The Mirror Legacy -
Chapter 1546: Yang Zhuo (I)
Deep down, Li Jiangliang felt a trace of awkwardness, and his heart was filled with caution.
This elder brother of his had truly enjoyed every advantage. As the eldest son of Bright Yang, he had been sent to the island from birth and raised in every way as an heir. From childhood to now, both his treatment and cultivation had always surpassed those of his peers…
His cultivation alone would be one thing, but it is the level of favor that leaves the rest of us helpless.
Li Jiangliang understood this clearly. His second and third brothers both possessed strong ambition and talent. In any other family, they would have stood out as exceptional figures.
In fact, from Li Jiangliang’s own experience over the years, his eldest brother Li Jiangqian was overly cold and ruthless. His second brother Li Jianglong was more sincere, and his third brother Li Jiangxia more genuine. Though Li Jiangqian had governed the lake region for years and developed it into a flourishing, well-ordered place, any one of the three could have done no worse. Yet when his two brothers stood before him, they seemed to fall short by a whole level, and it was not merely the difference of being the eldest son.
Daoist Master Zhaojing, the family’s first Daoist Master, would, every time he emerged from seclusion, either meet him or Ding Weizeng. Though Li Jiangliang and the others appeared prominent on the surface, the number of times they saw the Daoist Master, or even their own father, could be counted on one hand. Even combined, the brothers likely did not see them as often as Li Jiangqian alone. This was the true foundation of Li Jiangqian’s unique standing.
Li Jiangliang could not help but feel conflicted. As he bowed at this moment, he let out a soft sigh. “Congratulations, elder brother, on your great advancement in cultivation!”
He could already feel through his spiritual sense that Li Jiangqian had already reached the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm!
He is likely already a strong candidate for the next Purple Mansion Realm…
His thoughts were tangled and heavy, yet the man in crimson before him wore a warm smile that felt like a spring breeze.
As he approached, he nodded at Yang Tianyou and said with a smile, “I’ve just come out of seclusion. I heard fourth brother was in Mushroom Forest Plain, so I stopped by on the way… This must be my sister-in-law. Truly charming, just as rumored.”
Yang Tianyou only smiled without speaking, while Li Jiangliang showed a hint of helplessness. “We had no intention of disturbing you, elder brother. But all of us brothers were born with golden eyes. Our identities are obvious wherever we go… The news spread so quickly it reached the lake in no time.”
Li Jiangqian walked back with him, shaking his head as he said, “That was unavoidable. Though our ties with the Yuan Family have weakened, it is still the family of our lord’s master. Even if Yuan Chengzhao is incompetent and has caused harm time and again, the family should still keep an eye on things.”
With his hands behind his back, he walked lightly, speaking as if by chance, “Sister-in-law is from…?”
Yang Tianyou smiled and gave a respectful salute. “I am from the Yang Family of Simin Prefecture… merely an obscure little family…”
She made it clear that she was from the Yang Family of Simin Prefecture, not the Yang Family of the Azure Pond Sect’s Imperial Cloud Peak. The difference between the two was anything but small!
Li Jiangqian nodded thoughtfully and replied, “That is not quite right. The Yang Family of Simin Prefecture is also of legitimate imperial descent, descendants of the King of Yue.”
Yang Tianyou only smiled without responding. Li Jiangliang stepped forward and said, “Elder brother, did you come this time to see my brother-in-law? He is currently cultivating at Heavenly Thunder Peak and is not in the prefecture city. You would need to head south.”
Heavenly Thunder Peak was also one of the wonders of the Mushroom Forest Plain. With numerous thunder ores buried within the mountain, thunder rumbled ceaselessly all year round, leaving both the slopes and valleys charred black. Li Qinghong had once used this place to achieve a breakthrough, something the Li Family naturally knew well.
But at the mention of Yang Zhuo, Li Jiangqian narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. “Since I’m here, I might as well meet him. I’ve only ever heard you praise him. I wonder what kind of person he truly is.”
Although Li Jiangliang knew there was no ill intent in Li Jiangqian’s visit, seeing his attitude still made him quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
He turned to the people below and said, “Remain in the prefecture. I’ll return shortly.”
