101: Li Qianfeng Returns to the Mansion

Chapter 101: Li Qianfeng Returns to the Mansion

Time passed quietly in the small courtyard.

Since Li Hao and Bian Ruxue returned from the temple fair, they hadn't gone out again, quietly waiting for that day to come.

On regular days, Bian Ruxue practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard, focusing solely on sword intent, not techniques.

Otherwise, the power of her sword techniques would be too fierce, destroying the last traces of autumn in the courtyard.

After her sword dance, the girl looked back at the pavilion.

But the pavilion was empty, the boy she once saw there no longer present.

The girl's eyes, clear as fresh snow, unconsciously showed a hint of sadness and disappointment, but she quickly collected herself and continued her practice.

In the Li family's ancestral hall, Li Hao's figure occasionally appeared, either playing chess with his Fifth Uncle or reading a book in the Tingyu Pavilion, often spending the entire day there.

The two-month period was drawing to a close, with only ten days remaining.

One day, Li Hao was sitting by the pond in the courtyard, preparing to paint the last fallen leaf of deep autumn, using a drawing board he hadn't touched for half a month.

A figure ran into the courtyard—it was Li Yuanzhao.

He found Li Hao, panting and said, "Hao-ge, Qianqian is looking for you."

"Qianqian?"

"Yes, Ren Qianqian, the one who went to Cangyu City with us," Li Yuanzhao quickly explained.

Li Hao remembered and asked, "What does she want?"

"She said her father agreed, and she wants to learn swordsmanship from you," Li Yuanzhao immediately said.

Li Hao recalled this and was a bit surprised.

"Hao-ge, do you agree? If so, I'll bring her over," Li Yuanzhao asked, running errands.

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "Alright."

Since she was so determined, it would be hard to refuse.

"Okay."

Li Yuanzhao chuckled, "She's outside the mansion. I'll bring her over."

Li Hao nodded.

By the time he finished grinding the ink and painting, Li Yuanzhao had brought Ren Qianqian over. She was slender and pretty, holding a sword, her eyes lightly scanning the admired mansion without turning her head too much.

Even as a grandmaster's daughter, well-informed, Ren Qianqian couldn't help but feel a bit nervous seeing this place.

From the main gate of the God General's mansion to the Shanhe Courtyard, the journey was long, with guards emanating a murderous aura every few steps and patrols frequently passing by.

It was more like a small palace than a mansion.

Along the way, Ren Qianqian saw several figures with auras similar to her father's, and even more profound.

However, they didn't have the transcendent grace but rather a restrained murderous aura from mountains of corpses and seas of blood! This made her secretly amazed that such grandmasters were merely guards in the God General's mansion.

"Hao-ge, Qianqian is here," Li Yuanzhao called out.

Li Hao sat alone by the pond.

Ren Qianqian looked at the renowned genius, whose name echoed like thunder, her eyes gleaming.

After the battle in Cangyu City, she predicted his fame would sweep across Qingzhou City, but she hadn't expected it to be so widespread and fervent.

Now, she saw Li Hao in white robes, exuding nobility, holding a brush, just finishing his sketch.

Ren Qianqian was surprised and unexpected; she thought someone like Li Hao would be constantly training hard.

Unexpectedly, he was so leisurely.

"I've made up my mind."

Ren Qianqian straightened up, her posture firm, "I want to learn swordsmanship from you, the strongest of the Li family. I'm willing to serve you for life!"

Li Hao's lips twitched slightly; another child willing to give up everything for the sword.

He sighed inwardly, placing his brush on the inkstone.

Then he turned to face the girl and asked seriously, "Have you really thought it through?"

"I have!" Ren Qianqian's eyes were solemn.

"Your father agrees?"

"He has agreed."

"Really?"

Ren Qianqian nodded, holding her sword tightly, "I want to surpass grandmasters and achieve immortality with my sword!"

Li Hao smiled faintly, "And what of immortality? A grandmaster is not transcendent, and immortality is not truly immortal."

"Once you cross this line, you are part of the Li family, unable to leave even if you destroy your martial arts. As long as you remember, you can't leave."

"Unless you die!"

His gaze suddenly turned sharp, staring at the girl, "Can you truly manage that?"

Ren Qianqian's heart trembled, facing Li Hao's piercing gaze, she instinctively wanted to step back, unable to bear the pressure.

But when she almost stepped back, she stopped herself, thinking that if she couldn't withstand the gaze of a peer, how could she talk about mastering the sword and achieving immortality?!

She took a deep breath, clutching her sword tighter, "I can, I can do it!"

Li Hao looked at her deeply, then retracted his gaze, saying calmly, "Alright, from today on, you are my sword attendant, carrying my sword."

Ren Qianqian's heart shook, and she immediately nodded, "Thank you!"

"No need for thanks, it's a mutual exchange."

Li Hao said, "Later, I'll take you to see Uncle Zhao. You'll sign the household contract and familiarize yourself with the rules of the God General's mansion."

"Yes."

Ren Qianqian nodded, then asked, "When can I start learning the sword?"

Li Hao glanced at her, "I'll teach you one move first, ponder it slowly, ask if you don't understand."

"Alright."

Ren Qianqian was overjoyed, quickly offering her sword, "You can use my sword."

"No need."

Li Hao turned and picked up the brush from the inkstone.

Then casually released a burst of sword energy.

The sword energy swept over the pond, and the water split, the sword mark like a severed waterfall.

It took several seconds for the water to gradually close, and the sword energy that crossed the pond left no trace, not harming a single blade of grass.

Li Yuanzhao and Ren Qianqian were stunned, rooted in place.

They could release sword energy, but to do it as casually as Li Hao was unimaginable. Especially for the sword energy to vanish without a trace, this level of control was astonishing!

