Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Upon seeing the thoughtful gift prepared by Zhao, Li Hao opened the gift box and glanced inside to find a delicately small dragon horn comb, along with a small bottle.

Li Hao picked up the small porcelain bottle and shook it, prompting Zhao to hurriedly say, “Inside is the Soul Casting Elixir, which can increase Divine Soul power. I’ve heard that Miss Wushuang has already reached the Divine Travel Realm, so she must have a use for it.”

“Zhao really is considerate and thoughtful.”

Li Hao couldn’t help but praise.

He was familiar with the Soul Casting Elixir. It could be consumed by those in the Divine Travel Realm, with each pill increasing the travel distance by about a hundred meters. A person could consume up to ten pills before reaching the maximum limit, beyond which no more could be absorbed.

And the accumulation of ten pills was a kilometer.

This was equivalent to surpassing four or five years of hard cultivation.

The only downside was, since the elixir-assisted Divine Soul differed ever so slightly from one that was self-cultivated, it would not be noticeable in common battles. However, in a clash between top experts, it could become a flaw.

This was what Jianghu martial artists often said: relying on medicinal pills for improvement might lead to an unstable foundation, making the body too light.

Li Hao was unable to absorb the effects of medicinal pills and thus consuming them was ineffective for him. Even if he could, he would not choose to use them, for he had heard that his second uncle and Feng never relied on elixirs. At most, they would consume spirit food with rich energy to enhance their physical strength and vitality.

Because the second uncle and Feng were not body refiners, nor would they expend effort in Body Refinement.

So, relying on external things to increase physical strength was harmless and only beneficial to them, while they remained pure and untainted by any medicinal influence in their Cultivation Realm.

Zhao gave a slight smile, knowing that Li Hao didn’t take this matter to heart. With earnest concern, he advised:

“It’s been many years since your return; if you’re still accustomed to Miss Wushuang’s temperament, you should spend time with your cousin. It’s best to close the distance in your relationship since she is a disciple of the Qianji Sect, and it would be good to have her support in the future.”

“Of course.”

Li Hao agreed with a smile.

Zhao sighed quietly, following behind Li Hao like an old servant.

Before long, Li Yuanzhao hurried to the Mountain and River Courtyard, entering as if he were in his own domain and calling out Li Hao’s name from afar.

“It’s Young Master Yuan Zhao,” observed Zhao, his face breaking into a kind smile.

Over the years, Li Hao had been lax in his demeanor and had not displayed any martial arts talent, so the other courtyards had not interacted much with the Mountain and River Courtyard.

Zhao had also noticed the distancing of Li Yun and his sister from Li Hao.

Of the direct descendants around Li Hao’s age, there were only a few, and now only Young Master Yuan Zhao remained, coming to the Mountain and River Courtyard to keep company with Young Master Hao.

It wasn’t fair to blame others for being opportunistic. As the steward of the Mountain and River Courtyard, Zhao was well-informed, and he had his own trusted contacts in the other courtyards. He knew that the reason might not lie with Li Hao alone.

It was rather that the other courtyards had heard certain rumors from the Northern Yan battlefield, which led them to act this way.

After more than a decade of prolonged war, many rumors had spread.

One must know that although the Li Family was a Divine General Mansion, wealthy and powerful, they also had political rivals in the court and others who envied them.

Moreover, with the yearly battles in Northern Yan, the soldiers of the Li Family who perished, could not voice their grievances until the war ended.

Yet the war’s expenses required allocations from the court, logistical support—all of which provided fodder for criticism.

Don’t think that with soldiers fighting abroad, no one would dare to speak in court; on the contrary, it still depended on the climate and public sentiment.

“Hao, I’ve purchased the dishes you asked for; they’ve already been delivered to Aunt’s courtyard,” said Li Yuanzhao, approaching with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhao looked at Li Hao with surprise, not expecting him to be so well-prepared, and a look of relief crept into his eyes.

