Chapter 178: Grief (Patreon)

Liu Wei felt a twinge in his chest. When he had departed from the Li Family the last time, he’d accepted that it would probably be the last time he’d see Niung Li, but hearing it confirmed just as he was returning was still something different.

“I see. My most sincere condolences.”

“Thank you. I…”

His eyes jumped to Liu Wei’s company and back to him. He’d naturally have recognized at least some of the Zhong Family’s members

“Let’s take a walk through the garden while we speak.”, Liu Wei suggested, taking the hint.

“Yes. I could use the fresh air.”

“Please wait here for me.”, Liu Wei addressed his captives before following Guowei Li out of the room.

“I rushed here after receiving news that the state my brother’s health had begun to drastically worsen.”, Guowei Li began to elaborate. “I arrived about a week ago, just in time to spend my brother’s last day at his side…”

He stopped talking, his voice having begun to tremble towards the end.

“It is good to hear you two got to meet one last time, at the very least. I’m sure that meant a lot to him.”

Guowei Li nodded absentmindedly.

“He could barely move anymore. Had trouble speaking even just a few words. So it was mostly just me talking to him, speaking of the past… my memories.”

His expression was calm now, but his eyes were filled with pain.

“He taught me how to walk. I barely remember it, I just have this one picture in my mind. He seemed so big and strong… to think he’d look so small and fragile one day…”

Guowei Li had stopped walking and his gaze had lost its focus, as if he was staring into a different time.

“He taught me most things I knew back then. Father was almost always busy at the city council and grandfather with the army. He gave me my first training sword and showed me how to swing it. Helped me learn to control my Qi.”

“When I was sent to the sect exam, he was the one who brought me there and reassured me I could do it. He celebrated with me when I was accepted… he’d been rejected himself, but he never seemed bitter about it…”

His voice trailed off again, and for a while he sat in silence. Then he suddenly flinched, as if he had just now remembered he wasn’t alone.

“I apologize, Elder Wei. I didn’t mean to-”

“No need.”, Liu Wei cut him off. “Keeping your memories of your brother close to your heart honors you. Hold them there and treasure them. He certainly deserves as much.”

Guowei Li took a deep breath.

“Thank you, Elder Wei.”

Liu Wei nodded somberly and they continued their walk.

“Has his funeral already been held?”

“It has.”

“Then I’d like to visit his grave. And I need to speak to Wen Li and express my condolences.”

“I can arrange for both. Wen Li is still at the city palace, the last days have been quite chaotic. Half the reason I’m still here is to help him manage the family as he deals with the other nobles. But I’m sure he’ll gladly meet you when he hears of your visit.”

“I hope no one in the family is trying to stir things up? There were some concerns about that when I was last here.”

“Yes, my brother told me. You helped alleviate those worries for him. And no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that he was a prominent and well-liked figure, even more so than even he himself seems to have had realized. His passing has affected many both inside and outside the family deeply. The ceremony itself was already filled to the brim, but it seems half the city has visited us to offer their condolences… and we still have people practically lining up at his grave.

“Which, speaking off, I can guide you to right away. Oh, but before that, I have some urgent news from the sect I need to pass along.”

Guowei Li’s face turned serious.

“My apologies, I should have remembered sooner. Elder Shi figured that you might stop by here on your way back to the sect, so she asked me to leave this information with someone trustworthy who could tell you, whenever you came by. Didn’t think I’d get to tell you myself.”

“I assume this concerns the assassination of Yifei Xia?”

Guang Lei nodded.

“Yes. I won’t talk around it: We know almost for certain that Elder Xia is blackmailing the Zhong family-”

“-using Elder Zhong’s daughter, the disappeared disciple Liting Fei.”, Liu Wei completed the sentence.

Guowei Li’s eyes widened.

“You already knew?”

“It hasn’t been too long, but yes.”

“If I may ask… how did you…?”

“I assume you know that the Zhong Family was supposed to present themselves as the perpetrators to me?”

“That was a theory that was floated.”

“Well, they did exactly that. I followed along almost to the end before noticing something was off. Then I connected some dots and pressured the rest out of those Zhong Family members you’ve seen me bring along. I’d like to ask you the same question though. How did you manage to figure it out?”

“Our road was a little bumpier, I’m afraid. About one-and-a-half months ago, one of our disciples – Zixin, I believe you know him – was found badly wounded. He’d fallen down a cliff of the eastern mountain. He was in coma for over a month before waking up, but he could luckily still recall what had happened to him. He’d overheard a member of the Xia Family pressuring a member of the Zhong Family, before the former caught him and pushed him off that cliff.”

Liu Wei briefly felt his blood began to pump faster before he contained himself.

“Is Zixin alright?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you. I wasn’t involved with him directly.”

“I see.”

Getting angry at Zixin’s behalf wouldn’t be productive right now, so Liu Wei did his best to stave off the instinct. One more tally to the list of things he’d make the Xia Family pay for.

“Would you mind recounting what he overheard as best as you can?”

“Of course.”

As Guowei Li went over the conversation Zixin had overheard, Liu Wei mentally compared it to what he had heard. Everything matched up quite well. He knew from his conversation with shadow that Meixiu Xia had issued her orders to the Zhong Family in several steps. Based on the timing, he guessed that the thing this conversation had probably taken place after they had been informed of the final steps of the plan – letting themselves be captured by him. Perhaps that was what they had tried to refuse doing.

“… that’s all I know. I wasn’t involved with the efforts directly, someone had to keep the Enforcement Hall’s regular operations running while Elder Shi and Lady Qingge devoted themselves fully to this matter, but as far as I know, they were still trying to figure out where Elder Zhong’s daughter is being held when I departed.”

“That is plenty. Thank you for informing me.”

“Of course. I’m glad I could be of help.”

Guowei Li scratched his head.

“Ah, one more thing. Lady Qingge had a personal request she wanted me to pass on as well. She asked to be informed of the exact day of your return some days ahead.”

Liu Wei furrowed his brows.

“The exact day? Did she mention her reason for that?”

Guowei Li shook his head.

“I’m afraid not. I was wondering about that myself, but she simply asked me to pass this along to you.”

Liu Wei stroked his beard. That was a curious request, but Qingge wasn’t someone to ask for something like this without reason. She certainly had something in mind, though he couldn’t quite imagine what it could be.

“Very well. Could you arrange to send a messenger to the Lunar Peaks Sect for that?”

Whatever Qingge had in mind, Liu Wei naturally trusted that it was important in some way.

“Of course. When should they tell her you will arrive?”

Liu Wei took a moment to think. A messenger would take some time to reach the sect, and Qingge still had to be given time to prepare whatever she was planning. He was itching to return to the sect now more than ever, but it seemed he’d have to wait at least a little longer.

“Have them tell her that I will arrive in twelve from now, on the morning after the night of the new moon.”

“Alright. If you don’t mind, I’ll have a messenger sent right away. Then we can head over to my brother’s grave.”

“That’s perfect. I’ll have to go grab my ‘travel companions’ before we do that anyway. Can’t get too far away from them.”

“Could we help you keep an eye on them while you’re here?”

“I don’t think so. That is, unless your family happens to possess a formation that can contain a cultivator of the Dao Contemplation Realm.”

“Wait, Dao Contemplation?”