Volume 2 - Chapter 10: Li Tiangang’s Confrontation - Part 2
Qingzhou City, Divine General Mansion
A green bird swooped in from the window, landing on the inkstone atop the desk.
Its palm-sized body swelled until its head was larger than before. With a soft chirp, it spat out a scroll of paper.
The middle-aged man at the desk, dressed in brown robes, quickly picked up the scroll and unfurled it.
After reading its contents, his expression darkened. His hands clenched the letter, crumpling it into pieces.
“Your Grace, is this a letter from the young master?”
Outside the room, Yu Xuan entered upon seeing the green bird, his eyes filled with concern.
After all, the young master was the heir to the family. With his unparalleled talent, he could one day suppress the world’s demons.
“Hmph!”
Hearing Yu Xuan’s concerned tone, Li Tiangang snorted coldly, his eyes glinting with anger.
“This is Li He’s reply. So that’s where the boy got his backbone. It turns out that someone is backing him in secret. My second and fifth uncles! They truly won’t rest until Haoyue is ruined!”
Yu Xuan froze. “Your Grace, what do you mean by this?”
Li Tiangang had no desire to explain further. The contents of the letter reignited a fire within him that had only recently begun to subside.
He had sent Li He to secretly protect Li Hao, yet Li He had discovered another powerful individual tailing the boy. Even more astonishingly, that person was suspected to be an elite at the Fourth Pillar Realm.
A Fourth Pillar Realm expert! Figures of such caliber were rare even in all of Great Yu. Why would someone of that level lower themselves to protect a mere boy?
There was no doubt that it had to be his second and fifth uncles pulling strings, leveraging their connections to enlist the help of one of their old comrades.
This wasted not only a precious favor but also the time of a Fourth Pillar Realm powerhouse who could have been slaying demons elsewhere.
More importantly, this act went entirely against his intentions.
He had sent Li Hao to Tianmen Pass to shatter his defiance, to let him experience the fear of life and death firsthand, and to teach him that the world beyond the comfort of the Divine General Mansion was harsh and unforgiving.
But now, with the secret protection of a Fourth Pillar Realm expert, what could the boy possibly learn from the experience?
If this continued, wouldn’t the boy return three years later and sever ties with him completely?
Given the boy’s stubborn nature, he would likely hold a grudge for years to come.
The more Li Tiangang thought about it, the angrier he became. He could only hope that the Fourth Pillar Realm protector would grow impatient and leave before the three years were up.
After all, Li Hao’s temperament was far from likable, and even someone backing him might not endure his personality for long.
Unless, of course, his second and fifth uncles had offered such immense favors that the protector might truly stay for three years.
At this thought, Li Tiangang immediately set out to confront them.
He stepped outside, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
It was the first snowfall of early winter.
...
Arriving at the Tingyu Pavilion, Li Tiangang strode straight to the seventh floor. His sharp gaze swept across the room but found no sign of his second uncle.
His anger only grew. He turned back downstairs and asked the guards, “Where is the old marquis?”
“It seems the old marquis has gone fishing.”
“Where?”
“We’re not sure, Your Grace.”
Li Tiangang’s fury rose further. As a child, he had heard that his second uncle was a free spirit who often clashed with the family. Now he understood how true those words were.
The second uncle’s duty was to guard the Tingyu Pavilion, yet not only was he absent, but even locating him proved to be a challenge.
Sensing his rising anger, one of the guards hesitated before speaking. “Your Grace, there is one place the old marquis might have gone.”
“Where?”
“The young master once mentioned it—a place called the Blackwater Demon Lake, about two thousand li east of the city.”
Li Tiangang was about to take flight when he frowned and asked, “Why would the boy mention this place to you?”
“The young master mentioned it in passing, concerned about delivering pastries to the old marquis over such a long journey. He worried the food might not stay warm…”
Li Tiangang’s face darkened. “Instead of cultivating, he wastes his time sweet-talking people! No wonder the old marquis is so biased in his favor!”
With a flick of his sleeve, he soared into the sky and left Qingzhou City.
