Chapter 13: Assassination
Chapter 13: Assassination
Upon seeing the notification, Li Hao's heart did not feel much joy.
He had long discarded any thoughts of gain, fully immersing himself in his passion. This dedication was precisely what had given him the Chess Heart.
Using the Chess Dao to cultivate the Martial Dao, treating chess as a mere tool—this was a mindset he could no longer accept.
He even felt an impulse to use the Art Skill Points directly on the Chess Dao.
However, the memory of the severed arm and the drinking man restrained him from acting on this impulse.
Playing chess was indeed important, something he loved deeply now.
But there were other things he had to do, like tearing the Tiger Robe Immortal to pieces!
However, that was a Great Demon of the Fourth Realm. Reaching the Fourth Realm was not something that could be achieved overnight.
The only thing he could do now was to grow up quickly.
...
...
The Chess Heart was a state of mind, a condition.
After attaining the Chess Heart, Li Hao began to play chess busily in the small courtyard once again.
But now, he played not for the experience points gained at the end of each game, but to truly enjoy the entire process of playing chess.
The subtlety of each move, the strategy, and the deep thinking all captivated him, much like being engrossed in a fascinating game, completely immersed and unable to stop.
He would think about chess while eating, sleeping, and even watching the little girl practice her sword.
This made Li Hao lose interest in everything else except chess.
One day, Xue Jian from the Changchun Courtyard brought news that the matriarch had invited Bian Ruxue to join the Divine General Manor's Training Grounds.
That was where the Li family's children cultivated.
After the age of six, if they had not joined a renowned sect, they would be sent to the Training Grounds for cultivation, where retired military experts from the Li family would provide unified instruction.
Li Hao agreed. Although he could teach the little girl himself, he was only skilled in swordsmanship. The Training Grounds offered a comprehensive curriculum, including sword practice, cultivation methods, various Martial Dao knowledge, and general education about the outside world, all aimed at well-rounded development.
Since that day, after paying his morning respects to the matriarch, Li Hao would part ways with the little girl at the Changchun Courtyard. He would return to the Mountain and River Courtyard, while she would be sent to the Training Grounds.
The Training Grounds included not only the Main Lineage children but also some Secondary Lineage children and those from branch families, making the total number of students several dozen. Among them, only five were from the Main Lineage, the same few who paid their morning respects with Li Hao.
Bian Ruxue also received the treatment accorded to Main Lineage children in the Training Grounds, as she was Li Hao's future wife and thus considered a half-member of the Li family.
In the Training Grounds, the Main Lineage children were treated like stars, holding a much higher status than the Secondary Lineage. The cultivation resources they received, especially during the Foundation Building and Blood Dissolution stages, were at least one level higher than those given to the Secondary Lineage.
This led to a significant gap in Martial Dao aptitude between the Main Lineage and the Secondary Lineage.
As a result, in the Training Grounds, apart from a few young Main Lineage children who had just started to understand things, most of the Secondary Lineage children were teenagers around ten to fifteen years old. Their aptitudes ranged from four to six, which were considered average. They had the potential to rise and become city guardians in the future.
Secondary Lineage children with seventh-level aptitude would receive focused cultivation and enjoy resources almost on par with the Main Lineage.
After entering the Training Grounds, Bian Ruxue officially embarked on her path of cultivation.
At this point, the terrifying power of the Ninth-Rank War Body became evident.
In just a few months, Li Hao saw the little girl reach the Fourth Level of Force Mastery.
She was almost breaking through a minor realm every month, such rapid progress was as effortless as eating and drinking.
While this was largely due to the abundant cultivation resources the Li family lavished on her, her Martial Dao aptitude, like a sponge, could absorb so much, which was a skill in itself.
Meanwhile, the teenagers in the Training Grounds, all around fifteen or sixteen years old, were still lingering at the Eighth or Ninth Level of Force Mastery. It was estimated that within half a year, they would be caught up by this little girl.
Li Hao, on the other hand, continued to play chess in the courtyard day after day, undisturbed. The matriarch did not insist that he join the Training Grounds, and Li Hao could sense her thoughts—she did not want him, as a member of the Main Lineage, to be humiliated there.
In the Training Grounds, apart from teaching, there were also arranged sparring sessions and competitions to ignite the children's and teenagers' enthusiasm for cultivation.
Someone like Li Hao, who lacked Martial Dao aptitude, would inevitably suffer if he were to join. Some of the children spoke without restraint, and conflicts might arise, possibly even involving the adults, which would be embarrassing.
The matriarch, who managed the Divine General Manor, only wanted peace and tranquility.
Li Hao was also content with this arrangement, finding it relaxing.
After all, practicing martial arts was a waste of time for him.
He had no interest in competing with those teenagers, finding it utterly boring.
...
"You've played so many games, and you still haven't learned. You've lost three times to the same move!"
Li Hao scolded the servant who was playing chess with him.
The servant jumped in fright, hurriedly standing up and bowing, trembling like a quail. "Please calm down, Young Master."
By now, Li Hao had the authority of a young master, and they no longer dared to treat him like a child, dismissing his words.
"Your mind isn't on the game. What are you thinking about?" Li Hao asked angrily.
The servant inwardly sighed. In the past, he played the same way, but the young master never cared, and the games ended quickly, leaving the young master quite content.
But things had changed recently.
His poor chess skills now made the young master frown, causing him great distress.
"Your chess skills are terrible. You've been playing with me for so long, and you haven't improved at all!" Li Hao said, annoyed.
The servant quickly begged for mercy, while the other servant seemed to have an idea and glanced at Li Hao. "Young Master, I know someone who can play chess. He's a newly recruited Third-Rank Servant in the manor."
