Perfection

"Little Mouse's cooking is getting better and better. This old man has spent half his life fishing and got sick of eating fish ages ago. Only the fish Little Mouse makes—I can still eat some."

Feng Boping threw his head back and laughed. With a flick of both sleeves, he was the first to sit on the large rock beside the pot. He beckoned with his palm, and cups and jade chopsticks appeared in his hand as if he were twining flowers.

Though he and Li Muxiu were birds of a feather, there were still differences between them. Feng Boping was rather obsessed with cleanliness and loved fine jade; even the bowls and chopsticks he used for eating and drinking were extravagant, not the least bit inferior to those of the imperial clan in the court.

Smiling, he handed Li Hao a clean bowl and chopsticks, but ignored Li Muxiu and quietly waited for the pot to boil.

Li Hao estimated that the timing was about right, so he lifted the lid and set it upside down on a nearby leaf. A rich fragrance instantly rushed out. He also paid no attention to the whole "respect the old and care for the young, you first and me after" routine, and directly reached out with his chopsticks to pick up meat.

"Good heavens, wait for me."

Li Muxiu hurried over, casually grabbed a branch and rubbed it into chopsticks, then stuck them into the pot and began stirring.

Though Feng Boping was a clean freak, he said nothing about Li Muxiu's behavior. Li Hao felt that this was probably what lifelong close friends were like.

The three of them ate heartily. Though the age gap was quite large, neither of the two put on the airs of an elder in front of Li Hao. At times one called the other little thing, and the other called him old man, showing utter ease and casualness.

"I didn't expect you could make fish into something so fancy." After drinking a mouthful of spicy soup, Li Muxiu clicked his tongue in praise.

Li Hao smiled. Of course. Over the past half year, the painting and cooking he had taught himself had both improved steadily and reached the second stage.

The Fishing Dao was the same.

Perhaps there really was such a thing as a beginner's protection period. In the first month, his bite rate had been extremely high, but now it was actually rare for him to catch anything. Sometimes he even stayed up until midnight and could only helplessly find a stretch of shallow water, catch a fish demon of the Power Through Realm, and avoid returning as an air force.

As they were talking, Li Hao's eyes suddenly flicked toward the float, only to see it gently tapping the water.

There was movement! He quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, crouched like a cat, and rushed swiftly to the fishing rod. At just that moment, the float abruptly sank into the water.

Li Hao swiftly lifted the hook and pulled the line. The other end instantly went taut, and a tremendous force came through. Great movement also appeared beneath the water.

"This kid..."

When the two old men saw it, a trace of envy appeared in both their eyes. This brat had actually gotten the first catch again.

Very soon, the commotion under the water grew larger and larger as it was dragged. A demon beast surfaced, but it was not a fish demon. Instead, it was a Shrimp Demon covered in a full shell!

Its body was four or five meters long, covered all over in sharp spikes. Its shrimp claws were ferocious, enough to snap mountain rocks in half.

At this moment, the Shrimp Demon was using its pincers to clamp the fishing line, its protruding eyeballs glaring at Li Hao on the bank. Seeing that it was a little child, it screeched in rage, yet it was also incomparably frightened. Where had this wild child come from, to have such strength?

It struggled more and more violently, but the fishing line was something Li Muxiu had found for Li Hao. Water and fire could not invade it, and it could withstand a force of a million jin. How could this ordinary Circulation Realm Shrimp Demon destroy it?

Very soon, under the dragging, the Shrimp Demon's body slowly approached the bank. A struggling look appeared in its eyeballs as it considered whether to maim its own body to break free from the hook and flee with its life.

Just then, Li Hao's body on the bank swayed, as if he could not hold the fishing rod steady.

"Mm?"

Seeing this, the Shrimp Demon grew somewhat hesitant again.

After some tugging back and forth, the Shrimp Demon felt that this child was only half a step stronger than itself. If it had not been wounded by the fishhook, it might not necessarily have been unable to fight him.

Its eyeballs rolled as it tried to drag Li Hao into the water, but each time, Li Hao steadied himself in a way that seemed thrillingly close to danger.

