Chapter 639 474: The Fei Clan Today_2

Li Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow and, from a distance, saw a man flying toward him, bearing a seventy percent resemblance to Fei Yihe with an elegant and suave demeanor. However, his complexion was unsightly at present, and he approached on the wind with a low voice:

"I am Fei Tongyu, the Family Head of the Fei Clan, and it is an honor to meet the two seniors."

The Fei Clan had activated their Great Formation, almost blatantly displaying their distrust, and yet Tongya had once saved the lives of their kin. Such a gesture was the height of offense, and yet Family Head Fei Tongyu personally came to meet them, risking himself and showing contradictory actions that made Li Qinghong inwardly shake his head:

"My brother once said this man is like a white weasel busy preparing for winter. Indeed, he acts the part. To be guarding against all and sundry is one thing…But to offend and not do so cleanly, he is truly a wavering and opportunistic character…"

Li Xuanfeng, on the other hand, scrutinized him closely, his face showing a somewhat cryptic smile, and spoke in a deep voice:

"So, you are Fei Tongyu! Excellent!"

He took a letter from his chest and said with an indifferent tone:

"This was brought to me by your father for you! From now on, take care of yourself!"

With a casual toss, the letter, along with a Storage Bag, smacked right into Fei Tongyu's embrace. He then turned around and rode the wind away without a second look. Li Qinghong naturally moved forward in sync, her voice slightly urgent:

"How can you behave like this, Taoist Fellow! This is too discourteous!"

Fei Tongyu, hearing of his father for the first time in decades, was dazed from the impact, and already in disarray from Li Xuanfeng's intimidating Pupil Technique, fumbled and stammered:

"I!…This! Harm!"

With that toss and departure, Li Xuanfeng had firmly returned the offense cast by the other party. Li Qinghong played the role of the reasonable one, murmuring softly:

"Taoist Fellow! This was not a pleasant thing to do!"

Fei Tongyu, as if in a dream, paused in the air, appeared somewhat slugging, clutching tightly the letter from his father, tears falling from his eyes as he spoke in a pleading voice:

"I was only afraid... that's all…Please, I beg of you, visit the peak and have a seat."

Li Qinghong knew that Li Xuanfeng had not gone far, and she nodded slightly, descending with him from the heavens. Fei Tongyu hurriedly tried to bring her into his Cave Mansion, but Li Qinghong had no intention of a prolonged stay, simply saying:

"It is enough for you and me to walk around this peak."

Now a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Li Qinghong was not someone Fei Tongyu dared to trifle with. He bowed and led the way. They landed upon a snow-clad peak and saw an odd-looking great hall that had its roof sealed off.

Li Qinghong had spent a few years with the Fei Clan and was familiar with their customs. The Fei Clan always kept their courtyards open for moon viewing and snow appreciation, so she glanced with some puzzlement. Fei Tongyu hastily explained:

"That was where my younger brother lived before. He never enjoyed moon viewing, and he even had the roof of the hall sealed off specially."

"Before?"

Li Qinghong's expression shook, and she asked:

"What is the situation now? Where is your brother Fei Tongxiao!"

Fei Tongyu bowed with a red face, showing a very low stance, and replied:

"He failed in his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, became one with the cold wind and snow, and vanished without a trace."

"Fei Tongxiao died?"

Li Qinghong truly paused for a moment, not expecting that he would earnestly try to break through to Foundation Establishment. A former acquaintance passing away like this left her momentarily at a loss for words.

Fei Tongyu, with tears in his eyes, said:

"It happened a few years ago…"

Li Qinghong was silent and walked with him to Fei Wangbai's tomb. The tombstone was already covered in purple moss, looking particularly desolate amidst the snow.

Having once performed the rites of apprenticeship together, Li Qinghong paid her respects with a slight ceremony. Then, the two slowly walked up the snow-pine-coated Cold Mountain, crossing over the ridges and beholding the familiar attic with a glance.

In those days, she practiced her spear in that attic, while Fei Tongxiao came looking for her day after day, climbing up from the mountainside every time. Now, decades later, that small attic was still there.

Fei Tongyu led her inside. The two pots of wax plum in front of the door were well maintained, frosted with white, and the door was freshly painted with white lacquer. The stone steps were polished smooth and shiny, only they hadn't been tread upon in some time and were thick with frost.

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Fei Tongyu, seated and starting to weep, revealed the worn face of a man battered by time. He whispered:

"My brother... He passed away three years ago, leaving a letter for me to give to you. I was instructed by Qingyi and dared not send anyone to you."

He took out a small letter from the Storage Bag, no larger than a palm. Li Qinghong lowered her almond eyes; the letter bore just a few simple lines:

"Senior Sister, Tongxiao was dim-witted and failed to accomplish his goals. I was reckless in my youth and disturbed your cultivation, thankfully without leading you astray."

