The banquet hall glowed brightly under the light of lanterns that hung overhead. Their golden lights illuminated the tables filled with aged wine and roasted meat. Laughter rose among the guests as one family head after another stood to toast the Li Clan and their rise.
Qin Ling glanced at the head of Jian family, who shamelessly buttered the Li family head, while not-so-subtly singing praises of his own daughter in an attempt to form a marriage alliance.
Just three years ago, the Jian family had a brutal quarrel with the Li family regarding one of the valuable properties in the Redleaf city and both families had been at odds ever since. But looking at the Jian clan head now, you might mistakenly believe that both these families had been fast allies for centuries.
Qin Ling shifted her gaze toward the Li family elders receiving congratulations with polite humility, doing their best to keep their smiles in check and the wine cup in her hand creaked as her grip tightened upon it.
Qi Ling's gaze then flicked unconsciously toward the empty main seat at the head of the hall. The seat that had been reserved for the honoured elder of the Nine Peak Sect.
The Golden Core elder had not even deigned to attend the banquet held in her honour. But not a single person made a fuss about it. It was understandable, really. To an elder from the Nine Peak Sect, their families were insignificant.
Yet, that very absence only made her arrival at Li family even more meaningful. It showed that she did not care about any other family in the Redleaf Providence but that she cared about the Li family. Or, at least, one person in the Li family.
The fact that she had put her cultivation on halt to descend from the Nine Peak Sect and stay at Li family state, even if only for a short while, showed her immense favour.
She glanced sideways at Qin Long and sighed. Unlike her, her younger twin wasn't even bothering to hide his expression. His jaw was clenched, and gaze was dark as he watched another minor clan head bow toward the Li patriarch's seat. The stiffness in Qin Long's shoulders told her more than his silence ever could.
Beneath the table, she reached for his hand and squeezed gently. When he turned to look at her, she offered a small, steady smile that she hoped didn't look too forced on her face.
"Even with Madam Li Yue's breakthrough," she whispered softly, keeping her voice well beneath the ambient noise in the hall, "the Li family only has five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Four if we exclude their previous patriarch who barely has a few years left to live. And three of those four are only at Low-stage Foundation Establishment. That strength is nowhere near enough to threaten us."
Qin Long held her faze for a long moment before he emptied the wine in his goblet and scoffed. "Stop deceiving yourself, Lingling," he replied quietly. "You've heard the same rumours I have. The Ninth Prince has promised them ten Foundation Establishment pills. Ten. If nothing goes wrong, then in a few years, the Li family would add at least eight more Foundation Establishment cultivators to their rank."
She bit her lip at those words. Of course she had heard the rumours. Everyone had. Hard not to when the Li family members were bragging to anyone that would care to listen.
Still, if it was only Foundation Establishment pills, then the Qin family still had… options. It was not like the Qin family was the only family thad had a rivalry with the Li family. The rapid rise of the Li family would've threatened many in the Redleaf Prefecture. So… alliances would've been made, and accidents could've been arranged.
Could've… if not for the arrival of a Golden Core cultivator.
Now, all their 'would've' been allies were toasting the Li family and doing their best to get on their good graces. It was nauseating to watch, even if she understood their reason well enough and would've done the same had she been in their position.
"She will leave eventually," Qin Ling murmured not even sure if she was trying to comfort her brother or herself. "A Golden Core cultivator would not remain here forever."
Qin Long shook his head slowly. "Her arrival was the statement. She is backing that Li Yuan brat. Acting against Li family at this point, even discreetly, would be nothing but courting death."
The mention of Li Yuan and the rumours she had heard made her sigh. For if the stories had any truth to them, then Li Yuan was someone who had touched upon Sword Intent. At age Fourteen.
What kind of monster does that?
Qin Ling suppressed a sigh. She and Qin Long had once been hailed as the twin geniuses of the Qin clan. Elders had praised their talent, and marriage offers had come from the Bai family and even beyond the Redleaf Prefecture. Everyone predicted that they would have bright futures. And they weren't wrong either.
