Chapter 19: Shallow Fortune
Li Hao took the sword, his mind racing.
He wasn’t deliberately trying to conceal anything; rather, he was weighing the pros and cons. Displaying his swordsmanship and showcasing his talent would undoubtedly impress everyone. Even if he didn’t reveal his body’s cultivation, simply wielding the sword as an ordinary child would still convey a hint of his mastery in the Tide Sword Technique. With the Sword Saint’s keen eye for swordsmanship, he would likely be able to detect Li Hao’s potential in the path of the sword.
Having a Sword Saint as a mentor would also discourage others from harboring any ambitions toward him.
However, becoming this man’s disciple would mean he would need to follow him to the Sword Abode in the south for training.
While that place was a sacred ground for swordsmen, its foundations were not necessarily as deep as those of the Divine General Mansion, nor as resource-rich as Tingyu Pavilion.
Moreover, he himself needed to rely on strategies such as Chess Dao and other arts for growth. With this old Sword Saint’s severe demeanor, he would most likely impose strict rules and might not tolerate what he’d see as “frivolous pursuits.”
Alternatively, he could acknowledge him as a master but negotiate, asking him to remain at the Divine General Mansion to teach him.
But the Divine General Mansion might not welcome a foreign powerhouse of such caliber to reside there for an extended period... and he might not agree to it either.
“Forget it. He doesn’t need to perform.”
At that moment, the voice of Jian Wudao came through, laced with a hint of displeasure.
Li Hao, who was deep in thought, was startled and looked over at him.
He Jianlan quickly responded, “Sword Saint, sir, why is that?”
“His eyes are empty of the sword. He doesn’t love it. At such a young age, his mind is already filled with complexity. He’s not cut out to practice swordsmanship.”
Jian Wudao’s expression returned to an indifferent calm. If not for the fact that they were at the Divine General Mansion, he would have turned and left without so much as a word of explanation.
“Sword Saint, sir, I’m sure he’s just nervous. Couldn’t you at least give him a chance to demonstrate?” Li Fu, who was standing behind them, hurriedly interjected. This was a rare opportunity, and missing it would be a huge loss.
But before he could finish, Jian Wudao cast a glance at him.
That sword-sharp, indifferent gaze made Li Fu feel as if his throat had frozen, as though his life were being sliced away, stopping him in his tracks.
“Sword Saint, Hao’er has been raised within the mansion and hasn’t seen much of the world. He isn’t allowed to practice martial arts, so it’s only natural he wouldn’t have developed an affinity for the sword,” He Jianlan said, her brows furrowing.
Jian Wudao’s demeanor towards He Jianlan was more measured than with Li Fu. After all, she was the Lady of the Divine General Mansion and acted in her husband’s stead. He gave her a brief look and shook his head gently:
“I understand your thoughts, madam, but you don’t use a sword, and you don’t understand the Way of the Sword. If the boy only aimed for an average level or even to become a high-level warrior in the mortal world, I might be able to teach him to achieve that, though it would still be a stretch.”
“But if he wants to reach the summit, to attain even the lowest tier of my Sword Abode, he’s far from ready.”
“When I assess someone’s aptitude for swordsmanship, I look for two things: innate talent in the path of the sword and a feeling for the sword.”
“A talented individual without any sense for the sword will only reach a second-rate level, while a true love for the sword, even in someone with ordinary comprehension, can drive them through sheer dedication to reach a first-rate level.”
Speaking in unusually plain terms, Jian Wudao was resolute in his explanation.
He glanced toward Bian Ruxue, then spoke to He Jianlan: “Earlier, when this little girl walked over holding a sword, I could see in her eyes a genuine love for the sword. Out of a thousand weapons, she would spot the sword first!”
“With that passion, she will have great accomplishments in the future, regardless of her talent—though her talent is excellent as well.”
Then, he looked at Li Hao. “As for this boy, his gaze holds not a trace of the sword. Even while holding it, he shows no emotion. Talent is no longer relevant here.”
“He isn’t suited to the path of the sword.”
That was his final verdict.
Having said this, He Jianlan was left speechless.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
He Jianlan wanted to protest, but seeing the firm resolve in his eyes, she knew further attempts were futile unless she brought out the family elders—but that would be beneath the Li family’s dignity.
She looked down at Li Hao, her gaze complicated, and sighed softly.
She knew as well as anyone that the boy was naturally wild, often playing chess with the servants in the mansion courtyard. Such insignificant arts were mere pastimes, distractions during a time of peace.
But with Li Tiangang and his wife away, she couldn’t discipline him too harshly. She tried a few words of reprimand, but the boy would disobey and would even sneak away with the servants for chess games, leaving her with no control over him.
Was this truly fate?
As He Jianlan fell silent, Jian Wudao, having said his piece, cared little for what anyone else thought. He’d been clear enough. If the Li family stubbornly insisted on putting this boy under his tutelage, he wouldn’t hold back.
He turned his gaze to the other side, where the young girl stood. His eyes showed undisguised fondness, and even his usual cold expression softened a bit as he smiled kindly. “Little girl, what’s your name?”
“Bian Ruxue.”
The girl replied honestly.
She then looked at Li Hao and addressed the elderly man in front of her. “Could you let Hao-gege give it a try? Hao-gege is very smart, much smarter than Xue’er.”
Jian Wudao smiled faintly. Intelligence? Those scholars in the imperial court were all intelligent.