At last, after another round of pulling, the Shrimp Demon was dragged until it hurt terribly. Unable to endure it, its vicious nature erupted. Screeching, it followed the momentum and charged onto the fishing platform, wanting to clamp this ignorant evil child in half and crush him to death.

But as it came ashore, the child who had still been swaying unsteadily a moment ago suddenly stood firm. A bright smile of relief also appeared on his face.

Not good!

The Shrimp Demon had only just realized something was wrong when, all of a sudden, the tremendous force coming from the fishhook dragged its body, which had lost balance in midair, and actually sent it flying fiercely toward the other party.

With a clang, something seemed to flash by in silver light. What was that? So bright?

The next moment, the Shrimp Demon knew nothing at all, and the world returned to darkness.

A huge shrimp head rolled to the ground. Li Hao casually stabbed his sword into the ground beside him, then dragged the body and threw it not far from the stove. To the two old men, he said, "Pity it didn't take the bait earlier. Otherwise, I could've added some shrimp paste for you at noon."

Seeing Li Hao deal with this ninth-level Circulation Realm Shrimp Demon so easily, the two old men both smiled. Earlier, they had hidden their auras, which was why the Shrimp Demon had not noticed them and gained the courage to act.

Li Hao cast down the bait again, then continued lifting his bowl and chopsticks to eat and drink.

"This ninth-level Circulation Realm evildoer was so easily slain by you. You must have cultivated your Li Family's Dragon River Divine Meridian to minor completion as well," Feng Boping said with a smile.

Li Hao did not deny it.

Minor completion? It was already perfected.

When the day's fishing ended, as the sun dipped toward the western mountains, Li Hao said farewell to Second Master and the Thief Saint. He heard the Thief Saint say that he had to make a long trip and would be away for half a month.

Clearly, some treasure somewhere was going to be stolen again.

Li Muxiu had long since grown used to it. He smiled and said goodbye, then took Li Hao back to the Divine General Residence.

Now that Li Hao had already developed an interest in fishing, Li Muxiu no longer took him to continue the "traditional rules" of fishing and directly returned to the Listening Rain Pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, Li Fu was waiting there as usual. Only this time, beside him stood a young maidservant. It was none other than Xue Jian from the Evergreen Courtyard.

Seeing the old and young return, Xue Jian could not help sizing up Li Hao.

She had long heard that this Second Master had an eccentric temperament. The wives and madams of who knew how many courtyards all wanted to send their children before him so he could give them some guidance, but he had ignored them all. She had not expected that he would actually be so close to a martial arts cripple like Li Hao.

Though she thought this in her heart, none of it showed on Xue Jian's gentle face. She smiled, showing her teeth, stepped forward, and explained why she had come.

It turned out that First Madam He Jianlan was thinking that Li Hao had already studied body-tempering arts for quite some time and wanted him to enter the Martial Arts Arena to train together with the family's children.

Li Fu had naturally already learned the news from Xue Jian. As she spoke, an eager smile appeared on his face, as if he wished he could nod and agree on Li Hao's behalf.

But after Li Hao and Li Muxiu finished listening and exchanged a glance, both of them laughed.

Li Muxiu knew that Li Hao's words carried little weight, and that even if he refused, he would be pestered, so he waved his hand and said, "The little fellow is by my side. It's enough for me to teach him. Going to the Martial Arts Arena is a waste of time."

The old man muttered inwardly, You want this kid to go to the Martial Arts Arena? Isn't that bullying people? The family children in the Martial Arts Arena are at most in the Circulation Realm. Any higher than that, and those with better talent have already taken masters in famous mountains or joined the army.

Letting a little monster like Li Hao, who could casually slay a ninth-level Circulation Realm demon, go to the Martial Arts Arena—how was that any different from punching the old and the young, and kicking women and children? Hearing the old man refuse, both Li Fu and Xue Jian grew anxious.

But Xue Jian seemed to have expected this argument long ago. She immediately spoke gently and unhurriedly, saying that he only needed to go to the Martial Arts Arena for a brief bit of practice in the mornings. The main point was to let Li Hao spar with those of his own generation, temper his real combat experience, and so on.

