Chapter 50: A Moment’s Leisure in a Busy Life
Over the course of half a month in the Jia Academy, the fifty students had become well-acquainted with each other.
At the very least, they could call each other by name.
“Yuanzhao, the disciples of the Divine General Mansion are truly incredible. You’re all freshmen, yet nearly swept the top ten rankings.”
Sitting on the grass, the slender Du Yueqiu remarked to Li Yuanzhao.
Du Yueqiu was a senior student, eighteen years old, the prime of youth. However, in the Jia Academy, she was already considered an “old-timer.”
Before the semester began, she had been ranked in the top ten of the Martial Rankings. Now, her position had fallen outside the top fifteen.
It was no fault of her own; the freshmen this year were simply too monstrous. Among the newcomers from the Divine General Mansion alone, there were seven of them. Adding two princes from the imperial family and a grandmaster’s child, as well as a city’s princess, there were a total of thirteen individuals with intimidating backgrounds.
The senior students had spent years of hard training to achieve Zhoutian Realm Perfection, while these freshmen entered already at Perfection or close to it, enrolling with their formidable family legacies.
Even though their cultivation realms were equivalent, the quality of their breathing techniques and meridian-opening methods varied greatly. This difference resulted in nearly double the strength between individuals. The seniors were no match, deeply intimidated by these scions of Dayu’s supreme power.
“It’s not that impressive. I’m only ranked sixth, not even close,” Li Yuanzhao scratched his head as he replied.
“...”
Du Yueqiu was left speechless.
Nearby, another freshman, Zheng Bai, a noble heir from Liang Province, could only offer a bitter smile.
Though he was also a freshman, his ranking was only thirty-eighth.
Among the freshmen, only those with unparalleled backgrounds dared to challenge the seniors. The rest, like Zheng Bai, had to remain obedient and learn from their older peers.
In the training grounds, some students were sparring and practicing techniques.
Du Yueqiu glanced at the Martial Rankings, her expression complicated.
Of the current top five, only one senior remained, clinging on as a symbol of the seniors’ last shred of dignity.
The first and second ranks were occupied by two imperial princes. With the imperial family's unrivaled meridian-opening techniques and breathing methods, it was natural for them to dominate.
Ranked third was Wang Han from the Tianzhao Divine General Mansion. At the sight of this name, Du Yueqiu’s expression shifted slightly. Apart from the imperial princes, Wang Han was currently the most fearsome individual in the Jia Academy.
Although only fifteen years old, his ruthless and decisive fighting style stood out. His techniques were ferocious, unlike others of his age. He seemed as if he had been tempered in the fires of life and death.
Rumor had it that Wang Han had served for a year in the River of Death Division.
Ranked fourth was the daughter of a grandmaster, who was said to have comprehended the Sword Heart. Her mastery of swordsmanship was so extraordinary it bordered on terrifying.
The fifth place was held by the lone senior, once the top of the Martial Rankings. His spear techniques had reached a level of supreme perfection. Just yesterday, he narrowly defeated Li Yuanzhao in a duel by half a move.
Standing beside her, Li Yuanzhao was ranked sixth. Following him were his two younger kin, Li Yun and Li Zhining.
“Strange, where’s your brother Hao? Why isn’t he here?”
Du Yueqiu scanned the grounds curiously, her gaze searching for Li Hao.
Her interest in Li Hao was far greater. After all, whenever Li Yuanzhao spoke of him, it was always with the utmost respect, calling him “Brother Hao” at every turn. When the two were together, anyone with a discerning eye could see how much Li Yuanzhao revered this peer who was close in age.
It was puzzling, even astonishing.
Yet every time classes ended, Li Hao would disappear in a flash, as if rushing to answer nature’s call.
He never appeared at their self-organized sparring sessions, Martial Rankings challenges, or any such activities, seeming like someone who existed outside the Jia Academy.
Even during lessons, whenever she glanced over, he was either dozing off or scribbling notes into what looked like a book.
Was he that studious? Initially, she had felt a twinge of admiration. However, upon inadvertently catching a glimpse of the book’s contents, she realized it was completely blank except for intricate sketches.
The sketches depicted grotesque monsters, most of them aquatic creatures...
Interspersed among them were countless drawings of Lecturer Su Yehua, often with cat ears, tails, and other features that turned her into a half-formed demon.
Utterly nonsensical.
And yet, despite all this, Du Yueqiu could discern the exquisite skill behind the artwork—so lifelike it could not possibly have been achieved without significant effort.
...
“Brother Hao is probably off playing somewhere,” Li Yuanzhao replied nonchalantly.
He was long accustomed to Li Hao’s ways. Train together with them? That was a joke. Even when their aunt begged him, the martial training grounds rarely saw Brother Hao’s shadow.
Since childhood, Li Hao had never mingled with his peers unless they sought him out.
“Playing...” Du Yueqiu and Zheng Bai were dumbfounded by how lightly he said it.
The lashes from whips and the sting of canes had long etched the word "effort" into their very bones.
Playing?
They yearned for it too, but wouldn’t dare.
As their fathers often reminded them:
“Time is what you’re playing with now. In the future, it will be your life!”
“Suffer through the bitterest trials to rise above the rest!”
“The family’s prosperity depends entirely on you. How could you face your ancestors if you slack off?”
To them, “play” was a frivolous word, almost taboo and unspeakable.
“He doesn’t plan to participate in the Martial Rankings? If that’s the case, the disciples of the Yi Academy will challenge him, and he’ll be demoted to the Yi Academy,” Du Yueqiu said hesitantly.
