Chapter 25: Boasting and the Letter
Li Muxiu quickly descended onto the fishing platform where they had been earlier.
Sweeping his gaze around, he found no sign of Li Hao. His expression shifted as he scanned the surroundings, only to spot a figure hunched near a dirt mound a thousand meters away. It was Li Hao, crouched on the ground, stealthily fishing.
"Impatient, aren't you?"
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly and was about to approach when he caught sight of a fish demon with its skull smashed in.
His brow furrowed, and in a flash, he appeared before the fish demon as if he had teleported.
After examining the corpse closely, he noted that the injuries were caused by sheer brute force—a fist.
Li Muxiu placed his hand on the fish demon’s body, sensing its energy carefully. His expression immediately changed.
"Zhoutian Realm? Around the third level, at least!"
Could this fish demon have been killed by that kid?
Li Muxiu's eyes betrayed a hint of astonishment as he glanced at Li Hao in the distance. Without hesitation, he shot toward him, crossing a kilometer in the blink of an eye.
"Kid!"
The sudden shout startled Li Hao.
He had been focused on watching the float on his fishing line and hadn't even noticed the old man’s approach.
"Shh!"
Li Hao quickly gestured for silence.
Li Muxiu blinked, swallowing the words he had intended to say. Following Li Hao's gaze, he focused on the float.
With his enhanced vision, Li Muxiu peered into the water and saw a fish demon circling near the bait. It appeared hesitant, as though wary of something.
To his surprise, the hook was entirely concealed by the bait. The setup was so flawless that it was nearly impossible to detect the presence of the hook.
"Well, well. When did he learn this hidden hook technique?"
While Li Muxiu marveled inwardly, the fish demon finally succumbed to temptation. Though it felt a vague sense of unease, it couldn’t resist the lure of the bait. Acting on impulse, it lunged forward and bit down.
Hooked!
Li Hao’s eyes lit up. When the float sank underwater, he yanked the line sharply.
The hook caught firmly in the fish demon’s mouth, causing it to thrash in pain. The water churned violently as the creature struggled.
Li Hao wasted no time. He deftly reeled in the line, using the skill he had honed earlier to tire the fish demon out by pulling it left and right in the water.
After a few minutes, the exhausted fish demon was dragged ashore. It was a minor demon at the sixth level of the Tongli Realm.
Watching Li Hao’s casual demeanor, Li Muxiu’s eyes flickered. After Li Hao unhooked the fish demon and flung it onto a nearby slope, Li Muxiu finally spoke.
"That fish demon back there—did you kill it?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded without hesitation. With no one else around, lying served no purpose.
"Do you know what realm that fish demon was?" Li Muxiu squinted, fixing Li Hao with a penetrating gaze, as if trying to peer into his very soul.
"Zhoutian Realm?"
Based on the fish demon’s burst of strength in the water earlier, Li Hao ventured a guess. There was no way it could have been from the Tongli Realm.
"Correct. At least the third level of the Zhoutian Realm!" Li Muxiu stared at Li Hao intently. "You’ve only practiced the Barbaric Bull Technique, which at most puts you at the sixth level of the Tongli Realm. Be honest—have you been secretly practicing something else?"
Li Hao had already prepared an explanation. Seeing the old man broach the subject, he feigned hesitation before nodding. "Yes."
"Which one?"
"The Sacred Body of a Thousand Serpents from the sixth floor," Li Hao replied.
Li Muxiu raised an eyebrow. How convenient. He had been planning to teach Li Hao that very body-refining manual if he showed promise. But this kid had not only chosen it himself but seemed to have progressed quite far.
"What level have you reached?" Li Muxiu asked, his eyes narrowing.
"The second level," Li Hao answered honestly.
The second level was the Dragon Serpent Form, which allowed the practitioner to unleash the power of a half-dragon. Even without reaching the Zhoutian Realm, it could grant strength comparable to its early stages. This made it plausible for Li Hao to have slain the fish demon.
Li Muxiu inwardly took a deep breath. The second level?
He gazed at the boy, who wasn’t even eight years old yet. How could someone so young have already reached the second level?
It seemed Li Fu hadn’t been exaggerating—this kid truly did have a gift for body refinement.
