Li Chenghuai quickly lowered his head and apologized, "It is we, the elders... we have failed to teach our younger generation properly..."
"Your Chengming generation is either cultivating or dueling, and now there are so few of you left. You guys are not to blame..." Li Xuanxuan merely waved his hand. "Zhouming was born with a troublesome temperament... and that is a problem."
When Li Ximing caught his grandson's name, he immediately understood. He glanced at Li Chenghuai and asked, "So Grandfather is blaming me... I wonder what foolish thing Zhouming has done this time?"
After all, Li Ximing had just mentioned Li Zhouming. If something had escaped his notice, then it would fall on Li Chenghuai's shoulders. Yet Chenghuai had not withheld anything; he truly had no idea what foolishness Zhouming had committed. But the last person who had deceived a Daoist Master had been reduced to ashes, and with that sharp gaze now fixed upon him, even though the Daoist Master was his elder, he still froze in fear.
Fortunately, Li Xuanxuan was shrewd in his elder years. A single exchanged glance told him all he needed to know, and he said, "This matter is beyond Qingdu's jurisdiction, and yet the blame still falls on me."
Li Xuanxuan continued quietly, "Some years ago, when you were in seclusion and Zhouming's cultivation was still lacking, I thought to help him and asked Jiangqian to arrange a position for him. But he refused to go, so the matter was dropped, and no one in the family knew.
"Later, when Chenghuai came out of seclusion, he assigned Zhouming a task, and he went reluctantly. Fearing that his cultivation might not earn respect, I privately gave him a spirit item to aid his cultivation. And yet... when I saw him a few days ago... his cultivation had not advanced at all."
Li Ximing straightened, poured tea for Li Xuanxuan, and said, "I have been negligent in discipline."
Li Xuanxuan shook his head. "A Daoist Master's bloodline, kept idle at home. So be it, we do not lack him. Whether it is shameful is another matter. But because I hope for his improvement, I must speak more than a few words."
Silence settled over the mountain. Fearing that Li Ximing might grow angry, Li Xuanxuan continued, "I am not saying he is entirely useless. In the younger generation, Zhouwei goes without saying, and aside from him, only Zhoufang, Zhouyang, Zhouluo, and Xinghan have truly amounted to something. Zhouming, at the very least, is willing to listen to his father, and that does not make him the worst among his brothers."
Li Ximing now understood his meaning and replied, "Just give him a nominal position and leave it at that. I never expected him to accomplish much anyway; it'll be enough if he focuses on guiding the children with ambition. Does grandfather expect us to prepare resources and assign someone to watch over his cultivation day and night? Our family has always selected the best through innate ability and intellect. We cannot break that rule."
Li Xuanxuan could only sigh and change the subject, "Chenghuai, your Immortal Foundation is indeed formidable, but in my opinion... it should not be used for everything."
Li Chenghuai looked slightly surprised as Li Xuanxuan went on, "There are some things you may not perceive. When the water is too clear, no fish can survive. In the two years you have led Qingdu, both the guest cultivators and the direct lineage have felt as if they are walking on thin ice. They have begun secretly communicating to evade your scrutiny. On the surface, things appear more orderly, but in truth, they have become more concealed. That is not a good sign.
"As long as the private actions remain visible to us, then even if there are grievances or misunderstandings, it is of little consequence. What we should fear is matters below becoming so cautious and hidden that neither you nor I can see them, forcing us to spend twice the effort to investigate. There are countless wondrous spell arts in the world; they will eventually come to understand and surpass your marvels. If we place too much trust in your Immortal Foundation, we may end up deceived and manipulated by them instead."
Li Chenghuai lowered his head in thought, and the elder said, "Secondly, you should now focus on your cultivation and not neglect the fundamentals for the trivial. Only matters of great importance concerning the direct descendants should call you forth to provide testimony. After all, this current state where every decision must pass through Qingdu and be judged by it breaks the proper order."
In truth, Li Chenghuai had only just refined two dharma artifacts and had yet to fully explore their many wondrous uses. He had remained stationed in Qingdu purely out of a sense of duty. Deep down, he felt that the elder had long noticed this and that his words were partly intended to help him step away. He could not help but sigh inwardly, The elder says little, but he is the one who truly sees through everything in this family... After all, he is someone who has watched over it for more than a century...
There was a hint of respect in his voice as he said, "I shall obey. I will return and relinquish Qingdu's authority!"
Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard with a smile and said, "In that case, let Zhouluo take charge of Qingdu."
"Elder!" Li Chenghuai wanted to refuse again, but when he saw Li Xuanxuan wave his hand, he could only bow and withdraw, leaving the grandfather and grandson alone.