Chapter 32: The Leader of the Children, Li Hao
Hearing the child’s carefully enunciated instructions, He Jianlan’s expression grew slightly tense. She nodded gently and spoke in a warm tone:
"Your Auntie will convey your words, so you needn’t worry. Focus on cultivating well with your Second Grandpa. Listen to his guidance, don’t act rashly, and when you have time, you can visit the martial training grounds to practice. They’ll always welcome you there."
Previously, she hadn’t suggested Li Hao visit the training grounds out of concern he might be bullied. Now that Li Hao had embarked on the path of cultivation, visiting the training grounds would allow him to spar with others, refine his combat skills, and improve his training.
After Li Hao and Li Fu left together, He Jianlan let out a soft sigh.
Nearby, Xuejian noticed her expression and cautiously asked, “Madam, why are you sighing?”
"Xiao Qi has been busy with military affairs in Yanbei, perhaps too busy to remember. And that couple—they haven’t sent many letters in all these years to care for this child. Hao’er is actually quite sensible..."
He Jianlan murmured softly, her tone tinged with helplessness and a hint of reproach.
Xuejian, quick-witted as ever, paused in realization and asked, “Madam, could it be that the words you just said were actually…”
He Jianlan glanced at her, and Xuejian immediately fell silent, lowering her head. Yet, she couldn’t help but glance toward the courtyard, where the small figure was already walking away in the distance.
So the madam’s affectionate instructions and greetings just now were all fabricated by her? Yet the young master believed them completely...
...
...
Returning to the Shanhe Courtyard.
Li Hao hadn’t yet had the chance to retrieve his drawing board when a servant delivered a letter. Seeing the signature, a smile appeared on his face, and his earlier melancholy dissipated.
Although he hadn’t interacted much with that couple in Yanbei, strangely, in the quiet of night, he would sometimes find himself missing them.
Perhaps it was the warmth of an embrace that had reappeared in his dreams.
Or maybe it was the genuine eyes he still couldn’t forget.
The letter in his hand came from the Sword Abode, naturally sent by that lovable little girl.
Since she went to the Sword Abode, she had written back regularly. Initially, she sent letters every three to five days. Later, her letters mentioned that her Sword Saint master had become stricter, demanding she focus on her cultivation. As a result, the frequency of her letters gradually decreased. Yet even now, Li Hao would still receive one letter every month.
The letters no longer chronicled daily events—there wasn’t much to say since the Sword Abode’s cultivation life was monotonous and repetitive. Such training emphasized the fundamentals, which were inevitably tedious.
Li Hao opened the letter, sat on a reclining chair in the sunlight, and read it slowly, smiling as he carefully absorbed every word.
Within, he spotted a typo and a little doodle of circles and crosses—evidence of a word written incorrectly and left blank.
In his mind, he could almost picture the little girl scratching her head over the letter, and he chuckled softly.
The letter described her recent meals and how her Sword Saint master had obtained a rare treasure for her cultivation. She had already reached the fifth level of the Zhoutian Realm, opening 21 meridians, and was practicing the Sword Abode’s strongest energy circulation technique.
Li Hao remembered his Second Grandpa mentioning that the Sword Abode’s energy circulation technique was the Galaxy Sword Qi Art, a top-tier cultivation method. If mastered to the peak of the Zhoutian Realm, it could open 49 meridians!
Compared to the Li family’s Dragon River Divine Veins technique, which could open 54 meridians, it was only slightly inferior.
Moreover, the little girl had already unlocked the special Taiyin Vein, earning her the Sword Saint’s deep favor.
Reading this, Li Hao couldn’t help but feel happy for her. The Dragon River Divine Veins technique was strictly prohibited from being passed outside the family. Only direct descendants could learn it, meaning even Bian Ruxue, his fiancée, was not permitted.
For others, including mistresses of various family branches like He Jianlan, they were only eligible to cultivate techniques slightly inferior to the Dragon River Divine Veins.
Of course, those with exceptional talent who could unlock two special meridians could compensate for the disparity in foundational cultivation techniques. However, such individuals were exceedingly rare.
After finishing the letter, Li Hao called a servant to prepare ink, paper, and a brush.
