NOVEL SIMPLE "How is the situation?"
Lan Chang'an didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"Uncle Renlong, it's been a month since he was buried." Li Erqing replied with a downcast tone.
Lan Chang'an roughly estimated that Mu Renlong's death occurred around the time Mu Yunfei arrived at Wuqi Mountain. This aligned with his judgment that Mu Renlong's injuries were too severe to be saved.
If Lan Chang'an had been impulsive and rushed back with Mu Yunfei, it would have been useless and they would have been ambushed.
Upon entering Feiyue Lake, Lan Chang'an felt the unrest within the Mu Family. The clansmen appeared lifeless and expressionless, some looking helpless and bewildered as if they had lost their spirit.
Indeed, Feiyue Lake still had a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but he was not from the Mu Family, which made the clan members uneasy.
Lan Chang'an first went to Moonheart Island to pay his respects to the late Mu Renlong, silently offering an apology. Objectively speaking, although he couldn't save Mu Renlong in time, he hadn't put in his best effort.
Years ago, saving Mu Xiuyun was an accident, which led to the discovery of the Evergreen Technique's secret, that it could consume longevity to heal people.
Leaving the burial grounds, Lan Chang'an saw two young men and women, both at the mid-stage of Qi-Refining, looking relaxed, one of them had a smile on the corner of his mouth.
"Who are those two young people?" Lan Chang'an asked casually.
"They are my grandson and granddaughter," Li Erqing's old face turned red as he glared at them, his Foundation Establishment pressure forcing the two young people to kneel.
In the current Mu Family, only Li Erqing's descendants seemed to be in good spirits.
"Isn't Moonheart Island only accessible to those at the late stage of Qi-Refining?" Lan Chang'an asked again.
Li Erqing's expression turned awkward as he explained, "According to the family's rules, a Foundation Establishment cultivator is allowed ten family members to accompany them on Moonheart Island for cultivation. Additionally, temporary family visits are permitted as long as they don't cultivate on the island."
Lan Chang'an hadn't frequented Moonheart Island much during his time cultivating in the Mu Family and was not familiar with the specific rules. Now, he sensed the potential for power imbalance. This was not solely due to Li Erqing's will the numerous wives and children behind him, driven by interest, would push Li Erqing to act involuntarily.
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Lan Chang'an arrived at Li Erqing's abode, where the two discussed the Mu Family's future strategies. Specifically, Li Erqing, now the highest-ranking cultivator in the Mu Family, was seeking Lan Chang'an's advice.
"Big brother, the elders in the family have also considered Huang Tankong's malicious intent," Li Erqing said solemnly. "The Mu Family's kindness is deeply ingrained in me. I will never harbor ill intentions, betray, or usurp the Mu Family."
Lan Chang'an believed Li Erqing's words were sincere at that moment. But Huang Tankong's schemes were an open plot, involving the distribution of benefits between the Mu Family and Li Erqing's lineage. As long as people are driven by interests, conflicts, and disagreements will inevitably arise.
"Erqing, if you truly wish for the Mu Family's stability, I have three suggestions," Lan Chang'an said after some thought.
"Please, go ahead, big brother," Li Erqing listened intently.
"First, as the only remaining Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Mu Family, do not involve yourself in family management. Leave it entirely to the elders such as Mu Chengji and Mu Xiuyun.
Second, quickly cultivate a new Foundation Establishment cultivator from within the Mu Family's lineage to stabilize morale."
Li Erqing nodded in agreement with the first two suggestions. freeweɓnøvel.com
"Third, if one day the situation at Feiyue Lake stabilizes but no longer meets the cultivation needs of your lineage, you can take your immediate family and establish a new clan elsewhere."
Hearing this, Li Erqing's expression changed, and he shook his head firmly, "Big brother, I have been part of the Mu Family since my teens. My wives and children are all of Mu blood. I would never make such a choice."
Among the three suggestions, the second one was the most crucial. As long as a Foundation Establishment cultivator emerged from the Mu Family, the situation at Feiyue Lake would naturally stabilize.
