Chapter 266: Severing the Bonds of Affection
Chapter 266: Severing the Bonds of Affection
In the distance, a figure soared through the air, speeding toward the scene. It was Li Tiangang.
Earlier, Li Hao’s roar had echoed throughout the city, and he naturally heard it. When he shifted his attention to observe, he saw the subsequent series of battles.
He naturally halted the grand sacrificial array he was setting up, as the Demons had all been killed, and there was no longer a need to summon the Ancestor.
As his Divine Soul hovered in the air, he saw Li Hao protecting Li Muxiu from the two Demon leaders and heard the cries of He Jianlan and the others. His heart trembled. Could that young man truly be his child who had fallen into the Abyss?
At that moment, he was emotionally charged, treading on flames and speeding toward the scene at full speed.
In front of Li Hao, Ji Qingqing, after hearing his words, felt each word pierce her heart like a needle. She couldn’t help but say:
“You were right, Mother was wrong. But you’re back now. What must I do for you to forgive me?”
Li Hao’s initially calm eyes suddenly flashed with cold light as he replied:
“I am back, but your child has already died in the Abyss. I returned on my own strength, relying on myself, not on you or anyone else!”
Ji Qingqing was stunned, staring at the young man who had been calm just moments ago but now had a cold expression. She realized she had said the wrong thing, and tears slowly streamed down her face:
“But you are my child. Can’t you give Mother another chance to make it right?”
Hearing her choked words, Li Hao glanced at her and said:
“Another chance? Did I go to the Ji Family to beg for death? Did I go to Heavenly Prison Island to explore the Abyss?”
These two rhetorical questions hit Ji Qingqing like hammer blows, making her feel as if all the warmth had been drained from her body, leaving her cold and trembling. Yes, that child had endured countless hardships and braved the Great Wasteland Sky alone, all to see her, hadn’t he?
She suddenly realized she didn’t deserve to say such things. Could she make up for it? She had let her child face danger twice, once over a decade ago and again now. Could she ever make amends?
Her tears flowed like a broken dam, and she felt a pain in her heart that made it hard to breathe.
“Qing Qing!”
Li Tiangang flew in and landed outside. Li Wushuang and the others, seeing the Patriarch, stepped back.
Li Tiangang quickly approached, glanced at Li Hao’s cold eyes, and looked at his wife, who was sobbing uncontrollably. His heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.
“You can’t talk to your Mother like that!”
Li Tiangang’s eyes reddened slightly as he said to Li Hao, “It was my mistake in the past. I was too strict with you, and I stubbornly refused to investigate before letting you suffer. You can do whatever you want to me, but you can’t treat your Mother this way. She went through a lot to bring you into this world.”
Li Hao’s brows furrowed, and his previously calm heart now felt a nameless annoyance and weariness.
He said indifferently, “Stop calling her Mother. You don’t need to apologize to me. I have no grudges about the past. When I stepped out of the Divine General Manor, I cut all ties with you. I have repaid everything you provided for me over the years, and I even returned the demon blood you sent from Yanbei, with interest. Now, I have nothing to do with you. Can’t you feel that I no longer have your bloodline?”
As he spoke, Li Hao didn’t hide his aura, and the Omni Attributes were already temporarily removed.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Li Tiangang was stunned, looking at him in shock. Ji Qingqing also froze, momentarily forgetting her tears, and quickly checked Li Hao’s aura.
The others, including He Jianlan, were equally stunned. Li Hao’s aura was too strong for them to notice much, but his words made them hastily release their own auras to probe his body.
“Li Hao!”
Beside them, Li Muxiu, who was being healed by the Candlelight Deity, suddenly sat up, coughing up a mouthful of blood. His arm had already healed, but his deeply wrinkled face was filled with panic as he looked at Li Hao.
He knew Li Hao wouldn’t lie easily. Forgetting any offense, he quickly probed Li Hao and found no trace of the Li Family bloodline in him.
His body, like a flickering candle, swayed unsteadily, and he seemed to lose focus.
Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng also changed color, hurriedly probing Li Hao, and then they were both stunned, just staring at the young man.
The many Ancestral Heroic Souls of the Li Family frowned, sensing something was amiss, and as spirits of the deceased, they had a natural affinity for the Li Family bloodline, which had long allowed them to notice that Li Hao had no trace of it.
But hearing these words, the breathtaking World-Class Prodigy before them seemed to be from their Li Family, their bloodline!
But how... could this be?
“Child, were you once a member of our Li Family?” one of the Ancestral Heroic Souls asked, his gentle eyes filled with confusion.
