News of Death

Lin Haixia left in the end.

But unlike his earlier regret and dejection, he carried a heart so excited he could have jumped, practically running out of the Divine General Residence.

He wanted to report this heaven-shaking good news to the commander at the frontier as quickly as possible.

If they knew their child actually possessed a sword Dao talent rarely seen in a thousand years, they would surely be both greatly surprised and comforted!

That sword strike—Lin Haixia had understood it, but not completely.

He recognized that sword art, the most renowned sword technique in the Li Family's collection, Boundless Sea - Tide Swordplay!

But compared with every Tide Swordplay he had ever seen, even those at the perfect level, it was not inferior in the slightest. It even carried a special feeling.

He racked his brains, and in the end could only think of two words:

seamlessly rounded.

Even more flawless than perfect!

Lin Haixia knew that above perfection in technique, there was another deeper realm, called Supreme Perfection.

But even people who had immersed themselves in one technique for decades found it very hard to reach.

Aside from bitter practice, it also required pinnacle talent.

Yet this world-shaking sword had been displayed in Li Hao's hands.

A six-year-old child.

Even for those peerless prodigies of astonishing brilliance, being able to train some technique to agility at six years old was already extremely difficult.

Moreover, Lin Haixia had never seen Li Hao practice the sword.

But without a doubt, he felt Li Hao had been practicing in secret.

Only, rich or poor, noble or humble, every day had twelve double-hours.

Before time, everyone was equal, and when he saw Li Hao, the vast majority of the day was spent playing chess, playing around, wandering, spacing out, eating, and drinking.

He had never seen him practice the sword, had never even seen him touch one.

Even if he had been working hard in secret, how much time could he possibly squeeze out? He asked Li Hao, why are you secretly practicing the sword?

And why are you hiding this world-shaking talent?

But Li Hao only smiled and shook his head without speaking.

Lin Haixia thought of many things. He had also heard a little of those imperial clan grudges and wealthy family feuds in storybooks, and a faint guess formed in his heart.

Looking at Li Hao's quiet, smiling little face, Lin Haixia felt his nose sting. He understood that if the man at the frontier returned, this child would never be so utterly without support.

He clearly could shine with ten thousand rays of light, yet now he could only keep a low profile and lie dormant.

If not for this child seeing his sincerity, he most likely would not have let him see this hidden true face of his... Thinking of this, Lin Haixia felt deeply moved and comforted inside.

That sword strike not only let Lin Haixia see Li Hao's sword Dao talent; combined with the way Li Hao spoke and carried himself on ordinary days, it also made him truly understand just how clever this child was!...

Lin Haixia left in a great hurry. Even when he passed through the front courtyard, he did not call out to Bian Ruxue.

With Lin Haixia's departure, the courtyard returned to its former peace.

Only, now that he was six, Li Hao needed to rise early every day and go to Evergreen Courtyard to greet First Madam. This was etiquette.

The purpose of etiquette was to cultivate, from childhood, a temperament that revered teachers and respected the Dao, and knew to repay kindness.

As Li Hao's child-bride fiancée, Bian Ruxue already counted as half a member of the Li Family, so naturally she had to follow him to greet her as well.

When paying their morning respects, they inevitably ran into children from the other courtyards, but there were only four or five of them.

All were similar in age to Li Hao.

For example, Fifth Madam's second son and youngest daughter.

Sixth Madam's orphaned son.

Eighth Mother's son and daughter.

As for the other children, they were either like Li Qianfeng and Li Unparalleled, with peerless talent, taken away by famous masters,

or they were already older, had enlisted in the army, and gone to fight for merit and reputation.

Like First Madam's son and daughter, both were already around twenty, serving as Major Generals in the army. If there was no war, they would occasionally return.

But as members of the Li Family, they had long since carved military law into their bones and were strict in discipline, setting an example themselves. As a result, throughout the year, First Madam found it very hard to see her children even once.

After the morning greeting, Li Hao and Bian Ruxue were invited by First Madam He Jianlan to stay and enjoy the nutritious breakfast she had cooked. Sitting at the mat, Li Hao chatted a few more words with this dignified and elegant First Madam, and only then did the two little figures sway one after another back to their own courtyard.

Li Hao spaced out as usual, thinking about chess.

Bian Ruxue practiced the sword in the courtyard.

Before Lin Haixia left, the high-grade sword art he had taught her was enough for her to practice for several years.

He had thought this harmonious, tranquil time would slowly continue flowing on like this.

Until several days later, a piece of news was suddenly sent back to the Divine General Residence.

Lin Haixia had returned.

A burly soldier clad in heavy armor, with a cold, stern gaze, brought Lin Haixia back.

But he only brought back one hand.

When Li Hao heard the news from Uncle Zhao, he froze.

The chess piece in his hand fell to the ground, but he, whose eyes normally held only chess pieces, did not even glance at it now.

He did not even have time to put on his boots. Barefoot, he flew out, rushing into Evergreen Courtyard.

The maid at the entrance wanted to go report, but Li Hao had already charged straight in.

Then he saw that in the main hall of Evergreen Courtyard, the place where he usually made his morning greeting, there was now a soldier kneeling on one knee.

Li Hao's heart trembled. Looking past this soldier, he saw a piece of red cloth on the ground in front of him, and on the cloth lay a hand.

At the severed end, it looked as if it had been torn apart, flesh and blood mangled, ragged and uneven.

A green sleeve and binding sash—these were the clothes Lin Haixia had been wearing when he left.

Only a few days ago, this hand had rubbed that little girl's head.

