Houfu carried the weight of the Great Xiukui Temple behind him, and his words held authority. That made the proposal much more palatable. Even if something went wrong, Houfu could bear responsibility.
Li Ximing felt somewhat moved and asked deliberately, "Is the Great Boon Bronze-Color Temple under the Way of Compassion or the Way of Emptiness?"
Houfu replied, "It belongs to the Way of Compassion."
Li Ximing breathed a quiet sigh of relief. His grand-uncle Li Xuanfeng had once slain eighteen Buddhist cultivators of the Way of Emptiness along the river, shattering that lineage's great karmic destiny. If this matter had even the slightest connection to the Way of Emptiness, Li Ximing would never have touched it.
After a moment's thought, he nodded. "It's worth a try."
"Good!" Lingdu smiled and said, "I must trouble Zhaojing to cultivate in the mountains for a while. Once we have everything in order and the time of revelation draws near, we'll invite you over. Afterward, you can meet the Grand Daoist Master and proceed to the cleansing."
In the end, Li Ximing decided to undergo the cleansing to dispel his doubts. The three brewed tea, exchanged nods, and settled the matter.
————
Moongaze Lake.
The moon hung full above the lake, its light rippling across the shimmering surface. Streaks of white dharma light rose from the shore now and then, darting toward the island; first to the central hall, where they lingered briefly, then gliding onward to the rear sanctuary.
At the head of the great hall sat a man in black robes, pen in hand. Three years had passed, yet Li Zhouluo's features had hardly changed. Only his movements, swift and efficient as he reviewed the reports, showed growth, and the once-nervous tension on his face had long since vanished.
He soon set down the pen and glanced outside; it was only midnight. Li Zhouluo's workload had visibly decreased since Li Xuanxuan had announced the three-year inspection plan.
Some of the peak offices that used to report even trivial matters had finally grown some sense; they now included proposed solutions with their petitions. Several sluggish family lineages that had long relied on favors suddenly came to life, busily running about the island each day. The clan officials governing the outskirts became paragons of selflessness and integrity, while the main lineage members who had gone there to “vacation” abruptly became clever and righteous, exposing a web of corrupt officials in a fit of moral fury. It even resulted in the downfall of a Dou Family member.
How exceedingly diligent they've become...
Li Zhouluo soon realized he hardly needed to exert effort anymore. Even when it came to dealing with a few external families, there were always relatives rushing forth in zealous crusades. Everything seemed to go well, except that the cultivators of Qingdu remained cool toward him. Though still respectful, they showed little warmth.
He knew that his handling of the Li Chengpan affair three years ago had indeed been lacking. The Qingdu cultivators' authority rested on keeping the main lineage in check, and his obvious partiality had muddled the accounts. Later, when he himself initiated the shadow-protection system, it only made it harder for them to like him.
But... none of that matters anymore...
Li Zhouluo firmly remembered Li Xuanxuan's words: one should act only according to one's ability. His purpose here was simply to earn goodwill and then step down. With that in mind, he felt far more at ease.
After a moment of thought, he noticed a man in plain robes waiting quietly nearby. Li Zhouluo smiled and said, "Uncle Chengpan, how are matters progressing in the west?"
The man before him was none other than Li Chengpan. That blood-script incident years ago had nearly forced Li Zhouluo to imprison the entirety of Qingdu. Later, when the matter was investigated, only Li Hun was officially charged. Even so, Li Zhouluo could no longer employ Li Chengpan in any sensitive position and instead appointed him as an assistant within the hall.
Li Chengpan bowed. "All matters are in order. This year's yield from the mines has already been delivered to the family."
Li Zhouluo sighed softly. By his estimation, there were not many days left before the Shadow Examination.
The old master said to let the concealment take effect early and allow them some joy for a while, so that when Jiangqian emerges, he doesn't have to play the villain so blatantly...
The current spiritual aura was Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity, which favored Fire Virtue. Li Jiangqian's seclusion would not last much longer, and thus, this matter could not be delayed.
As he pondered, a breeze seemed to sweep through the courtyard, and a figure slowly appeared. The middle-aged man’s black robes shimmered like feathers, and a piece of dark jade about two feet long hung from his waist. His brows arched slightly, and his eyes held a trace of a smile.
"Father!" Li Zhouluo snapped to attention, hurried down the steps, and said joyfully, "You've come out of seclusion!"
Li Chenghuai's cultivation had grown ever more stable over the years. A dense gray radiance flowed faintly through his hair. Though his appearance was plain, the Untraceable Presence, his Concealment-type Immortal Foundation, made him seem even more unremarkable.
He nodded lightly and replied, "The ancestral rites are drawing near, and someone must oversee the family's affairs. I judged that Jiangqian would soon emerge from seclusion, so I came out myself. I took a walk around the island and saw that our household is lively and bustling, with a good atmosphere... you've done well."
Li Zhouluo knew very well what lay behind that liveliness, and a hint of shame crossed his face as he said softly, "Father... you've misunderstood..."