Li Hao glanced at him, his expression calm and indifferent, and said:
"I am who I am. Once, the Li Family had a child similar to me, but that child is dead."
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Li Tiangang's entire body trembled violently as he roared, "Impossible, I don't believe it! You can't be him, who are you?!"
"Tian Gang!"
Li Muxiu, his face as pale as paper, suddenly bellowed. The power of the Dao Realm shook, making Li Tiangang's head feel as if it had exploded, leaving him stunned.
"How much longer do you plan to delude yourself?!"
Li Muxiu's eyes were bloodshot, staring at him intently.
Li Tiangang stood there, frozen, then slowly raised his head to look at Li Hao. His eyes were filled with sorrow.
"You have severed your blood ties with the Li Family. How could you be so heartless?"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. Faced with that sorrowful face, he felt a mix of speechlessness and the urge to laugh.
He didn't bother to say more and stated, "If being heartless is what it takes, then so be it. From now on, we have no more ties. Don't come to provoke me again. I can forgive the past, but not the future!"
With that, he turned to Li Muxiu, who was looking at him with a sorrowful gaze, his eyes seeming to shatter. Li Hao felt a twinge of guilt and said,
"Master, although I am no longer part of the Li Family, if you ever need a fishing companion, just let me know, and I'll be there to accompany you anytime."
Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao, knowing that the boy had completely severed his past. He felt a mix of pain and sorrow, wondering if it was only because of past affection that Li Hao had come here, even after cutting his blood ties.
The sword that could sever thousands of demons couldn't sever this child's feelings.
But he had severed his ties with his parents!
What kind of disappointment must that be?
A child so excellent, so flawless, had been lost by the Li Family.
Li Muxiu's heart was filled with sorrow, but in the end, it turned into a low, bitter laugh, a mix of pain and absurdity. After a while, his eyes slowly became focused and gentle.
"You said it. When the time comes, I'll see if your fishing skills have gotten rusty."
In that moment, amidst the pain and sorrow, Li Muxiu realized that leaving the Li Family wouldn't affect the boy much.
The ones who would suffer and feel the pain were them.
But the boy would no longer be hurt.
In that case, wasn't it for the best?
The Li Family might have lost this glory, but it wouldn't affect the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Even if he wasn't part of the Li Family, the boy had still come, saving Liangzhou and now Qingzhou City. He was still the same person, never burdened by his origins in the General's Mansion.
He had a sincere heart, doing his best for the Human Race.
Thinking of this, Li Muxiu's tears flowed even more freely, both in relief for Li Hao and in pain and irony over Li Tiangang's accusations about Li Hao's character.
"Alright."
Seeing Li Muxiu's expression, Li Hao felt slightly relieved. His gaze then swept over to He Jianlan, the First Lady in armor.
"Should there be an opportunity, I'll let Madam taste my cooking."
He Jianlan, hearing Li Hao's words, held back her sadness, but tears streamed down her face. She felt that the boy had come to Qingzhou to bid farewell, to part with his past identity.
She was no longer his mother...
"Child, can you really not go back?" He Jianlan asked, trying to hold back her sorrow.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "The identity is gone, but if you don't mind, the sentiment remains."
He Jianlan felt even more sorrow, but she held back her tears and didn't try to persuade him. She knew that Li Hao had always been resolute, and once he made a decision, it was hard to change.
Moreover, the Li Family might now be a burden to him. If Li Hao could live well on his own, that was enough.
Li Hao's gaze then swept over to Li Xiaoran, Li Qingzheng, and the others, his eyes gentle.
"Second Master, Third Master, thank you for your care in the past. If you don't mind, I could use a chess companion."
"Child..."
Li Qingzheng's lips trembled, but he didn't say anything more. He knew the matter was settled.
Like a Go stone once placed, there was no turning back.
Li Xiaoran clenched his fists, thinking of his elder brother and his final words before his soul was scattered. They had failed him.
A wave of sorrow washed over him, and he tightly gripped his knife, the veins on his hand bulging. His gaze swept over Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing, his eyes flashing with a hint of killing intent, but he ultimately restrained himself, filled with sorrow.
Li Hao looked around and said, "Since I'm here in Qingzhou, I'll set up a banquet at the Cloudy Mist Tower tonight. We can gather and talk more then."
He glanced at Li Yuanzhao, who looked dazed, and patted his shoulder with a smile.
"Snap out of it. Go to the Cloudy Mist Tower later and tell the boss to prepare her best dishes."
