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Since returning from the brothel, Li Hao had been kept in the family mansion by Li Tian Gang, not allowed to wander off.

Because of this, father and son had a small argument once, but in the end, they both compromised. Li Hao agreed to stay in the family mansion, but what he did there was no longer subject to interference.

Li Tian Gang agreed.

Li Hao no longer spent his days painting, but apart from going to play chess with the Fifth Elder, he spent the rest of his time in the Listening Rain Tower.

He was waiting for his Second Uncle to return and in the meantime, he was browsing through these cultivation techniques.

There were so many books in the Listening Rain Tower that it would take at least ten years of non-stop reading to get through them all, let alone comprehend them.

Initially, Li Hao had picked some high-level cultivation techniques to practice, not paying much attention to the basic ones, but this time he started from the basics.

With his Sixth Stage insight of the physical body path, he should have been able to step into the Heavenly Human Realm, yet he was stuck here.

Li Hao planned to first understand the heart of a Grandmaster.

However, easier said than done, it was difficult in practice.

What is a Grandmaster?

It means someone who can start their own school and have their own way.

No one could teach a Grandmaster how to act, nor could anyone give advice to a Grandmaster.

Not even the three Immortals could do it because each Grandmaster’s path is different. Although the Immortals’ realms are higher, they can only pass on some of their own experiences in promotion and cultivation and cannot specifically point out what to do.

Similarly, reaching the Celestial Master Realm, one must find their own way forward step by step.

With no cultivation techniques to guide, no one to teach, one can only learn by referencing, contemplating, and understanding for oneself.

“My own path in martial arts…”

Li Hao sat in the Listening Rain Tower with a book on the fundamentals of martial arts in hand, his eyes flickering.

He had asked his Second Uncle how to comprehend the heart of a Grandmaster.

The Second Uncle gave him three ways. One was to gain worldly experience and find one’s martial heart through the trials and tribulations of life.

The second was to teeter on the brink of life and death, and in the face of great terror, to stimulate a moment of enlightenment and thereby set foot into that realm.

The third way was steadier and depended on personal comprehension: to seek from the most basic martial arts techniques.

Why the most basic techniques? Because the higher and more profound a technique, the easier it is to be blinded by the intricacies and miss the core essence.

It’s like a stone.

Tossed to the ground, everyone knows it to be a stone, despised by thousands, casually trampled upon.

But if it’s placed on a table, especially in a shrine, it’s cherished by the world, worshipped and revered by thousands.

Yet in essence, it is still just a stone.

At the moment, Li Hao was browsing the overall compendium of martial arts, which contained many disciplines, but it was only a simple list.

Swords, spears, staffs, fists, movement techniques…

Li Hao flipped through the pages casually, not forcing himself to gain any particular insight, simply passing the time as if out of boredom.

A month went by in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao read quite a few books in the Listening Rain Tower, covering not only martial arts but also quirky tales of interesting people.

Many books also recorded the life stories of numerous Grandmasters.

These Grandmasters followed all sorts of bizarre paths with different martial arts styles.

Some belonged to the sly school, where every move was underhanded, poking eyes out, attacking the groin, throwing poison, flinging sand and the like; the more ruthless the better. They condensed these types of moves into a set of techniques, their cultivation technique, and established schools with them.

Others belonged to the tough-fighting style, who were stubborn and fought head-on, never resorting to trickery, with every move explosive.

Still others focused on movement techniques, emphasizing light and agile movement.

For Li Hao, creating his own cultivation techniques wasn’t hard.

With his Sixth Stage insight into swordsmanship and fist techniques, it was easy for him to invent his own styles of swordplay and boxing.

He could even blend the two kinds of techniques.

However, though the techniques were there, the heart was not yet formed.

Most people who enter the Grandmaster Realm do so by first establishing their will, and then according to the direction of their Grandmaster heart, they strengthen their own cultivation techniques.

But Li Hao did it the other way around.

“Where is my heart…”

Li Hao murmured to himself.

He had seen too many cultivation techniques, and now, it seemed to dazzle and confuse him.

His heart was unsettled.

…

On this day, Li Hao came to the Listening Rain Tower as usual.

But soon after sitting down, he was called back to the Mountain and River Courtyard, told that there was something they needed him for.

When Li Hao returned to the courtyard, he was immediately greeted by the sight of his father, Li Tian Gang, seated in the main hall, and facing him, the figure of a young girl.

