Chapter 1849: Heavenly Nurturing (I)

Tingzhou.

A solemn atmosphere filled the grand hall. Cultivators knelt across the floor below while a man in crimson robes paced above them, his hands behind his back. He listened to their reports for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

Their Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had won a resounding victory in the war without suffering any casualties, but the western shore had been devastated. Li Jiangzong had spent seven consecutive days attending to matters without a moment's rest.

"Family head… The Pu Family's young heir, Pu Xinya, has returned as well…"

Li Jiangzong paused briefly and asked, "Did he have anything to say?"

The man below shook his head and replied, "He accepted the compensation, changed into white mourning clothes, and went up the mountain."

The Pu Family had served diligently over the years. After finally producing a Foundation Establishment Realm family head, they had lost him in the war. Although Pu Xinya had been assigned to a market town away from home, the purpose had been to temper him. He was exceptionally talented and a close friend of Li Suining, so Li Jiangzong naturally took good care of him.

He said, "Let Suining know about this as well. It would be best for him to speak to the boy…"

When he asked after Suining, someone stepped forward to report, "Young Master Suining remains on the mountain. His cave dwelling is sealed, and he has sent no messages or instructions."

Li Suining was among the clan's most diligent cultivators. Having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he was now one of its mainstays. Ordinarily, he would come out to help at a time like this. This was the first time he had remained in seclusion so long.

Li Jiangzong shook his head in mild surprise. "Then leave it for now… You…"

Before he could continue, a succession of announcements heralded a youth entering the hall.

He wore military attire, and carried himself with striking confidence. His features were truly celestial, with radiant golden eyes, and he looked exceptionally valiant.

He bowed, and said solemnly, "Greetings, clan uncle!"

Li Jiangzong's eyes immediately warmed with a smile. He hurried down the steps and helped the young master rise. "We are family… There is no need for such formality!"

This was the King of Wei's eldest grandson, Li Jianglong's son, Li Suihuan!

A prodigy of the Li Family's new generation, Li Suihuan advanced at an astonishing pace. At only twenty-eight, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, his cultivation nearly matching Li Jiangzong's. He had attained the Foundation Establishment Realm faster than anyone of his generation across the family's lineages, even surpassing several of his uncles. Only his grandfather, Li Zhouwei, had been faster!

The blessings of his Bright Yang bloodline certainly played a part, but his progress still showed the extraordinary talent of the King of Wei's eldest grandson!

Li Jiangzong regarded him with undisguised admiration. Li Suihuan smiled faintly, took a jade slip from his sleeve, and presented it to his elder. "Matters on the western shore have been settled. The land deeds have been reassigned; everyone is attending to their duties; and order has been restored!"

Li Jiangzong praised him, dismissed everyone else, and led him into the rear hall to sit. He read the jade slip carefully, then finally exhaled and said, "Impressive!"

In seven days, this twenty-eight-year-old royal grandson had brought order to the chaos across the entire western shore. He had repaired its palaces, resumed mining operations, and arranged garrisons for the immortal mountains. He hardly seemed like a royal scion who spent his days cultivating in seclusion.

This brought Li Jiangzong's own eldest son, confined in Qingdu, to mind. Anger shook him to his core. Gritting his teeth, he sighed. "That wretch… If he had even a fraction of your ability, I would not have to keep him locked up like this!"

Li Suihuan bowed in return, but answered earnestly, "Brother Suiqing… is merely overbearing by temperament."

Li Jiangzong took this as an attempt to be kind. He shook his head and gave it no further thought. Since Li Suiqing's grievous transgression, Li Jiangzong had given up on him. He had ultimately preserved his son's life, but taken another concubine and devoted himself to fathering more children. Only his father, Li Zhoufang, still worried about the boy and occasionally visited his grandson.

He dropped the subject, then noticed the happiness that had never left Li Suihuan's face. Smiling, he asked, "What good news have you received?"

Li Suihuan laughed and replied, "I received a letter from my father! Has grandfather returned?"

Still smiling, he took the letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Jiangzong. Slightly surprised, Li Jiangzong hesitated to read it. Only after Li Suihuan nodded did he open the letter and glance over it.

Li Suihuan said with a smile, "Father's concubine accompanying the army has given birth to a daughter!"

"Oh?!" Li Jiangzong was instantly delighted. "What a rare blessing!"

The Suiyu generation had no shortage of talent. Even setting aside the royal grandchildren, the brothers Li Suining and Li Suikuan were enough to uphold their generation, and many others possessed considerable aptitude. The only regret was that the men far outnumbered the women. Daughters were exceedingly rare.

He read with a broad smile, yet his feelings were not limited to joy. Years as family head had honed his instincts, prompting him to ask at once, "Which lady is the mother?"

Li Suihuan gave an ambiguous smile and said, "Mother has remained in the capital all these years, and naturally, the other ladies who went with her do not accompany the army either. The woman with him was bestowed by Lord Yang. She has no notable background, and her surname is Huang, not Yang.

"I hear she is a cultivator from a minor clan in Yue State. Her father's background can be traced. He holds a minor official post in the Dongli region… With this birth, his fortunes are bound to soar."

Li Jiangzong felt somewhat relieved and considerably more satisfied. "That is for the best."

Li Suihuan rose eagerly and said, "My little sister was born in Jianghuai just as the old year was ending. Father had already decided to give her the character Sui[1]. He sent this letter home to share the good news with grandfather!"

Li Jiangzong nodded repeatedly, holding the letter as though it were a priceless treasure, and said with a smile, "Come! Let us visit the old elder first!"

————

Heavenly light shone brilliantly.

Li Ximing rose amid the mountains and strode a few steps across the white jade-like ground. Radiant Fire circled him like a bird before settling on his shoulder. Deep in thought, the Daoist Master finally said, "I… never imagined the Song Emperor viewed the Underworld's judiciary in such a light."

Li Zhouwei stood with his hands behind his back. "He is far more dissatisfied than I expected. Whatever else may be true, the Underworld's judiciary is determined to help him succeed. Yet judging by his attitude, he takes no pleasure in it at all."

Li Ximing frowned deeply. After a while, he looked up and asked, "Judging by his manner, how much truth do you think there was in his words?"

The King of Wei paused briefly, then shook his head. "He did not seem to be pretending, nor should he have any reason to. There must be some underlying disagreement between Yang Zhuo and the Underworld's judiciary."

Li Ximing hesitated to speak as Li Zhouwei continued thoughtfully, "Unless… Yang Zhuo is dissatisfied with the Dao attainment awaiting him. Or rather, despite all its power and its possession of True Monarch Tianwu's Metallic Essence, the Underworld's judiciary has had to move the entire world like pieces on a board to obtain this True Essence. Perhaps Yang Zhuo is dissatisfied with the result…

"Is this a conflict between Yang Zhuo and the Underworld's judiciary, or between Tianwu and the Underworld's judiciary? And what exactly is the relationship between Yang Zhuo himself and Tianwu's Metallic Essence?"

1. 岁 (suì) means "year" or "age." Here, it marks her birth as the old year was drawing to a close. ☜