Li Yuanzhao's body trembled as if his soul had been jolted back into his body, his eyes welling up with moisture.
Li Hao smiled, then glanced at the distant outer perimeter where Song Yufeng and the other Tan Palace disciples stood, along with the azure figure that had taken shape.
"You can't leave!"
Li Tiangang seemed to snap back to reality, abruptly blocking Li Hao's path with a look of anger on his face: "Even if I have to—"
"Even if what?"
Li Hao paused in his steps, calmly looking at Li Tiangang, who stood in front of him. The mere calm gaze from Li Hao's eyes suddenly made Li Tiangang's blood and fire seem to extinguish, as if he had been doused with cold water.
He stood there in a daze, suddenly realizing that it wasn't two years ago anymore.
Back then, even if he had beaten Li Hao to a pulp, he could have dragged him back. But now, he couldn't do that.
He was momentarily lost in thought, but quickly regained his composure, gritting his teeth: "I am now demanding you, in my capacity as a Duke, to stay in Qingzhou City! You can't leave!"
Li Hao gave him a cool look and said, "Speaking of which, you remind me. If I remember correctly, after I quelled the rebellion in Liangzhou, the emperor also ennobled me as a Duke. You are a Duke, and so am I. You are a Second-Rank Duke, and I am a Third-Rank Duke. Though I am one rank below you, we are both Dukes, and you have no authority to command me."
"Furthermore, please return the imperial edict and the grant of my fief to the Li Family. I will report back to the emperor and inform him that I have no further ties to the Li Family. If there are any future grants or edicts, they can be sent directly to my fief."
When he was fourteen and defended Cangyu City, he was ennobled as an Earl and granted a fief, though he had never visited it. But it didn't matter; the fief was always there.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Tiangang's body trembled even more. A Duke at sixteen, the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty had never seen such a case. He felt lost, wondering what he had done wrong to end up in this situation.
Li Hao walked past Li Tiangang and approached Song Yufeng and the others, catching up and reminiscing.
Song Yufeng, hearing all of this, could only sigh inwardly. When they caught up, he avoided the topic.
After a brief chat, they agreed to meet again in the evening.
Li Hao looked at Song Qiumo, who stood in the air like a clear autumn stream, distant and cold, yet her eyes were soft and gentle, gazing at Li Hao.
They exchanged a look, and it seemed that many words were conveyed in that single glance.
Both smiled.
...
Returning to Qingzhou City, as the Li Family's soldiers cleaned up the demon corpses on the city walls, Li Hao and Song Qiumo walked through the city together.
Behind them, the Candlelight Deity, in human form, followed silently.
And Xiyian had already returned to Li Hao's wrist. Li Muxiu's injuries had stabilized, and he could now heal himself with the Li Family's divine medicine, so she no longer needed to continue treating him.
"Is that so..."
As they walked and talked, Song Qiumo naturally asked Li Hao about his supposed death.
Li Hao learned that the Li Family had already held a funeral for him, and everyone believed he was dead.
He smiled, finding it fitting. That child was indeed dead, forever buried in that abyss, and the funeral wasn't in vain.
Song Qiumo, upon learning that Li Hao had narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Demon Sage, though Li Hao didn't go into detail, understood the unimaginable dangers he had faced. No wonder the Li Family had assumed Li Hao was dead.
She sighed inwardly, unable to fathom what Li Hao had endured during this time.
"You are far stronger than I am now", Song Qiumo said with a smile.
Li Hao also smiled. "Cultivation is only useful when slaying demons. Instead of praising my cultivation, I prefer it when you compliment my paintings."
Song Qiumo's eyes twinkled, and she couldn't help but laugh.
This young man was still as unconventional and unique as he had always been.
"Uncle Liu!"
Li Hao suddenly called out, waving to a small shop on the street.
The shop had a small door that was slightly ajar, as if the owners were still unsure if the demons had been completely eradicated.
Hearing Li Hao's call, the middle-aged couple inside hesitated, looking at Li Hao with confusion.
"Could you make two Cotton Jade Fragrant Crisps for me?" Li Hao asked with a smile.
The couple hesitated, unsure of Li Hao's identity, but remembering the news from the Li Family, they didn't dare ask. Except for the young master, the young men and women who came to eat at their shop also called him by that name.
"We're not open today", the man said.
Li Hao looked a bit disappointed. "Alright then."
Song Qiumo's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.
However, the middle-aged couple seemed to suddenly hear something, their bodies tensing up, their eyes filled with panic as they glanced at Li Hao, looking somewhat fearful.
