novelraw Chapter 318 - 291: Not Permitted to Return South
Chapter 318 - 291: Not Permitted to Return South
"Taoist fellow, save me..."
"Hand over the precious medicine!"
......
Since Li Xuanling had resolved to return to the south, he naturally flew straight southward. Along the way, chaos reigned—one moment it was a clash between immortals and demons as treasures emerged, another it was Buddhist practitioners subduing monsters with both sides suffering; it seemed as though there were opportunities to take advantage of, but Li Xuanling, anxious to return home, kept his head down, flying southward without pausing for a moment.
In the Li Family, Li Xuanling had the most profound grasp of the River Rapids Step, so along the way not even a leaf touched his body. He rode the wind safely past dangers, soon arriving at the great river on the border of Xu Country. The surging waves rolled by in torrents, waves crashing against the banks in layer upon layer, pure white and crystalline—a sweeping, majestic sight that stirred the soul.
The great river marked the division between north and south, its waves roiling—it was one of the places with the most abundant water qi under the heavens. Its upper reaches extended into Zhao Country, winding and twisting, turning back at Luoxia Mountain, then disappearing into Wu Country, known as the ancestral water vein of the south. Li Xuanling cultivated the River Qi Decision, a Qi Cultivator of great rivers, and upon seeing this sight, could not help but stop and look on.
"The rivers and streams are vast and mighty..."
Li Xuanling had passed this great river when he traveled north, unable to resist practicing here for several days, his spirit loosened and cultivation greatly advanced—he had seen this scenery before. Yet now, seeing it again on his return, his heart was still deeply shaken, impossible to suppress. His thoughts stirred as he landed by the riverbank, gazing at the pale blue water flowing eastward, feeling himself grow ever smaller in comparison.
"A man’s fate is like this great river rushing on—caught in the current, helpless to choose his way."
Li Xuanling recalled his northern journey. Originally, he had only been wandering in Xu Country, when the thought of venturing to Luoxia Mountain had suddenly arisen, as if out of nowhere. That sprouting intent was like a landslide or tsunami, and before he knew it, he had crossed Xu Country and headed to Zhao Territory.
"Had Fa Hui not interrupted me, I would still be lost in that compulsion, unable to extricate myself.... Was it truly my own wish to go, or was it some Zifu or some Maha hoping to send me there?"
Li Xuanling’s back turned cold for a moment. The shadow of the great scheming hands between heaven and earth fell over him, making him shudder with fear—everything he had seen along his chaotic journey only confirmed the possibility, and he grew even more afraid.
"All these heavenly treasures emerging, all this demon-subduing by Buddhist practitioners—it must all be illusions fabricated by schemers, trying to compel me ever southward!"
Li Xuanling mused silently as he walked along the riverbank for some distance. Suddenly, a giant reef appeared ahead, and upon it sat an old man in a coir raincoat. His brown-black coat was dripping wet, and he silently worked at untangling a mess of fishing net in his hands with great patience.
Beneath the brown-black coat was a pair of sharp eyes, staring straight at Li Xuanling as he approached, startling Li Xuanling into a sudden halt.
Before the sense of relief in Li Xuanling’s heart had faded, a deep horror surged in its place, his mind booming as he thought to himself:
"I’ve been caught in a spell!"
Li Xuanling immediately circulated his mana, but before he could set off on the wind, that old man called out in a loud, clear voice:
"Boy! No need to head further south!"
Li Xuanling had just risen a foot off the ground when he was forcibly pressed back onto the earth. His limbs were frozen, all of his body immobile save for his mouth, which could barely move. He exclaimed in shock:
"Zifu Perfected Person!"
"You have a steadfast heart indeed, boy—we exhausted beauties, demons, riches, and treasures, yet none could make you waver in the slightest..."
The old fisherman lowered his head again, focused on the tangled net in his hands, and said gently:
"So I had to come out myself to intercept you."
Li Xuanling, unable to move, could only open his mouth and mutter in a muffled voice:
"I am but a mere Qi Cultivator, while Senior is a mighty Immortal Cultivator—why go to such lengths to manipulate a junior like me..."
