"Old Brother Feng."
Li Muxiu sat in a daze in the courtyard, his mind buzzing with thoughts.
He never expected that his carefree friend, who had roamed the jianghu for half his life, would actually fall into the hands of the Buddhist sect.
His Heaven and Earth Tracking Art was so masterful that even LiMuxiu himself couldn't catch up to him.
His Divine Concealment Breathing Technique allowed him to transform into grass and wood, entering bustling markets or traversing mountains and rivers as easily as a fish swimming in the ocean, leaving no trace.
Even the imperial palace, guarded by a million troops, was no obstacle to him as he came and went silently.
Yet now, he had been caught by the Buddhists.
The news came from a disciple of the Wuliang Mountain, and it was true beyond a doubt, leaving LiMuxiu no choice but to believe it.
Old Brother Feng, how could you have fallen?!
LiMuxiu slowly clenched his fists, his eyes moistening as a profound pain spread through his heart, threatening to tear his chest apart.
He sat alone for half an incense stick's worth of time before getting up and walking out of the courtyard.
First, he went to the ancestral hall and saw LiQingzheng, the fifth brother, sitting alone in front of the chessboard outside.
LiQingzheng, who was playing a game of chess by himself, also looked up at LiMuxiu.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, a hint of sadness flashing in their eyes before they quickly composed themselves.
In the past, whenever they met, a cheerful young figure was usually by their side. But now, he was gone.
"Second brother, what brings you here?" LiQingzheng managed a faint smile.
LiMuxiu's face was somber as he replied, "I've come to pay respects to our ancestors and ask for their forgiveness."
"Forgiveness?" LiQingzheng's eyes narrowed.
LiMuxiu slowly walked towards the ancestral hall, his steps heavy and slow. As he crossed the threshold, he paused momentarily before finally stepping over it.
LiQingzheng remained silent, his eyes fixed on LiMuxiu. He seemed to sense that his second brother, who had been unconventional and rebellious in his youth, disliked by their father, was about to do something unexpected once again.
"Unfilial descendant, paying respects to the generations of ancestors."
LiMuxiu knelt before the golden spirit tablets and gently bowed his head.
The tablets shook slightly, but no ancestor appeared; after all, manifesting required the consumption of residual soul power, and only important matters warranted such an appearance.
"What is it?"
A stern voice rang out, though it was unclear which ancestor it belonged to.
In the previous battle in Qingzhou City, many ancestors had burned their souls, some dissipating completely while others weakened, falling into a deep sleep. Now, only a few of the stronger souls remained conscious.
LiMuxiu's face twitched slightly, and finally, he explained his intentions.
"You want to leave the Li family?"
The ancestor was shocked by LiMuxiu's words.
LiQingzheng, who was standing beside him, was also stunned and stared at LiMuxiu in a daze.
"You ungrateful wretch! What are you saying?!"
In the tablet, another golden residual soul appeared, tall and imposing, his face filled with anger.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble in your youth? You've only been in charge of the Li family for a few years, and now you're acting up again. Do you want me to discipline you in front of our ancestors?!"
"Father."
Upon seeing this residual soul, LiQingzheng quickly changed from a sitting position to a kneeling one, his aged eyes revealing a rare hint of fear.
Even at over eighty years old, in front of his father, he was still as cautious as he had been in his youth, as if the awe was ingrained in his bones.
LiMuxiu heard the angry voice from above, and vaguely, he felt as if a cold snowstorm was blowing beside him. He remembered that snowy night when he had knelt in the courtyard, outside the main hall, listening to his father's angry rebuke, his mother's pleas, and the requests of his other siblings on his behalf.
Back then, he had been rebellious and resentful.
But many years later, he had let go of those feelings because he knew he had been wrong too.
That night, his eldest brother, whom he had once been jealous of, had secretly brought him a bowl of hot braised meat noodles after their father had left the dinner table.
Even now, it remained one of the most delicious meals he had ever tasted.
The other two memorable meals were the grilled fish from the boy by the lake and the soup made by the young woman when he was injured from slaying a demon in his youth.
Flavors that he could never forget.
Thinking of that snowy night reminded him of his eldest brother's disappearing figure beyond the pass, and LiMuxiu's eyes grew even more moist. He curled his body tightly, pressing his forehead as close to the ground as possible, inhaling the dust from the floor with each breath, the strong smell of dust filling his nostrils.
"Father, I have no choice but to do this. I promised that old friend, and I can't let him down..."
"But he's a thief!"
The golden residual soul angrily said, "Haven't you had enough of your reckless friends from your youth? They used your connections and the name of my God General Mansion to cause trouble and extort money. Haven't you suffered enough losses because of them?!"
"I was young and naive back then, unable to see through people's true nature. But this time, it's different. He's not like the others. Although he's a thief, he has never used the reputation of my God General Mansion to stir up trouble or benefit himself. He's different..."
"But he's a thief!"