Both she and her brother had broken through to Foundation Establishment in their mid twenties, living up to their reputation as geniuses of the Redleaf Prefecture. With a hundred more years to live, perhaps even reaching Golden Core was possible.
But now… compared to Li Yuan… they felt painfully average.
"Should we consider reconciliation?" she asked quietly after a long silence. "If we let go of old grudges—"
"With all the blood spilled between us?" Qin Long interrupted, his tone incredulous. "With the Black Silver mine we seized from their border? With all the insults we've levied upon them over the decades? Do you believe they will simply forget all that? Especially now, when they are on their rise?"
She sighed and felt the frustration bubble in her heart. For she knew that her brother was not alone in this sentiment. All the other elders of the Qin family were against reconciliation. Caring so much for their pride that they refused to see what was at stake. The very survival of their family.
Her thoughts drifted inward as she thought deeply on the matter. If hostility could not be erased through diplomacy, then perhaps she needed to approach this matter from another angle.
From what she knew, the Li family was a rather tight knit family and the elders in the family clearly cared for their juniors. With that the case, if she found a way to bound herself to Li Yuan…
No. It did not even have to be a marriage. If she could just seduce Li Yuan, and get heavy with his child, then in due time, a marriage could be held. And then… would Li family really be heavy handed when dealing with their in-laws. Maybe they would still extract some concessions, but that's far better than being destroyed, wasn't it?
She weighed the matter carefully but made no mention of it to her twin because she knew that he would reject it out of pride before even considering its logic.
It really was a strange day, when she was the one who was forced to be logical and her brother was the one being emotional when usually its the complete opposite.
Plus, when she thought on it, she did not find the idea repulsive either. After all, it was not like Li Yuan was some old man that she was being forced to marry. From what she'd heard, Li Yuan was pretty good looking and seemed to have a kind heart. That, along with his talent made the idea more than worthwhile. Because if nothing else, then there would at least be hope that her children might inherit some of his cultivation ability and comprehension talent.
Of course, that kindness of his was a bit of a smudge on his character but nothing outside her tolerance limit. After all, what kind of genius did not have his own flaws. Given time, she might be able to stamp that weakness out of him.
Her thoughts were then shattered as the crier's voice rang sharply from the entrance.
"Li Zheng, Li Yue, and Li Yuan have arrived!"
The hall quieted as all the conversations died mid-sentence and every gaze turned toward the doors. Partly to see the new Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li family but mainly to see the genius who had touched upon sword intent at the age of fourteen.
Qin Ling straightened her back and pushed her bosom forward, wanting to make a great first impression as she held her breath and glanced at the entrance.
She expected the family of three to walk inside.
Instead, Li Zheng strode into the banquet hall seated atop a massive silver-grey wolf whose presence filled the space with crushing pressure.
The beast's fur shimmered faintly beneath the lantern light, and its aura rolled outward in heavy waves that made even seasoned cultivators stiffen. Behind him came his wife, Li Yue, radiating the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, mounted upon an identical wolf.
She'd only ever read or heard about them in stories, with the last beast tide having taken place while she was still relatively young. But one look at those wolves and she already knew what they were.
Second Grade spirit beasts.
Qin Ling gulped and around her, the other family heads stared openly now, their composure long gone as some of them stood on their feet while others even reached for their weapons. The hall, that was filled with celebration not a few moments ago, had now fallen into stunned silence.
'How?' She wondered, her mouth dry. 'How could the Li family have tamed not one but two such monsters?' Another thought made her realise that it didn't matter how they had tamed them. Just that they had. And with this, the balance of power had shifted further in the Li family's favour.
She turned to look at her twin and saw that he was similarly looking back at her, his face having gone chalk white. Neither of them needed to speak as both understood what this meant clearly. With this, the Li family had just matched the Qin clan in total Foundation Establishment-level combatants.
In theory at least. In reality, her family still held an advantage in quality and thus had the upper hand. But she doubted that such a thing would last for long.
Finally, once both Li Zheng and Li Yue had taken their seat beside the Li clan head, with their giant wolves sitting behind them, did another person enter the hall.