...
Reaching the Blackwater Demon Lake, a vast expanse of dark water stretched out before him. Waves lapped against the shore, carrying an eerie aura.
Li Tiangang scanned the area and soon spotted a lone figure by the lakeshore.
Descending swiftly, he landed before the figure.
Hearing the movement, the figure turned reflexively. “Haoyue…”
A smile had just begun to spread across his face when he noticed the cold, severe expression on Li Tiangang. The smile vanished, replaced by a faint look of melancholy.
“Second Uncle,” Li Tiangang said, restraining his anger as he bowed slightly in greeting. Then, he approached, casting a glance at the lake. “You’re fishing here?”
Fishing? Li Muxiu’s expression returned to indifference. His lips twitched faintly, as though mocking the suggestion. In truth, he was merely sitting there in quiet contemplation.
“How did you know to find me here? What do you want?” Li Muxiu asked, his tone calm.
Seeing his uncle’s attitude, Li Tiangang dispensed with pleasantries. “Second Uncle, I know you care about that child, but don’t you think your actions are doing him more harm than good?”
Li Muxiu turned to look at him. “And how exactly have I harmed your son?”
“You’ve enlisted one of your friends to secretly protect Li Hao. Are you trying to ensure that he severs ties with me forever?” Li Tiangang said angrily.
Li Muxiu paused, then his expression shifted subtly.
That day, when Li Hao left, Li Muxiu had already sensed another presence in the shadows. The person had transmitted a brief message to him, indicating their intent to escort Li Hao safely away.
Li Muxiu had expressed his gratitude but also felt a complicated mix of emotions.
Without Feng Boping’s intervention, Li Hao might never have been able to take that first step out of the mansion gates. But Feng Boping’s willingness to step in likely stemmed from an inability to tolerate how much Li Hao had endured.
Even outsiders were moved to act. What did that say about the family’s failure?
Thinking of this, Li Muxiu met Li Tiangang’s furious gaze and let out a derisive laugh. “Now you’re afraid of losing him? Where was this fear when you slapped him across the face upon your return?”
Li Tiangang’s face froze.
“I’ve asked around about what happened that day. Li Hao struck that little girl only after she insulted Qingqing. He did it to defend his mother. Was he wrong?” Li Muxiu’s voice grew more impassioned, and his eyes blazed with anger.
Li Tiangang’s expression wavered. He had also investigated the incident later and learned that Li Rumo, his eighth brother’s daughter, had indeed spoken ill of Qingqing.
His eighth brother, deeply ashamed, had personally slapped his daughter and quarreled with his wife over the matter. The household had been in turmoil ever since.
Unable to lay blame elsewhere, Li Tiangang harbored some regret for the slap he had given Li Hao.
“Second Uncle, I admit I’ve been a poor father. My goal has always been to teach him well. Not having raised or guided him all these years is my greatest regret,” Li Tiangang said. “But you’ve seen the boy’s temperament—it’s as stubborn as a rock. If your friend continues protecting him, he’ll never experience the harshness of the outside world.”
Li Muxiu’s cold gaze bore into him. “He’s your son, not your enemy. Why do you insist on making him suffer?”
Li Tiangang faltered.
“If I had a son,” Li Muxiu continued, his tone biting, “I’d hold him close and cherish him every day. I’d let him feel my love.”
Li Tiangang’s hands tightened into fists as Li Muxiu’s words cut deeper.
“Do you know why I never married or had children?” Li Muxiu pressed. “Because I knew I couldn’t be a good father. But you? You had the chance, and you’ve squandered it.”
Li Tiangang finally replied, his tone subdued. “Second Uncle, you’ve never been a parent. You can’t understand my intentions. I want what’s best for him, but there must be limits to indulgence.”
“Do you think the soldiers on the battlefield who never return weren’t loved by their mothers or wives? If I come home alive, it’s already a blessing for him. But one day, I won’t be here anymore. If he doesn’t grow strong, how can he shoulder the burden of the Li family? How can he honor our ancestors?”
