Chapter 296: Yuzhi

Chapter 296: Yuzhi

"The Dawn Cloudliner..."

Li Xuanxuan looked at the colorful glow in the sky, feeling uneasy. His second uncle, Li Tongya, had disappeared after the sacrificial ritual. Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators often meditated for years, so Li Xuanxuan could not find him immediately and could only wait.

Fortunately, a figure dressed in gray soon appeared before him. Li Tongya descended with a frown. He had planned to enter seclusion, but his wife Liu Rouxuan's health was deteriorating, forcing him to postpone his plans. Hence, he happened to witness this scene.

"It seems they are summoning people to Yi Mountain City at the southern border," Li Tongya commented as he stood midair with his sword. He had heard some information at Xiao Chuting's ceremony and now deduced the purpose of the Dawn Cloudliner.

After waiting in the air for a while, he saw someone approaching on a flying shuttle. The newcomer was dressed elegantly but had a rat-like face and shifty eyes that made him he look like he was up to no good.

The man landed at the formation entrance and shouted, "Juniors from the Li Family, I command you to open the formation right away!"

The crowd below was visibly enraged, but Li Tongya seemed thoughtful and calmly opened the formation, personally stepping forward to greet him. He said respectfully, "Li Family of Lijing welcomes the envoy!"

Seeing a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator personally greeting him, the man held back his arrogance and begrudgingly replied, "At least you have some sense."

He swaggered into the courtyard, glanced at the indignant members of the Li Family, and impatiently waved his sleeve, scolding, "You lot, get out! How can juniors be allowed to listen to our conversation?"

"You!" Li Xuanxuan looked rather upset, but Li Xuanling gave the man a sidelong glance like a serpent before leading his brothers away.

The man entered the courtyard with Li Tongya and cast a spell to seal their surroundings. He then straightened up, his demeanor changing abruptly, showing a hint of guilt as he bowed and said, "I am Deng Yuzhi. My earlier behavior was unavoidable. Please forgive me, Senior."

Li Tongya was taken aback by the sudden change but courteously replied, "Brother Deng, please rise. There is no need for such formalities. We did not take it to heart."

Deng Yuzhi spoke quickly and urgently, without giving Li Tongya a chance to respond.

"I am a member of the Deng Family, a subordinate family of the Azure Pond Peak. My elder brother Deng Qiuzhi and the Sword Immortal were close friends. They both perished at the southern border, devoured by a demon king. Do you know this, Senior?"

"I do."

Seeing Deng Yuzhi's anxiety, Li Tongya responded in a straightforward manner.

Deng Yuzhi nodded and said solemnly, "I'm glad you do, Senior. The sect disciple who came this time is Chi Zhiyan from the Chi Family. He is sinister and cruel. He already knows of the Sword Immortal's death... The Yu Family has also heard the news. Please be prepared, Senior."

Without waiting for Li Tongya's reply, Deng Yuzhi continued quickly, "Although my family's ancestor has never met you, he has heard many stories about you and holds you in high regard. Our families share similar circumstances. If you are willing, we can support each other in the future."

Li Xuanfeng looked back at Li Tongya, who had walked out of the courtyard and bowed deeply. He then said to his brothers, Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanling, "Please take care of the family affairs. No need to miss me."

This man, who had lost his parents in childhood and his wife in his youth, only uttered these few words. His eyes sparkled as if the years since the massacre of Lixia Prefecture had been dull, and now, facing the imminent battle and slaughter, he seemed excited and eager.

"Brother..." Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan began as they were still processing the news. However, Li Xuanfeng had already ridden the wind and followed Deng Yuzhi northward.

Li Xuanxuan finally came to his senses and called out hurriedly, "Second Uncle! This...!"

Li Tongya waved his sleeve, his face showing a painful expression as he said softly, "Resume your cultivation..."

The few of them exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and dispersed. The wedding was already nearing its end, and with the disruption of the Dawn Cloudliner, no one was in the mood to stay any longer. Guests began bidding their farewells and left.

After sending Li Yuanjiao and Xiao Guiluan to their bridal chamber, Mount Lijing returned to its usual quiet state, with only the mess left from the celebration hinting at the recent festivities.

It was not until the Dawn Cloudliner had flown past the horizon and its splendid glow faded away that the entire Moongaze Lake fell back into darkness and silence.

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"Report to the envoy, everyone is here!"

Deng Yuzhi kneeled obsequiously before Chi Zhiyan, while Yu Mugao looked dazed as if lost in a nightmare. Chi Zhiyan's words still echoed in his mind.

"Yu Mugao, Yu Yufeng was killed by our Azure Pond Sect in collaboration with Xiao Chuting! This was also agreed upon by your own younger brother!"

"Muxian... personally agreed to it...?"

Yu Mugao's expression was one of pure bewilderment. He had exchanged dozens of letters with Yu Muxian, yet his brother had never mentioned this. Was it to avoid alarming anyone or because he did not trust Yu Mugao?

Suddenly, Yu Mugao felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity toward his own brother in the sect. He mumbled something indistinctly, and Chi Zhiyan, noticing his state, impatiently spat, "Stop practicing the Aged Courtly Path Scripture from now on!"

The group rode the wind back to the Dawn Cloudliner. The members of the Yu Family all kneeled, loudly bidding farewell. The intricate patterns on the ship brightened as it extended its radiant wings, flying toward the southeast.

Yu Mugao watched as the ship disappeared into the horizon. Only then did he slowly stand up, looking around at the silent crowd. He felt no shame for his earlier submissive behavior.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Jiang Heqian... It turns out to be an old grudge. Call back all our people from the eastern shore."