"Even with the Dragon Serpent Form, reeling in that fish demon was no easy feat. You, little one, not only have talent for body refinement but also show great promise in fishing!" Li Muxiu's voice was filled with pride and approval.
Li Hao scratched his head with a modest smile, though he grumbled inwardly. From the old man’s tone, it almost sounded like his fishing talent was more impressive than his body refinement.
"They all think you’re a martial arts waste, yet at such a young age, you’ve already slain a Zhoutian Realm opponent. Ha!"
Li Muxiu burst out laughing. Whatever the future held, at this moment, Li Hao’s combat prowess surpassed even the most exceptional talents with ninth-class battle bodies.
...
As Li Muxiu’s laughter faded, his expression turned contemplative. Looking down at Li Hao, he asked, "Does Li Fu know about this? When did you start practicing in secret? Why didn’t you tell him? Do you not trust him?"
"I started a few years ago when I first entered Tingyu Pavilion," Li Hao said earnestly. "Uncle Fu... he never asked me."
Li Muxiu rolled his eyes. "So you don’t volunteer information unless asked? No wonder you mastered the Barbaric Bull Technique in three months. With a foundation like yours, practicing it must’ve been as easy as eating and drinking. Did your father tell you to keep it a secret?"
Li Hao thought for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
"So it was your decision?"
Li Muxiu’s eyes narrowed.
Seeing Li Hao remain silent, Li Muxiu’s mind raced, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "Could it be someone in the household covets your talent, so you’re keeping a low profile to avoid trouble?"
Li Hao met the old man’s gaze, catching the icy killing intent within. After some consideration, he nodded faintly.
"Who is it?!"
Realizing the truth, Li Muxiu's fury erupted.
Letting a seven-year-old endure such suppression? Those second-rate schemers were overstepping!
Li Hao shook his head. "I don’t want to say for now."
"Why?" Li Muxiu stared at him, then quickly grasped the boy’s reasoning.
"You don’t trust me? You think I might be connected to the people targeting you? Hah, don’t overthink it. I have no children, and few in this world mean anything to me."
Li Hao remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
Li Muxiu’s anger simmered down as he studied the boy. After a moment, he nodded slightly, a faint smile of approval appearing on his face.
"We’ve only just met, so it’s natural to be cautious. But if you didn’t intend to reveal your strength, why let me see it? You could have released that fish demon and kept your abilities hidden."
Li Hao smiled faintly. "Because you’re not a bad person, Old Master."
Li Muxiu was momentarily stunned. Looking at the boy’s bright smile and clear eyes, he felt a flicker of something indescribable.
After a long pause, he chuckled wryly.
"Not a bad person? If I were truly bad, I’d be worse than a demon."
"What would you be then?"
"When you leave the Divine General Mansion someday, you’ll hear my name out in the world," Li Muxiu said with a smile.
Li Hao, sensing that the old man wasn’t inclined to elaborate, chose not to push the matter further.
"You, little one, have such a sharp mind at a young age. It’s almost a shame..." Li Muxiu studied Li Hao, his appreciation for the boy growing. If given the opportunity to pursue a proper path of cultivation, this child might very well become another Xiao Jiu.
However, the thought brought only a faint trace of regret rather than obsession. After all, even if one became like Li Junye, it didn’t change the ultimate fate of falling on the battlefield—a destiny seemingly unavoidable for the sons of the Li family.
"From now on, you don’t need to hide your body-refining talent from me. Feel free to display it openly. I’ve seen my fair share of geniuses; your level is just a standard first-rate talent—not enough to scare this old man."
Li Muxiu spoke calmly, but his voice carried a steely edge. "And if anyone in the mansion covets you, believing you’re a threat to someone, I’d like to see if the Divine General Mansion can’t even tolerate a single child on the path of body refinement."
...
...
After gathering up the day’s catch, Li Muxiu brought Li Hao back to Qingzhou City.
To spark the boy’s interest in fishing, Li Muxiu deliberately avoided landing directly at Tingyu Pavilion. Instead, he descended at the mansion’s main gate, making Li Hao carry the fish basket. The old man and the boy strode boldly through the mansion’s corridors.
"Old Master, what’s the purpose of this?" Li Hao asked, puzzled.
"You wouldn’t understand. It’s a fishing tradition."
