Marriage Alliance

Li Mutian had only just reached the Tian Family's courtyard with his hands behind his back when Tian Yun, who had been squatting in the yard humming as she sorted vegetables, looked up. Seeing that it was Li Mutian, she smiled shyly and said, "Uncle Li!"

She set down the vegetables in her hands and hurriedly stood up, calling into the house:

"Father! Uncle Mutian is here."

"It's me."

Li Mutian answered with a smile, looking Tian Yun up and down.

Over the past three years, the girl had grown into a fresh, lovely young woman. Her figure curved in all the right places, delicate and well-proportioned. Though she could not be called stunningly beautiful, her features were neat enough, and when she smiled, she possessed a charm all her own.

"Not bad, not bad." Li Mutian lifted the hand behind his back, revealing a Wild Goose he had been carrying.

"Uncle Li, you're far too courteous."

Tian Yun froze when she saw Li Mutian had brought something. Looking closer, she cried out in surprise, "Is that... a goose?"

The "Rites of the Scholar's Wedding" in the Book of Etiquette said: "For the wedding rite, the man sends word below and offers the betrothal gift. A goose is used."

In Yue Kingdom, when a man wished to form a marriage alliance with a woman, he would bring a Wild Goose to her home. This rite was called the Betrothal Gift.

Small farming households could not bear overly elaborate customs. In Li Jing Village, not to mention bringing a goose, there were plenty of ordinary families who came empty-handed to propose marriage. This was Tian Yun's first time seeing someone bring a Betrothal Gift, and only then did she understand.

"Do you fancy our Xiang Ping?"

Li Mutian burst into laughter, suddenly wanting to tease her.

Tian Yun had flushed from the tips of her ears all the way down her neck. Out of modesty and embarrassment, she stammered as she tried to conceal it, yet feared Li Mutian might take her seriously if she denied it. At last, she said:

"I do!"

Tian Shoushui had just stepped out of the house. Hearing this, he let out a great sigh of relief, the stone that had weighed on his heart for so long finally falling to the ground.

What father could fail to see that his daughter's heart had long been tied to Li Xiangping? Yet that boy was usually watertight in every respect, revealing none of his thoughts. Tian Shoushui feared his daughter would be left embarrassed, so he had remained silent all along.

"Big Brother!" Tian Shoushui called out with a hearty laugh.

Tian Shoushui had followed behind Li Mutian from the age of five. At twelve, he had enlisted alongside Ren Ping'an. The three had clung together for survival in the army; though not brothers by blood, they were closer than brothers.

Later, they returned to the village, killed the wealthy Yuan Family, washed their hands in a golden basin, and took up farming. Li Mutian had looked after him in every way, dividing land with him and arranging a match for him to take a wife.

Tian Shoushui's fortunes had long been bound with the Li Clan's. Even Li Changhu had been raised by his own hand, and he regarded him as dearer than his own children.

How could his daughter lose out by marrying into their family? Tian Yun had no idea how many twists and turns her father's thoughts had taken. The moment she saw him emerge, she fled as if escaping, drawing another burst of laughter from Li Mutian.

"Big Brother, besides this marriage, there is another important matter." Tian Shoushui shook his head helplessly, then spoke gravely.

"What is it?"

Li Mutian looked up in confusion.

"A few days ago, when I Ascended Mountain and passed the Yuan Family's ancestral graves, I heard some movement. But when I turned back to look, there was nothing there."

"Are there still Yuan Family clansmen we failed to kill?" Li Mutian raised an eyebrow, his voice turning dark.

"I think it's only some distant relatives who still dare to secretly offer sacrifices."

Unease churned in Tian Shoushui's heart, and he hurriedly tried to reassure himself.

"Indeed, that makes sense." Li Mutian gradually relaxed and nodded to Tian Shoushui. "We did ask back then. There were five members of the Yuan Family; none were missed."

