As Li Jian sat in silence, his gaze drifting into the flickering shadows cast by the fire, his mind turned inward. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that the Li Clan's current state was a shadow of its former glory.
His thoughts wandered to the ancient scrolls, the stories of his ancestors who'd cultivated the Li Clan's unique martial arts and qi techniques. They'd roamed the lands, undefeated, their power and prestige unmatched. Li Long, the legendary founder, had supposedly wielded a sword that could cleave mountains.
But now... Li Jian's eyes clouded with a mix of shame and frustration. The Li Clan's current generation was... weak. His own cultivation, though decent, was far from extraordinary. The clansmen, good men though they were, lacked the fire, the drive that had once defined their ancestors.
Li Jian's thoughts turned bitter as he recalled the ambush. If the Tuskans had sent a true expert, a high-level cultivator, the outcome could've been disastrous. The Li Clan's decline was palpable, a slow erosion of their martial prowess and influence.
He glanced at his sons, sleeping peacefully nearby, their innocent faces a stark contrast to the harsh realities of their world. They deserved better. The Li Clan deserved better.
A spark of determination ignited within Li Jian. He would revive the clan's fortunes, push his sons to reach their full potential, and reclaim the Li Clan's place among the martial elite. The journey would be arduous, but he was willing to do whatever it took.
As the fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the walls, Li Jian made a silent vow: the Li Clan would rise again, and he would be the one to lead them to glory.
Li Jian smiled as his four grandsons, Li Weizhun , Li Weihao, Li Weichen, and Li Weiming, tugged at his hands, pulling him out of the clan's morning calm.
"Grandfather, walk! Walk with us!" the little monsters chirped in unison.
Li Jian chuckled, letting himself be dragged into the crisp morning air. The sun was just peeking over the hills, casting a warm glow over the rural village. The thatched roofs of the Li Clan's homes were dotted with wisps of morning mist, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers - mainly the tiny, purple _lán huā_ (orchids) that grew among the village's ancient, gossipy trees.
As they walked past the village's edge, the boys led Li Jian onto a narrow path winding through fields of green _qīnggāo_ (a type of green wheat) swaying gently in the breeze. Crickets jumped aside with tiny _xī_ sounds as they stepped into the dewy grass.
"Grandfather, tell us a story!" one of them piped up.
Li Jian's eyes twinkled. "Alright, let's walk and I'll tell you about your ancestor, Li Long... He was once the Assistant General of the Liangzhou Battalion Guard!"
The boys' eyes widened.
"What did he do, Grandfather?" asked Li Weizhi, the oldest.
Li Jian took a deep breath. "He defended Liangzhou from the Tuskan raiders. Those Tuskans came like a storm, boys - dark horses, curved swords, and they burned everything. Came out of the western deserts, wanting our fertile lands."
The boys listened, eyes big as coins.
"The Tuskans swept through like wolves in the night," Li Jian continued, his voice filled with the weight of history. "Burned villages, took livestock... but Li Long and the Liangzhou Battalion held the line at _Héshān Pass_. Fought for days under the scorching sun, with rocks for cover and grit for food. Drove the Tuskans back into the dunes."
Li Jian paused, looking around at the peaceful fields.
"We Li Clan have martial history, boys. Might be weak now... but we'll soar high again. We have the blood in us."
The boys looked at each other, eyes sparkling. A flock of _bái líng_ (white crines, a local bird) flew up from a nearby copse of _wū tóng_ trees, adding a flourish to the morning.
"We'll be strong like Ancestor Li Long!" declared Li Weihao.
Li Jian ruffled their hair. "That's the spirit! The Li Clan will rise again ."
The little ones skipped ahead, talking about their own "battalions" and "raiders", racing each other through the _lán huā_-dotted grass. Li Jian smiled as he followed, the morning sun warming his back.
Li Jian walked back into the Li Clan's bustling courtyard after the morning walk, his grandsons chattering excitedly about their "battalion plans" as they ran off to wash up.
As he settled onto the wooden bench by the main hall, his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Liu (wife of Li Jianyun), came out with a warm smile.
"Morning meal's ready, Father. Come eat."
Li Jian nodded, taking a seat at the head of the table. The aroma of steaming _jiànbǐng_ (pan-fried flatbread) and _dòujiāng_ (fermented soybean soup) wafted up, making his stomach rumble.
The family gathered - Li Jianyun nodded at his father, Li Jian; the grandsons clumped around the table; and Mrs. Liu started serving the food.
"Tell us more about Ancestor Li Long at breakfast, Grandfather!" Li Weizhi piped up.
Li Jian smiled, breaking off a piece of crispy _jiànbǐng_. "Hmm... maybe after breakfast. Eat up first, little generals ."
The family dug in, the courtyard filled with cheerful clatter and the promise of stories to come.
The evening sun dipped behind the Li Clan's encircling mountains as the elders gathered in the main hall. Li Jian, the clan leader, sat at the center, his expression serious.
The other elders - Li Changsheng, Li Yuwen, Li Zhiyuan, and a few others - took their seats. Li Jianyun, Li Jian's brother, leaned in.
"Clan finances are tight, Leader Li Jian," Li Changsheng began. "Expenses for the Qilin Subjugation Mission were high. And... we took casualties."
Li Jian's face tightened. "Tuskan raiders again?"
Li Yuwen nodded grimly. "Aided by some defectors from the Shattered Sects. Hit us hard. Lost Li Tianbao and Li Huai'an."
The hall fell silent. Li Tianbao and Li Huai'an were respected elders.
"How's morale?" Li Jian asked.
Li Zhiyuan sighed. "Low. People want revenge... but we need strategy."
Li Jianyun spoke up. "We should diversify income. Medicinal herbs, trade... and martial training. Boost defenses."
The elders nodded, discussing options till the moon rose high.
Scenarios emerged:
- Increase patrols on trade routes.
- Train more in _qì_ techniques for defense.
- Hold a clan-wide hunt to boost morale and food stores.
Li Jian listened, weighing decisions.
"We'll decide tomorrow. Dismissed ."
The elders filed out, discussing quietly. Li Jian remained, pondering the Li Clan's path forward.