Chapter 1640: Exalted Position (II)
Chapter 1640: Exalted Position (II)
When Qingyu Qian invited Li Zhouwei into the mountains years ago, he had personally explained the affairs of Wei and the Li Family, saying that Li Qianyuan had irreconcilable conflicts with half of the Dao lineages. Looking at it now, half had been an incredibly conservative estimate. The rest might not be irreconcilable, but they certainly had no desire to see him succeed...
Li Zhouwei fixed Yang Ruiyi with his golden eyes and said quietly, "The Li Family has long benefited from Senior Tianya's kindness. We will naturally do our part."
Yang Ruiyi smiled faintly and replied, "There is one more matter... We need to discuss the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus]."
"The [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus]..." Li Zhouwei raised a brow and asked, "Lord Yang has already reclaimed Quanwu, has he not? Is there some problem that still cannot be resolved?"
A trace of helplessness crossed Yang Ruiyi's face as he answered, "The [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus] itself is not the real problem. The problem is the cultivators and common people influenced by it. They are too numerous to count, and are spread throughout Lixia and Quanwu. If the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus] is destroyed, I'm afraid the dead will number in the millions."
Li Zhouwei remained unconvinced, though he put on an expression of sudden understanding and nodded slightly as Yang Ruiyi shook his head and said, "Fortunately, my lord is innately divine and still possesses various mystics. Currently, the gentlest and most practical solution is to seal away the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus] and remove its influence. Given another eight or ten years, the effects will naturally dissipate.
"All of the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotuses] are currently under our watch. Only the two blooms in the Wilderness... are difficult to deal with."
Li Zhouwei immediately understood. Though Yang Ruiyi spoke of the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus], what he was really discussing was the transfer and division of the Wilderness.
Setting down his teacup, he asked, "How does your esteemed family intend to handle it?"
Yang Ruiyi simply replied, "My lord's intention is to keep the Wilderness in our hands for the time being. Once everything has been properly arranged, it will be transferred to your esteemed family by another means."
The losses suffered in the Wilderness had actually been far lower than expected. However, the [Great Benevolent Golden Lotus] had already spread its influence far and wide, and as something that had descended from the Buddhist land, it was difficult to deal with. If the Li Family took possession of it now, they had no effective way to handle it in the short term. Leaving it to the Yang Family spared them one troublesome burden.
This 'other means' is nothing more than enfeoffment or an imperial grant...
Li Zhouwei nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble your esteemed family with it."
Yang Ruiyi smiled. "Think nothing of it. Rather, I should be thanking your esteemed family for placing its trust in us."
After concluding the other matters, Li Zhouwei's expression finally turned solemn as he said, "There are still two members of my clan. One is my younger clansman Li Zhouluo, who has received your lord's favor. The other is my elder, Li Yuanqin, who is cultivating at the Azure Pond Sect. How does your esteemed family intend to deal with them?"
Li Xuanxuan had pondered this matter for a long time. Since Li Zhouwei had the opportunity to meet Yang Ruiyi, he naturally asked about it in detail.
Yang Ruiyi looked at him in surprise. The smile faded from his face as he replied, "Li Zhouluo... after all, carries the blood of the Yang Family. If he remains with us, his safety can be assured, and there will be no need to worry about anyone using him as an emissary or employing other schemes through him to drive a wedge between our two families. That would be best for him, and best for both our families."
Li Zhouwei gave him a long, searching look. Yang Ruiyi added with a smile, "That said... There's no need to settle the matter now. Once the new dynasty has been established, he will be free to make his own choice. All either of us needs to do is wait."
He appeared utterly confident as he looked calmly at Li Zhouwei. "As for Li Yuanqin... The Ning Family will be garrisoning Yi Mountain City and the southern border on my lord's behalf. This is Ning Wan's reward. If the Li Family truly has a need for him, simply ask the Ning Family. I trust Ning Wan will not refuse."
"Only..." He smiled. "If you ask me... one branch of your family has finally managed to establish itself elsewhere. It may be for the best if they don't return to the lake."
Li Zhouwei looked at him thoughtfully, So this is the reward... Ning Wan still has cards left to play...
Both men had already spoken for the sake of their respective families, and there was little left to discuss.
Yang Ruiyi picked up his teacup as a gesture to end the meeting and said with a smile, "Just wait, fellow Daoist. It will happen within the next few years. The day the stars appear in the heavens, shining without cease, making both day and night equally bright, will be the day Martial Reverence founds its dynasty. Golden carriages and jade steeds will come to the lake to bestow noble titles upon you!"
With that, he personally rose from the seat of honor to escort the golden-eyed youth out. Stepping forward, he pushed open the pavilion doors himself.
Creak.
The warm light of the morning sun immediately streamed into the pavilion, illuminating the stone steps one by one. A cool breeze swept through, and past someone already waiting outside.
The man had handsome features and gleaming golden eyes. He wore a long robe embroidered with swirling cloud patterns, over which was draped a brocade outer robe decorated with paired beast motifs. His appearance was refined, carrying the dignified bearing of a scholarly general as he waited outside.
The moment the pavilion doors opened, he immediately bowed and said respectfully, "Greetings, my lord... Greetings... father!"
Li Zhouwei stood before the pavilion with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the brilliant radiance of the sun. Yang Ruiyi's laughter echoed outside the pavilion. "The fourth young master's immortal achievements are outstanding. My lord has spoken of them often. Truly, a great father raises no unworthy son!"
Li Jiangliang remained kneeling before the pavilion. Yang Ruiyi's praise stirred no visible emotion in him.
He simply waited cautiously until he finally heard his father's voice. "You flatter us, fellow Daoist."
Li Jiangliang's emotions were complicated. He raised his head slightly and stepped aside, seeing only the hems of two robes come into view.
The man in black smiled and said, "Then I shall take my leave and not disturb you further."
In the next instant, his figure vanished completely, erased so thoroughly that it was as though he had never been there. Only the golden-eyed youth remained standing quietly in place. Li Jiangliang lifted his gaze a little higher.
"Father."
"Come, walk with me."
"Yes."
Li Zhouwei raised a brow and began strolling along the corridor connecting the pavilions. Li Jiangliang followed closely behind, step for step, as he heard his father ask, "What duties do you hold at court... and what position do you occupy?"
Li Jiangliang promptly replied, "At present, I am responsible for establishing the rites of the new dynasty. Once the major affairs have been settled, I will likely oversee matters concerning the people's livelihood."
Li Zhouwei stopped, and turned back to study him for a moment. "You are quite different from your elder brothers. Cui Jueyin taught you for more than ten years, and you've truly taken his teachings to heart. You have not brought shame upon our family's upbringing."
Li Jiangliang had never imagined his father would say such words. He stood there stunned for a few breaths before finally coming back to himself. "Father... Thank you, father."
Li Zhouwei turned to gaze at the clouds beyond the corridor, resting a hand on the white stone balustrade as he said quietly, "The day your eldest brother returned from Mushroom Forest Plain, I heard what you said. You declared that you would rather die than make use of even the smallest portion of the family's resources..."
Standing beside him, Li Jiangliang looked into his father's golden eyes, his expression filled with mixed emotions.
His father's voice gradually softened as he continued, "In truth, you know as well as I do that whether you rely on the family's strength is not what matters. If the day comes when you truly have no other choice and must make use of it, then that is simply a responsibility you cannot avoid. There is no need to bind yourself with such a harsh oath..."
Li Jiangliang lowered his gaze and suddenly knelt to the ground. Meanwhile, Li Zhouwei's words grew quieter, lingering only in his heart.
By remaining at the Yang Family's side, perhaps even greater opportunities will present themselves.