By the time Li Hao was six, Lin Haixia found him and said he wanted to teach him techniques.
He moved a weapon rack over and let Li Hao choose and practice with each weapon, just like he had done for Bian Ruxue before.
However, considering that Li Hao's physique wasn't as top-notch as Bian Ruxue's, he decided to delay it for a year to avoid practicing too early and negatively affecting bone development.
Only then did Li Hao realize that this strong figure from the military was lingering in the mansion just to teach him techniques.
"I thought I couldn't cultivate?" Li Hao, dragged out of bed early in the morning, yawning, just wanted to crawl back into bed.
"First practice the techniques. If someday the commander finds a way to help you open your meridians, you can start cultivating immediately without falling behind," Lin Haixia said. This was his plan: practice first, be prepared.
What if he could cultivate in the future? Then it would be useful.
"What if it doesn't work?" Li Hao asked.
"You'd be idle anyway," Lin Haixia said indifferently.
Li Hao felt like vomiting blood. What kind of response was that?
Being idle is surely better than being overworked!
But Lin Haixia had clearly made up his mind, and no matter how much Li Hao argued, it was futile. Finally, with a stern face, Lin Haixia took out a bamboo stick and threatened to hit him if he didn't obey.
Li Hao wasn't afraid of pain, after all, given his current physical strength, unless Lin Haixia really hit hard, it was nothing more than tickling.
But seeing the other party taking it so seriously, he decided to avoid the confrontation for the time being.
Li Hao picked up the weapons and practiced with each, just going through the motions, handling the saber, spear, staff, and stick without any real form.
When he got to the sword, the little girl was waiting with eager anticipation, clenching her little fist and encouraging, "Brother Hao, go for it!"
Li Hao was speechless, casually swinging the sword a few times and finishing hurriedly.
Lin Haixia's face darkened, seemingly seeing through the little guy's thoughts, and said, "None of these weapons pleased me today with your practice; you're not allowed to rest, and you're not allowed to touch that damned chessboard again!"
"Lin!" Li Hao wailed.
"Practice!" Lin Haixia gritted his teeth, ignoring Li Hao's pleas.
Li Hao picked up a saber and started to play with it, but his mind wasn't on cultivation. Although he appeared serious, there was no method to his movements.
Seeing Li Hao take an interest in the saber, Lin Haixia began to teach him move by move, starting with the simplest stances.
Seeing how serious he was, Li Hao dared not practice at all; if Lin Haixia saw any promise or hope, he would be inspired daily, and there'd be no peace for Li Hao.
So, as Lin Haixia taught, Li Hao kept nodding, claiming he understood.
As soon as the saber was in hand, it was all over the place again.
It was as if his hands and feet were saying, "Understand my foot!"
An afternoon passed, and Lin Haixia felt like cursing too.
He couldn't even get the most basic saber technique right. Did this boy lack any martial arts insight at all?
He couldn't help but think of certain geniuses.
Some people are extremely talented in one area but completely clueless in others, even worse than average people.
And it seemed Li Hao was just this type.
Unfortunately, his talent was in the wrong area.
Chess... what a worthless thing!
Lin Haixia even began to hate the fact that someone ever invented such a thing; it was infuriating!
But after the hatred passed, sadness filled him. Was he truly unable to help the young master?
He hated his own incompetence, his inability to repay the commander's kindness.
After forcing Li Hao to practice for half a month, Lin Haixia finally despaired and gave up.
He told Li Hao that recent changes in the war in Northern Yan meant he would have to leave soon.
Li Hao looked at the man and knew he had given up hope.
During this time, seeing the man's grief, Li Hao felt both touched and ashamed.
The other party hated the chessboard, hated their own inability to teach, but never once hated Li Hao.
"Lin, do you think a person who can't cultivate Martial Arts, if they go down the path of Body Refinement and combine it with techniques, can become an expert?"
Sitting in the courtyard, Li Hao looked at the man drinking beside him and asked.
Lin Haixia put the wine aside, thought for a moment, and said with utmost certainty, "Yes!"
He then continued, "I have seen experts in the military with tremendous Physical Strength, their spear techniques were virtually perfect; they could be considered among the strong."
He turned his head to look at Li Hao, yet his gaze quickly dimmed, "Young Master, I know you are intelligent and can endure hardship. If you go down the path of Body Refinement, you will surely manage, but your comprehension..."
He didn't finish, feeling a deep sense of sorrow. The reason he had let Li Hao practice techniques was with this in mind.
Li Hao looked at him with surprise and said, "I sleep till the sun is up high every day, do you think I can endure hardships?"
Lin Haixia shook his head slightly, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "I have seen how you play chess; I know you can endure hardships, it's just that you don't like to."
From Li Hao, he saw the potential to become a top expert.
That was intelligence, mindset, diligence.
But the only things missing were the innate talent for Martial Arts and comprehension of Martial Arts.
These two were precisely the tickets to the world of Martial Arts.
Without entering the gate, how could one talk about a superior seat?
This also resulted in the abundant cultivation resources in Divine General Mansion being piled up in front of Li Hao but amounting to nothing more than an empty mountain.
Hearing Lin Haixia's words, Li Hao felt a bit astonished, turned his head and glanced at the man, then fell into silence again.
As the night wind swept through, one continued to drink while the other silently watched the night sky, as if a shooting star streaked across—whose falling star was that?
Two months later.
Lin Haixia was leaving, saying his formal goodbyes to Li Hao.
Li Hao waited for him in the inner courtyard, the vast yard empty. He had the servants of the inner courtyard withdraw to the outer courtyard, leaving only him to see Lin off.
"Do you find it too quiet, Uncle Lin?" Li Hao, with hands clasped behind his back, asked with a smile.
Lin Haixia sighed lightly and said, "I don't care for these superficial things. As for you, take good care of Xue'er. That girl has an extremely high talent for swordplay, she will surely achieve Great Accomplishments in the future. Treat her well, and she will protect you one day."
At this moment, his eyes held a mix of complexity, sighs, and acceptance.
He had completely given up on the idea of Li Hao learning martial arts.
He had come to Divine General Mansion full of expectations and passion, hoping to use all his heart to properly mentor the young son of the commander, to repay a debt of gratitude.
Now, he was leaving full of regrets and feeling desolate, a bit sad in his heart.
Li Hao smiled faintly and said, "Uncle Lin, I don't have much to give you upon our meeting, but since you are leaving today, let me give you a small gift."
"I don't need any gift, nor do I have the face to accept one. You just need to be well," said Lin Haixia, feeling somewhat comforted but uninterested in the gift mentioned by Li Hao, for he lacked nothing.
Li Hao didn't speak, simply walking slowly towards the weapon rack.
Lin Haixia was taken aback, watching him with confusion.
Then he saw Li Hao slowly draw a sword from the rack.
"This sword is for you, Uncle Lin."
"I am grateful for your guidance!" Li Hao said softly.
Then the sword moved.
His posture was graceful like snowflakes, and the sword in his hand shone like the surging waves of an endless sea, instantly casting myriad intricate and beautiful sword blossoms, luxurious to the extreme.
The ultimate, 'Endless Sea', Tidal Sword Skill!
At that moment, the brilliant and dazzling sword light illuminated the entire empty inner courtyard.
And it also shone in Lin Haixia's eyes, lighting up the dark and contracted pupils into a bright, snowy white.