The girl was talking with his father, her back turned to the entrance.

She was dressed in a dark purple robe, exuding an air of mystery, like a fragrant and intense orchid in bloom.

Even just her upright back seemed to radiate with the vibrancy of youth.

At that moment, they seemed to be discussing something that brought smiles to Li Tian Gang’s face, his gaze was filled with warmth and affection.

Reaching the doorway, Li Hao thought of the etiquette he had been forced to learn over the past month, and instead of entering directly, he stopped and called out from outside.

Li Tian Gang looked toward Li Hao and, at the same time, the girl with her back to the entrance turned around.

Her brows were like distant mountains, her eyes as clear as bright streams, and her delicate face was softly illuminated, her skin white as jade.

Li Hao stared for a moment before his eyes widened in surprise.

“Xue’er?”

“Brother Hao.”

The girl recognized Li Hao as well, the past memories rising in her mind. She broke into a radiant smile and called out to him with a crisp voice.

Li Hao finally confirmed that the girl before him was the little miss he hadn’t seen for eight years, the little tail that used to follow him around.

He stepped forward quickly, looking her up and down with astonishment. In the eight years they had not seen each other, the little girl who used to cry at the smallest thing had grown into a young lady.

And not only that, she was beautiful and delicate, as though crafted with care.

“You’ve grown up so much,” Li Hao couldn’t help but utter a remark full of amazement.

The girl was indeed Bian Ruxue. She stood up from her chair with graceful movements and smiled, “Brother Hao, you’ve grown a lot taller too.”

“Of course,” Li Hao laughed and said, “Why didn’t you say something before coming back? Have you eaten yet? Let me tell you, my cooking skills have improved a lot. In a few months, I can fatten you up into a little fatty!”

Bian Ruxue’s cheeks flushed slightly as she said, “Brother Hao still likes to joke around.”

“Who told you to be such a crybaby, I definitely have to tease you.”

“I’m not a puppy.”

Li Hao laughed heartily, then asked, “How is it going with your swordsmanship training over there? Did anyone bully you?”

Bian Ruxue smiled and shook her head, “Master and my senior brothers and sisters are very nice to me, nobody bullies me.”

“That’s good.”

“And what about you, Brother Hao? Have you been well these years?”

Bian Ruxue asked, her eyes intently gazing at Li Hao.

Li Hao grinned and said, “Of course, I’ve been great. Don’t you know who I am? I am the one who bullies others – nobody can bully me. My days are filled with eating and drinking, incredibly joyful.”

Li Tian Gang listened and frowned slightly, sighing softly to himself.

Bian Ruxue glanced at Li Hao and said softly, “Brother Hao, stop joking around.”

Upon hearing this, Li Tian Gang’s face turned stern as he said, “Hao Er, be serious. Xue’er has just come back; you’re not allowed to bully her.”

“Alright, alright, alright.”

Li Hao smiled helplessly.

Bian Ruxue immediately turned to Li Tian Gang and said, “Uncle, Brother Hao never bullies me.”

Li Tian Gang looked at her, a smile appearing on his face, “Xue’er, you’re just too soft-hearted. Don’t worry, now that I’m back, if Hao Er dares to bully you, just come to me, and I’ll stand up for you.”

“When your father entrusted you to me, I promised to take good care of you. I will never let you suffer any grievances in our Li Family!”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Bian Ruxue smiled and bowed slightly in thanks. Then, she looked at Li Hao in front of her and noticed that the smile on his face seemed suddenly less bright.

She didn’t think much of it and said to Li Tian Gang, “Uncle, I’d like to go for a walk with Brother Hao and have a chat alone.”

“Go ahead, you two.”

Li Tian Gang said with a nod and a smile.

Bian Ruxue bowed slightly again, then said to Li Hao, “Brother Hao, shall we go? I haven’t been back in a long time; would you accompany me for a walk outside?”

Li Hao nodded, then, as if thinking of something, turned to look at his father who was seated higher up, “I’ll take Xue’er out for a walk?”

Li Tian Gang nodded and said, “With Xue’er by your side, I am at ease. Spend some good time with her in the upcoming days.”

The corners of Li Hao’s mouth twitched slightly, then he turned and took hold of Bian Ruxue’s hand, saying, “Let’s go. I’ll show you around the city. There’s not a single delicious spot in Qingzhou City that I don’t know about.”

