Volume 3 - Chapter 7: The Fourth Stage of Body Refinement – Measuring Bones! - Part 1
As soon as Li Hao stepped into the main hall, he heard the sound of poetry recitation echoing from within.
“White feathers float on green water, red webbed feet paddle clear ripples… Haha, interesting, truly interesting!”
“Did Xiaoshi compose this after seeing the goose in the courtyard pond? It’s vivid and detailed—haha, my son is only four years old and already writing poetry!”
“Mr. Kong said my son has an unparalleled poetic talent unseen in a century. If properly nurtured, he might even earn the title of second place in the imperial examinations one day!”
...
In the hall, Li Tianzong, his “father,” paced back and forth with a sheet of paper in hand, his face beaming with joy.
Chen Hefang sat nearby with a gentle smile. “Look how happy you are. It’s just a few poems. When did you start liking these literary pursuits?”
“As long as they’re created by my son, I love them,” Li Tianzong replied with a laugh. “Generals who can lead armies are common, but how many can compose poetry? I’ll show these to those rough fellows later. Ha! Those crude men might not even understand the meaning behind my son’s poems!”
As he spoke, he noticed Li Hao entering and immediately waved him over.
“Xiaoshi, come here.”
Li Hao hesitated slightly. He had expected that if his “father” tolerated his painting, he probably wouldn’t mind poetry either. What he hadn’t anticipated was how delighted the man would be.
A few childish poems composed at the age of four brought such joy to this father’s face...
Yet when that same teenager, renowned across the land at fourteen, returned home, all he received was a resounding slap.
“Hmm.”
Li Hao walked over.
Li Tianzong scooped him up, sat down on a chair, and placed Li Hao on his lap. “Tell me, how did you come up with this one? ‘Reflections of a celestial mirror, soaring in azure clouds.’”
I copied it… Li Hao thought to himself, but on the surface, he just chuckled foolishly.
Chen Hefang looked on helplessly and gently scolded Li Tianzong, “Don’t spoil him too much. Xiaoshi’s talent is exceptional, but he should focus more on martial arts. In two years, he’ll embark on the path of cultivation for real.”
“There’s still plenty of time. When it’s time for cultivation, Xiaoshi will focus on it,” Li Tianzong waved her off. “With his intelligence, he can excel in both literature and martial arts. If he becomes a marshal in the future, he’ll need to be well-versed in military strategy. Otherwise, even with martial prowess, he’ll be nothing more than a common soldier, fit only to take orders. Becoming a general without such knowledge would be a disaster!”
Chen Hefang shook her head, knowing her husband’s stubborn personality, and said no more.
Li Hao, however, seized the moment to ask his “father,” “Father, can I visit Tingyu Pavilion tomorrow?”
“Do you even know what Tingyu Pavilion is?” Li Tianzong chuckled.
“It’s a place that stores cultivation techniques,” Li Hao replied.
Li Tianzong turned to Chen Hefang. “Did you hear that? Xiaoshi hasn’t even started cultivating and is already curious about martial arts.”
Chen Hefang playfully rolled her eyes at him but smiled warmly, clearly pleased by Li Hao’s words.
She did worry, though. While Li Hao’s intellect and talent were a blessing, diving too deeply into scholarly pursuits could easily distract him from martial arts and delay his progress.
“If you want to go, I’ll have Uncle Zhao take you,” Li Tianzong said. “But no mischief inside. If you damage any techniques, I’ll punish you.”
“I’ll just look around,” Li Hao replied with a grin.
...
Soon, the "brothers" practicing in the martial courtyard returned. Once everyone had gathered, Li Tianzong called for Uncle Zhao to serve the dishes, preparing for dinner.
Seeing this, Li Hao closed his eyes, skipping over the evening feast.
When he opened them again, he was being led by a hand toward a pavilion.
Looking up, Li Hao immediately recognized it—it was Tingyu Pavilion.
The one leading him was Uncle Zhao.
“Little master, Tingyu Pavilion is just ahead. When you go inside, remember to greet Fourth Uncle properly and be careful not to dirty the cultivation techniques. I won’t be accompanying you inside,” Uncle Zhao instructed earnestly.
Li Hao nodded, then asked curiously, “Fourth Uncle?”
“Yes.” Uncle Zhao simply nodded without further explanation and led him to the pavilion’s entrance.
It felt eerily similar to his first visit here with Li Fu.
Uncle Zhao explained the situation to the guards at the entrance and presented a token from Li Tianzong.
At this time, Li Tianzong was already a True Dragon in the Divine General Mansion, managing all its affairs.
Once the guards understood, they allowed Li Hao to enter.
Looking at the familiar stairs and steps, Li Hao felt an inexplicable sense of nostalgia.
Entering the building, he carefully surveyed his surroundings. Everything was just as he remembered.
“What are you doing here?”
A voice rang out. Li Xiaoran’s figure descended lightly.
He waved his hand, closing the door to Tingyu Pavilion, then cast a soundproof barrier around them.
“Why is it you?” Li Hao asked, confused. “Where’s Second Uncle?”
“You should address him as Second Uncle,” Li Xiaoran corrected. “Remember your identity here. Avoid making mistakes and revealing any flaws.”
Li Hao nodded, taking the advice to heart.
“Your Second Uncle was carefree in his youth and loved wandering about. He’s not in the Divine General Mansion at the moment. If he’s not carousing at a tavern, he’s off gallivanting somewhere or enjoying the mountains and rivers,” Li Xiaoran explained. “For now, I’m in charge of this place.”
Despite the soundproof barrier, Li Xiaoran spoke cautiously, refraining from fully disclosing certain details.
Recalling the stories he had heard about Second Uncle in the Divine General Mansion, Li Hao realized that the man’s carefree nature in youth had indeed been widely acknowledged.
Only in his later years did he seem to settle down.
Or perhaps it wasn’t age that tamed him, but the misfortunes that befell others...
“Doesn’t Second Uncle enjoy fishing?” Li Hao asked curiously.
Li Xiaoran gave him a sideways glance. “Fishing? He was the most restless one when he was young. How could he sit still long enough to fish? He gave our father the most headaches back then—tough, unruly, and utterly disobedient.”
Li Hao was stunned. Second Uncle didn’t like fishing?
But in his memory, that Second Uncle always fished by the lake whenever he had free time, sometimes sitting there for days.
Li Hao’s gaze flickered. It seemed time didn’t just smooth over rough edges but also tempered youthful restlessness.
“Did you come here to see me?” Li Xiaoran asked.
Pulling his thoughts back, Li Hao replied, “I wanted to take a look at the techniques here, just to familiarize myself.”
“You’re still too young to start cultivating,” Li Xiaoran said with a shake of his head. “I know you’re eager, but cultivation requires patience. Rushing into it can lead to problems, such as malformed bones or an early loss of the energy stored in your bone marrow, ultimately hindering your progress.”
“For centuries, the Li family has had strict guidelines: bones are measured at five years old, and cultivation begins at six. These practices were established after generations of refinement as the safest and most effective way to start.”
“If you’re truly impatient, the absolute earliest you can begin is after measuring your bones at five years old. By then, the bones are sufficiently developed, although there are still risks. But that’s the soonest one should start.”
“I’m just looking, not practicing,” Li Hao said.