87. So What?

Chapter 87: So What?

As Li Fu's words fell, the courtyard fell silent.

Zhao Bo slowly widened his wrinkled eyes, looking at Li Fu in disbelief before turning to Li Hao.

Young Master Hao... is in the Fifteen Mile Realm?! Li Tiangang and Yu Xuan were both stunned, their faces showing surprise.

Li Tiangang knew Li Fu's meticulous nature. If he was this excited, it couldn't be baseless. But this news was both shocking and exhilarating.

"Really? But Hao'er couldn't establish his foundation or perform blood transformation?" Li Tiangang couldn't help but ask, excited.

Li Fu nodded vigorously, joyfully saying, "It's true! Absolutely true! I don't know how, but only Young Master Hao knows. Perhaps Second Master secretly helped him."

Second Uncle...

Li Tiangang's heart trembled.

Second Uncle was in the Four Establishments Realm, possessing a power that many martial artists envied.

That power was the ability to defy destiny! He could help someone by altering their fate, turning even a born wastrel or beggar into a supreme genius, a dragon among men!

Thus, families with someone in the Four Establishments Realm could revive even if they declined for a generation.

Of course, continuous decline wasn't salvageable.

For the power of destiny alteration could only be used once and only for one person! Realizing this, Li Tiangang felt overwhelming gratitude, his eyes reddening. What did his son do to deserve Second Uncle's love?

"Good, good, that's great!"

Li Tiangang repeated "good" three times, his voice trembling, then controlled. He looked gently at the boy before him and said, "Such wonderful news. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Li Hao, seeing his father's excitement, felt little emotion, only a slight tug at his heart.

"I tried to tell you yesterday, but you cut me off, telling me to rest."

Li Tiangang recalled last night's conversation, feeling awkward. He had been too frustrated by Hao'er's frivolous tales to continue and sent him to bed.

"Alright, let's not dwell on the past."

Li Tiangang smiled. "When did you reach the Fifteen Mile Realm? Why didn't you write to inform me over the years? Did Second Uncle forbid it?"

Li Hao retorted, "And if I did tell you, what difference would it make? Would you come back?"

Li Tiangang was momentarily stunned, feeling a sharp pang in his heart from the boy's calm, dark eyes.

But soon, a flash of anger surged within him.

"At least your mother and I would have been happy for you. And Big Sister-in-law could have helped find a master to teach you!"

Li Hao responded, "A master? Isn't Second Uncle's teaching enough? Aren't you satisfied with my current level?"

Li Tiangang was taken aback, speechless.

Indeed, Second Uncle was in the Four Establishments Realm, comparable to any great master.

But the Li family seeking masters wasn't just about learning. It was about building connections for future generations. Each generation had to establish ties, maintaining a thousand-year legacy through these relationships. While these connections might not always be useful, they could be critical in crucial moments.

"You're too naive."

Li Tiangang shook his head, thinking Li Hao was still young and ignorant, not worth arguing further.

In his heart, Li Hao retorted, "You're the naive one."

Li Fu, observing the father and son, sensed a discord. Why did it seem like there was tension and distance between them?

"At fourteen, reaching the Fifteen Mile Realm is remarkable, even surpassing your Ninth Uncle's record!"

Thinking of Li Hao's cultivation, Li Tiangang's mood lifted. Smiling, he said, "Since I'm back now, there's no need to hide this. Zhao Bo, notify Big Sister-in-law and the entire mansion. I want to announce to the world that the son of Marquis Xingwu is a supreme genius!"

"I want everyone to know my son's unparalleled talent, the first in a thousand years!"

His words were filled with pride, as if releasing a long-held burden, his face radiant with joy.

Zhao Bo, overwhelmed with emotion, his lips trembling. Over the years, seeing Li Hao's maturity and intelligence, he often felt sorrow and regret, lamenting the unfairness of heaven for not granting Li Hao the innate talent for cultivation.

But now, even that last flaw was resolved.

Young Master Hao, unmatched in talent and wisdom! Zhao Bo's body trembled with excitement. He quickly wiped away the tears in the corners of his eyes and agreed, "I'll go right away."

"Zhao Bo," Li Hao called out, "First, get my paintings out of the woodshed."

Zhao Bo, startled, nodded quickly, "Yes!"

Li Tiangang, recalling the earlier incident, frowned, his expression darkening. "Hao'er, with such extraordinary talent, do you still want to indulge in those frivolous things? If you had dedicated yourself to training with Second Uncle, you might have already reached the Grandmaster level!"

How do you know I haven't been diligent? Li Hao thought, looking at him. But he knew explaining his unique situation was pointless. So he asked, "If I focus entirely on becoming a Grandmaster, then what?"

Without hesitation, Li Tiangang replied, "Then you would astonish the world even more. People might not believe it, but other General's Mansions would know we have the first genius in a thousand years!"

Li Hao stared at him, "And what if I am the first genius in a thousand years?"

Li Tiangang, sensing something amiss, frowned, "What do you mean? Do you know how many people there are in Dayu? How many geniuses?"

"Nineteen provinces, each with hundreds of cities, thousands of towns, and millions of people!"

"Countless geniuses, like fish crossing a river. While top talents are rare, each province has dozens. Only by entering the Qian and Kun lists can one be recognized!"

