12. News of Death

Chapter 12: News of Death

Lin Haixia eventually left. However, unlike the regretful and desolate departure from before, he was now filled with such excitement that he almost sprinted out of the Divine General's Residence. He wanted to report this monumental news to the commander at the border as quickly as possible.

If they knew that their child possessed a once-in-a-millennium swordsmanship talent, they would surely be delighted and relieved!

Lin Haixia understood the swordplay but not entirely. He recognized the sword technique as the most renowned one in the Li family's collection: the Boundless Sea: Tidal Sword Art! Yet, compared to even the perfect level of the Tidal Sword Art he had seen, it was not inferior; it even carried a special feeling.

He racked his brains and could only think of two words: perfection.

Beyond perfection, there was an even deeper realm known as transcendence. However, even those who immersed themselves in a technique for decades struggled to achieve it. Beyond hard work, it required exceptional talent. Yet, this world-shaking sword technique was presented by Li Hao, a six-year-old child. Even among prodigious talents, mastering a technique skillfully by the age of six was already extremely difficult.

Moreover, Lin Haixia had never seen Li Hao practice swordsmanship. But without a doubt, he believed Li Hao had been secretly practicing.

Regardless of wealth or poverty, there are only twelve hours in a day. Time is equal for everyone. When Lin Haixia saw Li Hao, most of the day was spent playing chess, wandering, daydreaming, and eating. He had never seen him practice swordsmanship, nor had he ever seen him touch a sword. Even if he practiced diligently in secret, how much time could he possibly squeeze out?

He asked Li Hao why he secretly practiced swordsmanship and why he concealed this extraordinary talent. But Li Hao merely smiled and shook his head without speaking. Lin Haixia thought of many things, tales of royal grudges, and family feuds he had heard, and he vaguely guessed.

Seeing Li Hao's calm and smiling face, Lin Haixia felt a pang of sadness. He understood that if the man from the border returned, this child wouldn't be left without support. Although he could shine brightly, he could only lie low for now.

If this child hadn't noticed his sincerity, he probably wouldn't have shown his true self… Lin Haixia felt both touched and comforted.

This sword not only revealed Li Hao's swordsmanship talent to Lin Haixia but also allowed him to understand how intelligent this child truly was, based on his daily words and actions.

As Lin Haixia left, the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility. Now six years old, Li Hao had to rise early each day to visit Madam He's courtyard for morning greetings, as a matter of etiquette. The purpose of etiquette was to cultivate respect for teachers, propriety, and gratitude from an early age.

As Li Hao's arranged marriage partner and fiancée, Bian Ruxue was already considered half a Li family member, so she naturally had to accompany him for morning greetings. During morning greetings, they inevitably encountered other children from various courtyards, but only four or five of them.

They were of similar age to Li Hao. For example, the second son and youngest daughter of the Fifth Mistress, the orphaned son of the Sixth Mistress, and the son and daughter of the Eighth Mistress. Other children, like Li Qianfeng and Li Wushuang, were prodigies taken away by famous masters. Or they were older, enlisted in the army, and pursuing fame and fortune.

The eldest son and daughter of the First Mistress were already in their twenties, serving as lieutenants in the army. They occasionally returned when there were no wars. However, as members of the Li family, military law was ingrained in their bones, and discipline was strict. They led by example, so it was rare for the First Mistress to see her children throughout the year.

After the morning greetings, Li Hao and Bian Ruxue were invited by Madam He to stay and enjoy a nutritious breakfast she had prepared. Li Hao chatted with this elegant and dignified lady before the two little figures walked back to their courtyard.

Li Hao continued his usual daydreaming, thinking about chess. Bian Ruxue practiced her swordsmanship in the courtyard. The upper-grade swordsmanship Lin Haixia had taught her before he left would keep her busy for several years.

They thought this harmonious and peaceful time would continue to flow quietly like this. Until a few days later, a piece of news suddenly reached the Divine General's Residence.

Lin Haixia had returned.

A soldier, clad in heavy armor, with a burly build and cold, fierce eyes, brought Lin Haixia back. But only one hand was brought back.

When Li Hao heard the news from Zhao Bo, he was stunned. The chess piece in his hand fell to the ground, but unlike usual, when only the chess piece caught his attention, he didn't even look at it.

He didn't bother to put on his shoes and ran out barefoot, rushing to the Changchun Courtyard.

The maid at the door tried to report, but Li Hao had already burst in.

Then he saw, in the main hall of the Changchun Courtyard, where he usually gave his morning greetings, a soldier kneeling on one knee. Li Hao's heart trembled. He stepped past the soldier and saw a piece of red cloth on the ground in front of him, with a hand lying on it.

The severed part looked torn, with bloody flesh and uneven remains. It was wrapped in a green sleeve, the clothes Lin Haixia had worn when he left.

