Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 191 - 177 Xu Gongming

"It's really damn cold."

The frigid winter snow lingered over the lake for several months, and when the weather warmed slightly in the spring, it was as cold as the winters of previous years. The seedlings planted in the ground turned sullenly yellow and withered, none of them surviving.

As the remaining chill dissipated, the summer warmed only for a few days before plunging back into the bone-chilling autumn. The fields yielded no harvest throughout the year, and the farmers could only swallow their saliva, setting down their hoes to forage in the mountains.

Old Master Xu sat in front of the door, rubbing his hands in the cold wind, estimating whether the remaining grain in the house would be enough for next year's food and clothing. He had been the head of the household for more than a decade since his father Xu San had passed away, and he was quite adept at this task.

The Xu Clan was also one of the several major clans in town, much shabbier compared to the Tian Clan and Liu Clan. They had never been in charge of a town during the era of the Li Family's rise some decades ago. Naturally, they had been in decline year after year. With people swelling their ranks, riding on the coattails of the Li Family's exploitation of Shanyue and the absorption of fleeing populations, the Xu Clan maintained the same old pattern from year to year, never making any progress.

Rising to his feet, Old Master Xu strolled around the courtyard and counted the grain left over from last year, when suddenly the courtyard gate was knocked upon.

"Who is it?"

"Uncle, it's me, Gongming!"

The courtyard gate creaked open, and a young man walked in. Old Master Xu twisted his mustache and called out with a strained voice:

"Gongming, come in and take a seat."

Xu Gongming entered the courtyard and blurted out:

"Uncle, have you heard? The Family Head wants to fight Shanyue, and they're conscripting soldiers in the town. The drums and gongs have been sounding for many days. Gongming wants to enlist, but my parents, knowing only farming, can't make up their minds, so they sent me to ask for your advice."

After Xu San died, the Xu family split up immediately, each going their own way in town. As the eldest son and having received some education, Old Master Xu naturally became the decision-maker of the clan. He looked at the young man in front of him and didn't speak for a while.

Xu Gongming, the only Spiritual Aperture Seed in the clan and with a Fetal Breathing second level cultivation, became somewhat anxious upon seeing this and said in a low voice:

"Uncle! Nowadays, none of the clans are as destitute as ours! The Liu Clan has always been the landlords of Jingyang, also being the spouses of our ancestors, the Tian Clan is full of capable people, most Spiritual Fields are under their control, while the Chen Clan, silent and unobtrusive, already has a Qi Cultivator... Now our family wants to find a way out, and the only option is the military!"

Old Master Xu picked up a large basin, squinted his eyes and counted the grains inside, then responded slowly:

"The army is the tool of the townsfolk, which centurion does not bear the name Li? Don't think it's going to be easy..."

Xu Gongming slumped onto a broken chair, feeling dejected after hearing this. His well-thought-out plan was disrupted by Old Master Xu's words, and he hurriedly said:

"Then Uncle, please give me some advice... the Xu Clan is about to fall into my hands, yet I can't do anything!"

Old Master Xu nodded his head, his gray-white mustache trembling as he noticed a few rat droppings tumble out of the bottom of the basket, his face falling. He then replied:

"If you want to enlist, it truly is a good route to take. Your uncle has no knowledge of military formations or understanding of cultivation, but I can teach you two words."

"The first one is loyalty."

Old Master Xu set down the basket, finally speaking earnestly. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out somewhat, and he said in a low voice:

"Our Xu Clan once avenged the Family Head, with names remembered by our ancestors and the current Family Head. Once you join the army, you'll carry the reputation of the Xu Clan, and you'll likely get a decent position immediately—that is the legacy left by our predecessors... You must be willing to sustain injuries, and in critical moments, you must be ready to die. You need to offend people with an impartial face of steel, imprinting this mark of loyalty firmly in the minds of the Family Head!"

These words hit Xu Gongming like a hammer, and he finally understood why his parents had openly told him to seek his uncle's counsel. He committed these words to memory and then inquired further:

"And what is the second word?"

