Wan Xiaohua sat at the desk, unable to conceal his weariness. A cultivator of the Yujing Wheel at Shengyang Mansion had already formed his Spiritual Wheel, and in theory, he should be full of vigor even without sleep for three days and three nights. But lately, too many troublesome matters had worn him down.
"How do you see the message sent by the Li Family, Yuankai?"
Rubbing his temples, Wan Xiaohua looked exhaustedly towards the crowd seated below him.
Wan Yuankai hadn't yet spoken when a burly man beside him said carelessly,
"What else is there to think about? The Li Family is not strong. They're wishful thinking. Just with the two people from the Li Family, if our Family Head went to their door, he could force them to hand over all the Spiritual Fields to the Wan Family!"
The man had thick eyebrows and large eyes, his tiger-like gaze fixed intently on Wan Xiaohua at the top seat.
"Idiot!" cursed Wan Xiaohua in his heart before retorting,
"What if the Li Family has someone cultivating in the sect? If they ask for accountability, how shall we deal with it?"
"This..."
Seeing the burly man at a loss for words, Wan Yuankai stepped forward and said,
"Let's give the Li Family the thirty percent they ask for. Our family's reserves are decreasing year by year, and we're on the verge of failing to meet our tributes. The most important thing is to focus on our survival."
Wan Xiaohua nodded, then said softly,
"Thirty percent is probably negotiable. The Ji Family is powerful, and under the threat of mutual destruction, the Li Family would not push us too hard."
Talking about the Ji Family, Wan Xiaohua's expression turned dark and he put down the letter in his hand, continuing,
"In previous years, the border was at Yubu Mountain. Now we've retreated to the ancient Lidao as our boundary. That old thief Ji Dengqi is too bullying. Our strength falls short, and year after year of concessions, we haven't had a moment to catch our breath."
Wan Yuankai nodded fiercely, his teeth clenched as he sighed,
"Fortunately, we found hope in a desperate situation. The Spirit Mechanism Earth Vein at the North Foothills of Da Li Mountain is recovering, giving the Wan Family a glimmer of life, if only it were in our hands."
Wan Xiaohua laughed coldly, saying,
"Things are as good as they can be for now. Even if the Wan Family had taken the North Foothills of Da Li Mountain, we would need people to guard it. Who would protect the Huaqian Mountain and our main house if I sent you all there? Besides, this matter is too significant. The Ji Family has taken notice. Do you think Ji Dengqi would just watch the Wan Family expand?"
"Ji Dengqi has been secretly sending people to contact the fools of our branch families, causing them to waver. Contacting the Li Family or sending someone over must be done covertly. We must not let Ji Dengqi find out!"
Wan Yuankai nodded firmly, answering,
"I've already had my clan brother fake his death and escape to the Lidao Entrance. Ji Dengqi's spies are just ordinary people; they won't notice anything."
"Tiancang is eloquent and cautious. I'm most at ease with him handling this."
Having said this, Wan Xiaohua took up his brush and lightly marked a map in front of him, his gaze cold as he whispered,
"A dull knife cuts deep, but they need to be careful of the Wan Family biting back."
————
Li Tongya regulated his breathing, feeling the unceasing flow of mana within his body, and with a light chuckle, he mused,
"The cycle of Zhouxing is unending, nearly four years, and I've finally succeeded."
"Congratulations, Tongya, for advancing further and achieving the Zhouxing Wheel!"
Lou Rouxuan tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a smile, looking directly at Li Tongya as she happily congratulated him,
"It's just a small accomplishment in the Fetal Breathing Realm, nothing to celebrate!"
Li Tongya lightly turned his head, subtly avoiding Liu Rouxuan's gaze, and responded with a touch of panic.
"Hehe."
Watching Liu Rouxuan giggling at something beside him, Li Tongya helplessly shook his head and, looking at the sky, said,
"After a day and a night of seclusion, I should go see Xiangping."
"Yes."