"Big Brother, on such a happy day, I shouldn't have spoken such ill-omened words!" Tian Shoushui slapped himself across the mouth, making Li Mutian chuckle softly.

Leaving the Tian Family's home, Li Mutian walked calmly along the dirt road, gazing thoughtfully at Great Li Mountain.

After settling the marriage arrangements, Li Mutian hummed all the way back into the courtyard. Crossing the front yard, he saw only his three sons chatting around a wooden table in the courtyard.

His youngest son, Li Chijing, was cultivating with his eyes closed in his room. Though moonlight was thin during the day and progress was slow, Li Chijing cultivated diligently day and night, wasting not a single moment.

In the courtyard, Li Xiangping was repeatedly studying the "Guidance Method." The cloth scroll had been manhandled until it was covered in creases, and even the ink had blurred considerably.

"Third Brother, take it a little easier." Li Tongya smiled as he lightly scolded him, yet the carving knife in his hand never stopped as he silently engraved words onto a Wooden Slip.

His eldest brother, Li Changhu, was carefully working through accounts over the land deeds nearby. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and said, "He's been at it all morning."

Li Mutian crossed the Steps, picked up the clear tea on the wooden table, and sat down right there on the steps. Casually, he said, "I went to the Tian Family to propose marriage."

At those words, Li Xiangping sprang straight up from his chair, staring anxiously at his father.

"What did the Tian Family say?"

"Tian Yun said she fancies you." Li Mutian slowly took a sip of tea and let out a comfortable sigh.

"Good, good, that's wonderful." Li Xiangping nodded excitedly.

"Ha ha ha ha..." His two brothers could not help laughing.

"Listen up." Li Mutian, however, was thinking of something else. He set down his teacup and spoke sternly.

"Though the immortal path is wondrous beyond measure, who knows what terrors and dangers lurk within it? Our Li Clan is thin in numbers. If something happens to you, who will carry on the Li Clan?"

Seeing the young men all grow serious, Li Mutian waved his hand. "This Law Mirror is both our family's opportunity and our family's calamity."

"I hurriedly arranged Changhu's betrothal and held his wedding because I hoped he would quickly produce Descendants. I feared that if something happened one day, our Li Clan would still have a thread of life left."

"You are the same." Li Mutian pointed at Li Xiangping, then looked at Li Tongya and sighed helplessly.

"As for Tongya, I'm old now. I can no longer persuade you. You have no interest in the women of this village, but you must still leave behind some Descendants..."

Li Tongya nodded silently. Only after several breaths did he speak.

"Don't worry, Father. I know what I'm doing."

"That would be for the best."

Li Mutian rubbed the white hair at his temples, his heart filled with worry.

He was already nearly sixty. Though he was strong and healthy, with no lack of food or clothing, the affairs of the world were unpredictable. It was better to arrange the family's matters early. "Father!"

A clear cry broke the somewhat stifling mood in the courtyard. Li Chijing rushed out of the room and stopped before his brothers.

"I'm almost done refining eighty-one strands of moonlight and condensing the Profound Scene Wheel!" Li Chijing raised his head proudly.

"Our Chijing is amazing."

Li Mutian had long listened to his youngest son chatter endlessly about the Fetal Breathing Gate and the Profound Scene Wheel. Delighted, he gathered him into a hug and laughed heartily at the child.

The brothers were also swept up in the joyous atmosphere and smiled. Li Changhu even pinched Li Chijing's cheek until the child repeatedly cried out in pain before letting go.

"The next time we can guide in a Talisman Seed will be at Summer Solstice."

Li Tongya smiled at the cheerful courtyard and pondered, "We missed Dark Moon Day because we could not prepare everything in time. The next chance will be Summer Solstice. We only need to wait a few more days."

"The path of immortality—Li Tongya has arrived."

He quietly carved the "Guidance Method" onto the Wooden Slip, but waves crashed within his heart as excitement surged beyond control.