Chapter 98: The Heart of a Grandmaster
Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Since returning from the brothel, Li Hao had been confined to the family estate by Li Tiangang, who forbade him from roaming about freely.
This led to a minor dispute between father and son, which ended with a compromise. Li Hao agreed to stay within the estate, but on the condition that Li Tiangang would no longer interfere with how he spent his time.
Li Tiangang reluctantly consented.
Li Hao no longer spent his days idly painting. Aside from occasionally playing chess with Fifth Master, he dedicated the rest of his time to staying in Tingyu Pavilion.
On one hand, he was waiting for Second Master’s return. On the other, he immersed himself in studying martial techniques.
The collection of books in Tingyu Pavilion was vast. Even without attempting to master their contents, merely flipping through them all would require reading day and night for at least a decade.
Previously, Li Hao had selected a range of techniques from high to low levels for his training, skipping over the foundational ones. But this time, he started from the bottom.
Despite his insights into the Sixth Stage of the Body Dao, which should have allowed him to reach the Heaven and Man Realm, he found himself stuck.
Li Hao resolved to first comprehend the Heart of a Grandmaster before attempting to advance further.
However, achieving this was easier said than done.
What does it mean to be a Grandmaster?
It means being capable of founding one’s own sect and forging one’s own path.
No one can dictate how a Grandmaster should act, nor can anyone offer precise guidance to them.
Not even the Three Immortals, for while their realms were higher, each Grandmaster’s path was unique. The Three Immortals could only share their experiences in advancing and cultivating, but they couldn’t provide exact instructions on what to do.
Similarly, once one reached the Heaven and Man Grandmaster Realm, every step beyond that required treading one’s own path, carving it out step by step.
There would be no techniques to follow, no masters to teach. Everything had to come from personal reflection, consideration, and enlightenment.
"My own martial path..."
Li Hao sat in Tingyu Pavilion, holding a book titled Detailed Explanation of Basic Martial Techniques as his eyes sparkled with determination.
He had once asked Second Master how to comprehend the Heart of a Grandmaster.
Second Master had provided three methods:
- Immerse oneself in worldly experiences, finding one’s martial heart through the trials and tribulations of the mundane world.
- Walk the edge of life and death, using the terror of near-death experiences to force a moment of sudden enlightenment and break through.
- A steadier approach, relying on personal aptitude to find inspiration by studying the most fundamental martial arts techniques.
Why start with the basics?
Because the more advanced a technique is, the more profound and intricate it becomes, making it easier to become distracted by its complexity and lose sight of its essence.
It’s like a stone.
If left on the ground, everyone recognizes it as just a stone, something unremarkable and often disregarded. But place it on a table, or better yet, in a temple, and suddenly it becomes revered, protected, and even worshiped.
Yet, at its core, it remains just a stone.
At this moment, Li Hao was flipping through the Martial Arts Compendium, which cataloged a vast array of martial disciplines but only listed them in simple terms.
Blades and swords, spears and staves, fists, footwork...
Li Hao perused these with a casual attitude, not forcing himself to seek enlightenment, but simply passing the time.
A month went by in the blink of an eye.
Li Hao read a multitude of books in Tingyu Pavilion, including not only martial arts texts but also tales of eccentric individuals and interesting anecdotes.
Some of these books documented the life stories of various Grandmasters, detailing the diverse and peculiar paths they had taken, each with a unique martial style.
One Grandmaster followed a sinister path, employing underhanded techniques like eye gouging, groin strikes, poisoning, and throwing sand. The more treacherous the move, the better. Eventually, this Grandmaster refined these despicable tactics into a cohesive set of techniques, which became a martial style capable of establishing a sect.
Another Grandmaster was of the "unyielding" school, relying on brute force and frontal assaults, delivering explosive moves without any pretense or trickery.
Yet another favored agility and dexterity, excelling in swift and nimble movements.
For Li Hao, creating his own martial techniques wasn’t difficult.
With his Sixth-Stage comprehension of Sword Dao and Fist Dao, he could easily invent sword and fist techniques.
He could even blend the two into a single discipline.
However, while the techniques were there, the "heart" was still missing.
Most people who entered the Grandmaster Realm began by establishing their heart and then strengthening their martial techniques in alignment with their Heart of a Grandmaster.