"Really?" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "Where is he?"
"He's in the Firewood Shed, responsible for chopping firewood."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Bring him here so I can test his skills", Li Hao said immediately.
"Sure thing, Young Master." The servant was delighted and quickly left.
Before long, a thin young man in servant's attire was brought to Li Hao.
"What are you standing there for? Greet the Young Master properly."
"Ah, yes, Young Master, may you be well and healthy", the thin young man hurriedly knelt down.
Li Hao waved his hand, signaling him to rise, and pointed to the chessboard. "I've heard you can play chess. Let's play a game. If you play well, you'll stay in the Mountain and River Courtyard and be promoted to a First-Rank Servant, serving by my side."
"Ah?" The thin young man was clearly taken aback by this unexpected good fortune, but then he beamed. "Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Young Master!"
He wiped his hands on his clothes and sat down at the chessboard.
The game began quickly, with Li Hao holding the white pieces.
After a few moves, Li Hao felt a surge of joy. The thin young man indeed knew how to play chess and had some skill.
Li Hao became more serious, not holding back his moves.
In a short while, the thin young man's face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes filled with fear.
Finally, his hand trembled slightly as he looked at the chessboard, then at Li Hao, unable to believe that such a young child had such profound Chess Dao skills.
“I lost.” The gaunt young man stood up with a complex expression, his eyes revealing both unwillingness and a hint of hidden ferocity.
Li Hao was taken aback.
Only when he heard the gaunt young man’s words did he snap out of his daze and laugh. “Good, very good. From now on, you will be my First-Rank Servant. Follow me, and all you need to do is play chess with me every day.”
The gaunt young man was stunned, staring at Li Hao in disbelief. “But, but I lost.”
Li Hao smiled. At the end of their game, he received a notification of gaining experience, a whopping 20 points!
Usually, when he played chess with the two servants, he would only get a maximum of 3 points. The difference was staggering.
This clearly showed that the higher the opponent’s skill level, the more experience he would gain, rather than just accumulating points through sheer volume of games.
“If each game gave 20 points, 10 games would be 200 points, and to reach 5,000 points, I would only need 250 games. Even if I play 10 games a day, it would only take a month.”
The more Li Hao thought about it, the more excited he became, and he looked at the gaunt young man with increasing fondness.
“If you can beat me, I will grant you ten thousand taels of gold!” Li Hao encouraged him with a smile.
The gaunt young man was dumbfounded, his body trembling with excitement.
Li Hao told him not to stand there and to sit down and continue playing. He then instructed the two servants to prepare the necessary paperwork and transfer the gaunt young man to his courtyard.
Thus, Li Hao and the gaunt young man began their daily chess matches in the courtyard.
Before they knew it, half a month had passed.
One night, after dinner, Li Hao called the gaunt young man to continue their game.
In the bedroom, under the soft glow of the night lamp, two figures, one large and one small, were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard.
“Little Master.”
As Li Hao was deeply engrossed in his thoughts, considering his next move, he suddenly heard the gaunt young man call him. However, his tone was not the usual slightly fawning and respectful one, but rather had a strange sense of calm.
Li Hao looked at him in confusion, and in that moment, a flash of cold light suddenly shot towards his face!
His pupils dilated, and his body instinctively kicked back, moving like a bolt of lightning to avoid the attack.
Looking at the chess table, the gaunt young man had one hand on the board and the other still in the position of holding a dagger, his face showing a mix of shock. Clearly, he hadn’t expected the young master to dodge his attack.
“Huh? You...”
Li Hao’s mind raced, everything happening too suddenly, leaving him unprepared.
As he was shocked, his eyes quickly turned cold, and he hissed, “Assassination? Who sent you?”
His mind immediately thought of the woman from Shuihua Courtyard, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He was already a Waste, posing no threat, so no one in the courtyard should want to assassinate him.
“How did you...” The gaunt young man’s mind was even more chaotic and shocked. Wasn’t this child supposed to be a useless Waste, unable to cultivate the Martial Dao? Over the past few days, he had seen no sign of Li Hao practicing, not even once!
After all, Li family children were already training at the Training Grounds by the age of six.
This supposed Waste spent his days playing chess in the courtyard, ignored by everyone.
The information was correct, but it seemed... off by a lot!
Quickly, the gaunt young man recovered and his body burst into action, displaying a terrifying speed as he lunged at Li Hao.
He couldn’t let this child raise an alarm; his eyes were filled with a murderous intent.
But Li Hao’s thoughts were the same.
The assassin must not be allowed to call out, or it would alert too many people.
Kill!
Seeing the figure lunging at him, Li Hao didn’t dodge. Instead, he thrust his foot forward, and his small body shot out like a thunderbolt, the movement accompanied by a faint whistle of the wind. As he approached, he slightly turned his head, watching the dagger pass by his eyes, and then delivered a punch to the other’s stomach.
Li Hao had never engaged in a physical fight since he started his cultivation.
This time, he unleashed his full strength.
A heavy thud echoed like a sandbag hitting the ground. The gaunt young man’s eyes bulged, his body curling up like a shrimp as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the chess table.
Li Hao didn’t know how much force his punch carried, but if he could lift a fake mountain weighing twenty thousand pounds, this punch, delivered with full force, must have had several tens of thousands of pounds behind it.
As the gaunt young man was pushed back, Li Hao quickly jumped up, his small hands like eagle claws, gripping the other’s throat. He hissed, “Don’t make a sound!”
The gaunt young man: “???”
(End of Chapter)
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