[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 0 years old]
[Cultivation Level: Mortal]
[Mastered Arts: None]
[Skill Points: 0]
These clearly displayed characters were actually a character panel Li Hao was very familiar with.
The reason he called it familiar was that he had seen it in his previous life.
But not in reality, rather in a game.
When he crossed over, Li Hao had been idly downloading a casual mobile game from a leading store, and this panel was from that game.
However, now there was an additional attribute, [Cultivation Level].
The age and name slots had also switched to his current real status, not that unchanging username: Memories with the Wind.
As for the [Skill Points] at the end, they were even more familiar to him.
Unlike the typical adventure exploration and card-based grueling mobile games on the market, this game was all about casual entertainment.
It had no battle system, no combat equipment, only fancy dazzling outfits, and various forms of artistic leisure activities.
Such as playing chess, fishing, painting, carving, and so forth.
You could also watch movies or play poker.
The serious kind.
The only things missing were wild monsters and combat.
Different artistic skills when improved, would accumulate [Skill Points], each of which would directly enhance the artistic level, unlocking more gameplay.
He hadn't expected that crossing over would bring this feature along.
Wait a moment.
Could this thing actually intend for him to become a full-time lifestyle master like in the game?!
Li Hao was somewhat startled and lost for words.
This was the Perishing Realm, art was useless here!
He needed to fight!
…
…
"Report—"
While Li Hao was immersed in the shock of the panel, a jarring military report suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
A Li Family soldier rushed into the courtyard, breaking the peaceful and joyous atmosphere. He knelt on one knee in front of Lord Xingwu, quickly reporting:
"My Lord, Northern Yan is in chaos, Prince Pingcheng has conspired with demons and slaughtered Mofeng City, as well as eight surrounding towns. Emperor Yu has decreed that you set off immediately to quell the uprising!"
The eyes of the nobility and ladies within the courtyard instantly focused on Lord Xingwu, their expressions varied.
Li Hao snapped out of his shock, somewhat astounded.
It had just been a few months, and there was already war?
Lord Xingwu's face, previously smiling, now wore a grave and determined expression. His eyes cold as he stared at the soldier before him, then slowly stood up.
Noticing something, he looked up at Li Hao's direction and his gaze met his wife's.
The killing intent in his eyes instantly dissolved, showing a remorseful expression: "Qingqing, stay with Hao Er for his hundredth-day celebration, I will return promptly."
Ji Qingqing looked slightly distressed. She turned around, handed Li Hao to the Fifth Lady beside her, and looked at the infant in her arms. Ji Qingqing felt an illusion as if the child was also earnestly looking at her, his eyes filled with reluctance.
She was momentarily dazed, assuming it was just an illusion, after all, the child was only a few months old, how could he understand parting?
"Mommy will be back soon, be good," Ji Qingqing gently touched Li Hao's forehead, her eyes also full of reluctance.
But she then resolutely walked towards Lord Xingwu, "This journey is fraught with danger, I will accompany you!"
Lord Xingwu immediately shook his head: "Stay with Hao Er, he is still young and needs your care."
"I am a high-ranking general in the army, and the commander is already in place. How can I be absent?"
Ji Qingqing's expression was stern: "Prince Pingcheng is cunning and has been patient for many years, now to strike suddenly, I worry there might be more to this. Let me accompany you."
Lord Xingwu stared at her, aware of his wife's stubborn character, sighed without persuading further: "Alright, then we entrust Hao Er to the care of the sisters and brothers. We will return as soon as possible."
"You must be careful."
The lady who walked over, looking worried, said: "Leave Hao Er to us; don't worry."
"Thanks, sister-in-law."
Lord Xingwu smiled faintly, then turned and barked an order: "Prepare the horses, soldiers of Fazi Camp assemble, follow me!"
In a family of military nobles, things moved swiftly and they were accustomed to deploying at once. The couple quickly led a team of soldiers out of the mansion, speeding toward the Northern Yan border camp by night.
This had been the site of the Li Family's numerous battles over the years, familiar with the terrain, the demons, and the opponents – also a place guarded by the Li Family.
That is why Ji Qingqing was resolute in following.
As there were many people in the courtyard, there was one thing she did not say publicly: why had Emperor Yu received the news of the revolt in Northern Yan before them?
…
…
In early winter, Qingzhou City welcomed its first snow.
More than a year had passed since the hundredth-day celebration, and Li Hao was now one and a half years old.
His parents were still on the battlefield in Northern Yan and had not returned. According to secret reports from the Li Family Army, the battle there was in a stalemate, seemingly evolving into a long-term conflict.
At this moment,
One and a half-year-old Li Hao stood alone in the Mountain and River Courtyard, small hands clasped behind his back, like a little adult gazing at the heavy snow falling from the sky.
He wondered how that young girl who had become his mother was faring in Northern Yan.
The house servants and maids around were no longer surprised by the young master's actions.
Though Li Hao had barely turned one year old, the title of child prodigy had already spread within Li Mansion.
Ever since he started making noises at half a year old, Li Hao had never wet the bed again.
While other children were noisy and unruly, young master already used simple words like "eat" and "go" to remind his nurses of feeding and toileting.
At one year old, while other children were just beginning to toddle, Master Li Hao was already running around, pointing at characters in books, asking the servants around him to read to him, and teaching himself to read.
Not crying, not fussing, intelligent and sensible—this was how the house servants and maids viewed the young master.
"Second Madam, the young master is over here."
At that moment, a gracefully poised figure of elegance entered the courtyard.
Upon seeing Li Hao standing alone in the courtyard's snowy ground, the beautiful lady's eyebrows shot up, and she immediately scolded, "How are you looking after the young master? Aren't you afraid the snow will harm him?!"
