98. The Heart of a Grandmaster

Chapter 98: The Heart of a Grandmaster

Time passed quickly.

After returning from the brothel, Li Hao was confined to the mansion by Li Tian'gang, not allowed to roam freely.

This led to a minor dispute between father and son, ultimately resulting in a compromise. Li Hao agreed to stay within the mansion grounds, but his father would not interfere with what he chose to do.

Li Tian'gang agreed.

Li Hao stopped spending all his time painting and instead spent most of his days either playing chess with his fifth uncle or staying in the Rain Listening Pavilion.

He was waiting for his second uncle to return while also flipping through the martial arts manuals.

The Rain Listening Pavilion held an extensive collection of books. Simply reading through them without any comprehension would take at least ten years of continuous reading.

Originally, Li Hao had chosen some advanced manuals to practice from, barely glancing at the more basic ones. But this time, he started from the bottom.

With his insights into the sixth level of physical cultivation, he should have been able to advance to the Heavenly Realm, but he was stuck.

Li Hao decided to first comprehend the heart of a Grandmaster.

However, it was easier said than done.

What is a Grandmaster?

A Grandmaster is someone who can establish their own sect and pave their own path.

No one can teach a Grandmaster what to do, not even those at the Three Immortals level. Each Grandmaster's path is unique. Even though the Three Immortals might have higher cultivation, they can only share their experiences; they can't guide a Grandmaster precisely.

Likewise, once someone reaches the Grandmaster level, the path ahead requires them to tread carefully, one step at a time.

There is no manual or guidance; they can only borrow, think, and comprehend.

"My own martial path..."

Li Hao sat in the Rain Listening Pavilion, holding a book on the basics of martial arts, his eyes flickering with thoughts.

He had asked his second uncle how to comprehend the heart of a Grandmaster.

His second uncle mentioned three methods: one is to experience the world, finding one's martial heart through the tempering of life. The second is to walk the edge of life and death, triggering an epiphany through the great fear between life and death, thus stepping into the Grandmaster realm. The third is more stable, relying on personal comprehension, starting from the most basic martial arts manuals.

Why the most basic manuals? Because the more advanced the manual, the more intricate it becomes, and its core essence is easily obscured by the profound techniques.

It's like a stone.

Thrown on the ground, everyone knows it's a stone, trampled and disregarded.

But placed on a table, especially in a shrine, it becomes revered, worshipped by all.

But in essence, it's still just a stone.

At this moment, Li Hao was flipping through a comprehensive guide to martial arts. It listed various martial arts styles, but only briefly.

Swords, spears, staffs, fists, footwork...

Li Hao flipped through it casually, not forcing any particular insights, simply passing the time.

A month passed in a blink.

Li Hao had read many books in the Rain Listening Pavilion, not just martial arts manuals but also stories about remarkable individuals.

There were also numerous books recording the lives of many Grandmasters.

These Grandmasters had walked diverse paths, each with a unique martial style.

Some practiced what could be called the "underhanded style," with all their techniques being dirty tricks: gouging eyes, attacking the groin, throwing poison and sand, anything underhanded, and they consolidated these tricks into a sequence of moves, forming a martial art to establish their sect.

Others practiced the "hard style," headstrong and straightforward, every move explosive, never employing deceit.

Then there were those who favored agility, focusing on light and nimble movements.

For Li Hao, creating martial arts was not difficult.

With his level six insights into swordsmanship and fist techniques, creating new styles was easy.

He could even merge different styles.

But while his techniques were established, his heart was not.

Typically, someone reaching the Grandmaster realm would first establish their heart, then strengthen their techniques in the direction their heart pointed.

Li Hao was doing the reverse.

"Where does my heart lie?"

Li Hao muttered to himself.

He had seen so many techniques that his mind was now somewhat overwhelmed.

His heart was unsettled.

...

One day, as Li Hao was at the Rain Listening Pavilion, he was summoned back to the main hall of the mansion, being told there was something urgent.

Upon returning to the hall, he saw not only his father, Li Tian'gang, sitting there but also a young girl sitting across from him.

The girl was engaged in conversation with his father, her back facing the entrance.

Dressed in a dark purple robe, she exuded a mysterious aura, like a fragrant orchid in bloom.

Just her straight back conveyed a sense of youthful vitality.

At that moment, the two seemed to be discussing something, and his father was smiling warmly, his eyes full of affection.

Standing at the door, Li Hao, recalling the etiquette he had been forced to learn over the past month, stood still and called out before entering.

Li Tian'gang turned to look at him, and at the same time, the girl turned around.

Her delicate brows were like distant mountains, her eyes bright like clear streams, her nose dainty and teeth white, her small face glowing with a fine down, her complexion as white as jade.

Li Hao was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened.

"Xue'er?"

"Brother Hao."

The girl seemed to recognize him as well. Memories of the past surfaced in her mind, and she smiled brightly, calling out in a clear voice.

Li Hao finally confirmed that the girl before him was the little one he hadn't seen in eight years, the one who used to follow him like a little tail.

He quickly walked forward, marveling at how much she had grown in the eight years since he last saw her.

She had turned into a beautiful young lady.

"And you've grown so big," Li Hao couldn't help but remark, stating the obvious.

The girl was Bian Ruxue. She stood up gracefully, smiling and saying, "Brother Hao, you've grown much taller too."

"Of course."

Li Hao grinned. "Why didn't you say you were coming back? Have you eaten? Let me tell you, my cooking skills have improved a lot. In just a few months, I can make you plump!"

Bian Ruxue blushed slightly. "Brother Hao still likes to joke."

"Who told you to cry so much back then? I had to tease you." "I'm not a puppy."

