"Ji Le Ping?"
At Li Hao's words, Ji Boduan froze for a moment. He had taken his mother's surname?
Children had always primarily taken their father's surname; those who took their mother's were rare. He also knew that Li Hao's mother, Ji Qingqing, had married an outsider from Outer Great Wasteland Heaven, so that outsider could not possibly share the surname Ji.
He glanced at Li Hao, and the warmth in his eyes faded slightly.
But recalling the rumors from above-that the Ji Family's War God had praised this boy lavishly-and finding himself unable to see through Li Hao's aura, he maintained his courteous attitude.
"Please follow me."
Li Hao nodded and followed him.
The two swiftly ascended the mountain.
The many young members of the Ji Family who had come to see the spectacle frowned at Li Hao's words. Some scoffed, while others sneered.
"Ji Le Ping? What nerve!"
"He's clearly a barbarian outsider, yet he's changed his surname just to curry favor with our Ji Family!"
"He won't even keep his own father's surname. What a snob! Is he that desperate to worm his way into our Ji Family?"
"I thought he really was an unparalleled Heavenly Prodigy, as the War God said. Who knew he was a scoundrel who would stop at nothing? How disappointing."
"Maybe he fooled the War God with honeyed words. Who knows what dumb luck let him clear the Mo River? What a wonder."
All manner of ugly remarks rang out.
These young people showed little restraint in front of Li Hao. They were all of the same generation, and the pride in their blood already made them look down on this mixed-blood child born of a marriage to an outsider.
Hearing the War God's lavish praise had only deepened their resentment. It