Temperament

Once the maid had withdrawn, Li Hao stopped playing chess and rose to head toward the courtyard.

Li Fu rose as well. Whenever Li Hao was not speaking to him, he returned to his expressionless military demeanor, following behind Li Hao like a silent shadow.

He had questioned the residence's servants about the earlier assassination attempt, learning the details, and had felt a lingering chill of fear.

Especially after spending these days playing chess with the child, he understood all too clearly that the seat he now occupied was the very one the assassin had once sat in.

Only a chessboard had separated them.

At that distance, catching a child full of openings in an unguarded moment would have been enough to kill him in an instant!

Yet that assassination had actually been stopped. He did not know whether to call the assassin incompetent, the clan elder who had intervened terrifyingly powerful, or the child truly blessed with extraordinary luck!

Taking that lesson to heart, Li Fu stayed beside Li Hao without fail, whether he was eating, drinking, or sleeping. Any servant or maid who came within three feet of Li Hao would face the harsh scrutiny of his eagle-sharp gaze.

This left the courtyard's servants and maids secretly grumbling. Every time they reported something to the young master, they trembled with fear, not daring even to raise their heads... they were practically becoming introverts.

Seeing Li Hao approach, Bian Ruxue puffed out her cheeks slightly and turned sideways, as though she did not want him watching her practice her swordplay.

Li Hao smiled at her aggrieved, sulking expression. He had a servant bring over a small stool, along with some pastries and fresh fruit, then sat down nearby to eat.

"You're practicing your swordplay with your mind pulled in three directions. You won't beat anyone like that," Li Hao said with a smile, noticing how disordered the little girl's swings were and how clearly distracted she seemed.

Bian Ruxue's eyes suddenly reddened a little. She stopped her sword and lowered her head. "If only you could cultivate, Brother Hao. With how clever you are, you'd definitely surpass me in swordsmanship and become the best of us all."

After a year of training in the Martial Arts Arena, Bian Ruxue had progressed rapidly. As she gradually grew older, her mind began to mature as well, and she came to understand why those adults had looked at Li Hao that way after his Bone Measurement.

She also understood exactly what Li Hao had lost that year.

Hearing Xue'er's words, Li Fu frowned slightly. Deep within his otherwise emotionless eyes, a trace of regret and sorrow appeared.

Was this not also a regret for the Li Family, and for Marquis Xingwu?

Li Hao felt rather helpless. He was not upset himself, so why was this little girl grieving instead?

"Don't say that."

Li Hao comforted her. "Practicing swordplay is so boring. Look at you, out in the wind and sun every day, through the bitterest winter cold and the fiercest summer heat. How exhausting is that? Nothing like me. In summer, I eat chilled melon in the pavilion and play chess. In winter, I curl up under the covers and sleep until the sun's three poles high. Now that's happiness!"

Li Fu could not help glancing at the boy. Those certainly sounded like words he would say.

Without Marquis Xingwu around, the madams of the other courtyards could hardly discipline him strictly. When Li Fu returned, he had already noticed that the child had developed a somewhat irreverent attitude toward the world.

"You're not afraid of hardship at all," Bian Ruxue said, lifting her head.

"What do you know?"

Li Hao said irritably, "Look at me now. I can't even be bothered to stand here. If I can sit, I never stand; if I can lie down, I never sit. Some bitterness serves no purpose. Otherwise, what would sweetness be for? You're still little. You wouldn't understand. Just practice your sword properly."

"Stop spouting nonsense."

Li Fu could no longer bear listening and could not help scolding him.

What kind of damned nonsense was that? Hardship served no purpose? Which of the soldiers at the frontier was not enduring hardship?

As martial artists, hardship was what they feared least. What they feared was lacking talent or resources.

Yet this boy did not appreciate the blessings he lived in. He lacked talent and despised hardship to boot. It was bad enough that he refused to learn anything worthwhile himself; how could he be allowed to lead Xue'er astray too?

Li Fu had seen Bian Ruxue's talent for the Sword Dao firsthand. She was outstanding and would surely achieve great things in the Sword Dao in the future, becoming a sheltering umbrella at Li Hao's side. He could not stand by and watch this little brat talk his own future support out of existence.

"Uncle Fu, I think Brother Hao is right."

Bian Ruxue hurried to speak up for Li Hao.

Li Fu's eyes widened, and his anger rose further. This girl listened to Li Hao far too readily. If he really corrupted her, that would be disastrous.

"Stop telling Xue'er all this rubbish. Boy, don't think I wouldn't dare give you a beating. If I hit you, even your father would applaud!"

