Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 374

Volume 3 - Chapter 89: Incense and Flames

With the fall of the Buddha Lord... the Saint Thief was abducted... and Mount Wuliang was destroyed!

A string of shocking news spread across the Buddhist world. The disciples of Mount Wuliang, whose ties were tangled and complex, quickly spread the word far and wide—reaching the capital a hundred thousand miles away and even reaching the Divine General's residence in Qingzhou!

Upon hearing the news, everyone within the Divine General’s residence was shocked and stunned.

Just recently, there were rumors that Mount Wuliang was about to execute the Saint Thief, and now, unexpectedly, the Buddha Lord had been killed?

Who on the mountain was so bold, so terrifying? How long would it take for Li Muxiu to return to the Divine General’s residence?

Originally, he had planned to abandon everything and rescue him, but now that Li Hao had handled it, there was no need to proceed with his previous plan. The Divine General’s residence still needed his support!

As soon as Li Muxiu returned, everyone anxiously asked if he had anything to do with it.

Muxiu had made up his mind to rescue him, and everyone knew about it. Attempts to persuade and stop him had all failed. This time, it seemed he was determined, and no one could stop him!

When Chu Tian heard the inquiries, Li Muxiu could only smile wryly. He had no such ability, and he did not hide the truth. He briefly explained the situation:

It was impossible to keep the movement of Li Hao’s forces a secret; a small investigation would reveal everything.

“Did Li Hao do it?”

“He killed the Buddha Lord?”

“How could he possibly be connected with that infamous Saint Thief?”

Li Xuanli, He Jianlan, and the others were dumbfounded upon hearing Li Muxiu’s words. They stared at him in shock.

If Li Muxiu hadn’t said so himself, this would have been unbelievable. They even doubted they had heard correctly.

Among the crowd, Li Tiangang suddenly shook with shock as he recalled seeing the disguised Saint Thief in Tianmen Pass. At the time, he had forced the man back, but did not reveal this news to anyone in the residence. It was a scandal. Now, however, he realized that Li Hao had already joined forces with that Saint Thief.

He also recalled that, despite Li Hao being talented, he could never have imagined how deeply this would implicate the family.

Jiang Xian’er, who stood beside him, looked pale as she understood the implications. She knew the Buddha Lord’s position and identity well. Once news of his death spread, it was hard to imagine how furious the entire Buddhist world would be. The power of Buddhism was deeply rooted, extending even into the imperial court. High officials in the court, many of whom were Buddhist, could make this matter far-reaching. Even if the high officials were not personally believers, their families might be. The influence of Buddhism was vast, far beyond what most could imagine.

“I knew this day would come,” Li Tiangang said, his face darkening. He clenched his fists. “If I had known, I should have killed that thief in the pass.”

“If not for the fact that he once protected us, I was soft-hearted at the time… damn it. This crime is one I should bear. If I had been ruthless, we wouldn't be in this mess today.”

Regret filled his heart. While he would have faced public condemnation for killing that thief, it would have been better than facing this great disaster now.

“You knew?” Everyone in the room looked at him in shock.

Li Tiangang could not face them. He turned his gaze to Li Muxiu, his eyes filled with resentment. Li Muxiu sensed it and slowly turned his head. He understood Li Tiangang was blaming him for introducing Li Hao to that Saint Thief, which had led to the present outcome.

“Li Hao’s achievements are great, but he is still a Buddha Lord... Why is he siding with evil?” Li Tiangang asked bitterly.

Ji Qingqing’s face turned pale. Although Li Hao had left the Divine General’s residence without their forgiveness, seeing his current accomplishments, she was still filled with mixed emotions. She knew that even without the Divine General's support, Li Hao could still live a good life, but she couldn't deny that this wasn’t an ideal outcome.

But now, with the news of the Buddha Lord’s death, everything Li Hao had worked for would likely be stripped away. His noble status as a third-class duke was high, but it paled in comparison to the Buddhist influence. Even Li Tiangang's rank as a duke could not compete with that.

“Why would Hao’er be so foolish, associating himself with a thief like that?” Li Xuanli said with pain in his eyes. He knew that, even with Li Hao’s achievements and status, it would be difficult for him to save himself now.

He Jianlan sighed. “That child has always been sincere. Whoever treated him well, he treated them well. He has always been like that.”

“I’ll go to the capital to request that my brothers intercede with the Emperor,” Jiang Xian’er said immediately. She lifted her skirts and quickly left the council hall. Li Xuanli opened his mouth but didn’t stop her. At this point, they could only hope that the Emperor might show mercy, remembering Li Hao’s past deeds in Qingzhou and Qingzhou.

