Swordsmanship recorded

[Name: Li Hao]

[Age: 0]

[Cultivation: mortal]

[Arts mastered: none]

[Art Skill Points: 0]

The lettering that had come into focus was actually a character panel that Li Hao knew all too well.

He called it familiar because he had seen it in his previous life.

Not in reality, though, but in a game.

When he transmigrated, Li Hao had happened to be bored and casually downloaded a leisure game from the Far Ahead Store. This was that game's character panel.

Only now, it had an extra attribute: [Cultivation].

The age and name fields had also changed to reflect his actual circumstances, rather than his eternally unchanged online handle: Past Goes with the Wind.

As for the [Art Skill Points] at the bottom, those felt even more familiar.

Unlike the adventure, exploration, and card games on the market that demanded endless grinding, this game focused on easygoing entertainment.

There was no combat system or combat equipment, just flashy, flamboyant outfits and all kinds of artistic, leisurely pastimes.

Chess, fishing, painting, carving, and so on.

You could even watch movies and play cards.

The wholesome kind.

The one thing it lacked was wild monsters, and you couldn't fight, either.

Improving different skills earned you [Art Skill Points]. Each point could directly raise an art's level and unlock more ways to play.

He had never imagined that transmigrating would bring this thing along, too.

Wait.

Was this thing going to make me a full-time master of leisure, just like in the game?!

Li Hao was stunned and speechless.

This was the Ephemeral Realm. What the hell good would art do here!

I wanted to fight!

"Report!"

While Li Hao was still lost in his astonishment over the panel, a piercing military announcement suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A personal guard of the Li Family rushed into the courtyard, instantly shattering its peaceful, festive atmosphere. He dropped to one knee before Marquis Xingwu and reported rapidly:

"My lord, rebellion has broken out in Northern Yan! Prince Pingcheng has colluded with demons and massacred the border city of Mofeng City and eight surrounding towns. The Yu Emperor has issued a decree ordering you to depart immediately and quell the rebellion!"

The dignitaries and the ladies from the various courtyards all turned their eyes toward Marquis Xingwu, their expressions varied.

Li Hao came to his senses, somewhat taken aback.

It had only been a few months, and there was already another war?

The smile vanished from Marquis Xingwu's face, replaced by a murderous chill. His eyes were like cold lightning as he stared at the guard before him, then slowly rose.

As though sensing something, he looked up toward Li Hao and met his wife's gaze.

The killing intent in his eyes instantly dissipated, giving way to guilt. "Qingqing, stay with Hao'er for his hundred-day banquet. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Ji Qingqing's expression grew slightly troubled. She turned and handed Li Hao to the Fifth Madam beside her. Looking at the infant in his swaddling clothes, she had the strange impression that he, too, was gazing intently at her, with a trace of reluctance in his eyes.

She was briefly dazed, then dismissed it as an illusion. After all, he was only a few months old. What could he know of parting?

"Mother will be back soon. Be good." Ji Qingqing gently stroked Li Hao's forehead, her eyes equally reluctant.

Then she resolutely walked over to Marquis Xingwu. "This journey will be dangerous. I'm coming with you!"

Marquis Xingwu immediately shook his head. "Stay with Hao'er. He's still little and needs you to look after him."

"I'm a senior general in the army. If the commander is going, how could I be absent?"

Ji Qingqing's gaze was grave. "Prince Pingcheng is an old fox. He's kept himself in check for years, yet now he's suddenly struck. I'm worried there's more to this. Let me go with you."

Marquis Xingwu gazed at her. Knowing his wife's stubborn nature, he sighed and stopped trying to persuade her. "All right. Then we'll have to trouble our sisters-in-law to look after Hao'er. We'll return as soon as possible."

"You must be careful."

The First Madam came over, concern written on her face. "Leave Hao'er to us. You needn't worry."

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

Marquis Xingwu smiled faintly, then turned and barked, "Prepare the horses! Assemble the Fa Character Battalion's personal guards and come with me!"