"But Senior Sister, during forty-eight years of Cold Mountain's snow and pines, my determination was as unyielding as the evergreen hills, never wavering."

Fei Tongxiao had once entered training under Fei Wangbai along with her, but they all understood it was nothing more than a transaction between their families. Fei Wangbai never really taught them anything significant, and it was a subject left unaddressed after their departure.

This 'Senior Sister' had not been heard for decades.

The handwriting was simple black ink, and Li Qinghong looked at it carefully before turning her head away, her voice low:

"Did your brother have any children?"

Fei Tongyu replied:

"He never married nor took concubines."

Li Qinghong stowed the item away, then turned her head, revealing her snow-white neck, with a somewhat hoarse voice, she answered:

"What's the need for that..."

Fei Tongyu closed her eyes and wept, tightly clutching her father's letter but never daring to open it, just staring down at the cracks between the floor tiles. Both fell into a synchronized silence, each harboring their own thoughts.

After a long while, Li Qinghong, like awakening from a dream, lifted her head and whispered softly:

"Noble one..."

The words "Take good care of yourself" lingered in her throat for a while. Li Qinghong did not speak them out loud. Instead, she bid farewell with a bow, gently raising her delicate hand, and plucked a plum blossom from the clay pot by the door. Then mounted the Thunder Light and soared into the distance.

Fei Tongyu knelt there, slowly opening the letter bit by bit, gazing at the familiar handwriting, and let out a low weeping sound.

...

Li Qinghong emerged, riding on the wind. Li Xuanfeng stood by the lakeside, staring blankly at the scene in the middle of the lake. Seeing Li Qinghong descend, he murmured:

"They say that our ancestor, with his black hair and white clothes, came holding a sword. What a sight that must have been."

He looked at Li Qinghong, noticing her somewhat downcast expression, he asked:

"What is it?"

"It's nothing."

Li Qinghong shook her head, replying:

"It's just...an old friend...who failed to break through and died."

Li Xuanfeng flew south with her, pausing for a moment before saying:

"Don't think too much... Our lifespans are long; we will see many such events."

Li Qinghong nodded silently, and the two landed on the peak together. Li Xuanfeng said:

"I still need to visit a few more families; you go cultivate."

Li Qinghong had already lost her mood for anything else and nodded in agreement, forcing her spirits up as she returned to her peak. Then she saw the heavy rain pouring down, pattering incessantly, drenching the entire mountain.

She had only taken a few steps when Li Xijun was waiting for her at the mountaintop, and upon seeing his aunt descend, he stepped forward and said softly:

"The family affairs have mostly been arranged. Li Wushao's spirit nature has also been recaptured and handed over to Yuexiang. In the coming years, the family affairs will need more attention from Yuexiang and aunt."

Upon hearing this, Li Qinghong immediately understood everything and saw Li Xijun say:

"Nephew is going to start his closed-door cultivation to prepare for breaking through to Foundation Establishment."

Li Qinghong inquired:

"Have you prepared any Spirit Pills?"

Li Xijun gave a slight smile, producing a white jade bottle from his bosom and responded:

"The Sui Origin Pill, the one brother Ximing had left for me."

Li Qinghong finally breathed a sigh of relief, speaking softly:

"At least he has some conscience left!"

Li Xijun chuckled, seemingly in good spirits. He hesitated for a few breaths, then said softly:

"If... I do not succeed... please ask the elder to be more lenient with Ximing... Chengliao in the family is clever and capable... As for Chenghuai... he may not have the talent of his father, but he is quite good as well, so treat him well..."

After repeating many things, Li Qinghong listened carefully, then said:

"Go on, stop talking such unlucky things!"

Li Xijun smiled wryly, brought his hands together, and bowed deeply. Li Qinghong then looked up at the rain clouds in the sky, calculated quietly for a moment, and thought to herself:

"Wonder when this rain will stop, whether this winter will be delayed..."

She spoke up:

"Since you are about to break through Foundation Establishment, you would do better to go to Jade Court Mountain. That place has pines and snow, which are very fitting for the occasion."

Li Xijun, preparing for his own Foundation Establishment breakthrough, must have thought about these, and frowning, he said:

"But the spiritual energy there is not as rich..."

"Here."

Li Qinghong slapped her Storage Bag, and a green jade bottle flew out. She spoke softly:

"This is the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, the 'Feathered Niwa Spiritual Liquid,' originally brought back by our ancestor. I learned a spell in the East Sea that can mist this spiritual liquid to increase the spiritual energy for a few years, which is just right for your breakthrough."

Li Xijun clearly saw that this was meant for Li Ximing but understood the priorities. Without back talk, he respectfully replied:

"Then I'll have to trouble aunt!"