Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 206 - 192: Leaking Information

The rain drizzled between heaven and earth, and inside the carriage, it was exceptionally quiet. Li Tongya twirled his beard and spoke softly,

"This person has some considerations too... No one expected his cultivation speed to be so fast, he is most likely thinking of taking advantage of the chaos on Lake Wangyue to break through to Foundation Establishment in one go."

"After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he would be free to roam the world. Internally, he could rely on arrays and geographical advantages to fend off Yu Xiaogui; externally, he would have even more freedom, making the Yu Family hesitate to move against the An Family..."

Li Tongya had just finished speaking when Li Yuanxiu took over and said in a deep voice,

"Moreover, with his talent, it's absolutely impossible for him to stop at Foundation Establishment. Once An Jingming runs away, who would dare to touch his An Family? In twenty or thirty years, he will come back as either Foundation Establishment Peak or even a Zifu Monk!"

Li Xuanxuan fell silent for a while, then raised his eyebrows and said,

"But there are no such easy things. Our Li Family has now expanded to the east and west. To the west, there are Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators from Shanyue, and there is no way to go further. If the An Family comes to the east, our Li Family will be caught between Lake Wangyue and Da Li Mountain, and in the future, we will have no way to expand further."

Seeing that the two younger generations had taken the matter seriously, Li Tongya nodded and felt he had a plan in his mind, but he looked at Li Yuanxiu and asked with a smile,

"Do you have any considerations?"

Li Yuanxiu suddenly perked up, knowing that Li Tongya was testing him. He clasped his hands and said in a low voice,

"When our family was annexing the Lu Family, because of the foolishness of Lu Yuanlu, it was done ungracefully. The families across the lake are silent on the surface but have already criticized it in their hearts, being quite wary. If we were to rashly interfere with the An Family's affairs, I'm afraid we would provoke widespread anger... Now, the only way is to adopt the strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf."

Seeing that both elders nodded, Li Yuanxiu smiled and said,

"We are anxious, but the Yu Family is much more so. With the Xiao Family's business about to rise, when the time comes, we will have strong support from the outside, and on the inside, we have the deterrence of the Sword Immortal. Having An Jingming reach Foundation Establishment will only trap us to defend a single place."

"But the Yu Family, by forcefully collecting tributes from the families across the lake and frequently meddling in the affairs of the families, are slowly eroding the others through vassal relations and marriages. Every family hates them to the bone, but the Yu Family's strength is formidable, and Yu Mugao's methods are high, stabilizing the situation by oppressing, splitting, and attracting the major clans with three moves."

Li Yuanxiu spoke with a light smile,

"They are the ones who are most afraid of An Jingming reaching Foundation Establishment. Once they hear this news, I'm afraid even Yu Xiaogui, the Foundation Establishment ancestor, will have to break out of his Cave Mansion."

"Indeed."

Li Tongya nodded approvingly, exchanged a glance with Li Xuanxuan, and instructed,

"Since Xiu'er has a plan, let's hand this matter over to you. Give a signal to the Yu Family without raising any suspicion."

"Your son understands!"

Li Yuanxiu saluted with a fist, confident as he departed. Li Xuanxuan watched him leave with a chuckle, and Li Tongya glanced at Li Xuanxuan and said with a laugh,

"You have quite a capable son!"

"Hehe."

Li Xuanxuan chuckled twice, clasping his fists and saying,

"I want Uncle to know, my legitimate wife is going to give birth in a few months, adding a full sibling for Xiu'er."

"Oh."

Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, speaking softly,

"You've done well in this regard. Ling'er is devoted, while Feng'er is still trapped in the events of the past. Among the younger generations, only you are spreading branches and leaves."

Waving his hand, Li Tongya's brows furrowed with worry as he spoke in a heavy tone, 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"But An Zhiyan was right that year, Yu Mugao is a vicious man. He is wary of An Jingming, but he is equally wary of our Li Family, and he will not let us off easily just like that. The Fei Clan has caused him no small trouble over the years, and the Yu Family has swallowed two families, so he just hasn't had the spare effort to deal with us."

"The quieter he is, the more uneasy I feel..."

Li Xuanxuan listened to these words and also fell silent, giving a salute, he said:

"Now that Xuanling is in seclusion for a breakthrough, we brothers should be more attentive. Unless Yu Xiaogui himself takes action, who could possibly harm us?"

"Hmm..."

Li Tongya nodded slightly. Li Xuanxuan then asked some questions about cultivation, and despite practicing different cultivation techniques, Li Tongya's years of experience provided insights that enlightened him. He left cheerfully.

"Once back on the mountain, I should focus on breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed in this lake and mountains, one can't help but feel uneasy."

Li Tongya sighed softly and began to cultivate with his eyes closed.

————

When the Li Family's troops returned to the four towns of Lijing, there was not much fanfare with carriages and horses. Most of the influential members of the Li Family had left the town, and only Li Yuanyun greeted them at the town entrance with his entourage. Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu alighted from their carriage, and after embracing and chatting about the past few months, they caught up on recent events.

Standing to one side, Li Qinghong held a spear with a smile, dressed in light soft armor. The twelve or thirteen-year-old girl had bright eyes and her black hair simply tied behind her head. Standing smartly, her eyes were the trademark grey-black of the Li Clan, watching the brothers with a lively and amused squint.

"Qinghong!"

Li Yuanjiao scratched his head. He had treated Li Qinghong like a boy since they were little and didn't think anything of it. Now, after being away for several months and upon looking again, he saw she had grown into a young girl, which made him somewhat embarrassed. He awkwardly called out as if he hardly recognized her.

"What, brother Jiao, have you been leading soldiers against the Shanyue for months and can no longer recognize your little sister?"

Li Qinghong's eyebrows arched slightly, and her normally gentle features suddenly brightened with a spirited air. The young girl, without makeup, had cheeks slightly flushed with vitality as she replied teasingly.

"Not at all."

Li Yuanjiao laughed heartily, feeling his normal ease return, he called out:

"Once I'm back in town, I'll spar with you!"

Li Yuanxiu gently smiled, leading Li Yuanyun forward, as Li Qinghong suddenly called out crisply:

"Brother!"

"Yes?"

Li Yuanxiu, pondering arrangements for after returning to town, looked up and brightened, saying with a smile:

"Qinghong has grown taller this year."

The younger members of the Yuanxiu generation were chatting when a stern figure with slightly graying temples descended from the carriage behind them, it was Li Xuanxuan.

"Father."

Li Yuanjiao and Li Yuanxiu respectfully greeted him. Li Xuanxuan nodded, looking at the smiling Li Qinghong, his mind momentarily drifted as if he saw Li Jingtian from over a decade ago. Though Li Jingtian was more gentle and demure, Li Qinghong's eyes were more spirited, making her appear bright and assertive.

"Uncle."

Li Qinghong called out with a smile, which left an emptiness in Li Xuanxuan's heart. He responded, but inwardly he felt a sudden realization and thought to himself:

"I should also see Jingtian once I get back, having been in seclusion for so many years and then immediately off to the western expedition against Shanyue without having seen her."

While Li Xuanxuan was instructing the younger generation in their cultivation practices, Li Yuanxiu stood silently behind them. Li Pingyi quickly approached and said in a low voice:

"Young Master, Tian Zhongqing has already been summoned."

Li Yuanxiu mentally reviewed his plans several times before nodding and replying:

"Have him wait for me in the Clan Head Courtyard."