Li Hao was doing things in reverse.
"My heart... where does it lie?"
Li Hao murmured to himself.
Having studied too many martial techniques, he now felt overwhelmed, as if dazzled by a myriad of blooming flowers.
His heart was unsettled.
...
One day, as usual, Li Hao arrived at Tingyu Pavilion.
But before he could settle down, he was summoned back to Shanhe Courtyard on the grounds that there was something urgent.
When Li Hao returned, he saw a girl seated across from his father, Li Tiangang, in the main hall.
The girl, with her back to him, was engaged in conversation with his father.
Dressed in a dark purple outer robe, she exuded an air of mystery, like a richly scented orchid.
Even from just her upright posture, one could sense the vibrant energy of youth.
At that moment, the two appeared to be discussing something that brought a rare smile to Li Tiangang’s face, his expression warm and gentle.
Standing at the entrance, Li Hao recalled the etiquette he had been forced to learn over the past month and did not enter directly. Instead, he stood outside and respectfully called out.
Li Tiangang glanced over at him, and at the same time, the girl turned around.
Her elegant brows were like distant hills, her eyes clear and bright like flowing streams. Her nose was straight, her teeth pearl-white, and even the fine hairs on her delicate face seemed to shimmer faintly. Her complexion was flawless, as fair as jade.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened in recognition.
"Xue’er?"
"Brother Hao."
The girl also recognized him. Memories of the past surged within her, and she greeted him with a radiant smile.
Li Hao finally confirmed that the young woman before him was the little girl he hadn’t seen in eight years—the one who used to follow him around like a shadow.
He quickly stepped forward, marveling as he looked her over. The crying little girl of yesteryear had grown into a young lady.
Not only that, but her features were strikingly beautiful, like a doll crafted with the utmost care.
"You’ve grown so much," Li Hao blurted out, his words a mix of wonder and banality.
The girl was none other than Bian Ruxue. She rose gracefully from her seat, her movements refined, and responded with a sweet smile, "Brother Hao, you’ve grown taller too."
"Of course!"
Li Hao grinned. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? Have you eaten yet? Let me tell you, I’ve become quite the cook. Give me a few months, and I can turn you into a little glutton!"
Bian Ruxue’s cheeks flushed lightly as she said, "Brother Hao, you’re still as fond of joking as ever."
"And you’re still as fond of crying as ever," Li Hao teased. "How could I not want to tease you?"
"I'm not a puppy!" Bian Ruxue retorted with a pout.
Li Hao laughed heartily and then asked, "So, how has it been training in swordsmanship? Has anyone given you trouble?"
Bian Ruxue shook her head gently. "My master, senior brothers, and senior sisters have all been very kind to me. No one has bullied me."
"That’s good."
Bian Ruxue looked at Li Hao with a soft gaze and asked, "And how about you, Brother Hao? How have you been all these years?"
Li Hao grinned, replying, "I’ve been doing just fine. Don’t you know who I am? It’s not like anyone can bully me. I spend my days eating and drinking, living the life."
Li Tiangang, listening nearby, frowned slightly, letting out a soft sigh.
Bian Ruxue glanced at Li Hao, then said in a low voice, "Brother Hao, you don’t have to joke around like that."
Hearing this, Li Tiangang put on a stern face and said, "Li Hao, behave yourself. Xue’er just returned; you’d better not give her any trouble."
"Alright, alright," Li Hao replied with a helpless smile.
Bian Ruxue quickly turned to Li Tiangang and said, "Uncle, Brother Hao has never bullied me."
Li Tiangang’s expression softened as he looked at her with a smile. "Xue’er, you have such a gentle nature. Don’t worry, now that I’m back, if Li Hao dares to bother you, come to me, and I’ll see that justice is served."
"Your father entrusted you to me back then, and I’ll take good care of you. I won’t let you face a single moment of injustice in our Li family!"
"Thank you, Uncle," Bian Ruxue said gratefully, bowing slightly. She then turned to Li Hao, noticing that the smile on his face had faded a bit.
Without lingering on this, she addressed Li Tiangang, "Uncle, I’d like to go out with Brother Hao to catch up a bit."
"Of course, go ahead." Li Tiangang nodded, smiling.