...
"Which ones of the Mu Family seedlings do you plan to cultivate?" Lan Chang'an and Li Erqing discussed the potential young cultivators. Currently, there were three members under forty with mid-grade spiritual roots: Mu Congren, Mu Bingyun, and Mu Juncai.
All three had genuine mid-grade spiritual roots, not just close to the threshold. Mu Congren, Li Erqing's grandson, was the youngest, not yet twenty. Mu Bingyun had not only good aptitude but was also a talisman master.
"Mu Bingyun is worth cultivating. We can support her a bit," Lan Chang'an said straightforwardly, considering his past relationship with her.
Years ago, when Mu Xiuyun was at the right age for Foundation Establishment, he was only at the seventh or eighth layer of Qi-Refining and could offer limited help. By the time he returned after reaching Foundation Establishment, Mu Xiuyun was already too old, leaving some regrets.
"Mu Bingyun has both the roots and skills, which indeed makes her a good candidate. However, currently..." Li Erqing hesitated.
"What about Mu Bingyun?" Lan Chang'an frowned, realizing he had missed some information.
"Two months ago, Mu Bingyun was attacked near Feiyue Lake by two unidentified ninth-layer Qi-Refining cultivators. If not for her high-quality talismans, she might have perished. She escaped back to the family, but her dantian was damaged. Even with top-tier healing medicines, some damage is irreversible, affecting her foundation. Her future Foundation Establishment prospects are dim," Li Erqing explained, smiling bitterly.
This incident had been overshadowed by Mu Renlong's critical injury and near-death experience. Naturally, a wounded Qi-Refining cultivator didn't garner much attention when the patriarch himself was on the brink of death.
"Mu Xiuyun didn't mention this in her letter," Lan Chang'an said, deep in thought. It seemed Mu Xiuyun had taken the unprecedented step of writing a letter because she wanted Lan Chang'an to come to Feiyue Lake to take a look at her disciple Mu Bing Yun's injuries "incidentally".
If she had mentioned this...
On the basis of past love, he might have prioritized going to Feiyue Lake over killing Huang Changling.
Perhaps Mu Xiuyun didn't want personal feelings to sway Lan Chang'an's decision.
"Did Huang Tankong use this trick to lure me to Feiyue Lake?" Lan Chang'an's first suspect was the Huang Family. Among the Mu Family members he had ties with, there were only a handful with whom Lan Chang'an shared any bonds. But it wasn't certain whether the surrounding cultivation families were eagerly waiting for both the Mu and Huang families to suffer irreparable losses.
...
Moments later, accompanied by Li Erqing, Lan Chang'an arrived at a quaint cave dwelling on Moonheart Island.
"Uncle Lan," a pale-faced girl in a green dress greeted him, Mu Bingyun's clear eyes shone with a hint of surprise as she gazed upon the white-robed man whose appearance remained unchanged after over a decade of separation.
Mu Bingyun hadn't changed much, likely due to beauty-preserving pills, and reaching the seventh layer of Qi-Refining. Yet her complexion was almost wholly devoid of color, adding a sickly pallor to her delicate features.
"Let me examine your injuries," Lan Chang'an said.
Mentioning her injuries brought a shadow of sadness over Mu Bingyun's brows, like clouds obscuring the moon. She extended her pale wrist for Lan Chang'an to take her pulse.
"Uncle Lan, do you know medicine?" Mu Bingyun asked, a hint of hope in her eyes.
Her injuries had been confirmed to have damaged her foundation. Her master had once said that when the situation stabilized, she should visit Uncle Lan at Wuqi Mountain, as he had many connections and might find a way.
"I have dabbled a bit, but I'm not an expert," Lan Chang'an replied, releasing her wrist. He had understood her condition—some of the damage to her dantian was irreversible.
Comparing this to the difficulty of saving Mu Xiuyun years ago, Lan Chang'an was confident he could heal her hidden injuries and restore her foundation, but it would require consuming his lifespan through the secret healing spell. With over four hundred years of lifespan, he could easily afford this, but he didn't want to reveal this ability.
