Chapter 11: Li Hao Draws His Sword
Yesterday’s slightly unpolished sword technique had, by today, already taken on the essence of a true swordsman.
His posture was precise, his movements crisp and fluid, carrying a certain grace.
A swordsmanship prodigy!
At this moment, Lin Haixia could only think of those four words.
One had to realize, how many days had it been since Bian Ruxue had started learning this technique? To even reach the basic level within half a month would have been commendable.
But now, she was already proficient, and there was even a rare touch of natural talent in her moves. That was the crucial part.
Although he had been stern with the young girl yesterday, it was only because he recognized her potential in swordsmanship—a talent that could one day make her a true master—and therefore he had been strict, even harsh.
He hadn’t expected Bian Ruxue’s performance today to exceed his expectations entirely. This was undoubtedly a swordsmanship prodigy of rare caliber!
"Good, very good."
Lin Haixia laughed and nodded repeatedly. Once Bian Ruxue finished her practice, he asked, "Did you practice on your own last night?"
Bian Ruxue immediately thought of the guidance from her older brother, Li Hao, but then she remembered his serious warnings and reminders, so she just nodded lightly.
Lin Haixia was unsurprised; without dedicated practice last night, she could never have displayed such improvement today.
But for her to show such remarkable progress with only a single night of practice—that was truly extraordinary.
"This sword technique is a bit too basic for you. Today, I’ll teach you an advanced sword technique!"
Lin Haixia announced.
The earlier technique had only been a low-tier sword skill. Access to the high-tier sword techniques in the Li family’s Tingyu Pavilion was restricted to direct family members, and only the head of the Li family had the authority to pass them on, especially those exceptional techniques.
Unless Li Hao’s parents expressly authorized it, even Li Hao himself, as he was now, wouldn’t have the right.
He was still too young, not yet the head of the family.
“Mm.”
Bian Ruxue nodded.
The two—a teacher and a student—continued practicing new sword techniques in the courtyard.
One taught, the other learned.
Li Hao glanced over at them briefly, felt a bit uninterested, and returned to his own contemplations on his chess heart.
In his hand, he held black and white pieces, which he flipped between his fingers, rubbing them gently as he pondered various chess strategies.
Time passed quietly in this courtyard, leaving no trace.
During the day, Li Hao would stare at the chessboard, lost in thought.
At night, he would occasionally guide Bian Ruxue, correcting some minor mistakes.
Bian Ruxue’s rapid progress in swordsmanship continued to astonish Lin Haixia.
...
Months later, in Piaoxue Academy.
Li Hao stood silently among the crowd, watching as a sage-like elder took away Li Wushuang, who had just turned eight this year, to begin her cultivation.
With tears in her eyes, Fifth Madam sent her off, urging her to eat well, listen to her teachers, and get enough rest.
Li Hao remembered that when he was still an infant, this young girl had clutched onto his mother’s pants, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
Fifth Madam had three children—two daughters and a son. This was her eldest daughter.
When she was five, her bone measurements revealed her to have a ninth-class battle body, marking her as another outstanding talent within the Li family.
Now, word had it she was displaying an extraordinary aptitude for cultivation, attracting the attention of a master who had taken her as a disciple.
Li Hao had witnessed a similar scene two years prior.
At that time, it had been Liu Yurong’s child, who was taken by a bald monk chanting Buddhist scriptures.
Evidently, that person was from Wuliang Mountain.
In the Li family, those with exceptional talent would often join one of the top powers of Great Yu for their training. This was also one of the ways these top forces expanded their networks.
Those with slightly lesser talent, like the second son of Second Madam, who only measured a seventh-class battle body—even though he was considered a genius, he was a step behind these prodigies. His future path would be at Tangong Academy in Qingzhou City.
Compared to Fifth Madam’s maternal sorrow, Li Wushuang’s face appeared mature beyond her years. Like a little adult, she merely nodded calmly, reminding her parents to take care of themselves.
Then, her gaze swept across the courtyard, taking in each person one by one.
As she passed Li Hao, she merely gave him a quick glance, having long since lost any particular impression of him.
Among the third-generation children in the mansion, the few her mother spoke of most frequently were those with outstanding talent—such as the child of Second Madam, Li Qianfeng, who was the goal she aspired to reach.
The others no longer caught her eye.
Immersed in the vast cauldron of martial arts, she had absorbed everything she heard from her mother, her martial instructors, and the family servants. Although she was still young, she had developed a maturity beyond her years, with a gaze carrying a hint of sharpness and an ambition already fixed on pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts.