“Thanks for the trouble.”

Li Hao patted Yuan Zhao on the shoulder and said, “Then let’s head over as well.”

“Alright.”

Zhao followed the two young masters, accompanied by Li Hao’s personal maidservant Qing Zhi, all on their way to the banquet.

The carriage rolled out of the Mountain and River Courtyard, and Li Yuanzhao said he wanted to stop by Linglong Court first, which was his foster mother’s residence.

Naturally, Li Hao didn’t refuse and instructed the family’s trusted aide driving the carriage to turn towards Linglong Court.

Once at Linglong Court, Li Yuanzhao jumped out of the carriage and asked Li Hao and Zhao to wait a moment before rushing into the courtyard.

It wasn’t long before Li Hao saw Li Yuanzhao escorting a woman with a graceful figure and dignified manner slowly stepping out from inside.

The woman was Ms. Xiao, named Xiao Yu Jing. Her ancestors had produced a supremely powerful martial artist in the Four Stands Realm. Her husband, the fourth son of the Li Family, had been called to the battlefield on their wedding night, having to leave his new bride in their nuptial chamber to rush to the frontier.

Tragically, he never returned.

From then on, Ms. Xiao could only live in widowhood, childless as well.

Therefore, after Li Yuanzhao was orphaned, the matriarch decided to adopt him into the fourth branch of the family.

As Li Hao and Zhao waited in the carriage, Ms. Xiao’s normally furrowed brows sank into a frown.

As a child, Li Hao remembered being held by Ms. Xiao, who had seemed warm and kind.

But over the years, she had become increasingly reclusive in her temperament.

And whenever she saw him, she seemed to hold some anger towards him, which Li Hao didn’t understand.

“Didn’t I tell you today that your cousin Shuang Er is coming back? You were supposed to prepare a gift, but instead, you’re fooling around with him again,” Ms. Xiao reprimanded Yuan Zhao, without regard to the fact that Li Hao was right there.

Li Yuanzhao scratched his head awkwardly and said, “Mother, Hao and I went to prepare the gifts together. We’ve already delivered them to the Elder Mistress’s quarters at Mountain and River Courtyard.”

“What gifts did you prepare?” Xiao Yu Jing frowned.

“Crispy roasted goose from Hongxiang Building…” Li Yuanzhao promptly spilled every detail.

Before he could finish, Xiao Yu Jing already couldn’t bear to listen further, angrily rebuked,

“Are you truly that foolish? She’s been wandering outside for a long time and even made it onto the Qiankun List, what delicacies hasn’t she tasted? Is she lacking your gift? How many silver does it even cost? Wouldn’t it seem too meager when presented?”

Li Yuanzhao glanced at Li Hao and gained some confidence, saying, “Mother, what doesn’t our Li Family have? Weapons, Cultivation Techniques, Cousin can just pick whatever she likes, is there a need for us to prepare anything? Cousin hasn’t returned to Qingzhou much over the years, she surely hasn’t had a chance to taste the authentic delicacies here.”

“She may not have eaten them, but do you think she cares to?”

Xiao Yu Jing rolled her eyes slightly, showing the charm of a beauty, and said exasperatedly,

“Whether she needs it or not is one thing, but your gifts definitely cannot be trifling. It’s not just about them, at least you should be able to present it with confidence, right? If people find out all you’re presenting is such food and drink, won’t they laugh their heads off?”

With that, she looked towards the carriage and immediately caught sight of a gift box next to the curtain, scoffing,

“Look at this, what is it?”

Zhao, upon seeing her misunderstanding, hurriedly said, “Madam Xiao, this was specially prepared by this old servant out of concern that Young Master Hao Er might come across as impolite, for him to offer to Miss Shuang Er.”

“Humph.”

Xiao Yu Jing turned to Li Yuanzhao and said, “See? You treat others like Hao, but they might not truly regard you with the same heart, leading you around in merry circles, ignorant and foolish, while they secretly prepare a generous gift.”