Li Yuan entered the hall. Carrying himself with an unsettling composure despite all the gazes that now fell on him.
She almost missed his arrival. But when she finally noticed him, her eyes opened wide in shock.
Because she could not sense anything about him. Not his aura. Not his presence. Not his cultivation level. No nothing. And her instincts told her that what little she could see was only because he allowed her to see it. And if he had wished it otherwise, she would not even be aware of his presence.
Her throat went dry.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator being unable to sense a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator. What kind of joke was this?
She exchanged another glance with her twin, and saw the same shocked look in his eyes.
It seems that if nothing else, then the stories they had heard of Li Yuan, had been greatly watered down.
—————
The atmosphere of the banquet shifted as the night deepened. The earlier toasts to the Li clan head slowly gave way to congratulations for Madam Li Yue's successful breakthrough.
One by one, clan heads rose from their seats, raising cups of aged wine and offering blessings. Some remained tactful, directing their praise toward the Madam Li Yue. While others gave up on subtlety altogether and started toasting Li Yuan.
"Brother Li Yuan's talent is truly heaven defying!" One would say.
"Truly a dragon among men." Another would toast.
One even directly asked Li Yan to marry his granddaughter.
For some reason, some of the praises made Li Yuan's face twitch but she couldn't figure out why and decided not to think about it.
All this while, Qin Ling watched him carefully as he accepted each toast with the same unhurried composure. A faint smile here, a courteous nod there. There was no pride in his face, nor any awkward modesty. It was as if he accepted the word of praises to be true while also simultaneously not caring much about them.
'Is this what a true genius looks like?' she wondered, feeling a fire lit up in her core at the sight, her undergarment growing damp. 'I must have him.' The decision formed in her mind before she fully acknowledged it and she acted on it instantly.
She lowered her robes to show her cleavage, and rose gracefully from her seat, lifting her wine cup. The movement drew attention at once. Conversations died in the hall as all the heads turned toward her. As they should.
Qin Long's hand immediately closed around her wrist beneath the table. "What are you doing?" he whispered sharply.
She gently removed his hand. "Trust me," she murmured without looking at him.
Raising her cup toward the head table, she inclined her head slightly. "Clan Head Li, Daoist Li Zhen, Madam Li Yue, and Young Master Li," she said clearly, allowing her voice to carry through the hall, "may your family flourish for a thousand years. And may Young Master Li's path be smooth and unimpeded."
A thousand years. A praise not lightly given as not even a Nascent Soul cultivator could live that long. Only upon reaching Spirit Transformation Realm does one gain such a lifespan. And while it did not mean that she actually believed Li Yuan would reach that level. It certainly showed her high hopes for Li Yuan's talent.
The hall fell quiet. And not because of the blessing itself, but because of who had spoken it. A member of the Qin family offering goodwill so openly was not something anyone had expected.
The silence lasted for a second, then two, then three. And as it continued to extend, Qin Ling suddenly wondered if she had misjudged the mood and overplayed her hand.
Then, Li Yuan stood. And she noticed that his gaze did not meet her eyes but looked above her, a rather odd look on his face.
'Is there something wrong with my hair?' She thought in worry when suddenly, a faint blush took over Li Yuan's cheeks and when he met her eyes once again, there was a strange mix of emotion in his eyes. As if he was annoyed, exasperated and even a little aroused.
Then Li Yuan lifted his cup calmly and took hold of his emotions. "Thank you," he replied evenly. "May the Qin family prosper as well."
The tension in the hall finally eased and murmurs resumed. She even heard a few relieved chuckles ripple through the hall as she returned to her seat.
Qin Long leaned toward her immediately. "What was that?" he demanded under his breath.
"What was what?" she replied, keeping her tone light.
"You were making eyes at that brat. In front of everyone."
"What of it?" she asked quietly. "I'm being practical. If getting together with Li Yuan could save our family, then what's the harm in it?"
Her brother did not look convinced, and gave her a look saying that they'll talk about this later.
Before the moment could settle, another figure rose from the prominent tables. And her eyes narrowed at the sight.
