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Li Hao looked into the old man's eyes and saw a chilling murderous intent. He hesitated for a moment, then just nodded slightly.
"Who is it?!"
Seeing that it was indeed the case, Li Muxiu erupted in anger.
Letting a seven-year-old child suffer such grievances, those second-generation youngsters were simply turning the world upside down!
Li Hao shook his head slightly and said, "For now, I don't want to say."
"Why?" Li Muxiu was taken aback, staring at Li Hao, and then quickly understood the child's thought:
"You don't trust me? You think I might be related to those who covet you? Heh, you're overthinking it. I have no sons or daughters and few in this world who matter to me."
Li Hao still shook his head, remaining silent.
Li Muxiu stared at him with a sullen face. After a while, the anger on his face disappeared. Instead, he nodded slightly, showing a hint of a relieved smile:
"We just met and aren't familiar yet. It's normal for you to remain cautious like this. However, since you won't say who that person is, why are you willing to expose your power in front of me? You could have easily let that Fish Demon slip off the hook or had the fishing rod taken away without saying a word, continuing to keep it hidden."
Li Hao smiled slightly and said, "Because you're not bad, old man."
Li Muxiu was stunned, looking at Li Hao's bright smile and those clear eyes. He was momentarily lost in thought.
After a while, he finally came back to his senses and couldn't help but laugh with a bit of self-deprecation.
"Then you're mistaken, when I, as the old man, become bad, I'm nothing like a human."
"Then what are you like?"
"When you step out of the Divine General Mansion, you'll hear my name out there." Li Muxiu laughed.
Seeing this, Li Hao no longer pressed for answers.
"You, little guy, are so cunning for someone so young, it's a bit of a pity." Li Muxiu sized up Li Hao, growing increasingly fond of the child. If he could cultivate normally, he might become another young prodigy like that, right?
However, he only felt a bit of regret, without any deep obsession.
After all, what difference did becoming Li Junye make? Didn't he still die on the battlefield? That seemed to be the fate of the Li Family's sons.
"You don't have to hide your Body Refinement talent from me in the future. Show it openly. I've seen many geniuses, and with your level, you're just a normal first-rate talent. It won't scare this old man."
Li Muxiu said plainly, "If anyone in the mansion dares to covet or think that you are an obstacle to someone, I want to see if our Divine General Mansion can accommodate a child of Body Refinement."
...
...
After tidying up the catch, Li Muxiu took Li Hao and rushed back to Qingzhou City.
To enhance Li Hao's interest in fishing, Li Muxiu didn't land directly at the Listening Rain Tower in the inner mansion. Instead, he landed at the main entrance and then let Li Hao carry the fish basket, as the old and the young duo swaggered into the mansion.
"Old man, what's this for?" Li Hao asked in confusion.
"You don't understand, it's a fishing tradition."
Li Muxiu, with his head held high and looking proud and calm, said:
"Not counting the one you killed and the one I used as bait, you caught four behind them. For a beginner like you, that's already a big haul. We must show it off."
"Is there such a rule?" Li Hao was surprised.
Li Muxiu gave him a sidelong glance, "If I say there is, there is."
"Mu!"
The house servants and maids along the way were startled when they saw Li Muxiu. They didn't understand why the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, usually residing at the Listening Rain Tower, was here, and they hurriedly saluted and knelt.
Li Muxiu ignored them, not acknowledging their presence, and walked straight through with Li Hao.
The two took all the most crowded routes, turning frequently.
In the martial arts practice ground, clan members were training, and an elder from the army was lecturing above. Li Muxiu, however, pushed the door open and went in.
Just as the army elder was about to frown, he was startled when he saw Li Muxiu's face and hurriedly rose to greet him. "The old general of the Yuan Camp greets the Marquis!"
"Teaching a class, huh?"
Li Muxiu deliberately asked, then said casually, "Today, I took Hao Er out fishing. It's his first time without much experience, and he only caught a few small demons. Do you want to use them to accompany your drinks?"
The army elder was momentarily stunned, seeing the Fish Demons in Li Hao's basket, and quickly said, "Thank you for your generosity, Marquis, but I already have some snacks for today."
Politely declining.
Having been in the mansion for many years, he knew the old marquis' personality and immediately understood this was a routine visit to brag.
If he really took them, he'd get into trouble. Someone would sneak over at night to give him a thrashing.
By then, he might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.
He dared not take such a risk.
"Oh, alright then, you continue teaching." Li Muxiu said indifferently, leading Li Hao away.
Li Hao's head was full of question marks. Was this really a fishing tradition? It was too rigid!
They turned past the martial arts practice ground and came to the Eternal Spring Court.
"Second uncle, how come you have time to come over? It's almost lunchtime. Should I have the servants add an extra set of tableware for you? What would you like to eat?" He Jianlan was chatting with Fifth Lady Gao and quickly rose to greet them upon seeing Li Muxiu.
Li Muxiu said plainly, "Hao Er caught a few small fish, so we'll make soup for you."
"Hao Er caught these?"
He Jianlan was momentarily surprised, seeing Li Hao holding the fish basket with lively, struggling little fish inside.
"Who else? Do you think I'd fish for these small fish?" Li Muxiu glared at her unhappily.
He Jianlan fell silent, knowing that this particular second uncle was peculiar. Being impolite to him was a minor issue, but never mentioning fishing-related matters was crucial.
"Yes, yes, since it's a gift from second uncle, I'll gratefully accept it." He Jianlan immediately said.
"Why thank me? They're Hao Er's fish." Li Muxiu emphasized.
He Jianlan paused and could only helplessly say, "Then, thank Hao Er."
"No need to be polite, Aunt." Li Hao quickly said, simultaneously shooting a sidelong look at the old man. This tradition made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
After handing the fish to He Jianlan, once the old and young duo left, He Jianlan looked at the little fish and found that they were all in the Power Passage Realm, surprised.
Previously, she heard from Li Fu that Li Hao had a talent for Body Refinement. It seemed to be true.
"Did that child really catch them?"
Gao Qingqing looked at the small fish in surprise. Li Hao, known as a martial arts waster, was widely believed to be just an ordinary person. But he managed to catch Power Passage Realm Fish Demons, indicating that Li Hao had begun cultivating, and he was making good progress.
"Second uncle wouldn't lie about fishing matters." He Jianlan said.
She looked at the courtyard gate, where the pair was no longer visible: "It looks like the child started cultivating through Body Refinement. It's a tough path. Poor child."
Gao Qingqing couldn't help but shake her head slightly, letting out a soft sigh.
Although Li Hao possessed a Body Refinement talent, that path was grueling, and few could persist until the end. If it were her child, she would prefer he live an ordinary life and enjoy it.
"It must be Lao Qi and their idea... They're truly heartless." Gao Qingqing murmured quietly.
...
...
Returning to the Listening Rain Tower, Li Hao saw Li Fu waiting outside from afar.
Li Muxiu also noticed, humming softly.
As the pair approached, Li Fu immediately came to meet them, seeing the fish bloodstains on Li Hao's clothes. His expression changed, and he quickly said, "Second uncle, Hao Er, he..."
"Fishing, naturally, requires some tussling with Fish Demons. Rest assured, with me by his side, Hao Er wouldn't get hurt." Li Muxiu said calmly.
Li Fu breathed a sigh of relief and then handed Li Hao the item in his hand: "This is a letter from the Sword Cottage, likely sent by Miss Xue'er. Take a look."
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