The golden residual soul shouted, "If he had a pure and kind nature, how could he have become a thief?
"Some noble and prestigious aristocrats and noble families cause trouble for the people, taking advantage of them and lining their own pockets, forcing them to lead difficult lives. Their actions are no better than those of thieves and robbers."
"Are you taking the side of a thief? I think you're about to become a thief yourself!"
Li Muxiu's expression turned bitter as he suddenly recalled the words of his old friend. He lowered his voice and said:
"He who steals the secrets of heaven is a sage, he who steals the hearts of people is an emperor, he who steals from a great country is a lord, and he who steals a hook and pearl is a thief... He has his own principles; he is different."
"You! You haven't changed at all. Now that the God General Mansion is in turmoil, ravaged by demons, and with the defeat of the Wild God, he will surely make a comeback. At this time, you want to leave the God General Mansion? How can you be so unfilial to your brothers and mother?!"
Li Muxiu closed his eyes in pain and bowed again:
"I want to go and rescue him, but I don't want to involve the God General Mansion. In the future, if the God General Mansion is in danger, I will be the first to step forward and the last to fall!"
As he finished speaking, he pressed his forehead firmly against the ground.
The golden residual soul flew into a rage and was about to say something more when another voice interrupted.
"Let him go."
"Father!"
The golden residual soul turned, somewhat startled.
"The children bear too much on their shoulders. Don't let them lose even the right to choose their friends. Being loyal to a true friend is also a virtue."
The other vague golden residual soul spoke gently.
Hearing these words, Li Muxiu's eyes welled up, and he bowed his head.
He clenched his teeth and knocked his head three times before lifting his head to look at the majestic golden residual soul, seeing the complicated emotions of sadness, anger, and heartbreak in his eyes.
"Since your grandfather has spoken, go. Don't say anything foolish about leaving the God General Mansion again. When you're done, come back, and if necessary, I'll stake my life to protect you!" The golden residual soul said through gritted teeth.
Li Muxiu's heart trembled, and he lowered his head, "Son will definitely return to atone."
After speaking, he bowed deeply once more before swiftly leaving the ancestral hall, not daring to linger, lest his feelings of guilt and indebtedness hold him back.
"Second brother, you must come back alive."
Li Qingzheng transmitted his voice.
Li Muxiu heard him but didn't stop. He took out a black iron mask from the space of heaven and earth and put it on his face.
This mask was a divine weapon that could conceal his aura, revealing only a pair of eyes, bloodshot and wet with tears. However, the sadness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by sharpness and a raging killing intent.
At this moment, he felt a twinge of regret. Why hadn't he stopped his young friend so decisively two years ago when he had set out, and sought justice for him then and there?
The ties of the God General Mansion had indeed held him back.
...
...
Mount Wuliang was located on the border of Qingzhou.
However, this border area was within the province, and although it was a place where two provinces met, it was prosperous and flourishing.
The continuous mountains formed ridges, with peaks upon peaks veiled in mist.
On the majestic peaks, the sound of Buddhist bells reverberated, creating a serene and distant melody.
Stone paths crisscrossed the various peaks, like white dragons winding their way through the mountains and converging from all directions toward a distant central point, forming a spider web-like network that stretched out in all four directions.
This vast network of stone paths led to what was known as the 'Vast Heaven Pure Land World.'
Pilgrims from all over flocked to this place, their carriages traveling from muddy roads and dusty paths to the well-maintained stone roads. This contrast left a favorable impression on the guests, and as they drew closer to the peaks, the sound of Buddhist chants filled the air, giving them a sense of entering a pure land, their worldly concerns fading away.
Golden Buddhist lights, faintly visible through the mist, shone from some of the main peaks, reflecting the radiance of Buddhist divine weapons.
At this time, news of Mount Wuliang had only recently spread, and those who had heard it were still on their way.
In the skies above Qingzhou, a crimson figure wrapped in raging flames soared through the air.
Soon, this fiery figure swept into the Buddhist teaching ground.
Nearby cities and towns were adorned with Buddhist temples.
Previously, when demons had invaded Qingzhou, this place had remained untouched. The demons had not dared to provoke both the God General Mansion and Mount Wuliang, one of the top powers in the Great Yu Dynasty.
This further increased the faith of the people in the nearby cities and towns, and they were grateful for the protection of the Buddha.
Whoosh!
Li Hao and the Candlelight God bypassed the mountain gate, and an array appeared, blocking their path.
However, the Candlelight God covered them with his domain, concealing their auras, and they easily passed through the array without being detected.
Li Hao also used his domain to cover Xuayan, allowing them to pass through the array without any hindrance.
Once through the array, they beheld the vast expanse of peaks veiled in mist. In the distance, a towering peak stood tall, surrounded by smaller mountains.
At the same time, within the spiritual realm of the mountain, the Buddha Lord sat atop a purple-gold lotus platform, surrounded by swirling golden Buddhist scriptures. Suddenly, his eyes, which had been closed, opened slightly as he gazed beyond the boundaries of the spiritual realm, as if seeing through all obstructions to the uninvited guest.
