Chapter 216: Ancient Ji Family (Part 1)
Chapter 216: Ancient Ji Family (Part 1)
"You are..."
Li Tiangang's gaze sharpened as Feng Boping suddenly appeared. He had long known that Li Hao had a Fourth Establishment Realm expert helping him, which allowed Li Hao to establish a foothold in Heavenly Gate Pass when he first arrived.
He guessed that the person in front of him was that very expert.
Li Tiangang carefully scrutinized Feng Boping, his expression suddenly changing as he exclaimed in shock and anger:
"You're the Thief Saint?!"
Feng Boping had originally stayed hidden in the courtyard to avoid exposure. After all, within the vast Li Family, the only ones who had a connection to him were Li Hao and Li Muxiu.
His decision to step forward now was out of necessity, but he was prepared for his identity to be revealed.
"It's me."
"Surprisingly, it's you who's been secretly following Li Hao?!"
Li Tiangang was shocked, his eyes blazing with anger. "What are your intentions? What do you plan to do?"
Feng Boping sneered, "Without me, your son wouldn't have made it to Heavenly Gate Pass. Do you know how many pairs of demonic eyes were viciously watching him the moment he stepped out of the Li Family? You pushed a fourteen-year-old child out of the door. Do you know what he has been carrying on your behalf?!"
"He bears the wrath of all the demons the Li Family has provoked over the centuries!"
"He has been shouldering that hatred for the Li Family. Without me, your son would have died long ago!"
"What do you think my intentions are? My intention is to keep him alive, to live with his head held high!"
Li Tiangang shouted, "But if it weren't for you, Li Hao wouldn't have dared to step out of the Divine General Manor. It's your protection that emboldened him, allowing him to defy me!"
Feng Boping was amused by his anger. "Even if he stayed in the Divine General Manor to survive, would he listen to your discipline? Have you been away from Yanbei for over a decade, and did your son ever fall behind anyone?!"
"Does he need your discipline? Does he?"
Li Tiangang was momentarily speechless, feeling a twinge of guilt. Indeed, the years apart had left him feeling responsible for Li Hao.
In terms of talent, the boy was unmatched by anyone.
But precisely because of that, he needed to be guided onto the right path.
"You, a thief, naturally don't understand propriety and filial piety!"
Li Tiangang glared at Feng Boping, saying, "To achieve great things, do you think mere ability is enough to win people's respect? Even as an official or a general, relying on power to suppress subordinates can lead to betrayal on the battlefield!"
"An official is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can be gentle, but it can also capsize a boat!"
"Even the current Emperor must adhere to etiquette and virtue, using both kindness and authority. Blind bravery is meaningless!"
Feng Boping laughed, but it was a cold laugh. "Are you talking about yourself? Can't you see whose banners are flying all over Liangzhou?"
"Whose fame do the countless commoners sing of?!"
"Is it yours, Li Tiangang, or the Li Family's?!"
"Isn't it Li Hao's, earned by his own efforts?!"
Li Tiangang was furious. "That's why I'm here. Who made those war banners? It certainly couldn't have been you!"
Feng Boping sneered, "Whose name is on those banners? Isn't it obvious? Do you really think it was some hidden sage? Even if such a person exists, why would they help Li Hao? Have you thought about that?!"
Li Tiangang was taken aback, his mind racing with thoughts, leaving him speechless.
Seeing his silence, Feng Boping sneered again:
"Even if there were such a sage, do you think they would help Li Hao out of respect for the Li Family? If the Li Family had such influence, why did six of your Nine Sons die in battle without such a sage's aid?"
Li Tiangang's expression darkened, but he realized that Feng Boping's words weren't entirely baseless.
"Did Li Hao really make them himself?"
Li Tiangang stared at him, suppressing his anger.
Feng Boping laughed coldly but didn't answer.
Seeing his reaction, Li Tiangang wasn't concerned but felt a mix of surprise and excitement.
If it was indeed his son who made the war banners, regardless of how he acquired the secret art, having such skills would ensure that he could defend the border passes against the demons in the future!
If these banners could be mass-produced, the Li Family's reputation alone would be enough to protect the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty!
"Did you really make them yourself?"
Li Tiangang's gaze shifted past Feng Boping to Li Hao's avatar.
Dark Li Hao's eyes were cold. "It's none of your concern. Get out!"
Although he knew this was just Li Hao's avatar and didn't recognize him, seeing his son's face and hearing such a dismissive tone still stung Li Tiangang.
Feng Boping's eyes were icy cold as he said, "What's the point of asking these questions? Li Hao's fate is still unknown. Even if he made it, what difference would it make now?"
"If he's dead, everything is gone!"
Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly, and he replied coldly, "The resources of the Li Family are far beyond your imagination. With my Uncle Four, who is well-versed in the Mourning River, and with Li Hao's own combat prowess, he should be fine if he's careful."
