Su Mingyuan walked into the main hall and looked up to see the father and son standing inside.
Hearing the footsteps, the father and son immediately turned around and bowed in greeting.
Li An wore a simple and elegant cloud-patterned brocade robe. The fabric was warm and delicate, his smile gentle, and his etiquette flawless. When he bowed with cupped hands, his posture was humble, without a shred of the arrogance of a noble family patriarch.
Beside him stood a youth of fifteen or sixteen, wearing a moon-white brocade robe with a jade hairpin tying his hair. His features were clean and handsome, and he stood quietly behind his father with his hands hanging down.
Li An smiled and cupped his hands. “I apologize for disturbing the Sect Master. I heard that the sect is busy with expansions, so I shouldn't have come. However, because I missed my eldest son, Buqi, I specifically brought my youngest son up the mountain to visit.”
As he spoke, he pushed two carved wooden boxes next to him toward the table, his tone overflowing with fatherly love. “These candied fruits and pastries are what Buqi loved to eat as a child. I specifically prepared them to satisfy his cravings.”
Outside the door, Su Ye muttered in a low voice, “They've been separated for over ten years, and he only brought two boxes of pastries? That's way too stingy.”
Xue Mingzhao sneered, lowering her voice to tease, “Maybe their family fortune is depleted and they're on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Su Mingyuan walked over to the main seat expressionlessly and sat down. He took a sip from his teacup, his tone flat and distant. “Buqi is cultivating peacefully in the sect. There is no need to worry.”
Li An took a seat below him, sighing softly as he put on the act of a worried, loving father. “With the Sect Master's meticulous guidance, I am naturally at ease. It is just... why do I not see him coming out today?”
Su Mingyuan didn't even raise his eyelids. “He is currently in closed-door cultivation and cannot spare the time to see guests.”
Hearing the coldness in Su Mingyuan's words, Li An did not show the slightest displeasure. Still wearing a face full of smiles, he began to chat about random family matters.
Outside, Xue Mingzhao and Su Ye squatted until their legs went numb. This Patriarch Li kept beating around the bush, not stating his purpose even after a long time.
Su Mingyuan listened for a long time before asking impatiently, “Patriarch Li, what exactly is your purpose for coming up the mountain today?”
Li An finally got to the point, stepping aside to reveal the youth behind him. “Coming here today, I do indeed have a request. This is my son, Li Lingxiao. I heard that your noble sect is recruiting disciples recently. My son's talent is not bad, and he has cultivated hard for many years. I wonder if he could follow the immortal masters to cultivate?”
Li Lingxiao concealed the reluctance in his eyes, took half a step forward, and bowed politely. “Junior Li Lingxiao has long admired the Grand Primordium Sect's great name. I humbly beg the Sect Master to grant this junior an opportunity to enter the sect and cultivate.”
Su Mingyuan sneered in his heart. The old dog never visits without a purpose; I knew he wasn't up to any good. On the surface, he said calmly, “The spots for the sect's expansion this year have already been completely finalized. There are no remaining vacancies. I cannot accommodate you.”
Li An smiled slightly. “My son possesses a high-grade spiritual root, and his cultivation talent is quite remarkable. If he can enter the sect to cultivate, our Li family is willing to offer spirit stones and medicinal pills as annual tribute, only seeking an opportunity for him to cultivate.”
Su Mingyuan's fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the table, the disgust in his eyes clearly exposed. “The sect has its own examination rules for accepting disciples. We will not make an exception for a noble family's wealth.”
Hearing about the tribute of spirit stones, Xue Mingzhao raised an eyebrow. “Third Senior Brother looks dirt poor, but who would have thought he's actually a rich second generation?”
Su Ye asked, “What's a rich second generation?”
“It means his dad is rich, with plenty of spirit stones and natural treasures to spend at will.”
Su Ye pointed to himself, smugly boasting, “Then I'm a rich second generation too!”
Just as he said it, he suddenly remembered that he had already been kicked out of his home. His expression collapsed, and he weakly corrected himself, “Uh, used to be.”
Inside the hall, Li An still hadn't given up, continuing to play the family card and pester him. “Sect Master, in the end, Buqi and Lingxiao are biological brothers. For Buqi's sake, please accommodate us...”
Su Mingyuan was too lazy to exchange superficial pleasantries with him anymore. He suddenly stood up, his voice cold and harsh. “I still have a mountain of sect affairs to handle. Patriarch Li, please leave.”