Li Fu could not bring himself to lose his temper with this sweet little girl who had lost both parents, so he could only threaten Li Hao sternly.

Li Hao gave an awkward smile, knowing he had no common ground on this subject with this stern, rigid man.

Besides, the Divine General Residence belonged to a military family, and the Li Family had always upheld frugality and the spirit of enduring hardship.

Though the madams of the various courtyards lived in fine clothes and on sumptuous food, drawing the envy of the world, the Divine General Residence's status and accumulated wealth could actually have afforded them far greater extravagance.

As for First Madam He Jianlan, she had eaten vegetarian meals two days a week for years. Soldiers took countless lives, but she did not believe in Buddhism. She only said it was a way to remind herself and her children not to become lost in splendor and riches, forgetting a soldier's duty and integrity.

"Yes, yes, Uncle Fu is right."

Li Hao said to Xue'er, "Look, you've made Uncle Fu angry. Hurry up and practice your sword."

Xue'er blinked her little eyes and puffed out her cheeks slightly. You're the one who made him angry, Brother Hao.

Still, she did not argue. If she could take Uncle Fu's anger upon herself for Li Hao, she was willing to do so.

Hearing Li Hao's shameless words, Li Fu almost laughed in exasperation. He rolled his eyes. This boy truly was far too difficult to discipline.

"Uncle Fu, help take a look and give Xue'er some pointers on her swordsmanship," Li Hao said to Li Fu.

Li Fu said flatly, "I use a saber. I don't know swordsmanship."

"Sabers and swords share the same principles. There's not much difference," Li Hao said with a smile.

"What do you know? To master a weapon to perfection, even a hair's breadth of difference can mean a world of difference," Li Fu said irritably, then restrained his temper. Forget it. This boy knew nothing of the Martial Dao, so it was only natural for him to see things that way.

Feeling rather helpless, Li Hao could only continue munching on fresh fruit, crossing his little legs as he watched Xue'er practice.

"I don't think your Whirling Form is right."

Partway through watching, Li Hao began offering Bian Ruxue pointers with an air of casual indifference. "It would look better if you pulled your arm down a little farther."

"Don't talk nonsense. You'll distract Xue'er," Li Fu reprimanded him with a frown.

An amateur instructing someone who knew what she was doing? This was simply absurd!

Bian Ruxue ignored Li Fu, however. She was already accustomed to Li Hao's casual pointers. Although Brother Hao had not entered the Martial Dao, every time she practiced as he suggested, she did feel that her movements flowed more smoothly.

Now, she swung her arm down and performed the whirl again. Sure enough, it felt effortless, as though understanding had dawned within her.

Li Fu gave a soft sound of surprise. It was not because Bian Ruxue had actually followed Li Hao's instructions-after all, this little girl was far too obedient to him-but because that slight adjustment in posture had genuinely made her sword movement fiercer.

He looked down in puzzlement at the boy munching fruit with his legs crossed in that thoroughly improper manner. Was it a coincidence?

Or was he judging it by how good it looked?

"You need to put your waist into it. For a long whirling slash like that, your hand can't be doing all the work. Your waist needs to drive your arm as you swing it out," Li Hao said again.

Bian Ruxue nodded slightly, then performed the move once more. After several repetitions, she finally grasped the key. Her sword stirred the wind, its power clearly greater than before.

Li Fu raised his brows, astonished. Once could be a coincidence, but twice surely was not.

Could this child really understand swordsmanship? Did he have talent for the Sword Dao?

Although Li Fu rather disliked Li Hao's disposition, he had to admit that after spending half a year with him, the child was exceptionally clever, possessing maturity and wisdom beyond others his age.

Could he actually have talent for the Sword Dao, but be unable to display it because he couldn't practice martial arts?

At that thought, his heart ached in secret. If that were true, what an enormous tragedy it would be!

With Li Hao's casual pointers, this sword move of Bian Ruxue's gradually approached perfection.

It was inevitable. With Li Hao's understanding of the Sword Dao, just a few glances were enough to record Bian Ruxue's High-Grade Sword Art in his panel, then bring it straight to Supreme Perfection.

He guided her with his flaw-mending understanding at Supreme Perfection, even skipping past perfection. As long as Bian Ruxue grasped a little of it, she could produce power comparable to perfection.

Afterward, Li Hao asked the little girl to demonstrate the move she had lost with in her earlier sparring match.

Bian Ruxue obediently did as he asked.

One look was enough for Li Hao to understand. He could even picture in his mind how her opponent had defeated her.

However, he did not say it aloud. With Li Fu beside him, revealing a little talent for the Sword Dao was harmless, but being too precise would make him seem far too monstrous.

