Li Duanxuan (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader CzLB)

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Qin Yi's visit to Sword Pavilion this time can be said to have been specifically to find Li Duanxuan.

The primary reason is his relationship with Li Qingjun. Judging from the attitude of that Martial Uncle Zhang, Penglai Sword Pavilion does not support this.

He couldn't care what the others in the Penglai Sword Pavilion thought, nor did he have the power to influence the entire Penglai Sword Pavilion's opinion. But Li Qingjun was Li Duanxuan's direct disciple, and even a descendant of a different generation. Whether from the perspective of master and disciple or from the perspective of blood ties, as long as Li Duanxuan supported her, no one else had any right to interfere. Besides, Li Duanxuan held a high position and could practically represent the Sword Pavilion.

Of course, he could say that our relationship doesn't need anyone's approval, but there's no need for that, even knowing that Qing Jun would follow him regardless of everything.

It was Qin Yi's job to resolve Qing Jun's worries, not to let her cause trouble with her elders or her sect.

This is the responsibility we should bear.

He happened to feel that Li Duanxuan was different from others, as he knew from the "Ancestral System" of Southern Li back then. This person was very interesting. Without him, there would be no Li Qinglin and Li Qingjun, in every sense.

He was also a sword prodigy of the Qian Yuan era, the only one Qin Yi had ever heard of who had reached that level in a thousand years. Even his Senior Sister was only at the mid-stage of the Huiyang realm after a thousand years.

This genius's ideas are inherently unconventional.

Li Duanxuan finally said, "Back then, when I established that Ancestral System, I didn't care if future generations died while experiencing the martial world. What's the use of keeping people at home if they don't go out to experience the world? But now that I'm Sword Pavilion Elder, I'm worried about this kind of thing? It's utterly absurd. So I have no objection to Qing Jun going out. What I care about is your opinion, Qin Yi, whether you take Qing Jun seriously."

Qin Yi bowed and said, "Senior, rest assured. Even if I die, I will ensure that Qing Jun is not harmed."

Li Qingjun tugged at him. "Don't talk nonsense!"

Li Duanxuan said, "I do believe that. Long Ting's return and his account of his experiences in the Blood Nether Realm confirms that you are a responsible person. As for your matter with Qing Jun..."

Li Qingjun looked at him nervously.

Li Duanxuan smiled slightly, "When we first met, I didn't like this kid. He kept bombarding me with questions, making me feel like a clueless brat. Now that we've met again, he still shows no respect, talking as if he were just chatting with an ordinary middle-aged man..."

"Uh..." Qin Yi tentatively asked, "Senior, you find it even more displeasing?"

"No, this time he's actually more pleasing to the eye." Li Duanxuan said calmly, "My descendants and my disciples will either dedicate their lives to the sword and roam the world freely; if they want to find a man, they should choose the most outstanding among their peers, not just the face they were infatuated with when they were young and ignorant. The difference between you and a confident and upright person with a bright future, or a foolish and ignorant brat, lies in whether you have demonstrated the necessary abilities."

Qin Yi asked, "So, this junior has fulfilled your conditions, senior?"

"Indeed. Among your peers, you are indeed the most outstanding, even Longting has to admit that, and that is enough." Li Duanxuan smiled, "Perhaps many people will say that matters between two people do not need to satisfy other people's opinions... You have considered Qing Jun's situation, and I am very satisfied."

Li Qingjun held Qin Yi's hand and smiled sweetly.

As long as Li Duanxuan agreed, any other opinions from the Sword Pavilion no longer mattered, and Li Qingjun breathed a sigh of relief. She did not want to face another choice between responsibility and Qin Yi, even though this time she would inevitably choose Qin Yi.

This kind of choice is awful; once you've experienced it, you never want to do it again.

Fortunately, this time, Qin Yi didn't let her choose for herself again, but instead came to her door to try to solve the problem.

"As for you having other women... I, a former king, won't argue with you about such things," Li Duanxuan said. "Back then, I had more than a hundred times more women than you, so there's no point in blaming you for that. Similarly, I can marry my daughter to an emperor with countless concubines to compete for his favor, rather than marry her off to a beggar for a life of mutual respect. You, at present, qualify as the former."