Liu Rouxuan nodded energetically, smiling as she responded.
When Li Tongya left the small courtyard in Lijing and had reached the Li Family's front courtyard, he could faintly hear noises from the main courtyard and stopped in his tracks.
"Mom! Why does everyone have a dad, and I don't?"
In the courtyard, Ren Clan was quietly sewing clothes when Li Xuanxuan, on the verge of tears, knelt on the ground hugging Ren Ping'er's skirt, pitifully asking,
"Li Xiewen even has a dad! Where did my dad go?"
Ren Clan heard the news and hurriedly crouched down to embrace Li Xuanxuan, answering with a choked voice:
"Your father has gone to a very, very distant place..."
"Mother lies to me! Mother lies to me!"
Li Xuanxuan struggled forcefully to break free from Ren Ping'er's embrace, crying out:
"How can someone go to a faraway place and not send letters home! They all say father is dead!"
Ren Ping'er was immediately at a loss, staring at the crying Li Xuanxuan somewhat helplessly.
Li Tongya felt a pain in his heart upon hearing this, he sighed deeply and stepped toward the main courtyard, gently picking up Li Xuanxuan.
When Li Xuanxuan saw Li Tongya, she immediately wiped her tears and sobbed:
"Second Uncle, where's my daddy!"
Li Tongya gently patted Li Xuanxuan's back and answered with a sorrowful voice:
"Your daddy was a good person, a kind and generous brother..."
"Wuu wuu wuu..."
Just as he comforted Li Xuanxuan, Li Yesheng knocked and entered the front courtyard. Ren Clan, upon seeing him, quickly took the sobbing Li Xuanxuan downstairs, leaving only two people in the courtyard.
"What is it?"
Li Tongya composed himself and spoke in a deep voice:
"There's a man dressed as a hunter at the door seeking an audience, claiming he is the person sent in response to Wan Family's invitation."
"Let him in."
Li Tongya was momentarily taken aback, then touched his chin and gestured to Li Yesheng with a wave of his hand.
Li Yesheng then brought the person inside. The man looked ordinary, wearing leather armor and carrying a long bow on his back, but his eyes were quite bright. He came in and bowed to Li Tongya:
"Wan Tiancang of Wan Family, greets the young Clan Leader!"
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, sensing that this man was far more formidable than Wan Yuankai and would likely not be easy to deal with. He responded with a smile:
"I'm unworthy of the title of young Clan Leader, just taking care of the village's trifles."
After saying this, he waved his hand and said:
"Please."
Wan Tiancang's brows lifted slightly, thinking to himself:
"I heard that Old Master Li doesn't often show his face, and these two brothers govern the Li Family together without clear seniority. Now it seems that Li Tongya is very cautious with his words, and I wonder what kind of person Li Xiangping is."
While his thoughts kept turning, he smiled and said:
"You're too kind."
Wan Tiancang entered the main courtyard, and the old master was sitting at the head position, sipping tea and merely nodding faintly at Wan Tiancang.
Observing Li Mutian's extraordinary composure and calm demeanor, Wan Tiancang inwardly marveled:
"This must be the Old Master of the Li Family, truly a former Foundation Establishment predecessor, with a demeanor unlike ordinary people."
He quickly bowed and, upon rising, his face was already streaked with tears, his voice choking as he said:
"I pay my respects to the predecessor."
Li Mutian set down the teacup in his hand and spoke with a heavy voice:
"Why this ado?"
Wan Tiancang wiped away his tears and replied:
"Seeing the predecessor's demeanor, I'm reminded of my own father. He fell to Ji Dengqi's wicked hand, losing nine hundred jin of Spirit Rice from our clan, almost unable to meet the tribute for the year after next!"
"Nine hundred jin?"
Li Tongya exchanged a glance with Li Mutian, who sat at the head of the table; their eyes both reflected comprehension. Li Tongya thought to himself:
"This man is eyeing our family's share of the three percent harvest!"