"This strike doesn't look good. I think the downward slash here should be changed to a diagonal slash, with your elbow drawn back."

"It would be better to switch from a slash to a straight thrust here. Don't let your wrist shake."

Li Hao offered his pointers as though making casual remarks.

Puzzled, Bian Ruxue listened carefully, slowly digesting his words. Then she practiced accordingly, over and over, gradually approaching what Li Hao had described.

Li Fu glanced at Li Hao. He was now certain that Li Hao also possessed extremely high talent for the Sword Dao.

Although the boy expressed himself like an amateur, correcting Bian Ruxue's movements merely in terms of what "looked good" or "didn't look good," was the ability to perceive the beauty of a weapon at such a young age not a talent in itself?

After all, some things looked entirely different through a genius's eyes.

Li Fu sighed inwardly, feeling ever greater regret for Li Hao.

The following day.

The two went to the Evergreen Courtyard to pay their morning respects, after which Bian Ruxue hurried excitedly to the Martial Arts Arena.

Once morning practice and lessons at the Martial Arts Arena had ended, Bian Ruxue sought out the concubine-born boy from the previous day. Holding a sword nearly as tall as herself, her little face utterly serious, she challenged him again.

Hearing Bian Ruxue's words, the boy burst into laughter.

The other concubine-born boys clustered around him also joined in, mocking and jeering.

They did not really dare provoke the other children of the main line, but Bian Ruxue was not a member of the Li Family's main line, after all. She was merely engaged to one of them and had not even married into the family yet. Besides, that main-line child was a good-for-nothing whose reputation had long since spread throughout the Divine General Residence. Any one of them would surpass him in the future.

Naturally, then, they could not stand that fellow who sat atop a mountain of treasure, enjoying endless resources and affection.

"Didn't you learn your lesson when Brother Bai beat you yesterday?"

"Trying to stand up for that good-for-nothing? Have him come himself if he's got the guts. Brother Bai wouldn't even need to lift a finger. I could beat that good-for-nothing without using either hand!"

"Hmph, Brother Bai already went easy on you yesterday. You still don't know what's good for you."

"You may be talented, but Brother Bai has been training here for eight years. If you want revenge, I'd say you might have a chance in six months. But Brother Bai probably won't be here anymore by then."

Bian Ruxue bit her lip, simply staring at the boy in the middle with a serious little face. "Do you dare or not?"

Those words immediately stirred the boy's hot blood. The boy called Brother Bai was named Li Dongbai, and he was one of the three most talented concubine-born children in the Martial Arts Arena. With a seventh grade battle body and resources nearly equal to those of the main line, he had already entered the Circulation Realm.

However, the Martial Arts Arena's rules for contests of technique required the stronger participant to suppress their cultivation to the same realm as the weaker one.

And Bian Ruxue's cultivation was now at the peak of the tenth layer of the Power Through Realm!

"Today, I'll make you lose without a shred of doubt."

Li Dongbai's eyes were cold. He had never intended to provoke this little girl with peerless talent. He had merely been chatting with the people around him about something, happened to mention that good-for-nothing, and added a few remarks. Then this little girl had come looking for him.

Though he was a concubine-born child, he had great pride and ambition. Naturally, he would not simply apologize, which had led to yesterday's contest.

"Come on!"

Li Dongbai stepped onto the Arena Stage in the Martial Arts Arena.

Soon, people crowded around the stage, all eager to watch the contest between these two: the concubine-born genius and the peerlessly gifted girl.

Outside the ring, the Martial Arts Arena's instructor, the Military Elder, narrowed his eyes with a smile. He encouraged contests between these hot-blooded youngsters.

A treasured sword gained its keen edge through grinding. Without competing while young, where would setbacks come from? Where would progress come from? Surely they could not wait until they were his age, a bundle of old bones, before risking their lives fighting others.

Soon, the two figures in the ring, one large and one small, were locked in fierce combat.

The Military Elder had already seen the same scene yesterday. There was little difference today, except that Li Dongbai's attacks were somewhat fiercer.

It looks like Xue'er is going to lose again, the Military Elder thought. After all, she hasn't trained for long. However gifted she is, she still needs tempering.

Just then, the figures crossed in the ring, and the fiercest sword strike was unleashed.

With a sharp clang, a sword flew out, tumbling beyond the Arena Stage and plunging at an angle into the sand.

The figures on the Arena Stage froze as well.

So did the cheers from those below the stage, who had been urging both sides on.

And so did the smile on the Military Elder's face.

(End of chapter)