That's how direct he is; a swordsman who was once the founding emperor of a nation gets straight to the heart of the matter.

Li Duanxuan's voice turned cold. "Therefore you must be an emperor, not a beggar. I hope you don't become a genius now but quickly fade into obscurity... Otherwise, I will personally kill you and lock Qing Jun up in the back mountains."

Despite his icy tone, Qin Yi bowed sincerely and said, "Uncle, rest assured."

The senior has become an uncle... and the title of uncle is rather awkward.

Li Duanxuan is at least twenty generations above Li Qingjun's ancestor, not her father... In the world of cultivation, the hierarchy is just that bizarre.

Li Duanxuan accepted his bow, then turned back to look at the little flower without saying a word.

Just when the two thought he was about to see them off, Li Duanxuan suddenly spoke up again, "Having come out of seclusion this time, I have seen some changes in the world... but words cannot express it, and I cannot convey my meaning. I will just say it for now, Qing Jun will just listen for now, and you will verify it for yourselves in the future."

Li Qingjun's heart skipped a beat. "Master, are you leaving?"

"Wasn't it you who wanted to leave?" Li Duanxuan chuckled. "If you leave, who knows when you'll be able to continue cultivating with me? How could I not tell you in advance?"

Li Qingjun blushed and lowered her head, remaining silent.

Qin Yi was somewhat embarrassed. "Then... senior, may I excuse myself?"

"No need," Li Duanxuan said indifferently. "Since you've joined forces with Qing Jun, there's no point in being so petty about sectarian differences. Instead, you should improve together... However, you must have a powerful master. Perhaps what I'm saying is laughable. If you don't like hearing it, so be it."

Qin Yi bowed and said, "This junior is all ears."

Li Duanxuan didn't mind and slowly said, "People think differently at different times. Just like I said, ten days ago, I might not have found you pleasing to the eye, but now I'm quite satisfied. People's thoughts always change with things, whether it's external circumstances or their own inner thoughts. Change is the way of Heavenly Dao."

Qin Yi and Li Qingjun listened attentively without interrupting.

Li Duanxuan said, "I used to contemplate the life within flowers, moved by their resilience and beauty, and thereby gain insight into the sword heart. But after seeing so much, I no longer have that feeling. The deeper one's cultivation, the more one pays attention to every detail of how life blossoms within the flowers and leaves, through air photosynthesis, nutrient circulation, and so on. It's like dissecting life and coldly observing the flow of blood vessels and the location of acupoints. At that moment, there are no flowers, only the sword."

Qin Yi understood. In fact, he had undergone a similar shift in mindset. Now, having fought more and experienced life and death more often, he often looked for weaknesses and flaws in people immediately, analyzing everything like a scalpel. Li Duanxuan was even more focused, even when looking at other flowers, plants, and trees, he seemed to be doing the same thing; this was the essence of swordsmanship.

"Later on, this flower bloomed again, but it is only a part of the whole world. If you were to split the world apart, it would be just a hair in a blood vessel... This stone is also like this, this mountain is also like this, and you and I are all like this." Li Duanxuan suddenly reached out and made a gesture. The flower was like a sword, Sword Qi Soaring to the Sky, piercing into the mountain rock. The rock instantly turned into dust.

"This is the Dao. Or rather, the path to finding the Dao." Li Duanxuan sighed. "At times like this, you feel that distinguishing between you and me is incredibly boring, even boring in itself. The only meaningful thing is to look at things from a higher perspective, to see the world as nothing more than a flower or a stone. What would that be like? Perhaps that is the proof of formlessness. At this moment, the only interest lies in this."

He paused, then continued, "Now I will discuss matters concerning our children with you, which will also serve as the conclusion of a past matter. After some time, once I have settled all my past affairs, I'm afraid I won't bother with anyone who comes to me... As for your question about the successor of the Sword Pavilion, whether he will roam the world freely or stay at home taking care of the children, what difference does it make?"

Nothing can compare to seeking the Dao... even Li Duanxuan felt the same way.

Qin Yi pondered absently, it wasn't that they were indifferent to worldly affairs, but rather that at a certain point, especially for someone like Li Duanxuan who had witnessed the rise and fall of the world, worldly matters held no interest for them whatsoever. Thus, only the sword, only the Dao, and nothing else was worth exploring.