75. A Lesson

Chapter 75: A Lesson

"Hmm?"

Both of them were taken aback. Such minimal casualties?

"How is that possible? Even with assistance from a Fifteen Mile Realm cultivator, in the chaos of battle, there would be significant casualties. Could it be that your report was inaccurate and the number of demons was greatly exaggerated?" Xia Yong said harshly.

The driver shuddered and quickly replied, "I wouldn't dare deceive you. There were indeed many demons, an overwhelming number. I heard there were forty to fifty thousand, and I personally saw seven to eight Spirit Wandering Realm great demons and a red flood dragon. But thanks to the young master of the Li family, who slew them all, the city was saved."

The red flood dragon should be the one expelled from the Sacred Palace... Xia Qingshuang's eyes flickered, her expression becoming serious.

That red flood dragon was no ordinary Fifteen Mile Realm great demon. With its demonic techniques from the Sacred Palace, it was almost on par with their own.

"I didn't expect the third generation of the Li family to have such capable individuals," Xia Qingshuang remarked.

"Hmph, meddling in other people's business. This is not Qingzhou, not their Li family territory," Xia Yong scoffed. "Entering the world and showing off here, how ridiculous. Doesn't their Li family already have enough trouble guarding the Yanbei battlefield?"

"Hey!"

Inside the carriage, Li Yuan Zhao couldn't hold back his anger. "How can you speak like that? We helped your Xia family resolve the demon calamity, and now you blame us?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing the shout from the plump youth, both Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang were taken aback.

Xia Yong's expression changed. "Are you a member of the Li family?"

"Of course!" Li Yuan Zhao said angrily.

These Tan Palace students wouldn't dare impersonate the Li family... Xia Yong felt a bit embarrassed. He had only meant to express his dissatisfaction privately, but now he was caught red-handed.

In this situation, admitting fault would diminish the Xia family's reputation. With a cold face, he said, "A Li family disciple who made it into the Tan Palace School probably isn't that talented."

"You!"

This statement angered everyone.

The Tan Palace School was a top-tier academy, though not as prestigious as the Boundless Mountain or the Divine General's mansions, gaining admission was extremely difficult.

But to the other party, it seemed like a mediocre place.

Although Du Qiu Yue and the others were angry, they didn't dare speak out. After all, this was the Xia family.

Li Hao was slightly surprised. He didn't expect there to be someone with such low emotional intelligence. No wonder ancient generals couldn't compete with civil officials—this kind of brain, every word offended people.

"Brother Yong, let's go," Xia Qingshuang said, realizing Xia Yong had gone too far. She didn't want to linger and was eager to check on Cangyu City, planning to return home if there were no issues.

Xia Yong snorted and was about to leave, taking advantage of the opportunity to back down.

Li Hao spoke up, "You're just going to leave like that?"

"Hmm?" Xia Qingshuang frowned, looking at the young man sitting in the center of the carriage. It was clear he was the leader.

"We helped you resolve the demon calamity. Instead of thanking us, you criticize my Li family for the Yanbei battlefield? Who gave you the right?" Li Hao said coldly.

Had they not mentioned Yanbei, he wouldn't have bothered.

But his parents were still in Yanbei. Though he hadn't seen them in over a decade and might not have deep familial feelings, he remembered the three-thousand-year-old demon corpse his rough father sent back and the concerned eyes of his young mother.

Naturally, he saw them as family.

"And who are you to challenge me? Your Li family has been battling in Yanbei for over a decade, demanding countless supplies from the court, and we can't comment on it?" Xia Yong said, glaring down at Li Hao.

"You bastard, how dare you insult Brother Hao!"

Li Yuan Zhao was furious. If he didn't realize the two were powerful, he would have personally taught them a lesson.

"My Li family has been fighting for over a decade, swallowing the hardships. Isn't it the court's duty to provide supplies?"

Li Hao said coldly, "Has your Xia family never requested assistance from the court? As another Divine General's family, you should understand the difficulties of guarding the border. Instead, you ridicule us. Is this the Xia family's teaching?"

"Are you also from the third generation of the Li family?"

Xia Yong's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "Your Li family is lawless! This isn't Qingzhou; this is our Xia family territory. Who do you think you are to question our millennia-old family teachings? Slap him!"

As a Fifteen Mile Realm cultivator, Xia Yong intended to slap Li Hao using his mystical powers.

But Li Hao didn't move. Instead, his eyes flashed, and his mystical power suppressed Xia Yong.

With a mournful cry, Xia Yong's Purple-Horned Horse, a first-class warhorse comparable to the Scarlet Blood Horse, buckled and knelt under the pressure.

Xia Yong's face changed, trying to leap into the air but was pressed down, rolling off his horse.

He stood up, his face pale and shocked, staring at the young man in the carriage.

Though both wore academy uniforms, the young man exuded a distinct nobility.

"Fifteen Mile Realm? Impossible!"

Xia Yong couldn't believe it. The young man was about his age, yet his mystical power was more dominant.

Xia Qingshuang's expression changed, and she asked, "Which young master of the Li family are you?"

Li Hao didn't answer. "I demand an apology. No one leaves until I get it!"

"You!"

Xia Yong, enraged, said, "This is Qizhou, not Qingzhou!"

"Even if this were the front door of your Xia family, you would still apologize!" Li Hao said coldly.

"Fine, let's see if you can handle the consequences!"

Xia Yong's mystical power surged as he attacked.

Li Hao remained seated, his mystical power meeting Xia Yong's head-on.

A punch landed, dispersing Xia Yong's mystical power instantly. Xia Yong spat blood, his face pale. He pointed at Li Hao, trembling, before collapsing.

It all happened in an instant. Li Hao's mystical power returned to his body.

Xia Qingshuang's face changed. A broken mystical power injury was severe. Even with the Xia family's numerous elixirs, it would take six months to a year to recover. For an ordinary person, it could take decades.

"That was ruthless."

Xia Qingshuang looked at Li Hao, who was coldly staring back.

"That was excessive!" she said, gritting her teeth.

"If it weren't me, another Li family member would have either endured silently or actually gotten slapped."

Li Hao said coldly, "You dared order a public slap to a Li family member. I've shown mercy by not killing him."

Xia Qingshuang felt a mix of resentment and helplessness. Knowing she wasn't a match, she used her mystical power to lift Xia Yong's body onto his horse.

"Considering you saved Cangyu City, I'll let this go," she said, whipping her horse to leave.

Initially planning to check on Cangyu City, she now had to take Xia Yong back for treatment to prevent lasting damage.

Seeing them leave, the people in the carriage realized Li Hao had likely battled with his mystical power. They, not having reached the Soul Condensation Realm, couldn't witness it.

"This Xia family is unreasonable!" Li Yuan Zhao fumed.

"I didn't expect the Xia family to be like this."

Ren Qianqian frowned. She considered herself half a member of the Li family and held respect for them after hearing Li Hao's words at the tea stand.

Seeing the same Divine General's family, the Xia family, acting so unreasonably, she felt disappointed.

Li Hao watched them leave, not stopping them. He shook his head, instructing the driver to continue.

This incident didn't weigh on his mind. Large families inevitably had arrogant members. He'd heard of the Xia family's incredible achievements and didn't hold a grudge, but his impression had worsened.