What’s more, he had already noticed the complexity in Li Hao’s gaze. At such a young age, the boy was full of schemes and calculations. His mind lacked the purity required for the initial stages of swordsmanship, where grueling training was essential to establish a solid foundation. This lack of focus would only lead to divided attention, ultimately hindering his own progress.
This was why some precocious children later became unremarkable adults, while those who seemed quiet and unassuming in childhood often achieved great things.
Jian Wudao disliked the notion of "late bloomers." To him, it was merely a sign of society’s failure to recognize true genius hidden under a protective shell.
Focus and single-mindedness—these were the marks of a true prodigy.
Some children who appeared clever, dabbling in everything and even amusing adults with their precocious remarks, were the ones who lacked the dedication necessary for cultivation. The path of training could not abide self-conceit.
It was the diligent, steady children with a spark of talent who formed the best foundation for greatness.
“Xue’er, come with me to the mountain for training,” Jian Wudao said gently.
“Will you take Hao-gege too?” Bian Ruxue looked up at him and asked.
“Only you.”
“Then I won’t go.”
Bian Ruxue stepped back immediately, as if afraid the elder might forcefully take her away. She clung to Li Hao’s arm tightly and said, “I want to stay with Hao-gege. I’m not going anywhere without him.”
Jian Wudao’s expression stiffened slightly, his brows furrowing.
However, despite Bian Ruxue’s extraordinary talent, she was still just a child. He didn’t grow angry; instead, he turned to He Jianlan and said, “Lady He, I’ll be taking Xue’er with me. When she achieves success in her training, I’ll ensure she returns to visit. In fact, you might hear of her name spreading far and wide within a few years.”
He spoke with confidence. After all, just announcing that the Sword Saint Jian Wudao had taken a new disciple would cause “Bian Ruxue” to become a renowned name across the region.
He Jianlan nodded slightly. She had no reason to refuse Jian Wudao’s decision.
Li Hao had already calmed himself. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but he said nothing. It was just as well—someone else had made the decision for him, sparing him the effort of weighing the options himself.
“Hao-gege, I don’t want to leave,” Bian Ruxue clung to his arm, her eyes red as she spoke timidly.
Li Hao didn’t want her to leave either, but he understood that this was her opportunity.
If she stayed at the Divine General Mansion, her cultivation prospects would be limited to what was available within the confines of the mansion and her proximity to him.
But becoming a disciple of the Sword Saint would grant her incredible mentorship, access to powerful connections, and a chance to experience the vastness of the outside world.
For his own selfish reasons, he wished to keep her by his side. Having her around made him feel grounded and happy.
But for her sake, he chose to let go for now. He gently said, “Xue’er, you need to be good. Go with this grandpa to train. Once you’ve achieved great success, you can return to see me. By then, I’ll take you out for all the delicious food you can eat.”
“I don’t want to go! I don’t want to train! I hate swords!” Bian Ruxue began crying loudly.
Jian Wudao’s brows furrowed deeper as he realized he had underestimated the depth of the little girl’s attachment to the boy.
It made sense—they were childhood friends who had grown up together.
He thought to himself that if worst came to worst, he could take Li Hao along as well. A prodigy like Bian Ruxue was worth taking even if it meant dealing with a mediocre “attachment.”
“Don’t cry now. You’re already a big girl; you shouldn’t keep crying.” Li Hao wiped her nose with his sleeve and spoke soothingly, though his heart ached slightly.
The adults in the courtyard remained silent, watching as one child consoled another.
Many of them looked on with a mixture of jealousy and envy. Children, after all, didn’t understand the gravity of opportunities. If it were their child being offered the chance to join the Sword Abode, they would have kicked them out the door without hesitation to make them seize the chance.
At last, Li Hao managed to calm the little girl down.
With tear-filled eyes, Bian Ruxue said softly, “Promise me, Hao-gege, that you’ll wait for me here. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I promise,” Li Hao said with a smile, patting her on the forehead.
Jian Wudao’s expression softened, even his gaze toward Li Hao grew a touch gentler.
While he could have ignored Bian Ruxue’s protests and taken her away by force—after all, she was just a child who would likely adjust to her new life at the Sword Abode within a few months—it was far better for her to willingly follow him.
Her talent was extraordinary, and time was precious. Delays were not an option.
“Xue’er is soft-hearted, old man. You must protect her well and not let anyone bully her,” Li Hao said seriously, raising his head to look at Jian Wudao.
Jian Wudao raised an eyebrow at the boy’s audacious choice of words but didn’t take offense. Instead, he replied calmly, “Rest assured, little one. With me, no one in this world will dare to bully her.”
“Good,” Li Hao said, meeting his gaze deeply. Then, turning to Bian Ruxue, he added, “Xue’er, if anyone bullies you at the Sword Abode, write it down. When I see them in the future, I’ll bully them back for you.”
The adults present regarded Li Hao’s words as nothing more than the naive declaration of a child. None of them took it seriously.
...
Before leaving, Jian Wudao seemed to have a thought and said to He Jianlan, “My Sword Abode has a body refinement manual. I’ll send someone to deliver it later. If used in Tingyu Pavilion, it might even reach the sixth level. Let this boy try it.”
He Jianlan was delighted and quickly expressed her gratitude. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she asked once more, “Is there truly no way for Hao’er to become your disciple?”
Jian Wudao walked away, leaving behind only a single sentence:
“The boy’s fate is good, but his fortune is shallow.”