Li Muxiu let out a cold laugh. “How do you know he can’t if you don’t even give him a chance? Li Hao is far more capable than you think, but you’ve never truly cared about him or tried to understand him!”
Scooping up a handful of snow, Li Muxiu held it out to Li Tiangang. “Look.”
Li Tiangang frowned, puzzled. “At what?”
“It’s snowing,” Li Muxiu said.
“I know,” Li Tiangang replied.
“This is the second snowfall since the boy left,” Li Muxiu said. “The first time, you forced him out of the Li family. And now, with the second snowfall, you’re here questioning me about protecting him. If anyone saw this, they’d think you were mortal enemies rather than father and son.”
His gaze pierced into Li Tiangang as he asked softly, “When you saw the snow fall, did you even think about whether the boy was cold? Whether he had enough to eat or wear out there on the border?”
Li Tiangang’s expression faltered, and his hands clenched tighter.
“With your friend’s protection, I’m sure he’s comfortable,” Li Tiangang said after a moment. “No Fourth Pillar Realm demon would dare cross the border. As for the Three Immortals Realm, Li He and Hongzhuang are both there to ensure his safety.”
Li Muxiu snorted. “Your Li He wouldn’t act unless the boy was truly on the brink of death, isn’t that right?”
“Of course,” Li Tiangang replied. “How else would he learn to retreat when faced with difficulty?”
Li Muxiu sighed deeply. “Leave. Don’t bother me unless you have something important to say.”
“If your friend withdraws their protection and stops spoiling him, I won’t need to come here,” Li Tiangang retorted.
Li Muxiu laughed coldly. “Do you really think my friend is doing this as a favor to me?”
Li Tiangang raised a brow. “Are you suggesting the boy won over someone of that level? A Fourth Pillar Realm powerhouse wouldn’t care about him.”
Li Muxiu almost revealed the truth but held back. Feng Boping’s identity wasn’t something he could easily disclose.
“Leave,” he said again, his tone frosty. “Rest assured, my friend knows their limits. They won’t act unless a Fourth Pillar Realm Demon King crosses the border.”
“A Fourth Pillar Realm Demon King wouldn’t dare,” Li Tiangang replied.
“And if one does?” Li Muxiu countered, his gaze unwavering.
Li Tiangang’s face darkened, and he fell silent.
“Speaking of which,” Li Muxiu added, “the interrogation of Liu Yurong should be nearing its conclusion. Instead of pestering me, why don’t you go seek justice for your son? Or do you still believe he fabricated the accusations about the divine blood?”
Li Tiangang’s eyes gleamed at the mention of the divine blood but said nothing further. He bowed slightly and departed.
Li Muxiu watched him go, his icy demeanor softening into a weary sigh.
Turning back to the lake, his gaze drifted to a small hollow nearby.
A fishing platform stood close by, one that Li Hao had used.
“Second Uncle, I caught another one!”
“Look, this time it’s a big one!”
“Second Uncle, the fish is cooked! Come and eat!”
Li Muxiu’s eyes grew faintly red. Deep down, he knew the boy’s nature. If he left now, he would likely never return.
...
...
Great Yu, Sacred Capital
Inside the majestic palace halls, officials of civil and military rank stood on either side of a long, dragonhide carpet. Earlier discussions of provincial affairs had concluded, but now a heated debate raged.
“Your Majesty, it’s been six days. You must make a decision!”
“That Marquis Xingwu just returned from war in Yanbei. Now you want to reward him as a third-class duke? His son, relying on his unparalleled talent, fought his own father. Such actions violate the moral code of father and son!”
“If this isn’t punished severely, it will erode the ethical foundations of society. If everyone emulates such behavior, what will remain of loyalty and filial piety?”
“Your Majesty, I believe this matter requires further investigation. We cannot jump to conclusions.”
...
And yet, he knew why the opposition was so fierce: they feared that Marquis Xingwu’s decision to send Li Hao to Tianmen Pass would lead to its fall. If demons invaded, they would be forced to confront the enemy head-on...
“What evidence do you have?” Emperor Yu asked with interest.