"Hao-ge..."

Li Yuanzhao regained his composure and quickly said, "Hao-ge, I want to learn too!"

"The sword manuals in the Tingyu Pavilion, read them yourself."

Li Hao gave him a look, "Come to me when you don't understand."

"Okay!"

Li Yuanzhao was overjoyed, and after saying goodbye to Li Hao, he ran off.

Ren Qianqian still stared at the pond, slightly dazed.

Time flew by.

In the following days, Li Hao continued reading in the Tingyu Pavilion, occasionally lost in thought in the courtyard.

As for Ren Qianqian, Li Hao didn't rush to teach her the sword techniques from the Tingyu Pavilion but had her practice in the courtyard. He occasionally pointed out flaws in her techniques, gradually perfecting her swordsmanship towards the ultimate level.

In the courtyard.

Li Hao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at a withered tree.

Bian Ruxue approached, noticing a girl practicing on the other side of the tree, her eyes flickering.

She had heard that the girl was Li Hao's sword attendant, a grandmaster's daughter.

However, while the identity of a grandmaster's daughter was prestigious, it wasn't uncommon in the God General's mansion.

Bian Ruxue noticed the girl's refined swordsmanship but felt it was still inferior to her own.

So she didn't pay much attention, as there were countless skilled swordsmen in the world.

"Hao-ge, what are you looking at?"

Bian Ruxue asked, seeing Li Hao gazing at the withered tree.

The last autumn color on the tree had long faded.

Li Hao's eyes gradually focused, "I'm watching the wind."

"The wind?"

Bian Ruxue looked around; there was wind, but it could only be felt, not seen.

"Unfortunately, the wind is too weak."

Li Hao smiled, "Too weak to stir the fallen leaves, let alone move this tree."

Bian Ruxue was taken aback, looking at the withered tree.

Indeed, she felt the wind on her face, but in the lush spring, it would sway the leaves.

But now, it was late autumn.

Suddenly, a thudding sound came from the ground.

Then, the sound of numerous hooves approached rapidly from outside the courtyard.

Bian Ruxue was surprised.

Riding in the mansion wasn't unusual, but who would ride in groups and gallop so recklessly? Her spirit flew out of her body, looking into the sky, seeing a group of robed figures riding past the Shanhe Courtyard towards the distant direction.

It was the Shuihua Courtyard.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in clean robes, with a solemn Buddhist appearance.

Bian Ruxue had learned about the world's famous forces from her senior brothers' teachings in the Sword Hut, preparing for her future entry into society.

Understanding people and recognizing paths in the martial world were sometimes more important than swords.

The group before her was from Wuliang Mountain.

The middle-aged man leading them was dressed as a Bodhisattva from Wuliang Mountain.

A Bodhisattva was a Four Establishment Realm expert! Second only to the Thousand-Year Incense Buddha!

Bian Ruxue's face changed, quickly noticing a young figure riding alongside the Bodhisattva.

The figure glanced at Bian Ruxue's spirit, their eyes meeting briefly.

Bian Ruxue immediately knew it was the son of her second aunt, Li Hao's competitor for the True Dragon position! Li Qianfeng! The warhorse ran fast, their gaze meeting only briefly before the youth turned away, riding off.

Bian Ruxue's spirit returned to her body, her face showing concern as she told Li Hao, "Hao-ge, be careful of that person. I felt something unusual about him!"

The brief eye contact made her feel a chill, as if he could kill her instantly if he made a move! She couldn't help but worry for Li Hao.

"Mm."

Li Hao smiled.

A breeze swept by, only lifting a fallen leaf onto his shoe.

As time counted down, since Li Qianfeng's return, the God General's mansion became increasingly lively.

People visited daily, mostly going to the Shuihua Courtyard.

These visitors were mostly from the Liu family, supporting their nephew.

On the third day before the deadline, Li Tiangang, along with Li Xuanli and the ladies from each courtyard, went to the depths of the God General's mansion to the Wangyou Mountain, bringing down the elderly lady who had been eating vegetarian and praying for twenty years.

This elderly lady was Li Tiangang's mother.

Chen Hefang.

She was also Li Hao's paternal grandmother.

Moreover, the elderly lady was from one of the five great God General's mansions, the Chen family.

She had once married into the Li family, giving birth to nine sons, renowned throughout the land.

But the elderly lady seemed to have little connection with the Chen family now.

The entanglements and grudges between the thousand-year God General's mansions were deep, compounded by internal conflicts, making it hard to explain in a few words.

With Chen Hefang invited out, everyone in the God General's mansion gathered in the long-uninhabited Qinglian Courtyard, which had been thoroughly cleaned.

In the grand hall, Li Tiangang and the second generation gathered to pay respects. Even the eighth uncle, Li Fenghua, who guarded the border, rushed back. Unless there were insurmountable reasons, everyone had to witness this True Dragon selection.

Here, Li Hao met Li Qianfeng again.

For Li Qianfeng, it was his first time seeing Li Hao.

As for childhood, when Li Hao was held by his mother in the courtyard, he hadn't paid attention, even if he had seen him, it was long forgotten.

So this is the son of the Seventh Uncle? He stood with his hands behind his back, glancing at Li Hao, his eyes narrowing.

He had also seen Li Wushuang and the other third generation of the Li family behind Li Hao, but none caught his eye.

The once-considered rival, Li Wushuang, was now just at the Spirit Wandering Realm, not having reached the Fifteen Mile Realm.

Even in the same realm, he was unafraid.

Only the boy before him, famous in Qingzhou, with his fame spreading to other provinces, gave him a sense of unfathomable depth.

He couldn't see through Li Hao's cultivation level at all.