After the maid had left, Li Hao did not continue playing chess, but stood up and walked over to the courtyard.
Li Fu also stood up; when Li Hao did not speak to him, he reverted to his expressionless military demeanor, like a silent shadow, faithfully following behind Li Hao.
Li Fu had asked the servants about the previous assassination attempt, had learned the details thoroughly, and felt a trace of fear.
Especially these days of accompanying the child in playing chess, he was keenly aware that the position he was now sitting in was precisely where the assassin had been.
Separated by only a chessboard.
At such a distance, to exploit a child's full array of openings at a moment of inattention could mean death in an instant!
But such an assassination had been stopped; it was uncertain whether to call the assassin incompetent, or the clan elder who intervened terrifyingly formidable, or perhaps the child was truly blessed with a large fortune!
Therefore, Li Fu took it as a lesson, clinging closely to Li Hao's side during meals, drinks, and sleep, scrutinising any house servant or maid who approached within three feet of Li Hao with a hawk-like gaze.
This caused the servants and maids in the courtyard to secretly groan; every time they reported something to the young master, they did so with trepidation, scarcely daring to lift their heads... they were nearly becoming introverted.
Seeing Li Hao approaching, Bian Ruxue slightly pursed her lips and turned her body away as if she did not want Li Hao to see her.
Li Hao looked at her aggrieved demeanor and smiled warmly, ordering a servant to bring over a small stool and some cakes and fresh fruits, then sat down beside her and began to eat.
"Practicing swordsmanship with a distracted mind, you can't beat anyone like this," Li Hao said with a smiling tone upon seeing the girl waving her sword chaotically, clearly distracted.
Bian Ruxue's eyes suddenly reddened a bit, and she stopped practicing. Looking down, she said, "If only Brother Hao could cultivate, with your intelligence, you would definitely surpass me in swordsmanship and become the most outstanding one."
Having trained in the martial arts field for a year, Bian Ruxue had improved rapidly, and as she grew up, her understanding deepened; she began to comprehend why, after the bone measurement, the adults looked at Li Hao with that kind of expression.
And she also understood what Li Hao had truly lost in that year.
Hearing Xue'er's words, Li Fu's brows furrowed slightly, a hidden sorrow and pity briefly showed in his emotionless eyes.
This was not only a regret for the Li Family but also for the Divine General Mansion!
Li Hao felt a bit helpless; he had not grieved for himself, yet the young girl seemed sadder in comparison.
"Don't say that," he consoled.
Li Hao comforted her, "Practicing swordsmanship is so boring. Look at you, bearing wind and sun every day, enduring the hardest days of winter and summer, how tiring that must be. Unlike me, eating chilled melon in the pavilion during summer, playing chess, and in winter, curling up in bed to stay warm, sleeping until the sun is high in the sky. Now that's what I call happiness!"
Li Fu couldn't help but glance at the boy, these indeed sounded like his kind of words.
Without the Divine General around, the other ladies of the mansion could not discipline him too severely, and Li Fu had realized upon his return that the child had adopted a somewhat cynical outlook on life.
"You're not afraid of hardship," Bian Ruxue said, lifting her head.
"What do you know," Li Hao responded with annoyance. "Look at me now, too lazy even to stand when I can sit, and to sit when I can lie down. Some hardships are meaningless. Otherwise, why would we have sweets? You're still young, you don't understand. Just focus on your sword practice."
"Don't talk nonsense," Li Fu couldn't listen anymore and interrupted sternly.
What kind of absurd talk was this, that enduring hardship was meaningless? Which soldier at the border was not enduring hardships?
As a martial artist, the last thing to fear is hardship—the only fears were lack of talent and resources.
This young master, comfortably unaware of his own blessings, lacked talent yet loathed hardship, not taking his own learning seriously, and now he was potentially leading astray the young Xue'er—how could this be tolerated?
Bian Ruxue's talent in the way of the sword was something Li Fu acknowledged; she was exceptionally talented and destined to achieve greatness in swordplay. In the future, she would become a protective umbrella for Li Hao, and he could not let this mischievous young master undermine his future ally.
"Fu, I think Hao is right," Bian Ruxue hastily spoke up for Li Hao.
Li Fu's eyes bulged with frustration; the young girl was too influenced by Li Hao's words. If she truly got led astray by him, it would be disastrous.
"Don't spill such nonsense to Xue'er; you think just because I wouldn't dare beat you? If I did, even your father would approve!" Li Fu controlled his impulse to scold the well-behaved orphaned girl and instead threatened Li Hao sternly.
Li Hao gave a sheepish smile, knowing well that he found no common ground in this respect with the stern and rigid servant.
And besides, the Divine General Mansion was a family of soldiers; the Li Family had always advocated frugality and the spirit of enduring hardship.
Despite the fact that the ladies of various houses dined and dressed sumptuously, envied by all, in accordance with the standing and the foundation of the Divine General Mansion, they could actually live even more lavishly.
The Great Lady He Jianlan had for many years eaten vegetarian meals twice a week. Although not a Buddhist, as a soldier who had taken countless lives, she did not say she did it for religious reasons but rather to remind herself and her children not to get lost in this opulent luxury and forget the duty and spirit of a soldier.
"Yes, yes, you're right, Fu," Li Hao agreed.
To Xue'er, he said, "See, you made Fu angry; you should hurry up and practice your swordplay."
Xue'er blinked her small eyes and pouted slightly; it was clearly Hao who had provoked the anger.
However, she did not argue. If she could take Fu's anger on behalf of Hao, she was willing to do so.
Hearing Li Hao's shameless remarks, Li Fu was about to laugh in exasperation, rolling his eyes. This boy was indeed too difficult to discipline.
"Fu, can you help take a look and give some pointers to Xue'er's swordsmanship?" Li Hao asked Li Fu.