As a military aristocratic clan, they acted with the speed of thunder and the force of the wind, long accustomed to marching off to war. The couple soon left the manor with a squad of personal guards, hurrying through the night toward the border encampment in Northern Yan.

The Li Family had fought there for many years. No one knew its terrain, conditions, demons, and enemies better than they did, and it was also the territory they guarded.

That was precisely why Ji Qingqing had resolved to accompany him.

There were too many eyes and ears in the courtyard for her to voice one question aloud: why had the Yu Emperor received news of the rebellion in Northern Yan before they had?

In early winter, Qingzhou City welcomed its first snowfall.

More than a year had passed since the hundred-day banquet, and Li Hao was now a year and a half old.

His parents had still not returned from the Yanbei Battlefield. According to secret reports from the Li Family Army, the fighting there remained deadlocked and seemed likely to develop into a prolonged war.

At that moment.

The year-and-a-half-old Li Hao stood alone in the Mountains and Rivers Courtyard, his little hands clasped behind his back like a miniature adult as he gazed at the great goose-feather snowflakes drifting through the sky.

He wondered how the young woman who had become his mother was faring in Northern Yan.

The servants and maids around him had long since ceased to find their young master's behavior strange.

Though Li Hao had only recently passed his first birthday, his reputation as a child prodigy had already spread throughout Li Manor as though on wings.

Ever since he had begun babbling at six months old, Li Hao had never wet the bed again.

While other children cried and wailed, the young master could already use simple words like "eat" and "poop" to tell his wet nurses when he needed milk or to relieve himself.

At one year old, when other children were only beginning to toddle, young master Li Hao could already run about. He even pointed at words in books and asked the servants beside him to read them aloud, teaching himself to read.

He neither cried nor made a fuss, and was bright and sensible. That was the impression the servants and maids had of their young master.

"Second Madam, the young master is over here."

Just then, a graceful figure in luxurious clothing entered the courtyard.

Seeing Li Hao standing alone in the snowy courtyard, the beautiful woman's willow-leaf brows rose, and she immediately snapped, "Is this how you look after the young master? Aren't you afraid he'll freeze in this snow?!"

The servants and maids jumped in fright and hastily knelt.

The steward leading them answered nervously, "Second Madam, i-it was the young master who wanted to watch the snow. He told us not to disturb him..."

"He's still a child! Do you simply do whatever he says? If he told you to die, would you die?!"

Anger surfaced on the Second Madam's face. She strode over to Li Hao, scooped him into her arms, and brushed the snow off his head.

"Even if the young master wanted to watch the snow, couldn't you hold an umbrella for him? And he's dressed so lightly! I think you've all lost the will to live!"

Everyone broke into a cold sweat, not daring even to breathe loudly.

"Second Madam, don't blame them. I told them not to come over," Li Hao said helplessly.

Since his parents had left for the Yanbei Battlefield, the ladies of the different courtyards had taken turns caring for him, and every one of them treated him wonderfully. The Second Madam before him, Liu Shi, was gentle by nature but extremely strict with servants. If he didn't speak up, the servants attending him would inevitably have their skin split and flesh torn.

Hearing Li Hao's clear, coherent words, Liu Yuerong's eyes flickered, and she gave a soft snort.

"For Hao'er's sake, I'll spare you this once. If I see this again, I'll let you taste what it's like in the freezing lake in the depths of winter!"

Then she turned back to Li Hao with a gentle smile. "Hao'er, Second Madam will take you to have something tasty. Honestly, child, why didn't you put on more clothes? Even with the Dragon Blood Jade His Majesty gave you, what if you fell ill..."

She carried Li Hao out of the courtyard, chattering on, every word filled with concern.

Long accustomed to this, Li Hao let the Second Madam hold him.

Before long, Liu Yuerong carried him into the Water Bloom Courtyard.

