32. The Leader of Children, Li Hao

Chapter 32: The Leader of Children, Li Hao

Upon hearing each word of the child's instructions, He Jianlan's expression tightened slightly. She nodded gently and said in a warm voice, "Auntie will convey your message. You needn't worry and should focus on training well with your granduncle. Listen to him, don't be mischievous, and feel free to practice at the training ground when you have time; it's always open to you."

Previously, they didn't require Li Hao to visit the training ground, fearing he'd be bullied. Now that Li Hao was on the path of cultivation, going to the training ground could offer opportunities to spar, communicate, and enhance his combat skills, aiding his cultivation.

After Li Hao and Li Fu withdrew, He Jianlan sighed softly.

Nearby, Xuejian noticed her expression and cautiously asked, "Madam, why do you sigh?"

"Xiao Qi is busy with military affairs in Yanbei. Perhaps he's too occupied to remember such things. As for that couple, it's been so many years since they've seen their child, and they haven't even sent more letters to show concern for this child. Hao'er is actually very sensible..." He Jianlan murmured, her tone tinged with helplessness and a hint of reproach.

Xuejian, being quick-witted, was stunned for a moment. "Does that mean, Madam, that what you just said was all...?"

He Jianlan glanced at her, prompting Xuejian to stop speaking, lower her head, and secretly glance toward the courtyard. The small figure was already swaying away in the distance.

So, the madam had fabricated the greetings and concerns just now, but the young master took them as true...

...

...

Back at the Mountain and River Courtyard.

Li Hao hadn't even retrieved his drawing board before receiving another letter delivered by a servant. Upon seeing the signature, a smile spread across his face, and his previously low spirits dissipated.

Although he hadn't had much contact with the couple in Yanbei, strangely, in the quiet of night, he found himself missing them occasionally.

Perhaps it was the warmth of that embrace resurfacing in a dream. Or maybe it was those sincere eyes he hadn't forgotten.

The letter in his hand was from the Sword Cottage, naturally from that adorable little girl.

Since she left for the Sword Cottage, she had sent letters back periodically—first one every three to five days, then less frequently as her Sword Saint master imposed stricter rules, urging her to focus on cultivation. But now, a letter still arrived each month.

The letters no longer detailed daily life, having covered those topics too often. The routine at the Sword Cottage was dull and repetitive; such is the nature of building a strong foundation.

Li Hao opened the letter, sat on a reclining chair in the sunlight, and smiled as he read each word slowly, missing nothing.

He even found a typo and a circle with an X, where a word was misspelled and skipped over because she couldn't write it.

He could almost imagine the little girl scratching her head in frustration as she wrote, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

The letter recorded her recent meals and the precious herbs her Sword Saint master acquired for her. Her cultivation had already reached the fifth level of the Celestial Stage, with twenty-one meridians opened, studying the strongest breathing technique of the Sword Cottage.

Li Hao had heard from the Second Granduncle that the Sword Cottage's breathing technique, the "Starlight Sword Qi Method," was a top-tier technique. When mastered, it could open 49 meridians, only slightly less than Li family's "Dragon River Divine Meridian" with its 54 meridians.

Moreover, the little girl had already opened her Taiyin Meridian, earning her great favor from her Sword Saint master.

Seeing this, Li Hao couldn't help but feel happy for her. The "Dragon River Divine Meridian" wasn't taught outside the family, only the direct line could practice it. Even Bian Ruxue, his fiancée, couldn't. The wives from various courtyards, including Aunt He Jianlan, also weren't qualified to practice it.

However, they could learn top-notch techniques, only slightly inferior. If one's talent was exceptionally high, opening both special meridians could compensate for the gap in foundation that these techniques provided. But clearly, such talent was rare in the world.

After reading the letter, Li Hao called for a servant to prepare pen, ink, and paper for him.

He wrote a letter slowly, describing how he had been learning to paint and cook recently, some joys of fishing, and his encounter with an interesting elder.

Of course, he didn't mention the Thief Saint's name or title.

After all, Elder Feng was considered a villain in Dayu and was disliked by various forces. Only someone as carefree as the Second Granduncle would have such a person as a close friend. If people knew about their relationship, they would surely curse loudly, saying, "A good-for-nothing colluding with an official!"

After finishing, Li Hao drew a small expression, encouraging her to keep up with her cultivation so they could inspire each other.

(_)

...

...

After entrusting the letter to a servant to be sent, Li Hao set up his drawing board and began to paint as usual. Now in the second stage of painting, his skills were more refined.

The changes might not be noticeable in the sketch, but it was apparent that the eyes seemed more lively, as if staring back from the paper.

Before finishing a piece, a noisy group approached from outside the courtyard. From afar, someone shouted, "Brother Hao, we're here!"

Looking up, he saw three little kids running over.

They were the only son of the Sixth Lady, Li Yuanzhao, and the second son and third daughter of the Fifth Madam, Li Yun and Li Zhining.

They had come to bid farewell to Bian Ruxue on the day she left for the Sword Cottage, as they were also direct-line "classmates," and thus, they met Li Hao.

Later, that kid Li Yun repeatedly came over, asking about Bian Ruxue and when she would return. Li Hao realized that this little kid, who wasn't even fully grown, dared to think about his little girl.

However, he didn't stoop to the level of a little kid.

—He just gave him a good spanking.

Then, after some intimidation, he made the kid too afraid to tattle to the Fifth Madam, as adult intervention would spoil the fun of child fights.

Of course, it helped that he could win.

Since then, Li Yun felt some fear and trepidation around Li Hao, but that didn't stop him from visiting Mountain and River Courtyard. Instead, he later brought his sister and another, the Sixth, to bolster his courage.

After several encounters, Li Hao easily became the leader of this trio.

"Brother Hao, you didn't finish telling us about how the monkey was suppressed last time. What happened next?" Li Yuanzhao, chubby and short, ran to the drawing board. His little dirty hands didn't dare touch the paper for fear of getting a knock on the head from Li Hao.

"Yeah, yeah," Li Yun nodded repeatedly, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at rice, already under Li Hao's thumb.

Beside them, the little girl Li Zhining handed Li Hao a food box, her eyes sparkling. "Brother Hao, these are crispy pastries my mother made. We've all had some; they're delicious. This is for you."

"I haven't had any yet," Li Yuanzhao immediately interjected, reaching out with his dirty hand from training at the martial grounds, but Li Zhining twisted away and glared at him.

The chubby kid looked at her with grievance.

Li Hao smiled and, without hesitation, took the food box and opened it. A fragrant aroma wafted out. He took a piece to taste—it was indeed good. He then shared the rest with them, saying, "Go get yourselves some little stools, and I'll tell you the story while you eat."

"Uncle Zhao, chairs!" Li Yun shouted immediately.

Li Hao tapped his head, annoyed, "Zhao Bo isn't for you to boss around. Get it yourself!"

Li Yun held his head, slightly fearful, and mumbled something unclear, then pointed to a servant, saying, "You, bring me a stool."

The servant, not daring to disobey, smiled and went to fetch one.

Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhining, familiar with the place, ran inside to grab little stools and obediently sat beside Li Hao.