Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 260 - 238: Ambushed

An Zhiyan finished regulating his breath, and slowly stepped down from the bluestone at the peak. Sitting cross-legged before him was a middle-aged man, hair entirely gray, who looked more than ten years older than An Zhiyan, quietly meditating. Only when An Zhiyan approached did the man open his eyes, greeting respectfully:

"Senior."

An Zhiyan merely nodded, his expression a bit dejected. The middle-aged man's eyebrows rose; his originally stern face gained a hint of a smile as he asked:

"Were you driven out by your wife again?"

"Ah!"

An Zhiyan shook his head, answering with a mix of helplessness and amusement:

"Don't laugh at me, Daoist Brother. Feiruo is perfect in every way, just... her temper is too domineering..."

Tian Youdao chuckled lowly. He had quite a good impression of this former head of the An Family, though with people ever-present, he rarely got close. He replied:

"Feiruo is capable and ambitious."

The Li Family had sought several wives for An Zhiyan in town; most of the Spiritual Aperture Seeds had long since married. Even Li Yuanyun had almost failed to wed a Spiritual Aperture Seed—let alone An Zhiyan, once famed as a ruthless Fallen Knight, who after all manners of twists and turns, finally married Li Feiruo.

Li Feiruo had once married westward to Shanyue, earned merit there, then held office at Lichuan Entrance; she had striking beauty and an air of nobility. Though An Zhiyan was a Qi Cultivator, he had weathered many ups and downs, which left him gentle and good-natured, thoroughly in Feiruo's grasp. He complained, but as a couple, their days were passable.

An Zhiyan gave a sly chuckle, brushing past this topic, and asked in return:

"I see Brother Tian low-spirited; do you have some trouble in mind?"

Tian Youdao sighed, his aged face drooping, and replied:

"Past fifty years, I've enjoyed my share of pleasures, barely reached Fetal Breathing Peak before sixty—what worries could I have? Merely that my descendants lack ambition."

On this topic, An Zhiyan showed some awkwardness, and quietly said:

"There's no need to fret, Daoist Brother. Sometimes, muddle-headedness brings its own blessings; too outstanding descendants may not be a good thing after all."

Tian Youdao went silent, the two sitting atop the peak as someone tramped up: dressed in long robes, a longsword at his waist, his manner steady. It was Chen Donghe.

Chen Donghe was dusty all over; clearly he'd just returned from outside. Both men rose and cupped their hands in greeting; Chen Donghe returned the gesture. An Zhiyan asked with a smile:

"Donghe, where have you been?"

Chen Donghe shook out his robe, scattering a heap of dust, leaving himself neat and clean. He answered quietly:

"My wife and daughter are in Lijing Town. I miss them, so I had to go see Jingtian and Qingxiao."

Chen Donghe sat at the stone table nearby, took a sip from the Jade Cup, then raised his head with some puzzlement and asked:

"On my return to the mountain, I heard Tian Zhongqing volunteered to lead a crowd of Tian Clan disciples to Eastern Shanyue, and accepted a share of six hundred catties of Spirit Rice. Uncle... What is the meaning behind this?"

Tian Youdao gently shook his head, hesitated to speak, and replied:

"This is a long story... the children lack ambition, that's all."

Seeing that he didn't wish to speak further, Chen Donghe paused and said warmly:

"Forgive my words, but noble scions are truly unruly. This trouble may actually be a blessing..."

Tian Youdao arched his brow for Chen Donghe to continue; Chen Donghe nodded lightly, and said softly:

"Every day in town I see Tian Clan disciples cock-fighting and dog-racing, arrogant and unrestrained. In my heart, I worry for you, Uncle! Though today's events put the Tian Clan at a disadvantage, it may well sidestep an even greater calamity—a fortunate turn, indeed!"

These words consoled Tian Youdao, but his brow remained tightly furrowed. He sighed:

"Donghe's words are true; Zhongqing is decent—he reassures me. But that Tian Rong and those other wasteful ones will get into trouble no matter what!"

Tian Youdao swept his sleeve and stood up, as though resolving something, and said solemnly:

"I shall enter seclusion now for breakthrough—no need for further preparation. Idling on this mountain keeps me anxious; the sooner I break through and descend, the better to keep an eye on them!"

With that, he cupped his hands to Chen Donghe and An Zhiyan, then waved as he headed into the Spiritual Spring cave mansion. As the stone gate slammed shut, Chen Donghe put down his Jade Cup and, looking at the dazed An Zhiyan before him, gently said:

"Let us cultivate, then."

————

Yu Yufeng rode the wind for a spell; the speed of Foundation Establishment was lightning swift. In moments, he left the Yu Family lands, passed over the long, flat An Family territory, and crossed into Li Family lands.

Beneath, thin cooking smoke curled, cocks crowed, dogs barked. Amid the hazy dawn, prosperity was everywhere. Yu Yufeng was deeply moved by the sight, calculated with his fingers, and silently devised a scheme, muttering:

"The Li Family's skills in raising mortals are truly excellent. The outer lands of Da Li Mountain aren't particularly fertile. To rear so many mortals—if I consume them, not only will my hand's wounds heal, but I might reach a new level!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Yu Yufeng grew increasingly restless inside, but knew priorities. Gritting his teeth, he uttered:

"If not for that Sword Immortal's protection, how could such delicacies slip past me? For now, seize that opportunity… When I break through to Zifu, I'll serve Green Pond Sect—would they begrudge me these mere tens of thousands of mortals?"

Thinking this, Yu Yufeng delighted, unconsciously hastened his pace, shooting past Li Family territory, following the ancient Lidao westward. The subtle guidance in his heart grew clearer and clearer; Yu Yufeng was greatly stirred. As mana gradually surged, the sword scar between his palms began to ache faintly again, almost making him howl in pain.

Yu Yufeng took no notice of his strange reaction, riding the wind down to a little hill. Who could have foreseen, in an instant, a buzzing exploded in his ears—a flurry of Dharma Light flew up, a pure white barrier shrouded the world. Yu Yufeng's mind went blank; he shouted aloud:

"Who's blocking my way?! Stealing my fortune!"

"Heh!"

A cold laugh rang out overhead, a thunderous voice echoed in Yu Yufeng's ears.

"Death is at hand, yet you remain obsessed with Divine Skills and spells? Yu Yufeng, you really are a self-important idiot!"

Those words crashed like thunder beside Yu Yufeng; his clouded eyes abruptly cleared. Like waking from a nightmare, Yu Yufeng shuddered coldly, half a day's actions flashed across his mind. He muttered:

"I am the Yu Family's patriarch, with ties to Yuanwu Peak! My clan's disciple, Yu Muxian, cultivates on the Peak—a direct disciple of a Perfected Person! You all had best think this through!"

No one within the array answered. Three figures slowly rose. Yu Yufeng froze, swept with his Spiritual Sense, and was instantly engulfed with terror, stepping back several paces—only to find the world, in every direction, north to south, east to west, sealed tight by the array. Yu Yufeng was at last shocked by the haze of his actions, and whispered:

"Spell… No, Divine Skill… Which Zifu, which Zifu intends to kill me?"