Li Fu nodded repeatedly at the side. Yes, yes.

Though staying by Second Uncle's side would let him receive the best guidance, he was also worried that the old man would lead Li Hao astray. After all, Second Uncle was strong, yes, but he seemed a little... not devoted to proper pursuits.

He had never seen Li Hao talk with Second Uncle about cultivation. Instead, the two of them would chat enthusiastically about which fish to catch, how to pull the hook, and so on...

Moreover, even with a famed teacher like the Sword Saint, his disciples still had to spar with people of the same realm. Otherwise, instruction that was merely soldiers on paper would ultimately be understood slowly.

When Li Muxiu heard Xue Jian's reasoning, he rolled his eyes slightly. Fighting those little fellows in the family—could that compare to matching wits with fish demons while fishing? One had to know that fishing for Circulation Realm demons was not merely labor of strength. These fish demons had already gained intelligence and knew danger. They would rather tear their bodies apart than stay hooked and be caught. Once it came to demons of the Soul Succession Realm, they were even harder to fish.

To put it simply, fishing was an all-round technical craft: battle of wits, concealment and disguise, showing weakness, contests of strength, and so on.

It was precisely because of this that the old man had been obsessed for half his life and remained intoxicated with it even now.

He refused outright. The old man feigned anger and said if they brought it up again, he would beat someone. Only then did Xue Jian and Li Fu helplessly accept it.

Li Hao placed the fishing gear in the Listening Rain Pavilion, then returned to the courtyard with Li Fu. On the way, he learned that a letter had been sent back from Northern Yan. Both their eyes lit up, and they hurried quickly toward the Evergreen Courtyard.

A family letter was in He Jianlan's hands. She sat upright in the main hall, her bearing noble, graceful, and dignified.

"Tian Gang's side is short on military funds. Tomorrow, I must make a trip to court..." A thoughtful look appeared in He Jianlan's eyes.

Just then, Li Hao and Li Fu rushed in hastily. Li Fu still retained his reason and knew the rules, but Li Hao had already barged in on his own. He wanted to pull him back, but failed, and could only follow him in recklessly.

When he saw the gaze He Jianlan cast over, the man's expression turned slightly awkward, and he hurriedly bowed to apologize.

"Is it from them?" Li Hao asked quickly.

He Jianlan's gaze shifted to Li Hao. When she smelled the faint fishy scent of water, she knew that Li Hao had just returned from fishing with Second Uncle again.

Seeing the expectant look in Li Hao's eyes, He Jianlan did not take issue with the child's rashness and nodded slightly.

"Then... what did it say?" Li Hao's eyes were full of anticipation.

He Jianlan was slightly startled, and a trace of pity could not help appearing in the depths of her eyes, but it quickly vanished. In a warm voice, she said, "It is a battle report and military situation from Northern Yan. Your father said that they have just slain a group of evildoers, and there are also issues with provisions."

She did not explain in detail, since it was military business.

"Then did they encounter any danger? Did they mention me?" Li Hao asked.

He Jianlan's fingers holding the letter tightened slightly. She nodded and smiled. "Your parents told me to give you more to eat, and also told you not to work too hard. They also asked me what you have eaten lately, whether you have caught a chill, whether you have been properly listening to your elders..."

Li Hao silently listened until First Madam finished speaking, then said, "Can I see the letter? I know how to read."

He Jianlan folded the letter and shook her head slightly. "No. There is military business inside. You are still young."

"All right."

Li Hao could only agree, then immediately said, "Then I'll trouble First Madam to write back to them for me. Tell them I've been eating and drinking well, and my cooking is amazing. I can make delicious food myself. Also, I'm cultivating body tempering, so my body is strong and I won't catch a chill. I go fishing with Second Master every day, and it isn't tiring. Second Master treats me very well and even praises my cooking. When they come back, I'll let them taste it too."

"And also, tell them they have to take good care of themselves too. They don't need to worry about me. I'm very safe in the Divine General Residence. With Second Master and First Madam backing me up, no one bullies me."