"With your talent, even the Qian and Kun lists are insufficient. Your Ninth Uncle reached the Three Immortals at nineteen, the first in a thousand years. If you reach the Grandmaster level at fourteen, you'd be the first in a thousand years too!"

As cultivation progressed, it became increasingly difficult. Li Junye's fame at seventeen couldn't compare to reaching the Three Immortals at nineteen. Talent's momentum often waned. Most Nine-Grade Battle Bodies reached the Divine Travel Realm by fifteen but not necessarily the Grandmaster level by twenty.

Some might reach the Celestial Realm at eighteen, while others might become Grandmasters at thirty. And advancing to the Three Immortals revealed even greater disparities.

Li Hao knew all this. Looking at his father, he felt there was no point in continuing. He turned to Zhao Bo, "Thank you."

"No trouble," Zhao Bo replied quickly.

Li Tiangang's face darkened, sensing Li Hao's disregard. In Yanbei, his words were law, as heavy as mountains!

A single word was like a bullet, penetrating the ground.

"No!" Li Tiangang commanded Zhao Bo, then turned to Li Hao, "With me here, you'll never touch those frivolous things again! And regardless of your cultivation, even if it surpasses your Ninth Uncle, you must apologize to your Uncle Yu!"

Yu Xuan, startled, bowed to Li Tiangang, "Marquis, it's fine. Hao'er is young and didn't mean it."

"No!" Li Tiangang roared, glaring at Zhao Bo, Li Fu, and then his son, who looked at him coldly. "It's your pampering that made him so insolent!"

"Talent means nothing. Our family isn't short of geniuses!"

"If he doesn't respect his elders, even supreme cultivation is useless!"

Zhao Bo and Li Fu were shocked by the seriousness of Li Tiangang's words.

Li Fu, confused after bringing such great news, wondered why this was happening.

"Marquis, Young Master has always been like this. And despite his interests, it hasn't affected his training…"

Li Fu tried to speak for Li Hao, not understanding the reason for the apology. Knowing Li Hao's character, it was likely a minor outburst, not a significant mistake.

"Silence!"

Li Tiangang's rare outburst shocked Li Fu.

In the military, Li Tiangang hated pleas for leniency, disliking favoritism.

Li Fu, startled, quickly bowed, realizing that in this moment, the Marquis wasn't his familiar friend but the invincible General Xingwu.

Zhao Bo, about to speak, saw Li Tiangang's stern gaze and remained silent, worriedly looking at Li Hao.

Li Hao fell silent, facing the predatory gaze of the middle-aged man. He felt like laughing but couldn't.

Was this what he had been waiting for, gazing at the stars alone for fourteen years?

Why couldn't he feel any joy now?

Yesterday was so pleasant, so harmonious.

Li Hao took a deep breath, suppressing his unspoken sadness. He looked at his father, "I shouldn't have lashed out at him. He was only following orders."

Yu Xuan, surprised, looked at Li Hao.

Li Tiangang's anger subsided slightly, but flared up again, his eyes piercing like a beast's, "So you're blaming me? You still want to tell your father to get lost?"

He felt a mix of rage and disbelief.

Unbelievable insolence! Li Hao clenched his fists but then relaxed. He turned away, his gaze falling on the weeds by the courtyard steps.

He suddenly felt akin to those weeds.

Taking another deep breath, he exhaled slowly, a self-mocking smile on his lips.

"Have you seen my paintings? Probably not. You say Mother is gone. I barely remember her, so I painted her while I still could."

His clear voice made everyone's face change.

Li Tiangang froze, his body trembling.

Those paintings... were of Qingqing? He never looked at those ragged paintings, never imagined this.

"When I learned to paint, I had forgotten her face, remembering only her eyes."

Li Hao's unfocused gaze seemed to drift far away. "So I painted her blurry likeness, hoping to paint a proper portrait when she returned. But she's gone…"

His words brought silence, Li Tiangang's breathing roughening, his hands clenched inside his sleeves.

Li Hao's thoughts seemed to return, his thin frame still. He turned to his father, smiling bitterly, "You say a Grandmaster mustn't be insulted. But what about my mother?"

His voice was a mix of statement and question.

These words were like a dagger, piercing Li Tiangang, making his steady body tremble.

Yu Xuan's face darkened, realizing the significance of the paintings. No wonder the boy was so agitated.

Li Fu and Zhao Bo's eyes moistened, looking at Li Tiangang.

Li Hao said no more, turning to leave. "Do what you want with those paintings."

Watching his son's retreating figure, Li Tiangang couldn't help but shout, "Stop!"

But the boy didn't pause, walking away.

Li Tiangang was stunned. For the first time, his command was ignored.

And it was his son.

If it were anyone else, he would have broken their legs. He hadn't given permission; who dared defy him? But Li Hao's words left his anger stuck in his throat, dissipating quickly, his face darkening.

"Master, the Young Master…"

Zhao Bo began to plead.

Li Tiangang waved him off, taking a deep breath. "Move the paintings back, to the cleanest room. Any damage will be punished!"

Zhao Bo, stunned, nodded quickly, relieved.

Li Tiangang turned to Li Fu, "Inform Big Sister-in-law about Hao'er reaching the Fifteen Mile Realm. We'll have a banquet. I want the world to know!"

Li Fu, sensing the shift, also relaxed, bowing. "Right away."