Li Hao laughed heartily and then asked, "So, how has it been practicing swordsmanship? Has anyone bullied you?"

Bian Ruxue smiled and shook her head. "My master and senior brothers and sisters treat me very well. No one bullies me."

"That's good."

"And you, Brother Hao, have you been well these years?"

Bian Ruxue inquired, her eyes fixed on Li Hao.

Li Hao grinned. "Of course, I've been well. Can't you see who I am? I only bully others; no one can bully me. I eat and drink, and I'm very happy."

Li Tian'gang listened, frowning slightly, sighing inwardly.

Bian Ruxue gazed at Li Hao, her voice soft. "Brother Hao, please don't joke."

Li Tian'gang, hearing this, put on a stern face. "Hao'er, be serious. Xue'er just returned; you mustn't bully her."

"Alright, alright."

Li Hao laughed helplessly.

Bian Ruxue quickly turned to Li Tian'gang, saying, "Uncle, Brother Hao has never bullied me."

Li Tian'gang looked at her, smiling. "Xue'er, you're too gentle. Don't worry, now that I'm back, if Hao'er ever bullies you, just come to me, and I'll stand up for you."

"Back then, your father entrusted you to me, and I will take good care of you. You will not suffer any grievances in the Li family!"

"Thank you, Uncle."

Bian Ruxue smiled and bowed slightly, then turned to Li Hao. She noticed the smile on his face had faded somewhat.

Without overthinking, she said to Li Tian'gang, "Uncle, I want to take Brother Hao out for a walk and chat alone."

"Go ahead."

Li Tian'gang nodded with a smile.

Bian Ruxue bowed slightly again, then turned to Li Hao. "Brother Hao, let's go. It's been a long time since I've been back. Can you take me for a walk?"

Li Hao nodded, then glanced at his father sitting above. "I'll take Xue'er out for a walk."

Li Tian'gang nodded. "With Xue'er with you, I can rest assured. Spend these days with her and have a good time."

Li Hao's mouth twitched slightly. He turned to Bian Ruxue, holding her hand. "Let's go. I'll show you around the city. There's no good food in Qingzhou that I don't know about."

The soft hand in his grip trembled slightly, as if startled, but soon relaxed, letting him hold it.

As they left, Li Tian'gang sighed. "Although Hao'er has lived without us for years, he's had a good life. It's just a pity that no one guided him; his nature is too wild."

Uncle Zhao opened his mouth slightly, then closed it again.

Li Tian'gang's gaze softened. "Fortunately, Xue'er is sensible and well-mannered. With her by his side, she can somewhat restrain him. This boy is lucky to have found Xue'er."

...

Once outside the mansion, Li Hao led the young girl to a nearby bustling street.

"Brother Hao, I just learned that Uncle has recently returned."

Bian Ruxue, her cheeks slightly red, looked at Li Hao's profile. "Since I left, have you been alone?"

Li Hao smiled. "Silly girl, the mansion is so big, with so many servants. How could I be alone?"

"Servants are different. Brother Hao wouldn't share his thoughts with them." Bian Ruxue said.

"Then I just won't share." Li Hao chuckled.

"Wouldn't that feel stifling?" Bian Ruxue asked softly.

"I'm used to it."

Li Hao stopped at a stall selling sugar paintings. "Want some candy?"

Bian Ruxue glanced at it, shaking her head slightly. "Brother Hao, I'm grown up now."

"You're fourteen and call yourself grown? What happens when you're twenty? Are you old then?"

Seeing she didn't like candy, Li Hao continued walking with her.

They came across a toy stall, and he bought her a little wind-up frog. It was a product of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, able to hop forward with a press.

As they strolled and chatted, Li Hao asked about her life in the mountains, while Bian Ruxue asked about his days in the mansion.

At mealtime, Li Hao took her to a restaurant, chatting while they ate.

With eight years apart, there was much to discuss. Initially, they were slightly reserved, but gradually, Li Hao found the familiar feeling from their childhood.

"When did you come down the mountain?"

"A month ago." Bian Ruxue replied.

Li Hao was surprised. "Why did it take so long to come back?"

"I heard of some strange occurrences in a place. I went to investigate and found it was a river of death infiltrating, destroying a village." Bian Ruxue said.

Li Hao nodded. "What happened then?"

"I tried several times, but only managed to destroy it temporarily, not fully clear it."

Li Hao laughed. "Destroying it is good enough, at least it disappears for now."

Bian Ruxue sighed lightly, nodding. "Yes."

Li Hao noticed the sword by her side, never leaving her. "How's your swordsmanship under the Sword Saint?"

Bian Ruxue hesitated, then said softly, "Not bad."

Li Hao laughed, "Why so downcast? Got criticized for not practicing well?"

Bian Ruxue shook her head, placing the sword aside. "Brother Hao, let's not talk about the sword. I just found out you're about to become the Li family's true dragon. On my way here, I heard there's another contender. Do you have confidence?"

"What do you think?" Li Hao asked.

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Bian Ruxue said, "I think you do."

"I also think so."

Li Hao laughed, serving her more food.

"I saw many important figures heading to Qingzhou. I heard human connections matter in the true dragon selection."

Bian Ruxue said, "Brother Hao, should I call my master and others to support you?"

"Human connections are minor. The Li family's true dragon selection won't be influenced by outsiders." Li Hao chuckled.

Bian Ruxue thought so too and said, "Alright. If you need anything, just tell me."

"There is something."

"What?" Bian Ruxue was puzzled.

"I'm full. Finish the rest. No wasting food." Li Hao said, leaning back contentedly.

Bian Ruxue was momentarily speechless.