The fisherman laughed heartily, stared intently at Li Xuanling, and answered:
"We have been plotting this game for decades. There can be no mistakes. It wasn’t easy luring you north, but who could imagine you’d be so cautious, turning the whole thing into such a hassle."
Li Xuanling suddenly felt his body relax—the Perfected Person had released the binding. Realizing there was no way to escape, he simply sat down cross-legged, all spirit lost, and said dispiritedly:
"If I’m not mistaken, Sirs are after my father. I am but a bait, aren’t I?"
The Zifu shook his head, glanced at him, and said with a laugh:
"No—the bait includes your father as well."
Li Xuanling felt a chill creep up his spine. He opened his mouth and said hoarsely:
"But my father has always been cautious... Surely that won’t satisfy Sirs."
The Zifu shook his head again, replying gently:
"Li Tongya cannot help but come. He already has a premonition; otherwise, he wouldn’t be sitting quietly atop Lijing Mountain."
The man exhaled, a look of respect on his face, and said softly:
"We Zifus have watched the worldly winds for hundreds of years—what kind of characters haven’t we seen? I must admit, Li Tongya is remarkable, but lacks ruthlessness. He cannot abandon his family or his principles, and so can only wait helplessly."
Li Xuanling fell silent, gripping his longsword at his waist, his eyes moist and face flushed as he asked:
"If my father and I both obey and go to our deaths, can the Li Clan enjoy even a single night of peace?"
The fisherman looked at him deeply, clapped his hands, and replied:
"The Da Li Mountain Demon Cave and Xiao Chuting will protect your house; the Li Family will come to no harm."
Li Xuanling let out a long breath and was about to ask more, but the Zifu waved a large hand and said softly:
"That’s enough! For your father’s sake I answer you twice, yet you prattle on and on. Go on, head to Luoxia Mountain!"
Li Xuanling pressed his lips together, sighed inwardly, saluted the man, then rode the wind northward.
Leaving the Zifu monk to tidy his net where he stood, cursing under his breath, muttering:
"What a mess—can’t even control the fate of a single Qi Cultivator! Even had to come out myself..."
────
The cold winter gradually crept in. News came to the market of Xiao Yongling’s breakthrough. Li Xuanxuan prepared a modest gift and personally delivered it to Guanyun Peak to offer his congratulations.
Xiao Yongling broke through to Foundation Establishment, his spirits soaring. With a complex expression, he gazed at Li Xuanxuan, received the jade box from the table, and with a sweep of spiritual sense recognized the spiritual medicine inside as the finest of the Qi Cultivation Level. He nodded slightly and merely said:
"You’ve put your heart into it."
"Thank you, Senior, for your care these past years..."
Over these years, as Li Xuanxuan conducted business in the market, Xiao Yongling had stood guard within, offering not a little help. Now, naturally, Li Xuanxuan was full of gratitude and replied respectfully.
Hearing this, Xiao Yongling paused, uncontrollably rubbing the jade cup before him a couple of times. He hesitated for a dozen breaths, somewhat disheartened, waved his hand and gestured to the white-robed man holding a long staff nearby, replying:
"After I leave, Ruyu will oversee the market. If your house has any important affairs, you may come to him."
"Greetings, sir!"
Li Xuanxuan immediately cupped his hands. Beside him, Xiao Ruyu smiled gently. Now himself at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, he said softly:
"I have much friendship with Xuanfeng, no need for such formality—just call me Ruyu."
After a few words, Li Xuanxuan took his leave. Xiao Yongling frowned, a trace of guilt in his expression. Watching Li Xuanxuan depart, he said with exhaustion:
"Li Xuanling is surely in the north by now. These Zifus vie with one another... and I can hardly speak openly. Patriarch did his best to be tactful, but in the end this is how things turned out. I am ashamed before Li Tongya."
"It’s beyond our power, in the end."
Xiao Ruyu looked much more mature, his gaze steadier and voice heavier as he spoke:
"My Xiao Family... has done all it could."
Xiao Yongling gave a bitter smile and replied:
"Who can say... So it is now that things are best. Upon Wangyue Lake, none may rule alone. Once this matter passes, this group of Zifus can quiet down for a time, and we need not fret day by day."