Li Muxiu puffed out his chest, wearing an air of dignified pride. "You caught four fish, not counting the one you killed or the one I used as bait. For a beginner, that’s a significant haul. Naturally, we must show everyone."
"Is that a real tradition?" Li Hao asked, dubious.
Li Muxiu shot him a glare. "I say it is, so it is."
As they passed, servants and maids along the way were taken aback at the sight of Li Muxiu, the mansion’s steadfast guardian who rarely left Tingyu Pavilion. They hurriedly knelt and greeted him, their voices filled with reverence.
"Lord Mu Tian!"
Li Muxiu ignored them entirely, walking on with Li Hao in tow.
...
The duo weaved through the mansion, deliberately taking routes with heavy foot traffic. They arrived at the training grounds, where younger family members were sparring under the guidance of an elder from the military division.
Li Muxiu pushed open the doors and strode in.
The elder initially frowned at the disruption but froze upon recognizing Li Muxiu. He immediately stood and bowed. "The old general of Yuan Battalion greets Lord Mu Tian!"
"Teaching lessons, I see," Li Muxiu said, pretending to be unaware of the obvious. "Today, I took Hao'er out fishing. It’s his first time, so he didn’t catch much. Just a few minor demons. Care for some to pair with wine?"
The elder glanced at the fish basket in Li Hao’s hands. Recognizing the fish demons as Tongli Realm creatures, he politely declined. "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Marquis, but I’ve already prepared dishes for today."
He had been around long enough to know Li Muxiu’s ways. This wasn’t about sharing a meal; it was about showing off. Accepting the fish would likely earn him a midnight beating as “punishment” for not appreciating the performance.
"Suit yourself," Li Muxiu said nonchalantly, turning away with Li Hao.
Li Hao’s face was a picture of exasperation. "So this is a fishing tradition? Feels forced..."
...
They continued to the Changchun Courtyard.
"Second Uncle, what brings you here? It’s nearly time for lunch. Shall I have an extra setting prepared for you? What would you like to eat?" He Jianlan asked, rising to greet them alongside Madam Gao.
"Just passing by. Hao'er caught a few small fish. Why don’t you make some soup with them?" Li Muxiu replied indifferently.
"These are Hao'er’s catches?" He Jianlan asked, surprised as she noticed the fish in the basket.
"Of course. Do you think I would bother fishing for such small ones?" Li Muxiu huffed, displeased.
He Jianlan quickly nodded, knowing better than to offend the old man when it came to fishing. "Of course, Second Uncle. Since they’re a gift from you, I’ll gladly accept them."
"Why thank me? They’re Hao’er’s fish," Li Muxiu corrected.
He Jianlan blinked, then turned to Li Hao. "Thank you, Hao'er."
"No need, Aunt," Li Hao replied quickly, shooting a sidelong glare at the old man. This so-called tradition was leaving him mortified.
After handing over the fish, the two left. He Jianlan inspected the catch, noting that the fish were Tongli Realm creatures. Her expression grew thoughtful.
"So the boy really caught these?"
Madam Gao was equally astonished. The whole family had written Li Hao off as a martial waste, yet he’d managed to capture fish demons of this caliber—a clear sign he had started cultivating and was making progress.
"Second Uncle wouldn’t joke about fishing," He Jianlan said.
She gazed toward the courtyard entrance where the pair had disappeared. "It seems the boy has chosen the path of body refinement. A hard and bitter road. Poor child."
Madam Gao sighed softly. "If he were my son, I’d rather see him live a peaceful life than endure such hardship."
"It must be Old Seven’s doing... such ruthlessness," Madam Gao muttered under her breath.
...
...
When they returned to Tingyu Pavilion, Li Hao spotted Li Fu waiting outside.
Li Muxiu noticed him too and let out a cold snort.
Seeing the pair approach, Li Fu hurried over. His eyes landed on the fish blood staining Li Hao’s clothes, and his expression tightened. "Second Uncle, did Hao'er—"
"Fishing often involves tussles with fish demons," Li Muxiu said casually. "Don’t worry. I was there the whole time; Hao’er wasn’t in any danger."
Relieved, Li Fu handed a letter to Li Hao. "This just arrived from the Sword Abode. It should be from Miss Xue’er. Take a look."