With that, he left directly, not giving the other party any room for negotiation.
Seeing this, the two outside quickly hid in the gaps of the crossbeams to avoid being discovered.
Looking at Su Mingyuan's retreating figure, Li An still wore that proper smile, as if the one who had just been rejected wasn't him.
Beside him, Li Lingxiao held in a belly full of anger and lowered his voice. “Father, the Grand Primordium Sect is just a small sect, and I have a high-grade spiritual root. Is it really necessary to swallow our pride and beg them to take me in?”
Li An gestured for him to shut up. “Your vision is too narrow! Don't just look at how few people the sect has now. They've directly taken over the entire mountain range for a thousand miles around. In the future, their scale will crush many large sects. Even the City Lord publicly stated that the recovery of spiritual energy in the Eastern Territory is entirely due to the Grand Primordium Sect. In a few more years, this will absolutely be a top-tier sect in the Eastern Territory.”
Outside, Xue Mingzhao and Su Ye nodded in unison. This old fogey has quite a sharp eye, but he's so fake, it's like he's wearing a human-skin mask.
After the two of them left the main hall, they didn't walk down the mountain. Instead, they stealthily made their way toward the back mountain, their steps as light as weasels stealing chickens.
Su Ye scratched his head. “Eh? They took the wrong path. Going down the mountain is this way!”
Xue Mingzhao rolled her eyes. “What do you mean wrong path? They want to bypass Master and play the family card with Third Senior Brother! Come on, let's stop them!”
The two of them took a shortcut to block the path ahead, intercepting the father and son perfectly.
Xue Mingzhao stood in the middle with her hands on her hips, smiling harmlessly. “Patriarch Li, where are you going? The back mountain is the disciples' residence and cultivation area. Outsiders cannot enter as they please.”
Su Ye stood aside holding his sword. “Master has ordered us to personally escort you both down the mountain.”
Li An put on a look of concern. “I am Li Buqi's father. I want to see Buqi...”
Su Ye interrupted him directly. “Third Senior Brother is in closed-door cultivation. It is not convenient for him to see guests. Besides, the sect has its rules. Even a biological father cannot barge in.”
As he spoke, he made a “please” gesture. “You two should head back. Don't make things difficult for us.”
The polite smile on the man's face froze for an instant. A trace of resentment flashed in his eyes, but he still maintained his dignity and did not argue further.
Beside him, Li Lingxiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to linger here in the first place, so seeing this, he simply turned around first, not bothering to waste another word.
The father and son followed Xue Mingzhao toward the mountain gate. Their mouths weren't idle along the way, seizing every opportunity to ask about Li Buqi.
Li An asked in a caring tone, “Little friend, is Buqi used to the food on the mountain? He loved sweet osmanthus cake the most when he was a child. Are the sect's meals to his liking?”
Xue Mingzhao blinked and began to complain about their hardships. “How could our sect have meals? Before Foundation Establishment, everyone gets one Fasting Pill a day, living with tightened belts. Third Senior Brother can't eat well or dress warmly. He's so hungry he can only chew on spirit herbs. He's so pitiful.”
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, looking warm-hearted. “If you want to slip him some spirit stones for pocket money, I can bring them in for you. No need to be polite!”
Li An gave two dry laughs and quickly laughed it off. “I didn't expect this child to have such a hard time... It's just that we left in a hurry this time and didn't bring much. Next time I come, I will definitely prepare more. I'll have to trouble you to pass it on then, little friend.”
Su Ye chuckled, his sarcasm fully on display.
Li Lingxiao quickly smoothed things over for his father and changed the subject. “Then... is Brother living well? What is his current cultivation level?”
Xue Mingzhao sighed. “Sigh, don't even mention it! Our Grand Primordium Sect is poor and can't afford to build residences. Third Senior Brother could only dig a small cave for himself to live in on the back mountain. It's freezing in the winter and scorching in the summer, and it leaks rain and wind. Aside from him, there's only a bundle of straw in the entire cave.”
Li An continued to act like a loving father. “I didn't expect Buqi to suffer so much... Next time I come, I will definitely bring him a full set of bedding and furniture. By the way, how is his cultivation going?”
Xue Mingzhao looked even more heartbroken. “He cultivates so hard! To save up some spirit stones, he went out to hunt demon beasts, but he ended up getting beaten black and blue. He has new injuries piled on top of old ones, and he's still bleeding even now. It's too tragic.”
Li An: “...”
Li Lingxiao: “...”
Rate on N.U.