"Actually, it's not impossible. Please wait a moment."
Uncle Liu hurriedly said, quickly retreating into his home.
His wife then smiled apologetically at Li Hao, "Yes, yes, it will be ready soon, just a moment."
Li Hao nodded with a smile, "Thank you very much."
The couple immediately busied themselves inside, having not planned to set up their stall today and thus not having prepared the dough in advance. Everything had to be made on the spot.
Li Hao looked at Song Qiumo beside him and sighed, "Uncle Liu is a good person. Don't scare them."
Song Qiumo feigned innocence, "What are you talking about?"
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh helplessly. Although her voice transmission was subtle, it couldn't escape his notice.
The two of them stood at the small shop's entrance, waiting quietly.
Before long, several servings of Cotton Jade Fragrant Crisps were ready.
Li Hao took them and handed one to Song Qiumo, one to the Candlelight Deity, and another to Xiyian:
"Try this; it's a delicacy of the human world."
Xiyian, curious, curled up her Red Beard and started munching on the crispy treat wrapped in oiled paper.
"Mmm, so crispy and fragrant. Is this what the Human Race eats?"
Xiyian's voice was filled with pleasure, accompanied by the crunching sounds of her eating.
"If you like it, have another one."
Li Hao smiled and asked Uncle Liu, "Can you make a few more?"
The middle-aged couple nodded quickly and continued making more.
Once they had a bag with four or five servings, Li Hao and Song Qiumo continued their leisurely stroll down the old street, eating as they walked.
"This really is delicious."
"Of course. Back then, I went to Tan Palace Academy because Qingzhi couldn't be found anywhere else. Uncle Liu had moved his stall to the foot of the mountain, and I went there for school as well."
"…You really are something."
Song Qiumo was speechless. Who would have thought that Tan Palace Academy would admit such an extraordinary disciple because of the charm of a simple street vendor?
When they reached Cloudy Mist Tower, Li Hao, familiar with the place, reserved the top-floor private room with the owner.
He then instructed Cloudy Mist Tower to send out invitations in his name to various places.
As night fell, the bodies of the demons piled up like mountains outside the city, but the soldiers were clearing them away. Inside the city, notices were posted, and Li Family warriors on horseback announced that the demons outside the city had been eliminated and Qingzhou City was now safe.
The announcements continued from the afternoon into the evening. As night fell, the city was once again illuminated by the lights of countless homes.
Brave souls began to venture out, encouraging more people to leave their homes, and the streets gradually filled with activity.
Various taverns and teahouses quickly reopened, and those with a bit of money flocked to these lively places to chat and exchange news.
Those without money gathered in alleys and courtyards, fanning themselves with banana leaves to ward off mosquitoes, discussing the events of the day in small groups.
Everyone's conversations revolved around the city-shaking call and the scale of the demon invasion, as well as the names that were heard when the Demon Kings were slain.
"Have you heard? The demons called out Hao Tian. Do you know who Hao Tian is? Yes, the General Star who single-handedly quelled the Liangzhou Demon Plague!"
"Truly, the heavens are protecting Dayu. The General Star has descended, emerging from nowhere. It's a pity we couldn't see his true form."
"He must be around sixteen now, right? Awarded the rank of Duke, appointed as Commander-in-Chief. Tsk, tsk, his reputation will likely never be surpassed for a thousand years!"
"Is that General Hao Tian from the Li Family?"
"General Hao Tian is General Hao Tian. The one from the Li Family is already dead, isn't he?"
"Right, the Li Family recently held a low-key funeral. I saw the mourning banners hanging at the Li Family Manor when I passed by."
"Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken. What a pity, that Li Family prodigy was truly a dragon among men."
"Are they not the same person? Maybe the Li Family just made a mistake?"
"Ha, the Divine General Manor would never make a mistake."
"But I've never heard of General Hao Tian's background..."
In the streets and taverns, people were discussing these matters. Some of the older folks still remembered certain details, but the younger generation, preoccupied with their daily struggles, had only fragmented knowledge. As a result, the information was often confused, and gradually, when people talked about General Hao Tian, they also mentioned Liangzhou.
The Li Family was mentioned less and less.
In Cloudy Mist Tower, Li Hao sat and waited for his old friends to arrive, having received the invitations. With his remarkable hearing, he naturally overheard the various discussions around him. But now, it seemed that many people had truly forgotten his former surname.
The river of time seemed to bury everything, smoothing over the rough edges.