"I've already deployed hundreds of thousands of troops outside the Dragon City Mourning River, ready to escort them back the moment they emerge!"
"You, a thief and a wanderer, know nothing about connections and resources!"
Feng Boping's lips trembled in anger, but he held back his retort.
He hoped the Divine General Manor's resources were as formidable as Li Tiangang claimed, so that Li Hao could return safely.
"I hope your Divine General Manor truly lives up to its reputation."
Feng Boping snorted and waved his sleeve. "I won't waste my time arguing with you, a mere youth. You'd better watch yourself. If you want a fight, I'll take you on, and I won't let you harm Li Hao again!"
"Back then, I didn't show myself outside the Divine General Manor to avoid disgracing your Li Family. Now, here, you won't get away with your arrogance!"
"Are you saying I should thank you for that?"
Li Tiangang sneered. "You, a thief, causing trouble everywhere, who is behind you? Who benefits from you sowing discord in our Li Family? Li Hao was corrupted by you, wasn't he?!"
"Ha ha..."
Feng Boping was so angry he laughed. "Li Hao and I hit it off at first sight. You think I'm sowing discord?"
"Isn't that the case? If not for you, Li Hao would still be in the Divine General Manor. When he encountered the Demons outside the city, Li He would have brought him back!"
Li Tiangang said coldly, "You keep saying you're doing this for Li Hao, but that's a matter between us. What right do you have to interfere?"
"Who are you to meddle in the affairs of the Divine General Manor? And Li Hao is the next True Dragon of the Li Family. What are your intentions?!"
Feng Boping's face twitched, and he wanted to lash out, but the words "What right do you have to interfere?" silenced him.
Thinking of his life as a wandering vagabond, like a rootless weed, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Whatever you think, the slander I've borne in my life is nothing new. It's just the buzzing of insects."
Feng Boping's face grew calm, and he stared silently at Li Tiangang.
"But as long as I'm here today, you won't lay a hand on Li Hao!"
"Do you really think you can match me?"
Li Tiangang narrowed his eyes. "I'm not unreasonable. If it weren't for the fact that you've protected Li Hao, I would have already arrested you and sent you to the Heavenly Prison!"
"Is that so? Then come and try. It would be a great achievement, at least enough to elevate your title from Third-Rank Duke to Second-Rank Duke."
Feng Boping's lips curled in a mocking smile. "I've long wanted to see the skills of the Li Family's True Dragon!"
Buzz!
Suddenly, the Dragon Dawn Sword trembled and hovered in front of Feng Boping.
The hilt faced Feng Boping, while the blade pointed at Li Tiangang.
Dark Li Hao, sensing the rising power, stepped beside Feng Boping and said coldly, "Intruders will be killed without mercy!"
Li Tiangang's face darkened when he saw the floating Divine Sword and Li Hao standing protectively beside Feng Boping. A trace of blood fury flashed in his eyes.
"Say that again?!"
Feng Boping sensed the power Dark Li Hao was channeling and glanced at the floating Divine Sword. A hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself and whispered, "Li Hao, stay here. I'll go and show him whether a thief can shake the Li Family's True Dragon!"
He took a step forward and said to Li Tiangang, "Li Tiangang, do you dare to face me outside?"
"Hmph, a fugitive thief dares to speak to me like this?"
Li Tiangang's eyes locked onto him, and in the next moment, both their figures vanished from the courtyard in an instant.
"Uncle Feng!"
Ren Qianqian's face changed when she saw Feng Boping and Li Tiangang disappear, and she couldn't help but call out in alarm.
But there was no sign of them, and she couldn't see them either. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave echoed from a distant place.
The two had deliberately avoided Cangya City and were already miles away.
With a swift step, Dark Li Hao followed them out.
“Young Master!”
Ren Qianqian was anxious, but all she saw was the Dragon Dawn Sword turning into a golden light and following Li Hao as he disappeared into the horizon.
……
……
Beyond Liangzhou, at the Mourning River in Dragon City.
After Li Hao's body tore apart and vanished, he felt his consciousness being shredded and merging with the universe, then slowly melting away like snow.
The more it melted, the weaker his consciousness became.
The sensation was both wondrous and terrifying, as if he was being slowly devoured by something.
Darkness, cold, dampness, and silence.
These unsettling feelings enveloped him. Li Hao tried to struggle, but he felt like a salted fish nailed to a chopping board, completely immobile.
The world before his eyes became blurry and the light grew faint.
In his final moments of sight, Li Hao saw Li Tianzong and Li Xiaoran wailing in anguish, but they seemed unable to see him. Their gazes were focused on the vast expanse of the sky, filled with sorrow and anger.
Li Hao wanted to smile and bid farewell, but he no longer had a body.
The darkness closed in like a window being shut, completely blocking out the light.
