Volume One: Youths Meet in Their Humble Days Chapter Ninety-Eight: Li Xiyan’s Promise

Wan Kui was still reeling from the shock of having killed Li Xiqing, unable to regain his composure. The ones to pull him back to reality were none other than Lu Ming and Li Xiyan.

Li Xiyan glanced at Lu Ming, his gaze laden with meaning, as if to say, "Is this what you were after?"

Lu Ming offered no reply. Instead, he approached Wan Kui and said, "You shouldn't have killed him."

That single sentence snapped Wan Kui out of his stupor, returning him to the harsh reality of the moment. He looked incredulously at Lu Ming and Li Xiyan, forcing out the question, "How are you both here?"

Lu Ming did not answer. Li Xiyan stepped forward, cast a glance at Li Xiqing's corpse, and addressed Wan Kui, "Do you think the Li family is so easy to kill? Who gave you the courage to strike him down?"

Without giving Wan Kui a chance to respond, Li Xiyan unleashed the Suppression Command, instantly binding Wan Kui's true spirit and all his means within his body.

His display of power far surpassed Li Xiqing's; when Li Xiqing had used the Suppression Command, it was not entirely ineffective, but it certainly could not achieve what Li Xiyan could. With Li Xiyan at the peak of the tenth realm, just a step shy of entering the Dao, his Suppression Command could subdue myriad spirits with a single word.

Even though the Heavenly Gate Suppression exerted pressure on the Li family and their Dao, when Li Xiyan applied his full strength, it could still utterly dominate his opponent.

Wan Kui had intended to use the same technique he had deployed against Li Xiqing against Li Xiyan, but it proved futile—he was swiftly suppressed by Li Xiyan.

"If your master had used that technique, perhaps it would have worked. But you are far from enough! The Li family's arts can be broken, but only depending on the practitioner and their strength. If everyone like you could harm us, would the Li family still hold such a lofty position in the cultivation world?"

Li Xiyan's words were like a cold bucket of water poured over Wan Kui's head. Indeed, he had assumed that by killing three members of the Li family with his own strength, he could treat the Li family as insignificant. But if they were truly so easy to deal with, they would never have remained unshakable at the top.

Having spoken, Li Xiyan sealed Wan Kui with another incantation, rendering him little more than a walking corpse.

He turned to Lu Ming, saying, "You've achieved your goal, but I want to know who is truly pulling the strings behind all this. Will you stop me?"

Lu Ming had anticipated such a scenario. He wanted to shoulder the blame for Li Yu, but Li Yu had already told him everything—if Li Xiyan wanted to uncover the mastermind, it was no matter.

Recalling Li Yu's earlier request for help, Lu Ming was increasingly impressed by Li Yu's extraordinary foresight. From all that had transpired, it seemed every move had been meticulously planned, and even minor deviations were within his control.

Earlier, Li Yu had sought Lu Ming's assistance, asking him to bring Li Xiyan to the location designated in his plan. As for timing, he wanted Lu Ming to handle it.

Lu Ming had naturally asked what Li Yu intended. Li Yu did not conceal the truth, since he needed the power of the Azure Sword of Great Mountain and Lu Ming's reputation as a Sword Immortal. He disclosed his purpose, intentions, and plan in detail.

When Lu Ming learned that the Li family intended to kill Li Yu, he agreed to help. After hearing the plan in depth, and realizing its feasibility, he did not hinder Li Yu further.

Inviting Li Xiyan was simple enough; as long as Lu Ming requested a meeting, Li Xiyan's temperament ensured he would oblige.

However, Li Xiyan had not expected that what was meant to be a consultation would devolve into such a situation.

Their arrival was timed perfectly by Lu Ming.

Li Yu had taught Lu Ming the Ninefold Heavenly Punishment Formation, enabling Lu Ming to sense with his sword-heart which formation Wan Kui and the others occupied, and how far their battle had progressed.

Once all his calculations were complete, he brought Li Xiyan to the scene at exactly the right moment, allowing Li Xiyan to witness everything firsthand—but not intervene in time to save Li Xiqing.

When Li Yan questioned him, Li Yu did not respond directly. Instead, he looked in a certain direction until three figures appeared before the assembled eyes.

"This is my answer," he declared.

Li Yan saw that the newcomers were Li Xiyan, and his pupils quivered for an instant. He glanced at Li Yu, thinking, "He even managed to draw Li Xiyan into this?"

Li Xiyan regarded the three from afar, gave a casual look at the tower, and said, "Possessing a treasure without knowing how to use it—his death is not unjust."

He swept his gaze over the trio once more. Zhang Yue was calm, knowing her part in the matter was over and that the outcome no longer concerned her.

Li Yan was anxious; of the four who had come, only he remained alive. If Li Xiyan intended to use this against him, he had no means to refute. He harbored some resentment toward Li Yu, thinking, "Had I known this was his arrangement, why did I ever listen to him!"

As for Li Yu, his expression remained serene, as if utterly unconcerned.