Li Hao poured himself a drink and gazed out at the city's lights, finding the night to be quite beautiful.
Meanwhile, at Tan Palace Academy and Divine General Manor, invitations were being delivered to various courtyards. He Jianlan and others received theirs, and while they sighed inwardly, their emotions had already settled. They took their invitations and hurried to the banquet.
As people from the various courtyards gradually left, only the Mountain and River Courtyard remained brightly lit.
At the dining table, Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing stared at the abundance of dishes before them, but their appetites had vanished.
Both were lost in thought.
When they heard the commotion outside the courtyard, their senses extended outward, only to find that carriages were leaving Divine General Manor one after another.
The auras inside those carriages belonged to the Madams from the various courtyards, including He Jianlan.
Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing's faces turned grim, and they kept glancing at the courtyard gate, but no one came in, and no one reported any news.
Except for Wang Xiangru from Feiyun Courtyard, everyone else had received an invitation. Now, only they were left without one.
Clearly, the child had no intention of inviting them.
At the gate, Butler Zhao, hunched over, watched the frequent glances toward the outside from within the hall. His eyes were dim, and he sighed deeply in his heart.
If only we had known this would happen... He lowered his head, staring at his worn-out shoes.
The cold moonlight shifted, and the night grew even more tranquil.
The sounds of carriages and horses outside had faded, indicating that all the necessary invitations had been extended, and the banquet had likely already begun.
Li Tiangang's face darkened. He picked up his chopsticks and forced himself to eat, saying, "Eat, don't wait. Everyone else is gone. Finish your meal, then go check on the demon situation outside the city. I'll visit Ancestor and handle other city matters. We can't fall apart!"
Ji Qingqing, however, stared blankly at the food, her mind elsewhere, not moving a muscle.
Li Tiangang took a few bites but couldn't continue. He slammed his bowl and chopsticks on the table, gritting his teeth and said, "He severed the bloodline, but he doesn't realize that without the changes brought by our bloodline collision, his talent will be greatly diminished. He's strong now, but because of this decision, he will never reach the Dao. Even if he manages to, he will have hit his peak!"
"He had the Saint-Asking Posture, a path to the Sage Realm, an eternal glory. He has destroyed his own excellent talent, what a waste!"
Ji Qingqing's eyes trembled slightly, but she was disheartened. "Even so, he is still outstanding. And it's because of us that he..."
Li Tiangang's face twitched. He knew this all too well.
But his heart was filled with pain and anger, with no outlet.
"He has gone too far. He will regret it eventually!"
He clenched his fists and left the hall.
The night quietly climbed the tree branches.
The moon was full and round.
At Cloudy Mist Tower, Li Hao and the others were drinking together, laughter filling the air.
He Jianlan, Li Muxiu, and the others had given up trying to persuade Li Hao. They simply enjoyed the feast together.
Despite the joy, they still felt the urge to offer some words of advice, but their attempts were always gently interrupted by Li Hao's smile.
Clearly, it would take time for everyone to accept that Li Hao had completely severed ties with Divine General Manor.
During the feast, the disciples from Tan Palace Academy came to Li Hao, one after another, toasting and thanking him. Li Hao noticed that the two Princes were not among them. Upon asking, he learned that they had completed their training and been taken back to the Imperial Capital.
It was clear that the two Princes had indeed come to Tan Palace Academy to build connections and accumulate capital, as everyone had suspected.
Li Hao still remembered the Prince who had a fondness for poetry and bid him farewell. He felt a bit of regret not seeing him this time.
Amidst the laughter and toasts, the feast continued until late into the night before dispersing.
Li Hao found a inn to rest for the night.
The next day.
After a rare, comfortable night's sleep, Li Hao felt refreshed. Last night, Li Muxiu had mentioned that the Li Family had already sent people with his war banners and the demon kings' heads, carried by the Elite Light Cavalry, to reinforce the cities of Qingzhou.
The main army would follow shortly.
With the pressure from the demons outside Qingzhou relieved, the large forces that had retreated to Qingzhou City could now launch a full-scale offensive.
The Li Family members who had returned through the bloodline connection of their Ancestor were also dispatched to various battlefields, joining the Li Family army to reclaim the lost territories of Qingzhou.
Li Hao shook his head, feeling a slight dizziness from drinking too much the night before. He hadn't used his body to purify the alcohol.
But he quickly regained his clarity.
With his enhanced strength, it seemed he wasn't as easily intoxicated anymore.
Unless, of course, it was some specially brewed liquor.
(End of Chapter)
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