"The second is steadiness."

Old Master Xu sat beside him, stretching out his bony, skeletal fingers to illustrate as he whispered:

"Young Master Xu knows the movements of the Li Family well. In the army, strive not for merit but for no faults, and when you see the family head, do not speak much. Maintain a calm and steady silence, do not make friends within the army and, above all, do not promote your clan's youths. Deal with affairs impartially. After such conduct for twenty years, you can well become a centurion, and if luck is on your side and you break through in Qi cultivation, you can be the confidant of the family head. Our Xu Family will then have a place among the various towns!"

"Twenty years..."

Xu Gongming nodded silently and hurriedly began to express his gratitude, talking for quite a while without offering any insights. He only asked about the possible questions Li Yuanxiu might ask when he summoned him. The old master picked up the basket indifferently and answered one by one, then shook the rice basket in his hand with impatience and said:

"Get out, get out, get out, don't talk so much here, hurry up and prepare your things."

Xu Gongming was momentarily at a loss, knowing the odd temperament of this elder. He thanked him repeatedly and, with a thoughtful look, lowered his head and left.

The old master of the Xu Family sat in the courtyard for a while, looked at the rice basket in his hands, picked out a few pieces of rat feces, and shook the stale rice in the basket before murmuring:

"It's barely usable now."

————

"Xu Gongming…"

Li Yuanxiu opened the letter that was sent up and read it, recalling the situation of the Xu Family, and spoke softly:

"This Xu Family member is the first Fetal Breathing cultivator to join the military, isn't he?"

These cultivators, having barely entered the Immortal Path, are naturally very precious with their lives. When the military conscription was issued by their families, signaling an attack on Shanyue, they did not specifically draft them, all pretending to turn a deaf ear to external affairs, indulging in singing, dancing, feasting, and touring about. But now they are all behaving themselves, quietly farming in their courtyards, with not a single one out causing trouble.

"Yes."

Li Pingyi responded, and then saw Li Yuanxiu ponder for a few moments before flipping over the letter in his hand several times, speaking softly:

"The Xu Clan has also contributed to our family. Over the past few decades, the family has given opportunities, and my father has specifically mentioned it to me too. However, the Xu descendants have been disappointing and failed to seize them, leading lives full of dissatisfaction."

"Xu Gongming has already arrived outside."

Li Pingyi reminded him, and Li Yuanxiu nodded and said:

"Call him up."

Soon, a young man in his mid-twenties walked up, a sword hanging at his waist, with a dignified appearance in his eyes and brows, and looking quite honest. Upon seeing Li Yuanxiu, he saluted with a fist and said solemnly: 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Xu Gongming pays his respects to the Young Master."

Having respectfully said this, Xu Gongming stood straight with his head bowed and remained silent.

Li Yuanxiu inquired about his family situation, and Xu Gongming answered succinctly and clearly, whether he was prepared in advance or just quick-witted, all his responses were satisfactory. Li Yuanxiu nodded slightly and said softly:

"Just go to the barracks tomorrow."

Xu Gongming saluted, his expression solemn as he withdrew, not even asking about the position he received, and just like that, he left without a word. Li Yuanxiu felt a bit more favorably towards him and said softly:

"The Xu Clan has had a difficult few years, but now, at least, they have a Spiritual Aperture Seed. It seems he wishes to pursue a career in the military, so let's start him off as a centurion. With his Fetal Breathing second-level cultivation, this can be considered a significant appointment."

At present, the cultivators in the military are mostly from the Li Family's minor branches and collateral lines, with Fetal Breathing first and second-levels as centurions and third and fourth-levels as chiliarchs, totaling eight, and with Xu Gongming, there are now nine cultivators.

Li Yuanxiu was deep in thought when unexpectedly, someone approached the courtyard with brisk steps, rushing in like the wind. The clan soldiers, as usual, knelt down one by one, the clanging sound of weapons hitting the ground ringing out. Li Yuanxiu quickly walked down to greet him, and with a joyful look on his face, he exclaimed:

"Father!"