Bian Ruxue bowed slightly once more, then looked at Li Hao. "Brother Hao, let’s go. I haven’t been back for so long, so could you show me around a bit?"
Li Hao nodded, then glanced at his father in his seat. "Is it alright if I take Xue’er out for a stroll?"
Li Tiangang nodded, saying, "With Xue’er by your side, I’m at ease. Spend these next few days with her and show her a good time."
Li Hao smiled slightly, then turned and took Bian Ruxue’s hand. "Come on, I’ll take you around the city. I know every good spot in Qingzhou City by heart."
As he held her hand, Bian Ruxue’s fingers twitched slightly, as if she’d been startled, but she quickly relaxed and let Li Hao lead her.
Once they left the Divine General Mansion, Li Hao took her straight toward the bustling streets nearby.
"Brother Hao, I just found out that Uncle only recently returned," Bian Ruxue remarked, following him with a faint blush on her cheeks, her gaze occasionally drifting to his face. "Have you been on your own since I left?"
Li Hao smiled, saying, "Silly girl, still as naïve as ever. With Shanhe Courtyard full of attendants and maids, how could I ever be alone?"
"But it’s not the same," Bian Ruxue replied. "You wouldn’t really talk to them about what’s on your mind, would you?"
"Then I just won’t talk," Li Hao laughed.
Bian Ruxue fell silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Doesn’t that feel lonely?"
"You get used to it," Li Hao answered, as they arrived at a stall selling sugar figurines. "Do you want one?"
Bian Ruxue glanced at the sweets and shook her head gently. "Brother Hao, I’m not a child anymore."
"You’re only fourteen and already saying you’re grown up. What’ll you say when you’re twenty, that you’re old?" Li Hao chuckled, realizing she wasn’t interested in the candy. He continued leading her around, stopping briefly at a stall selling small trinkets.
He bought her a little toy iron frog that could hop forward with a press. It was one of the creations produced by the Qianji Sect.
The two of them continued their stroll, chatting as they went. Li Hao asked her about her life on the mountain, while Bian Ruxue inquired about his days in the estate.
When it was time for a meal, Li Hao found a restaurant and led her inside. They shared a meal, discussing the events of the past eight years. They went from a somewhat restrained atmosphere to rekindling the familiarity of childhood.
...
"When did you leave the mountain?"
"A month ago," Bian Ruxue answered.
Li Hao raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Then why didn’t you come back sooner?"
"I heard about a place with strange happenings, so I went to investigate. It turned out to be a corrupted river of death that had seeped through, destroying an entire village," she explained.
Li Hao nodded, "And what happened then?"
"I kept trying to cleanse it but could only destroy it temporarily without purifying it completely," Bian Ruxue replied with a sigh.
Li Hao chuckled, "Well, at least destroying it is something—it’ll keep it at bay for a while."
She sighed again softly. "True."
Noticing the sword at her side, Li Hao asked, "How has your swordsmanship progressed over these years with your master?"
Bian Ruxue paused for a moment, then said hesitantly, "It’s... alright."
Li Hao saw her reaction and laughed. "Oh, did you get scolded for slacking? Why the sad face whenever I bring up swordsmanship?"
Bian Ruxue shook her head, placing her sword aside. "Let’s not talk about swords, Brother Hao. I just heard that you’re about to compete for the Li family’s True Dragon position. On my way here, I learned that you have a rival. Are you confident?"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"I think you’ve got this!" Bian Ruxue replied, her tone brimming with confidence.
"I think so, too." Li Hao grinned, placing a piece of food on her plate.
"By the way, I noticed many prominent figures heading toward Qingzhou. I heard that the True Dragon competition considers connections and alliances."
Bian Ruxue added thoughtfully, "Brother Hao, would you like me to invite my master and seniors to support you?"
Li Hao waved it off. "Connections are only a minor factor in the selection of the Li family’s True Dragon. It’s not something outsiders can influence."
Bian Ruxue nodded, "That makes sense. But still, if there’s anything you need, Brother Hao, just let me know."
"There is one thing, actually."
"What is it?" she asked, curious.
"I’m full. Finish the rest for me—don’t waste any food," Li Hao said, patting his stomach and leaning back in his chair with a satisfied burp.
Bian Ruxue was momentarily speechless.