"We have visitors. Go and greet them," the Buddha Lord said calmly, a gentle smile on his face as the golden wheel behind him slowly turned.
The three bodhisattvas by his side were slightly taken aback but quickly responded with low chants of acknowledgement. They immediately flew out of the spiritual realm and, with their souls soaring through the air, soon sensed the rapidly approaching formidable auras.
"Candlelight God!"
"It's that young man."
"He actually dared to come."
The three bodhisattvas exchanged glances, Lin Wuji's eyes narrowing in surprise, a hint of shock flashing across his face before it was replaced by a smile.
Unexpectedly, the young man had truly come to plead for a thief, just as the Buddha Lord had predicted.
In an instant, their figures flashed and disappeared from the summit.
At the same time, Li Hao sat atop the Candlelight God as they soared across numerous peaks, rushing towards the spiritual mountain.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, three figures appeared, blocking the path of the Candlelight God.
Li Hao's eyes turned cold as he recognized the three Four Establishments cultivators from Wuliang Mountain—the bodhisattvas.
It was said that apart from the Buddha Lord, there were five bodhisattvas in Wuliang Mountain, all of them at the Four Establishments realm.
"Who might you be?" Lin Wuji asked, feigning ignorance with a smile.
Li Hao, recognizing the bodhisattva who had stood up for Li Qianfeng at the True Dragon Banquet, replied coldly, "With the recent demonic disaster in Qingzhou, so close to your Wuliang Mountain, you dare to pretend you don't know me?"
Lin Wuji's expression shifted, and he said, "So it's General Haotian. No wonder you seem familiar. May I ask why you have come to our Wuliang Mountain?"
"Fuck your mother!" Li Hao cursed without hesitation. "Asking when you already know the answer? Get out of my way! Where's the Buddha Lord?"
The three bodhisattvas' faces changed as they hadn't expected the young man to be so hot-tempered, forgoing all pleasantries. If it had been anyone else, they would have at least exchanged some polite words first.
"Could it be that General Haotian isn't here to witness the execution of the thief but to plead for him instead?" Lin Wuji narrowed his eyes. "General Haotian, you should be mindful of your identity and not bring trouble upon yourself."
"You knew our relationship when you took him from Tianmenguan. Don't play dumb!" Li Hao glared at them.
"General Haotian, please watch your words. This is the pure land of Buddhism. Don't be too rude," one of the bodhisattvas beside Lin Wuji said, his face cold.
"Scram!"
Li Hao shot him a furious glance, and with a surge of his domain, he sent the bodhisattva flying back hundreds of meters, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"When it comes to friends, I drink and compose poems to treat them with courtesy. But for you bald donkeys, even cursing is dirtying my mouth!"
"General Haotian, don't forget your identity. Do you want to cause trouble for a thief?"
"Let's see if you're worthy of causing trouble!"
Li Hao's eyes turned icy, and with a surge of his might, the three bodhisattvas, including Lin Wuji, turned pale. They felt an unimaginable force pressing down on them, as if they were about to kneel on the spot.
Their hearts trembled as they realized the vast gap between them and the young man, even though they had known he was fearsome. But only by experiencing it firsthand did they truly understand the extent of their differences.
Moreover, this young man was fierce and ruthless, forgoing all pleasantries and acting as he pleased.
With a single glare that exuded dominance, Li Hao had intimidated the three bodhisattvas. Without further ado, he rode the Candlelight God towards the spiritual mountain.
Before him stood the majestic Buddha Hall, grand and resplendent, exuding an air of solemnity and sacredness.
Li Hao's eyes were icy cold, and he could sense a profound aura being restrained within, like a deep abyss, emanating a pure and masculine energy.
"Stop! This is the pure land of Buddhism. Even if you are a general of the court..."
Four Dharma protectors stood at the entrance of the Buddha Hall, and upon seeing Li Hao descending from the sky with a menacing aura, they quickly stepped forward to block his path, shouting sternly.
"Since you know my identity, how dare you be so rude? Get out of my way!" Li Hao took a step forward, his might overwhelming, pushing the four Dharma protectors back against the walls of the Buddha Hall as if a mighty wind had blown them away, immobilizing them.
Then, Li Hao strode into the hall, sweeping up the fallen leaves along the way.
Standing at the entrance, he seemed to block out all the light from entering the hall.
And there, he saw the Buddha Lord sitting atop a purple-gold lotus platform, his body majestic and towering.
Their gazes met—one pure and gentle, revealing nothing, as if he would never be angered, while the other was sharp and piercing, making no attempt to hide his emotions.
"General Haotian," the Buddha Lord said softly, a gentle smile on his face.
"Buddha Lord, I am a Duke of the court. Now that you've seen me, why don't you kneel?" Li Hao asked, his eyes as cold as ice.