With his Foundation Establishnt cultivation, Lan Chang'an navigated the second-rank flying boat at a much greater speed than before.
He maintained a steady flight, balancing his magical power, so that he would be in the best possible state to respond to ergencies.
In less than two months, the flying boat was approaching Feiyue Lake.
On the last half-day of the journey, Lan Chang'an slowed the boat as it passed over a large river.
He looked down at a pleasure boat in the river, where the sounds of zither and flute drifted up.
These were not mundane lodies but tunes from the Sound Dao, imbued with a spiritual power that induced drowsiness and lethargy.
"Brother Lan, everything is going smoothly for you in Huanglong Immortal City. Why co here to muddy the waters?"
A man's sigh floated up from the pleasure boat.
Two maids opened the cabin door. Out walked a handso man in a purple jade robe, standing gracefully at the prow.
The wind and waves around the boat suddenly cald to mirror-like stillness as if to reflect his placid deanor. His aura indicated that he had reached the Foundation Establishnt Realm.
"Young Master Huang?"
Lan Chang'an imdiately recognized him.
This handso man, now in the early Foundation Establishnt stage, was Huang Yu, the young master of the Maple Leaf Huang Family, who possessed high-grade spiritual roots.
Back when the Mu Family was contending with the Zheng Family, they considered offering Mu Xiuyun's hand in marriage to Huang Yu, but the Huang Family had shown no sincerity, offering only a concubine's status at most.
In Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market Town, Huang Yu had tried to bribe Lan Chang'an without success.
"Brother Lan, since you’ve co such a long way, why not co down for a cup of tea and so music? We haven’t seen each other for years, and I have much to say to you." Huang Yu's phoenix eyes scrutinized Lan Chang'an with a hint of a smile.
Half a year ago, when he confird the news of Lan Chang'an's Foundation Establishnt, Huang Yu was genuinely surprised.
The little talisman master whom he had failed to buy off back on Bamboo Leaf Mountain had turned out to be that rumored ancient Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
"This Lan is not in the mood for tea. If Young Master Huang has sothing to say, please speak directly." Upon seeing Huang Yu, Lan Chang'an felt a surge of killing intent.
Who had orchestrated the attempts to entice him out of the market back on Bamboo Leaf Mountain? If it had been an inexperienced Qi-Refining cultivator, they would have been long dead.
Did they think Lan Chang'an didn't have any suspicions?
He simply lacked the power to act on it back then, confined as he was within the other's territory.
Killing Huang Yu would not be difficult for Lan Chang'an.
Even though Huang Yu was at the third level of Foundation Establishnt, they were still in the early stage, and the strength of their mana wasn't that different.
The only reason Lan Chang'an had yet to act was because he didn't wish to leave behind any trace of his identity.
"I suspect the news of my return was leaked; otherwise, Huang Yu would not know to wait for on the way to Feiyue Lake." Lan Chang'an knew that if he killed Huang Yu today, it wouldn’t go unnoticed.
A year ago, he had sent a letter to Feiyue Lake. Sohow, the news had leaked. It might have been through Huanglong Immortal City's intelligence network or a leak within the Mu Family. The letter itself could have been intercepted by a third party.
Regardless, Lan Chang'an had purposely made no ntion of the Foundation Establishnt Pill in his letter.
.....
"Brother Lan, let's not beat around the bush."
"Twenty years ago, you severed ties with the Mu Family of Feiyue Lake. Our current conflict between the two families should have nothing to do with you." Huang Yu's tone quickened, getting straight to the point.
"If Fellow Daoist Lan turns back now and refrains from ddling in our conflict, the Huang Family will offer a token of gratitude."
The Huang Family was worried that Lan Chang'an, a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, might assist Feiyue Lake in their conflict.
This was very likely, as Lan Chang'an had spent twenty to thirty years cultivating in Feiyue Lake.
"Young Master Huang is overthinking. My return to Feiyue Lake this ti is rely a visit to an old friend; I have no intention of involving myself in the conflict between the two families." Lan Chang'an replied calmly.
"Is that so?" Huang Yu appeared skeptical.
He knew of Lan Chang'an's "Turtle Talisman Master" moniker—his reputation for cowardice and valuing his own life above all else. Perhaps he really wouldn't dare step onto the battlefield.
"Indeed." Lan Chang'an was not lying.
Having left the Mu Family, directly intervening in their war did not align with his principles in this lifeti.
By directly interfering in the conflict, he would inevitably offend a large cultivation family, entangling him in endless conflicts.
"However, if the Huang Family were to initiate an attack against the Mu Family while I am present, that would be a different matter." Lan Chang'an's tone turned slightly forceful.
He sensed that the Huang Family was particularly wary of him, more so than an ordinary early Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
"May I ask how long Brother Lan plans to stay with the Mu Family?" Huang Yu asked with a smile.
"At least two months, at most six." Lan Chang'an replied casually.
"Haha! As long as Brother Lan does not directly aid the Mu Family, my Huang Family will offer compensation."
Huang Yu laughed heartily, taking out a porcelain bottle from his storage pouch and tossing it to Lan Chang'an on the flying boat.
"This bottle of Essence Condensing Pills is a small token of hospitality from the Huang Family."
Essence Condensing Pills were second-rank pills, valuable and useful for accelerating cultivation in both early and mid Foundation Establishnt.
"Very well."
Lan Chang'an accepted the bottle of Essence Condensing Pills without hesitation.