Li Yuanzhao’s small eyes widened slightly in anger. “Who dares! If anyone challenges Brother Hao, I’ll personally get demoted to the Yi Academy and beat them back down!”
Du Yueqiu: “...”
Zheng Bai: “...”
How overbearing!
“Your Divine General Mansion has your back, so likely no one would dare to challenge you. But in a year, the test of the River of Death Battle Realm will rely solely on individual effort,” Du Yueqiu said with some annoyance. “For missions outside the academy, family members can send experts to secretly protect you. But in the River of Death Battle Realm, it’s one person at a time, no companions allowed. It’s specifically designed to test the individual.”
“That’s true.”
Li Yuanzhao frowned slightly, deep in thought. “I’ll talk to Brother Hao about it later.”
Du Yueqiu was speechless. This young master of the Divine General Mansion really didn’t take such matters to heart.
...
Behind the Jia Academy, atop a waterfall on the back mountain...
Two figures sat on the edge of a cliff above the waterfall, drinking wine, playing chess, and chatting amidst cheerful laughter.
Suddenly, a figure leaped up from the bottom of the waterfall, soaring dozens of feet into the air without a single drop of water touching him, and landed before the two elders, holding two skewers of roasted rabbit.
“You brat...” Seeing the newcomer, the two elders playing chess laughed heartily. One of them sniffed the air and remarked, “Smells delicious!”
Li Hao handed the two roasted rabbits to the elders, smiling. “Here, try it.”
The chess-playing elders were Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing, instructors at the Jia Academy. Over the past half month, they had been completely won over by Li Hao’s culinary skills.
“Boy, your cooking is truly impressive,” Shen Yunqing said, taking a hearty bite and voicing his admiration.
Although both elders were smiling cheerfully now, during lessons at the academy, they exuded the stern authority of instructors. Even the two imperial princes straightened their backs and behaved impeccably in their presence.
While princes were undoubtedly noble, those sent to study at the Tangong Academy were not necessarily the most favored. Some might not even outlive the two elders, making excessive deference unnecessary.
“I’ve already lost two games to you today. Shouldn’t you go back to practicing martial arts?” Zhao Zongyuan said, eating the rabbit while glancing at Li Hao, who was itching to continue the game.
Though he enjoyed playing chess, losing repeatedly wasn’t fun. It was much more relaxing to play against Shen Yunqing, where he could win without exerting too much effort.
“Practicing martial arts is so dull. It’s not as if the Black and White Hall’s techniques are on the table,” Li Hao replied.
“You’ve only just arrived and already want access to absolute techniques? Keep dreaming.”
The two elders shook their heads in exasperation. They had tested Li Hao’s skills before when he approached them for a game of chess. He wasn’t a mere idle playboy. In fact, he was stronger than most in the Jia Academy.
Yet, he had no interest in martial arts. Occasionally, while they were playing chess, they’d attempt to offer him guidance. Instead, they would find themselves being berated:
“You’re about to lose, and you still have the time to lecture me?”
“Focus, pick up your pieces, and play properly!”
“How about I let you start with a five-move advantage?”
The two elders were both exasperated and amused by him.
“Shen, the wine,” Li Hao said, gesturing to Shen Yunqing’s gourd. “You owe me two sips for today’s losses.”
Shen Yunqing’s lips twitched. Previously, he had only shared with Zhao Zongyuan. Now there was another mouth to feed, and his supply of Drunken Wind Brew was rapidly diminishing.
Still, he was a man of his word. With a snort, he tossed the wine gourd to Li Hao. “Don’t overdo it. You’re still young.”
Li Hao chuckled, popped the cork, and took two hearty gulps. Wiping his mouth, he sighed in satisfaction. “This is some excellent wine.”
While Li Hao himself could brew fine wine as part of his culinary arts, it was too time-consuming, and he rarely bothered.
Watching his carefree demeanor, the two elders could only sigh as they returned to eating their roasted rabbit.
Li Hao handed the gourd back to Shen Yunqing, dusted off his clothes, and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
With that, he leaped off the cliff, landing lightly on a white stone beyond the waterfall.
Humming a tune, he strolled away leisurely.
His venture to the top of the waterfall had merely been for a couple of sips of wine and to share roasted rabbit with the two elders.
“This brat...” Watching his departing figure, the two elders shook their heads and laughed. They had never met such a peculiar young man.
“By the way, was that movement technique he used just now the superior-grade White Phoenix Skill you teach?” Zhao Zongyuan asked.
Shen Yunqing, still chewing on his rabbit, mumbled, “Yes. And it seems like the kid has already mastered it to perfection. I’m starting to think that Wind-Slashing Fist he learned really was perfected on the day he picked it up...”
“Mastered to perfection in just half a month...” Zhao Zongyuan murmured thoughtfully. “Could it be that the rumors from the Li family were just a smokescreen? With the Martial Marquis Xingwu stationed at the border for years and the couple rarely by his side...”
He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
Shen Yunqing downed a swig of wine, his expression one of pure contentment. “The depths of a noble household are unknowable. What’s certain is this kid’s a prodigy. When the River of Death Battle Realm test comes around in a year, I bet he’ll shine brilliantly.”
Zhao Zongyuan nodded slightly, not denying it. It all depended on whether Li Hao would be willing to step up.
Suddenly, Zhao Zongyuan noticed Li Hao’s silhouette disappear around a bend and raised an eyebrow. “That kid... did he take the wrong path?”
“Hm? Didn’t you tell him that way leads to the River of Death?”