Because this figure was the head of the Mo family. Long regarded as the second strongest 9th Grade family in the Redleaf Prefecture. (Though, she supposed that had now changed.)
More importantly, this figure was a woman. A rather beautiful and voluptuous woman who had similarly lowered her robes to show off her cleavage. A cleavage, that she noticed with some envy, went far deeper than hers.
Mo Xi.
Unlike the other guests, that cow with those large udders did not hide behind pleasantries and spoke up in a direct manner. "Young Master Li. Is it true that you have touched upon Sword Intent?"
The hall quieted once more as everyone looked at Li Yuan, eager to show how he would respond. To see if the rumours were true.
Li Yuan tilted his head slightly. "If I have," he replied calmly, "then what of it?"
A faint smile touched Mo Xi's lips. "If that is the case," she said, "I would not object to binding myself to you in marriage."
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water as everyone either stared at Mo Xi in stunned silence, or started whispering to each other in hushed conversation.
For the head of a family marrying into another family was no different than making the entire Mo family submit to the Li family, becoming their subordinates.
'If that happened…' Qin Ling thought, chewing her lips nervously as she gazed at Li Yuan.
Li Yuan tapped his fingers lightly against the table, unhurried as he thought on the matter. The silence stretched for a long while, until finally, he shook his head.
"I am still young," he said. "And my focus remains on cultivation. So I must regretfully decline Clan head Mo Xi's offer."
A ripple spread through the hall. His calm refusal more than anything confirmed that Li Yuan had indeed touched upon Sword Intent. More importantly, despite having such a huge temptation in front of him, he could remain clear headed and refuse with such decisiveness. It clearly showed his firm mentality and his ambition to go farther in his cultivation.
Before the murmurs could settle, they heard the sound of a chair scraping loudly before a goblet struck the floor, spilling its contents all over the carpet.
"What nonsense!" A shout followed and fractured the peace within the falls. A man from one of the lesser tables had risen abruptly, his cheeks red and his movements unsteady. He had clearly drunk too much to realise what should and should not be said.
"Is a brat like you really qualified to refuse Fairy Mo Xi's hand? Who the fuck do you think you are?" The man shouted and she noticed the frown in everyone's face. Even Mo Xi seemed displeased at the interruption.
"Has Li family become so arrogant that they think they could step over others without any regard!" The man shouted, pointing at Li Yuan. "And you… what kind of thing are you, thinking that just because you joined some stupid sect, you could do whatever you want?"
"Just because some idiots said that you're a dragon among men, you really think you are a dragon. Let me tell you brat. You're not a dragon. You're not even a man. You're just a boy who—"
A massive, silver-grey form rushed across the hall and before the man could even complete the sentence and passed by him in a flash, splattering blood in its wake.
Even she, with her early-stage Foundation Establishment realm had not seen the wolf move till it finally stopped. And when it did… she noticed the upper half of the man's torso caught in between its jaws.
To her great horror, she noticed that the man was still moving, his bloodied hand flailing around as his eyes roamed around the hall, his gaze filled with pain. "Please… someone… heelllp mee—" *Crunch!*
The beast bit down its jaw and stopped the man's pleading once and for all. It's form releasing an aura that pressed down on everyone within the room.
She felt her own heartbeat thunder within her breasts at the sight. Yes, that man had only been a Peak Qi Condensation realm cultivator. But the ease with which he had died…
It made it clear to her that if she and that wolf were to battle head on, she would likely not win.
The silence that followed the man's death was profound, which is why they could all hear it when someone cleared her throat.
They looked up toward the head of the table where Madam Li Sue had risen from her seat. The newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator met the gaze of everyone in the hall one by one in a calm, authoritative manner.
"We will not tolerate insults within our hall." She said calmly. "Especially any insults toward my Yuan'er. Let this man's fate serve as a message to you all."
With that said, Madam Li Yue resumed her seat and the wolf returned to its position behind her, making loud 'crunching' noises as it chewed rather loudly on the corpse before swallowing him whole.