He couldn't possibly ask her to swear a heart demon oath, as such oaths weren't foolproof if the oath-taker didn't value the Dao.
"If I heal her injuries too easily, it would be suspicious unless a third-rank physician and rare spiritual medicines are involved. What if I treated her over dozens of sessions spanning several years, and slowly 'cultivated' her back to health?" Lan Chang'an thought.
By taking a longer period to slowly heal her, it wouldn't appear extraordinary. Just like how earning ten thousand spirit stones in a year would be surprising, but earning it over decades wouldn't be. Moreover, the damage to her foundation wasn't considered terminal in the cultivation world, as third-rank healing medicines and certain rare treasures could potentially repair it.
...
"Bingyun, I have a nurturing technique that, combined with some medicines, might slowly restore your foundation," Lan Chang'an said.
"Nurturing?" Mu Bingyun's eyes brightened.
Li Erqing also perked up. Lan Chang'an's life-nurturing and youth maintaining techniques were admired by those familiar with him. Using nurturing methods for healing was common in the cultivation world and could sometimes work miracles.
"However, I only have a twenty percent chance of success, and it requires you to leave the Mu Family and cultivate with me for some years," Lan Chang'an added.
"Twenty percent?" Mu Bingyun hesitated.
"How many years will it take, Uncle Lan?" Mu Bingyun asked, her lips slightly trembling.
"As little as seven or eight years to as long as twenty," Lan Chang'an replied, giving a conservative estimate.
Mu Bingyun pursed her red lips, hesitating as she fell deep into contemplation.
A girl who had grown up within the confines of her family suddenly needed to bet over ten years of her life on a twenty percent chance it required courage and determination.
"I'll give you some time to consider," Lan Chang'an said, turning to leave with Li Erqing.
Just as they reached the entrance of the cave-dwelling, a voice called out, "Uncle Lan."
The youthful voice was filled with resolve. "I've decided! I will leave the family and follow uncle to cultivate and receive treatment."
Her eyes shone with determination, her pale face set in a firm expression.
"Hmm."
Lan Chang'an paused, slightly surprised by her decisiveness. Li Erqing gave her an approving nod. Lan Chang'an's willingness to take her along might also hint at an intention to cultivate her further.
Li Erqing, despite not knowing the full extent of Lan Chang'an's abilities, had a gut feeling, formed over sixty years of acquaintance, that his big brother was no ordinary individual. He couldn't tell why but sensed that Lan Chang'an had hidden depths.
Never mind anything else, who could have believed that when his big brother resolutely left the family all those years ago, seeking to attain Foundation Establishment, that he would succeed?
In the cave-dwelling, Mu Bingyun's lone figure stood like a snowflower, whispering, "Master, today I made a different choice from you. Will the future end differently?"
...
Lan Chang'an didn't stay on Moonheart Island but returned to his old lakeside courtyard, a place the Mu Family had deliberately preserved like a historic relic, maintaining it regularly. As the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had helped the Mu Family rise, Lan Chang'an's achievement of Foundation Establishment at an ancient age was notable enough to be recorded in the annals of the Liang Kingdom, justifying this treatment.
"Huang Tankong..." Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged in his room, his eyes flickering.
When he had come to Feiyue Lake, he hadn't found Huang Tankong's whereabouts. Considering the old man's dwindling lifespan, Lan Chang'an hadn't pursued him. But Mu Bingyun's plight made him realize that Huang Tankong was still a lurking threat, like a venomous snake capable of striking at any moment.
Mu Bingyun's attack might have been orchestrated by Huang Tankong to lure him to Feiyue Lake. However, it was also possible that surrounding cultivation families, eager to see the Mu and Huang families clash, were behind it.
Regardless, Lan Chang'an now knew he had to find Huang Tankong and neutralize the threat he posed. He couldn't allow such a dangerous adversary to continue lurking in the shadows.
(End of chapter)