Saying goodbye to her parents, the young girl followed the Daoist away under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
The next time they would meet might be years later when she returned with a renowned reputation.
...
Life returned to a peaceful rhythm.
In this tranquil passage of time, Li Hao gradually resumed his routine of playing chess against himself.
But now, he wasn’t doing it for the experience; he simply wanted to think through each game.
He was attempting to defeat himself, switching his mindset to match the black pieces when holding the black pieces, and the white pieces when holding the white. Although it was a challenging process, there was a sense of thrill in it.
The joy of competing with oneself was boundless.
In a world where entertainment was scarce, Li Hao began to enjoy this feeling of focusing on a single task, especially one that offered a challenge.
So, from time to time, the maids would see the young master bursting out in surprise.
Like when eating quietly, he would suddenly exclaim, "Ah! That move should have gone there!"
Or, with a look of regret, he’d point to a flowerbed and ask a nearby maid, "Doesn’t that patch of flowers look like a chessboard?"
The maids: ???
They didn’t understand at all, not even remotely.
But if the young master said it was so, then it must be.
After all, he was their young master. What else could they do but nod along?
...
When Li Hao turned six, Lin Haixia approached him, announcing it was time to teach him martial techniques.
He brought over a weapon rack, allowing Li Hao to choose a weapon and practice with each one, just as he had once done when selecting a weapon for Bian Ruxue.
...
Considering that Li Hao’s bones were not like Bian Ruxue’s—who had a top-tier battle body—Lin Haixia had postponed this training for a year, fearing that starting too early might hinder his bone development.
Only now did Li Hao understand that this military master had remained in the family estate specifically to teach him martial techniques.
“Aren’t I unable to cultivate?” Li Hao asked, yawning as he was pulled out of bed early in the morning, wanting nothing more than to crawl back in.
“First, you train in techniques. If the Marshal ever finds a way to clear your meridians, you’ll be able to start cultivating immediately and won’t be behind in martial skills,” Lin Haixia explained. This was his plan—train first, just in case.
What if he could cultivate in the future? Then all this would pay off.
"And if I still can’t?" Li Hao asked.
“You’re just sitting idle otherwise,” Lin Haixia replied blandly.
Li Hao felt like spitting blood. What kind of logic was that?
Surely being idle was better than getting exhausted!
But Lin Haixia was resolute. No matter how much Li Hao tried to talk his way out of it, it was futile. Finally, he grew stern, producing a bamboo stick and warning that if he continued resisting, he’d use it.
Although Li Hao wasn’t afraid of pain—given his current physical condition, it would feel more like scratching an itch unless Lin Haixia used his full strength—he couldn’t help but yield in the face of the older man’s resolve.
Reluctantly, Li Hao picked up each weapon, practicing half-heartedly, flailing about with no real technique or coordination.
When he finally picked up a sword, the young girl beside him looked on expectantly, cheering him on with her little fists, “Brother Hao, you can do it!”
Li Hao was at a loss for words. He swung the sword a few times, barely putting in any effort.
Lin Haixia’s face darkened, sensing the boy’s lack of sincerity. “You’re not resting today until you practice with one of these weapons to my satisfaction. And don’t even think about touching that cursed chessboard again!”
“Are you messing with me?” Li Hao fumed.
Lin Haixia’s patience snapped as well; this boy was growing more and more out of line. What kind of nonsense was he spouting?
“Practice!!” he growled through gritted teeth.
Li Hao wore a sour expression as he picked up a blade and began practicing seriously. Still, his attempts were clumsy and awkward.
Some unseen force seemed to interfere, preventing him from practicing normally.
Lin Haixia noticed Li Hao’s interest in the sword and began teaching him, move by move, starting from the most basic stance.
Yet the moment the sword touched Li Hao’s hand, his form fell apart.
“Did you understand?” Lin Haixia asked.
Li Hao replied that he did.
But his hands and feet seemed to say just one thing: Go away!
After an entire afternoon, Lin Haixia was on the verge of cursing.
He had already realized that Li Hao wasn’t slacking off. The boy was genuinely trying, yet he simply couldn’t perform.
It was as if some innate force rendered him incapable of even mastering the simplest low-tier sword techniques. He displayed not a hint of martial talent.
Lin Haixia couldn’t help but think of certain prodigies.
Some people excelled in one area to an extraordinary degree but were utterly inept in others, often even worse than ordinary people.
Li Hao, it seemed, was one such case.
Unfortunately, his innate gift had been misplaced.