Her gaze drifted back to Li Yuan and noticed that he had not even flinched once this entire time. As if watching cultivators die to Spirit beasts was just another Tuesday for him.
Then, Li Yuan rose from his seat.
The sound of chair legs sliding across polished stone seemed unnaturally loud in the heavy silence that still lingered after the earlier display.
The few conversations that had restarted after the conversation abruptly ended as everyone laser focused on Li Yuan. Even the wolves behind the Li family lifted their massive heads slightly, their golden eyes tracking him cautiously. As if he was the threat and not someone they needed to protect.
Li Yuan walked without hurry to the centre of the hall, sleeves swaying lightly with each step. There was no tension in his shoulders, no anger or any other emotion from what had just occurred. In fact, he seemed to be at complete ease with himself.
Finally, he came to a stop in the middle of the hall, his form bathed under the golden light of a multitude of lanterns hanging above as he looked around at the gathered cultivators.
"If anyone wishes to verify whether I have touched upon Sword Intent," he said calmly, his voice carrying with effortless clarity, "you may challenge me directly."
No one moved.
Qin Ling nearly scoffed. After witnessing a spirit beast tear a man apart in his defence, who would be foolish enough to step forward now?
Then, as if fate delighted in humiliating her, a chair scraped loudly beside her.
"I'll challenge you."
Her heart plummeted and she looked to the side where Qin Long had stood up. 'Oh no.'
She grabbed his hand instantly. "What are you doing?" she hissed, her voice barely restrained.
He pulled free and shot her a sideways glance, irritation flashing across his face. "Trust me," he said mockingly, echoing her earlier words.
Before she could stop him again, he stepped around the table and strode into the centre of the hall. The lantern light glinted across the polished surface of his sword as he pointed it straight at Li Yuan.
"Well?" Qin Long said, chin lifted. "Show me this so-called Sword Intent."
A cold wave washed through her at those words. 'He's going to get himself killed.' She thought.
If Qin Long harmed Li Yuan here, even by accident, the Golden Core elder's fury would descend like a calamity. She and her brother would definitely die but the entire Qin family might perish with them.
Knowing that, she could not remain seated.
"Longlong!" she called sharply as she rose. "What are you doing?"
Her bastard of a brother did not even look at her.
"I'm exposing a fraud," he said, his words for the entire hall rather than just her. "Sword Intent at fourteen? Do you take us for fools? No one is that talented. There should be a limit to how much the Li family can boast lest someone expose them for the liars they are."
A faint smile curved Li Yuan's lips at her brother's words. "Should I take this as a formal challenge?" he asked lightly.
"Yes," Qin Long snapped. "Draw your sword. Or would you rather hide behind your mother skirt like before?"
A murmur rippled through the hall at that insult.
Li Yuan regarded him for a moment. "Very well," he said.
Then, to everyone's confusion, he turned and walked back toward the main family table where his mother was sitting.
For one absurd heartbeat, Qin Ling wondered if he truly intended to hide behind his mother. As cowardly as that move might've been, it would definitely save him from the fate of fighting her brother. And it would definitely save them from the Golden Core Elder's wrath.
Then Li Yuan picked up a dining knife. And returned to the centre and faced Qin Long, holding the utensil loosely in one hand.
"What are you doing?" Qin Long demanded, genuine confusion flashing across his features.
"My apologies," Li Yuan said mildly. "I could not find a shorter blade on such short notice. But this will suffice. Now please, come at me."
The insult was so blatant that heat rushed to Qin Ling's face. Around them, whispers flared.
Did Li Yuan truly intended to give no face to the Qin family today? Did he really want to force this fight and use the Golden Core Elder's power to deal with the Qin family once and for all? How could a boy that young be so ruthless?
"Are you mocking me?" Her brother growled, his knuckles whitening around his sword hilt.
"No," Li Yuan replied calmly. "If I intended to mock you, I would fight barehanded. The fact that I am using a knife shows I am taking you seriously."
Qin Ling flicked a glance toward the Li family elders, half expecting to see amusement. Instead, they looked just as unsettled with Madam Li Yue even tightly clutching onto her robes in worry.
