Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 454 372: Storybook

"Let us ride the wind and talk."

Kong Yu seemed to have been looking forward to this for ages, fearing the senior brothers would snatch away the business; he could not stand even a moment longer at the foot of the mountain gate, so he rode the wind through Shankei County, saying:

"As my master says, it should be someone from the Immortal Sect of the Northern Taoist Lineage at Luoxia Mountain coming down to endure tribulation. No one knows which distinguished figure it is. In short, it will be nine months of Qi Cultivation, three years of Foundation Establishment, possessing beauties, breaking Noble Families, exterminating Devil Cultivators, savoring all the blessings of Qi folk... and traveling north all the way back..."

"This! This..."

Li Xuanxuan found it hard to believe, vague suspicions lingering, yet could not put them to words. He only whispered:

"If it is so, you and I are but passing by that place. There shouldn't be much to fear…"

Kong Yu's expression flickered with a trace of dread. He murmured:

"Daoist Fellow, you have not met such people before, it is natural to feel unconcerned—at most a genius. Yet, if one day you lay eyes upon those who possess destined fate or even Metal Nature, you will understand."

"Senior Tongya must know as well, you may return and ask him yourself."

Upon finishing, he sealed his lips, no matter how Li Xuanxuan pressed indirectly, he divulged nothing further.

The two could only change the topic, chatting about other matters. By the time they exited Shankei County, night was deep. Kong Yu took out a Jade Box, placed it on his palm, puffed out his cheeks, and blew forth a patch of dark cloud, crying:

"Daoist Fellow, this is the Magic Artifact 'Night Travel Cloud.' It conceals one's form. There is too much danger along this road; better you bring your Spiritual Beast inside as well."

"Good!"

Li Xuanxuan did not stand on ceremony; though Xuan Yue Sect was now bleak and declining, it still possessed legacy. Kong Yu was a descendant of Changxi Perfected Person, laden with treasures.

Now Devil Cultivators rampaged unchecked; the two could not travel through Yu Fu County and took to hills and forests, the ground riddled with wild shrines and Loose Cultivators. Who knew how many Devil Cultivators lay in ambush—truly perilous.

So they could only rest and cultivate by day, ride the wind and hurry by night. Kong Yu was talkative, insightful in the Tao of Talisman. His skills in Talisman techniques interwove with Li Xuanxuan's; both gained much, truly an unexpected delight.

One day, as they flew to the border of Yue and Xu, a cultivator fled upon devil wind, golden light streaming across the night sky. Behind him, another drove a golden ring through the air, pursuing relentlessly.

They had seen such scenes many times and habitually avoided them. Besides, both the Immortal and Devil cultivators were at Qi Cultivating Peak, not easy to provoke. Yet Kong Yu stopped in his tracks, whispering:

"A Tang Jin Sect member… The Situ Family has ties with my Kong Clan; it would be wrong to stand idly by… Let me lend a hand."

Saying this, he summoned a Jade Seal and struck headlong toward the fray. Li Xuanxuan sighed and cast a few Spells as well, coordinating with Talismans to block the Devil Cultivator.

"Bang!"

This Devil Cultivator was already spent; blocked by the two, attacked front and back, with two Immortal Sect disciples present, his life-preserving escape Secret Techniques failed. Within less than dozens of rounds, his life was lost.

The Tang Jin Sect disciple spun the golden ring in his hand, releasing a misty golden radiance, seizing the corpse of the Devil Cultivator and drawing it before him. He clearly intended to claim the prize alone and bluntly said:

"Who are you?"

Li Xuanxuan bothered not to reply, pretending Kong Yu was the leader, and withdrew behind him. Kong Yu also frowned and answered:

"I am Kong Yu of Xuan Yue, long since parted from Tang Jin Sect folk. I acted, not to claim spoils, but to repay the favor of yielding passage in years past; the Kong Clan has kept it in our hearts, thus I came to assist."

"Oh."

This young man appeared exceedingly indifferent, making Kong Yu's earnestness meet with cold contempt. He drawled:

"Oh! Daoist Fellow is quite the philanthropist."

Kong Yu's face soon showed his embarrassment; with a wave of his sleeve, he turned away. That youth likewise showed no courtesy, sneering:

"I wondered who it was—so, it's from the 'One-Stick-of-Incense Noble Family!'"

"How dare you, brat?!"

Kong Yu flew into a rage, his Magic Artifact soared as he burst into curses. The youth was utterly unafraid, disgust showing on his face, answering:

"Let it be known: Kong Nuanmeng was wed to Situ Yi, yet was long ago slaughtered by my branch—Situ Mo's line. If your Kong Clan dares mention the old favor again, you mean to make enemies of my family!"

Kong Yu turned pale at these words, as if seeing something bizarre; angered yet amused, he spat:

"Foolish dolt! Situ Tang, hero of an age, yet produced idiots of your sort!"

With that, he turned and left, ignoring the thunderstruck and livid face of Situ Mo, the Direct Lineage of Tang Jin Sect, hastily soaring off. Li Xuanxuan listened from the clouds, heart pounding in fright; seeing the man did not pursue, he let out a long breath and sighed:

"What need was there for this, Daoist Fellow?"

"Tang Jin Sect's Cultivation Techniques excel at attack; Situ Mo himself is clearly a Direct Lineage scion, his golden ring most formidable. If truly provoked, disaster would loom."

If a fight broke out, Kong Yu, an old relic nearing a hundred and still unable to break through Foundation Establishment, would likely survive, but Li Xuanxuan, a mere talisman-making shopkeeper, would probably not keep his life—he was, of course, terrified.

Kong Yu sighed, voice heavy:

"In former days, Changxi Perfected Person passed through Tangjin Mountain, shifting mountains and moving the earth vein. Tang Jin Sect relocated several peaks, thus we forged bonds, set a marriage pact. Who could have foreseen how times would change, and the Situ Family become so arrogant and extravagant?"

Tang Jin Sect had been in chaos this long; Kong Yu knew well the Situ Family's transformation. The branch of the Kong Clan married off had long been slaughtered.

Yet as the Kong Clan had grown feeble, they were unwilling to make enemies; they kept the favor owed to Tang Jin Sect in their hearts, hoping to remain allies. Now, Situ Mo counted the old debt only to rebuke him openly, leaving him cold to the core.

Li Xuanxuan still pondered the matter of the 'One-Stick-of-Incense Noble Family', not voicing his questions, but quietly offered comfort, waiting for Kong Yu to speak up.