Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 166 - 157 Yu Qing’s Generation

"In August, the Tang Jin Sect once again moved southward, slaughtering everyone in Li Xia County. Some households were entirely wiped out, some families were completely decimated, and the city was filled with bones. No one was left to bury the dead. The roads were deserted, and the stench pervaded the four territories. The surviving members of the Wan Family were also in the city and were killed."

Li Jingtian finished writing these lines, summarizing the tragedy of countless households in a few dozen casually written words. She dipped her brush in the ink once more before continuing to write:

"Young Master Xuanfeng's wife and children were all slain; his anger was such that it seemed his eyes would burst from his skull. Riding the winds eastward, from a distance, he saw people of the Tang Jin Sect and shot them dead."

"Auntie!"

Li Xuanling's children entered the courtyard, laughing and playing. Li Qinghong, the elder sister, had grown quickly and now reached Li Jingtian's waist. Her hair was tied back, and she was lively by nature, cheerfully bursting into the courtyard.

Her younger brother, Li Yuanyun, was much more reserved, carefully following behind her. Upon seeing Li Jingtian, he respectfully bowed, whereas Li Qinghong had already sat down at the table, staring curiously at her clothing.

The two children were only six or seven years old, still too young to leave the mountain. They often visited Li Jingtian, chatting with this aunt and snacking on treats. Last year, when Li Yuanjiao discovered he possessed the Spirit Aperture and ascended the mountain, the two children stopped their studies and loitered about, frequently calling for their brother Yuanjiao to play, and when tired, they would end up at Li Jingtian's place.

Li Jingtian put down her brush, covered the unfinished manuscript on the table, and with a warm smile, embraced Li Qinghong. Just then, footsteps approached, followed by a gentle voice.

"Yuanjiao pays respects to Auntie."

A boy dressed in black entered through the door. His long hair was tied back, a sword hung at his waist, and his bright eyes looked keenly at Li Jingtian. Remembering his mother Mu Yalu's instructions, Li Yuanjiao frequently visited Li Jingtian to borrow books to read.

"Come and sit."

Li Jingtian replied with a smile, feeling a sense of peace watching the children get along, and said to Li Yuanjiao,

"Where is your father?"

At the mention of Li Xuanxuan, Li Yuanjiao's eyes dropped, and he replied somewhat gloomily,

"If he's not dealing with affairs at the foot of the mountain, then he is in seclusion, cultivating. Those are the only two places he ever goes to. Where else could he be?"

Li Jingtian was momentarily taken aback, then quickly ruffled his hair as she responded,

"Your father is in charge of such a large family, so naturally, it's difficult for him to devote much time to you and your mother… You mustn't hold a grudge against him."

"Yuanjiao wouldn't dare."

Li Yuanjiao hurriedly nodded, but remained silent, thinking to himself,

"Mother says this! Auntie says this too! It's not like I can't see… why is it that Cultivator Brother can always find time to care for us, yet he never seems to have the time to care for my mother and me."

His elder brother, Li Yuanxiu, was calm and gentle, and Li Yuanjiao felt a strong bond with him, but these resentful thoughts made him feel even more uncomfortable. He pursed his lips, silent, and Li Jingtian, noticing, wanted to offer comfort but was interrupted by two clear knocks at the door.

Li Tongya shook out his robe and stepped into the room, followed by Li Xuanling, clad in leather armor, and Li Xuanxuan dressed in a long robe. This caused a stir among the children, who quickly stood up and began to speak over one another:

"Second Great-Uncle! / Grandfather!"

"Mm."

Li Tongya replied with a smile. A few months earlier, on a whim, he had broken through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, a pleasant surprise that had kept him in high spirits for two months. Seeing the children's cheerful demeanor, even his usually unruffled face was brimming with joy.

"Has Xuanfeng not left seclusion yet?"

"Not yet."

Li Xuanfeng had buried his wife and earnestly retreated to the mountains to enter seclusion. He no longer roamed about and had become much more diligent in his cultivation than ever before. He had already been in seclusion for over two years now.