“Now, you come empty-handed, with nothing at all. What will you present when you see your Cousin?”

Li Yuanzhao opened his mouth slightly, looking wronged as he said, “But that was prepared by Zhao for Hao… It’s not Hao’s fault… ”

“You!”

Xiao Yu Jing nearly raised her hand in anger to strike him. Had Li Hao fed this fool some sort of bewitchment, refusing to listen to reason?

She restrained herself, snorting in anger yet still considering Li Hao and Zhao standing nearby, she contained her fury,

“Forget it, your mother has already prepared a gift for you. Zhu Xiang, bring it to Yuan Zhao,” Xiao Yu Jing instructed.

A maidservant gracefully approached and respectfully handed Li Yuanzhao a gift box.

Curious, Li Yuanzhao wanted to open it to have a look, but with a glare from Xiao Yu Jing, he reluctantly withdrew his hands, hanging his head low obediently following behind his mother.

“We have our own carriage, there’s no need to squeeze together,” Xiao Yu Jing said indifferently to Li Hao and Zhao.

“Mother…”

“Be quiet.”

Li Hao felt a bit helpless. His Fourth Mother seemed to always harbor an inexplicable hostility towards him, which left him quite puzzled.

“Yuan Zhao, we’ll go ahead then, just stay with your mother,” Li Hao said to the little chubby boy, not wanting to leave him in a tough spot. He winked at him.

Li Yuanzhao promptly nodded, “Hao, we’ll be right there.”

Then, turning his body to stealthily smile at Li Hao behind his mother’s back, he flashed a pair of white teeth.

Li Hao smiled back and left first with Zhao.

“Mother, why do you always stop me from being with Hao? Actually, Hao…”

“Be quiet.”

Xiao Yu Jing glared at him irritably, “I told you to associate more with Piaoxue Courtyard, what’s the need to stick around him all the time? He could only practice Body Refinement before, and even though his meridians are open now, he started his Cultivation late. All that is still tolerable; your mother isn’t a mercenary person after all. The main thing is, I don’t want you to bring trouble upon yourself, understand?”

“Ah?”

Li Yuanzhao was puzzled, how did this relate to bringing trouble upon himself?

“Talking to you is pointless, just listen to your mother, and get closer to little miss Zhi Ning,” Xiao Yu Jing spoke softly.

Li Yuanzhao was perplexed, as he had asked about this a few times before but his mother hadn’t explained. This time he didn’t ask, simply pretending to obediently nod in agreement.

“When Madam Xiao married, the Fourth Master sacrificed himself on the battlefield. Over these years, she has had some grievances against the Li Family,” Zhao explained to Li Hao in a low voice inside the carriage, speaking carefully.

This was a sensitive matter for the master’s family, something their servants shouldn’t comment on, but he worried that Li Hao might harbor resentment towards Xiao Yu Jing, being too young to understand the need for discretion and potentially drawing trouble.

Li Hao nodded slightly; he had also thought of this reason. After all, he could understand the resentment of a widow.

He didn’t harbour any anger towards Fourth Mother, for she often showed her true colors openly, never scheming behind his back.

On the contrary, the Second Mother from Shuihua Courtyard, who always greeted him with a smile and warm inquiries, was the one who truly irked him.

And with Li Yuanzhao around, considering his face, Li Hao would not hold any hostility towards Ms. Xiao. At least, she truly seemed to treat Li Yuanzhao well.

Soon, the carriage arrived outside Eternal Spring Court.

Several carriages were parked outside the alley, clearly the ladies from other courtyards had arrived earlier.

Before entering the Court, the lively noise from the outer courtyard with phrases like “My Shuang Er is truly amazing” could be heard, probably the ladies heaping praise on that favored daughter of heaven.

Holding the gift box given by Zhao, Li Hao strolled into the courtyard.