He wrote a leisurely reply, recounting his recent endeavors in painting, cooking, and fishing, as well as some amusing moments with a certain elder he had befriended.
Naturally, he avoided mentioning the name or title of the Thief Saint.
After all, Feng Lao was considered an infamous figure in Great Yu, despised by many factions. Only someone as carefree as his Second Grandpa would form such a close friendship with him. If others knew about their relationship, it would surely lead to accusations of "collusion between government and outlaws!"
Once finished, Li Hao added a small doodle of an encouraging expression at the end of the letter, urging her to persevere in her cultivation.
(ง•̀_•́)ง
...
The letter was handed to a servant for delivery. Li Hao then retrieved his drawing board and began sketching. Having reached the second stage of the Painting Dao, his skills had become more refined.
At first glance, his sketches seemed unchanged, but upon closer inspection, they revealed vivid, lifelike expressions, as though the figures were gazing back at the viewer from the paper.
Before he could finish a drawing, a group of boisterous voices approached from outside the courtyard.
“Brother Hao, we’re here!” someone shouted loudly from afar.
Looking up, Li Hao saw three young figures running toward him, shouting noisily.
They were: Li Yuanzhao, the only son of the Sixth Madam; Li Yun, the second son of the Fifth Madam; and Li Zhining, the Fifth Madam’s daughter.
On the day Bian Ruxue left for the Sword Abode, the three, as direct relatives of the Li family, had come to Shanhe Courtyard to see her off. That’s how they became acquainted with Li Hao.
Afterward, Li Yun repeatedly visited the courtyard, ostensibly to inquire about Bian Ruxue’s return. It didn’t take long for Li Hao to realize that this immature brat dared to harbor feelings for his little fiancée.
However, Li Hao didn’t bother holding a grudge against the kid...
—He merely gave him a good, hard spanking.
After that, coupled with some serious intimidation, Li Yun didn’t dare to run to the Fifth Madam and complain. After all, fights between kids weren’t something adults needed to get involved in.
Of course, the primary reason was that Li Hao could win every time.
Since then, Li Yun developed a slight fear of Li Hao, avoiding him on sight. Yet, surprisingly, he didn’t stop visiting Shanhe Courtyard. Instead, he began dragging along his younger sister and Li Yuanzhao for support, bringing them along as a group to bolster his courage.
Through repeated interactions, Li Hao gradually found himself crowned as the "leader of the children" among the three.
“Brother Hao, last time you were telling us about how the monkey got suppressed. You never finished the story. What happened next?”
Li Yuanzhao, chubby and short, puffed and panted as he jogged over to Li Hao’s drawing board. Although his dirty little hands twitched with curiosity, he didn’t dare touch the sketches, fearing Li Hao would smack him on the head.
“Yeah, yeah!” Li Yun nodded eagerly, his head bobbing like a pecking chicken. Clearly, he had already been thoroughly subdued by Li Hao.
Beside them, the little girl Li Zhining handed Li Hao a food box, her eyes sparkling as she said, “Brother Hao, these crispy cakes were made by my mother. We’ve already eaten some, and they’re delicious. This portion is for you.”
“I haven’t eaten yet!” Li Yuanzhao immediately complained, reaching out with a grubby hand fresh from the martial training grounds. But Li Zhining nimbly twisted her body away, shooting him a fierce glare.
The little chubby boy immediately looked aggrieved.
Li Hao chuckled, accepting the food box without hesitation. He opened it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. Taking a piece, he tasted it and found it excellent. Smiling, he divided the remaining cakes among the three children.
“Go grab some stools, and I’ll tell you the rest of the story while you eat,” Li Hao said.
“Uncle Zhao, stools!” Li Yun shouted, his voice booming across the courtyard.
Li Hao lightly smacked him on the head. “Uncle Zhao is not someone you can order around. Go get them yourself!”
Rubbing his head, Li Yun grumbled under his breath, then pointed at a servant and barked, “You! Bring me a stool!”
The servant didn’t dare refuse and went to fetch one with a smile.
Meanwhile, Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhining, already familiar with the layout of Shanhe Courtyard, quickly ran inside and brought out small stools for themselves, obediently sitting by Li Hao’s side.