“Earlier, I thought I was too strict, that it was my fault… I thought he needed more discipline, but now, we’ve reached a point where even saving him is difficult.”

Li Tiangang clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in frustration. “If he still carried the Li family name, all our ancestors’ glory would be wasted!”

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanli and the others’ faces grew grim. He Jianlan’s anger flared. “Are you still blaming us? If it weren’t for Li Hao, Qingzhou would have fallen into chaos long ago!”

Li Tiangang didn’t back down, his face burning with anger. “I’ve never denied his achievements, but he could have done so much better.”

The argument grew more heated.

Li Muxiu frowned. “Enough, there’s no point in arguing now. The immediate priority is to figure out how to convey the message to the Emperor and ask for mercy on behalf of Hao’er.”

Li Xuanli quickly agreed.

Li Tiangang glared at Muxiu. Though he respected him, his resentment over Muxiu’s role in introducing Li Hao to the Saint Thief still lingered. He bore deep animosity toward the events that had led to this moment.

Ji Qingqing, noticing Li Tiangang’s expression, tried to kneel. But Li Xuanli quickly stepped forward to support her.

“No, you mustn’t do that. I haven’t said we won’t save him,” Li Xuanli reassured her. “Li Hao is indebted to me and to the Li family. We will do everything we can to help.”

Li Tiangang also intervened, pulling his wife back. “Qingqing, don’t make it harder on the Fifth Brother. I understand his difficulties.”

Jiang Xian’er wept, tears flowing freely. “But no one understands what that child is going through now…”

Li Tiangang’s expression shifted, but he bit his lip and turned toward Li Xuanli. “Fifth Brother, I will personally go to the ancestors to plead for him.”

Li Xuanli gazed at him silently, before giving a faint nod.

After Li Tiangang left, Li Qingzheng couldn’t help but speak up. “But the child saved our Li family. If it weren’t for him, Qingzhou would have fallen.”

Li Xuanli sighed deeply. “I know. But the situation has changed. We can no longer afford to gamble with everything we’ve worked for. If this Emperor were from the old dynasty, I might have been able to speak on his behalf. But now, with this Emperor on the throne, I am not as familiar with him.”

“The Li family has sacrificed so much over the centuries. I cannot risk it all for one person.”

Li Qingzheng understood, his face filled with sorrow. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“It’s not that I don’t understand, but there’s still a chance we can save him. Even if we can’t keep him in his noble position, we can at least show mercy.”

Li Tiangang stood up, his face full of determination. “If that’s the case, then I will go.”

At the ancestral hall, Li Tiangang knelt before the family tablets.

He pleaded with the ancestors, “Please, intercede on behalf of my son…”

As he said these words, a faint tremor shook the family tablets. The ancestral spirits seemed to hear his request.

...

Li Tiangang stood silently for a moment, his head bowed low. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with guilt and sorrow. "It's my fault. I failed to properly guide my son. He almost brought disaster upon the family."

His words hung in the air, thick with regret. Slowly, he turned and began to walk away, his shoulders heavy, his steps slow and deliberate.

Li Qingzheng, who had been listening quietly, could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and spoke with a mixture of respect and frustration, "Ancestor, but that child did help our Li family. If it weren’t for him, Qingzhou would have fallen!"

Li Tianyuan, the ancestor's spirit, was silent for a moment, before letting out a soft sigh. "I know this. If it were the previous emperor, I might have said a few words on his behalf. But the current emperor is someone I am unfamiliar with. If I were to step in now, it would cost the entire Li family. Your sacrifices, the efforts of countless generations—" He sighed again, deeply this time. "I cannot disregard them all. That child is young, impetuous. In his arrogance, he has severed his ties with the Li family. He has no right to ask for the Li family's support now."

Li Tiangang stood in a daze, as though the weight of his ancestor's words had crushed him. His mouth opened, but no words came out. The realization hit him hard: his son had broken his ties with the family, and no one could undo that.

Li Tianyuan’s voice continued, this time with a certain finality. "He will not be executed. That is not the way. At most, his title will be revoked. If he encounters misfortune in the future, if you can help him, then do so. But you must help him as repayment for the past... I will no longer intervene."

With those words, his spirit faded, returning to the family tablets, leaving Li Tiangang and the others to grapple with the consequences of the decision.

Li Qingzheng, standing off to the side, smiled bitterly. His expression was clouded with sadness, and his eyes darkened with a deep, sorrowful understanding.

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