The two brothers rose into the air upon flames and headed south. The smile on Li Jiangqian’s face gradually faded, his expression settling into calm as his voice turned low and distant.
“You haven’t returned home in many years. Do you feel any longing?”
Li Jiangliang returned the courtesy and replied, “Of course. I miss it deeply.”
Li Jiangqian did not respond directly, continuing, “Lord Cui’s cultivation has grown stronger. He has already returned to Chongzhou. You should have gone to see him off, but the timing was unfortunate.”
Li Jiangliang showed clear emotion at the mention of Cui Jueyin and replied, “I’ve heard. Advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm is a matter of life and death. I was in Simin Prefecture at the time. I wished I could have rushed over myself, but in the end, I couldn’t personally see master off…”
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at Heavenly Thunder Peak. Thunder roared all around, and scorched flames marked the landscape. A one-armed elder in green stepped forward. His beard was sparse, his posture hunched and timid. His gaunt face bore the yellowed dryness left by years of injury and lack of provision.
In a low and submissive voice, he said, “This humble one greets the two lords…”
Li Jiangqian glanced down, a hint of surprise appearing on his face as he asked, “So it is Lord Yuan Huyuan… You’re too courteous, truly too courteous!”
Yuan Huyuan lowered his head, shoulders hunched, glancing timidly at Li Jiangliang with a pleading expression.
Li Jiangliang only smiled as his elder brother helped the man up and pointed at him, saying, “This is Family Head Yuan!”
Sweat poured from Yuan Huyuan as he repeatedly protested that he dared not accept such a title.
Li Jiangqian, however, said with a serious expression, “These past years… Yuan Chengzhao has been the one in charge of the Yuan Family. It was not our place to interfere too much. Now that you have escaped that sea of suffering, better days lie ahead.”
He then took out a golden pill box from his sleeve and placed it into the old man’s hands, saying, “Use this for now…”
Yuan Huyuan did not even know which generation this Li Family junior belonged to. In a daze, he could not understand how he had fallen from being addressed as a senior by Li Chejing to his current state. His limbs felt both hot and cold as he once again looked to Li Jiangliang pleadingly.
Li Jiangliang smiled and said, “Family Head Yuan, please accept it.”
Only then did Yuan Huyuan tuck the item into his sleeve and call out, “Many thanks to the two lords!”
By then, the two had already ascended the steps and paused within the courtyard atop Heavenly Thunder Peak. Li Jiangqian lowered his gaze slightly and saw streams of purple qi flowing across the steps, which were covered in a fine layer of white crystalline formations, like frost congealed into pure snow.
Ascending a few more steps, they saw a white-feathered immortal crane standing on one leg in the courtyard, its long beak tucked into its feathers as it slept.
Li Jiangliang’s expression had already changed. He straightened his robe, stepped back, and said respectfully, “My lord, the family head of the Li Family has come to pay a visit.”
The hall doors opened with a creak, and a man stepped out. He appeared youthful, dressed in white, with narrow eyes and dark pupils. The corners of his eyes were angled inward, giving him a sharp, composed look, yet his brows were naturally handsome, lending him an air of refined charm.
As he stood in the courtyard and lifted his brows slightly, the white crane awoke. With a light stretch, it spread its wings and soared into the clouds.
Li Jiangqian spoke with a smile. “Li Jiangqian of the Li Family of Moongaze Lake greets Fellow Daoist Yang!”
The man before him smiled as well, leading him into the main hall. He raised a brow at Li Jiangliang, though his reply was directed at Jiangqian, a faint smile on his lips. “So it is a guest from Moongaze Lake. I failed to receive you properly. My apologies.”
Li Jiangqian inwardly felt that the man before him was refined and elegant, unlike ordinary folk. As he took a seat beside him, his gaze flicked outside, only to find that the flowing purple qi and frost-covered steps had vanished, leaving behind nothing but black stone stairs.
Yang Zhuo had already begun speaking, his tone light and pleasant, “I have long heard of Moongaze Lake. It should have been me paying you a visit.”
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