Li Hao felt his consciousness disintegrating and falling into an endless abyss.
Is this extra life of mine ending here?
But, before dying, it seems I did one good deed, a fitting end.
Li Hao thought, feeling a chill surround him, and hearing the clear sound of the river flowing in his ears.
At the same time, a voice seemed to echo in his mind:
"Do you not want to go home?"
It wasn't so much a voice as a fleeting thought that surfaced.
Home...
Li Hao's thoughts drifted to the grand, empty courtyard, then out of it, passing over countless mountains and rivers.
They drifted to Heavenly Gate Pass, the Wattle Yard, the Dragon Pass Road, and the places where flowers bloomed along the way.
Where is home?
This journey has had both storms and clear skies. The scenery has changed, but the laughter and joy of those who accompanied him have remained constant.
He has no home, but he has friends.
Li Hao sighed softly, feeling regret and guilt.
He can no longer accompany Old Feng Fishing, nor has he been able to guide Qianqian in her sword art to become a grandmaster. The little girl has endured many hardships following him.
And Little White Fox, this little creature will have to find its own food from now on.
Second Uncle, Mother... Yuanzhao...
Li Hao sighed again, feeling the coldness in the darkness seem to fade, and his consciousness growing weaker.
Is this what it feels like to die, to feel nothing?
Li Hao's consciousness continued to sink.
But as he fell deeper, a warm sensation suddenly emerged from his "chest."
Li Hao's nearly extinguished consciousness gradually became more alert.
He looked down and saw a crimson light emerging from his chest, growing stronger and more intense, like thick blood plasma, illuminating the darkness and enveloping his consciousness.
Then, the darkness began to dissipate.
When the darkness vanished, he found himself standing before a thatched cottage.
Next to the cottage, an old man in tattered robes was facing away from him, busy with something.
Li Hao looked up and saw a mountain in front of the cottage.
The old man was moving the mountain!
Or rather, he was building a mountain!
Li Hao was stunned. Where was this place, and what was happening?
As Li Hao puzzled, the old man seemed to sense something and stopped his hands mid-motion.
The massive mountain in front of him trembled slightly, then cracked open with a huge fissure, and suddenly collapsed!
Li Hao instinctively tried to dodge, but the falling rocks plunged straight down, as if a bottomless pit had opened beneath the mountain, swallowing it whole!
Li Hao stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the old man, whose face was unfamiliar. The old man was now staring at him, expressionless.
"Do you not want to go home?"
After a moment, the old man slowly spoke.
Li Hao was taken aback and looked around. He saw only the moon, feeling a sense of shock and a vague awareness that he was still in the Mourning River.
"I take the universe as my home, venerable sir. Are you also trapped by the Mourning River?" Li Hao asked, suspecting that the old man was another soul confined by the river.
The old man looked at Li Hao for a moment, then laughed. "No wonder I couldn't trap you with the Mourning River. I never thought I'd meet someone like you..."
Li Hao's face changed abruptly upon hearing this. Control the Mourning River?
The old man could control the Mourning River?
Li Hao suddenly realized something and quickly called out to the Mourning River.
Golden script appeared before his eyes, forming several messages:
Mourning River Completion: 99%.
Main Quest: Defend Dragon City (Completed)
Side Quest: Growth (Completed)
……
Li Hao was stunned. The completion rate wasn't perfect.
The main quest was so difficult, yet it was completed.
Could it be that completing the Main Quest doesn't allow you to pass through?
Seeming to sense Li Hao's thoughts, the old man's mood appeared quite good as he said, "The so-called Main Quest you completed can only allow you to leave this Mourning River. It can only free you from Li Tianzong's obsession, but to truly pass through, you're thinking too simply."
Li Hao was speechless.
The Main Quest was already insane, and it still couldn't grant passage. How difficult was this Yudu Grade Mourning River?
"However, now you only need to do one more thing to truly pass through."
The old man smiled and said, "This Mourning River was originally of the Nether Realm level. Due to my wandering soul merging with it, it became Yudu Grade. Now, both its power and my obsession have been shattered by you. There is only one final task you need to accomplish to truly pass through."
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he asked, "What is it?"
"Take me home."
The old man explained, "The wandering souls attracted and imprisoned by this Mourning River, due to my influence, all have a deep obsession with returning home. The deeper the obsession, the harder it is to break free. Similarly, someone with the same obsession cannot truly pass through this Mourning River!"
"Even if you complete the so-called quest, if you cannot see this and let go of your own obsession with 'home,' you will not be able to break through here."
He turned around, looking at the mountain behind him that had turned to dust, his eyes filled with a hint of sorrow: "I merged with the Mourning River, my obsession deepened, and over the years, I have been building a mountain here, trying to recreate my home. However, due to my obsession, the Mourning River has absorbed more and more wandering souls, making its power grow stronger."
(End of Chapter)
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