The surrounding house servants and maids were startled and hurriedly knelt down.
The head steward said nervously, "Replying to the Second Madam, it was the young master himself who wanted to watch the snow. He asked us not to disturb him..."
"The young master is still a child. Are you going to do whatever he says? If he tells you to die, will you die?!"
Anger appeared on the Second Madam's face. She quickly walked over to Li Hao, scooped him up into her arms, and started to brush the snow off his head:
"Even if the young master wants to watch the snow, couldn't you at least hold an umbrella for him and put more clothes on him? It seems you all wish for death!"
Everyone immediately broke into a cold sweat, not daring to breathe.
"Second Mother, don't blame them, it was I who told them not to come over," Li Hao said helplessly.
Since his parents went to the Northern Yan battlefield, he was alternately looked after by the ladies of various courtyards. Each lady treated him extremely well. The present Second Madam, Liu Yue Rong, was gentle in nature but extremely strict with servants. Without speaking up himself, those who served him could not avoid being physically punished.
Liu Yue Rong, hearing Li Hao's clear reasoning, a glint flashed in her eyes, and she huffed lightly:
"For Hao Er's sake, I'll spare you this time. But if I see this again, I will make you taste the harshness of the winter lake!"
After saying this, she turned her face to Li Hao and said softly and smilingly, "Hao Er, Second Mother will take you to have some tasty food. You too, child, why don't you wear more? Even if you have the Dragon Blood Jade given by Emperor Yu, what if you fall ill..."
She rambled on, her words filled with concern as she carried Li Hao out of the yard.
Li Hao was already used to it and let himself be held in her arms.
Soon, Liu Yue Rong carried Li Hao to Shuihua Courtyard.
In the courtyard, a four- or five-year-old child was swinging a wooden sword, spinning it so expertly that the patterns traced in the air looked skilled and practiced.
That was the Second Madam's only son, Li Qianfeng.
Despite his young age, his gaze showed focus and determination.
Next to him, a burly middle-aged man was instructing him, nodding frequently.
Li Hao knew that this was one of Li Qianfeng's seven military masters, specifically teaching him Sword Dao.
Seeing the Second Madam approach, the burly man hurriedly bowed in respect, glancing at Li Hao in her arms—knowing this was the same Qilin child named by Emperor Yu, and once his talents were tested, he might not be inferior to the Li Qianfeng he was currently teaching.
The practicing child wasn't distracted by his mother's arrival and continued to focus on swordsmanship.
Liu Yue Rong did not interfere either, nodding slightly to the burly man, then carried Li Hao to the nearby pavilion.
On the pavilion table lay exquisite fresh fruit and flaky pastries.
Liu Yue Rong held Li Hao, feeding him while watching her own child practice swordsmanship. Her eyes sparkled, and she soon became so absorbed that she forgot to feed him.
"Is this the best swordsmanship of the Li Family, 'Endless Sea'?"
Li Hao, with curious eyes, observed closely.
This Second Madam's child, it was said, had already undergone bone measurement and possessed outstanding talent.
Li Hao wondered what his own bone measurement would reveal in the future.
In the courtyard, the five-year-old Li Qianfeng practiced with precise movements. Though only practicing positions, his posture was standardized, causing the burly man beside him to nod repeatedly and couldn't help but praise him.
However, the child's face showed no pleasure and remained deeply focused.
"Again!"
Though the burly man praised, his teaching was extremely strict.
The child started from the beginning again, his movements fluent, clearly very well-practiced.
Li Hao watched, entranced. Suddenly, a caption popped up before his eyes.
"Basic understanding learned, would you like to record it?"
What?!
Li Hao, startled, subconsciously chose yes.
"Recording successful!"
At that time, a panel popped up before his eyes.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 1]
[Cultivation Level: Mortal]
[Sword Dao: Not started (points can be added)]
[Skill: Endless Sea・Tide (Not started) [Forbidden]]
[Mastered Art: Chess Tao]
[Chess Tao: Tier 1 (82/500) (points can be added)]
[Chess Catalogue Collection: 0]
[Artistic Skill Points: 1]
For over a year, Li Hao had been trying to figure out his panel, but because of his young age and not wanting to seem too precociously monstrous, his opportunities for experimentation were limited. Fortunately, there was a chessboard in the mansion.
At six months old, he crawled onto the chessboard, playing by himself.
The wet nurses and maids who took care of him, seeing the young master seemingly fond of the "chessboard" toy, were also glad to have it easy.
It was better than him crawling everywhere.
In his explorations, Li Hao was amazed to find that he could gain chess experience just like in a game, effortlessly advancing in levels!
To know, in real life, advancing one's chess skill level is very difficult.
It requires focus, talent, and hard work.
And Li Hao's initial skills in Chess Tao were only of an amateur level, not even ranked.
But now, just by playing simple matches on the chessboard, he could gain experience points.
To raise from Tier 0 to Tier 1 in Chess Tao only needed 100 experience points.
From Tier 1 to Tier 2 required 500 points.
If it weren't for the maids occasionally checking on him, allowing Li Hao to not reveal too much, he would have already gained much more experience.
There was no helping it, although these maids didn't understand Chess Tao, they still had some common sense.
If they saw a child less than a year old positioning the chess pieces perfectly, it would definitely seem strange.
And at this moment.
Besides Chess Tao, two new attributes, [Sword Dao] and [Skill], had been added to the panel, which weren't there before.
Especially the prompt behind [Sword Dao] made Li Hao curious and excited. Could it be like Chess Tao, where he could directly improve his level with skill points?
Without much thought, he chose to add points.