“This is the Glowshroom!”
Li Pingcan confirmed repeatedly. Naturally, there are many mushrooms in the wild that emit faint light at night, but this cluster before him—both in color and vitality—was exactly the Glowshroom he had carefully crafted through magic.
A foreboding feeling engulfed his heart.
Li Qian, his younger sister...
Without Little Black’s guidance, he activated Earth Pulse Sense and Spore Sense, crossing through thorny bushes. The breeze stirred lightly, and his body was as agile as a crane. Soon, he arrived in front of a thriving mushroom patch.
The glowing green mushrooms formed a shape like the Chinese character for “person” on the grassland. When the max-level Earth Shaping was cast, the soil’s surface automatically cracked while the deeper layers bulged upward.
A tiny skeleton covered in glowing mushrooms shimmered in the dim forest. It was so peaceful and tranquil; the decayed clothes were tied with a safety knot, and the exposed white bones flickered with mushroom bioluminescence.
This was Li Qian’s skeleton.
It was indeed Li Qian’s skeleton!
“Why would an Immortal do such a thing?”“Did Sister Li Qian die in pain?”
“The Immortals in this world are even more dangerous than I imagined...”
Besides an Immortal, who else could have killed Li Qian at the hands of an Immortal?
Excluding impossible options, this was most likely the truth.
Li Pingcan didn’t know if he was sad or fearful. His chaotic emotions surged in his mind, and countless uncertain speculations appeared, along with Li Qian’s shy yet lively face.
As if frozen by a paralyzing spell, he stood rooted to the spot.
“Seven years of acquaintance...”
Not quite childhood sweethearts, Li Pingcan was warm on the outside but cold inside. Except for his dependent family, he was wary of the villagers. His relationship with Li Qian was simply that of a familiar younger neighbor girl.
But the Immortal sister with a promising future had died in a bizarre and absurd way, marking the end of a young life...
Regret, sorrow, sadness...
Li Pingcan took a deep breath. Humans are not trees or grass; who can be without emotion?
“The right ribs on this skeleton bear sword slash marks. It was a fatal blow—no defense or resistance... Except for that Seven Stars Sect Immortal, there is no other culprit.”
“The spiritual root has vanished, but residual spiritual energy remains on Li Qian’s bones. So even without human cultivation, the Glowshrooms can thrive with nourishment.”
“Killing to seize treasure—Li Qian, a farmer’s daughter, could only have had her spiritual root coveted by an Immortal.”
He secretly shuddered, thinking of those students from remote areas in his past life who lost university quotas due to “under-the-table” dealings. Those students lost their qualifications, but here, lives were lost!
“No foundation means that even if there is opportunity, it might not be a blessing.”
If Li Qian were not a farmer’s daughter but of Immortal Clan bloodline, she would have received full cultivation support, and would not have died like this.
One must survive!
One must build connections and strengthen the family!
As for Li Qian’s death... the only thing to do is to silently remember the Seven Stars Sect.
“Rest in peace.”
Li Pingcan gently stroked his palm, and all the Glowshrooms vanished. The soil carrying Li Qian’s bones was buried deeper into the earth.
This burial was not just for Li Qian’s body, but also for his last beautiful illusion of the cultivation world.
As the earth trembled, something suddenly rolled down.
“This is...”
He picked up a safety jade pendant fallen among the dead leaves. The jade was cloudy and ordinary in quality. Li Pingcan recalled it was the protective jade Li Yuan had given Li Qian before departure.
He cupped it in his hand and kept it close.
...
Peach Blossom Village, Li family.
After five years, the Li family houses had all been rebuilt with bricks and tiles. Red brick walls rose high, enclosing a spacious rectangular yard covering about half an acre. The ground was paved with blue bricks.
Though not as spacious as Li Dahu’s estate, the Li family had fewer members. Li Rongzhou thought that after his three sons married and had children, they could expand the house. For now, the yard was tight but brought the children closer together; the family was lively and bustling.
Don’t underestimate distance. Distance can create beautiful memories but can also breed estrangement in close relationships.
As for Li Dahu, since his second son died unexpectedly five years ago, he had been ill and finally passed away last winter. It was said that his eldest son Li Fang returned to the village to fight over the inheritance with relatives, causing endless chaos.
Li Rongzhou had no time to care.
The sands of time grind everyone equally. As long as his own family prospered, enemies’ corpses would naturally fall into the deep pool downstream. The once cautious Li Dahu was now just a cup of yellow earth—no need to worry.
Today, the Li family had visitors. Two horse-drawn carriages stood at the gate. The brown horses were spotless and glossy, and the rosewood carriage was engraved with auspicious beast patterns, with the “Li” banner fluttering.
Li Fang arrived with his concubines to pay a visit.
Inside the reception hall, a clever maid held a silver fox fur laid on a pine wood chair. Li Fang leisurely sat in the guest seat, sipped the tea brewed by Lady Qin, crossed his legs, and shook his head:
“Brother Rongzhou is still so frugal. Why don’t you drink the Silver Dew Pine Incense I sent last month?”
Silver Dew Pine Incense, Da Hong Pao, Huangshan Yellow Bud... he couldn’t really taste the difference, but the Silver Dew Pine Incense was the most expensive, specially sent to Li Rongzhou.
“I’m used to bitter tea, not willing to waste your fine tea leaves.”
Seeing Li Fang’s pretentious posture, Li Rongzhou smiled. The mutual support they once had was now just politeness.
Lady Qin looked at Li Fang’s legal wife with a bitter expression. The woman was old and faded; though seated, she was far less charming than Li Fang’s standing concubines, who were radiant and proud.
She couldn’t help but feel sorry for Mrs. Huang.
Half a lifetime of hard work, yet once Li Fang succeeded, he took concubines, even bringing them out in public, fully pampering and favoring them.
Fortunately, Li Fang was old and couldn’t have sons anymore; otherwise, this chaotic scene would only worsen!
“Don’t be stingy. Drink it all, and I’ll ask the servants to bring more.”
Li Fang waved his hand, feeling quite pleased after hearing Li Rongzhou’s words.
He looked around the Li family’s reception hall. Though better than before, it was far inferior to his own home—no precious ornaments, no master calligraphy or paintings, and no maids or servants. A slight sense of pride bloomed in his heart.
“Uncle Li Fang, have some candied fruit.”
Xie Yuan wore a light blue dress. Her face was oval with willow-leaf brows and watery peach blossom eyes. Her graceful figure floated like a white crane dancing, holding a plate of candied fruit and snacks to entertain Li Fang’s family, naturally and elegantly.
“Yuan girl has grown so beautiful.” Li Fang chuckled, “You should find a husband soon. Otherwise, all the good men will be taken away. Want uncle to help you find one?”
Xie Yuan didn’t like hearing this and secretly pursed her lips.
Lady Qin was angry. She had raised Xie Yuan like her own daughter. At eleven, she was still a child, not ready for marriage!
This Li Fang never said anything people liked to hear!
She snapped, “No need for your concern!”
Li Fang didn’t mind such a trivial matter. He suddenly recalled when he had tried to pair Li Pingfu with the second young lady but was rejected, which he deeply regretted. Such a pity.
Now that the second young lady had married into a prominent county family, the tides had turned. He only wanted to say one thing to the Li family: thank you for not marrying her back then.