This hand had just ruffled that little girl's head a few days ago. In his ears, this soldier was reporting to Madam He:

"Sergeant Lin was ambushed by demons while passing through the Qizhou national road on his way to Yanbei. The battle in Yanbei is deadlocked, and recently demons have infiltrated various cities in Yanbei, attempting to divert our army's forces. Other provinces have also seen frequent demon activity…"

"Stop for a moment," Madam He interrupted the soldier.

She was slightly stunned, looking at Li Hao, who had rushed into the hall barefoot and in a hurry.

Then, as if thinking of something, her eyes showed a hint of sigh, and she instructed Xue Jian beside her, "Take the arm away for now."

"Yes," Xue Jian nodded gently, then raised her almond-shaped eyes to glance at the little guy who had rushed in. She was familiar with this little fellow and knew that the owner of this arm was half a teacher to Li Hao when he was building his foundation.

However, in a general's family, she had seen many separations of life and death. Aside from a sigh, she felt nothing else.

As Xue Jian approached, Li Hao stepped forward, blocking her path.

Ignoring her surprised expression, Li Hao turned and stared intently at the soldier, "Which demon killed Uncle Lin?"

The soldier looked up and saw a little boy as tall as himself, kneeling, staring at him with a face full of anger. That gaze was icy and furious, seemingly belonging to no child.

From the jade pendant hanging from the boy's waist, he recognized this was the Li family's gifted child, though he wasn't sure from which branch.

He truthfully replied, "It was a millennium-old demon at the fourth stage, leading a few other demons to attack together, tearing Sergeant Lin apart. By the time the city guards in Qizhou arrived, only this arm remained."

Torn apart! Li Hao's mind buzzed, his eyes immediately reddened, and his blood seemed to flow backward, his brain swelling with blood.

He could easily imagine the scene, how cruel it must have been!

Since coming to this world, Li Hao had been in the Divine General's Residence, hearing many stories about demons from his surroundings but never truly seeing them. Although he knew the battlefield was cruel, it was the first time he felt this impact so directly.

"Did that demon have a name?" Li Hao asked in a low voice.

The soldier replied, "Yes, that demon has long lived outside Qizhou City, self-styled as the 'Tiger Robe Immortal'."

Li Hao silently engraved this name in his heart, a surge of indescribable killing intent rising within him. But he controlled his emotions, asked no more questions, and turned to roll up the red cloth, covering and wrapping the arm.

Then, Li Hao looked at Madam He in the upper seat, "Madam, I will take Uncle Lin's hand back. Please forgive my rudeness today, Madam."

After speaking, he turned and left with the arm, barefoot.

Madam He's eyes flickered slightly. From Li Hao, she faintly saw some things not usually seen. This child was more mature and intelligent than she had imagined.

"Xue Jian, bring Chengzhi's boots to Hao'er," Madam He instructed.

Xue Jian nodded, found the boots in the side room, and as she chased out of the courtyard, the little figure had already gone far, disappearing from sight.

Returning to the Mountain and River Courtyard, Li Hao found a place to bury the arm. Then he found a wooden plaque, carving the words "Lin Haixia" on it, and placed it in the soil.

He instructed Zhao Bo to fence off the area and forbid anyone from stepping on it.

When Zhao Bo learned that Lin Haixia's remains were buried, he quickly advised, "Young Master, this is the courtyard where the family lives. We cannot bury bones here. We have a cemetery for martyrs. Let's send Sergeant Lin there."

"Set up a cenotaph for Uncle Lin in the Martyrs' Cemetery," Li Hao suggested, slightly shaking his head as he glanced around the courtyard. "This vast Mountain and River Courtyard can accommodate Uncle Lin's hand."

"Young master..." Zhao Bo started to speak but was interrupted by Li Hao, who gestured for him to stop.

"Make sure to take good care of Uncle Lin's family and provide them with proper compensation," Li Hao instructed Zhao Bo.

Zhao Bo replied, "Sergeant Lin, as a member of the military, should have already had his family affairs handled properly in Yanbei."

"That's over there, and this is here," Li Hao said, looking at Zhao Bo. "You should understand what I mean."

Zhao Bo was momentarily taken aback and then nodded slightly. "I understand."

The news of Lin Haixia's death was like a small stone thrown into a lake, causing only slight ripples in the Divine General's Residence.

The other courtyards continued as usual, while in the Mountain and River Courtyard, Li Hao became even more obsessed with chess, neglecting even to watch Bian Ruxue practice her swordsmanship.

He didn't tell the little girl about Uncle Lin's situation to spare her any sadness.

Time flew by.

One day, Li Hao awoke from a dream, having been playing chess with Uncle Lin when suddenly a fierce tiger rushed in from outside the board, overturning it and pinning Lin Haixia to the ground, biting his neck.

Sitting on the bed, he gasped for breath.

The little girl beside him was awakened by the noise, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and asked, "Brother Hao, what's wrong?"

Li Hao regained his senses and shook his head, saying, "Nothing."

After the little girl fell asleep again, Li Hao covered her with the blanket that had slipped aside, then sat up and moved to the window.

As moonlight poured in, a line of text suddenly appeared before Li Hao:

[You have comprehended the chess heart.]