A long moment passed, and then, her brother inhaled sharply and slid his sword back into its sheath. "On second thought," he said, voice tight, "I am at early Foundation Establishmen while you're only at Qi Condensation. Plus, I am more than twice your age. A fight between us would be unfair."
Relief flooded her chest so suddenly her knees weakened. It was over. Thankfully, her brother had seen sense at the last moment and not acted foolish. But Li Yuan's following words poured cold water over her relief.
"Indeed, you're right. A fight between us would be unfair. I mean, really." he said with a small, lazy smile. "You're weak."
The calm words detonated like a tsunami in her mind and she despaired.
After an insult like this there was no way any cultivator could retreat. Especially in front of all these gathered cultivators, lest they lose all face in the Redleaf Prefecture.
And such as she'd thought, the last bit of Qin Long's restraint shattered and he drew his sword again, pointing it straight at Li Yuan.
"Take that back," he growled. "Or there will be consequences."
"It will be fine," Li Yuan repeated. "I'm the strongest one in this hall after all."
Gasps spread through the hall at Li Yuan's insulting boast. After all, Clan Head Mo Xi herself was a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, as were a few others in the banquet. For Li Yuan to say something like this was truly beyond arrogant.
"I'm giving you one last chance," Qin Long said, his face flushed with fury. "Retract your words."
"Nah, there's no need." Li Yuan replied. "After all, I'd win."
That was enough.
With a sharp shout, Qin Long lunged.
The movement was swift, clean, the strike of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator honed through years of discipline. It showed that despite his rapid cultivation, her brother had not stopped training with his sword either and had even reached Moderate Achievement in his sword art.
The Qi covered sword cut downward in a decisive arc aimed to incapacitate without killing.
Li Yuan moved to meet the sword with his own, except, unlike her brother's move, Li Yuan's strike had no flourish or dramatic stance. He was not even using his Qi to cover his Dining knife.
He simply lifted the dining knife and stepped forward to meet her brother's blade.
The two figures passed each other in a blur.
For one suspended heartbeat, nothing happened. But she kept her eyes locked on Li Yuan, fearing that her brother might've killed him with that single strike.
Then came the sound of metal hitting ground.
Qin Ling turned her head sharply and then watched with disbelieving eyes as fragments of her brother's sword clattered onto the carpet, all cut in neat, precise pieces.
A moment later, Qin Long himself staggered as thin lines appeared across his robes, then across his skin as crimson blood started to seep out through dozens of invisible cuts. His eyes widened in disbelief before he spat out a mouthful of blood and swayed.
"Longlong!" she cried, rushing forward.
She caught him just before he collapsed fully, lowering him to the ground as carefully as she could. Her hands trembled as she pressed her palm to his chest, sending Qi inward to assess the damage.
There were cuts in dozens of places across his body, some going completely through him but... none of his vital meridians severed. Nor was his dantian ruptured. In fact, despite how bad it looked, her brother had not suffered a single deadly wound.
Behind her, Li Yuan's voice drifted casually through the stunned silence that had fallen in the hall.
"Don't be dramatic," he said. "I avoided his vitals. With a healing pill and some rest, he'll recover."
Her breath shuddered out in relief as she realised that he was indeed speaking the truth. She turned and bowed her head slightly, still cradling Qin Long. "Thank you for showing mercy, Senior brother Li Yuan."
He waved a hand dismissively without turning back. "This banquet is dull," he muttered. "I'm going to sleep."
And just like that, he walked toward the exit, tossing his dining knife to the side toward a group of cultivators who flinched as the utensil landed in front of them, gazing at it as if it was some sort of deadly artefact. Then, the doors closed softly behind him.
Qin Long quickly fed a healing pill to her brother and helped him slowly circulate its effects through his body before the realisation finally caught up to her.
Li Yuan had defeated an early Foundation Establishment cultivator in a single exchange… with a dining knife. With a fucking dining knife.
And he had not even looked serious while doing so.
Just how strong was he…?