"Understood!" Li Yuanxiu said as he cupped his fist, confidently departing to carry out his plan.
Li Xuanxuan watched him go with a chuckle while Li Tongya glanced at him and grinned cheekily.
"You've raised a fine son!"
"Heh." Li Xuanxuan laughed, clasping his fist and adding, "Just so Second Uncle knows, my first wife will give birth again in a few months, adding a sibling born of the same mother to Xiu'er."
"Oh!" Li Tongya raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, "You have indeed done well in this respect. Ling'er is faithful, Feng'er is still trapped in past events, and among the younger generation... you are the only one who has spread his branches and leaves."
With a wave of his hand, Li Tongya's brow furrowed with worry again as he said in a grave tone, "Indeed, An Zheyan was right back then... Yu Mugao is a ruthless man. He fears An Jingming, but he also fears our Li Family. He will certainly not let our family off easily. Over the years, the Fei Family has caused him many troubles, and the Yu Family has annexed two others, so he simply hasn't had the chance to act. The quieter this man is, the more uneasy I feel..."
Li Xuanxuan listened to these words and fell silent for a moment, then cupped his fist once more.
"Now that Xuanling is in seclusion to break through, we brothers must be more cautious... Unless Yu Xiaogui himself takes action, who could possibly threaten us?"
"Indeed..." Li Tongya nodded gently. Li Xuanxuan then asked for some guidance on his cultivation. Although Li Tongya had been cultivating for many years and they did not practice the same techniques, his advice suddenly enlightened Li Xuanxuan, who left in a better mood.
Once I return to the mountain, I can focus on advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. I can't rest easy until there's a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator overseeing this lake and mountain...
At this thought, Li Tongya sighed softly and closed his eyes to meditate.
————
When the Li Family's troops returned to the four towns of Lijing, there was not much noise of carriages and horses. Most of the influential members of the Li Family had left the town, leaving only Li Yuanyun to welcome them at the town's entrance.
Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu alighted from their carriages and the brothers embraced, talking about the events of the past few months.
Standing nearby, Li Qinghong held her spear with a cheerful smile. Dressed in leather armor, the teenage girl, now around twelve or thirteen years old, had bright eyes and wore her black hair neatly in a ponytail. With the characteristic gray-black eyes of the Li Family, she stood gracefully as she watched her brothers smilingly.
"Qinghong!"
Li Yuanjiao scratched his head awkwardly. Having grown up beside her, he had always treated her more like a boy, and never thought it odd. Now, having been away for a few months and returning to see her blossom into a young lady, he felt momentarily embarrassed and called out to her somewhat awkwardly as if he hardly recognized her.
"What's the matter, Brother Jiao? After fighting in the mountains for months, you don't recognize your little sister anymore?" Li Qinghong's raised her eyebrows slightly as she teased him. Her usually gentle eyes suddenly lit up brightly. Since she wore no makeup on her face, her cheeks were slightly rosy.
"Not at all!" Li Yuanjiao replied as he laughed heartily. The conversation allowed him to feel more at ease and he said, "Once I return to the town, we'll have a match!"
Li Yuanxiu smiled warmly, pulling Li Yuanyun to the front, and prompting Li Qinghong to greet him right away.
"Brother!"
Li Yuanxiu was pondering the arrangements for their return to the town. Hearing her voice, he looked up, his eyes twinkling immediately as he smiled.
"Qinghong, you've grown much taller this year!"
As the younger generation chatted, a serious-looking man with slightly graying temples alighted from the carriage behind them.
It was none other than Li Xuanxuan.
"Father."
Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu called out respectfully, to which Li Xuanxuan nodded in acknowledgment.
The sight of Li Qinghong's smile momentarily stunned him, as if he was seeing Li Jingtian from more than a decade ago. While Li Jingtian exuded a gentler, calmer demeanor, Li Qinghong's eyes sparkled with energy, lending her a lively and assertive air.
"Uncle!" Li Qinghong called out with a smile, which made Li Xuanxuan feel a slight emptiness in his heart. He responded, but his mind had wandered off.
I should visit Jingtian too... Having secluded myself for so many years, and immediately going on a campaign in the mountains after emerging from seclusion, I have not seen her even once.
Li Xuanxuan was instructing these younger relatives on their cultivation while Li Yuanxiu stood behind silently. Li Pingyi quickly approached him and whispered, "Young Family Head, Tian Zhongqing has already been summoned."
Li Yuanxiu ran through his plans repeatedly in his mind before nodding and replying, "Have him wait for me at the Clan Affairs Courtyard."