terrain was gentle, full of spirit energy. Ever since Xiao Chuting broke through to Zifu, the highest and primary peak, Xianyou Peak, was provided for his use. The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators retreated to other peaks. With the abundant spirit energy in Xianyou Mountain's Earth Veins, it was more than enough to support a group of cultivators.

Among the undulating mountains, one could spot a not-so-tall peak. The moonlight had just spilled down, illuminating the courtyard, making the intricate decorations and the scattered lights seem especially luxurious. Sitting in the main courtyard was a woman clad in azure, unadorned by makeup, with eyebrows shaped like willow leaves, and sparkling phoenix eyes full of brilliance. Her white, slender hand held an ink brush, lightly sketching on the cloth in front of her. With a gentle voice, she said,

"I've prepared all the gifts from my husband's family... Are there any remaining shares from our family's portion?"

"Reporting to Miss,"

the waiting maid replied with a bow,

"Aside from the nine boxes of dowry, there are just over ten spirit stones left. I'm not sure if that will be enough."

The azure-clad woman tied up her hair and counted,

"The Li Family employs many with different surnames... Tian, Liu, Xu, even including mother-in-law from the Dou Clan. All these minor surnames need to be managed well to avoid idle gossip. These ten or so spirit stones are indeed a bit lacking."

The dowry prepared by the Xiao Family for her was absolutely substantial, yet when it came to handling the wedding preparations, they always seemed stretched thin. With her delicate brows furrowing, she spoke softly,

"Father... Has anyone asked him? Is he truly unwilling to provide anything at all?"

The maid hesitated before nodding, frustration evident as she shook her head and lowered her voice to respond,

"There's been nothing. The people sent down the mountain have been unable to even enter the household several times."

"I can't blame him."

This lady in green was none other than Xiao Guiluan, soon to be wed into the west. She shook her head and said quietly,

"A daughter married off is like water splashed out. Naturally, he is not pleased."

"But... the Li Family is after all one of the noble families; it's not as if I'm marrying beneath me. What father is doing... seems to avoid embarrassment."

The maid agreed, and Xiao Guiluan explained with a gentle smile,

"If I had obediently found a cultivator to marry into the family, it would have gratuitously added several formidable supports for him. Now that I am marrying into another noble family, I might be glorified, but since he has no real affection for me, he just feels he has needlessly lost much, naturally he is discontent."

The maid quickly sealed her lips, daring not to say more, as she saw Xiao Guiluan set aside her writing brush and take off a jade bracelet shimmering with Dharma Light from her wrist, instructing,

"I've been using this jade bracelet since I cultivated the Xuanjing Wheel; it can concentrate the mind and quiet the qi, absorbing spirit mechanism. It's quite a treasure. Take it down the mountain to someone trustworthy, it may save some spirit stones, filling in this shortfall."

The maid appeared somewhat uneasy as she replied,

"Miss, must it be so... They're just a few outsiders. They should be flattering you instead, it's not necessary to be so attentive..."

Xiao Guiluan placed the jade bracelet in her hand and elaborated,

"The Li Family has four branches, but only one can hold the position of Family Head. The strategy here is long-term; you needn't be too suspicious."

Having said this, she paused, glanced at the silk fabric on the table, and admonished,

"Make sure the family does not know about this! The dowry provided by the family is rightfully supposed to include a portion from my father. Thus, with this deficit, if he's unwilling to give, so be it. But if the family comes to know, he will be punished, provoking trouble for no reason and stirring up unnecessary conflict."

She squeezed the maid's hand and whispered,

"The chance to marry into a noble family does not come easily. We are at a critical juncture; let us not provoke any issues that would leave me in an awkward position."

Although Xiao Guiluan was of the principal lineage, she was born out of wedlock. If she had chosen to marry a Qi Cultivator from within the clan, it would've been, at best, someone past their prime in years. Xiao Guiluan, merely seventeen or eighteen, was far from willing. She had seen a portrait of Li Yuanjiao; he was quite handsome. Young, yet already at the fifth layer of Fetal Breathing within the Yujing Wheel, he had hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Moreover, Xiao Guiluan was marrying into the Li Family as a Xiao family daughter. The entire Li Family had to treat her with great courtesy, a stark contrast to other matches. Naturally, she treasured this dearly.

"Yes..."

The maid responded softly, and Xiao Guiluan nodded, picking up the brush to record these spirit stones as provided by her father. Before she could proceed, the courtyard gate knocked rhythmically. Xiao Guiluan knit her brows and called out,

"Who is it that calls?"

"This lowly one is sent by Xiao Jiuqing, my lord, to bring gifts for a branch of Yu Mountain!"

"Xiao Jiuqing..."

Xiao Guiluan gave a signal, and the maid quickly went to open the door, revealing a servant boy kneeling outside, not daring to enter, merely raising his hands high holding a small embroidered pouch, and respectfully said,

"A congratulatory gift for the young miss!"

The maid took and presented it to Xiao Guiluan, who received the small embroidered pouch and weighed it, guessing there were about five or six spirit stones inside. She felt a quiet joy and replied,

"Go back and tell your master this generous gift is greatly appreciated by Guiluan. My gratitude is immense."

The servant boy repeated his acknowledgments, not daring to lift his head to look at Xiao Guiluan, and backed away. The maid closed the door behind him, curiously asking,

"Miss, we've never had dealings with Xiao Jiuqing of this Yu Mountain branch. Why would he be so kind..."

Xiao Guiluan covered her mouth and chuckled, drawing a circle on the silk fabric, and answered,

"He's seeking favor! He's taken a liking to the Li Family... or rather... to that Li Yuanjiao."

Xiao Guiluan, though clever and quick-witted, was after all only a girl of seventeen or eighteen. Seeing that her future husband was admired by others brought her a subtle joy. She lifted her delicate hand and began to write a 'Yuanjiao' character on the silk fabric, murmuring,

"Whether he's kind or fierce, as long as he's not a foolish husband."