Beside his ear, this soldier was reporting to He Jianlan: "On Captain Lin's way to Yanbei, when he passed through the Qizhou national road, he was ambushed by demons lying in wait there."

"The Yanbei Battlefield is locked in a stalemate. Recently, demons have infiltrated the various cities of Yanbei, attempting to scatter our army's forces. Other provinces have also seen frequent outbreaks of demons..."

"Stop for a moment."

He Jianlan interrupted the soldier.

She was slightly dazed as she looked at Li Hao, who had rushed anxiously into the hall on bare little feet.

Then, as if thinking of something, a trace of a sigh appeared in her eyes, and she instructed Xue Jian beside her, "Take the arm away first."

"Yes."

Xue Jian nodded softly, then lifted her almond eyes and glanced at Li Hao, who had rushed in. She was quite familiar with this little fellow, and also knew that the owner of this arm was half a master to Li Hao, the one who had laid his Foundation Establishment.

Only, in a Military Family, she had long since seen many partings of life and death. Aside from a quiet sigh, she did not have much other feeling.

When Xue Jian walked over, Li Hao stepped forward and blocked her.

Ignoring the other party's startled expression, Li Hao turned around and fixed his gaze rigidly on the soldier:

"Which demon killed Uncle Lin?"

The soldier raised his head and saw a little boy, about the same height as him while he knelt on one knee, staring at him with a face full of anger. That gaze was actually extremely cold and furious, as though it did not belong to a child.

From the jade pendant hanging at the other party's waist, he recognized this as the Li Family's Qilin Child, though he did not know which branch he belonged to.

He immediately answered truthfully, "It was a thousand-year great demon of the fourth realm. It led several demons and surrounded Captain Lin together, then divided and ate him. When the city guards from Qizhou arrived, only this arm was left."

Divided and ate him! Li Hao's mind rang as if roaring. His eyes instantly reddened, and all the blood in his body seemed to surge backward, rushing into his head.

It was not hard for him to imagine what kind of scene that had been, how cruel it was! Since coming to this world, Li Hao had lived in the Divine General Residence. Though he had heard many pieces of news about demons from his surroundings, he had never truly seen them. Though he had known in the past that the battlefield was cruel, this was the first time he had felt this impact so directly.

"Does that demon have a name?"

Li Hao said in a low voice.

The soldier said, "It does. That demon has lived outside Qizhou City for a long time and gave itself the title 'Tiger Robe Immortal.'"

Li Hao silently engraved this title into the bottom of his heart. An indescribable killing intent welled up inside him, but he controlled his emotions and asked no more. He only turned around, rolled up the red cloth on the ground, and covered and wrapped the arm inside it.

Afterward, Li Hao raised his head and looked at First Madam seated above. "First Madam, I'll take Uncle Lin's hand back. I have been discourteous today. First Madam, please do not blame me."

After saying this, he held the arm and turned to leave barefoot.

He Jianlan's eyes flickered slightly. From Li Hao, she faintly saw some things she did not often see on ordinary days. This child was more mature and cleverer than she had imagined.

"Xue Jian, bring Chengzhi's boots to Hao'er," He Jianlan instructed.

Xue Jian nodded, went to the side room to find the boots, and was just chasing out of the courtyard when she saw that the little figure had already gone far away, vanished from sight.

Back at Mountains and Rivers Courtyard.

Li Hao found a place and buried the arm. Then he found a wooden plaque and carved the three characters "Lin Haixia" on it, planting it in the soil.

He instructed Uncle Zhao to fence off the surroundings and forbid anyone from stepping inside.

When Uncle Zhao learned that what was buried inside was Lin Haixia's remaining arm, he hurriedly advised, "Little Young Master, this is the courtyard where the family heads live. You cannot bury bones here. We have a cemetery for fallen heroes. Send Captain Lin there."

"Set up a cenotaph for Uncle Lin in the martyrs' cemetery."

Li Hao shook his head slightly and swept a glance over the courtyard. "This vast Mountains and Rivers Courtyard can hold one of Uncle Lin's hands."

"Little Young Master..."

Uncle Zhao still wanted to speak, but Li Hao stopped him, so he could only give up.

"Remember to compensate Uncle Lin's family, and treat them well," Li Hao said to Uncle Zhao.

Uncle Zhao replied, "Captain Lin was a man of the army. The Yanbei side should already know the news and will properly take care of his family."

"That side is that side. Here is here." Li Hao glanced at Uncle Zhao. "You should understand what I mean."

Uncle Zhao was startled, then nodded slightly. "I understand."

The news of Lin Haixia's death was like a small stone thrown to the bottom of a lake. It did not stir up much of a wave inside the Divine General Residence, only a tiny ripple.

The other courtyards went on as usual, while inside Mountains and Rivers Courtyard, Li Hao became even more obsessed with chess, to the point that he ignored even Bian Ruxue's sword practice.

He did not tell the little girl about Uncle Lin, lest she be heartbroken.

Time flew by.

One day, Li Hao startled awake from sleep. He had been playing chess with Uncle Lin, when suddenly a fierce tiger charged in from outside the chessboard, overturned it, pinned Lin Haixia to the ground, and bit his throat.

He sat on the bed, gasping heavily.

The little girl beside him was woken by the disturbance. Sleepy-eyed, she rubbed her eyes and said, "Brother Hao, what's wrong?"

Li Hao came back to himself and shook his head. "Nothing."

After the little girl fell asleep again, Li Hao covered her with the quilt that had slipped to one side, then sat up and went to the windowsill.

Moonlight spilled down, and before Li Hao's eyes, words suddenly appeared:

[You have comprehended Chess Heart.]