After his gaze lingered on the three, Li Xiyan finally returned his attention to Li Yu and asked, "Are you the grandson of Grandfather Zhongnian, Li Xiyu?"

Li Yu replied, "I acknowledge being my grandfather's grandson, but I cannot claim to be of the Li family. Please call me Li Yu."

Li Xiyan was unperturbed and continued, "Why did you kill Li Xiqing?"

"He wasn't killed by me. You can eat whatever you like, but you can't speak recklessly."

Li Xiyan's brow furrowed ever so slightly, his tone turning cold. "You think your denial fools me? Don't forget, whether you acknowledge it or not, you are still of the Li family. The Li family forbids kin from killing one another. He died as a result of your schemes; for that alone, I could execute you here."

Lu Ming heard this and quietly gripped his sword, ready to defend against Li Xiyan.

Li Yu showed no trace of nervousness. He smiled and said, "I don't admit he died by my scheming. In truth, I never plotted against him. From start to finish, he sought to kill me, and I merely used the situation to protect myself. His demise was brought about by his own greed and arrogance."

He continued, "Moreover, I remember the Li family's rules well. To convict a member, there must be both witnesses and evidence—neither can be lacking. If you want to kill me here based on your conjecture, you would also be breaking the Li family's rules. There is no witness to Li Xiqing's death, but if I die at your hands, everyone here is a witness. Is it worth risking your future for Li Xiqing?"

Li Yu's words rang true. If mere speculation sufficed to punish a family member, the Li family would soon have few left.

Li Xiyan had not expected his opponent to use the family's rules against him, and found it both amusing and endearing. He said, "Indeed, someone as useless as Li Xiqing is no great loss. However, I am now very interested in you. They say Grandfather Zhongnian's grandson is gifted but lacks the spiritual aperture to cultivate. I knew nothing of this when I was away, but now it seems your talent is extraordinary. Even without cultivation, you have mastered formations to a remarkable degree. Losing you is truly a great loss for the Li family."

Li Xiyan's words stunned not only Li Yu, but also Li Yan and Lu Ming. It sounded as though he did not intend to pursue Li Xiqing's death further, but instead wanted to bring Li Yu back to the Li family.

When Li Yu recovered, his expression shifted for the first time. He sneered, "Sorry, though I used the family's rules against you, I have no wish to return to the Li family or to be considered one of them."

Li Xiyan finally laughed. "Oh? If you're not a member of the Li family, then I can deal with you openly." With that, he produced a recording stone, saying meaningfully, "Now there's evidence."

Li Xiyan proved harder to handle than expected; Li Yu seemed to have fallen into a predicament.

If he denied being of the Li family, Li Xiyan would have reason to execute him on the spot. If he admitted it, he would be taken back to the Li family.

One choice led to death, the other to loss of freedom.

Some value life above all, others value freedom even more—when faced with such a choice, one often chooses what is most precious to them.

Yet Li Yu, in some matters, was not as indifferent as he had always seemed.

He wanted both life and freedom.

Li Yu said to Li Xiyan, "I admit, you are strong—I'm no match for you, and even Brother Lu Ming may not be entirely confident of defeating you. Your intelligence rivals my own. So, why not negotiate a deal?"

Since he could not bind Li Xiyan by rules, he had to resort to his second plan: bargaining with benefits.

Li Xiyan was intrigued. "What can you offer that would make me give up on you and choose otherwise?"

Li Yu said little more, producing a brocade pouch and placing it in his palm. "You'll understand once you look."

Li Xiyan was unafraid of tricks. With a gesture, the pouch flew from the Spirit-Suppressing Tower into his hand. When he opened it and read the contents of the paper inside, his previously nonchalant demeanor vanished, replaced by a grave expression.

He carefully put the pouch away and asked Li Yu, "You haven't deceived me?"

Li Yu replied, "I have no reason to deceive you. Besides, if you check with the Li family, you'll know if I'm telling the truth."

Li Xiyan thought for a moment and said, "If you're telling the truth, I have even more reason to take you back."

Unexpectedly, Li Yu shook his head. "If I go back, you'll find nothing. That's also one of the reasons Li Xiqing wanted to kill me."

Li Xiyan considered this and realized Li Yu's words were highly plausible. He continued, "Can I trust you?"

"You have no choice but to trust me," Li Yu said firmly.

The others had no idea what secret they were discussing. Li Yan, as a Li family member, was even more desperate to know what could make Li Xiyan so serious—but his status assured he would never learn.

After pondering the possibilities, Li Xiyan finally said, "Very well, I trust you. But I cannot let you go entirely free. I will give you a Li family communication artifact. We will stay in touch through it, and I will sense your presence through the artifact."

Li Yu understood—this was both a means to maintain contact and a way to monitor him. If Li Xiyan discovered he had been deceived, even if Li Yu discarded the artifact, Li Xiyan could trace the spiritual imprint left on him when it was destroyed.

Such was the subtlety of the Li family's communication artifacts. Once a connection was made, it would last a lifetime unless undone by the family's unique arts.

"Agreed." Then he looked at Li Yan and continued, "I have another request: you must keep him by your side."