Her tender wrist that was grabbed gave a slight struggle as if startled, but quickly relaxed, allowing Li Hao to lead her.

After watching them leave, Li Tian Gang sighed softly, “Hao Er has been living a rather good life despite not having us around these years. It’s a pity no one has been disciplining him; he’s become too wild.”

Zhao opened his mouth slightly but then closed it again without saying anything.

Li Tian Gang’s gaze softened, “Fortunately, Xue’er is well-mannered and sensible. Having her by his side can somewhat restrain him. I feel more at ease now. That boy is fortunate to have Xue’er in his life.”

…

Once they left the Divine General Mansion, Li Hao took the girl beside him and headed straight for the bustling district nearby.

“Brother Hao, I just found out that Uncle only returned recently.”

Bian Ruxue let Li Hao lead her without struggling, only her cheeks blushing while she glanced from time to time at the side of Li Hao’s face, “After I left, were you all alone?”

Li Hao smiled and said, “Silly girl, still as naive as when you were a kid. The Mountain and River Courtyard is so large, and with so many house servants and maids, how could I be alone?”

“House servants and maids are different, Brother Hao would never confide his inner thoughts to them,” Bian Ruxue said.

“Then let’s not talk about it,” Li Hao said with a laugh.

Bian Ruxue paused, then asked, “Will it be uncomfortable not to talk?”

“I’m used to it.”

Li Hao brought Bian Ruxue to a sugar painting stall. “Want some candy?”

Bian Ruxue glanced at it and shook her head slightly. “Brother Hao, I’ve already grown up.”

“You’re only fourteen and saying you’re grown up? Then by twenty, won’t you be old?”

Seeing that she didn’t want candy, Li Hao continued to take her around.

They came across a toy stall on the road and he bought her a metal frog. With a gentle press, it could keep hopping forward, a product under the command of the Qianji Sect.

The two of them strolled and chatted. Li Hao asked about her life on the mountain these years, and Bian Ruxue also asked about Li Hao’s days in the courtyard.

When it was time for dinner, Li Hao found a restaurant and they continued to talk while eating.

After eight years of not seeing each other, there was a lot to talk about. It started off a bit awkward, but later Li Hao seemed to find the feeling of his childhood again.

“When did you come down from the mountain?”

“A month ago,” said Bian Ruxue.

Li Hao was surprised. “Then why have you only just returned?”

“I heard that some strange occurrences were happening somewhere, so I went to check it out. It turned out that the Mo River had seeped through, destroying an entire village,” explained Bian Ruxue.

Li Hao nodded. “And what happened after that?”

“I tried several times, but unfortunately, I could only destroy it; I couldn’t get through.”

Li Hao smiled, “Destroying it is still good. At least that can make it disappear for a while.”

Bian Ruxue sighed slightly and nodded, “That’s true.”

Li Hao noticed the sword that never left her side and asked, “How has your swordsmanship improved over these years under the Sword Saint?”

Bian Ruxue was slightly stunned, then fell silent for a moment before saying, “It’s alright, I guess.”

Seeing her reaction, Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh. “What? Did you get criticized for not practicing well? Why else would you get so down when swords are mentioned?”

Bian Ruxue shook her head slightly, set the sword aside, and said, “Brother Hao, let’s not talk about swords. I only found out after returning that you’re about to become the Li Family’s True Dragon. Along the way, I heard that someone else wants to compete against you. Are you confident?”

“What do you think?” Li Hao asked.

Seeing Li Hao so relaxed, Bian Ruxue immediately said, “I think you are.”

“I think so too.”

Li Hao smiled and served her some dishes.

“Speaking of which, I saw quite a few important figures heading towards Qingzhou on the road. I heard that the competition for the True Dragon requires considering one’s connections.”

Bian Ruxue said, “Brother Hao, do you want me to call my master and the others down to support you?”

“Connections are just a minor aspect. They don’t count for much. The choice of the Li Family’s True Dragon can’t be influenced by outsiders,” Li Hao said with a laugh.

Bian Ruxue thought it made sense and said, “Alright then. If there’s anything you need me to do, Brother Hao, you must tell me.”

“There is actually something I need you to do.”

“What?” Bian Ruxue was startled.

“I’m full. You finish the rest. Don’t waste food,” Li Hao said with a content burp, leaning back in his chair comfortably.

Bian Ruxue was momentarily speechless.