Li Tongya stroked his beard, feeling quite satisfied with the child's change; as an elder in the family, he always looked at things from a long-term perspective.

"If it weren't for the loss of a child in the county, this lesson might have been a blessing in disguise... It made the child to refocus and cultivate diligently."

Glancing at the restrained children, Li Tongya calculated the time and said to Li Xuanxuan:

"Call Yuanxiu up the mountain... It's time. If we delay any longer, we may hinder the child's progress."

The two brothers exchanged a look and instinctively understood what Li Tongya was referring to. Li Xuanxuan nodded, and instantly, clan soldiers went down the mountain to summon Li Yuanxiu, who, at fourteen, was already helping to handle some affairs at the foot of the mountain.

Li Tongya held a teacup at the head of the table, sipping slowly, his gaze falling on the several children below. His eyes lingered on Li Yuanjiao, who was dressed in black, and he thought to himself:

"All the children are quite clever. Below Ling'er, Yuanyun is the only male, but Xuanxuan has more offspring... There are four or five of them born out of wedlock. One can be selected for adoption under Jing'er to continue the lineage, the best case would be a Spiritual Aperture Seed, then Yuanjiao would be the top choice." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"However, this matter is of great importance; we must first observe the child's talent and temperament."

After some reflection, Li Yuanxiu arrived at the entrance of the house with a quick pace. The teenager had a rather delicate appearance, draped in a white Wild Goose Feather Cloak, quiet and polite, smiling gently, with a green longsword in his hand, exuding a certain poise.

"Greetings to the elders!"

Li Yuanxiu's voice was sonorous and powerful. Upon seeing him, Li Yuanjiao and the other children all stood up, looking expectantly at him, almost wishing they could rush up and hug him.

Li Tongya nodded slightly, and Li Xuanxuan's face broke into a wide smile, very pleased with this oldest brother of the fourth generation. Li Yuanxiu, whether in demeanor, appearance, handling matters or talent, was considered excellent, and he was beloved by his brothers and sisters, someone who could shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Everyone took their seats, and the children stood awkwardly in the middle of the courtyard, hiding behind Li Yuanxiu. Li Xuanxuan glanced at his siblings beside him and said warmly to the children below:

"Today, it's rare for us to gather together, and your second uncle has also finished his retreat. Don't be so formal, everyone, come forward."

Having glanced at them, Li Tongya observed the longsword at Li Yuanxiu's waist and asked warmly:

"How's your Sword technique practice? Have you fully grasped the 'Mysterious Water Sword Technique'?"

"Uncle, Yuanxiu began learning the sword at seven and has been practicing for six years now. I know the 'Mysterious Water Sword Technique' by heart and have mastered Sword Radiance," replied Li Yuanxiu.

"Good,"

Li Tongya nodded in response:

"Tomorrow, come to the Cave Mansion on Meichi Mountain, and I will teach you swordsmanship."

Li Xuanxuan, standing beside him, was overjoyed. Everyone at Wangyue Lake knew that Li Tongya excelled in swordsmanship, so learning from him would be excellent. Li Yuanxiu nodded repeatedly, and the rest of the Yuanqing generation looked on enviously. Li Tongya chuckled as he looked at the children, explaining:

"It's the same for all of you. Anyone who can form Sword Radiance before the age of fifteen should come find me in the Cave Mansion on Meichi Mountain."

After saying this, he nodded to Li Xuanxuan and then left the room. Li Jingtian followed to take his leave, and brothers Li Xuanling and Li Xuanxuan exchanged glances. Li Xuanling whispered:

"Let's take the children to the back courtyard, then—Yuanxiu, Yuanjiao, Yuanyun... as for Qinghong..."

"Let them all go."

Li Xuanxuan hesitated for a moment, and suddenly, Li Jingtian's face popped into his mind. Recalling when he asked if she wanted to marry Chen Donghe and that look of bewilderment and helplessness in her eyes, he felt a tightness in his chest and clenched his teeth as he said quietly:

"All of them, together! If our uncle asks, I will explain."