Published: March 8, 2025
In the empty hall, a figure shimmered into existence once again - the Ancestral Patriarch of the Li Family, Li Chunbo.
"What happened?" The other three appeared simultaneously.
These four seemed to exist as one entity, moving in sync, disappearing together and reappearing as a unit.
"The Li Family is finished." Li Chunbo sighed deeply.
"What do you mean by that?" The other three displayed shock.
Li Chunbo forced a bitter smile, his demeanor melancholic. "Just look at the current head of the Li Family, what kind of person have they become... cunning and deep-minded; their interests come first, their name shines bright."
"The Li Family has already changed." Li Chunbo said lightly, "There is no longer a need for its existence!"
One of the men in black, unwilling, spoke up, "Elder Brother, this is your lifelong effort, and it is also the legacy for your descendants! It is the bloodline of the Li Family."
"It is no longer."
Li Chunbo shook his head, sorrowfully saying, "It is no longer..."
He clasped his hands behind his back, slowly walked back to his previous position, and sat down. A look of nostalgia flashed in his eyes. After a long while, he said, "Back then, my elder uncle once said, to pass down this heart is to pass down the heritage!"
The other three stood in solemn respect!
They understood that the person he was referring to was the previous Nine Calamity Sword Master!
But they also felt perplexed – to pass down this heart means to pass down the heritage! Does this mean... that bloodline is not important?
"With a righteous heart and diligent intentions, why seek a straight path? To climb the stars and pluck the Big Dipper is not a distant dream."
Li Chunbo sighed: "A lifetime of heroism. What is passed down must be the lofty spirit! If one day, this lofty spirit becomes corrupted; becomes synonymous with despicable... then at that time, this bloodline heritage is better left unclaimed."
"Because the heritage has become a disgrace."
Though Li Chunbo said this, a pained look still lingered in his eyes.
"After establishing the family, I wandered in the martial arts world. Finally, I achieved great success! At the supreme third tier. I went into seclusion for cultivation; three thousand years later, I emerged; but the family has already changed beyond recognition!"
"I had written down the family precepts, educating the next generation. Yet, my internal desires sought to break the gap between celestial beings. My vital energy surged endlessly, so I went into seclusion once again... until over a decade ago, I finally emerged."
"But the Li Family is no longer my Li Family!"
"Today, I used this great treasure to test the bottom line of the Li Family. I never expected it to be so sordid." Li Chunbo smiled faintly, "At that time, my ninth uncle Zhuge Smile once divined for my Li Family: 'Chunbo surges, a millennium of prosperity; one day without waves, and it becomes ordinary. Who can predict the affairs of a millennium? Heaven and earth are always intertwined!'"
"I never understood the meaning of this saying, but today, I finally understand."
Li Chunbo gazed blankly at the sky outside. A sense of loneliness filled his eyes: "My name is Chunbo. I founded the Li Family, relying on my father's reputation. We became one of the nine great clans; indeed, it has been a millennium!"
"And the current family head is named Wubo. Since the Li Family's Chunbo established the family business, now that there are no waves... how can the Li Family still exist?"
Li Chunbo forced a smile: "Thus… one day without waves, and it becomes ordinary."
"This is fate!" Li Chunbo smiled faintly, standing up, and stepping out the door: "This is the fate of my Li Family! My fate, Li Chunbo!"
As he stepped out, he vanished like mist.
The other three men in black exchanged glances, this time, they did not disappear with him.
"Elder Brother seems to be a bit despondent."
"Yes."
"But how can we just watch the millennia-long foundation of the Li Family be destroyed?"
"Exactly."
"Elder Brother doesn't care, should we not care?"