In the courtyard, a child of four or five was wielding a wooden sword, spinning it into flourishes with surprisingly convincing form.

This was the Second Madam's only son, Li Qianfeng.

Despite his tender age, his eyes already held focus and determination.

Beside him, a burly middle-aged man offered instruction, frequently nodding.

Li Hao knew he was one of Li Qianfeng's seven military tutors, responsible specifically for teaching him the Sword Dao.

Seeing the Second Madam approach, the burly middle-aged man hurriedly bowed. His gaze swept over Li Hao in her arms. He knew this was the Qilin Child whom the Yu Emperor had named. Once his talent was tested, he might prove no less gifted than Li Qianfeng, whom he was teaching.

The child practicing his swordsmanship was not distracted by his mother's arrival and remained focused on his training.

Liu Yuerong did not disturb him, either. She nodded slightly to the burly middle-aged man, then carried Li Hao into the nearby pavilion.

Precious fresh fruit and flaky pastries sat on the pavilion's table.

Holding Li Hao, Liu Yuerong fed him while watching her own child practice his swordsmanship, her eyes shimmering. Before long, she became absorbed and forgot to keep feeding him.

Was this Boundless Sea, the Li Family's finest sword art?

Li Hao watched curiously, his little eyes wide.

He had heard that the Second Madam's child had already undergone Bone Measurement and possessed exceptional talent.

What would my own Bone Measurement reveal someday?

In the courtyard, the five-year-old Li Qianfeng practiced with meticulous precision. Though he was only drilling forms, his postures were exact, making the burly middle-aged man nod repeatedly and offer praise despite himself.

Yet no joy appeared on the child's face. He remained wholly absorbed.

"Again!"

Though the burly middle-aged man praised him, his instruction was exceedingly strict.

The child began the routine again, his movements practiced and smooth. Clearly, he already knew it by heart.

Li Hao watched, engrossed. Suddenly, a line of text appeared before his eyes.

[Rudiments learned. Record?]

What?!

Startled, Li Hao instinctively selected yes.

[Recorded successfully!]

At that moment, the panel appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Li Hao]

[Age: 1]

[Cultivation: mortal]

[Sword Dao: uninitiated (points can be added)]

[Skills: Boundless Sea Tide (uninitiated) [locked]]

[Arts mastered: Chess Dao]

[Chess Dao: first rank (82/500) (points can be added)]

[Chess manual collection: 0]

[Art Skill Points: 1]

Over the past year and more, Li Hao had been trying to explore his panel. But he was too young and could not display such monstrous precocity, so his options for experimentation were limited. As luck would have it, there was a chessboard in the manor.

At six months old, he had lain on the chessboard, playing against himself.

Seeing that the young master seemed to like this "chessboard" toy, the wet nurses and maids caring for him were happy to have an easier time.

It was better than having him crawl all over the place.

Through his experiments, Li Hao discovered to his astonishment that playing chess actually earned him chess experience, just like in the game, allowing him to advance through the ranks with ease!

After all, improving one's chess rank in reality was extremely difficult.

It required concentration, talent, and hard work.

Li Hao himself was only an unranked amateur in the Chess Dao.

But now, simply playing games on the board earned him experience points.

Advancing from rank zero to first rank in the Chess Dao required only 100 experience points.

First rank to second rank required 500.

Had the maids around him not looked over from time to time, forcing Li Hao to avoid making things too obvious, he would have farmed far more experience already.

There was no helping it. Though these maids knew nothing about the Chess Dao, they still had some common sense.

Seeing Li Hao, not even a year old, placing every piece neatly in its proper position would inevitably seem rather uncanny.

And now.

Besides the Chess Dao, the panel had gained two new attributes, [Sword Dao] and [Skills], neither of which had been there before.

The prompt after [Sword Dao] in particular made Li Hao curious and excited. Could he raise his Sword Dao rank directly with Art Skill Points, just like the Chess Dao?

Without giving it much thought, he chose to add a point.

(End of chapter)