Chess skills... what kind of meaningless talent was that?!
Lin Haixia began to loathe the existence of chess itself. Why did such a useless game even exist in the world? Whoever invented it deserved a curse!
But after his anger subsided, he felt a wave of sadness. Had he truly failed to help the young master?
He hated his own incompetence, hated that he couldn’t repay the Marshal’s kindness by properly training his son.
Despite forcing Li Hao to practice for half a month more, Lin Haixia ultimately gave up in despair.
“Little master,” he said, visibly weary, “there’s been some unrest in the Yanbei battlefield recently. I’ll be leaving in a few days.”
Li Hao glanced at the man, recognizing the deep disheartenment in his expression.
Over the past few weeks, he had seen Lin Haixia’s pain and frustration, and he felt a mix of gratitude and guilt.
This man had hated the chessboard, cursed his own teaching ability, and blamed himself for failing, yet never once did he blame Li Hao.
“Uncle Lin,” Li Hao said quietly, “what do you think? If someone who can’t cultivate the martial arts took the path of body refinement and combined it with combat techniques, could they still become strong?”
Sitting in the courtyard with a jug of wine, Lin Haixia paused mid-drink. He considered the question carefully before replying with conviction, “Yes!”
He continued, “I’ve seen warriors in the army who possess formidable physical strength and masterful spear techniques, earning their place as powerful fighters.”
He turned to look at Li Hao, but his expression quickly dimmed. “Young master, I know you’re intelligent and capable of enduring hardship. If you were to take the path of body refinement, I have no doubt you could persevere. But your comprehension...”
He trailed off, his voice tinged with sorrow. It was precisely for this reason he had tried to teach Li Hao martial techniques earlier, hoping to lay the groundwork for such a possibility.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at the man. “I sleep in every morning until the sun’s high in the sky, and you think I can endure hardship?”
Lin Haixia shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “I’ve seen you when you’re engrossed in chess. I know you can endure it—you just don’t enjoy it.”
In Li Hao, he saw the makings of a top-tier warrior: intelligence, determination, and perseverance.
But the boy lacked the most crucial components of martial arts—aptitude and comprehension.
These two traits were the entry ticket to the martial world.
Without them, how could one even step through the door, let alone aim for the heights?
This also meant that the vast cultivation resources of the Divine General Mansion were no more than an empty mountain for Li Hao.
Hearing Lin Haixia’s words, Li Hao was slightly taken aback. He cast a sidelong glance at the man, then fell silent.
The night wind stirred. One man drank his wine, while the other gazed at the starry sky. A shooting star streaked across the heavens—whose destined star had just fallen?
...
Two months later.
Lin Haixia was preparing to leave and came to bid Li Hao farewell.
Li Hao waited for him in the inner courtyard. The large courtyard was eerily empty, as he had dismissed all the servants to the outer courtyard, leaving only the two of them.
“Uncle Lin, isn’t this too cold of a send-off?” Li Hao asked with a small smile, his hands clasped behind his back.
Lin Haixia sighed deeply. “I don’t care about such formalities. But you—take care of Ruxue for me. That girl has immense talent in swordsmanship. She’ll achieve great things in the future. Treat her well, and she’ll protect you one day.”
His gaze was complicated, filled with a mix of regret and resignation.
By now, he had completely given up hope on training Li Hao in martial arts.
He had come to the Divine General Mansion brimming with enthusiasm, ready to devote all his efforts to nurturing the Marshal’s youngest son as a way of repaying his debt of gratitude.
Now, he was leaving with nothing but disappointment and sorrow.
Li Hao’s smile deepened slightly. “Uncle Lin, I don’t have anything to give you for your departure, but let me present you with a small gift today.”
“I don’t need anything,” Lin Haixia said, shaking his head. “As long as you live well, that’s enough for me.”
Li Hao said nothing. He simply walked over to the weapon rack.
Lin Haixia was stunned, watching him in confusion.
Then, he saw Li Hao slowly draw a sword from the rack.
“This sword,” Li Hao said softly, “is my gift to you, Uncle Lin.”
With those words, the sword was raised.
His stance was as elegant as drifting snow. The sword in his hand shone with a brilliance as boundless as the tides of the sea, erupting in an instant into a dazzling cascade of sword flowers, intricate and resplendent to the extreme.
Supreme Perfection—Boundless Sea, Tide Sword Technique!
At that moment, the radiant sword light illuminated the vast, empty inner courtyard.
It also reflected in Lin Haixia’s wide eyes, the black of his pupils shrinking until they shone like mirrors.