Having declined Huang Yu's invitation to enjoy music and company at his pleasure boat, Lan Chang'an departed on his flying boat.
.....
Huang Yu's thoughtful eyes followed the retreating figure of Lan Chang'an.
He held a jade talisman and infused it with spiritual power.
Soon, an elderly man with a weathered appearance and white hair flew over on a beam of light.
His aura indicated he was at the mid-Foundation Establishnt stage.
"Uncle Tan," Huang Yu greeted respectfully.
This elderly man was Huang Tankong, the highest-ranking and most powerful elder of the Huang Family.
"Yu'er, how did it go?" Huang Tankong asked.
"From what Lan Chang'an said, he has no intention of getting involved in our conflict with the Mu Family..." Huang Yu recounted the conversation.
"But he did request that the Huang Family refrain from attacking while he was at the Mu Family."
"Hmph, for an elderly Foundation Establishnt cultivator, he has quite the tone." Huang Tankong's voice was low, laced with mockery.
"Uncle Tan, what do you think?"
"For the next six months, abandon any overt plans against Feiyue Lake." Huang Tankong replied calmly.
Huang Yu was montarily stunned.
Huang Tankong explained indifferently, "Lan Chang'an himself is not a threat. But according to the intelligence from Huanglong Immortal City, he has ties with the Law Enforcent Hall of Jin Yun Valley, and it is rumored that Fu Xuei owes him a favor."
"Recently, he has also been cooperating with the Beast Taming Zhou Family, truly a man who knows how to network."
"Uncle Tan is right. An elderly Foundation Establishnt cultivator poses little threat. We are rely cautious of his connections, and giving face to those behind him." Huang Yu agreed wholeheartedly.
.....
Lan Chang'an continued on the flying boat.
Once the pleasure boat was a re dot on the horizon, he took out the bottle of Essence Condensing Pills gifted by Huang Yu.
Squeak, squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat erged from his pet pouch.
"Rember his scent," Lan Chang'an ordered.
The Earth Burrowing Rat sniffed the bottle, nodding eagerly to indicate it had morized the scent.
He put the Earth Burrowing Rat away and slightly accelerated the flying boat.
Half a day later.
A dazzling lake, as radiant as jade, ca into view.
Seeing the familiar surroundings, Lan Chang'an felt a sense of ease and a touch of long-lost familiarity.
During the tense standoff between the two families, Feiyue Lake was heavily guarded.
Lan Chang'an's Foundation Establishnt aura alard the ancestors on Moonheart Island.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two Foundation Establishnt cultivators flew toward him from Moonheart Island. The first was a tall, black-robed elder with keen eyes and an imposing presence.
Following him was a balding, middle-aged man wearing a loose robe, resembling a wealthy landowner.
The slightly plump middle-aged man was none other than Li Erqing.
"Big brother!"
Seeing the familiar white-robed youth on the flying boat, Li Erqing's eyes reddened, waving his arms excitedly despite the presence of the ancestor.
Mu Renlong's lips curled into a smile. Li Erqing, usually stern and strict with his descendants, was feared by all. But in front of Lan Chang'an, he reverted to the naive and inexperienced village boy he once was.
"The Mu Family of Feiyue Lake welcos Fellow Daoist Lan back to his holand." Mu Renlong's voice was loud and hearty.
Boom! Swish, swish...
From Feiyue Manor, fireworks soared into the sky, accompanied by the cheers of the younger generation of the Mu Family, as if celebrating an important holiday.
Lan Chang'an shot Mu Renlong a aningful glance. The words "return to your holand" were carefully chosen. While it was indeed a warm welco, it was also a plea for help, leveraging Lan Chang'an's prestige as an ancient Foundation Establishnt cultivator to bolster the family's own reputation.
The phrase "return to your holand" resonated deeply with him. Had they said "welco back ho," it might have seed presumptuous, exceeding the bounds of propriety.
Although Lan Chang'an had severed ties with the Mu Family, this place was where he had begun his journey into the cultivation world, where he had spent the longest stretch of his life. It could be considered his first ho in the cultivation world.
"Fellow Daoist Mu, this is but a routine visit; there's no need for such grandiose hospitality." Lan Chang'an returned the greeting. He disliked extravagance, but the Mu Family's grand treatnt like this made it impossible to hate.
"By no ans is this a grand reception! Fellow Daoist Lan, achieving foundation establishnt at your ancient age is a monuntal accomplishnt, setting an example for all of Liang's cultivation world. It is also a great honor for Feiyue Lake, and thus worth celebrating."
Mu Renlong beckoned Lan Chang'an to follow him to Moonheart Island.
"Erqing, you look thinner than before."
As they walked, Lan Chang'an examined Li Erqing's features. The man had balded slightly, and his eyes were sunken; even in excitent, the signs of fatigue were clear.
"Ah Big Brother, you wouldn't believe how troubleso it is to have too many children," Li Erqing lanted, his face was bitter.
Li Erqing had eight wives in the Mu Family, there were a total of eight houses. The won, children, and grandchildren of all the houses added up to a population of over a hundred people.
With such a large family, it was difficult to maintain harmony; the competition between the branches grew fiercer with each generation, comparable to a palace drama.
The descendants competed for benefits from the old ancestor, turning the Mu Family into a battlefield.
When they stabbed a ss outside and caused any trouble, Li Erqing, the Foundation Establishnt Ancestor, had to take the bla.
His nurous wives and descendants carried his na and reputation like a brand; he couldn't simply pretend to not hear about it to keep himself out of the ss.
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